Register for your March - April Library events now

Posted

All children and teen programs are free. Registration begins on February 24 and is required where noted. Registered spots are held for 10 minutes after the program’s start time, thereafter spots are released to waiting patrons. Programs that do not require registration are limited by room capacity. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult during programs. 

Visit www.montclairlibrary.org to register.

Bellevue Avenue Branch Storytimes and Programs

Family Storytimes at Bellevue Avenue Branch (Ages birth-5)

Mondays, March 2, 16, April 6, 20, 11 a.m., Kids Place

Share books, stories, fingerplays, rhymes and music with your children. Enjoy a story session that encourages a love of reading and fosters the development of early literacy skills. Children of all abilities welcome. Register for each date separately.

 

Stay and Play (All ages)

Mondays, March 2, 16, April 6, 20, 11:45 a.m., Kids Place

Families can stay and play with our puzzles and toys immediately following the Family Storytime. Register for each date separately.

Let’s Play-doh! at Bellevue Avenue Branch (All ages)
Tuesdays, March 10-April 14,  2:30-3:30 p.m., Kids Place

Develop fine motor skills needed for school such as cutting and holding a pencil using creativity and imagination in a group setting. Register for each date separately.

 

Chess Club at Bellevue Avenue Branch (All ages)
Tuesdays, March 10-April 14, 4-5:30 p.m., Classroom

Learn the basics of chess or sharpen your existing skills with chess puzzles. Appropriate for beginner to intermediate level players. Younger participants will require parental help. Register for each date separately.

 

Little Listeners at Bellevue Avenue Branch (Ages birth-2)
Thursdays, March 12-April 16, 11-11:30 a.m., Kids Place

Creating lifelong readers can begin at any age! Listen to short stories and participate in rhymes and fingerplays with age-appropriate books about colors, animals, shapes and more! Register for each date separately.

 

Little Thinkers at Bellevue Avenue Branch (All ages)
Thursdays, March 12-April 16, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Kids Place

Get your children solving puzzles, creating, and interacting with their peers in this hands-on program! Register for each date separately.

 

Friday Gameday at Bellevue Avenue Branch (Ages 8-17)
Fridays, March 13-April 17, 2-4:30 p.m., Classroom

Come play the Nintendo Switch with games such as Smash Brothers Ultimate, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Kirby Star Allies and more! Everyone is invited to bring their own Nintendo Switch to share with others and enhance the program, but remember, everyone is responsible for their own belongings! Register for each date separately.

 

All-Female Jazz Concert (All Ages)
Saturday, March 21, 12-1 p.m., Main Floor

Join us for a special performance by an all-female band from Jazz House Kids alumnae in honor of Women’s History Month.

 

Main Library

Early Literacy Programs (Ages birth to preschool)

Babytime (Suggested for birth-18 months)
Tuesdays, March 10-April 14, 10:30 a.m. OR 11:30 a.m., 3rd floor
Sing nursery rhymes and songs with your little ones. Songs, language activities, and board books will be introduced during each session. 

Toddler Tales (Suggested for ages 18 months-3 years)
Wednesdays, March 11-April 15, 10:30 a.m. 3rd floor
Build your child’s early literacy skills through the exploration of language and numbers through stories and songs. 

Leaping Learners (Suggested for ages 3-5 years)
Thursdays, March 12-April 16, 4 p.m., 3rd floor
Books, songs, rhymes, and play are the perfect way to get your child ready for school every day. Preschoolers will develop a love of learning in this interactive storytime.

 

Leap into Science: Family Light and Shadows Workshop (Suggested for ages 3-8)

Monday, March 23, 11 a.m., Auditorium

Explore “Light and Shadow,” the Franklin Institute's newest Leap into Science theme. This interactive workshop is perfect for preschoolers and homeschoolers. Families will investigate the properties of light and shadow as they experiment at activity stations specially developed by the renowned science museum. Registration required.

 

How do Dinosaurs Celebrate Twenty Years? Story and Craft (Ages 3-6)

Monday, April 6, 4 p.m., 3rd floor

Janet Yolen’s “How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?” turns twenty years young in April! Enjoy a reading of “Goodnight” and other books in her hilarious dino-series followed by an easy dinosaur craft. 

 

It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Daniel Tiger Program (Ages 2-4)

Saturday, April 18, 11 a.m., 3rd floor

Calling all Daniel Tiger Fans! Join us for a “Grr-ific” time as we celebrate all things Daniel Tiger. We will read Daniel Tiger stories, listen to Daniel Tiger music, play Daniel Tiger games, and do Daniel Tiger crafts.  Feel free to wear your favorite Daniel Tiger clothes or costumes. You will have a “Tiger-tastic” time! Registration required.

 

Stuffed Animal Sleepover Storytime (Ages 3-6)

Thursday, April 30, 6:30 p.m., 3rd floor

Put on your PJs, bring your favorite stuffed animal friend, and join us for bedtime stories, songs, and rhymes. After the storytime, kids can kiss their stuffed animal friends goodnight. Look online to see the fun adventures your stuffed animal had, and pick them up the following day!

