The Southbury Public Library Youth Services
department is pleased to announce events for January 2024 for children and teens. We are offering a variety of programs this month. All programs are generously sponsored by the Friends of the Southbury Public Library. For more information and to register online please visit our website: www.southburylibrary.org/events.
Children’s Programs:
Submit to our 2024 Tiny Art Show – Ongoing from December 27 through February 15, 2024. Ongoing from December 27 through February 15, 2024. Make some art for our first ever Tiny Art Show! Your only limit is a 4x4" canvas: use any art style or medium you like (painting, drawing, sewing, etc.) as long as it fits. Submissions must be on or attached to supplied canvases. You can pick up your canvases throughout the month of January. For All Ages. No registration required.
Open House Make or Take Craft – Saturday, January 6, 13, 20, 27. Stop by the Youth Services department on Saturdays this month to make a thematic craft. Make it here or bring it home. Crayons and glue available in the library. Available while supplies last.
Drop-In Storytime – Monday, January 8, 22, 29 from 10:00-10:30am and 11:00-11:30am in the Storytime Room. Library closed on January 1 & 15. Join Miss Jen for stories, rhymes, and a small craft. All ages welcome. No registration required.
Babies & Books – Tuesday, January 9, 16, 23, 30 from 10:30-11:00am in the Storytime Room. Babies & Books is a 6-week lapsit program for children 6 to 24 months and their parents/caregivers. Listen to short stories and songs. Registration required; space limited.
ARTuesday For Ages 7 & Up – Tuesday, January 9 from 5:00-6:00pm in the Storytime room. Stop by for a playful, messy, and expressive art experience where there is no right or wrong. Come play and experiment with a variety of art mediums and themes. Smocks recommended. Ages 7 & up. Drop-In; No registration required.
Toddler Time – Wednesday, January 10, 17, 24, 31 from 10:30-11:00am in the Storytime Room. Toddler Time is a 6-week program for children ages 2 & 3 years and their parents/caregivers. Listen to stories and complete a small craft. Registration required; space limited.
Tunes & Tales – Thursday, January 11, 18, 25 from 10:30-11:00am in the Storytime Room. Join Miss Jen for a morning filled with music and stories! Children will sing, dance, and experiment with simple musical instruments. Recommended for ages 5 and under. No registration required.
Lego Club – Thursday, January 11 from 4:30-5:30pm in the Storytime Room. Join us for an afternoon of LEGO fun! We’ll provide the LEGO bricks, and you bring the creativity! You can free build, or work off of instructions. Ages 5-10. Registration required; space limited.
Make a Cupsnake! – Saturday, January 13 from 2:00-3:00pm in the Storytime Room. Is it a cupcake? Is it a snake? Join Katie to create and decorate your own Cupsnake using clay! Grades 2-5. Registration required; space limited.
Graphic Novel Book Club: Witches of Brooklyn – Tuesday, January 16 from 4:30-5:30pm in the Brown Room. Let's talk about graphic novels together! Join Miss Jen for a fun discussion about the book Witches of Brooklyn, by Sophie Escabasse. We can talk about what we loved (or didn't love) about the book, and it's a great time to share other graphic novels that you are reading with the rest of the club. You can borrow a copy of the book here at the library, and if you don't read the whole book before the program, that's ok! Grades 3-5. Registration required; space limited.
Food Explorers: Nachos – Thursday, January 18 from 4:30-5:30pm in the Kingsley Room. Join Food Explorers for a deliciously cheesy program! You’ll create your own personal nachos with a cheesy nacho cheese sauce on top (homemade of course!). Recipe is nut free but will contain dairy and gluten. Ages 6 & up. Registration required; space limited.
Tiny Food Explorers – Tuesday, January 23 from 11:00am-12:00pm in the Kingsley Room. Join Tiny Food Explorers for some fun with food! Come and explore new flavors and textures while playing games all about food and MyPlate! You’ll make a hands-on healthy snack that even the pickiest of eaters will enjoy. Ages 2-5. Registration required; space limited.
Homeschool Hangout – Tuesday, January 23 from 1-2:30pm in the Kingsley Room. Homeschool families: stop by the library for an afternoon of games and socializing. This is a great time to meet up with old friends, make new friends, and connect with your librarians. While here, learn about all of the library resources, borrow some great books, and sign up for some of our amazing programming. Grades 1-12 & Families. Registration required.
Family Trivia Night – Friday, January 26 from 6:30-8:00pm in the Kingsley Room. Join us for another Family Trivia night! Work together as a family team to answer our trivia questions! We'll have a variety of topics, including kid-centric knowledge, general information, and questions aimed at parents, too. The family who answers the most questions correctly will win a $100 gift card to Riverview Cinemas! All ages. Registration required; space limited. Registration begins December 15.
