Registration begins Monday, June 25, for Summer Programs for Families and Teens at the Montclair Public Library

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Mondays at Bellevue Avenue Library

Family Storytimes @ Bellevue Avenue Branch

This program is designed for newborns through five year-olds accompanied by a favorite adult. Share books, stories, fingerplays, rhymes, and music with your children. Enjoy a story session that encourages a love of reading and fosters the development of early literacy skills. Children of all abilities welcome.

Registration required

Kids Place @ Bellevue Avenue Library, 185 Bellevue Avenue, Upper Montclair

Newborns to 5 year-olds

Mondays, July 2 & 16 at 11am

Montclair Community Farms @ Bellevue Avenue Library

Educators from Montclair Community Farms will be visiting the branch to introduce kids to composting. This workshop will be tailored to the level of participant’s experience with composting, so it’s great for kids who are new to the world of composting as well as veteran home composters!

Registration required

Kids Place @ Bellevue Avenue Library, 185 Bellevue Avenue, Upper Montclair

Grades 1-5

Monday, July 9 at 11am

Ants in the Pants: Children’s Author Jolie Della Valle

Enjoy an imaginative journey with Jolie Della Valle as she reads her children's book, Georgie and the Ants in the Pants, and plays interactive songs with her ukulele! Children will learn what it means to embrace the "ants" in their pants! Be prepared to dance and sing along with Jolie! Afterwards, there will be a book signing to follow! Della Valle is a children's author and entertainer from Wayne, NJ. She has visited over 100 schools & libraries throughout Northern NJ with her musical storytelling program and award-winning children's book, ‘Georgie.’ Visit MissJolieMusic.com to learn more.

Registration recommended

Kids Place @ Bellevue Avenue Library, 185 Bellevue Avenue, Upper Montclair

Ages 1-6

Monday, July 23 at 4pm

Read to Obi the Therapy Dog

Obi the golden retriever loves reading with kids and can solve math problems and bark out the correct answer. We'll discuss dog etiquette, the various kinds of service dogs, the different settings for pet therapy, and what makes Obi good for pet-therapy. Obi will also show of some of his skills (like "talking," "smiling," and "shaking hands!)"

Registration required

Kids Place @ Bellevue Avenue Library, 185 Bellevue Avenue, Upper Montclair

Ages 5 +

Monday, July 30 at 3pm

Monday at Main Library

Wee Kids on the Blocks: Block Play for Little Ones

Toddlers, little walkers and their adults are invited to drop in and play with the library’s new block cushions. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

No registration required

3rd floor

18 month-olds to 3 year-olds

Monday, July 23, 11am-1pm

Tuesday Auditorium Adventures

Family Movie: Wonder

Based on R. J. Palacio’s bestselling Children’s fiction book, Wonder depicts the story of Auggie Pullman - a boy born with facial differences that have prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Auggie becomes an unlikely hero when he enters the fifth grade as his family, new classmates, and the greater community all struggle to find their compassion and accept him for who he is inside. Auggie’s extraordinary journey will prove you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out. Starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay.

Auditorium

Rated PG

Tuesday, July 3 at 2pm

The Moving Architects

Join The Moving Architects for a Creative Movement class! Creative Movement is a joyful way to explore movement, develop physical skills, explore elements of dance, channel energy, stimulate imagination, and promote creativity. Creative Movement uses body actions to communicate images, ideas, and feelings, all in a fun and encouraging class setting. The Moving Architects will also be bringing their “Bubble,” an ethereal, cloudlike space to perform in. Please wear comfortable clothing.

No registration required

Recommended ages 10 +

Auditorium

Tuesday, July 10 at 3:30pm

Rizzo’s Wildlife Discovery

Rizzo’s Wildlife Discovery returns to Montclair Public Library with an array of live reptiles and other wonderful critters! Learn how they survive in and out of the water! Don’t miss this assembly of ambassadors from the bug-eating world of amphibians and reptiles!

Registration required

Auditorium

Ages 4 & up

Tuesday, July 17 at 2pm

What’s All That Jazz About? with Shenole Latimer

Clever listening games, live music, storytelling, participation, and comical demonstrations are some of the fun activities that are used to lead kids through a highly interactive and entertaining presentation that will introduce them to the colorful and expressive American music known as jazz. Shenole Latimer has been playing saxophone for decades and is passionate about sharing his love for jazz with music-lovers of all ages.

Registration required

Auditorium

Ages 4 & up

Tuesday, July 24 at 2pm

Harry Potter’s Birthday Party

Join us for a magical afternoon celebration of the Boy Who Lived! Make your own wand, take a sorting quiz, and more magical surprises! Drop in and any time between 2pm-4pm. Some supplies are limited.

No registration required

Auditorium

Kids & Teens ages 7 +

Tuesday, July 31, 2pm-4pm

Wednesday Storytimes

Toddler Time for Two-Year-Olds

Two-year-olds and the adults in their lives explore language and numbers through stories and

songs. Picture books, flannel board stories, and nursery rhymes are used to introduce the wonder

of books. Children of all abilities welcome. *Please note that registration is required for each

individual storytime.

Registration required

Two-year-olds

3rd floor

Wednesday, July 11 at 11am

Online registration is available for valid Montclair Public Library card holders. All others should call the Youth Services Department to be added to the waiting list.

Mother Goose

Mother Goose is a fun way to promote literacy among our preschool-aged patrons. Picture

books, flannel board stories, songs and puppets are used to build upon children’s natural

enthusiasm for books and reading. Children of all abilities welcome. *Please note that

registration is required for each individual storytime.

