Montclair Public Library offers numerous November programs.
Storytimes
Family Storytime @ Bellevue Avenue Branch
This program is designed for newborns through five year-olds accompanied by a favorite adult. 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. Please note that registration is required for each individual storytime.
Registration required; space limited.
Newborns to 5 year-olds
Mondays, November 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.
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, November 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 November 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 Goes STEM!
Young children are invited to enjoy stories that spark their scientific imaginations, followed by fun activities for little ones that focus on engineering concepts.
Registration required for each session.
3rd floor
Ages 3 to 6
Thursdays, November 8 & 15 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.
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, November 1, 11am-1pm
Cuentitos: Spanish & English Storytime
Enjoy a storytime session of Children’s books in Spanish & English and acoustic guitar music in Spanish. Spanish speakers and non-Spanish speakers welcome! Disfrute de un sesión de cuentos en español y bilingües textos en Inglés y Español.
No registration required
3rd floor
Recommended ages 4 & up
Thursday, November 1 at 4pm
Your Vote Counts Too! Children's Author Anita Iaco
Anita Iaco reads her timely children's book Let's Vote! A Fruitful Election Tale. Miss Jenn invites her students to vote for their official class fruit and picks three students speak for the banana, the orange and the apple. They present some nice (and not-so-nice) reasons why their fruit should be elected, but before the votes are tallied everyone learns valuable lessons for the present and future. Let's Vote! is part of Anita's interactive presentation about some of the things we vote on every day. She'll discuss our government election process and mention local races taking place this Election Day. Afterwards, Anita will invite kids to cast their vote for their favorite fruit from among her three tasty candidates. A resident of Wayne, NJ, Anita owns a preschool in North Haledon with her daughter Jenn and their family. She loves all fruits and vegetables.
No registration required
3rd floor
Recommended ages 4 +
Saturday, November 3 at 2pm
Luna Lit: ‘The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind’ Discussion for Kids
To celebrate the recent Luna Stage production of Pirira, an actor from Luna Stage Theatre Company will read aloud William Kamkwamba’s The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind (which inspired elements of Pirira) - the true story about a boy in a Malawi village who saved everyone’s crops by learning how to make and build a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps. After the book we’ll discuss real ways that kids can make a concrete difference in their communities. For performance schedule of Pirira, please visit lunastage.org.
No registration required
3rd floor
Recommended ages 6 +
Tuesday, November 6 at 4pm
Programs
Paw Patrol & Top Wing: Nick Jr. Library Adventures
Enjoy six weekly Paw Patrol & Top Wing related reading and activity programs for young children. Each Wednesday* at 4pm children can come to the Library and enjoy a different program centered on a themed “mission.” The program, sponsored by Nick Jr., includes giveaways, special sweepstakes, and runs from November 5 through December 19 (*no session on November 21).
Mission 1: Which Pup Are You? - Wednesday, November 7 at 4pm
Mission 2: About First Responders - Wednesday, November 14 at 4pm
Mission 3: Team Building Read Along - Wednesday, November 28 at 4pm
Mission 4: Explore Your Neighborhood - Wednesday, December 5 at 4pm
Mission 5: Search and Rescue Scavenger Hunt - Wednesday, December 12 at 4pm
Mission 6: Save the Day & Earn Your Wings! - Wednesday, December 19 at 4pm
No registration required
3rd floor
Recommended ages 3+
Game On: Wii & Board Games: International Games Week Edition
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 have an adult with them to participate.)
No registration required
3rd floor
All ages welcome
Friday, November 9, 1pm-5pm
Book Buddies: with the Friends of the Montclair Public Library
The Friends of the Montclair Public Library’s “Book Buddies” bring children and volunteers together to share the joy of reading. Adult volunteers (Big Buddies) will be paired with children in grades 2nd, 3rd, and 4th (Little Buddies) for 45 minutes of shared reading at the Main Library.
Registration for Little Buddies is required
Grades 2-4
3rd floor
Fridays, November 9 & 23, 4pm-5pm
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 October 29. Please advise of any food allergies.
Registration required
3rd floor
Grades 1-3 ‘Nate the Great Talks Turkey’ by Marjorie Sharmat
Tuesday, November 13, 4pm-5pm
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.
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 October 29. Please advise of any food allergies.
Registration required
3rd floor
Grades 3-5 ‘The Wild Robot Escapes’ by Peter Brown
Tuesday, November 20, 4pm-5pm
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.
Therapy Dog Visit: Meet Cruz!
Come meet and read with Cruz! Cruz is a retired racing greyhound! Greyhounds are the second fastest land animal (behind the cheetah) and can run up to 45 miles an hour. He lived in Florida, ran 104 races and won 17 of them. Now that he’s retired (at age 5), he enjoys walks, car rides, lots of naps, and reading in the nice quiet library.
Registration required
3rd floor
Ages 5 & up
Saturday, November 17, 11am-12pm
Limited registration; each reader will have 5 minutes with Cruz.
Teen Events
The Ballot League: Teen Voting Info Group
How can you influence politicians and voters, even if you yourself aren't old enough to vote? What are your rights as a young voter, and how can these rights be used to maximize your vote's impact? What do confident voters know and do, before, during, and after an election? This activity-based workshop will introduce library resources and historical examples to encourage thoughtful citizenship. Presented jointly with Montclair Parents for Change.
Registration recommended
3rd floor
Ages 11 & up
Thursday, November 1 at 6:30pm
Luna Lit: ‘The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind’ Discussion for Teens
To celebrate the recent Luna Stage production of Pirira, Luna Stage Artistic Director Ari Laura Kreith will facilitate a discussion about William Kwamkamba’s The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind (which inspired elements of Pirira) - the true story about a boy in a Malawi village who saved everyone’s crops by learning how to make and build a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps. We’ll also discuss teen activism and art as a tool for social change. For performance schedule of Pirira, please visit lunastage.org.
No registration required
3rd floor
Grades 6-12
Tuesday, November 6 at 4:45pm
TAB Meeting (Teen Advisory Board)
Join us for our November Teen Advisory Board meeting! This month we'll talk about our young adult programming for November and December, continue planning our Human Library project, and have a visit from The Write Group, a Montclair-based creative writing community! 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.
TAB Members Grades 6-12
3rd Floor
Wednesday, November 7 at 6:30pm
Ready, Set, Go to College
Are you a couple of years away from college applications, but have questions about the process? Join us for this interactive workshop to learn everything you need to know about resumes, transcripts, SAT-ACT testing, the application, essay, interview, teacher recommendations, campus visits, and more. You’ll leave with the tools you need to become a better candidate for college acceptance.
Registration recommended
Grades 6-12
3rd floor
Thursday, November 15, 6pm-7:30pm
Passport to Flavor: The Philippines
Join us as we take another culinary journey, this time to the Philippines! We’ll try adobo, halo-halo, and garlic fried rice at this hands-on event.
Please advise of food allergies.
Registration required
Ages 11 & up
1st floor Cafe
Thursday, November 29 at 4:30pm
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.
The Montclair Public Library
50 South Fullerton Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07042
www.montclairlibrary.org