Language Enrichment

Il était une fois: French Storytime (Ages 3-8)
Monday, March 2 and April 27, 4 p.m., 3rd floor 

Il était une fois" (Once upon a time) there was French Storytime! Storyteller Lynne Wilson shares bilingual French stories for little ones. Children will learn words and phrases. French speakers and non-French speakers are welcome. Lifelong Francophile Lynne Wilson lived in France for years and completed a certificate program at the Université de Paris and has worked with children of all ages.

 

Cuentitos: Spanish-English Storytime (Ages 3-8)
Monday, March 9 and April 20, 4 p.m., 3rd floor 
Enjoy children’s books in Spanish and English along with acoustic guitar and songs in Spanish. Spanish speakers and non-Spanish speakers welcome! Disfrute de libros para niños en español e inglés con el acompañamiento de guitarra acústica y canciones en español. ¡ Todos son bienvenidos !

 

Singing and Signing with Miss Beckey: Baby Sign Language (Ages 4 months-2 years)

Saturday, April 11, 11 a.m., 3rd floor

Baby sign language facilitates the development of language and vocabulary. Music and sign language are used to teach parents, caregivers, and babies how to communicate effectively. Babies will learn with their adults in a unique and meaningful way. Rebecca “Miss Beckey” Zolotkovsky is a certified speech-language pathologist. Registration required.

 

School-Age Programs (Grades K-5)

Game On: Wii and Board Games (Ages 4-17)
Friday, March 6, 2-5 p.m., Monday, April 13, 2-5 p.m., 3rd floor
Are ‘Wii board’ yet?  Play games that are fun and offer a little bit of friendly competition. We will provide various Wii games including, but not limited to, “Just Dance,” “Super Smash Brothers Brawl,” and more. Additionally, we will offer various traditional board games such as LIFE, Clue, Connect 4, Mancala, and Chess. GAME ON!

Chesstronauts (Ages 8-14) 

Fridays, March 6, 20, April 3, 17, 4:15-5:45 p.m., 3rd floor 

Kids of all skill levels will receive accessible chess instruction for improved strategic thinking and sportsmanship. Topics range from basic piece movements to advanced positional strategy. Along the way, participants will develop a lifelong love for this ancient game. Chesstronauts is led by five students from Montclair Kimberley Academy who developed a shared passion for chess. The Chesstronauts are here to guide you toward the endless possibilities of your own skills.

 

Early Reader Book Club (Grades 1-4)
Wednesday, March 18, 4:30 p.m., 3rd floor: “Escape North! The Story of Harriet Tubman” by Monica Kullin
Grow a book lover! Read and discuss a new book, followed by a craft and a tasty snack. Copies of the books will be available in the Youth Services Department starting February 24. Please advise of any food allergies. Registration required. 

 

Author Zelma M. Crump Reads “Cecil… The Greatest Brother: An Autism Awareness Book” (Ages 4 and up)

Wednesday, April 8, 4:30 p.m., 3rd floor

April is Autism Awareness Month. We will read and discuss, “Cecil… The Greatest Brother,” followed by a craft and snack. Books available for purchase. Please advise of any food allergies at the event.

 

Koko: Therapy Dog Visit (Ages 5 and up)

Friday, April 17, 2-3 p.m., 3rd floor

Meet and greet with therapy dog, Koko the Shiba Inu. Learn about what therapy dogs do and how they help the community.

Magnetic Poetry (Ages 8 and up)

Thursday, April 23, 5 p.m., 3rd floor

Celebrate National Poetry Month by creating your very own magnetic poetry set that you will be able to take with you to share with family and friends. 

 

 

All Ages & Family Programs

Homeschooling Open House (All ages)
Thursdays, March 5, April 2, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Auditorium
Join the monthly gathering of families that homeschool and make new friends. Youth services librarian Enola Romano displays our collection of parenting books about homeschooling. Bring your favorite board game to share. For more information email Enola Romano at 

enola.romano@montclair.bccls.org.

 

Tales from a Different Drum - The Montclair Literary Festival (All ages)

Saturday, March 28, 10:15 a.m., 3rd floor

Storyteller Yvonne D. Ceaser will tell “Tales from a Different Drum” featuring stories from Africa, Haiti and China as part of the Montclair Literary Festival. The Montclair Literary Festival (March 25-29) is a community-wide event presented by Succeed2gether in conjunction with Montclair Public Library and many others. Visit succeed2gether.org for a full schedule with details.

 

Guitaro 5000: A Mind-Blowing History of African-American Music (Family Program)

Saturday, April 4, 2 p.m., Auditorium

Percussive guitarist-singer Guitaro 5000 performs pop, blues, and R&B songs from the American songbook for families. Guitaro, known for his endless repertoire and deep knowledge of beloved songs, will take kids on a tour of timeless songs old and new. Guitaro 5000 is a one-man-band dedicated to making the world a better place through the unifying power of music. 

