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Youth Services Newsletter | Westwood Public Library | April 2023 | |
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April Vacation at the Library
All programs require registration in advance unless indicated otherwise. Please visit our website for more information.
Registration for April vacation programs opens on April 1st at 9:00 am.
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Garden, Green, and Grow for Earth Day
Tuesday, April 18 @ 10:30-12:30; Main Library
Come one, come all! Friends of all ages are invited to come to the library for crafts and activities in honor of Earth Day.
No registration required, bring the whole family!
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Star Wars Trivia with the Trivia Brothers
Tuesday, April 18 @ 6:00 pm; Main Library
Star Wars fans unite! Join the Trivia Brothers for this in-person fun night of trivia and games all focused on Star Wars. Create a team of up to 5 people (more is okay if little ones are involved) and get ready to rumble! Please note: all teams must bring a phone or tablet that can connect to the internet to play. Costumes encouraged!
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Howie Newman's Musical Baseball Show
Wednesday, April 19 @ 4 pm; Islington Branch
Performing a unique, interactive and highly entertaining program, local singer-songwriter (and former sportswriter) Howie Newman will sing baseball songs, offer up baseball trivia and tell stories about his days as a sportswriter on the Red Sox beat.
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Music at the Blissful with Evan Haller
Thursday, April 20 @ 4 pm; Main Library
Families are invited to join Musician Evan Haller for a 45-minute program full of music, singing, and dancing. All ages welcome.
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Alchemy at the Library with Ed the Wizard
Friday, April 21 @ 2 pm; Main Library
“Harry Potter meets real science.” Join us for an entertaining performance with Ed the Wizard and learn how to perform magic with items from home.
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| What kinds of programs would you like to see the Children's Department offer going forward? | | | |
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Newly Expanded: Library of Things!
Ukuleles, puzzles, and fidgets, oh my! We're excited to let you know that we have expanded our Library of Things collection to include a more robust array of Learning Kits. Coming soon, we will have a Social Emotional Learning Collection that helps kids learn about emotions, making friends, coping skills, and more. Click below to learn more about each aspect of the Library of Things!
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Programs for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers | |
Branch Books and Boogie (Registration Required)
Mondays @ 10:30am, Islington Branch Library, April 3 and 10
All ages are invited to join Miss Caitlyn for a fun storytime at the Branch, accompanied by a simple craft!
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Move and Groove (Registration Required)
Tuesdays @ 10:30am, Main Library,
April 4 and 11
This half hour program with Miss Caitlyn is full of music, movement, and more!
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Saturday Storytime (Registration Required)
Saturday, April 1 @ 11 am
Join a Westwood Childrens' Librarian for a fun storytime full of stories, rhymes, songs, and more!
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Tales and Tunes (Registration Required)
Wednesdays @ 10:30am, Main Library, April 5 and 12
Join Miss Kristy for stories, songs and dancing!
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Baby Rhyme Time (Registration Required)
Thursdays @ 10:30am, Main Library, April 6 and 13
Join Miss Kristy for songs, bounces and stories just for babies 0-18 months, followed by a playtime.
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Drop-In Playtime
Saturday, April 15 @ 10:30-12:00
Young children and their families are invited to drop in to this self-directed playgroup on the third Saturday of the month. We'll have Duplos, blocks, toys, and coloring.
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Programs for Kids and Teens | |
Lego Builders
Drop in, no registration
Half Wednesday from 2-4pm,
Main Library
April 12 and 26
Kids in grades PreK-5 are invited to drop in for some STEM-inspired engineering fun. Each week, we will put out our collection of Legos, Keva planks and other building toys.
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Read to a Dog (Registration Required)
Select Saturdays @ 11-12pm,
Main Library
April 8
Kids in grades K-5 can sign up for a one on one appointment with a therapy dog to practice their reading. Call or stop by the library to sign up.
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*YAB (Youth Advisory Board)
2nd Wednesday of the month @ 6:30pm, Main Library
Wednesday, April 12
Interested in volunteering at the library and participating in our Youth Advisory Board? Join us and hear about how to help with programs and share your thoughts, gain some leadership skills, and earn volunteer hours. For grades 6-12.
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Gamer Lounge with One Up Games
One Wednesday per month, from 2-4 pm,
Main Library
Wednesday, April 12
Middle Schoolers can come to the library on Early Release Wednesdays for two hours of open game play with One Up Games featuring SuperSmash Bro., Fortnite, MarioKart, and more! For grades 6 - 8.
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Fri-Yay!
Fridays after school @ 3pm, Community Room, Main Library
Come hang out with your friends and relax. Play video or board games, ping pong or just color.
Open to grades 6 - 8.
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Book Explorers for 2nd and 3rd graders (Registration Required)
Friday, February April 14
@ 4pm
Join Caitlyn and Pat for a lively discussion, followed by fun games and a craft.
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MCBA Book Club for 4th-6th graders (Registration Required)
Tuesday, April 11 @ 4pm
Join us one Tuesday per month for this in person book club dedicated to this year's Massachusetts Children's Book Award nominees. Each month we will discuss a book from the list and play games.
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Cover to Cover Book Club for 7th - 12th graders (Registration Required)
Wednesday, April 26 @ 1:45pm
Join Felicia at the library for snacks and discussion of the book of the month!
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ReadNext : Staff Book Recommendations | |
Looking for what to read next and overwhelmed by too many choices? Here's what we've been loving lately! | |
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Caitlyn's Recommendation: Iceberg by Jennifer Nielson
This historical fiction is the perfect combination of atmospheric historical fiction, mystery, and thriller. Hazel is sent by herself to board the Titanic; her mother has given her the last of her money in the hopes that once she gets to America, she will send any money that she earns from working in a factory home to support them. But when Hazel discovers she doesn't have enough money, she decides to sneak on the ship anyways as a stowaway. The aspiring reporter catches wind of a potential scheme on board the ship and decides that this is the big break she needs to prove her skills and her worth. But when the ship hits an iceberg Hazel's focus and priorities shift, and the mystery becomes a survival story. Perfect for grades 5 and up.
Kristy's Recommendation: A First Time for Everything by Dad Santat
Caldecott Award-winning Author Dan Santat has written a funny, moving memoir about a life-altering trip to Europe he took in 1989, the summer before high school. Following a rather traumatic middle school experience, young Dan was grumpy, skeptical and unwilling to try new things. The change of scenery inspires him to step outside of his comfort zone and see the world in a whole new way. The perfect mix of funny and thoughtful and a great read for adults and teens alike. Recommended for grades 6 and up.
Felicia's Recommendation: Love and Other Great Expectations by Becky Dean
After getting hurt in soccer, finding out her future is up-in-the-air, American high school student Britt Hanson travels to England for the summer for a new adventure. Britt's mysterious English teacher provides Britt and 3 of her classmates an opportunity they can't pass up. Spend 9 days in England and compete in a scavenger hunt that will take them all over the country to the locations of classic novels- all to win a huge cash prize. Britt meets Luke, a nice book-ish British boy to keep her company along this wild adventure. A adventure across the pond with a healthy dose of romance. Recommended for grades 8 and up.
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All library programs are free and open to the public thanks to generous support from the Friends of the Westwood Library. | |
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Don't miss out on more news from the Westwood Public Library!
- Adult News & Events
- Book Buzz for quarterly book recommendations from Westwood library staff
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