The Museum of Work & Culture, a museum of the Rhode Island Historical Society, will offer a Summer Reading Book Club for children ages 8-12, featuring the book Lyddie by Katherine Paterson on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, 11 am - 1 pm.
Lyddie is a historical fiction novel by two-time Newbery Award-winning author Katherine Paterson. The story follows Lyddie, a 13-year-old girl who leaves her family's struggling Vermont farm in search of work in the textile mills of Lowell, Massachusetts. But when she arrives, she learns that the promise of good wages and better opportunities might not be the salvation she was hoping for.
Book club participants will receive a copy of the book, along with bi-weekly discussion questions that include historical background information, designed to encourage critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the historical, social, and economic factors that influenced Lyddie's life. On Tuesday, August 11, from 11 am to 1 pm, join museum educators for a book discussion, pizza party, and escape room-style challenge to help Lyddie escape the mills!
This program is designed for ages 8-12. The fee is $18 and includes a copy of the book, the discussion questions, and a pizza party. Registration is required, and seats are limited. Books will be available to pick up at the Museum of Work & Culture beginning July 7th, during the museum's open hours.
The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state's oldest and only statewide historical organization, is dedicated to honoring, interpreting and sharing Rhode Island's past to enrich the present and inspire the future. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st -century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center and the Aldrich House.
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