Category: Cover Stories

Mini golf can be your date night family outing or relaxing way to hit the links

If you’re looking for something to do that’s active and fun for the whole family and gets you out of the house this summer, it’s hard to go wrong with mini golf.

“You don’t have to be a certain age, you don’t have to be in shape, none of that,” said Michael Accomando, owner of Mel’s Funway Park in Litchfield. “Husbands, wives, kids, parents, boyfriends, girlfriends — anyone can go out and play mini golf and enjoy it.”

Mel’s features two 18-hole mini golf courses, an easy one geared toward families and young children, and one that is a bit more competitive.

“You don’t want to put the little ones out on a super challenging course, because you want them to have fun,” Accomando said, “but then you have the high school kids and the date nights and the families [without young children], and they want something that is challenging so they can get bragging rights after they beat someone.”

LaBelle Winery, which is headquartered in Amherst, purchased the property that was formerly Brookstone Event Center in Derry in December. In addition to its event spaces, a restaurant facility and a nine-hole executive golf course, the grounds included a mini golf course.

“It’s a great activity to get the kids away from their screens and to get outside in the fresh air and the sunshine,” said LaBelle Winery owner Amy LaBelle.

The course, called Mini Links, was designed by COST of Wisconsin, the same designers who do work for Disney World. It features 18 multi-level holes with sand traps, rock formations and a waterfall.

“It’s not like a get-the-ball-in-the-clown-mouth kind of mini golf,” LaBelle said. “It’s a beautiful, landscaped, upscale mini golf course.”

The holes vary in difficulty, making the course suitable for players of all ages.

“There are definitely easy holes that are totally geared toward a beginner, and then there are a couple others that are more challenging that even I find difficult,” LaBelle said, “so it’s a good mix. There’s a little bit of something for everybody.”

Over the last two years, Mel’s has been making big improvements to its mini golf courses, like installing new carpeting throughout and redesigning or expanding more than half of the holes.

“For some, we made the green different, or we added some new rock formations and more things in the middle for you to putt around,” Accomando said.

On the trickiest hole at Mel’s, known as “the granite hole,” players must putt the ball into a hole that is drilled into the middle of a slab of granite. It has gotten the park many repeat and regular visitors, Accomando said, who are determined to master the hole.

“The ball moves a heck of a lot differently on granite than it does on the outdoor carpet, so you really have to think about how you want to do it,” he said, adding that, even for him, it usually takes five tries or so to get the ball in the hole. “People love to come back to that one.”

It comes as no surprise that the new Mini Links course has been popular with families, LaBelle said, but a unique feature of the course has made it also very popular with grown-ups:

“You can have a glass of wine on the mini golf course, so you see a lot of adults finding their way over there, too,” she said, adding that Mini Links will start hosting adult mini golf tournaments in August, with prizes including wine prizes.

For Mel’s, Accomando said, being open late (until 10 p.m. on weekdays, 11 p.m. on weekends) has been a big draw for adults as a date night or after-dinner activity.

“We always get a rush right around 9 or 9:30 [p.m.],” he said. “People love it, because you can work all day, go home, have dinner, and still have time to go out and play a round of mini golf and enjoy yourself.”

Another reason mini golf is so universally appealing, Accomando said, is that it can be as infrequent and casual or as structured and competitive as a player wants to make it. Most people do it as a one-time or occasional outing with family or friends; others play for fun on a weekly or monthly basis; but about 20 percent of the players Accomando sees at Mel’s take the game “extremely seriously,” he said.

“It’s amazing how much some people really get into it,” he said. “There are even people who come and ask for a certain color ball because they say it brings them luck.”

Atmosphere is just as important to the mini golf experience as the activity itself, Accomando said. The courses at Mel’s are filled with rock formations, bridges, caves, fountains and a large waterfall, measuring around 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide, that sends water cascading throughout the park.

“It’s everything together — the sights, the sounds, the colors, the water rushing all around you — that makes it a whole experience,” he said. “It’s an escape for people to get away from some of the reality of their work day and what is going on in their lives.”

Check out this list of family fun parks and country clubs for your next round of miniature golf. All outdoor times are weather permitting — be sure to contact each park directly for the most up-to-date information.

Chuckster’s Family Fun Park
9 Bailey Road, Chichester, 798-3555; 53 Hackett Hill Road, Hooksett, 210-1415; chucksters.com
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.
Cost: Chichester rates are $9 per round of mini golf and $5 for ages 5 and under. Hooksett rates are $9.50 per round on one of the two courses and $6 for ages 5 and under. You can also play the second course on the same day for an additional $6.50.
What makes it unique: Each Chuckster’s park claims to have the “world’s longest mini-golf hole,” as one of the featured holes, at just over 200 feet long. Both parks are also completely different from each other, with not a single hole duplicated.

Funspot
579 Endicott St. N., Laconia, 366-4377, funspotnh.com
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Cost: $5 per person
What makes it unique: This self-service indoor mini golf course features refurbished ornaments of New Hampshire landmarks.

Legends Golf & Family Recreation
18 Legends Drive, Hooksett, 627-0099, legendsgolfnh.com
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $8 for adults, $6 for kids ages 12 and under, and $3 for replays
What makes it unique: With natural rock ledges, running streams and a waterfall, Legends is known for having among the more challenging mini golf courses in the area.

Mammoth Green Driving Range & Mini Golf
135 Nashua Road, Londonderry, 432-4653, mammothgreendrivingrange.business.site
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: $7 per person and free for kids ages 3 and under
What makes it unique: Holes are of varying difficulty, with a driving range also directly adjacent to the course if you want to further test your skills.

Mel’s Funway Park
454 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield, 424-2292, melsfunwaypark.com
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Cost: $10.50 for adults, $8.50 for kids ages 4 to 12 and free for kids ages 3 and under
What makes it unique: Mel’s features two separate 18-hole mini golf courses to choose from, each with features like waterfalls and bridges. The property also has other attractions like go-carts, batting cages, bumper boats, laser tag and an arcade.

Mini Links at LaBelle Winery
14 Route 111, Derry, 672-9898, labellewinery.com
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Cost: $8 per person
What makes it unique: Southern New Hampshire’s newest miniature golf course, the Mini Links at LaBelle Winery in Derry opened in May. There are opportunities for birthday parties and other personalized outings at the course, as well as Junior Golf Camp for players ages 8 to 14 that is underway.

Ponemah Green Family Golf Center
55 Ponemah Road, Amherst, 673-9908, playamherst.com
Hours: Daily, 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: $9 for adults and $6 for kids ages 8 and under
What makes it unique: This newly renovated mini golf course has plenty of obstacles, as well as opportunities for birthday parties and other gatherings.

Featured photo: Chucksters. Courtesy photo.

Your guide to a summer of books with exciting locales, thrilling adventures, mysteries and more

Travel the world this summer, even if you’re staying home. Whether you’re on a hammock in your backyard or sitting by the community pool, you can travel near and far with a book. This past year welcomed all kinds of new releases, from page-turning thrillers to thought-provoking memoirs and everything in between. To help you find the perfect read, we asked local library staff and indie booksellers to recommend some of their favorite titles of 2020 and 2021.

See the world

These recommended recent releases highlight different places and cultures throughout the world during both the past and the present.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston, published June 2021.

After moving to New York City to finish her college degree, August finds family, romance and herself in an unexpected place: the subway.

Recommended by: Alexa Moore, Circulation & Reader Services Librarian at Amherst Town Library. “August grows into her own throughout this story with the help of so many wonderful people, with a true representation of New York City serving as the backdrop.”

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles, published February 2021.

An intersection of two stories about two women from different places and times: in 1939, Odile is living her dream of working as a librarian at the American Library in Paris, until the Nazis march into town and threaten everything she holds dear; in 1983, Lily, a lonely teenager living in rural Montana, develops a unique bond with the reclusive elderly woman next door.

Recommended by: Amy Lapointe, Library Director at Amherst Town Library. “Interesting history — the 1939 storyline is based on true events — and themes of friendship, love and betrayal are a winning combination.”

West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge, published February 2021.

A 105-year-old man recounts his incredible tale, based on real events, of driving two giraffes that survived the New England hurricane of 1938 across the country to California, where they were given a new life as the first giraffes at the San Diego Zoo.

Recommended by: Dianne Hathaway, Library Director at Goffstown Public Library. “This is a beautifully written book with characters that come alive.”

A Measure of Belonging: Writers of Color on the New American South, edited by Cinelle Barnes, published October 2020.

Writers living and working in the South reflect on the contemporary South and the complex challenges of race in southern culture in this collection of essays.

Recommended by: Dianne Hathaway, Library Director at Goffstown Public Library. “This is an important work in understanding the experiences of others in a place far removed from New Hampshire.”

As Far As You’ll Take Me by Phil Stamper, published February 2021. 

After graduating high school, Marty leaves his small home town in Kentucky to pursue a career playing oboe in London, England.

Recommended by: Emily Fortin, Teen and Information Services Librarian at Dover Public Library. “This is a sweet coming of age story, and you’ll be rooting for Marty as he finds his way in a new country.”

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen, published October 2020.

Young Tien and his first-generation immigrant mother bond over a shared love of fairy tales as Tien seeks the right language to come out to his family as gay, and his mother looks back on memories of fleeing Vietnam and the connections she left behind.

Recommended by: Aidan Sonia-Bolduc, librarian at Dover Public Library. “A beautiful comic about overcoming differences in culture and language for the sake of a mother and child’s love.”

Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams, published June 2021.

No one knew why the diplomatic Digby family defected to Russia in 1948. Four years later, Ruth, the twin sister of Iris Digby, is sent undercover by the CIA to retrieve them.

Recommended by: Willard Williams, co-owner of The Toadstool Bookshops in Nashua, Peterborough and Keene. “High stakes, high adventure and moral quandary — it’s a true page-turner. Yes, Beatriz is my niece-in-law, but there’s no bias on this one.”

The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane by Kate O’Shaughnessy, published March 2020.

Eleven-year-old Maybelle sets out on a RV road trip to Nashville with her neighbor and the local bully, where she plans to compete in a singing contest being judged by the father she never met.

Recommended by: Patty Falconer, Children’s Librarianat Dover Public Library. “This summer adventure brings Maybelle lots of discoveries about herself and others.”

* The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession, and Death on Mount Everest by Mark Synnott, published April 2021.

Synnott, a Jackson, New Hampshire, resident, tells the story of his 2019 expedition to try to find out whether explorers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine ever reached the summit of Mount Everest before they disappeared in 1924.

