Registration begins Monday, November 26, for Programs for Kids, Families and Teens at the Montclair Public Library

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It's time to sign up for free programs at The Montclair Public Library.

Storytimes

Family Storytime @ Bellevue Avenue Branch

This program is designed for newborns through five year-olds accompanied by a favorite adult. Share books, stories, fingerplays, 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, December 3 & 17 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.

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. No session on Christmas Day.

Registration required; space limited.

3rd floor

Newborns-23 mos.

Tuesdays December 11 & 18 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 for Two-Year-Olds

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, December 12, 19 & 26 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

Mother Goose is an excellent way to promote literacy among our preschool-aged patrons. Picture books, flannel board stories, songs and puppets are used to build upon children’s natural enthusiasm for books and reading. Each session will end with a simple art experience for little ones. Please note that registration is required for each individual storytime.

Registration required; space limited.

3rd floor

Ages 3 to 6

Thursdays, December 13, 20 & 27 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.

Programs

The Christmas That Almost Never Was: Children’s Author Stanley Wiklinski

"Stanley Wiklinski has created a beautiful, whimsical, holiday classic that sleigh rides right into your heart." - Henry Winkler

Santa’s reindeer have come down with the flu and have been sidelined for Santa’s Christmas Eve ride. Who can save the holiday? Flying polar bears, of course! In Stanley Wiklinski’s charming debut book, ‘The Christmas That Almost Never Was’, Santa's faithful reindeer cannot fly him in time for his annual trek. But years before Santa met a group of young polar bears who could leap high in the air. Will Santa find the bears in time to save Christmas? Find out in this magical author visit with Stanley Wiklinski. Mr. Wiklinski is a Yale drama graduate who has acted on Broadway, regional theater, and television. He is also a retired U.S. Navy Reserve Commander.

The Christmas That Almost Never Was is written for children but meant to be enjoyed by their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone who wants to delight in a child’s imagination. Books will be available for purchase at this event.

No registration required

3rd floor

Recommended ages 4 +

Saturday, December 1 at 2:30pm

Celebrate Hanukkah: Story & Craft

Hanukkah falls on December 2 through December 10. Learn more about this ancient holiday at Montclair Public Library! We’ll read Hanukkah! by Roni Schotter and create signs to celebrate - just like Ruthie does in the book!

No registration required

3rd floor

Recommended ages 4 +

Wednesday, December 5 at 2pm

Paw Patrol & Top Wing: Nick Jr. Library Adventures

Enjoy six weekly Paw Patrol & Top Wing related reading and activity programs for young children. Each Wednesday* at 4pm children can come to the Library and enjoy a different program centered on a themed “mission.” The program, sponsored by Nick Jr., includes giveaways, special sweepstakes, and runs through December 19 (*continued from November).

Mission 4: Explore Your Neighborhood - Wednesday, December 5 at 4pm

Mission 5: Search and Rescue Scavenger Hunt - Wednesday, December 12 at 4pm

Mission 6: Save the Day & Earn Your Wings! - Wednesday, December 19 at 4pm

No registration required

3rd floor

Recommended ages 3+

Homeschooling Open House

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

All ages welcome

Thursday, December 6, 11am-1pm

“Era Uma Vez, na Biblioteca”: Storytime in Portuguese

“Era Uma Vez, na Biblioteca” (Once Upon a Time, at the Library) welcomes all families to be part of this experience of storytelling in Portuguese. The program will be run in Portuguese, and is oriented towards families with children from newborns to 9-year-olds. The stories will be interwoven with little songs and rhymes, all in Portuguese. The storyteller, Ana Cristina Coura, is an educator with a background in psychology who has taught children in Brazil for many years, and worked as an art educator (for a nonprofit in NYC) for a few years before moving to Montclair with her husband and children.

