In Montclair, there is time to be bored. Check out these wonderful things to do in town from at The Montclair Public Library.
Babies in the Library
Babies meet babies! Parents and caregivers sing nursery rhymes together with their little ones. Songs, language activities, and board books will be introduced during each session. Make baby's first library experience a special one! Please note that registration is required for each individual storytime.
Registration required; space limited.
3rd floor
Newborns-23 mos.
Tuesdays, April 10, 17 & 24 at 10:30am & 11:30am
Online registration is available for valid Montclair Public Library card holders. All others should call the Youth Services Department to be added to the waiting list.
Toddler Time
Two-year-olds and the adults in their lives explore language and numbers through stories and songs. Picture books, flannel board stories, and nursery rhymes are used to introduce the wonder of books. Please note that registration is required for each individual storytime.
Registration required; space limited.
3rd floor
Two-year-olds
Wednesdays, April 11, 18 & 25 at 11am
Online registration is available for valid Montclair Public Library card holders. All others should call the Youth Services Department to be added to the waiting list.
Mother Goose is Loose! Story Party
In this special edition of Mother Goose, we’ll be celebrating the Library’s 125th birthday in each of our 3 sessions. In addition to stories, each session will feature different, creative, and fun ways to celebrate this special milestone. Please note that registration is required for each individual storytime.
Registration required; space limited.
3rd floor
Ages 3 to 6
Thursdays, April 12, 19 & 26 at 4pm
Online registration is available for valid Montclair Public Library card holders. All others should call the Youth Services Department to be added to the waiting list.
Family Storytime @ Bellevue Avenue Branch
This program is designed for newborns through five year-olds accompanied by a favorite adult. Share books, stories, finger plays, rhymes, and music with your children. Enjoy a story session that encourages a love of reading and fosters the development of early literacy skills. Children of all abilities welcome. Please note that registration is required for each individual storytime.
Registration required; space limited.
Newborns to 5 year-olds
Mondays, April 2 & 16 at 11am
Kids Place @ Bellevue Avenue Branch Library, 185 Bellevue Ave., Upper Montclair
Online registration is available for valid Montclair Public Library card holders. All others should call the Youth Services Department to be added to the waiting list.
Game On: Wii & Board Games
Are ‘wii board’ yet? Come enjoy many games that are a lot of fun and offer a little bit of friendly competition. We will provide various Wii games (including but not limited to) Wii Sports Resort, Just Dance, and Super Smash Brothers Brawl. In addition, we will also offer various board games such as Don’t Wake Daddy, Creationary, LIFE, Clue, Connect 4, Operation, Twister, Mancala, Chess, and Backgammon to those who prefer to play traditional board games. GAME ON! Children ages 7 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
No registration required
3rd floor
All ages welcome
Monday, April 2, 2pm-5pm
Cuentitos: Spanish & English Storytime
Enjoy a storytime session of Children’s books in Spanish & English and acoustic guitar music in Spanish. Spanish speakers and non-Spanish speakers welcome! Disfrute de un sesión de cuentos en español y bilingües textos en Inglés y Español.
Registration required
3rd floor
Ages 4 & up
Wednesday, April 4 at 3pm
Homeschooling Open House: Talent Show Edition
This special edition of the Homeschooling Open House will feature a talent show presented by homeschool kids and tweens! Check out the Library’s monthly Homeschooling open house and make friends with other families. Youth Services Librarian, Enola Romano, displays our collection of parenting books about homeschooling. Bring your favorite board game to share! For more information email Enola Romano at enola.romano@montclair.bccls.org.
No registration required
Auditorium
Thursday, April 5, 11am-1pm
Wee Kids on the Blocks: Block Play for Little Ones
Toddlers, little walkers and their adults are invited to drop in and play with the library’s new block cushions. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
No registration required
3rd floor
Ages 2-5
Friday, April 6, 11am-2pm
125: Community Birthday Party
It’s our birthday! We are turning one-hundred and twenty-five years young and want you to be there for our special day! Everyone is invited to celebrate with us as we enjoy stories, face-painting balloon animals, cupcakes, games, and --- of course --- CAKE! PS: No need to bring a gift (our readers are our birthday present!)
No registration required
Auditorium
All ages welcome
Wednesday, April 11, 4:30pm-7pm
Montclair Reads Cheaper by the Dozen
Montclair Reads Cheaper by the Dozen - another element of Montclair Public Library’s 125th birthday celebration --- is a community read of Frank Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey’s classic book about growing up in Montclair among 12 siblings. Beginning April 14, the Library will distribute free custom copies of the book and a discussion guide to individual groups, book clubs or classes, while supplies last. Call 973-744-0500 ext. 2235 or email reference@montclair.bccls.org to reserve a copy. Throughout April & May, check the Library website -- montclairlibrary.org -- for Montclair Reads details and special events!
Fright-day the 13th: A Not-too Frightful Family Movie
When frightful ghouls are unleashed from a best-selling children’s book series & terrorize a town, it's up to R.L. Stine, Zach & Hannah to put them back in their stories. Please call for title.
