The Southbury Public Library Youth Services department is pleased to announce an offsite and virtual event list for January 2025 for children and teens. 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) – Thursday, January 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 10:30-11am, Multi-Purpose Room, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, No Registration Required. Join Jen for a morning filled with music and stories! Children will sing, dance, and experiment with simple musical instruments.
Drop-In Storytime at Parks & Rec! (All Ages) – Monday, January 6, 13, 27, 10:30-11am, Multi-Purpose Room, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, No Registration Required. Join Jen for an all-ages storytime! We'll share books, rhymes, and songs, and a small craft will be available to take home.
Babies & Books (6-24 months) – Tuesday, January 14, 21, 28 and February 4, 11, 18, 10:30-11am, Nursery Room, United Church of Christ, 283 Main Street North, 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.
Pet Presentations with Furry Scaly Friends (Ages 2-5) – Wednesday, January 15, 10:30-11:30am, Multi-Purpose Room, Southbury Parks & Recreation, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join Furry Scaly Friends on a critter learning adventure! Many animals such as ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, hedgehogs, turtles, snakes and more will be present for the event!
Animal Meet & Greet with Furry Scaly Friends (Grades K-5) – Wednesday, January 15, 4:30-5:30pm, Multi-Purpose Room, Southbury Parks & Recreation, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join Furry Scaly Friends for an interactive animal event! Critters such as ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, hedgehogs, turtles, snakes, prairie dogs and more will be present, and interaction with many of the animals is encouraged, but not mandatory.
LEGO Club (Grades K-5) – Thursday, January 16, 4:30-5:30pm, Mat Room, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join Michelle and Jen 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.
Toddler Time (Ages 2-3) – Wednesday, January 22, 29 and February 5, 12, 19, 10:30-11am, Multi-Purpose Room, Southbury Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, 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.
Quiet Book Club (Grades 2-5) – Thursday, January 23, 4:30-5:30pm, Parlor, United Church of Christ, 283 Main Street North, Registration Required - Space Limited. Quiet Book Club is a great time to read, hang out with fellow book enthusiasts, and share book recommendations! You bring a book (or several) that you are currently reading, make yourself comfortable, and... READ! For the first and last 10 minutes of the club, you will have a chance to chat and share what you are reading, then for the remaining 40 minutes you can read uninterrupted in a quiet space! The room has comfortable chairs and sofas, but feel free to bring a pillow or cozy blanket.
Teen Programs:
Food Explorers: Peaches & Cream Whoopie Pies (Grades 6-12) – Tuesday, January 14, 4-5pm, Kitchen of Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join Food Explorers for a sweet treat. This recipe is nut free but will contain dairy, eggs and gluten.
Crochet & Knitting Club (Grades 6-12) – Tuesday, January 14, 6:30-7:30pm, Kitchen of Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join us for our crochet and knitting club, open to both new and experienced crafters alike. If you’re already working on a project, bring it with you. If you’re new to knitting and crocheting, get started with us! We will have basic knitting and crocheting supplies available.
Felt Book Keychains & Earrings (Grades 6-12) – Thursday, January 23, 6-7pm, Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Registration Required - Space Limited. Join us to make mini books out of felt and turn them into keychains or earrings! These tiny felt books are easy to make, and you can add them to a keychain or onto earrings! There will be a very small and simple amount of sewing.
Teen Advisory Board (Grades 6-12) – Tuesday, January 28, 6-7pm, Parks & Recreation, 561 Main Street South, Application Required. Want to make a difference in the Teen Department? Consider joining the Teen Advisory Board! We meet once a month to discuss ideas for the Teen Department and work on special projects. A membership application is required, but we are seeking new members! You can find out more and apply at southburylibrary.org/tab
Reading Programs for Children & Teens:
January Monthly Mini Reading Challenge (All Ages) – January 1-31, Online at southburylibrary.beanstack.com. Join us on Beanstack for our next Mini Monthly Reading Challenge! Ready, set, READ! Become a reading machine this winter! Read for five hours (about 1-3 books for elementary, middle, and high school readers) and get a SurPRIZE.
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, pens, animal sticky notes, and more!).
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/