Kids
EVENTS
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On Demand programs
Contact Kids
Contact Kids
Questions for the Children’s Room can be answered by phone or by email: kids@maplewoodlibrary.org
Children’s Services
973.762.1688 ext 5101
Jane Folger
Natasha Osborne-Boothe
Jennifer Jacoppo
Kids Events
Our Library Events Calendar has moved ... so click here to see all scheduled events listed on our Calendar! …or you can preview the Kids Programs below!
PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN • SUMMER 2025
Programs are still being scheduled, and subject to change, so check our library events calendar for updates!
Thank you to the Friends of the Library for making our summer programs possible!
Programs are designed for individuals and families, and not for groups or classes
CR stand for the Children’s Room at Main Library, 51 Baker Street
HB stands for Hilton Branch Library, 1688 Springfield Ave
Summer Reading Finale & Book Party!
Featuring Lee Bacon, author of Fall of the Robots
Main Library Community Room: Saturday August 23rd @ 2pm
Kids, Teens, & Families! Celebrate the end of summer, the new library, and Lee Bacon — author of many books and audio originals for young people, including The Last Human, Interview With The Robot, the Joshua Dread series, and Fall Of The Robots, which has just been released in paperback!
Meet Lee Bacon in person, hear him read from his latest book, and take part in an interactive “Emoji Quiz.”
Words Bookstore will be on hand to sell copies, followed by a book signing.
The celebration will continue afterwards in the Children’s Room from 3:30-4:30pm with book & comic book giveaways, bookmarks to color, and mobiles to make and take home.
Lee Bacon’s books have been optioned for film and television, selected for state reading lists, and published in 25 languages. A former Maplewood resident, Lee now lives in Munich with his wife and two daughters.
FOR ALL AGES
• Summer Mobile Making – at CR
CR: Sign up for summer reading program with Beanstack. Then ask to make a mobile!
• Builders Club – at HB
HB: Thursdays 6-7 pm July 24, 31, Aug 7, 14, 21
For ages 2 years & up – with a participating adult
Join us for an hour of imagination and building with LEGOs and blocks. LEGO creations will be displayed in the library.
• Honey & Hive Ice Cream Social for Kids! – at HB
Tuesday Aug 5 @ 12pm - 1:30pm (or while supplies last)
At the Hilton Branch Lawn/Springfield Avenue Gazebo. (Rain date = Thursday August 7th)
Celebrate summer, community, and yummy ice cream courtesy of Honey & Hive Artisanal Ice Cream. For kids ages 2-18, and their caregiver. While supplies last.
• Puzzle Day – at CR
CR: Monday Aug 4th, Aug 8th, Aug 11th, Aug 18th 3:30-7:30pm. For families with children.
Drop in to the Children’s Room between 3:30-7:30pm on the above days to work on a jigsaw puzzle, try a Rubiks cube, have a friendly game of Jenga, or play a board game with your family and friends. Self-directed fun on the days listed above.
• Color Your World: drawing and coloring – drop in at CR
CR: Tuesday from 3:30-7:30 and Friday from 3:00-4:30pm. For families with children. Tune out & relax with some coloring sheets
• Rock Painting - Family Art Activity – at HB
Tuesday Aug 12 @ 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Hilton Branch - All ages
Make rock art for the Hilton garden.
• Lori Mirabal – Sing Me a Story Time
CR: Date/time/ages TBD
• Touch a Truck – at HB
Hilton Branch - Thursday July 31 @ 2-4
Join us for a fun family event for kids of all ages. Come explore and climb on board Maplewood’s emergency and public works vehicles in the Hilton library parking lot.
Vehicles from South Essex Fire Department, Maplewood Police Department and Maplewood Public Works department will be present.
• Wilma and the Wingers - at CR
CR: Saturday July 12th & August 9th @ 11am in Children’s Program Room
An interactive and inclusive storytime with live music by Wilma and friends. Lots of fun for all ages, especially designed for younger children. Come sing & dance with us! Parents are encouraged to participate with their children!
