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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February 2025

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

Love Birds: A little birdy told me you would love to do this craft! A craft sure to make a little one’s heart flutter.

Black History Month Packet: Learn about those most important to our history this month! An insightful craft for all ages.

Duck For President: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” A presidential craft for younger children, inspired by Duck for President by Doreen Cronin.

STEAM: Groundhog Puppet: Six more weeks of winter, or an early spring? A study of shadows 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. 

February Lineup: 

Black Panther: T’Challa, heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must step forward to lead his people into a new future and must confront a challenger from his country’s past.

Kung Fu Panda: To everyone’s surprise, including his own, Po, a clumsy panda, is chosen as protector of the Valley of Peace. His suitability will soon be tested as the valley’s arch-enemy is on his way.

Make it Mondays: Friendship Bracelets
Mondays 3pm – 5pm
For January and February Make-It Mondays, join us each week to create a different kind of friendship bracelet! Between candy stripes, zig-zags, braids, and more, what will you choose? Your imagination is the limit!

Creative Writing Club for Kids
Tuesdays February 11th & 25th 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! Check out our schedule to see what theme is happening each week!

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

2/5: Love Your Library!

2/12: Valentine’s Day

2/19: Read to Traveler

2/26: Bee Kind

Art Class with Miss Dana
Thursdays 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27 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!

Celebrate Chinese New Year!
January 29th – February 5th
Celebrate Chinese New Year with the Children’s Room! Swing by to check out our displays, learn about the holiday, and make a craft related to the Year of the Snake!

Take Your Child to the Library Day
February 1st 10am – 4:30pm
Celebrate Take Your Child to the Library Day with us! We’ll be hosting a scavenger hunt to find different literary characters and have prizes to win, bookmarks and stickers to take, and photo opportunities for families to take advantage of. Best of all, learn all about what our library has to offer, and be sure to visit again soon!

Pizza My Heart
February 5th 10am – 5pm
Did you know National Pizza Day is February 9th? We’re celebrating early by making our own pizza hearts!

Mystery Makerspace Challenge!
February 8th 10am – 5pm
This Saturday, come visit the Children’s Room to make a mystery creation to take home! You will receive a bag of materials, and then you’ll have to figure out what to do with them. Best of all, there’s no right answer! Your imagination is the limit!

Literary Valentine’s Day Card Making
February 10th – February 14th
Swing by to make some Valentine’s Day cards for your friends, family, teachers, or maybe your favorite librarians! We’ll have some literary examples, but feel free to create your own!

Bilingual Storytime with Miss Dana
February 15th 11:30am – 12pm
Join us for another Bilingual Storytime with Miss Dana!

Random Acts of Kindness Day
February 18th 10am – 5pm
Swing by to make your own kindness rock — take a rock, and leave a rock in return for someone else to find!

Children’s Book Club: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
February 18th 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 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl! 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!
February 19th 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!

Puzzle Piece Heart Wreath
February 19th 10am – 5pm
Looking for more heart-shaped decor for your room? Make your own wreath out of puzzle piece!

Saturday Morning Storytime
February 22nd 11:30am – 12pm  
Join us for another round of Saturday Morning Storytime with Miss Meghan!

No-Sew Pillows
February 24th 10am – 5pm
Everyone needs a place to rest their heads. Make a pillow for you, a family member, or a friend! 

Pokemon Day Celebration
February 27th 10am – 5pm
Gotta catch ’em all! Come celebrate Pokemon all day in the Children’s Room with a scavenger hunt to find your favorites, and a craft to take one home!

 

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March 2025

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

End of the Rainbow Twirler: Make your own luck this month! A colorful craft for all ages.

Handprint Gnomes: Make a buddy to welcome the spring with! A friendly craft for all ages. 

Shamrock Puppy: Woof! Good dog! A cute craft for younger children.

STEAM: Basketball Challenge: It’s March Madness! Test your skills with this 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. 

March Lineup: 

Wonka: With dreams of opening a shop in a city renowned for its chocolate, a young and poor Willy Wonka discovers that the industry is run by a cartel of greedy chocolatiers.

Monsters University: A look at the relationship between Mike Wazowski and James P. “Sully” Sullivan during their days at Monsters University, when they weren’t necessarily the best of friends.

Homework Helpers
Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 3:30pm – 6pm
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.

March Madness: 2025 Nutmeg Nominees
All Month!
It’s March Madness in the Children’s Room! Each week, vote for your favorite book that was nominated for a Nutmeg Award this year! At the end of the month, we’ll see who the true winner is. 

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 March 4th & March 25th 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! Check out our schedule to see what theme is happening each week!

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

3/5: Dr. Seuss Tribute

3/12: Bilingual Storytime

3/19: Welcome Spring!

3/26: Women’s History Month

Art Class: Women’s History Art Spotlight
Thursdays 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, & 3/27 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 March, we’ll be working on a new project inspired by a beloved female artist, so be sure to swing by! No registration required.

3/6: Georgia O’Keefe

3/13: Frida Kahlo

3/20: Hilma af Klint

3/27: Yayoi Kusama

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!

Read Across America Week
March 2nd – March 9th
Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss! Swing by this week to celebrate by reading classic books by Dr. Seuss and completing a hot air balloon craft inspired by Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Mardi Gras Party!
March 4th 10am – 5pm
Celebrate the last day of Carnival season with us by checking out our displays, learning more about the holiday, and making your own masquerade masks to wear!

Journaling for Kids with Jane Rossi
March 4th 5pm – 6pm

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.

Empowering Women Paper Dolls
March 8th 10am – 5pm
Celebrate International Women’s Day in the Children’s Room by making a paper doll based off an important historic woman!

Pom-Pom Fish 
March 12th 10am – 5pm
It’s a swimmingly good day to make your own colorful fish! Swing by the Children’s Room to get crafty!

Children’s Pokémon Club:
March 13th 4pm – 5pm
Do you love all things Pokémon? Then join us for our first ever 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! 

Celebrate Holi!
March 14th – March 21st
Swing by to check out our displays, learn about the holiday, and participate in a blow painting with straws craft!

Saturday Morning Storytime
March 15th 11:30am – 12pm
Join us for another round of Saturday Morning Storytime with Miss Meghan!

Leprechaun Lookers
March 17th 10am – 5pm
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by making a tool to help you find some tiny friends! You might just get lucky enough to catch a glimpse!

Children’s Book Club: A Rover’s Story
March 18th 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 Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga! 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!
March 19th 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!

Celebrate Nowruz!
March 20th – March 27th
Swing by the Children’s Room to check out our display, learn about the holiday, and make a hyacinth craft!

Bilingual Storytime
March 22nd 11:30am – 12pm  
Join us for another Bilingual Storytime with Miss Dana!

 

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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