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 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
November 2024
Take Home Craft Kits
Available All Month – First Come First Serve
Felt Caramel Apple: Do you love a tasty treat? Let this inspire you to make the real thing! A yummy craft for younger children.
Pumpkin Pie Plates: An essential part to any Thanksgiving dinner! A savory craft for younger children.
Fall Windsock: Need something fun to do with all the pretty leaves you collected? Look no further! A great craft for all ages.
STEAM: Exploding Pumpkins: What happens when you’re done with your jack-o-lanterns? An explosive craft for older kids.
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.
November Lineup:
Coco: Aspiring musician Miguel, confronted with his family’s ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer.
Sing: In a city of humanoid animals, a hustling theater impresario’s attempt to save his theater with a singing competition becomes grander than he anticipates even as its finalists find that their lives will never be the same.
Dinovember
All Month
Celebrate Dinovember all month long with us in the Children’s Room! Become a paleontologist by completing a scavenger hunt, hatching some dinosaur eggs, creating dinosaur crafts, and learning about fossils and more by surveying our book display!
Make it Mondays: Perler Beads
Mondays 3pm – 5pm
For November and December Make-It Mondays, join us each week to create with perler beads! Make coasters, keychains, fun art, and more! You imagination is the limit!
Creative Writing Club for Kids
Tuesdays November 12th & November 26th 5pm – 6pm
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.
All-Ages Story Time
Wednesdays 10:30am
All ages story time and playgroup! Enjoy stories, songs, and a chance to play! This month, we are introducing story time themes, so check out our schedule to see what’s happening each week!
Best for children ages 4 and under. No registration required!
11/6: Diwali & Dia de los Muertos Stories
11/13: Read to Traveler the NLPD Wellness Dog
11/20: Pajama Party
11/26: Turkey Lurkey Time
Art Class with Miss Dana
Thursdays 11/7, 11/14 & 11/21 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 Chess Club
Saturdays 9:30am – 12pm
Chess Club is now available in the Children’s Room! Children are still welcome to participate in the Adult Reading Room, but this space is reserved for just children and their families. All skill levels are welcome!
Homework Helpers
Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays
Connecticut College students will be offering tutoring help at the Public Library of New London starting on 10/7!
Drop in to receive help with homework!
Mondays: 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Tuesdays: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Thursdays: 3 PM – 6:30 PM
Celebrate Diwali!
October 31st – November 8th
Stop by to see our displays, learn about Diwali, and make a paper lantern to celebrate the holiday!
Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)
November 1st & November 2nd 10am – 5 pm
The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. Stop by to learn about the holiday, look at our display, and make your own sugar skulls!
Tellabration with the CT Storytelling Center
November 2nd 11:30am – 12:30pm
Tellabration is a mammoth storytelling event – and that’s no Tall Tale! It’s a storytelling phenomenon, made up of dozens of storytelling happenings all over the world. Its purpose is to introduce adults, as well as children, to the pleasures of the oral art of storytelling. It is one of the programs offered by The Connecticut Storytelling Center, based in New London.
The Public Library of New London will host a Tellabration for children on Saturday, November 2nd at 11:30 a.m. Ann Shapiro will be telling and singing stories.
Innovation Expedition: Inventing Long Island Sound Solutions
November 4th 3:30pm – 6:30pm
In partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Connecticut Invention Convention is back with a new program! Students K-12 have the opportunity to learn about some problems facing our very local Long Island Sound eco-system and participate in an Innovation Expedition to work together and problem-solve ways to help with these issues!
The Connecticut Invention Convention (CIC) is an internationally recognized educational organization started in 1983. Throughout the year, educators use our curriculum to develop creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills through invention and entrepreneurship. This culminates in the final competition event where we recognize students with awards and prizes for their hard work. Today, the program is open to all K-12 students across Connecticut, and is rapidly growing. Come be a part of our project!
Registration is required; visit our events page on our website, or call us at (860) 447-1411 ext. 103. No materials necessary, just come prepared to invent!
Fossils to Footprints
November 7th 4pm – 5pm
Go back to prehistoric times with Niantic Children’s Museum to discover what fantastic creatures roamed the earth! Find out what they may have looked like, acted like, and ate. Children become a paleontologist and dissect a “rock” to find a fossil of their own to keep!
Storytime with Traveler the NLPD Wellness Dog!
November 13th 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!
Creature Camouflage with DPNC
November 13th 4pm – 5pm
Meet animals who camouflage and discover the different ways they blend into their surroundings. Play a camouflage game and learn why hiding in plain sight is such an important adaptation!
Saturday Morning Storytime
November 16th 11:30am – 12pm
Join us for another round of Saturday Morning Storytime with Miss Meghan!
Introduction to Breathing and Movement Class for Moms
November 19th 3pm – 4pm
This is an introduction class run by perinatal physical therapist Jessica McKinney for women, particularly new and soon-to-be mothers, focusing on basic breathing and movement mechanics geared towards the pregnant and postpartum body. This 60-minute class is not an exercise class, but rather an introduction to some movement health concepts and screening tools that women can apply on their own as well as help them identify whether they may benefit from seeking additional services.
This is a group class, and no individualized services will be offered. For more information, visit Jessica McKinney’s website: www.ourspaceourbodies.com.
Children’s Book Club: Bridge to Terabithia
November 19th 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 Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson! Books are geared for grades 3-5, but strong readers are encouraged to join! Copies of the monthly book, snacks, and crafts provided.
Chain of Thanks
November 20th – November 27th
Participate in our community art project this month by expressing gratitude for all the great things in your life! Just see how many things there are to be thankful for!
Bilingual Storytime with Miss Dana
November 23rd 11:30am – 12pm
Join us again for another Bilingual Storytime with Miss Dana!
