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 2024
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

 

 

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April 2025

Take Home Craft Kits
Available All Month – First Come First Serve

Paper Umbrellas: We have to be prepared for those April showers! A dry craft for older children.

Earth Mosaics: Create your own Earth-y artwork! A craft that any age can piece together.

Cardboard Tube Flying Bee: Prepare for takeoff! A buzzing craft for younger children.

STEAM: Protect Your Peep: Build a raft to keep your Peep afloat! An experiment for older children.

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. 

April Lineup: 

Hop: E.B., the Easter Bunny’s teenage son, heads to Hollywood, determined to become a drummer in a rock ‘n’ roll band. In LA, he’s taken in by Fred after the out-of-work slacker hits E.B. with his car.

Aladdin: A kind-hearted street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier vie for a magic lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true.

Homework Helpers
Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 3:30pm – 6pm; Fridays 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Connecticut College students will be offering tutoring help at the Public Library of New London starting on 2/10! This tutoring service is available to both children and teens.

Make it Mondays: Duct Tape
Mondays 3pm – 5pm
For March and April Make-It Mondays, join us each week to create with duct tape! Make wallets, bookmarks, swords and more! You imagination is the limit!

Creative Writing Club for Kids
Tuesdays April 8th & April 22nd 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Are you interested in writing? Join us for Creative Writing for Kids! For National Poetry Month in April, our meetings will be geared towards learning different poetry styles and improving our writing skills.

This workshop is geared for kids in 3rd grade and up, but strong and ambitious writers are encouraged to stop by! No registration required.

Please note the time change!

All-Ages Story Time
Wednesdays 10:30am
All ages story time and playgroup! Enjoy stories, songs, and a chance to play! Check out our schedule to see what theme is happening each week!

Best for children ages 4 and under. No registration required!

4/2: Bilingual Storytime

4/9: Garden Goods

4/16: Storytime with Traveler and Friends

4/23: Feeling Artsy

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
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!

STEAM Ahead Wednesdays
Wednesdays 10am – 5pm
Every Wednesday, we will be offering different projects that showcases each aspect of STEAM! Swing by each week to try out a new skill! 

4/2 – Science: “Moon Sand” (Slime)

4/9 – Technology: 3D Doodle Art

4/16 – Engineering: Cardboard Construction

4/23 – Art: Scratch Art

4/30 – Math: Geometry String Art

Don’t Burst My Bubble
April 2nd 4pm – 5pm
What is a bubble? Have you ever seen a square bubble? Create a bubble wall and hold hands through it! Niantic Children’s Museum will offer different activities; from putting a child in a bubble to bubble prints or bubble snake blowers! You won’t believe how many things you can use to make bubbles!

Saturday Morning Storytime
April 5th 11:30am – 12pm  
Join us for another round of Saturday Morning Storytime with Miss Meghan!

Children’s Pokémon Club
April 10th 4pm – 5pm
Do you love all things Pokémon? Then join us for our next Pokémon Club meeting! This club is for kids to meet together to talk about Pokémon, do crafts, and even play the game! We would love to see you there! 

This club is intended for children in 3rd – 5th grade, but any child is welcome! No registration required.

Plant a Seed
April 11th 10am – 5pm
In honor of the upcoming National Gardening Day on April 14th, get ahead of the game and start your garden here at the library! Children will be able to decorate their own planters and plan a seed!

School Vacation Week: Spring Break Edition!
April 14th – April 17th
Looking for something fun to do while on Spring Break? Look no further! Swing by each day to try out a new craft!

4/14: Perler Beads

4/15: Pinwheels

4/16: Bookmarks

4/17: Friendship Bracelets

Children’s Book Club: Willodeen
April 15th 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’re reading Willodeen by Katherine Applegate! Books are geared for grades 3-5, but strong readers are encouraged to join! Copies of the monthly book, snacks, and crafts provided.

