Eighty years ago, a nickel was worth something. One nickel could buy candy, a ticket to a movie, and real food for a meal. It was during the Great Depression, and life was far from ideal even in Key West, Florida. Huge mounds of smelly garbage piled up, people were out of work, and kids went barefoot because there wasn’t enough money to buy shoes.
But Beans Curry and his sidekick, also known as Kermit, his brother, were great at finding odd jobs there that would earn them that precious nickel.
They would do things like sift through the garbage to salvage empty condensed-milk cans that could be reused to serve café con leche. For a whole day’s work, including washing and filing down the rough edges, Beans could earn one nickel. Some of their efforts were not so nice, and Beans gets into real trouble when the local gangster hires him to help distribute illegal liquor. Change comes when the government sends New Deal teams to collect garbage, paint the decaying houses bright colors, and turn Key West into a tourist destination. The new leaders need Beans and his pals to promote these goals. This funny book is a testament to the grit and leadership youngsters showed when times were tough and they could be part of the solution.
Random House (2016). Reviewed by Lillian Hecker, Children’s Services Librarian. For Ages 8-12.
On Saturday, December 27, 2025, we plan to open the Library at noon and close at 4 p.m. This is subject to change depending on the weather. Please check our voicemail for the most up-to-date information before heading over to the Library. The phone number is: 914-738-1234.
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In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the Battle of Pell, we are creating a crocheted community banner that will be revealed in the fall and displayed at the Town of Pelham Public Library. Whether you've been crocheting for decades, or you've never picked up a hook before, we welcome…
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We have made some end of the year additions to our Library of Things collection. We are especially excited about our copy of Pelhamopoly (like Monopoly but specific to Pelham); check it out with your Pelham Library card today! Click here to see more of our Library of Things offerings and borrowing guidelines.
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The Town of Pelham Public Library is proud to partner with New York Cares for a coat drive through Wednesday, December 31. New York Cares is seeking coats (new or gently used). All genders and sizes are accepted. A box is located at the Library by the Carol Place entrance where you can leave your…
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The Town of Pelham Public Library board of Trustees is pleased to welcome Diane Gutch as their newest member.
Diane is a long-time Pelham resident. She is a health care professional, an avid library user, and an active volunteer in the Pelham community.
Diane and her husband moved to Pelham Manor in 2001 and raised…
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Unclaimed property is money that’s been lost or forgotten over time, including old bank accounts, uncashed checks, stock certificates, and unused gift cards. After a period of inactivity, lost money is legally considered abandoned property and turned over to the New York State Comptroller’s Office, where there’s no fee or time limit to claim it.
Find…
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Congratulations to our two Battle of the Books (BOB) teams that competed in at the eleventh annual competition on October 25 at the Ossining Middle School. Battle of the Books is an all-day book-based trivia tournament for Westchester Youth. The competition format is similar to Jeopardy and questions are based on the 5 books for…
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Thanks to Eco Pel's Fall Seed Saving Workshop they hosted at the Library, our Seed Library has been restocked for the fall. Stop by and take a look!
For the 2025 growing season we have partnered with the Environmental Coalition of the Pelhams (EcoPel) to offer a seed library for the first time.
What is a seed…
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And we have a BINGO! Betsy is now the proud owner of a new Kindle! Betsy has completed our Summer Reading Bingo a few times and this is the year she won! Her daughter has been urging Betsy to get a kindle, so of course she was the first person Betsy told when she won.…
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The Town of Pelham Public Library is proud to partner with United Way for a coat drive from Wednesday, October 1 through Wednesday, October 22. United Way is seeking coats (new or gently used) and accessories (new hats, gloves, and socks). All genders and sizes are accepted. A box is located at the Library by…
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