'Wimpy' Event Draws Large Early Morning Crowd

SHREWSBURY -- How do you get your preteen to wake up early in the morning without a battle?  For about thirty parents, the answer was simple this past Tuesday, November 13^th – tell them they’re going to the ‘Wake Up with Wimpy’ launch party at the Shrewsbury Public Library…a program that began promptly at 6:30AM!  The event, once again generously sponsored by the Shrewsbury Federal Credit Union and the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library for the fourth year, rewarded these 3rd-6th grade early-birds with a free copy of the latest book in the popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, as well as a free breakfast for both parents and youth.  The event filled up within moments of registration opening through the new online registration system used for SPL events, which clearly proved that despite this being the seventh 'Wimpy' book, the series is still going strong.  The new book entitled The Third Wheel, released that same day across the country, follows the further chronicles of middle school student Greg Heffley and his group of offbeat friends.   The title is currently the best selling book on Amazon.com, and does for preteens what Twilight and The Hunger Games has done for teens – feverishly excited youth about reading.  A variety of Wimpy themed games were played, and prizes or ‘Wimpy Swag’, were given out to winners, with some challenges requiring parental assistance.  A version of the Dating Game was played with parents and children having to match each other’s answers on a variety of potentially embarrassing topics, along with Wimpy trivia and a tower building race.  The event ended with a large group of happy youth heading to school with the new book in hand - none of which would have been possible without the phenomenal sponsors.  Again, the Shrewsbury Public Library would like to thank the Shrewsbury Federal Credit Union and the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library for their support and commitment to the community at this event, and many others. Those that missed the event can still check the book out from the Shrewsbury Public Library.