Children’s Programs
ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE ALWAYS FREE!
1,000 Books Bonanza
Stop by the Children’s Room to sign up for 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, and get a free canvas bag to kickstart your 1,000 book journey. Any child who has not yet started Kindergarten can participate. Reading together helps children develop a love of reading, introduces them to new vocabulary, and teaches them important early literacy skills that will help them when they enter school.
Music City Strings 2025-2026
New London Community Orchestra is offering a new session of free violin lessons for children in grades 4-9. Instruments will be provided at no charge, and children may take their violin home to practice. Lessons are in small groups with professional teachers. Masks are required. Violin lessons are an excellent experiential enrichments activity that’s been shown to increase educational attainment. Fill out the form below to register:
https://form.jotform.com/61886278899180
December 2025
Take Home Craft Kits
Available All Month – First Come First Serve
Pinecone Trees: Decorate a festive pinecone using the materials provided! Suitable for all ages!
Paper Plate Reindeer: Help create Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer to help guide the sleigh!
Holiday Lights: A craft for all ages to brighten your Holiday!
Paper Plate Santa Masks: Get ready for the big day!
Interactive Movie Kits
Available All Month – First Come First Serve
Interactive Movie Kits are fun for the whole family! Kits include a list of prompts for your family to do throughout the movie plus props and crafts! Each kit comes with enough supplies for 4 people. DVD’s are available to check out on a first come first serve basis, but kits can be taken with or without the movie if you use a streaming service or have the movie at home.
December Lineup:
Polar Express: Do you believe? Follow Hero Boy as he is skeptical about the belief in Santa Claus. A mysterious train appears one night in front of his house. Will you also get on board to find out? Join us for this epic journey to the North Pole and hop onboard on the Polar Express!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Did you hear down in Whoville that Who’s liked Christmas a lot? All except one, that Grinch who did not! What will you do to save Christmas? Take a journey with little Cindy-Lou-Who on top of Mount Crumpit to persuade the Grinch to partake in joining Who-Holiday Tradition!
Make it Mondays: Ornament Making
Mondays 3pm – 5pm
For December Make-It Mondays, join us each week to create an ornament to hang on your tree, as a gift, or just for fun! We will have a new ornament craft each Monday!
Children’s Graphic Novel Book Club
Monday Night once a month at 5pm-6pm.
Saturdays once a month at 3pm-4pm
Upcoming Discussions will be Monday, December 8th at 5pm and Saturday, December 20th at 3pm.
Do you like reading but don’t know where to begin? Come join us for a Graphic Novel Book Club for kids!
This book club is geared for kids in 3rd grade and up, but all readers are encouraged to join! No registration required.
All-Ages Story Time
Wednesdays 10:30am – 11:30am
All ages story time and playgroup! Enjoy stories, songs, and a chance to play!
Best for children ages 4 and under. No registration required!
Art Class with Miss Dana
Thursdays 5pm – 6pm
Do you love creating art? Try coming to the library on Thursday evenings to take an art class with Miss Dana! Each week, we’ll be working on a new project, so be sure to swing by! No registration required.
Baby + Me Playgroup
Fridays 10:30am – 11:30am
Join us for a story time and play group! Baby + Me is designed for babies to socialize and for caregivers to meet each other! We will do a short lap story and then turn on the music and take out the toys for time to socialize. A great opportunity for new parents to meet and babies to play!
Children’s Board Game Club
Saturdays 12:30pm – 3pm
Do you love playing board games? Join us every Saturday for Board Game Club in the Children’s Room! In addition to chess, we will be including board games like Sorry, Battleship, Trouble, and more! This space can be for both children and their families. All skill levels are welcome!
Letters to Santa
December 1st – December 19th: All Day
Come to the Children’s Room for the first two weeks of December! We are sending letters to the North Pole to help make your holiday extra special this year! We will have a North Pole mailbox where you can put your letters in and we will help get them to their destination!
Storytime and Cookie Decorating with Mama Randy’s Treats
Wednesday, December 3rd at 10:30am-11:30am
Join us for a fun cookie decorating day after Storytime! This program is geared for all ages and families! Registration is required for each person! You will be getting your own cookie kit to decorate. Please call the Children’s Room at 860-447-1411 x103 if you are having trouble registering! Thank you and we hope to see you there! Let us know of any food allergies upon registration!
Register here: Storytime and Cookie Decorating with Mama Randy’s Treats – LibCal – The Public Library of New London
Cooking for kids with Food for Your Soul
Wednesday, December 3rd and Wednesday December 10th – 4pm-5pm
Registration is required! Come cook up something amazing and join us in the Community Room!
This program is best for children ages 3-10! Please indicate any food allergies upon registration and bring a hat & apron to class. Registration is required for each individual day.
