|
Youth Services Newsletter | Westwood Public Library | March 2023 | |
Buildwave: A Hands-On Building Challenge
Mondays at 4:00 pm; March 6- April 10
Buildwave (formerly hosted as Imagerena) is back! Kids in grades 2-5 can compete in building challenges that combine the spirit of an art program, the materials of a hands-on building workshop, and the elements of a video game to create a high energy, interactive experience!
This program is made possible by the Westwood Cultural Council and the Friends of the Library.
PLEASE NOTE: This event is a 6-week session where each week will build upon the last. If you sign your child up for this program, you are signing them up for all 6 weeks. Please ensure that you will be able to attend all 6 weeks before you register.
| |
Parent Cafes
Tuesday, March 7 @ 7:00 pm
Attention Westwood parents of young children! Join us for some fun, free, casual gatherings to discuss the joys and challenges of parenting. Take away tips and tools to strengthen your family! Refreshments will be provided.
Co-Sponsored By Westwood Coordinated Family & Community Engagement Program, Westwood Youth & Family Services & Westwood Library.
| |
Programs for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers | |
Branch Books and Boogie (Registration Required)
Mondays @ 10:30am, Islington Branch Library, Mar. 6, and Mar. 20-Apr. 10
All ages are invited to join Miss Caitlyn for a fun storytime at the Branch, accompanied by a simple craft!
|
Move and Groove (Registration Required)
Tuesdays @ 10:30am, Main Library,
Mar. 7- Apr. 11
This half hour program with Miss Caitlyn is full of music, movement, and more!
| |
Tales and Tunes (Registration Required)
Wednesdays @ 10:30am, Main Library, Mar. 8 - Apr. 12
Join Miss Kristy for stories, songs and dancing!
|
Baby Rhyme Time (Registration Required)
Thursdays @ 10:30am, Main Library, Mar. 9 - Apr. 13
Join Miss Kristy for songs, bounces and stories just for babies 0-18 months, followed by a playtime.
| |
Saturday Storytime (Registration Required)
Saturday, March 4 @ 11 am
Join a Westwood Childrens' Librarian for a fun storytime full of stories, rhymes, songs, and more!
| |
Drop-In Playtime
Saturday, March 18 @ 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.
| |
Programs for Kids and Teens | |
Creative Kids (Registration Required)
Thursdays @ 4pm, Main Library
Mar. 2- Apr. 6
Read a story and then act it out! Kids in Kindergarten and First Grade are invited to register for this unique, fun program with Miss Karen! Each week, kids will have the opportunity to bring a story to life with costumes and creative play. At the end of the class, each child will leave with a related take home craft.
|
Lego Builders
Drop in, no registration
Half Wednesday from 2-4pm,
Main Library
March 1, 15, and 29
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.
|
Read to a Dog (Registration Required)
Select Saturdays @ 11-12pm,
Main Library
March 11
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.
| | |
*YAB (Youth Advisory Board)
2nd Wednesday of the month @ 6:30pm, Main Library
Wednesday, March 8
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.
|
Gamer Lounge with One Up Games
One Wednesday per month, from 2-4 pm,
Main Library
Wednesday, March 1
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.
|
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.
| | |
Book Explorers for 2nd and 3rd graders (Registration Required)
Friday, February March 17 @ 4pm
Join Caitlyn and Pat for a lively discussion, followed by fun games and a craft.
| |
MCBA Book Club for 4th-6th graders (Registration Required)
Tuesday, March 14 @ 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.
| |
Cover to Cover Book Club for 7th - 12th graders (Registration Required)
Wednesday, March 15 @ 1:45pm
Join Felicia at the library for snacks and discussion of the book of the month!
| |
ReadNext : Staff Book Recommendations | |
Looking for what to read next and overwhelmed by too many choices? Here's what we've been loving lately! | |
Caitlyn's Recommendation: Marya Khan and the Incredible Henna Party by Saadia Fauqi
Is your child ready to start taking steps from the first chapter section into the fiction stacks? This is a perfect jumping off point! Marya Khan has always been bitter about her birthday because it's just two days after one of the most popular girls in school, Alexa. And Alexa always throws fabulous birthday parties and this year will be no different. Marya's parents don't want to throw her a birthday party because it will cost too much money, but Marya is determined not to be overshadowed this year. So she decides to help out around the house, but her help may be more of a hinderance than anything else. With large text and occasional illustrations throughout chapters, this is a great starting point for anyone young readers ready to stretch out of their comfort zone. Good for grades 3 and up!
Kristy's Recommendation: New Dragon City by Mari Mancusi
New Dragon City by Mari Mancusi was so much fun. How to Train your Dragon set in modern New York City, following a Dragon Apocalypse! The world has been destroyed by dragons and humans must live in hiding, scavenging for resources and food. 12-year old Noah lives in the city with his Dad, fearing dragons above all until one day he meets and unexpectedly bonds with a young dragon named Asha. Could this be the start of a new future with humans and dragons?
Felicia's Recommendation: The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
Teo a semidiós and the son of Quetzal, goddess of birds, has never worried about the Sunbearer Trials, or at least not for himself. Sol, the Sun God, only picks Gold semidiós and leaves the children of the lower god and goddesses alone. The once-in-a-decade Sunbearer Trials brings 10 semidioses (aged 13-18) together to complete competitions. The winner at the end of these competitions carries light and life to all the temples of Reino del Sol, but the loser has the greatest honor of all―they will be sacrificed to Sol, their body used to fuel the Sun Stones that will protect the people of Reino del Sol for the next ten years. For the first time in over a century, Sol chooses two Jade semidiós, one of which is Teo. Now they must compete in five mysterious trials, against opponents who are both more powerful and better trained. This is bascially Percy Jackson meets Hunger Games. Recommended for grades 6 and up.
| |
All library programs are free and open to the public thanks to generous support from the Friends of the Westwood Library. | |
| | |
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
| | | | |