Recommended by: Susan Dunker, Adult Services Librarian at Dover Public Library. “A great book for a hot day; you’ll appreciate reading about the freezing temperature the climbers endure.”

The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey, published June 2021.

Perveen Mistry, India’s first female solicitor, battles conflicting religious and gender roles in 20th-century India as she investigates the death of a young Parsi student who had come to her for legal advice not long before.

Recommended by: Barbara Tosiano, Library Director at Hampton Falls Free Library. “While the series is entertaining, it is also insight into cultures and customs about which the reader might not be familiar.”

The Searcher by Tana French, published October 2020.

Ex-cop Cal Hooper looks forward to a quiet retirement when he moves from Chicago to a small town in the West of Ireland, but instead finds himself trying to find a missing person and discover the mystery behind a series of mutilations of local sheep.

Recommended by: Caitlin Loving, Assistant Director at Bedford Public Library. “I drop everything else I’m reading the minute French has a new book out. I read an advance copy of the book last summer, and I was completely transported.”

From the River to the Sea: The Untold Story of the Railroad War That Made the West by John Sedgwick, published June 2021.

The true story of William Palmer of the Rio Grande railroad and William Strong of the Santa Fe railroad, who were both determined to expand their rail lines into the American southwest in the 1870s.

Recommended by: Willard Williams, co-owner of The Toadstool Bookshops in Nashua, Peterborough and Keene. “Well-told. It was a history unknown to me.”

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, publishedOctober 2020

In 18th-century France, Addie, a young girl destined for an arranged marriage that she doesn’t want, makes a deal with the devil that spares her from the marriage but costs more than she bargained for.

Recommended by: Kathy Growney, Library Director at Griffin Free Public Library in Auburn. “A great read for people who are romantic at heart and enjoy a book with a bit of magical realism, historical fiction and an unexpected but satisfying ending.”

The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley, published May 2021.

A man steps off a train into a 19th-century French colony in England, with a mysterious postcard in his possession and no memory of who he is.

Recommended by: Hope Garner, Paralibrarian II at Griffin Free Public Library in Auburn. “This book manages to include time travel, alternative reality and historical events. … It was fascinating and unpredictable.”

* I Have Struck Mrs. Cochran with a Stake: Sleepwalking, Insanity, and the Trial of Abraham Prescott by Leslie Lambert Rounds, published October 2020.

The story of a brutal murder that took place in rural Pembroke, New Hampshire, in 1833.

Recommended by: Tim Sheehan, Library Director at Pembroke Town Library. “Readers who enjoy true crime and local history will enjoy this book.”

Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued by Peter Sis, published January 2021.

Picture book tells the little-known story of Nicholas Winton, a man who saved the lives of nearly 700 children trapped in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia during the Holocaust.

Recommended by: Sue Matott, Children’s Librarian at Pillsbury Free Library in Warner. “A great way to learn more of those troubling times … [and of] another hero.”

The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America by Elizabeth Letts, published June 2021.

In 1954, after losing her farm in Maine, Annie Wilkins, with no money and no family, set out on a two-year-long pilgrimage across America to achieve her lifelong dream of seeing the Pacific Ocean.

Recommended by: Holly Williams, co-owner of The Toadstool Bookshops in Nashua, Peterborough and Keene. “The world was different then, but Annie Wilkins’ journey is still an inspiring one today.”

* Spirit of Place: The Making of a New England Garden by Bill Noble, published May 2020.

Noble, a self-taught garden designer, offers a guide to creating a garden in the New England landscape.

Recommended by: Hope Garner, Paralibrarian II at Griffin Free Public Library in Auburn. “This book is full of inspirational photos and great ideas from his own garden in Vermont.”

Made in China: A Prisoner, an SOS Letter, and the Hidden Cost of America’s Cheap Goods by Amelia Pang, published February 2021. 

The true story of an Oregon mom who is compelled to act after she finds a letter inside a package of Halloween decorations, written by a sweatshop worker in China pleading for help.

Recommended by: Amy Hanmer, Information and Technology Librarian at Manchester City Library. “This true life mystery/adventure inspires us to speak out and to stop supporting products from authoritarian countries that don’t value human life.”

Color your world

Mythographic Color and Discover: Frozen Fantasies: An Artist’s Coloring Book of Winter Wonderlands by Fabiana Attanasio, published January 2021. 

Adult coloring book filled with magical ice castles, snowy landscapes and wintery fantastical beings, and challenges to find secret items hidden in the pictures.

Recommended by: Yvonne R. Loomis, Information and Technology Librarian at Manchester City Library. “Yes, folks thought that the adult coloring phase was over, that is, until we were all in lockdown with time and stress on our hands. So consider this unusual and fun coloring book as a tool for self-care and relaxation.”

Fiction

The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult, published September 2020.

As the plane Dawn is on is about to go down, the thoughts that come rushing to her mind are not of her husband, but of a man whom she hasn’t seen for 15 years.

Recommended by: Amy Lapointe, Library Director at Amherst Town Library. “Picoult explores the choices that alter the course of your life, [with] fascinating side information about death and dying and ancient Egypt. This is Picoult’s most complex book and, in my opinion, one of her best.”

Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson, published March 2021.

Abigail is on her honeymoon on a secluded island with her new millionaire husband when a secret from her past upends her marriage and puts her life in danger.

Recommended by: Amy Bain, Library Assistant at Baker Free Library in Bow. “Rip-roaring thrillers/mysteries are my summer go-to … and Peter Swanson is my new favorite thriller writer. You won’t soon forget this story.”

Exit by Belinda Bauer, published January 2021.

Felix, a British man in the second half of his life and a member of an inconspicuous group that helps terminally ill people die with dignity, makes a horrible mistake with a ripple of consequences.

Recommended by: Susan Dunker, Adult Services Librarian at Dover Public Library. “A delightfully quirky story that will keep your heart pumping throughout.”

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell, published March 2020.

The story of the family William Shakespeare left behind when he went to London to write, produce and perform plays.

Recommended by: Susan Dunker, Adult Services Librarian at Dover Public Library. “A beautifully written and fascinating novel about possibly the greatest author of all time.”

* The Languid Belly of the Beast by J.S. Carter Gilson, published September 2020.

In the second installment of the Deep Space Cargoist series by Nashua’s own Carter Gilson, old flames are rekindled and new dangers abound as cargoist Inez Stanton sets out to deliver a revolutionary-for-hire deep into the heart of the Free Earth’s capital.

Recommended by: Mary Ellen Carter Gilson, Reference Librarian at Nashua Public Library. “The writing is snappy, the characters are engaging, and the story just pulls you right in. … Yep, [the author] is my husband, but the books really are great!”

* Margreete’s Harbor by Eleanor Morse, published April 2021.

Set in the 1960s, the story follows a family that moves from Michigan to a rural coastal town in Maine to care for an aging mother.

Recommended by: Katharine Nevins, owner of MainStreet BookEnds of Warner. “This wonderful Maine author beautifully intertwines dealing with Alzheimer’s, the pressures of marriage and work and the struggles unique to families during the Vietnam era.”

The Newcomerby Mary Kay Andrews, published May 2021.

On the run from her sister’s murderer, Letty tries to build a new life for herself and her niece and questions whether her new love interest, a local police detective named Joe, can be trusted.

Recommended by: Kathy Growney, Library Director at Griffin Free Public Library in Auburn. “This book is a perfect beach read — a well-written mystery with just a splash of romance and a happy ending.”

The People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry, published April 2021. 

The dynamic between best friends Poppy and Alex starts shifting toward romance when they meet up for their 10th traditional summer trip.

Recommended by: Joanna Meighan, Library Assistant at Hampton Falls Free Library. “Summer is the perfect time for romance, and this book does not disappoint. Emily Henry’s characters are relatable, and the story is light and breezy.”

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth, published October 2020.

In 1902, a series of mysterious deaths at The Brookhants School for Girls leads to a curse on the school that no one can seem to unravel.

Recommended by: Alexa Moore, Circulation & Reader Services Librarian at Amherst Town Library. “This creepy and intriguing story kept me turning the pages … and the horror elements will keep you looking over your shoulder. This book will stick with you.”

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo, published March 2021.

The second book in a fantasy duology following a young king as he battles a dark power growing inside him.

Recommended by: Hope Garner, Paralibrarian II at Griffin Free Public Library in Auburn. “Ms. Bardugo is fun and easy to read. She takes the reader into her universe quickly, like J.K. Rowling in her Harry Potter series.”

Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan, published June 2020.

A modern take on E.M. Forster’s 1908 novel A Room with a View that follows Lucie, a 19-year-old biracial woman who finds herself torn between two men and two cultures in a land of decadence and privilege.

Recommended by: Hope Garner, Paralibrarian II at Griffin Free Public Library in Auburn. “Mr. Kwan also wrote the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy. I consider his books a classic beach read —humorous and quickly read.”

Should We Stay or Should We Go by Lionel Shriver, published June 2021.

After seeing the long and taxing decline of their own parents’ physical and mental capacities toward the end of their lives, a healthy couple in their 50s make a pact to die with dignity and leave the world together once they turn 80. Fast-forward three decades, and the time has come, but they’re having second thoughts.

Recommended by: Amy Bain, Library Assistant at Baker Free Library in Bow. “This is the most difficult book to describe, but the most mesmerizing. Each chapter depicts a different outcome … and every outcome seems meant to be.”

The Smash-Up by Ali Benjamin, publishedFebruary 2021.

This modern take on Edith Wharton’s 1911 novel Ethan Frome is based on the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the rage it causes Zo and her group of fellow activists All Them Witches and the toll it takes on her marriage to husband Ethan.

Recommended by: Susan Dunker, Adult Services Librarian at Dover Public Library. “I read Ethan Frome in high school and found this story to be a great complement to that excellent book.”

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi, published August 2020.

With a suicidal mother and a brother who died of a heroin overdose, Gifty, a Ghanaian immigrant working on a Ph.D. in neuroscience at Stanford, struggles to make sense of the suffering in the world and begins to question the evangelical faith in which she was raised.

Recommended by: Carol Luers Eyman, Outreach and Marketing Librarian at Nashua Public Library. “A moving account of a young woman’s attempt to achieve her own goals amid family strife.”

Nonfiction

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, published April 2021.

A memoir centered on the author’s relationship with her mother and her journey of self-discovery following her mother’s death.

Recommended by: Danielle Arpin, Library Assistant at Pelham Public Library. “Zauner does not hold back her complicated feelings about her family and her own identity.”

Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simard, published May 2021.

Simard, a forest ecologist, explores the lives of trees and their critical role in the circle of life and reflects on the connection between trees and her personal journey of self-discovery.

Recommended by: Katharine Nevins, owner of MainStreet BookEnds of Warner. “Simard tells her own story and the research that has forever changed how we view forests and their preservation. A very important book and a must-read for us all.”

Olive, Mabel and Me: Life and Adventures with Two Very Good Dogsby Andrew Cotter, published October 2020.

Sports commentator Andrew Cotter tells the story of how his two dogs, Olive and Mabel, became part of his family and captured the hearts of people around the world with viral videos of their antics.

Recommended by: Susan Dunker, Adult Services Librarian at Dover Public Library. “As a dog-lover and owner of a few Labradors over the years, I found it really hilarious and touching. It’s a rare dog book where the dogs don’t die in the end.”

The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee, published February 2021.

The author explores issues of income inequality, the Great Recession, environmental degradation and more to refute the idea that economic and social progress for one group is only possible at the expense of another.

Recommended by: Carol Luers Eyman, Outreach and Marketing Librarian at Nashua Public Library. “While the book exposes shameful racist practices that have, in fact, affected people of all colors, the final chapter presents hopeful suggestions for creating a more equitable society.”

Food

The Chef’s Garden: A Modern Guide to Common and Unusual Vegetables – With Recipes by Lee Jones, published April 2021.

A recipe book featuring a wide variety of vegetable-based dishes, with chapters divided by different plant families.

Recommended by: Hillary Nelson, Bookseller at Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord. “The real glory of this book, to me, is the gorgeous photography. Who knew beet marshmallows could look so delicious? Or that there is a super-cute tuber called oka that looks kind of like a Pokemon and grows like potatoes?”

The Comic Book Guide to Growing Food: Step-By-Step Vegetable Gardening for Everyoneby Joseph Tychonievich, published February 2021.

An easy-to-navigate guide for newbie vegetable growers that includes tips on how to find the best planting location, which vegetables are the easiest to grow, how to water, how to protect the plants from pests and more.

Recommended by: Bre’Anna Beard, Adult Services Assistant at Merrimack Public Library. “This book is both beautifully illustrated and very informative, and it’s an excellent reference for anyone looking to start their own vegetable garden.”

How to Grill Vegetables: The New Bible for Barbecuing Vegetables over Live Fire by Steven Raichlen, published April 2021.

A recipe book with 115 creative dishes centered around grilled veggies.

Recommended by: Amy Bain, Library Assistant at Baker Free Library in Bow. “If you are trying to limit your intake of meat, this is the book for you. Vegetables are the stars of these dishes and always taste better when kissed by fire and smoke.”

Graphic novel

* The Great Gatsby: A Graphic Novel Adaptationby F. Scott Fitzgerald, illustrated and adapted by K. Woodman Maynard, published January 2021.

Woodman-Maynard, originally from Concord, gives new life to the 1925 classic.

Recommended by: Ryan Clark, Bookseller at Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord. “The illustrations are lovely, with a soft and warm color palette that is aesthetically pleasing to look at while still capturing the roaring-twenties-jazz-age tale of obsession and wealth and class.”

Stuck Together by Brian “Smitty” Smith, published in September 2020.

The first book in the children’s graphic novel series Pea, Bee & Jay, which follows the adventures of a pea, a bee and a blue jay.

Recommended by: Sue Matott, Children’s Librarian at Pillsbury Free Library in Warner. “Very colorful, unique, simple, funny books for kids to enjoy.”

Thirsty Mermaids by Kat Leyh, published February 2021.

Three mermaids turn themselves into humans so that they can go out drinking at the beach bars, only to realize the next morning that they don’t know how to return to their mermaid form.

Recommended by: Angela Sylvia, Library Technician at Bedford Public Library. “Kat Leyh’s vibrant art fills the mermaid trio and the human friends they make with distinct, lively personalities.”

Children’s

* Becoming a Good Creature by Sy Montgomery, with contributions by Rebecca Green, publishedSeptember 2020.

Picture book adaptation of Montgomery and Green’s 2018 book How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals looks to animals for lessons about friendship, compassion and sharing the Earth.

Recommended by: Sue Matott, Children’s Librarian at Pillsbury Free Library in Warner. “A fascinating story [for] kids to learn about our world … and [how] to be a good citizen of the world.”

The Dirt Book: Poems about Animals That Live Beneath Our Feet by David L. Harrison, illustrated by Kate Cosgrove, published June 2021.

Collection of poetry explores the ecosystem of dirt and the animals that inhabit it.

Recommended by: Sue Matott, Children’s Librarian at Pillsbury Free Library in Warner. “I love it because it’s written as a ‘vertical’ book, giving the sense of going down, [and] includes lots of fun facts and thought-provoking poems.”

* Flight of the Puffin by Ann Braden, published May 2021.

The Vermont-based author’s second middle-grade novel follows four seventh-graders struggling to affirm their identity as their families’ expectations of them are in direct conflict with who they are and who they want to become.

Recommended by: Katharine Nevins, owner of MainStreet BookEnds of Warner. “Such an important book for our times and one that every school should take up.”

The Lights and Types of Ships at Night by Dave Eggers, illustrated by Annie Dills, publishedOctober 2020.

Educational picture book explores different types of ships.

Recommended by: Sue Matott, Children’s Librarian at Pillsbury Free Library in Warner. “Simple yet factual and beautiful.”

* On the Farm by David Elliott, illustrated by Holly Meade, originally published March 2008, re-released as a picture book in April 2021.

Picture book adaptation of Elliott’s 2008 book of the same name evokes the sights and sounds of a traditional country farm through poetry and illustrations.

Recommended by: Sue Matott, Children’s Librarian at Pillsbury Free Library in Warner. “Awesome, feel-good poems that bring you to the farm.”

* Once Upon Another Time by Charles Ghigna & Matt Forrest Esenwine, illustrated by Andres F. Landazabal, published March 2021.

Picture book, written in poetry, explores the natural world of the past and present.

Recommended by: Katharine Nevins, owner at MainStreet BookEnds of Warner. “Co-authored by Warner’s own Matt Forrest Esenwine, here is a wonderful picture book about the world before humans, inviting children to marvel in the magic that once was and to preserve and protect our only Earth.”

Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler, published March 2021.

A look at how things are made and the work it takes to build a civilization.

Recommended by: Sue Matott, Children’s Librarian at Pillsbury Free Library in Warner. “A very creative way to show children how things are done from the bottom up [and that] things don’t magically appear. I like that it gets them to think about what they might want to do.”

Wild Outside: Around the World with Survivorman by Les Stroud, illustrated by Paul Barr, published March 2021.

A wilderness survival guide for kids, with practical skills and activities to try at home.

Recommended by: Sue Matott, Children’s Librarian at Pillsbury Free Library in Warner. “I love the idea of getting kids more involved outside and learning how to survive without being plugged in.”

Young adult

City Spies by James Ponti, published March 2020.

The first book in Ponti’s middle-grade series of the same name, which follows a group of five delinquent kids recruited by a spy agency.

Recommended by: Sue Matott, Children’s Librarian at Pillsbury Free Library in Warner. “It was so well-written. I didn’t want to stop reading, and it kept me wondering how it would turn out.”

Legendborn by Tracy Deon, published September 2020.

Arthurian legends and Southern Black Girl Magic converge in this contemporary fantasy, which follows Bree, a student at a residential program for high schoolers, as she grieves the death of her mother.

Recommended by: Alexa Moore, Circulation & Reader Services Librarian at Amherst Town Library. “This book has a little bit of a slow start, but once I began to learn about Bree, her family, and her power, I was hooked.”

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, published September 2020.

Avery Grambs receives a mysterious inheritance from Tobias Hawthorne, a billionaire she never knew, but can only keep it under the condition that she reside at the Hawthorne estate. There, she and the Hawthorne brothers work to solve a series of riddles to discover why she was named heiress.

Recommended by: Alexa Moore, Circulation & Reader Services Librarian at Amherst Town Library. “This book was impossible to put down and kept me guessing until the very end.”

Fairs, theater events, hands-on art and more ideas for a season of family fun

As the (very strange) school year comes to a close, you may be wondering what you’re going to do with the kids during the hot weeks ahead. Luckily, there are a whole lot more in-person activities and events planned, from family-friendly musicals and concerts to fairs and festivals. Make plans now to keep the kids happy all summer long.

Fairs & fests

From town fairs and festivals to local sporting events, there are plenty of opportunities to get out and soak up the summer this year. Check out this list of happenings and be sure to call or visit their websites for the most up-to-date information as it becomes available.

• The Wilton Main Street Association will present its annual SummerFest on Saturday, June 19, featuring fireworks and live performances on Carnival Hill in Wilton. Visit visitwilton.com.

• Don’t miss the Hillsborough Summerfest, set for Thursday, July 8, through Sunday, July 11, at Grimes Field (29 Preston St., Hillsborough). The event features carnival rides, local vendors, games, live entertainment, fireworks on Saturday and a town parade and car and truck show on Sunday. Festival hours are 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Visit hillsborosummerfest.com.

• The Raymond Town Fair, a multi-day event on the town common featuring contests, parades, live entertainment, children’s activities and more, is scheduled to return from Friday, July 9, through Sunday, July 11. Admission is free. Find them on Facebook @raymondtownfair for updates.

• Sanbornton’s 250th Anniversary Celebration and Old Home Day is scheduled for Saturday, July 10, at 19 Meetinghouse Hill Road. See “Sanbornton Old Home Day” on Facebook.

• The North Haverhill Fair is tentatively scheduled to return from Wednesday, July 28, through Sunday, Aug. 1, at 1299 Dartmouth College Hwy., featuring live entertainment, 4-H animal events and other family-friendly activities. Visit nohaverhillfair.com.

• The Belknap County Fair is due to return on Saturday, Aug. 7, and Sunday, Aug. 8, at 174 Mile Hill Road in Belmont. Visit bcfairnh.org for updates.

• There will be a summertime family fun day at The White Birch Catering & Banquet Hall (222 Central St., Hudson) on Sunday, Aug. 8, from noon to 5 p.m., featuring children’s sack races, a bounce house, games, food and more. Email [email protected].

• Hudson’s Old Home Days are due to return to the grounds outside of the Hills House (211 Derry Road, Hudson) from Thursday, Aug. 12, through Sunday, Aug. 15, and will feature local vendors, carnival games, demonstrations, food and more. Visit hudsonoldhomedays.com.