No registration required

Auditorium

Newborns to Nine-year-olds

Saturday, December 8 at 4pm

Kwanzaa: 52nd Annual Harvest Festival of African Culture

Montclair Public Library proudly invites friends and neighbors of the community to the 52nd Annual Harvest Festival of African Culture (and the Library’s 30th year celebrating Kwanzaa). We are excited to welcome back Mama Yaa, of Pyramyd Dance Company, who will kick off the event with a traditional Kwanzaa libation ceremony at the Ancestral Table and the lighting of the Seven Candles. Enjoy music, dance and drama from the African Diaspora performed by Pyramyd Dance. Children and their adults will also enjoy face-painting and crafts. All are invited to enjoy the Karamu (The Feast) of traditional African dishes (please note that we are unable to accommodate for food allergies at this event).

No registration required

Auditorium

All ages welcome

Sunday, December 16, 1pm-6pm

Michelangelo the Therapy Horse

Michelangelo is a miniature therapy horse who visits residents at assisted living facilities/nursing homes/group homes and students at schools for children with special needs. He has been bringing his 1-hour Reading & Informational Program to libraries all over New Jersey. Meet him, learn about miniature horses, what they eat, where they live, and since they are too small to ride, what kinds of jobs they have. Michelangelo stars in a new picture book - Michelangelo, The Little Therapy Horse - which will be available for purchase for $10. Have your photo taken with the “author” (Michelangelo) and the opportunity to pet and visit with Michelangelo!

No registration required

Auditorium

Ages 4 +

Thursday, December 20 at 4pm

Winter Family Movie: Fly Away Home

After Amy loses her mother in a car accident, she has to move to Canada to live with her father, Thomas, an inventor who she barely knows. She struggles to find her place in her new home, but things change when she stumbles upon a collection of abandoned goose eggs. When the eggs hatch, Amy and her dad work together teaching the motherless birds to fly south for the winter, and their relationship blooms. Starring Anna Paquin, Jeff Daniels, and Dana Delaney. 1996; Rated PG.

No registration required

3rd floor

Rated PG

Friday, December 21 at 2pm

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 have an adult with them to participate.)

No registration required

3rd floor

All ages welcome

Friday, December 28, 3pm-5pm

Winter Move & Groove with Miss Jolie

Join us for a special winter-themed Move & Groove party for little ones with Miss Jolie Della Valle! Geared towards ages 2-6, Miss Jolie plays classic favorites in addition to original interactive songs. Singing, dancing, clapping, and stomping are highly encouraged! Jolie performs with her ukulele along with other musical instruments and props for the children. Jolie Della Valle is the author of Georgie and the Ants in the Pants and is an entertainer from Wayne, NJ. She has visited over 100 schools & libraries throughout Northern NJ with her musical storytelling program and award-winning children's book, ‘Georgie.’ Books will be available for purchase. Visit MissJolieMusic.com to learn more.

No registration required

Auditorium

Ages 2-6

Saturday, December 29 at 2pm

Teen Events

TAB Meeting (Teen Advisory Board)

Join us for our December Teen Advisory Board meeting! This month we'll talk about our young adult programming for December and January, continue planning our Human Library project, and talk about how we’ll be helping out with MPL’s Food for Fines program this month! Please bring a canned or dry food item if you’re able to do so. 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. Refreshments will be served. Please advise of food allergies.

TAB Members Grades 6-12

3rd Floor

Wednesday, December 5 at 6:30pm

TAB-Only Event: Cupcake Champion

Do you have what it takes to decorate cupcakes like a champion? Find out in a three round competition! Test your skills, have fun, and eat some cupcakes! Please advise of any food allergies.

Teen Advisory Board members only

3rd floor

Friday, December 7 at 4:30pm

Make Your Own Mug!

...or at least decorate one! Join us to unleash your inner artist and decorate a plain mug with markers, then come back to pick it up after the design has been baked in! Great to give as a gift, or you can create a design for yourself!

Registration required

Grades 6 & up

3rd floor

Thursday, December 13, 6pm-7pm

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.