No registration required
3rd floor
Rated PG
Friday, April 13, 4pm-5:45pm
Word Craft: Little Poets Workshop with TAB
Celebrate National Poetry Month with an array of adjectives as we assembles all sorts of associative poetic artistries (like alliterations)! Creative talents from MPL’s Teen Advisory Board will work with your little poet by demonstrating fun poem-making devices such as acrostics, haikus, mad-lib poems and sorting-hat poetry.
No registration required
Ages 5 & up
Kids’ Place @ BAB
Tuesday, April 17, 4pm-5:30pm
Books & Bites: Beginner Reading Club
Cultivate a love of literature with the Books & Bites Reading Club! We will read and discuss a new book, followed by a themed craft and a tasty snack. Don’t miss out on the fun! For students in Grades 1-3, books are available to check out on your library card after March 26. Please advise of any food allergies.
Registration required
3rd floor
Grades 1-3 ‘Mercy Watson to the Rescue’ by Kate DiCamillo
Wednesday, April 18, 4:30pm-5:30pm
Online registration is available for valid Montclair Public Library card holders. All others should call the Youth Services Department to be added to the waiting list.
Mariana Iranzi: Spanish-English Family Concert
With original and classic songs, Mariana Iranzi brings a bilingual show for the whole family to enjoy. Enjoy toe-tapping music that will make everyone sing, move and play. Shakers, scarves, puppets and a giant parachute are all part of the fun to be had in this musical adventure. Mariana Iranzi is a composer, educator, and performer who educated from Berklee College of Music. Originally from Argentina, Mariana authored 3 Children’s albums and teaches at City & Country School in NY.
Registration required
Auditorium
All ages welcome
Saturday, April 21 at 2pm
Earth Day, Every Day: Craft
It’s never too early to teach our little ones that it is up to us to love and take care of our one and only Earth. Drop by and we’ll explore seeds in a creative way together.
No registration required
3rd floor
Ages 3 & up
Sunday, April 22 at 2pm
Family Movie: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
While raising twelve kids, a Montclair couple decides to pursue more ambitious careers -- just to find out that large families and demanding careers are a zany mix. Starring Steve Martin & Bonnie Hunt.
No registration required
Auditorium
Rated PG
Tuesday, April 24, 4pm-6pm
Books & Bites: Advanced Reading Club
Cultivate a love of literature with the Books & Bites Reading Club! We will read and discuss a new book, followed by a themed-craft and a tasty snack. Don’t miss out on the fun! For students in Grades 3-5, books are available to check out on your library card after March 26. Please advise of any food allergies.
Registration required
3rd floor
Grades 3-5 ‘Quinny & Hopper’ by Adriana Brad Schanen
Wednesday, April 25, 4:30pm-5:30pm
Online registration is available for valid Montclair Public Library card holders. All others should call the Youth Services Department to be added to the waiting list.
Read to Mila: A Therapy Dog Visit
Mila the dog is an avid reader and wants you to read your favorite book to her! Mila is a 3-year-old cocker spaniel and lives with her human family and dog-sister, Phoebe, in Montclair. She loves chasing squirrels, tummy rubs, roasted chicken and playing fetch-the-ball. But her favorite things are cuddles and kids.
Registration required
3rd floor
Ages 5 & up
Saturday, April 28, 11am-12pm
Limited registration; each reader will have 5 minutes with Mila.
Young Adult Programs
TAB Meeting (Teen Advisory Board)
Join us for our Teen Advisory Board meeting! The Teen Advisory Board (TAB) of the Montclair Public Library meets the first Wednesday of each month, October-May. TAB members receive community service hours for participating. This month we'll be discussing programming for April and May, and discussing our upcoming TAB elections and Summer Reading. We’ll finish off with a DIY craft! Please advise of food allergies.
TAB Members Grades 6-12
3rd Floor
Monday, April 9 at 6:30pm
Murder, Mystery and Magic (followed by movie screening)
New Jersey Monthly magazine calls Mark Zacharia a "total bogglement."
As seen at Mohegan Sun Casino
Come enjoy an afternoon of 'Murder, Mystery and Magic!' a whodunit with a magical twist. In the role of inspector, magician Mark Zacharia will use magic to reveal clues as to who in our audience dunnit! Come prepared to be amazed and amused. Following the murder mystery, we’ll be screen the movie “Clue” and have a bite to eat!
Suggested Grades 6 & Up
3rd Floor
Thursday, April 5 at 3pm
Passport to Flavor: The Mediterranean
This month, our culinary travels take us to the delicious shores of the Mediterranean! We’ll be making hummus, creating our own pita sandwiches, and sampling baklava. Please advise of food allergies.
Grades 6 and up
1st Floor Cafe
Thursday, April 26 at 4:30pm
Program Registration begins March 26.
Youth Services Department, 3rd floor; by Phone: 973-744-0500 ext. 2236
Registration is required for all Youth Services Programs unless otherwise noted.
All are welcome, Montclair card holders receive priority registration.
All Youth Services Programs Are Free.
Please have your library card ready to register for programs.
The Montclair Public Library
50 South Fullerton Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07042