• The town of Epsom has a three-day Old Home Weekend celebration scheduled from Friday, Aug. 13, through Sunday, Aug. 15, at Webster Park in Epsom. Planned events include fireworks, a parade, a bike decorating contest and more. Visit epsomnh.org.

• The Great New England BBQ & Food Truck Festival will return to the Hampshire Dome (34 Emerson Road, Milford) on Saturday, Aug. 14, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., featuring food trucks, live music, a cornhole tournament and a “Kidz Zone,” where there will be face-painting, bounce houses and various contests. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the gate (free for kids ages 14 and under). Visit gnecraftartisanshows.com.

• Free Comic Book Day might be a little later than normal this year but the annual celebration of comics is on the schedule — Saturday, Aug. 14. Stay tuned to your favorite comic book shop to find out what they are doing for the big day and get a preview of the special free comic book day issues (including some all-ages offerings) on freecomicbookday.com.

• Londonderry’s Old Home Days return from Wednesday, Aug. 18, through Saturday, Aug. 21, and will feature town parades, games, local vendors and more. Find them on Facebook @townoflondonderryoldhomeday.

• Intown Concord’s annual Market Days Festival, a three-day free street festival, is set to return to Main Street in downtown Concord from Thursday, Aug. 19, through Saturday, Aug. 21. Visit marketdaysfestival.com for the list of ongoing happenings, which have included tastings, live entertainment, food trucks, outdoor movie screenings, a kids zone and other family-friendly activities.

• The Cornish Fair is due to return to 294 Town House Road from Friday, Aug. 20, to Sunday, Aug. 22, featuring agricultural and 4-H exhibits and shows, arts and crafts, midway rides, stage shows, food and commercial exhibits. Admission is $12 for adults, $3 for kids ages 6 to 12 and free for kids under 6. Weekend passes can also be purchased for $30 each. Visit cornishfair.org.

• The annual Battle of the Badges Baseball Classic will return to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester) on Friday, Aug. 20. Team Police and Team Fire will renew their friendly rivalry in this game to support programs at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD). Visit chadbaseball.org.

• History Alive returns to the town of Hillsborough on Saturday, Aug. 21, and Sunday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sponsored by the Hillsborough Historical Society, History Alive features live historical re-enactors, live music, presentations about the Abenaki tribe, demonstrations and a children’s parade on Sunday. Visit historyalivenh.org.

• Field of Dreams Community Park (48 Geremonty Drive, Salem) has a family fun day event scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 28, from noon to 6 p.m., when there will be local vendors, children’s games, face-painting, a Touch-a-Truck, live music, food trucks and much more. Admission is free. Visit fieldofdreamsnh.org.

• Plaistow’s Old Home Day will be held on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 51 Old County Road in Plaistow, and is expected to feature local vendors, live entertainment, fireworks, raffles and a road race. Visit plaistowohd.com.

• Gilford’s Old Home Day is currently scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 28, and will likely feature activities like a pancake breakfast, a parade, food and craft booths, games and field events, live music, fireworks and more. Visit gilfordrec.com.

• Candia’s Old Home Day is set for Saturday, Aug. 28, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Candia Moore Park, next to the town hall (74 High St.), and will likely feature wildlife exhibitors, local vendor booths, a parade and more. Visit candiaoldhomeday.com.

• The Hopkinton State Fair is due to return to 392 Kearsarge Ave. in Contoocook from Thursday, Sept. 2, through Monday, Sept. 6. A Labor Day weekend tradition, the fair will run for five days this year, featuring midway rides, food, educational exhibits, live entertainment and more. Fair hours are from 5 to 11 p.m. on Thursday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday. Tickets are $29 for teens and adults 13 and up, $22 for seniors over 60, $19 for kids ages 3 to 12 and free for kids under 3. Visit hsfair.org.

• The Manchester Rotary Club will present the 20th annual Cruising Downtown classic car show event on Saturday, Sept. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Around 1,000 unique vehicles will be on display along Elm Street and nearby areas. Visit manchesterrotary.org.

Live entertainment

From theater and music to magic and puppets, there are all kinds of shows for kids and families this summer, both indoors and outdoors.

• The Palace Youth Theatre performs James and the Giant Peach Jr. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) on Friday, June 11, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, June 12, at noon. Tickets cost $12 for children and $15 for adults. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

• Children’s musicians Miss Julieann & Mr. Joey will perform a free concert at Abbie Griffin Park (6 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack) on Wednesday, June 23, at 6 p.m. Visit merrimackparksandrec.org/summer-concert-series.

• The Kids Coop Theatre performs Bring It On on Friday, June 25, and Saturday, June 26. More information is TBA. Visit kids-coop-theatre.org.

• Magician BJ Hickman performs a family-friendly magic show at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) on Wednesday, June 30, and Thursday, July 1, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

• Cactus Head Puppets will perform a free puppet show in the park at The Belknap Mill (25 Beacon St. E., Laconia) on Monday, July 5, at 10 a.m. Visit belknapmill.org.

• The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents a series of shows at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) with a Tuesday-through-Thursday run every week in July and August. Shows include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs July 6 through July 8; Peter Pan July 13 through July 15; Wizard of Oz July 20 through July 22; The Little Mermaid July 27 through July 29; Beauty and the Beast Aug. 3 through Aug. 5; Rapunzel Aug. 10 through Aug. 12; Cinderella Aug. 17 through Aug. 19; and Sleeping Beauty Aug. 24 through Aug. 26. Showtimes are at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

• Magician, balloon sculptor and flea circus ringmaster Ed Popielarczyk will perform a free, family-friendly magic show at the Candia Pond Park gazebo (behind the library, 55 High St.) on Wednesday, July 7, at 6:30 p.m. Visit smythpl.org/music-series.

• You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown will be at the Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) July 9 through Aug. 15, with shows daily at 7 p.m. Visit prescottpark.org.

• Children’s musician Mr. Aaron will perform a free concert in the park at The Belknap Mill (25 Beacon St. E., Laconia) on Wednesday, July 14, at 10:30 a.m. Visit belknapmill.org.

• Family-friendly indie band Bee Parks and The Hornets will perform at Canterbury Shaker Village(288 Shaker Road, Canterbury) on Sunday, July 18, at 4 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person. Call 783-9511 or visit shakers.org.

• Everlasting Characters, a group of fairytale character performers, present “Royal Ball,” a free show at the Pelham Village Green (in front of the library, 24 Village Green) on Wednesday, July 21, at 6 p.m. Visit pelhamcommunityspirit.org/sponsored-events/concerts-on-the-village-green.

• Children’s musician Steve Blunt will perform a free concert at Meetinghouse Park at Ordway Park (Main Street, Hampstead) on Wednesday, July 21, at 6 p.m. Visit hampsteadconcerts.com/concert-series.

• The Windham Actors Guild presents a youth production of Seussical outside at Windham High School (64 London Bridge Road, Windham) Thursday, July 22, through Saturday, July 24. More information is TBA. Visit windhamactorsguild.com.

• Strawbery Banke Museum (14 Hancock St., Portsmouth) hosts a kids night of outdoor entertainment featuring music by Mr. Aaron and a bubble magic show by Kali and Wayne of Sages Entertainment on Tuesday, July 27, at 5:30 p.m. The cost is $5 per person. Call 433-1100 or visit strawberybanke.org.

• Folk-rock band Knock on Wood performs a free, family-friendly concert at the Village Common Park Gazebo in Bedford (Bell Hill Road) on Wednesday, July 28, at 6 p.m. Visit bedfordreconline.com.

• Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate will perform a free show of pirate-themed kids music at Abbie Griffin Park (6 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack) on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. Visit merrimackparksandrec.org.

Outdoor fun

Watch a game, head to a farm or stroll through vibrant gardens or wooded trails.

• The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are back to 100 percent capacity at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (1 Line Drive, Manchester), and will next take on the Hartford Yard Goats during a home stand that begins Tuesday, June 15, at 6:35 p.m. Upcoming theme days include Comic-Con night on Friday, June 18, “Kids Run the Bases” on Sunday, June 20, and Sunday, July 25, and fairly regular fireworks.

• The Nashua Silver Knights recently kicked off their 2021 season and will next play at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St., Nashua) on Saturday, June 12, at 6:30 p.m., against the Norwich Sea Unicorns. Upcoming theme days include Health Care Heroes Night & Fireworks Friday on Friday, June 18, and Father’s Day Necktie Giveaway and Kids Club Sunday on Sunday, June 20. Visit nashuasilverknights.com.

• The New Hampshire Farm Museum (1305 White Mountain Hwy., Milton) will host Children’s Day on Saturday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids can get their pictures taken with the farm’s animals and try their hand at horseshoes, bean bags, hoops of grace and more. The museums annual Fourth on the Farm Fourth of July celebration will be held on Sunday, July 4, from noon to 3 p.m. Guides in period dress will be serving strawberry shortcake with homemade whipped cream on the porch, while local musicians will be performing and tractor rides will be available throughout the farm. Museum admission costs $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors over age 64, $5 for kids ages 4 and up and free for kids under age 4 and for members and active military. The Farm Museum summer hours (running through August) are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Visit nhfarmmuseum.org.

• Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (534 Route 3, Holderness) celebrates its new raptor exhibit with “All About Birds Day,” held the first Thursday of each month from July through September. There will be a pop-up Animal Encounters exhibit featuring live raptors, with naturalists standing by to answer questions. Animal Encounters will also host a pop-up exhibit on “Fur, Feathers, and Scales Day” on Thursday, July 15, featuring mammals, birds and reptiles; and at “Have to Have a Habitat Day” on Tuesday, Aug. 10, with animals that live in various kinds of habitats. The live animal exhibit and hiking trails are open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the website, where you can pre-purchase passes. Admission is $18 for adults and seniors, $13 for ages 3 to 15 and free to children ages 2 and under. Visit nhnature.org.

• Do a little hiking and see some animals at the Educational Farm at Joppa Hill (174 Joppa Hill in Bedford; theeducationalfarm.org, 472-4724) which is open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is free. A trail map is available online, as is an animal scavenger hunt. A farm stand is also open Wednesday, 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the website said.

