Storybooks Through The Ages
Original 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 Features1484 - 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!
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Historic Landmarks
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:
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
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. |