Wednesday, December 3rd Registration: Cooking for Kids! – LibCal – The Public Library of New London
Wednesday, December 10th Registration: Cooking for Kids! – LibCal – The Public Library of New London
Art Class with Miss. Dana
December 4th and December 18th at 5pm – 6pm
Do you love creating art? Try coming to the library on Thursday evenings to take an art class with Miss Dana! We will be featuring a special Hanukkah Art Class on December 18th! Be sure to swing by! No registration required.
Saturday Morning Bilingual Storytime with Miss. Dana
December 6th – 11:30am
Ugly Sweater Crafting
Tuesday, December 9th – All Day!
Do you have a school or holiday party to attend? Join us in the Children’s Room to make and create the ugliest sweater you can! Creativity is the key, the uglier the better it shall be! Either make a craft or make a sweater using the supplies provided!
1st come 1st serve! Make them while supplies last!
Cookie Decorating with Mama Randy’s Treats
Thursday, December 11th at 4pm – 5pm
Join us for a fun cookie decorating day! This program is geared for all ages and families! Registration is required for each person! You will be getting your own cookie kit to decorate. Please call the Children’s Room at 860-447-1411 x103 if you are having trouble registering! Thank you and we hope to see you there! Please let us know of any food allergies upon registering. Thank you!
Register here: Cookie Decorating with Mama Randy’s Treats – LibCal – The Public Library of New LondonChildren’s Book Club: Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Monday, December 15th at 5pm – 6pm
Do you love reading and talking about books? Join the Children’s Book Club! We meet every 3rd Tuesday of the month during the school year from 5pm – 6pm.
This month, we’ll be reading Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls! Books are geared for grades 3-5, but strong readers are encouraged to join! Copies of the monthly book, snacks, and crafts provided.
Celebrate Hanukkah: 8 Days of Crafting
Monday, December 15th – Monday December 22nd: All Day
12/15: Paper plate Menorah
12/16: Star of David
12/17: Sun Catcher Dreidel Craft
12/18: Hanukkah inspired Art Class with Miss. Dana 5pm-6pm
12/19: Hanukkah Candle Craft
12/20-12/22: Hanukkah Bracelet Making
Storytime with Traveler and NLPD Officer Christina
Wednesday, December 17th – 10:30am-11:30am
Saturday Morning Storytime with Miss. Meghan
December 20th at 11:30am
Join us for another round of Saturday Morning Storytime with Miss Meghan!
Ornament making and Pastel Art
Monday, December 22nd – Wednesday, December 24th – All Day!
Looking for a last-minute gift? Stop by the Children’s Room to make an ornament or a piece of art that you can make and frame for the holiday! Get them while they last! Supplies are limited.
Celebrate Kwanzaa: 6 Days of Crafting
king for a last-minute gift? Stop by the Children’s Room to make an ornament or a piece of art that you can make and frame for the holiday! Get them while they last! Supplies are limited.
12/27: Unity Cup Craft
12/28: Kwanzaa Hand Wreath
12/29: Kinara Candle Craft
12/30: Mkeka Mat Weaving Craft
12/31-1/2: Kwanzaa Unity Chain
All-Ages Storytime New Years Eve Baby Rave
Wednesday, December 31st at 10:30am-11:30am
Come join us this morning in the Children’s Room for some music, fun, and Storytime as we count down the new year early in the morning! Some refreshments will be provided for the day’s event! We hope you can come and jam with us!
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January 2026
Take Home Craft Kits
Available All Month – First Come First Serve
Popsicle Snowmen: A craft suitable for all ages!
Q-Tip Snowflakes: Design a unique snowflake using q-tips! Best for ages 4 and up.
Winter Hat Craft: Make a cozy winter hat with hidden designs made by you! Great for all ages!
Pom Pom Penguins: Make a cute arctic friend!
Interactive Movie Kits
Available All Month – First Come First Serve
Interactive Movie Kits are fun for the whole family! Kits include a list of prompts for your family to do throughout the movie plus props and crafts! Each kit comes with enough supplies for 4 people. DVD’s are available to check out on a first come first serve basis, but kits can be taken with or without the movie if you use a streaming service or have the movie at home.
January Lineup:
Jack Frost: Charlie’s dad is clinging to his dreams of becoming a rockstar. He doesn’t have much time for his family and during a snowstorm, he is involved in a tragic accident. On the day of Christmas, Charlie his son plays a song by his dad on his harmonica and magically the tune carries through the snow and gives a second chance to the family who lost their dad. Only Charlie’s dad returns in the form of a Snowman!
Frozen: The new Queen of Arendelle was born with magical powers that can make snow and ice form from her hands! After the day of her coronation day Queen Elsa opens the castle gates for the first time in forever! Her younger sister Ana is ecstatic and when the gates are open she finds true love. She tells her sister Elsa that the two will be married! Queen Elsa will not hear of it and accidentally transforms the entire island into a winter wonderland! Join Ana on an adventure to save Arendelle from becoming a permanent tundra of ice and snow!