FOR PRE-K CHILDREN
• Baby Lapsit Storytime - at CR & HB
For ages birth to 18 months, with a participating adult
CR: Thursdays @ 10:30am July 10th & 24th, August 7th & 21st
HB: Mondays @ 10:30am - July 21 & 28, August 4, 11, 18
This program is designed for very young children you can hold in your arms or who are learning to crawl. We welcome caregivers/parents to experience a lively storytime with songs and rhymes that foster a love of reading.
• Boogie Woogie Babies - at CR
For children under the age of 6 and their caregivers/parents
CR: Saturday July 5th @ 4pm – Main Library Community Room
Thursday July 17th @ 10:30am – Children’s Program Room
Tuesday August 19th @ 4:30pm – Children’s Program Room
Dance, move, and make some noise in this fun, funky, and joyful movement class for babies, toddlers, preschool kids, and their adults … led by Ms. Tiffany. Dress in comfortable exercise clothes. Find out more about Boogie Woogie Babies on Facebook & Instagram @BoogieWoogieBabies
• Lil Tumblez - at CR & HB
HB: Wednesday August 6 @ 3:30pm (outdoors if weather is good, indoors if weather is inclement)
CR: Thursday, August 14th @ 10:30am
Tumbling mats and active play for kids ages 0-5 with a participating adult.
Great for developing and improving motor skills, confidence and coordination. Kids will have a blast climbing, crawling, bouncing and exploring on colorful mats. This fun class is presented by Lil Tumblez Party.
There is limited mat space, so we will have stories on the side while you wait for your turn.
*Designed for individual families, and not for camps or preschool groups.*
• Little Apple Arts: Storybook Theatre
CR: Saturday August 16th @ 10:30am
Little Apple Arts provides theatrical enrichment for babies, toddlers, and preschool children through the pairing of songs, spoken word, and games with a book. Registration link coming soon.
• Oh! Canary: Play & Make at the Library - at CR
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED – registration link is on our events calendar
PROGRAM IS FULL, but please put your name on the WAITING LIST!
CR: Friday August 15th @ 10:30am
For ages 2-5 years old // limited to 15 children + their caregiver
A fun class for kids ages 2-5 years old, presented by Corrine from Oh! Canary! Students will be welcomed to a selection of art and sensory play activities for them to explore alongside their caretaker. Open play will be followed by a gentle and nurturing circle time where your child’s facilitator will welcome them with a song, a book, and demonstrate a process based art project. Little artists will engage in art project work for the remainder of the class.
• 1, 2 3 Move With Me: A Creative Movement Adventure with Kerry Allan
CR: Thursday August 14th @ 2:00pm (2-2:45)
For ages 3, 4, and 5 with a participating adult
Maplewood dance educator, Kerry Allan, the author of of 1, 2, 3 Move With Me, brings a joyful, fun and imaginative approach to interactive movement with kids. Move and shake it all out with Kerry!
• Toddler Storytime - at CR & HB
CR: Tuesdays @ 10:30am: July 8th, 15th, 22nd ; August 12th, 19th
HB: Wednesdays @ 4pm July 23rd, 30th, August 6th, 13th, 20th
For ages 1-3, with a participating adult.
Early literacy fun with stories, songs, movement and rhymes. This program is designed for toddlers and young preschool children.
FOR SCHOOL AGE KIDS ( grades K and up)
• Eyes of the Wild: LIVE ANIMAL SHOW: Life in Color!
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED • for ages 6 and up, MAPSO residents
Friday Thursday August 21st @ 1:30pm
Main Library Community Room
Meet some live animals, rescued by Eyes Of The Wild who provide a home to over 175 animals and 60 different species from throughout the animal kingdom. Learn about animal coloration, vision, and camouflage.
Space is limited! Every individual who attends (adults AND children) must pre-register and show their registration confirmation at entry.
