The Southbury Public Library Youth Services department is pleased to announce events for March 2024 for children and teens. We are offering a variety of programs this month. All programs are generously sponsored by the Friends of the Southbury Public Library. For more information and to register online please visit our website: www.southburylibrary.org/events.
Children’s Programs:
Tunes & Tales (Recommended for Ages 5 & Under) – Friday, March 1, 8, 15, 22 and Thursday March 7, 14, 21, 28, 10:30-11am, Storytime Room, No Registration Required. Join Miss Jen for a morning filled with music and stories! Children will sing, dance, and experiment with simple musical instruments.
Make or Take Craft (All Ages) – Saturday, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, While Supplies Last, Second Floor. Stop by the Youth Services department on Saturdays this month to make a thematic craft. Make it here or bring it home. Crayons and glue available in the library.
Drop-In Storytime (All Ages) – Monday, March 4, 11, 18, 25, 10-10:30am and 11-11:30am, Storytime Room, No Registration Required. Join Miss Jen for stories, rhymes, and a small craft.
Lego Club (Ages 5-10) – Thursday, March 7, 4:30-5:30pm, Storytime Room, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join us for an afternoon of LEGO fun! We’ll provide the LEGO bricks, and you bring the creativity! You can free build, or work off of instructions.
Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance (All Ages) – Saturday, March 9, 2-2:45pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with us! The Southbury Public Library is thrilled to welcome back the Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance! Watch the talented professionals demonstrate their moves and learn a few steps. This program is intended for children but all are welcome.
ARTuesday (All Ages) – Tuesday, March 12, 5-6pm, Storytime room, No Registration Required. Stop by for a playful, messy, and expressive art experience where there is no right or wrong. Come play and experiment with a variety of art mediums and themes. Smocks recommended.
Tiny Food Explorers (Ages 2-5) – Tuesday, March 19, 11am-12pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join Tiny Food Explorers for some fun with food! Come and explore new flavors and textures while playing games all about food and MyPlate! You’ll make a hands-on healthy snack that even the pickiest of eaters will enjoy.
Library Scavenger Hunt (Ages 5 & Up) – Thursday, March 21, 4:30-5:30pm, Storytime Room, Registration Required - Space Limited. How well do you know your library? Join Miss Jen for a library scavenger hunt, where you will follow clues to find the hidden treasure. You will learn more about your library while having lots of fun! Younger children may require adult assistance.
Family Trivia Night (All Ages) – Friday, March 22, 6:30-8pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join us for another Family Trivia night! Work together as a family team to answer our trivia questions! We'll have a variety of topics, including kid-centric knowledge, general information, and questions aimed at parents, too. The family who answers the most questions correctly will win a $100 gift card to Riverview Cinemas!
Mini Magical Worlds Craft (Grades 1-5) – Saturday, March 23, 2-3pm, Storytime Room, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join Katie to create your own miniature world inside of a tin!
Kids Who Code (Grades 3-5) – Monday, March 25, and April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 4-5pm, Brown Room, Registration Required - Space Limited. Kids Who Code is a 6 week computer science program series, where participants can build confidence and have fun! We will grow our project management and problem-solving skills while learning to code through the online program Scratch. Our program is based on the curriculum of the nonprofit organization, Girls Who Code.
Babies & Books (6-24 months) – Tuesday, March 26 and April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 10:30-11am, Storytime Room, Registration Required - Space Limited. Babies & Books is a 6-week lapsit program for children 6 to 24 months and their parents/caregivers. Listen to short stories and songs, and enjoy a small craft or sensory play.
Food Explorers: Blueberry Trifles (Ages 6 & Up) – Tuesday, March 26, 4:30-5:30pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join Food Explorers for a delicious baking program! You’ll be making Blueberry Trifles: with layers of vanilla cake, blueberry pie filling and a zesty homemade whipped cream. Recipe is nut free but will contain eggs, dairy and gluten.
Toddler Time (Ages 2-3) – Wednesday, March 27, April 3, 10, 17, 24, and May 1, 10:30-11am, Storytime Room, Registration Required - Space Limited. Toddler Time is a 6-week program for children ages 2 & 3 years and their parents/caregivers. Listen to stories and complete a small craft or sensory play activity.