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia, visitthefarm.com, 483-5623) features farm animals (alpacas, cows, peacocks, goats and more), some of whom you can meet in the petting zoo, and animals in the wildlife exhibits (racoon, fox, bobcat, owl), according to the website, where you can purchase tickets for $22 per person (kids 23 months and younger get in free). The farm is open to visits Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Travel back to a simpler time at Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury), a restored Shaker village and history museum with historic buildings, interactive exhibits and activities, educational programs and more. The Village grounds and trails are open every day from dawn to dusk with no admission fee. Guided tours will be offered Tuesday through Sunday starting on June 12, with outdoor general tours at 11 a.m., indoor general tours at 1 p.m., and indoor themed tours at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for general tours and $25 for themed tours and are free for visitors age 25 and under. Purchasing tickets in advance is encouraged, but walk-ins will be permitted based on availability. Call 783-9511 or visit shakers.org.

• Learn about marine life and science at the Seacoast Science Center (Odiorne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye). The museum features indoor and outdoor tide pools and touch tanks with live animals and a variety of hands-on exhibits. Exhibits currently on display examine whales and seals; coral reefs; undersea exploration and engineering; the marine habitat on the Gulf of Maine; keeping New Hampshire beaches clean and more. Current hours are Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Starting June 23, hours will expand to Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry is permitted on the hour. Getting tickets in advance is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome if space allows. Tickets cost $10 for adults and kids age 12 and up; $8 for seniors age 65 and up; $8 for active duty military and veterans; $5 for kids ages 3 through 11; and are free for kids under age 3. Call 436-8043 or visit seacoastsciencecenter.org.

• Spend the day out in nature at Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) which has more than 35 miles of maintained trails, open every day from dawn to dusk. The trails cut through diverse landscapes, including forests, fields and wetlands and are home to a variety of wildlife. Admission is free. A number of different trail maps and accompanying guidebooks with pictures for identifying wildlife are available on the website. Call 465-7787 or visit beaverbrook.org.

• The New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord) is now open to visitors, featuring live animals and exhibits, including the Reptile Room and raptor mews, and a Nature Store. Admission is free. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The trails and gardens at both the McLane Center and the Massabesic Audubon Center (26 Audubon Way, Auburn) are open daily from dawn to dusk with no admission fee. Call 224-9909 or visit nhaudubon.org.

Arts & museums

You can work a pottery wheel, see animals up close, reenact history and more at these special events and programs hosted by local museums and educational centers.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) is open Wednesday and Sunday mornings and Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings and afternoons. Go online to reserve a play session. Newly open this year is the Play Patio billed as a place for “messy creative fun,” according to the website.

• Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) offers Creative Studio, a themed art-making project for families, every second Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.. which is free for New Hampshire residents. On the third Saturday of every month, it hosts Art for Vets Family Days, where veterans and active military members and their families get free admission to the museum and can enjoy art-making activities and a complimentary lunch. Registration is required for all special events. Reserved timed tickets for the Currier are available online. The museum is open Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $15 per person ($13 for seniors, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 to 17 and free to children 12 and under). Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester) offers an all-ages family clay sculpting workshop for $25 per person and a family pottery wheel workshop for kids ages 9 and up for $30 per person every Saturday at 4, 5:15 or 5:30 p.m., depending on the day. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com.

• Join the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire for its annual “Welcome Summer” Fly-In Barbecue on Saturday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the hangar of Jet Aviation at Nashua Airport (83 Perimeter Road). Families will have the chance to check out all kinds of vintage aircraft and cars, as well as the Aviation Museum’s “Rob Holland Experience” virtual reality exhibit. A barbecue buffet will be served at the hangar at noon. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for museum members, $10 for kids ages 6 to 12 and free for kids ages 5 and under. The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission costs $10 per person ($5 for seniors, children ages 6 to 12 and veterans and active duty military; children 5 and under get in free) with a family maximum of $30. Visit aviationmuseumofnh.org.

• SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St., Manchester) celebrates its kickoff to summer with “BubbleMania,” a science and comedy show by bubble artist and performer Casey Carle, daily from Monday, June 21, through Friday, June 25. Showtimes are at 11 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. Tickets cost $5, plus admission, which is $9. SEE Science Center is currently open weekends with reserved time slots available at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Starting Monday, June 21, SEE will open seven days a week; reserve a timeslot online. Call 669-0400 or visit see-sciencecenter.org.

• The American Independence Museum (1 Governors Lane, Exeter) is presenting a modified version of its annual American Independence Festival, offering a series of in-person and virtual events, like a family camp-out on the night of Saturday, July 24, in which participants can play colonial-era games, sing 18th-century songs by the fire and more. The museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit independencemuseum.org.

At the library

Libraries across southern New Hampshire have all kinds of in-person and virtual happenings planned for this summer. Some events and activities listed below may only be open to town or city residents, library cardholders or kids who are signed up for the library’s summer reading program, so be sure to check with your local library beforehand.

Amherst Town Library

14 Main St., Amherst, 673-2288, amherstlibrary.org

• Weekly storytimes (geared toward ages 3 and up unless otherwise noted): Zoom family storytime is Tuesdays from 10 to 10:45 a.m. (next one is June 15); outdoor family storytime is Thursdays from 10 to 10:45 a.m. on the library lawn, June 17 through Aug. 12; outdoor little listeners (babies and toddlers under 3) is Fridays from 10 to 10:30 a.m. on the library lawn, June 18 through Aug. 13

• Bryson Lang, juggler extraordinaire:Monday, June 28, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the library lawn (for kids ages 4 and up; registration is required)

• Reptiles on the move: Wednesday, July 7, from 10 to 10:30 a.m. on the library lawn (for ages 5 and up; registration is required)

• Zoom pet show:Wednesday, July 14, 2 to 3 p.m. (virtual event)

• Wingmasters live animal program:Monday, July 26, from 2 to 2:45 p.m. on the library lawn (for ages 5 and up; registration is required)

Baker Free Library

509 South St., Bow, 224-7113, bowbakerfreelibrary.org

• Weekly take-home kits:Every Wednesday from June 23 to Aug. 11, participants can register for a take-home kit to learn about that week’s featured animals, take part in virtual activities and create a craft project from home. Themes include “On the Farm,” “Under the Sea,” “On the Ice” and more (kits are designed for kids entering kindergarten through grade 6).

• Virtual storytimes:Thursdays, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., June 24 through Aug. 12

• Wild About Turtles! Tuesday, June 29, from 6 to 7 p.m. (virtual event)

• Unicorns: Break the Cage:Tuesday, July 27, from 6 to 7 p.m. (virtual event)

Bedford Public Library

3 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford, 472-2300, bedfordnhlibrary.org

• Summer reading kickoff dance party:Saturday, June 12, 3 to 4 p.m.

• Weekly storytimes (registration required): Koala Kids (ages 2 to 4), Tuesdays, June 15 to July 27; Mother Goose (age 0 to 24 months), Wednesdays, June 16 to July 28, 10 to 10:30 a.m.; Lunch & Listen (ages 6 to 8), Wednesdays, June 16 to July 28, noon to 12:30 p.m.; Pop Up Storytimes (ages 6 and under), Thursdays, June 17 to July 29, 11 to 11:30 a.m.; Safari Storytimes (ages 3 to 5), Fridays, June 18 to July 30, 10 to 10:30 a.m.; all are held on the library lawn

• Wildlife Encounters:Monday, June 14, and Thursday, June 17, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. (virtual events; for ages 3 and up)

• Little Explorers: Fridays, June 18 to July 30, 3:30 to 4 p.m. (virtual events; for ages 6 to 8)

• Kamishibai storytime (ages 4 to 9): Monday, June 21, 3:30 to 4 p.m.

• Virtual Cooks & Books (ages 8 to 12): Tuesdays, June 22, June 29 and July 6, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

• Stories with Mischka, the Bedford Police comfort dog (ages 6 and under): Monday, June 28, 10 to 10:30 a.m.

• Virtual Science Rocks (ages 8 to 12): Wednesday, June 30, 4 to 5 p.m.

• Wild collage poetry (ages 8 to 12): Mondays, July 12, July 19 and July 26, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

• Messy art (ages 6 to 8): Tuesday, July 13, 1 to 1:30 p.m.

• Virtual live animal program with Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (ages 8 to 12): Tuesday, July 20, and Thursday, July 22, 3 to 4 p.m.

Brookline Public Library

16 Main St., Brookline, 673-3330, bplnh.weebly.com

• Weekly storytimes: Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Brookline Town Hall (limited to Brookline residents only)

Chester Public Library

3 Chester St., Chester, 887-3404, chesternh.org/chester-public-library

• Weekly storytimes:Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. (next one is June 15); registration is required. All ages welcome.

• Washi tape suncatchers craft (ages 11 and up): Wednesday, June 16, 6 p.m. Registration is required, and all materials are provided.

• Among Us parties: Thursdays, June 17, July 15 and Aug. 19, 4:30 p.m., all ages

Concord Public Library

45 Green St., Concord, 225-8670, onconcord.com/library

• Take and make craft: funny face frog: Kits will be available to pick up at the library from Monday, June 14, through Friday, June 18, while supplies last.

• Virtual storytime: The Beach: Wednesday, June 16, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

• Take and make craft: standing peacock tail: Kits will be available to pick up at the library from Monday, June 21, through Friday, June 25, while supplies last.

• Take and make craft: dragon tail bookmark: Kits will be available to pick up at the library from Monday, June 28, through Friday, July 2, while supplies last.

Derry Public Library

64 E. Broadway, Derry, 432-6140, derrypl.org

• Family storytimes on the patio: Mondays, 10 to 10:30 a.m. (except on July 5); registration is required

• Upper Room online story and craft time: Fridays, June 11 and June 25, 10 to 10:30 a.m.

• Summer reading kickoff party: Tuesday, June 15, all day

• Mother Goose on the Loose storytime:Thursday, June 17, 10 to 10:30 a.m.; registration is required

• Great New Hampshire animal search:Thursday, June 17, 1:30 to 2 p.m. (virtual event)

• Birding sessions: Tuesday, June 22, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• Buggy for Clothespin Bugs: Thursday, June 24, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• Drum, violin, guitar and keyboard workshop:Wednesday, June 30, 3:30 to 5 p.m., all ages

• Goin’ on Safari:Tuesday, July 6, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• Three Little Pigs STEM program:Thursday, July 8, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• Finding science in folktales: Tuesday, July 13, 1:30 to 2 p.m. (virtual event)

• Ocean fish collage: Thursday, July 15, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• Mermaids & Mateys:Thursday, July 22, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• Monkey See, Monkey Do:Tuesday, July 27, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• Campfire stories: Thursday, July 29, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Taylor Library (49 E. Derry Road, Derry)

• Get the farmyard beat: Tuesday, Aug. 10, 11 a.m. to noon, or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• End of summer party: Thursday, Aug. 12, 1 to 2:15 p.m. at MacGregor Park, directly outside the library

Dunbarton Public Library

1004 School St., Dunbarton, 774-3546, dunbartonlibrary.org

• Find a Truck family scavenger hunt: Tuesday, June 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (virtual event); scavenger hunt forms can be picked up at the library

• Children’s musician Mr. Aaron: Wednesday, June 30, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

• Reading to therapy dogs (grades 1 through 4): Thursday, July 15, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; registration is required

• Virtual program with the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center: Tuesday, July 20, 1:30 p.m.

