Torrington Library
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Storybooks Through The Ages

Sketch of the velveteen rabbit by mural artist Marc StolfiOriginal mural sketch by Marc Stolfi

​Storybooks Through the Ages is an expansive, 397 square foot mural in the NEW Children’s Room that traces the history of children’s literature from Aesop’s Fables up through modern day classics like Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. With colorful illustrations, this vibrant addition to the Children’s Room is not only visually stimulating, but also a valuable teaching tool, emphasizing the significance of  literature throughout the ages. 
 
Storybooks Through the Ages is more than just a mural. Hidden within the captivating paintings by local artist Marc Stolfi, you will find historic Torrington landmarks and significant objects created in Torrington throughout its 275+ year history.
 
Children are encouraged to search for these landmarks and items in an ongoing scavenger hunt.  There is a handout with the history of each building and item– strengthening our patrons' understanding of Torrington and its rich history!
​



Storybook Features

1484 - Aesop's Fables 
1697 - Mother Goose
1719 - Robinson Crusoe 
1726 - Gulliver's Travels 
1823 - Grimm's Fairy Tales
1864 - Journey to the Center of the Earth 
1865 - Alice in Wonderland 
1868 - Little Women 
1876 - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 
1877 - Black Beauty
1881 - The Adventures of Pinocchio
1883 - Treasure Island 
1884 - Huckleberry Finn
1894 - Jungle Book 
1900 - Wizard of Oz 
1902 - The Tale of Peter Rabbit 
1906 - Peter Pan 
1908 - Anne of Green Gables 
​1908 - The Wind in the Willows 
1911 - The Secret Garden 
1922 - Velveteen Rabbit 
1926 - Winnie the Pooh 
1937 - The Hobbit 
1939 - Goodnight Moon 
1939 - Madeline 
1941 - Curious George
1943 - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 
1945 - Stuart Little
1950 - The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe 
1951 - Catcher in the Rye 
1952 - Charlotte's Web 
1955 - Eloise 
1956 - How the Grinch Stole Christmas 
1957 - The Cat in the Hat 
1958 - Paddington Bear 
​1962 - The Snowy Day 
1963 - Where the Wild Things Are 
1963 - Clifford the Big Red Dog 
1963 - Amelia Bedelia
1967 - The Outsiders 
1969 - The Very Hungry Caterpillar 
1970 - Frog and Toad are Friends
1974 - My Brother Sam is Dead
1974 - Where the Sidewalk Ends
1977 - Bridge to Terabithia 
1985 - The Polar Express 
1985 - If You Give a Mouse a Cookie 
1986 - Magic School Bus
1986 - Franklin the Turtle 
1988 - Matilda 
1992 - Rainbow Fish 
1993 - The Giver 
1998 - Harry Potter
1999 - Lemony Snicket
2000 - Magic Tree House series 
2000 - Pigeon/Elephant/Piggie
2005 - Fancy Nancy 
2007 - Diary of a Wimpy Kid
2008-  Pete the Cat 
2015 - Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Check out this video of the completed project!

Historic Landmarks

logo for torrington historical society and link to website

​To read a history of the historic landmarks of hidden items featured in our mural, click here! scavenger_hunt_brochure.pdf

Histories are compliments of the Torrington Historical Society. 

Visit the Historical Society for information!
 

Charlotte Hungerford Hospital
Christmas Village 
City Hall 
​Coe Park 
Fuessenich Park 
John Brown Birthplace 
Manufacturers Block: 
  • Torrington Company
  • Hendey Machine Company
  • Warrenton Woolen Mill
  • Turner and Seymour
  • Torrington Brass Company
  • Union Hardware Company
Naugatuck River / Flood of 1955 
North School/Torrington PD 
​Skee’s Diner 
Strong/Fowler House (Oldest Standing House in
   Torrington!) 
Torrington Historical Society/Hotchkiss-Fyler House
    Museum 
Underground Railroad House (Uriel Tuttle House on Torringford St) 
Water Street Fire House 
Warner Theatre 
​Yankee Peddlar/Conley’s Inn 

About the Artist- Marc Stolfi

Artist marc stolfi painting in his studio
 Marc is a Torrington-born artist/illustrator currently working from his studio at Liberty Art and Framing in Torrington, CT.  Out of college, Marc focused mainly on illustration and created artwork for various publications such as Connecticut Magazine, National Golfer, The Catalina Island Conservancy and Together Time Children’s activity books.

Marc was discovered as a fine-artist while employed part time at an art gallery in Guilford, CT.  The owner, Peter Falk, (Editor in Chief of AskArt.com) saw Marc’s work and promptly fired him from gallery sitting.  He then commissioned Marc to produce twenty-one Tromp L’Oeil paintings for the gallery.

Since then Marc has shown and sold paintings throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island, Texas and Arizona. Marc is listed in Who’s Who in American Art, (published by Sound View Press) and the National Registry of Fine Art.

​When not painting commissioned works, Marc helps raise his four young children and works with his wife, Laura, in their custom frame shop.
 





Contact Us / Staff Listing
Torrington Library
12 Daycoeton Place
Torrington, CT  06790
Ph: 860.489.6684
Fax: 860.482.4664
info@torringtonlibrary.org

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Library Hours

​10:00am-6:00pm  - Monday, Tuesday, Friday
10:00am-8:00pm  -  Wednesday & Thursday
10:00am-3:00pm  - Saturday
10:00am-1:00pm - Saturday July/August Only

The Children's Room closes 15 minutes before the rest of the library.
The public computers shut down 30 minutes before the rest of the library. Thank you! 
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  • Home
  • About
    • Board of Trustees
    • Book Nook
    • Library Tours >
      • Virtual Tour
    • Contact/Staff Directory
    • Directions & Parking
    • Employment Opportunities
    • History
    • Hours & Holiday Closings
    • Library Policies
    • Mission/Guiding Principles
    • School Outreach
  • Using My Library
    • Apply for a Card
    • Search Our Catalog
    • Cake Pan
    • ClearView Vision Reader
    • Copier & Fax Services
    • Customized Book Order
    • Fine Free Info
    • Interlibrary Loan
    • Library Pass Program
    • Loan Periods
    • Newspaper Archives
    • Microsoft Office
    • Periodicals
    • Public Internet Access
    • Renewals
    • Room Rentals >
      • Community/Meeting Rooms
    • Tax Forms
    • Quiet Study Rooms
  • My Account
  • Online Resources
    • Ask a Librarian
    • Book a Librarian
    • FamilySearch
    • Historical Documents
    • Hoopla
    • Kanopy
    • LinkedInLearning
    • Mango Languages
    • Libby E-Books/Audio Books >
      • Libby Help
    • Palace Project
    • ResearchIT CT
    • Social Service Directory
    • Tumble Books
  • Children
    • Welcome
    • Events
    • Children's Mural Project
    • Letters Are Characters
    • Teacher's Toolbox
    • Tumble Books
    • Torrington Public Schools
  • Teens
    • Welcome Teens
    • Teen Events
    • Teen Advisory Board
    • Teen Summer Reading
    • Sponsor a Teen
    • D&D Club
    • Mural Project
    • Teacher's Toolbox
    • For Students
  • Events
    • Event Registration
    • Book Clubs
    • Calendar of Events
    • Upcoming Events Blog
    • Murder in the Stacks
    • Salem Witch Trails Virtual Mystery
    • Titanic Virtual Game
  • Donate
    • Donate Today
    • Enriching Partners
    • Planned Giving
    • Used Books