Storytime with Traveler the NLPD Wellness Dog and Friends!
April 16th 10:30am – 11:30am
Join us to have a special storytime with Traveler and Officer Christina from NLPD! We will be having additional guests, including Chase from the Groton Town Police Department, and Hodges from the Waterford Police Department! You can pet Traveler, Chase, and Hodges while listening to great stories and learning about the local police departments!

Egg Carton Animals
April 19th 10am – 5pm
Make a little buddy to celebrate the warmer weather with!

No-Sew Sock Bunnies
April 21st 10am
Hop into spring by making a no-sew sock bunny!

Journaling for Kids with Jane Rossi
April 22nd 5:30pm – 6:30pm

In this fun and engaging one-hour workshop for 3rd to 6th graders, participants will decorate their own journals, learn the basics of journal writing, and explore a variety of journaling styles – from storytelling to gratitude journaling.

Each child will leave with a personalized journal and plenty of inspiration to continue writing on their own. This workshop is a great introduction to journal writing that could spark a lifelong love of journaling.

 

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May 2025

Take Home Craft Kits
Available All Month – First Come First Serve

Hand Fans: Hand fans are prominent in many Asian and Pacific Islander cultures. Try making your own! A fan-tastic craft for all ages.

Caterpillar on a Leaf: I hope it’s not very hungry! A cute craft for younger children.

Fairy Doors: Enter into your own secret garden! A magical craft for all ages.

STEAM: Cup Weaving: DIY a fancy cup that can hold whatever! A nifty craft for older children! 

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. 

May Lineup: 

Mulan: To save her father from death in the army, a young maiden secretly goes in his place and becomes one of China’s greatest heroines in the process.

How to Train Your Dragon: A hapless young Viking who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed.

Make it Mondays: Pipe Cleaners
Mondays 3pm – 5pm
For May and June Make-It Mondays, join us each week to make a pipe cleaner craft! Make flowers, crowns, animals, and more! Your imagination is the limit!

Creative Writing Club for Kids
Tuesdays May 13th & May 27th 5:30pm – 6:30pm

Are you interested in writing? Join us for Creative Writing for Kids! We’ll be playing word games and working with writing prompts biweekly to help develop creative writing skills.

This workshop is geared for kids in 3rd grade and up, but strong and ambitious writers are encouraged to stop by! No registration required.

Please note the time change!

All-Ages Story Time
Wednesdays 10:30am
All ages story time and playgroup! Enjoy stories, songs, and a chance to play! Check out our schedule to see what theme is happening each week!

Best for children ages 4 and under. No registration required!

5/7: A Galaxy Far, Far Away…

5/14: Be Mindful of “May”

5/21: Storytime with Traveler

5/28: Spring into Summer

Art Class: Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Spotlight
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 in May, we’ll be working on a new project inspired by an Asian or Pacific Islander culture, so be sure to swing by! No registration required.

5/1: Chinese Art

5/8: Native Hawaiian Art

5/15: Japanese Art

5/22: Indian Art

5/29: Korean Art

Baby + Me Playgroup
Fridays 10:30am
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!

Teddy Bear Sleepover
May 2nd – May 3rd

Swing by the Children’s Room on Friday, May 2nd to make a new teddy bear, or drop off one of your friends from home! Miss Tori will take extra good care of all the fuzzy friends that night, and will take pictures of all their shenanigans!

Come back on Saturday morning, May 3rd, after 11am to pick up your friend! Then later, keep an eye out on the library’s social media pages to see what hijinks the bears got up to!

Registration required to build a bear due to limited supplies. If bringing own stuffed animal, no registration needed.

New London Community Café
May 5th 10am – 12pm

We invite parents and caregivers are children 0-5 in the community to join us for our first Community Café on the topic of Feeding and Nutrition. This conversation will include information about introducing solids to moving to a well-balanced diet for children. Families will also have time to converse with one another. This is a great opportunity for parents and caregivers to meet other families in the community and learn about our community resources!

On-site child care, snacks, and refreshments will be provided. Each participating family will receive a $25 ShopRite gift card. Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly.