Griffin Free Public Library

22 Hooksett Road, Auburn, 483-5374, griffinfree.org

• Weekly storytimes on the patio: Tuesdays, 11 a.m. (next one is June 15); registration is required

Hollis Social Library

2 Monument Square, Hollis, 465-7721, hollislibrary.org

• Music & Movement with Miss Jackie: Friday, June 11, 11 a.m. to noon at Little Nichols Field, just outside the library

• DIY mystery craft kit: Wednesday, June 16, 11 to 11:30 a.m.; kits available for pick up at the library

• Summer reading kickoff party: Monday, June 28, 2 to 4 p.m. at Lawrence Barn Community Center (28 Depot Road, Hollis)

Hooksett Public Library

31 Mount Saint Mary’s Way, Hooksett, 485-6092, hooksettlibrary.org

• Weekly storytimes (registration is required): outdoor family storytimes: Wednesdays, 10 to 10:30 a.m., June 23 to July 28; baby rhymes with Miss Lori: Tuesdays, 9:30 to 10 a.m., June 22 to July 27

• Kickoff to summer reading with Mr. Aaron: Friday, June 18, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• Bubble party: Monday, June 21, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., or 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Kids cook (ages 5 and up): Mondays, July 12, July 19 and July 26, 11 a.m. to noon

• Tie-dye day: Friday, July 16, 10 to 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 to 3 p.m. (open to Hooksett Library cardholders only)

Kelley Library

234 Main St., Salem, 898-7064, kelleylibrary.org

• Weekly outdoor storytime (ages 3 to 5): Wednesdays, June 23 to July 28, out on the library lawn

• Robotics programs (ages 7 to 10): Thursdays, June 24, July 8 and July 22, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., registration is required

• Pet show (ages 3 to 12): Tuesday, June 29, 4 to 4:30 p.m. (virtual event)

• STEM build & play programs (ages 4 to 6): Thursdays, July 1, July 15 and July 29, 4:30 to 5 p.m.

• Fairytale costume contest (ages 3 to 12): Tuesday, July 13, 4 to 4:30 p.m. (virtual event)

• Rockabye beats (ages 5 and under): Thursday, July 15, 10 to 11 a.m. (virtual event)

Leach Library

276 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 432-1132, londonderrynh.org

• Craft time: Monday, June 14, 10 a.m. (virtual event); craft kits are available for pick up at the library

• Virtual children’s storytime: Monday, June 28, 10 a.m.

Maxfield Public Library

8 Route 129, Loudon, 798-5153, maxfieldlibrary.com

• Summer reading kickoff event: Magic Show with Mike Bent: Saturday, June 26, 11 a.m.

• Live animal event with Squam Lakes Natural Science Center: Saturday, Aug. 7, 11 a.m.

Manchester City Library

Main Branch, 405 Pine St., Manchester, 624-6550; West Branch, 76 Main St., Manchester, 624-6560, manchester.lib.nh.us

• Weekly craft sessions (ages 2 and up): Mondays, 10 to 10:30 a.m., and 3 to 3:30 p.m. (virtual events; next one is June 21; no sessions on July 5)

• Family storytimes (ages 2 to 5): Tuesdays, 10 to 10:45 a.m. (virtual events; next one is June 22)

• Paddy scavenger hunt: Tuesdays, 3 to 3:30 p.m. (virtual events; next one is June 22)

• Mystery afternoons: Wednesdays, 3 to 3:30 p.m. (virtual events; next one is June 23)

• Messy animal art (ages 2 to 9): Thursdays, 10 to 10:45 a.m. (virtual events; next one is June 24)

• Stories and puppets (ages 2 to 5): Fridays, 10 to 10:45 a.m. (virtual events; next one is June 25)

• Create and tell science afternoon (grades 3 to 6): Fridays, 3 to 3:45 p.m. (virtual events; next ons is June 25)

• Lego weekend: Saturdays, 10 to 10:45 a.m. (virtual events; next one is June 26)

• Teens’ sloth paper take-home craft event: Main Branch, Monday, June 28; materials are available for pickup between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

• Teens’ seed bomb take-home craft event: Main Branch, Monday, July 12; materials are available for pickup between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

• Teen event: Summer Olympics trivia: Wednesday, July 21, 3 to 4:45 p.m. (virtual event)

• Teens’ loom friendship bracelet take-home craft event: Main Branch, Monday, July 26; materials are available for pickup between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

• Teen event: Escape room: Wednesday, July 28, 3 to 4:45 p.m. (virtual event)

Merrimack Public Library

470 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-5021, merrimacklibrary.org

• Monthly “Elementary Explorers” STEM program: one Thursday per month, from 3:30 to 4 p.m. (next one is June 17)

• Weekly storytimes: Facebook Live storytime (ages 6 and under): Mondays and Fridays, 10:30 to 11 a.m. (next dates are June 21 and June 25, respectively; Read-aloud book club: Tuesdays, June 22 to Aug. 31, 3:30 to 4 p.m. (virtual); Sleepy Stories: Tuesdays, June 22 to Aug. 31, 7:30 p.m. (virtual); Books & Babies (ages 2 and under): Thursdays, June 24 to Aug. 12, 10:30 to 11 a.m. (virtual); Outta School Stories: Thursdays, July 1 and Aug. 5, 3:30 to 4 p.m.

• Tween baking challenge (ages 8 to 13): Thursday, June 17, 5 to 5:15 p.m. (virtual event)

• Teen fandom trivia night: Friday, June 18, 7 to 8:30 p.m. (virtual event)

• Messy Mondays with Miss Jenny: Mondays, June 21 to Aug. 16, 12:30 p.m. (virtual events)

• Musical Me: Tuesdays, June 22 to Aug. 10, 10:30 to 11 a.m. (virtual events)

• Summer reading kickoff concert: Wednesday, June 23, 6 to 8 p.m.

• Animal tracks scavenger hunt: Tuesday, July 6, through Friday, July 9, and Monday, July 12, and Tuesday, July 13, 10:30 a.m.

• Wildlife Encounters: Tuesday, July 13, 6 p.m. (virtual)

• Outdoor Pokemon party: Friday, July 16, 1 to 3 p.m.

• Teddy bear picnic: Wednesday, Aug. 4, noon to 12:45 p.m.

• End of summer reading concert with Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate: Wednesday, Aug. 11, 6 to 8 p.m.

Nashua Public Library

2 Court St., Nashua, 589-4600, nashualibrary.org

• Weekly virtual storytimes: Mondays, 10:30 a.m. (next one is June 14)

• Monthly Babies & Books storytime: next one is Thursday, June 10, at 11 a.m.

• Virtual field trip to the Houston Zoo: Tuesday, June 22, 2 to 3 p.m.

• Take and make crafts: Various dates; next one is Monday, June 28

• Animal-themed yoga: Tuesday, July 20, 2 to 3 p.m. (virtual event)

• Wildlife Encounters program: Wednesday, July 21, 6 to 7 p.m.

• Jack: Kid Conservationist: Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2 p.m. (virtual event)

Nesmith Library

8 Fellows Road, Windham, 432-7154, nesmithlibrary.org

• Music with Mr. Aaron: Thursday, June 10, 10:30 a.m. (virtual event)

• Kids’ take-home craft: Monday, June 14; materials are available for pickup at the library from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• June toddler time (ages 3 and under): Monday, June 14, 10:30 a.m., out on the library lawn

• June preschool storytime (ages 3 to 5): Thursday, June 17, 10:30 a.m., out on the library lawn

Pembroke Town Library

313 Pembroke St., Pembroke, 485-7851, pembroke-nh.com/library

• Summer reading kickoff program: Drive-thru ice cream social: Wednesday, June 23, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., all ages

• Craft Crew (ages 7 and up): Mondays, June 28 to July 26, 3 p.m., registration is required

• Weekly storytime (ages 2 and up): Tuesdays, June 29 to July 27, 10:30 a.m., registration is required

• Lego club (ages 6 and up): Wednesdays, June 30 to July 21, 3 p.m., registration is required

Rodgers Memorial Library

194 Derry Road, Hudson, 886-6030, rodgerslibrary.org

• Tween candy bar bingo (grades 4 through 8): Thursday, June 17, 3 to 4 p.m.

• Teen candy bar bingo (grades 7 through 12): Thursday, June 17, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

• Welcome summer party with Steve Blunt: Friday, June 18, 4:30 to 7 p.m.

• Tween laser tag (grades 4 through 8): Friday, June 18, 8 to 9 p.m.

• Teen laser tag (grades 7 through 12): Friday, June 18, 9:30 to 10:30 p.m.

• Picture Book Posse programs: Mondays, June 21 to July 26, 10 a.m.

• Curious Kids programs: Mondays, June 21 to July 26, 1 p.m.

• Story Safari programs at Benson’s Park (19 Kimball Hill Road, Hudson): Tuesdays at 10 a.m., Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Thursdays at 10 a.m., dates offered June 22 to July 29

• Virtual snack attack (ages 4 through 12): Tuesdays, June 22 to July 27, 3:30 p.m.

• Virtual teen gaming club (grades 7 through 12): Tuesdays, June 22 to July 27, 3:30 p.m.

• Virtual pajamas and picture books (ages 3 to 7): Tuesdays, June 22 to July 27, 7 p.m.

• Mythical creature storytimes (grades 3 through 6): Wednesdays, June 23 to July 28, 10 a.m.

• “Tween Scene” DIY craft programs (grades 4 through 8): Wednesdays, June 23 to July 28, 1 p.m.

• “Teens Only” DIY craft programs (grades 7 through 12): Wednesdays, June 23 to July 28, 3 p.m.

• Virtual gaming club (ages 6 to 11): Thursdays, June 24 to July 29, 3:30 p.m.

• Songs and snuggles (ages 2 and under): Fridays, June 25 to July 30, 10 a.m.

• Creative kids (grades 1 through 5): Fridays, June 25 to July 30, 1 p.m.