Registration required

Ages 3-6

3rd floor

Wednesday, July 18 at 11am

Online registration is available for valid Montclair Public Library card holders. All others should call the Youth Services Department to be added to the waiting list.

Babies in the Library

Babies meet babies! Parents and caregivers sing nursery rhymes together with their little ones. Songs, language activities, and board books will be introduced during each session. Make baby's first library experience a special one! Please note that registration is required for each individual storytime.

Registration required

Newborns-23 mons.

3rd floor

Wednesday, July 25 at 11am

Online registration is available for valid Montclair Public Library card holders. All others should call the Youth Services Department to be added to the waiting list.

Thursday Events & Crafts

Join us for a special screening of Muppet Treasure Island as part of our Great American Read celebration. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzy Bear, and Animal and friends seek treasure in this rendition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure tale. Rated G.

No registration required

Auditorium

Thursday, August 2 at 2pm

Drop-In Craft Cart

Stop by the Children’s floor with your little ones and explore our craft supply cart. Help yourself and make something original and colorful with your little ones.

No registration required

Ages 3 +

3rd floor

Thursday, July 5, 3pm-5pm

Art Truck! Montclair Art Museum @ MPL

Our friends at Montclair Art Museum bring their Art Truck to the library! Your little one’s inner artist will enjoy bring color to the world at this one-of-a-kind craft station on wheels!

No registration required

Outdoors in front of Library

Ages 4 to 7

Thursday, July 12, 4pm-6pm

Montclair Community Farms Teen Edition: Seed Saving

Educators from Montclair Community Farms will bring produce from their gardens to the library, show where the seeds are found, and how to separate the seeds from the fruit to prepare them for next year's planting season.

Registration required

Grades 6 & up

3rd floor

Thursday, July 26 at 4pm

Freewheelin’ Fridays

Mini-Golf in the Library

What better way to enjoy the Library’s cool air conditioning than with 9 holes of mini-golf in the Children's Department on the 3rd floor? Join us for 'Mini-Golf in the Library,' rain or shine! Kids, teens, and their families are welcome! (Children ages 7 and under must have an adult with them to participate.)

No registration required

All ages welcome

3rd floor

Friday, July 6, 12pm-3pm

Teen Art Tour: Montclair Art Museum Visit

Interested in adding a little art to your summer? Join our teen tour of MAM to explore the galleries and get inspired! Bring a sketchpad to draw or do some creative writing, or just enjoy the exhibits! *Please note that this event takes place at the Montclair Art Museum (3 S. Mountain Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042). Please meet in front of the museum at 1pm for the tour.

Registration required

Montclair Art Museum

Grades 6 & up

Friday, July 13 at 1pm

Game On: Wii & Board Games

Are ‘wii board’ yet? Come enjoy many games that are a lot of fun and offer a little bit of friendly competition. We will provide various Wii games (including but not limited to) Wii Sports Resort, Just Dance, and Super Smash Brothers Brawl. In addition, we will also offer various board games such as Don’t Wake Daddy, Creationary, LIFE, Clue, Connect 4, Operation, Twister, Mancala, Chess, and Backgammon to those who prefer to play traditional board games. GAME ON! (Children ages 7 and under must have an adult with them to participate.)

No registration required

3rd floor

All ages welcome

Friday, July 20, 1pm-5pm

Sugar-Skull Craft with Maria Nichim Luna

To celebrate the screening of “Coco,” join us for a dynamic arts and education program that will focus on learning to decorate a traditional Dia de Los Muertos Sugar Skull. Prior to the decoration, a short educational slide show will introduce participants to the celebration of Dia De Los Muertos in Mexico. The space will be decorated with traditional Papel Picado, to recreate the festive feel. After decorating the sugar skulls, participants will have the opportunity to sample Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead). Presented by arts educator Maria Nichim Luna.

Registration required

3rd floor

Ages 8 & up

Friday, July 27, 3pm-4:30pm

Outdoor Movie: Coco

Young Miguel, who dreams of becoming a great musician one day, embarks on a wondrous journey to the beyond and discovers the shocking truth behind his ancestor's stories and traditions. Steeped in the rich and many-faceted lore of Mexico’s grand culture, Coco is a beautiful work that is not to be missed! Blankets or lawn chairs recommended. Outdoors in front of Library Plaza. Co-presented by the Montclair Public Library Foundation and Montclair Film’s 2018 Summer Series.

Rated G

Outdoor in front of Main Library Plaza

Friday, July 27 at 7:30pm, film begins at sunset (rain date: Saturday, July 28)

Saturday Specials

Mariachi Oro de Mexico: An Outdoor Performance & Introduction for Kids

Join us outside at the Library’s plaza as we enjoy a traditional acoustic street performance by Mariachi Oro de Mexico. They’ll perform timeless classics from Mexico’s infinite catalog of folkloric music. Afterwards, we’ll go to the auditorium space to enjoy a brief overview about the music and instruments from the mariachis themselves.

No registration required

All ages welcome

Outdoor Plaza

Saturday, July 14 at 12pm

Secret Superhero Haberdashery: Super-Craft

Make and decorate your own superhero mask and cape! You’ll be fashionably ready for action! While supplies last.

No registration required

Ages 4+

Saturday, July 28 at 2pm

Registration is required for all Youth Services Programs unless otherwise noted.

All are welcome, Montclair card holders receive priority registration.

All Youth Services Programs Are Free.

Please have your library card ready to register for programs.