Make it Mondays: Snowflakes
Mondays 3pm – 5pm
For January, join us each week to make and create a different type of snowflake for the start of this winter month! Come make them while supplies last!
Children’s Graphic Novel Book Club
Monday Night once a month at 5pm-6pm.
Discussion will be Monday, January 12th at 5pm: The Flamingo by Guojing. Snacks and a craft will follow!
Do you like reading but don’t know where to begin? Come join us for a Graphic Novel Book Club for kids!
This book club is geared for kids in 3rd grade and up, but all readers are encouraged to join! No registration required.
All-Ages Story Time
Wednesdays 10:30am – 11:30am
All ages story time and playgroup! Enjoy stories, songs, and a chance to play!
Best for children ages 4 and under. No registration required!
Art Class with Miss Dana
Thursdays 5pm – 6pm
Do you love creating art? Try coming to the library on Thursday evenings to take an art class with Miss Dana! Each week, we’ll be working on a new project, so be sure to swing by! No registration required.
Baby + Me Playgroup
Fridays 10:30am – 11:30am
Join us for a story time and play group! Baby + Me is designed for babies to socialize and for caregivers to meet each other! We will do a short lap story and then turn on the music and take out the toys for time to socialize. A great opportunity for new parents to meet and babies to play!
Children’s Board Game Club: Scrabble Saturdays for the month of January
Saturdays 12:30pm – 3pm
Do you love playing games? Join us every Saturday for some Scrabble in the Children’s Room! This is geared for a friendly competition between children, families and caregivers! All skill levels are welcome! Don’t forget that you can use the Children’s Librarian and staff members for help! Happy spelling, learning and board gaming!
Saturday Morning Bilingual Storytime with Miss. Dana
January 3rd – 11:30am
January 31st -11:30am
Winter Wonderland Workshop
Monday, January 5th – Friday, January 10th
Monday 1/5: Popsicle Snowflakes
Tuesday 1/6: Snow Globe Craft
Wednesday 1/7: Snow Dough
Thursday 1/8: Abominable Snowman Craft
Friday 1/9 – Saturday 1/10: Coffee Filter Snowflakes
Saturday Morning Storytime with Miss. Meghan
January 10th at 11:30am
Join us for another round of Saturday Morning Storytime with Miss Meghan!
Korean American Day
Tuesday, January 13th – All Day!
Join us for an all-day craft as we make a Korean paper plate drum in honor of Korean American Day in the Children’s Room!
Cooking for kids with Food for Your Soul
Tuesday, January 13th and Tuesday, January 27th – 4pm-5pm
Registration is required! Come cook up something amazing and join us in the Community Room!
This program is best for children ages 3-10! Please indicate any food allergies upon registration and bring a hat & apron to class. Registration is required for each individual day.
Tuesday, January 13th Registration: Cooking for Kids! – LibCal – The Public Library of New London
Tuesday, January 27thRegistration: Cooking for Kids! – LibCal – The Public Library of New London
World Logic Day
Wednesday, January 14th – All Day!
Join us in the Children’s Room as we celebrate World Logic Day using puzzle pieces to make a special craft!
Art Class with Miss. Dana
Thursday, January 15th at 5pm – 6pm
Do you love creating art? Try coming to the library on Thursday evenings to take an art class with Miss Dana! We will be featuring a special Martin Luther King Jr. inspired art class! Be sure to swing by! No registration required.
“I Have a Dream” MLK Inspired Craft
Tuesday, January 20th – All Day!
In Honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, stop by the Children’s Room to make a “I Have a Dream” Craft from his famous speech!
Squirrel Craft
Wednesday, January 21st – All Day!
Come to the Children’s Room to make a Squirrel Craft to help our furry friend hibernate and gather food for the winter!
Children’s Book Club: Frizzy by Claribel A Ortega
Monday, January 26th at 5pm – 6pm
Do you love reading and talking about books? Join the Children’s Book Club! We meet every 3rd Tuesday of the month during the school year from 5pm – 6pm.
This month, we’ll be reading Frizzy by Claribel A Ortega! Books are geared for grades 3-5, but strong readers are encouraged to join! Copies of the monthly book, snacks, and crafts provided.
Lego Contest for Kids
Wednesday, January 28th – All Day
Happy National Lego Day! We have the Legos and Boards; you bring the creativity and ideas! Join us in the Children’s Room to create an amazing Lego display! Don’t want to create that’s fine too! They will be available to vote on as well for your favorite! Winner will get a prize! Voting will be open for the rest of the week!
Children’s Room
860-447-1411 ext. 103
Head of Children’s Services
Children’s Librarian
Meghan Soucier
msoucier@plnl.org
860-447-1411 ex. 104
Children’s Librarian Assistant
Dana Santillana
dsantillana@plnl.org