ATHOL — Exuberant though retired from teaching elementary school, Bonnie Benjamin will read “The Littlest Pet” by the late Deborah Fowler MacKay beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, in the children’s room of Athol Public Library.
Haley’s released “The Littlest Pet in cooperation with Donald M. MacKay, the late author’s husband. Young children and adults will enjoy the book about a ladybug named Dottie, according to the publisher.
For more than 45 years, Benjamin has been part of the North Quabbin community as a parent, first-grade teacher, swim teacher at the Athol Area YMCA, Girl Scout leader, church leader, and producer for Athol-Orange Community Television. AOTV will film the Feb. 9 reading in anticipation of broadcast on AOTV. WVOA, the radio station associated with AOTV, and YouTube will also eventually broadcast the reading.
With her husband Al, whom she calls her “number-one supporter,” Benjamin directed Camp Wiyaka in Richmond, New Hampshire, for 13 years. Al Benjamin, fondly called Mr. B, served as music educator for many years in the Athol-Royalston Regional School District.
“I look forward to doing what I love to do — reading to young children,” Bonnie Benjamin said. “It will be fun to read Deb MacKay’s gentle adventure story of a ladybug that seems like a tiny pet. Oh, the places that ladybug can go will have little ones guessing where she will hide next. Just like those real-life ladybugs that have found secret winter hiding places in our homes.
“And,” she added, “you can almost be sure there will be a song or game to try when Mrs. B is reading!”
The late Deborah MacKay managed the gift shop for many years at Athol Memorial Hospital. Donald MacKay, a retired tool-making executive and veteran of the United States Air Force, served on the boards of directors of the YMCA and Athol Savings Bank. He was a member of the Athol and Athol-Royalston Regional School District committees. He served on the advisory committee for the Athol Salvation Army. He and his late wife have four adult children.
Copies of The Littlest Pet will be on sale at the reading, with a portion of proceeds going to Friends of Athol Public Library. The book is also available online and at Haley’s.
Bonnie Benjamin said she plans to orchestrate a craft project with attendees at the Feb. 9 reading.
Deborah Bix of Miller Falls illustrated “The Littlest Pet.”