Click here to register
Made in Maplewood: Family Art & Activity Workshops - at CR – dates/times TBD
Age limits, start times, and registration requirements may vary, so check our events calendar for details
Most of the programs are designed for School-Age kids, but the rest of the family is welcome to join the fun!
See each event for details. Dates/times are still TBD
• Bite by Bite with author Marc Aronson
CR: Date/time/age range TBD
Hush Puppies, potato chips, maraschino cherries, pretzels, pizza, burgers … how much do you know about the food you eat, where it comes from, and what it tells us about American history? Maplewood author Marc Aronson dishes out the fascinating story … with some ice cream, too!
And read his latest book: Bite by Bite: American History Through Feasts, Foods, and Side Dishes
• Make a Butterfly Book with Irene Kelly
CR for kids ages 4-9 Date/time TBD
Irene Kelly, the Maplewood author of It’s a Butterfly’s Life, presents a fun workshop on making a butterfly book.
• Made in Maplewood: Family Art Workshop: Decoupage Seashells with Georgette
CR for all ages. Date/time TBD
• Family Art Workshop: Art from Nature with Wendy Bellermann
CR for all ages. Date/time TBD
• Made in Maplewood: Meet Kortney Nash, author of Tell Me About Juneteenth
CR: date/time/age range TBD
Kortney grew up in Maplewood, and her new book is Tell me About Juneteenth.
Meet her, and do a fun activity!
• Fake or Fact: Media Literacy for Kids & Families with Steve Chiger
CR: grades 3-6, date/time TBD
Do you like to know what’s true and what’s a fake or a prank? Do you like books like The Mysterious Benedict Society or Encyclopedia Brown or The Phantom Tollbooth? Meet Steve Chiger, Maplewood author of Gran and Gram Save Summer, as well as a curriculum director, digital literacy expert, and former journalist. Become a fact detective and solve some puzzling questions. Take an interactive quiz with Steve.
• Mike Malbrough, local author
CR: date/time/age range TBD
• Made in Maplewood: Make Your Own Veggie Sushi !
For all ages // date/time TBD
Learn how to make and roll your own veggie sushi, using sheets of nori or a tortilla, sticky rice, and vegetables ... rolled in bamboo sushi mats. Supplies are limited … first come - first served
• Read to a Dog – at HB
HB: dates/times TBD
For school age children & tweens
A relaxed group environment for school-age kids and tweens to read out loud to a certified therapy dog, with other kids. Kids take turns reading to a furry friend … in a group setting.
Build confidence and reading skills! Bring something to read aloud, or arrive early enough to have time to pick out a book to read.
• Stretch and Story Yoga!– at CR
LIMITED TO the first 20 attendees to arrive, ages 6-12
CR: Monday July 21 @ 6:30-7pm
CR: Monday July 28 @ 6:30-7pm
An open level yoga flow for ages 6 to 12 years old, presented by TG Yoga.
The yoga session will be followed by a relaxing story or poem by the librarian.
Limited to 20 attendees, so please arrive early to get a spot.
Please bring a Yoga mat
• Watercolor Fun with Ken Stanek! - at CR
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED – register from the Library events calendar
CR: Wednesday July 23rd at 6pm
For kids in 3rd - 5th grades (ages 8-12)
Calling all young artists! Join us for a special one-time watercolor class with Ken Stanek from Studionumbernine — no experience needed, just curiosity and creativity! We'll explore basic watercolor techniques, play with color, and create a fun painting to take home. All supplies provided.
Perfect for kids who love to draw, paint, or just try something new. Let’s make something beautiful together!
• Homeschool Informational Event – at CR
CR: Date/time TBD (an evening in August?)
For families with children of all ages.
Homeschooling experts share tips and resources.
Maplewood Memorial Library • Children’s Department
Main Library • 51 Baker Street • 973.762.1688 ext 5023
Hilton Branch • 1688 Springfield Ave • 973.762.1688 ext 5101 or 5102
https://www.maplewoodlibrary.org/summer-reading
Thank you to the Friends of the Library!
You can join the Friends for only $20 a year and support programs like these!