 

Spring Break: Free Lunch at MPL
Friday, April 10, and Monday, April 13 through Friday, April 17, Noon-2 p.m., 1st floor Café 

Stop by during Spring break weekdays and pick up a brown-bag lunch. Free to kids 17 and under. In partnership with Toni's Kitchen, Montclair Public Library Foundation. Supplies are limited; please note that we cannot accommodate special diets or food allergen restrictions.

 

DIY Seed Bombs (All Ages)

Wednesday, April 22, 4 p.m., Outdoor Plaza (Auditorium if rain)

Celebrate Earth Day and beautify your yard by creating NJ wildflower seed bombs. While supplies last.

 

Sensory Friendly Movie: WALL-E (All ages)

Saturday, April 25, 10:30 a.m., Auditorium

Kids and teens on the Autism spectrum and of all abilities will enjoy a subdued screening of “Wall-E.” The movie will run with lights on and sound down with ample room for them to move around, shout, and cheer. Families are welcome to bring their own snacks. WALL-E, the last robot on Earth, spends his days tidying up the planet's mountains of garbage. Seven centuries later he develops enough personality to feel lonely. When sleek robot EVE arrives on Earth with a mission, WALL-E follows her across the universe on a grand adventure. Rated G, 98 mins.

 

For Parents

Power of Play (Parents and their children age 1-5 years)
Saturday, March 7, 10:30 a.m., Auditorium

While children are given the opportunity to interact during a short storytime and free play, parents will learn about the importance of play in the cognitive development of their children from postdoctoral fellow in the Rutgers University Computational Cognitive Developmental Group, Dr. Igor Bascandziev. Registration required.

 

Self-Care Workshop for Parents (Adults)

Saturday, April 4, 11 a.m., 3rd Floor

Parenting is stressful and requires strength, stamina, and patience. Gain insight into what your stressors may be and how to move past to be a better parent and a better you. This workshop helps to create a self-care practice through simple guided visualization meditations, breathing techniques, simple stress relief practices. Presented by Alexis Stuart Dudley. Registration required.

 

Teen Main Programs

Teen Advisory Board (TAB members)
Wednesdays, March 4, April 1, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 3rd floor
Join us for our monthly Teen Advisory Board (TAB) meeting! We will discuss teen events for March and April, and begin planning for TAB officer elections and summer programs. The Teen Advisory Board (TAB) of the Montclair Public Library meets the first Wednesday of each month, October-May. TAB members receive community service hours for participating. Refreshments will be served; please advise of food allergies. 

 

Discovering your SUPERPOWERS (Grades 6-12)

Wednesday, March 25, 4:30 p.m., 3rd floor

We are constantly asked what do we want to be when we grow up? Rarely does anyone ask HOW do we want to show up in the world and for ourselves. A workshop to explore your talents big and small, obtain a glimpse of what your innate superpowers are and how you can shift mind-set and show up for yourself each and every day. Workshop will include exercises to curate power words and participants will leave knowing that they alone have something to contribute by just being YOU.

 

Women’s History Movie: Harriet (Rated PG-13)

Sunday, March 22, 2 p.m., Auditorium

“Harriet” tells the heroic life story of Harriet Tubman. From her escape from slavery to the dangerous missions she led to liberate hundreds of enslaved Africans and African-Americans through the Underground Railroad, Tubman’s incredible story finally hits the big screen. Followed by a brief Q&A session. Starring Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom, Jr. and Janelle Monae. 125 mins.

 

Passport to Flavor (Ages 11 and up)

Tuesday, March 24, 4:30-5:30 p.m., 3rd floor

March - Vive la France!

This month we’ll dive into the rich and decadent world of French pastries! We will also sample cheeses and other delicacies. Tres bien! Please advise of food allergies. Registration required.

 

Tuesday, April 28, 4:30-5:30 p.m., 3rd floor

April - Mangia! (Italy)

Our next culinary journey takes us to Italy. We’ll make mini pizzas, salads with traditional Italian ingredients, and sample desserts, snack foods, and beverages. Please advise of food allergies. Registration required.

 

Hair Care Instruction Workshop (6th grade and up)

Wednesday, March 11, 4 p.m. 3rd floor

Interested in learning new hair care tips and tricks from a professional stylist? Join us for this instructional workshop with Rasheena Brooks, where you’ll learn about different styling techniques and ways to care for your hair. You’ll come away with greater knowledge and inspiration to incorporate into your daily hair routine.

 

Monthly Drop-In Teen Volunteer Training (8th grade and up)

Thursdays, March 12, April 9, 5:30-6:15 p.m., 3rd floor

Interested in becoming a library volunteer? Join one of our drop-in volunteer trainings to learn all you need to know! Trainings are held the second Thursday of every month. Please bring completed volunteer applications, available at tinyurl.com/MPLTeenVolApp, to training. Email teen services librarian Kiersten Paine at kiersten.paine@montclair.bccls.org with any questions.