• Virtual Minecraft club (ages 7 and up): Fridays, June 25 to July 30, 3:30 p.m.

• Family yoga (ages 8 and up): Saturday, June 26, at 10 a.m., out on the library lawn

• First Friday family candy bingo: Friday, July 2, 6:30 p.m. (virtual event)

Wadleigh Memorial Library

49 Nashua St., Milford, 249-0645, wadleighlibrary.org

• Baby lapsit: Fridays, 11 a.m. (next one is June 11), no registration required

• Family storytimes: Mondays, 10 a.m. (next one is June 14), space is limited to the first 25 people

• Pinecone animals craft event (ages 4 to 11): Wednesday, June 16, 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m.

• Music with Mr. Aaron (ages 10 and under): Wednesday, June 23, 10 to 11 a.m. Space is first-come, first-served and limited to 50 people.

• Tape resist painting craft event (ages 4 to 11): Wednesday, June 30, 1 to 2 p.m.

• Wildlife Encounters event (ages 3 to 11): Wednesday, July 7, 10 to 11 a.m.

• Billy Goats Gruff STEM program (ages 4 to 11): Wednesday, July 14, 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m.

• Bird house painting program (ages 4 to 11): Wednesday, July 21, 1 p.m. or 2:30 p.m.

• “Once Upon a Slime” program (ages 4 to 11): Wednesday, July 28, 1 p.m. or 2:30 p.m.

• End of summer reading party with ice cream and games: Friday, July 30, 3 p.m., all ages

Weare Public Library

10 Paige Memorial Lane, Weare, 529-2044, wearepubliclibrary.com

• Summer reading kickoff party: Thursday, June 24, 6:30 p.m., all ages

• Pickleball with the Weare Pickleball Club (ages 6 and up): Saturday, June 26, 1:30 p.m.

Whipple Free Library

67 Mont Vernon Road, New Boston, 487-3391, whipplefreelibrary.org

• Weekly storytimes: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m., dates offered June 21 to July 30

• Nighttime stories: Monday, July 12, and Monday, July 26, 6:30 p.m.

• Craft a story (junior book club program): Monday, July 12, 6:30 p.m.

• Special teen programs: Fridays, 6 p.m., beginning June 25; programs include a movie night, an open mic/karaoke night, a trivia night and more

Why you might want to add a companionable kid, some laid-back alpacas and other animals to your family

Maybe you’ve dreamed of owning goats that could mow your lawn, a donkey for companionship, or snails that will suck the algae off your fish tank. New Hampshire animal owners and caretakers shared their expertise on nine non-traditional “pets” and what it takes to give them a proper home. Note that zoning laws and rules about keeping nontraditional animals may vary by community, so be sure to check with your town or city hall before purchasing a new animal or altering your property.

Alpacas

Why you might want them: Not to be confused with llamas, alpacas are much smaller animals that were bred specifically for their fiber rather than for packing.

“Llamas have fiber, but mostly only around their mid-waist. Alpacas are strictly fiber animals,” said Barbie Tilton of Someday Farm in Canterbury, which is currently home to six alpacas.

According to Sandy Warner of Granite State Alpacas, based in Hampton Falls, alpacas are considered the easiest large livestock animal to care for because they require the least input from owners.

“[They] are hypoallergenic animals and their fiber and finished products are ideal for anyone who has wool allergies,” Warner said in an email. “Their coats are also naturally wicking, odor-resistant, and anti-static.”

There are two fleece types, according to Wendy Lundquist of Snow Pond Farm in Windham — Suri, which is characterized by its dreadlock-like fibers, and Huacaya, which look more like fluffy teddy bears.

What they do most of the time: According to Megan Long, whose family owns Nodrog Farms in Barrington, alpacas are very laid back animals that mostly eat, sleep or sunbathe in warm weather.

“Occasionally you will see them pronking around the yard, but mostly they are an easygoing animal,” Long said.

Ideal amount of space: Like with any other herd animals, Warner said the more space the better. Multiple pastures are ideal, with separate pastures to keep males and females apart.

“I’d say two [alpacas] are good, but three is company. The more the merrier,” Tilton said. “They like to be in a herd with a whole bunch of other alpacas.”

Smallest possible amount of space: Warner said she recommends at least one acre per two to three alpacas.

Their needs: Alpacas need shelter from wind and the elements, with at least a run-in shelter if not also a barn.

“They need to be shorn once a year, or they can be overheated in the summer wearing their winter wool,” Warner said.

Tilton said her alpacas also get ivermectin shots at least every 30 days, to protect them from a deadly parasite known as the meningeal worm that passes through feces in deer.

What you need to do for them: Alpacas should always have fresh hay, fresh water, grain, mineral supplements, toenail trimming and annual shearing. Similar to cats, Warner said, they can be aloof by nature.

“The more time you spend with them the more social they become,” she said.

Cost (of animal and upkeep): Long said that, on average, it costs about $500 per year for each individual animal.

Lifespan: Alpacas can live up to 20 years or longer, according to Warner.

Occasional animal: You can also contact a local alpaca farm or animal shelter to see if they have any alpacas that may need to be fostered, Long said.

Just looking: Some farms, including both Someday Farm, Snow Pond Farm and Nodrog Farms, welcome visitors if you contact them ahead of time. Others have also visited local farmers markets in the past — Everything Alpaca of Milford, for example, has brought its alpacas to the Milford Farmers Market.

Chickens

Why you might want them: Matt Gelbwaks of Julie’s Happy Hens in Mont Vernon said the benefits of chickens are that the hens will give you an egg a day, year-round; they produce high-quality fertilizer; they will remove bugs and grubs from around your garden and outdoor plants; and they are “mostly docile and pleasant … and Instagram-ready.”

What they do most of the time: Gelbwaks said chickens mostly wander around, investigating their surroundings, occasionally stopping to “dust bathe,” a form of self-cleaning in which they roll around in the dirt, then vigorously shake the dirt off. This helps them to remove any harmful bugs or parasites, keep their feathers clean by removing excess oil and shed old feathers.

Their needs: The ideal amount of space for chickens is 3 square feet per bird, or letting them free range on your whole yard.

“The more space they have, the less harsh they will be on their space,” Gelbwaks said. “If you give them the minimum, they will eat everything and reduce it to a dust bowl within a month or two.”

You could manage with as little as 1 to 2 square feet per bird, but only if you’re prepared to give them lots of attention.

“If you talk to them every day and remind them that you are taking care of their every need, they will be happy [with less space],” Gelbwaks said. “The less you actively engage with them, the more space they will need.”

Because chickens are prey animals, they need some kind of draft-free shelter in their space where they can hang out and sleep safely, out of reach of predators.

“They need a place to hide and feel secure,” Gelbwaks said. “Lots of things scare them.”

Their food and water should be in close proximity to the shelter. They need about one-third to one-half a pound of chicken feed a day, with some additives, such as oyster shell, for the aging chickens. As for their water, a simple dish is fine, but expect to have to “change it constantly,” Gelbwaks said, as chickens tend to dirty water very quickly.

What they cost: You can buy a baby chick for just a couple of bucks, though the price goes up if you’re looking into “rare, fancy ones,” Gelbwaks said. Hens range from $10 to $30, depending on their age; pullets — hens that are just about to hit egg-laying age — are on the higher end, while older hens are on the lower end. The initial setup could be as inexpensive as $50, depending on what kind of space you’re working with, but, Gelbwaks said, the sky’s the limit on how elaborate you want to get.

“Many people pay way too much and get ultra-fancy coops that rival their kids’ playhouses,” he said.

Their lifespan: Three to five years, depending on the breed.

If you aren’t ready to commit: You can rent chickens, Gelbwaks said, but once they’ve lived on a private property it’s nearly impossible to reintegrate them into a commercial flock, so they’ll most likely get culled. If you just want to see some chickens, most local farms are happy to accommodate, Gelbwaks said.

Goats

Why you might want them: Goats can be fun companion animals that are easy to care for, just as long as you have a good fence to keep them in, said Teresa Paradis, founder and executive director of Live & Let Live Farm in Chichester. Goats can also be kept for a variety of reasons, from their milk to their meat or fiber.

What they do most of the time: Goats love hiking and spending time with their human companions, Paradis said. They love eating brush, poison ivy, unwanted thorn bushes and other problem growth you’d like to get rid of naturally without the use of pesticides.

Ideal amount of space: The more space you have the better. Noreen Rollins of Tilton Hill Goat Farm in Danbury said it’s best to have at least 5 acres of space available for goats.

According to Briana Desfosses of Fox’s Pride Dairy Goats in Mont Vernon, goats tend to prefer wooded areas or areas with brush.

“They don’t need nearly the [same] amount of space as sheep or other larger animals like horses or cows,” she said. “Many people keep a small handful of pet goats in their backyard.”

Smallest possible amount of space: Paradis said because goats are herding animals, it’s ideal to house at least between two to three of them together.

“You could house several goats on less than 2 acres of land and a proper enclosure [or] barn as long as they are allowed … in your city or town,” she said.

Their needs: A goat’s main source of food is shrubbery and hay. Paradis said they should also be checked for parasites and treated with an ivermectin injection yearly. Hoof trimming care can be done every few months, depending on the space they have to move around in that would wear their hooves down.

What you need to do for them: Rollins said goats require sufficient feed and shelter, and their fibers should be removed at least once a year.

Cost (of animal and upkeep): Depending on the natural food sources you have available, Paradis said the average goat may cost approximately $40 to $50 per month.

For goats that are producing milk, Desfosses said you’ll likely be spending a lot more on grain, as well as all sorts of supplements and veterinary care.

Lifespan: Goats typically live anywhere from 12 to 20 years, according to Paradis.

Occasional animal: Some local shelters, like Live & Let Live Farm and the New Hampshire SPCA, may have opportunities to adopt or foster farm animals, including goats. A few spots, like Gap Mountain Goats of Marlborough, have even offered their goats up for rent to eat your poison ivy, weeds or other unwanted vegetation, while at Jenness Farm in Nottingham there are baby goat yoga classes available for adults. Desfosses said some herds may lease their animals to partake in 4-H youth shows.

Just looking: Sunday guided tours at Live & Let Live Farm were temporarily suspended due to the pandemic, but according to Paradis, they will likely start back up in mid-June. Other spots, like Tilton Hill Goat Farm, may open to visitors with prior notice.

Guineafowl

Why you might want them: Guineafowl lay eggs seasonally, from May through September, Gelbwaks said, and the eggs are made up of a different protein than chicken eggs, making them safe for most people with regular egg allergies to eat. They eat ticks, and they are usually the first to alert you if there is something amiss on your property. That being said, they are also “loud, noisy and obnoxious,” Gelbwaski said.