Star Wars Celebration
May 5th – May 10th
Help us celebrate Star Wars Day with a weeklong celebration! All week, you have the opportunity to build your own lightsaber, make a droid, and complete a scavenger hunt!

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!
May 5th 10am – 5pm
Come check out our displays, learn about the holiday, and create your own tiny sombrero to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

¡Vive el Cuento! Live the Story! with Leeny Del Seamonds
May 5th 3pm – 4pm

Tales of kindness, inspiration, and the bravery to overcome adversity and make a difference. Leeny Del Seamonds shares the universal elements of storytelling along with the unique flavors of different cultures. 

Leeny is an internationally known Master Storyteller who encourages her listeners to rejoice in human and cultural diversity, inviting them to share in her Cuban-American sense of humor and the joy of performing. Experience her bilingual storytelling performance here at the library! 

No registration required. For more information on Leeny Del Seamonds, please go to https://leenydelseamonds.com/. 

Bilingual Storytime
May 10th 11:30am – 12pm
Join us for another Bilingual Storytime with Miss Dana!

Be Mindful of “May” Week
May 12th – May 17th
For Mental Health Awareness Week, we’ll be hosting crafts and activities to help children and families practice mindfulness and relaxation. It’s a great week to learn how to be mindful of me “may!”

5/12 – 5/13: Mindful Breathing Sticks

5/14 – 5/15: DIY Stress Balls

5/16 – 5/17: Affirmation Catchers

Yoga for Kids: Unicorns and Dragons!
May 14th 4pm – 5pm
Yoga is fun, but even more fun when you include unicorns and dragons! YTT200 Certified yoga instructor Amie Meacham takes you on a fantasy-filled journey while also teaching new yoga poses and mindful practices! Bring your own yoga mat or towel, and get your zen on!

Registration required.

Children’s Pokémon Club
May 15th 4pm – 5pm
Do you love all things Pokémon? Then join us for our next Pokémon Club meeting! This club is for kids to meet together to talk about Pokémon, do crafts, and even play the game! We would love to see you there! 

This club is intended for children in 3rd – 5th grade, but any child is welcome! No registration required.

Children’s Book Club: How to Train Your Dragon
May 20th 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’re reading How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell! Books are geared for grades 3-5, but strong readers are encouraged to join! Copies of the monthly book, snacks, and crafts provided.

Storytime with Traveler the NLPD Wellness Dog!
May 21st 10:30am – 11:30am

Join us to have a special storytime with Traveler and Officer Christina! You can pet Traveler while listening to great stories and learning about the New London Police Department!

Author Visit with Jessica Dugas
May 21st 10:30am – 11:30am
Join international best-selling author Jessica Dugas for a special edition of Story Time at the Public Library of New London. Jessica will be reading her new family book, There Will Be Hugs — a heartwarming story about friendship, emotions, and the power of connection.

Following the reading, children will be invited to participate in a fun and engaging “How to Draw a Koala” activity, inspired by the characters from the book. Signed copies will be available, and of course, Jessica has free hugs for anyone who wants one!

This event is perfect for families, preschoolers, and anyone who enjoys meaningful stories and community connection. All are welcome!

For more information, please visit https://thebreakthroughshownetwork.com/there-will-be-hugs/.

DIY Beaded Windchimes
May 22nd 10am – 5pm
Spring time is full of sounds, like birds chirping, bees buzzing, and your brand new windchime making music!

Mini Flower Garden
May 28th 10am – 5pm
Real flowers can be hard. Luckily, you can make your own paper ones! Swing by to create your own garden that will live forever!

Saturday Morning Storytime
May 31st 11:30am – 12pm
Join us for another round of Saturday Morning Storytime with Miss Meghan!

 

 

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Children’s Room
860-447-1411 ext. 103

Children’s Librarian
Tori Congdon
vcongdon@plnl.org
860-447-1411 ext. 104

Children’s Librarian Assistant
Dana Santillana
dsantillana@plnl.org