Brownies meet local author at Fort Kent library

FORT KENT, Maine — Fort Kent area Brownies learned about the resources available at the Fort Kent Public Library and met a local celebrity in the process.

Third-grade members of Girl Scout Troop 1112 took in the warm autumn air on Thursday, Oct. 13, when they, along with their leaders, walked to the library from Fort Kent Elementary School.

Children’s book author Cynthia Caron read to the youngsters one of her many publications, “My Spooky Neighbor,” during the visit. The Brownies participation in the event will help them to earn a community badge. 

“We wanted to include Cindy,” said Troop leader Sarah Soucy. “She’s a local person who has been so successful. We wanted (the girls) to learn about opportunities here at the library and what it might be ilke to become an author in our small town.”

“My Spooky Neighbor” is about not believing rumors, according to Caron.

The message is delivered in a positive and entertaining way and the plot contains a heartwarming twist at the end of the story. 

The book’s message was not lost on Brownies Madison Granatowski, Brenlee Dube or Hailey Gagnon.

“I like that it teaches a nice lesson about sticking up for people you don’t know and don’t judge a book by its cover; that’s probably the moral of the story,” Granatowski said. 

“It was good because it showed you should never make fun of people,” Dube said. 

“And to not judge people by rumors,” Gagnon added. 

There are 12 members of Troop 1112. Longtime friends Soucy, Andrea Daigle and Pamela Bouchard have led the troop since their children joined the Scout program three years ago as kindergarteners.

“We were friends before we had kids and now our kids are friends,” Soucy said. 

After reading her book and answering questions of the youngsters, Caron presented each with their very own writing journal. The Scout leaders provided each Brownie with a copy of one of Caron’s books to keep.

Caron’s books are available for children to read or check out at the library.

FORT KENT, Maine – October 13, 2022 – Girl Scout Troop 1112 explored the children’s section of the Fort Kent Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 13. (Jessica Potila | St. John Valley Times)

FORT KENT, Maine — October 13, 2022 — Local author Cynthia Caron read one of her children’s books to Girl Scout Troop 1112 at the Fort Kent Public Library. (Jessica Potila | St. John Valley Times)