Thankful Turkeys
November 27th 10am – 5pm
What are you thankful for this year? Swing by the Children’s Room and make some thankful turkeys with us!
Coffee Filter Leaves
November 30th 10am – 5pm
All the colorful leaves might be gone outside, but not to worry! You can make your own and stay warm at the same time!
December 2024
Take Home Craft Kits
Available All Month – First Come First Serve
The Grinch Ornament: “Well, in Whoville, they say that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes…” A heartwarming craft for all ages.
Construction Paper Mittens: An essential part to staying warm in the winter! A cozy craft for younger children.
Snowman Suncatcher: Most snowmen melt in the sun, but not this one! A creative craft for older children.
STEAM: Marshmallow Snowflakes: Every snowflake is unique! Now, you can design your own! A hands-on craft for all ages.
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.
November Lineup:
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer: A young reindeer Rudolph lives at the North Pole. His father is one of Santa’s reindeer and it is expected that Rudolph will eventually be one too. However, he has a feature which is a setback and causes him to be ostracized: his red nose.
A Bug’s Life: A misfit ant, looking for “warriors” to save his colony from greedy grasshoppers, recruits a group of bugs that turn out to be an inept circus troupe.
Make it Mondays: Perler Beads
Mondays 3pm – 5pm
For November and December Make-It Mondays, join us each week to create with perler beads! Make coasters, keychains, fun art, and more! You imagination is the limit!
Creative Writing Club for Kids
Tuesdays December 3rd & December 10th 5pm – 6pm
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.
All-Ages Story Time
Wednesdays 10:30am
All ages story time and playgroup! Enjoy stories, songs, and a chance to play! This month, we are introducing story time themes, so check out our schedule to see what’s happening each week!
Best for children ages 4 and under. No registration required!
12/4: Winter Tales
12/11: Snowflake Shake
12/18: Read to Traveler
Art Class with Miss Dana
Thursdays 12/5, 12/12, 12/19, 12/26 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 Chess Club
Saturdays 9:30am – 12pm
Chess Club is now available in the Children’s Room! Children are still welcome to participate in the Adult Reading Room, but this space is reserved for just children and their families. All skill levels are welcome!
Homework Helpers
Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays
Connecticut College students will be offering tutoring help at the Public Library of New London until 12/5!
Drop in to receive help with homework!
Mondays: 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Tuesdays: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Thursdays: 3 PM – 6:30 PM
Disguise a Gingerbread Man!
December 2nd – December 8th
Swing by and disguise a Gingerbread Man! Then, it’s time to hide him in the Children’s Room! How many Gingerbread Men do you think you’ll find?
Holiday Baking for Kids with Food For Your Soul LLC.
December 10th & 17th 4pm – 5pm
Food For Your Soul, LLC is back with a two-week holiday baking series to get you into the spirit!
12/10: Holiday Cake Pops
12/17: Holiday Cookie Workshop
Please indicate any allergies upon registration, and be sure to bring an apron and a hat to class!
Newspaper Penguins
December 11th 10am – 5 pm
Smile and wave, boys. Swing by to make your own penguins in the Children’s Room!
Crazy Science with Niantic Children’s Museum
December 12th 4pm – 5pm
Get out the safety glasses and lab coats – It’s time to become scientists! From reactions to polymers, scientific principles such as states of matter, substance density or surface tension, children do experiments to investigate. Don’t miss the spectacular ending!
Slime Saturday
December 14th 10am – 5pm
Looking for something fun to do on a wintery Saturday? Pop in to make your own slime!
Winter Wonderland Workshop
December 16th – December 23rd
The Children’s Room is turning into a Winter Wonderland! It’s a one-stop shop to do all things winter-related: create snowflakes, write letters to Santa, and make last minute gift creations such as cards, bookmarks, ornaments, and more!
Children’s Book Club: A Wrinkle in Time (Graphic Novel)
December 17th 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 a graphic novel version of A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle and adapted by Hope Larson! 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!
December 18th 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!
Traveling Touch Tank with Mystic Aquarium
December 18th 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Mystic Aquarium will bring an assortment of live invertebrates such as lobsters, horseshoe crabs and shellfish right to the library for everyone to see!
Bilingual Storytime with Miss Dana
December 21st 11:30am – 12pm
Join us for another Bilingual Storytime with Miss Dana!
School Vacation Week!
December 23rd – December 30th
Join us in the Children’s Room for some fun crafts to make the most of winter vacation!
All Week: Winter Scavenger Hunt
12/23 & 12/26: Pom-Pom Poppers
12/27 & 12/28: Yarn Hats
12/29 & 12/30: Pipe Cleaner Snowflakes
Celebrate Hanukkah
December 26th – January 2nd
Stop by to see our displays, learn about Hanukkah, and make some crafts related to the holiday!
Celebrate Kwanzaa
December 26th – January 2nd
Stop by to see our display, learn about Kwanzaa, participate in activities, and make some crafts related to the holiday!
Science Heroes: Adventure of the Lost Treasure
December 27th 1pm – 2pm
Join the Science Heroes on a fun and interactive “treasure-hunting” adventure deep within the jungle! The entire audience helps the performer act out the tale as we use the events in the story to explore several exciting science concepts! Volunteers from the audience conduct each experiment as together we learn all about air pressure, physical & chemical changes, transfer of energy, changing variables + making a hypothesis, and much more!
Saturday Morning Storytime
December 28th 11:30am – 12pm
Join us for another round of Saturday Morning Storytime with Miss Meghan!
Countdown to ’25!
December 31st 10:30am – 11:30am
Time to ring in 2025! Swing by the Children’s Room and make a festive hat, then get ready for a countdown to 11:25 am that ends with a balloon drop!
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
