Registration begins Monday, February 26, for Programs for Kids, Families and Teens at the Montclair Public Library. Check out the numerous programs:
Toddler Time
Two-year-olds and the adults in their lives explore language and numbers through stories and songs. Picture books, flannel board stories, and nursery rhymes are used to introduce the wonder of books. Please note that registration is required for each individual storytime.
Registration required; space limited.
3rd floor
Two-year-olds
Tuesdays, March 13, 20 & 27 at 11am
Online registration is available for valid Montclair Public Library card holders. All others should call the Youth Services Department to be added to the waiting list.
Babies in the Library
Babies meet babies! Parents and caregivers sing nursery rhymes together with their little ones. Songs, language activities, and board books will be introduced during each session. Make baby's first library experience a special one! Please note that registration is required for each individual storytime.
Registration required; space limited.
3rd floor
Newborns-23 mos.
Wednesdays, March 14, 21 & 28 at 10:30am & 11:30am
Online registration is available for valid Montclair Public Library card holders. All others should call the Youth Services Department to be added to the waiting list.
Mother Goose
Mother Goose is an excellent way to promote literacy among our preschool-aged patrons. Picture books, flannel board stories, songs and puppets are used to build upon children’s natural enthusiasm for books and reading. Each session will end with a simple art experience for little ones. Please note that registration is required for each individual storytime.
Registration required; space limited.
3rd floor
Ages 3 to 6
Thursdays, March 8, 15 & 22 at 4pm
Online registration is available for valid Montclair Public Library card holders. All others should call the Youth Services Department to be added to the waiting list.
Family Storytime @ Bellevue Avenue Branch
This program is designed for newborns through five year-olds accompanied by a favorite adult. Share books, stories, finger plays, 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. Please note that registration is required for each individual storytime.
Registration required
Newborns to 5 year-olds
Mondays, March 5 & 19 at 11am
Kids Place @ Bellevue Avenue Branch Library, 185 Bellevue Ave., Upper Montclair
Online registration is available for valid Montclair Public Library card holders. All others should call the Youth Services Department to be added to the waiting list.
Homeschooling Open House
Check out the Library’s monthly Homeschooling open house and make friends with other families. 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.
No registration required
Auditorium
Thursday, March 1, 11am-1pm
Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration with Jumpstart
Celebrate Dr. Seuss's 114th birthday with Jumpstart! Kids can bring their favorite stuffed animal luvie and enjoy a reading of Dr. Seuss’ "What Pet Should I Get" and help Jay and Kay decide what pet they should take home from the pet store. Complete the celebration by making a paper pet to take home like Jay and Kay! Jumpstart is a national early education organization working towards the day that every child enters kindergarten prepared to succeed. Jumpstart provides language, literacy, and social-emotional programs for preschool kids from under-resourced communities and promotes early learning for all.
No registration required
3rd floor
Ages 2-5
Friday, March 2, 3:30pm-5:30pm
At the Drive-In: Playtime & Movie for Little Ones
Babies, toddlers and beginning walkers are invited to a special drive-in movie experience for little ones. Kids will receive brand new cars for free!: the limited edition Recycled-Box-o-Matic 2018 (expertly designed and decorated by Montclair Public Library’s Teen Advisory Board engineers!). Children will get to “drive” (sit in) their new wheels around the auditorium space as they enjoy a viewing of Brum - film shorts about a rascally race car. Children must be able to sit upright on their own and either have a valid driver’s license or be extraordinarily cute!
Registration Required
Toddlers-Age 4
Auditorium
Tuesday, March 6 at 5pm
“Era Uma Vez, na Biblioteca”: Storytime in Portuguese
“Era Uma Vez, na Biblioteca” (Once Upon a Time, at the Library) welcomes all families to be part of this experience of storytelling in Portuguese. The program will be run in Portuguese, and is oriented towards families with children from newborns to 9-year-olds. The stories will be interwoven with little songs and rhymes, all in Portuguese. The storyteller, Ana Cristina Coura, is an educator with a background in psychology who has taught children in Brazil for many years, and worked as an art educator (for a nonprofit in NYC) for a few years before moving to Montclair with her husband and children.
No registration required
Newborns to Nine-year-olds
3rd floor
Saturday, March 10 at 11am
I and Pangur Ban, My Cat: Amy Beshara & Friends
Enjoy a musical telling of the 9th century Irish Poem: “Pangur Ban” about a monk who likes to write, and his pet cat named “Pangur Ban.” Amy Beshara & Friends will perform traditional Irish instrumental tunes and give kids interactive musical activities such as learning to sing Irish Gaelic songs, and learning Irish rhythms to clap and dance to. Kids will also learn about the history of Ireland and Celtic mythology. Montclair resident Amy Beshara - fiddler, dancer, and vocalist - has almost 20 years teaching experience, and has taught hundreds of kids and adults in the North Jersey/NYC area. Classically trained in Viola at Manhattan School of Music and Trinity College of Music, London, Amy branched out into the fiddle music in 2003 and has performed around the country with the Celtic band Burning Bridget Cleary.
