Happy Winter!
We have some great new January programs and accompanied materials in our collections that we're excited to share with you!
In addition to these new programs, we also have our regularly scheduled storytimes and after school programs.
Ages listed for the events below are recommended for each program. Please contact your library for any concerns or questions. We'll do our best to make it work for you!
For more information and how to register for any of the programs please visit our events calendar.
Main Library:
Winter Wonders (ages 3-5)
Wednesdays beginning January 3rd: 11am
Let's get together and celebrate winter wonders with beautiful crafts, songs, and books.
Book:
Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold written by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Rick Allen
Valentine Making Workshops (all ages):
(held at the Main Library and the different branches beginning January 4th):
Join the Worcester Historical Museum to learn about our city's unique role in the history of valentines, then make your own special valentine!
While children in grades 3 through 6 may enter their creations into the Worcester Historical Museum's annual "Be Our Valentine" Contest, children of all ages and their families are welcome to enjoy the program and make a valentine.
Book:
The Mystery Valentine (Alien Next Door #6) written by A.I. Newton and illustrated by Anjan Sarkar
Spectrum Support Playgroup (caregivers with children ages 6 and under)
Saturdays in January: 11am
Come as you are! A sensory and spectrum-friendly playgroup. Parents can connect and chat while we provide a wide variety of sensory toys and activities for wherever your child might be on the spectrum.
Book:
The Asperkid's Game Plan: Extraordinary Minds, Purposeful Play... Ordinary Stuff written by Jennifer Cook O'Tooler with photographs by Kristen Giuliano
Kids Cook with Litani (ages 6-11)
Mondays beginning January 8th: 4pm
Three cheers for our future cooks! Litani, your guide will teach you how to make your favorite foods such as pizza, tacos, and other yummies. Learn and taste your creations alongside your fellow food lovers and become your own #1 chef.
Book:
Chef Yasmina and the Potato Panic by Wauter Mannaert
*Meet Your Local Authors (ages 6-11)
Do you like to hear some ghost stories that might live around us? Meet the authors of the "The Ghostly Tales of the Berkshires, Robert and Katherine Oakes, learn about their experiences while writing the book and more facts about ghosts of Massachusetts.
Book:
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
Also available in Large Type, Audiobook, and eBook formats
Edible Mosaics (ages 6-11)
January 16th: 1pm (program will repeat again in March after school).
It's an art project that you can eat! Step into the wonderful world of art by creating your own edible mosaics. We'll use tiny pieces of Starburst fruit strips to make one bigger fantastic image. Just bring your imagination.
Book:
The Mystery of the Mosaic (Greetings from Somewhere #2) by Harper Paris
Also available in eBook format
Lego Building Night (families with children of all ages)
January 17th: 6pm
Connect as a family at our Lego Building Night. Try challenges such as kids versus grown-ups, building the tallest structure, or simply relax together before bedtime. All materials will be provided.
Book:
LEGO Ideas on the Go by Hannah Dolan and Jessica Farrell
*Mad Science "Up, Up, and Away!" (ages 5-8)
January 18th: 4pm
Is it magic or science?! This "edutainment" show, "Up, Up, and Away", uses a hover craft, "smoke" rings, a vortex generator, and more, to illustrate different scientific principles. Have you ever crushed a soda bottle using a vacuum pump? Audience members will leave this show knowing more about the science that surround them everyday. Sponsored by the Friends of the Worcester Public Library.
Book:
Not-So-Ordinary Science: 49 Projects That Ooze, Pop, Zoom, and More! by Elsie Olson
*Drum Circle with Mike Leo (all ages)
Join musician Mike Leo for this interactive drum circle and live music experience! Participants will learn about rhythm and different percussion instruments during this exciting, family friendly program. For families with children ages 11 and under. Sponsored by the Friends of the Worcester Public Library.