“It takes a particular seriousness to want to keep guineas,” he said, adding that they can also be a bit dimwitted. “They run around and often forget they have wings and need to be let into a gate they just flew over.”

What they do most of the time: Run around, “looking for things to bark at,” Gelbwaski said, and digging around for bugs and seeds to eat.

Their needs: Guineas hate being contained and need to be able to roam free, Gelbwaks said. “They go where they want, and once they pattern on your roosting space, they come back,” he said. “Some hang out on our property while others range a mile or so.”

You still need to provide a draft-free shelter for the guineas to find refuge from predators and to roost. Give them water, and supplement their foraging with some feed.

What they cost: They only cost a few bucks, but it’s essential that you buy them as keets (babies) if you want them to stay on your property, Gelbwaks said.

“It’s really hard to repattern adult guineas,” he said. “If you want to start a flock, get keets and rear them in the location you want them to pattern to.”

Their lifespan: About five years, assuming they don’t get snatched up by a predator, which they often do, Gelbwaks said.

If you aren’t ready to commit: “Again, you can’t repattern adults, so once you get them you’re kind of stuck with them,” Gelbwaks said. If you want to see what guineas are like, your best bet is to visit a local farm that has them.

Horses, ponies and donkeys

Why you might want them: Horses and ponies may be among the more costly animals to own but are also among the most spiritual and intelligent, according to Paradis. Ponies should not be confused with mini horses, which have been bred down to size through the years to produce smaller breeds.

Donkeys are also highly intelligent and have a strong sense of self-preservation, said Ann Firestone, president and co-founder of Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue in South Acworth.

“As a rule, they are very friendly, people-oriented animals that have often been described as therapeutic due to their gentle, patient nature,” she said.

What they do most of the time: Horses and donkeys like to spend their time grazing — in the natural world, Paradis said, horses move around and graze for about 20 hours a day, sleeping for about three to four hours in 15- to 20-minute increments during the day.

Ideal amount of space: The average stall for horses and donkeys is 10 by 10 feet. Ideally, they should have at least one acre of space.

Smallest possible amount of space: At a minimum, Paradis said horses should have a sturdy three-sided shelter with a roof that they can freely move in and out of at will, or even a barn with an outside door that can lead into the pasture. The outside space, similarly, should be at least large enough for them to get into a good run to stretch, roll and play in.

“A dry lot area with a nice pasture to go out in is ideal,” she said.

Their needs: Paradis said you need to have a good source of hay. An average-sized horse eats an average-sized bale of hay, around 40 to 45 pounds, every two days, with ponies and mini horses eating much less. Donkeys, according to Firestone, have a diet of hay, barley straw and a vitamin-mineral supplement.

What you need to do for them: Jade Place of Weare, who adopted her pet horse from Live & Let Live Farm in 2001, said regular upkeep includes hoof trimming every six to eight weeks, as well as ongoing monitoring for parasites and yearly dental checks. Horses and ponies also need to be kept dry during inclement weather to prevent fungal infections such as rain rot.

Generally, if there are no emergencies, a horse is seen by its equine veterinarian about once a year. They should be checked over daily for things like cuts and ticks.

Cost (of animal and upkeep): For donkeys, Firestone said annual vaccinations will run you about $200 and dental visits at $100 or more. The cost of feed will depend on the size of your animal.

Lifespan: Donkeys live for about 30 years on average, Firestone said. Paradis said horses can live 30 to 40 years or more.

Occasional animal: Live & Let Live Farm offers horse fostering, which includes inspections for appropriate homes and facilities. Many other local farms and ranches offer horse or pony rides and lessons.

Just looking: Firestone said Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue allows visitors by appointment only — appointments can be made by calling, emailing or sending a message on social media. Live & Let Live Farm is also expected to resume its weekly guided tours later this month.

Peafowl

Why you might want them: Gelbwaks said peafowl such as peacocks are “an acquired taste and a commitment.”

“They have very individual personalities but don’t often really like to socialize,” he said. “They are, however, quite striking to look at.”

What they do most of the time: Male peafowl are very vain, Gelbwaks said, and spend most of their time preening and trying to look good, while the female peafowl are very dismissive and spend most of their time playing hard-to-get with the male peafowl.

Their needs: Peafowl like to travel and need to be able to free range.

“You can keep a pea in a large cage, but they do not flourish, and they tend to mope and be unhappy all of the time,” Gelbwaks said.

They need food, water and a draft-free shelter where they can keep their feet out of the snow, since they are very susceptible to frostbite.

If you’re looking to spoil them, Gelbwaks said, feed them cheese.

“No one knows why, but peas seem to love cheese,” he said. “It’s the only thing they’ll eat out of our hands, and when they see us with some, they’ll come running from wherever they are.”

Peas also have a strong need for attention and adoration, “even if it’s just the occasional encouragement on their fanned tails or nicely groomed feathers,” Gelbwaks said.

“Don’t expect anything in return,” he said. “Secretly, they always harbor the desire to come and nuzzle, but peer pressure won’t allow them to do so.”

What they cost: Peafowl eggs can cost $10 to $30 per egg and are “notoriously hard to hatch” and keep alive during the first week, Gelbwaks said. Chicks can cost $25 to $50 each. Adults may cost $100 to $500, depending on their coloring.

Their lifespan: 25 to 40 years in the wild, but may be shorter when domesticated.

If you aren’t ready to commit: “Many zoos and parks have them in residence,” Gelbwaks said. “It’s best to go visit them there.”

Pigs

Why you might want them: Pigs are one of the smartest animals you can own as a pet and, contrary to the stereotype of a pig pen being messy, are actually very clean animals, said Holly Kimball of Beech Hill Farm in Hopkinton.

What they do most of the time: According to Kimball, many hours of a pig’s day are spent resting or sunbathing. A layer of mud or dirt that a pig may roll around in actually acts as a form of sunscreen, she said, because their skin sunburns very easily.

Rachel Savoie and her husband Kyle of Nashua adopted a pet pig named Cindy Lou from the New Hampshire SPCA two years ago. She said Cindy Lou, who is estimated to be about 3 years old, will sleep for a majority of the day and will often burrow underneath blankets.

“She has a whole bedroom, and at night she likes to roam around,” she said.

Ideal amount of space: Kimball said pigs require enough space to exercise, and they also need a designated bathroom area that is well apart from their eating and sleeping areas.

Their needs: Because of their skin pigmentation, pigs must always have protection from the sun.

What you need to do for them: Kimball said it’s important for piglets to be wormed and receive certain shots according to veterinarian recommendations. They also need clean bedding, ample grain, fresh water and shelter.

Savoie said her pet pig’s diet includes pig pellets, a large serving of fruits and vegetables, like tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots, and candied peppermints as treats.

“Her hooves are trimmed twice a year, and she goes to the vet once a year for a regular visit,” she said.

Cost (of animal and upkeep): Between the food and medical care, Savoie estimated the overall upkeep of a pet pig to be more than that of a dog each year. Kimball said it can be even more expensive if you’re raising pigs for the purpose of meat.

Lifespan: Savoie said a pig’s lifespan is between 15 and 20 years, depending on the breed type.

Occasional animal: You can contact a local farm or animal shelter to see if they have any pigs that may need to be fostered.

Just looking: During Beech Hill Farm’s summer season, which began May 1 and runs through Oct. 31, visitors are welcome to come see and learn about each of the farm animals. Other local farms with pigs may welcome visitors if you contact them ahead of time.

Rabbit snails

Why you might want them: “Some people like collecting different snails and critters,” said Michael Gioia, owner of Fish Mike Aquatics in Manchester. “Others may use them inside aquariums as a cleanup crew to eat algae and uneaten fish food.”

What they do most of the time: Crawl around, sometimes burrowing into the sand.

Their needs: These freshwater aquatic snails need a 10- to 20-gallon tank, Gioia said, with specific water temperatures and pH levels, depending on the species.

“An owner would require a cycled aquarium, as well as basic aquarium care knowledge to keep them healthy,” he said.

You can feed them regular commercial food used for fish and snails.

What they cost: A 20-gallon aquarium setup starts at around $100, which includes a filter, heater, tank, some gravel and a cheap light, Gioia said, but more elaborate setups can get expensive. The ongoing cost is minimal — just enough to cover food, replacement filters and water additives.

Their lifespan: 1 to 3 years.

If you aren’t ready to commit: You can go check them out at a public aquarium or local pet store that sells aquariums, Gioia said.

Worms

Why you might want them: Certain types of worms, like red wigglers, can be used for composting.

Joan O’Connor, a worm composter in Henniker, said you can feed worms non-citrus fruits, vegetables, eggshells, coffee grounds, tea bags, paper products and other organic waste that would otherwise get thrown in the trash.

“They could eat and process a pound of garbage in a week or so,” she said. “They’re your workers.”

Not only are you doing something good for the environment, O’Connor said, but you’re also rewarded with a rich, natural fertilizer for your personal use.

“You can take handfuls of this stuff and add it to your houseplants, your tomato plants, your gardens, your rhododendron bush outside,” she said.

What they do most of the time: “They just sit there, hang out, and eat your garbage … and if you keep them happy, they’ll reproduce,” O’Connor said.

Their needs: For your initial setup, O’Connor said, get a large plastic storage container that’s a couple of feet deep and drill some holes in the bottom for excess moisture to drain. Fill it with alternating layers of shredded newspaper and peat moss. Lay a window screen, mesh or thin fabric over the top of the container and wrap a bungee cord around it to keep the worms from escaping.

The key to keeping your worms alive, O’Connor said, is maintaining a temperature between 60 and 80 degrees.

“They’re very low-maintenance, but you’ve got to watch that temperature,” she said. “If they get too cold or too hot they’ll start to slow down.”

You don’t have to think too hard about how much you feed them, O’Connor said; worms don’t need to eat as much as they like to eat.

“If anything, overfeed them,” she said. “It makes them happy, and it makes them step up and keep [composting] for you.”

What they cost: A pound of worms, which is a good starting amount, O’Connor said, ranges from $20 to $50 online.

Their lifespan: An individual worm lives for weeks to months but will reproduce, so you’ll always have worms.

If you aren’t ready to commit: Try them out, and if it’s not for you, you should have no difficulty finding someone to take your worms off your hands, O’Connor said.

“Give them to a science teacher, a garden club, your neighbor, anyone with a green thumb,” she said.