Auditorium
Registration recommended
All ages welcome
Friday, March 16 at 4pm
Books & Bites: Beginner Reading Club
Cultivate a love of literature with the Books & Bites Reading Club! We will read and discuss a new book, followed by a themed craft and a tasty snack. Don’t miss out on the fun! For students in Grades 1-3, books are available to check out on your library card after February 26. Please advise of any food allergies.
Registration required
3rd floor
Grades 1-3 ‘Locomotive’ by Brian Floca
Wednesday, March 21, 4:30pm-5:30pm
Read to Mila: A Therapy Dog Visit
Mila the dog is an avid reader and wants you to read your favorite book to her! Mila is a 3-year-old cocker spaniel and lives with her human family and dog-sister, Phoebe, in Montclair. She loves chasing squirrels, tummy rubs, roasted chicken and playing fetch-the-ball. But her favorite things are cuddles and kids.
Registration required
3rd floor
Ages 5 & up
Saturday, March 24, 2pm-3pm
Limited registration; each reader will have 5 minutes with Mila.
Books & Bites: Advanced Reading Club
Cultivate a love of literature with the Books & Bites Reading Club! We will read and discuss a new book, followed by a themed-craft and a tasty snack. Don’t miss out on the fun! For students in Grades 3-5, books are available to check out on your library card after February 26. Please advise of any food allergies.
Registration required
3rd floor
Grades 3-5 ‘The Graveyard Book’ by Neil Gaiman
Wednesday, March 28, 4:30pm-5:30pm
Game On: Wii & Board Games
Are ‘wii board’ yet? Come enjoy many games that are a lot of fun and offer a little bit of friendly competition. We will provide various Wii games (including but not limited to) Wii Sports Resort, Just Dance, and Super Smash Brothers Brawl. In addition, we will also offer various board games such as Don’t Wake Daddy, Creationary, LIFE, Clue, Connect 4, Operation, Twister, Mancala, Chess, and Backgammon to those who prefer to play traditional board games. GAME ON! Children ages 7 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
No registration required
3rd floor
All ages welcome
Friday, March 23, 3pm-5pm
Gustafer Yellowgold’s Brighter Side: Family Concert with Morgan Taylor
“The show is a cross between ‘Yellow Submarine’ and Dr. Seuss.” - The New York Times
Renowned performer Morgan Taylor returns with his funny and touching multimedia presentation about a little guy from the Sun who landed in the Minnesota woods. Taylor’s unique creation has loads of adult crossover appeal, making Gustafer Yellowgold’s show a truly all-ages experience. Fresh from his appearance at WILCO’s revered Solid Sound festival, Taylor will be featuring material from his NEW Grammy® Nominated album Brighter Side, alongside classic fan favorites!
Registration recommended
All ages welcome
Auditorium
Saturday, March 31 at 11am
Young Adult Programs
TAB Meeting (Teen Advisory Board)
Join us for our Teen Advisory Board meeting! 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. This month we'll be discussing programming for March and April, planning teen programs for May, and discussing TAB elections and Summer Reading. We’ll finish off with a DIY craft! Please advise of food allergies.
TAB Members Grades 6-12
3rd Floor
Wednesday, March 7 at 6:30pm
2018 Teen Tech Week
“Celebrate Teen Tech Week with the theme "Libraries are for Creating," March 4-10, 2018. This year's theme encourages teens to take advantage of all the great digital tools offered through the library to become content creators!” - teentechweek.ning.com
Hour of Code
Be part of a global movement! Hour of Code offers one-hour coding tutorials on a variety of topics, all with the goal of making coding more accessible for all! MPL will have 8 computers available, but participants are welcome to bring their own laptop, tablet, or even smartphone! Let’s code!
Registration required to use library laptop; if using own device, drop in.
Ages 11+
3rd Floor
Monday, March 5 at 5pm
Makey Makey: Drop-In Maker Play
Using just a circuit board, alligator clips, a USB cable, and a banana or two to create closed loop electrical signals, you can play music, computer games, work with Scratch, and more! Drop in to the library to have some fun with technology!
No registration required
Ages 8+
3rd Floor
Friday, March 9 at 4:30pm
Pi Day
It’s time to celebrate all things irrational (if we’re talking numbers, that is)! This year, join us to make Pi Day themed treats, play some math games, and make 3/14 extra special. Please advise of food allergies.
No registration required
Ages 5+
3rd Floor
Wednesday, March 14 at 4:30pm
Women’s History Month Book Chat
Celebrate the dynamic, exciting multitude of books by women authors this month! Join us in the cafe for this teen event. Come talk with others about your favorite books by women authors, and learn about new ones available at MPL!
No registration required
Ages 11+
1st Floor Cafe
Tuesday, March 27 at 6:30pm
Montclair Public Library is now accepting registration for youth services programs. Program Registration begins February 26.
Registration is required for all Youth Services Programs unless otherwise noted.
All are welcome, Montclair card holders receive priority registration.
All Youth Services Programs Are Free.
Please have your library card ready to register for programs.