Book:
Stompin' at the Savoy: How Chick Webb Became the King of Drums written by Moira Rose Donohue and illustrated by Laura Freeman
Frances Perkins:
Tie Dye (ages 6-11)
January 4th: 4pm
Color your world with our Tie Dye Workshop. Bring a T-shirt or other piece of white clothing to dye and we will supply the rest. This event can be messy. Please wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.
Book:
Tie-Dye Disaster (Craftily Ever After #3) written by Martha Maker and illustrated by Xindi Yan
Messy Munchkins (ages 0-5)
January 10th: 9:30am
Drop-in for open sensory play for ages 0-5. Play through all the sensory stations in the room or focus on your favorites.
Book:
Play & Learn Activities for Babies: 65 Simple Ways to Promote Growth and Development from Birth to Two Years Old by Hannah Fathi
Hero Day (ages 6-11)
January 11th: 3:30pm
Are you interested in Dungeons and Dragons, but you aren't quite ready for it? Join us for our first session of Hero Kids! Hero Kids is a tabletop adventure game for ages 6 and up. We will make characters, learn to play, and then play a short adventure.
Book:
A Kid's Guide to Tabletop RPGs: Exploring Dice, Game Systems, Roleplaying, and More by Gabriel Hicks
STEAM & Stories (ages 3-5)
Fridays at 10:30am
In this storytime we will build early math and science skills through books, activities, and art. Each week we have a different topic to explore.
Book:
Invent-a-Pet written by Vicky Fang and illustrated by Tidawan Thaipinnarong
Mario Party: (all ages)
January 31st: 3:30pm
Drop-in and make your own Mario brothers craft, play Mario Kart on our Nintendo Switch, and other Mario activities.
Book:
Mario's Big Adventure (Nintendo and Illumination present The Super Mario Bros. Movie) by Mary Man-Kong
GBV: Coming soon!
Burncoat:
Teddy Bear Picnic (ages 3-7)
January 19th: 3:30pm
Join us for a teddy bear picnic! Children ages 3-7 are invited to listen to teddy bear tales, enjoy a snack, and make bear-themed crafts.
Don’t forget to bring your favorite stuffed animal to the picnic!
Book:
Patrick in A Teddy Bear's Picnic and Other Stories by Geoffrey Hayes
Cooking Crew (ages 7 and up)
January 29th: 4pm
We will measure ingredients and use simple kitchen tools to create a tasty nut-free trail mix. Will you add crunchy seeds, dried or dehydrated fruit, a salty snack, or sweet treats to your mix?
Book:
Cooking Class Global Feast!: 44 Recipes That Celebrate the World's Cultures by Deanna F. Cook
Goddard:
*Green Screen (ages 9 and up)
January 12th: 4pm
Take to the “green screen” with the Mobile Quest STEM Center and create postcards, commercials, or mini-movies.
Find yourself walking on the moon, riding a roller coaster, or immersed in the setting of your favorite story!
Book:
A Is for Audra: Broadway's Leading Ladies from A to Z written by John Robert Allman and illustrated by Peter Emmerich
Roosevelt:
Clever Constructing (ages 7 and up)
January 9th: 5pm
Building can be challenging–and fun! Join the Mobile Quest STEM Center to engineer bridges, catapults, zip lines, and other wacky contraptions.
Book:
How Was That Built?: The Stories Behind Awesome Structures
written by Roma Agrawal and illustrated by Katie Hickey
Tatnuck:
Graphic Novel and Cartooning Club (ages 9 and up)
January 25th: 4pm
Talk and learn about graphic novels and manga with your friends!
Snacks provided.
Book:
Comics Confidential: Thirteen Graphic Novelists Talk Story, Craft, and Life Outside the Box edited by Leonard S. Marcus
*Balloon Twisting (ages 9 and up)
January 30th: 5:30pm
Learn how to twist fun balloon shapes step by step with Kristy The Birthday Girl! Using balloon materials provided, make an adorable dog and a turtle you can wear!
Book:
Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet
Also available as a Wonderbook
and on eAudiobook
*Sponsored by the Friends of the Library
-Cara
