Children's Room

Contact: 978-456-2381

 





Storytimes Infant Storytime Storytime for 2's & 3's Art & Stories for 4's & 5's Saturday Storytimes Programs Movie Nights Game Hour & Chess Club Lego Club Book Gobblers Grades 1-5 Bagels n' Books Grades 3-6 Teen Book Groups Early Release Programs New Arrivals! Chapter Books Picture Books Advanced Readers	Try TumbleBook Library! The TumbleBookLibrary is a collection of TumbleBooks (animated, talking picture books), Read-Alongs, Ebooks which may be viewed online, and Tumble Puzzles & Games. TumbleBookCloud Junior is a great option for adventurous young readers who wish to go beyond the picture book collection in TumbleBookLibrary!

 

Storytimes ~ No Storytimes During School Vacation Weeks~    

Infant Storytime ~ Mother Goose on the Loose (no sign-up) – Ages 0 – 2:  Mondays & Thursdays at 10:30
Mother Goose on the Loose is an early literacy program that uses rhymes and songs to help pre-reading children get ready for reading. It incorporates music, movement, ritual, repetition, positive reinforcement, developmental tips, nursery rhymes, illustrations, puppets, musical instruments, colored scarves, and book reading into a fun-filled 45 minute session for infants to 2-year-olds and caregivers (older siblings also welcome).  Ask to be put on the email list for last minute schedule changes.

Mother Goose on the Loose ~ Infant Storytime May & June Schedule

Due to the Memorial Day Holiday, Hildreth Elementary School class visits, & summer reading kickoff events, the last Monday Storytime of the spring will be on Monday, May 20.

Thursday Storytimes will continue through May; in June there will be Thursday Storytime on these dates only: Thursday, June 13 & Thursday, June 20

Summer schedule for the Infant Storytime will be:
Thursdays at 10:30 from July 11 through August 8

There may be more schedule changes due to the HES class visits – sign up for the storytime email list (with the children’s librarian) and/or “Like” our Facebook page to be notified of last minute changes:  Children’s Room at the Harvard Public Library.

Storytime for 2’s & 3’s (6 week session begins 4/24 ~ pre-registration required) – Ages 2 & 3:  Wednesdays at 10:30
This 20 to 30 minute interactive theme-based storytime includes songs, simple stories, feltboard stories, creative dramatics, and fingerplays appropriate for children aged 2 & 3 years old.  Register now for the current 6 week session which begins April 24 and runs through May 29.  Pre-registration required: Limit of 12 children and their caregivers.

Art & Stories for 4’s & 5’s (no sign-up required) – Ages 4 & 5 and up: 
Thursdays at 2:00
This 30 to 45 minute program, appropriate for children ages 4 to 7, begins with a few longer picturebook stories, then ends with a process art project that encourages preschoolers to explore art materials in an open-ended, creative manner.  Some weeks we’ll also have storytelling with the library’s puppets or feltboard stories – stories told with felt pieces! 

Children’s & Teen Programs

Game Hour & Chess Club – Grades 3 to 6: Thursdays, May 2 & 9 from 4:00 to 5:00
This drop-in, after school program for children in grades 3 to 6 is facilitated by teen volunteers.  Play an assortment of great games, including Set, Scrabble, Mille Bornes, Apples to Apples, Slamwich, Quiddler, and Hoopla.  Or, join in with the Chess Club and play chess with other chess enthusiasts!

Bagels n’ Books Group for 3rd Graders:  Tuesday, May 14 from 4 to 4:45
Bagels n’ Books Group for 4th Graders:
Monday, May 20 from 4 to 4:45 (Group A) and
Tuesday, May 28 from 4 to 4:45 (Group J)
Bagels n’ Books Group for 5th Graders:  Monday, May 6 from 4 to 4:45 PM
Bagels n’ Books Group for 6th Graders:  Monday, May 13 from 4 to 4:45 PM
The 3rd Grade Book is: The Year of the Dog by Grace Line.  The 4th Grade Book is: The Candymakers by Wendy Mass.  The 5th Grade Book is: Report Card by Andrew Clements.  The 6th Grade Book is: Sophia’s War by Avi.  Join this once-monthly book group for a lively book discussion and a yummy snack of bagels & cream cheese.  Book group members should read all of the book prior to the group meeting. Sign up for a book group, and we will request for you a copy of the book we will be discussing. New members are welcome ~ spaces are limited for some groups.  Please call the Children’s Room for more information & to pre-register.

Lego Club – Ages 5 & up:  Saturday, May 18 from 1:30 to 3:00
Come have fun building Lego creations with other Harvard Lego fans! Parents are encouraged to join in the fun & assist with supervision.  Please see the Children’s Librarian for more information and to pre-register.

Teen Book Groups: Grades 7 – 9 ~ Tuesday, May 14 from 4:30 – 5:30
The Teen Book Groups meet on one Tuesday a month; refreshments are served.  Book group members should read all of the book prior to the group meeting. Sign up for the book group, and we will request for you a copy of the book we will be discussing.
New members are always welcome ~ please pre-register.

Book Gobblers – Grades 1 through 5:  Tuesday, May 21 at 3:30 PM
Book Gobblers is the library’s story program for older kids only – younger children not allowed!  Come listen to selections from excellent chapter books, poetry by favorite poets, and explore longer picture books for older readers.  Drop-in ~ come for the whole half hour, or stay for just one or two stories.

Teen Craft Afternoon ~ Recycled Paper Beads – Grades 6 and up: 
Thursday, May 23 at 2:45 PM

Family Movie Night!  Movie is Rated PG – All Ages:  Friday, May 24 at 6:30 PM
We can’t tell you the title of the movie here, but here are some clues: this recently released animated Dreamworks movie is based on the Guardians of Childhood book series by William Joyce.  Popcorn and water will be served. 
Please pre-register, so we know how much popcorn to buy!

Circle of Songs with Hugh Hanley – For infants through age 6 (and their caregivers): Tuesday, May 28 at 10:30 AM
Hugh Hanley has been singing with young children for over twenty years in his work as an early childhood educator, music specialist and entertainer.  His work has helped him gain an understanding of young children as developing music makers and a familiarity with the environments in which they play and learn.  He draws from a wide and varied repertoire of songs, fingerplays, and music activities that are appropriate, accessible, and highly engaging.  Hugh has learned all of the material he uses in his work from folk traditions, children, and their teachers and parents.   Please pre-register.

The Whalemobile – Kindergarten through Grade 5: 
Wednesday, June 5 at 1:30 PM
This unique and very cool program begins with a presentation on whales of New England and ends with the inflation of Nile, a 43-foot inflatable humpback whale.  Using images, sounds and videos, Cynde McInnis of the Whalemobile will introduce us to species of whales and dolphins seen off the coast of Massachusetts, focusing on natural history, identification and behavior of humpback whales.  Then we will divide into three rotating breakout sessions: Marine Debris ~ Do you know how long it takes a newspaper to biodegrade? How about a plastic shopping bag? Children will learn about the marine biodegradation timeline, as well as what they can do to decrease the trash on our planet.  Touch, See, and Feel ~ This is an opportunity for children to see, touch and feel whale artifacts such as bones and baleen, lice and prey, as well as other artifacts.  Nile: the Life-Sized Humpback Whale ~ Children have the opportunity to go inside the whale! Adapted to students' grade levels, this presentation focuses on similarity between humans and whales, their adaptations to the marine environment, and current threats they face today.   Enrollment is limited to 60 children and their accompanying adults.  Please pre-register!

New Arrivals!

Chapter Books	AR Books, DVDs & CDs	Picture Books