Teen Programs:
The Junior Friends (Grades 6-12) – Thursday, March 7, 6-7:30pm, Lower Level (Basement), Registration Required. Earn service hours while supporting the Friends! We’ll be working with the Friends on projects relating to their Lobby Sale and Annual Book Sale. The Junior Friends meet every first Thursday from 6-7:30pm. Come just this once, or join us every month!
Food Explorers: Smashed Potatoes (Grades 6-12) – Tuesday, March 12, 4-5pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join Food Explorers to make crispy and delicious cheesy smashed potatoes with a tasty avocado crema on top. This recipe is nut free but will contain dairy.
Paint a Drawstring Bag (Grades 6-12) – Thursday, March 14, 6-7pm, Brown Room, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join us to paint a canvas drawstring backpack! We’ll have a variety of fabric paints, and options for stenciling and free-handing designs.
Cute Animals Hangout (Grades 6-12) – Tuesday, March 19, 6-7pm, Brown Room, Registration Required - Space Limited. Come hang out with a variety of cute animals, both furry and scaly! Meet, interact with, feed snacks to, and pet a variety of animal friends including bunnies, ferrets, sugar gliders, snakes, a bearded dragon, and more!
Family Trivia Night (All Ages) – Friday, March 22, 6:30-8pm, Kingsley Room, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join us for another Family Trivia night! Work together as a family team to answer our trivia questions! We'll have a variety of topics, including kid-centric knowledge, general information, and questions aimed at parents, too. The family who answers the most questions correctly will win a $100 gift card to Riverview Cinemas!
Teen Advisory Board (Grades 6-12) – Tuesday, March 26, 6-7pm, Tutor Corner. Teen Advisory Board (TAB) members can directly influence our teen book and AV collections, teen programming and events, and other teen services. Each monthly meeting opens with a discussion about ideas for programs, materials, and more and closes out with some special volunteer projects. If you are interested in becoming a TAB member, fill out the application form on our website at southburylibrary.org/TAB and we will contact you.
Reading Programs for Children & Teens:
March Monthly Mini Reading Challenge (All Ages) – March 1-31, Online at southburylibrary.beanstack.com. Join us on Beanstack for our next Mini Monthly Reading Challenge, themed Spring Into Reading! Complete the challenge within the month, and get a SurPRIZE! March’s challenge consists of five hours of reading.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten (Birth to Entering Kindergarten) – Ongoing, On Paper and Online on Beanstack. Read a book (any book!) to your newborn, infant, or toddler and keep track with a paper log or on Beanstack. Repeats count! 1000 books may seem like a lot, but if you read 1 book a day for 3 years, that’s 1095 books! 10 books a week for 2 years is 1040 books, and 3 books a day in one year is 1095 books. Every book you read you get one sticker, and if you finish you can get a certificate, small prize, and your picture on our wall of fame if you’d like! Pick up a paper log from the children’s department or visit southburylibrary.beanstack.com to get started online. For 0 to Entering Kindergarten.
100 Books Before Graduation (Grades 9-12) – Ongoing, Online at Beanstack. Read 100 books before High School Graduation! 100 books may seem like a lot (and it is), but it works out to about 1 book every 2 weeks. When you sign up, get a special tracking bookmark to fill out as you read. Make it to half way and get a $5 Gift Card to Dunkin' or The Bakery. Read 100 books and get a special throw blanket! Every 10 books you read, pick out something from the prize box (pins, stickers, animal sticky notes, and more!).
Spring Book Bingo (Grades 6-12) – March 1-May 31, On Paper and Online on Beanstack. Starting March 1, pick up a Book Bingo Card (or use Beanstack) and make Bingo by reading books in different fun categories to make rows horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Making bingo (or multiples) can earn you raffle entries for a $50 Visa Gift Card! Fill out your whole card and get a special library mug with candy inside!
Who Was? Reading Challenge – Ongoing, Upstairs Children’s Department. How many Who Was?, Where Was?, or What Was? books can you read? Get a checklist from our Children’s Department and keep track. Read 10 books and get your choice of special bookmark. You can repeat this challenge again if you read another 10. All Ages, Best for Elementary School. No Registration Required.
Please visit the Southbury Public Library website at www.southburylibrary.org/events for program details and registration information. Visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SouthburyLibraryYouthServices/