ARTuesday For Ages 3-6 – Tuesday, January 30 from 5:00-6:00pm in the Storytime room. Stop by for a playful, messy, and expressive art experience where there is no right or wrong. Come play and experiment with a variety of art mediums and themes. Smocks recommended. Ages 3-6. Drop-In; No registration required.
Teen Programs:
Submit to our 2024 Tiny Art Show – Ongoing from December 27 through February 15, 2024. Ongoing from December 27 through February 15, 2024. Make some art for our first ever Tiny Art Show! Your only limit is a 4x4" canvas: use any art style or medium you like (painting, drawing, sewing, etc.) as long as it fits. Submissions must be on or attached to supplied canvases. You can pick up your canvases throughout the month of January. For All Ages. No registration required.
The NEW Junior Friends – Thursday, January 4 from 6:00-7:30pm in the Lower Level (Basement). Earn service hours while supporting the Friends of the Southbury Public Library by working on projects relating to the Book Sale and their other fundraising efforts. Joining us once is not committing to attending monthly, though this is welcome and encouraged. Grades 6-12. Registration required.
Midterms Destress for Success Station – January 8-18, Teen Department. If you need a break while studying, check out our Destress for Success station! We’ll have snacks, activities to destress with, and more! This station will be up for the week before and during PHS midterms. No registration required.
Mini Library Craft – Tuesday, January 16 from 6:30-7:30pm in the Brown Room. Make your very own pocket sized library with library staff member Katie! Design your own tiny library inside of a tin using dollhouse miniatures and other accessories; we will have a wide variety to choose from. Grades 6-12. Registration required.
Homeschool Hangout – Tuesday, January 23 from 1-2:30pm in the Kingsley Room. Homeschool families: stop by the library for an afternoon of games and socializing. This is a great time to meet up with old friends, make new friends, and connect with your librarians. While here, learn about all of the library resources, borrow some great books, and sign up for some of our amazing programming. Grades 1-12 & Families. Registration required.
Tiny Art Show: Drop-In Paint Day – Thursday, January 25, 2:30-5:30pm in the Kingsley Room for Teens and Adults; 4:30-7:30pm in the Storytime Room for Children, Teens, & Families. Work on a painting for our Tiny Art Show in a supportive group environment! All supplies provided. Please wear clothing you don’t mind getting dirty. No registration required.
Family Trivia Night – Friday, January 26 from 6:30-8:00pm in the Kingsley Room. Join us for another Family Trivia night! Work together as a family team to answer our trivia questions! We'll have a variety of topics, including kid-centric knowledge, general information, and questions aimed at parents, too. The family who answers the most questions correctly will win a $100 gift card to Riverview Cinemas! All ages. Registration required; space limited. Registration begins December 15.
Teen Advisory Board – Tuesday, January 30 from 6:00-7:00pm in the Tutor Corner. Teen Advisory Board (TAB) members can directly influence our teen book and AV collections, teen programming and events, and other teen services. Each monthly meeting opens with a discussion about ideas for programs, materials, and more and closes out with some special volunteer projects. If you are interested in becoming a TAB member, fill out the application form at www.southburylibrary.org/TAB. Grades 6-12. Membership application required.
Reading Programs for Children & Teens:
1000 Books Before Kindergarten – Ongoing, On Paper and Online on Beanstack. Read a book (any book!) to your newborn, infant, or toddler and keep track with a paper log or on Beanstack. Repeats count! 1000 books may seem like a lot, but if you read 1 book a day for 3 years, that’s 1095 books! 10 books a week for 2 years is 1040 books, and 3 books a day in one year is 1095 books. Every book you read you get one sticker, and if you finish you can get a certificate, small prize, and your picture on our wall of fame if you’d like! Pick up a paper log from the children’s department or visit southburylibrary.beanstack.com to get started online. For 0 to Entering Kindergarten.
100 Books Before Graduation – Ongoing, Online at southburylibrary.beanstack.com. Read 100 books before High School Graduation! 100 books may seem like a lot (and it is), but it works out to about 1 book every 2 weeks. When you sign up, get a special tracking bookmark to fill out as you read. Make it to half way and get a $5 Gift Card to Dunkin' or The Bakery. Read 100 books and get a special throw blanket! Every 10 books you read, pick out something from the prize box (pins, stickers, animal sticky notes, and more!). For Grades 9-12. Registration Required.
January Monthly Mini Reading Challenge – January 1-31, Online at southburylibrary.beanstack.com. Join us on Beanstack for our first 2024 Mini Monthly Reading Challenge! Complete the challenge within the month, and get a SurPRIZE! The challenge consists of reading 5 hours throughout the month of January. For Grades Pre-K to 12. Registration Required.
Who Was? Reading Challenge – Ongoing, Upstairs Children’s Department. How many?, Who Was?, Where Was?, or What Was? books can you read? Get a checklist from our Children’s Department and keep track. Read 10 books and get your choice of special bookmark. You can repeat this challenge again if you read another 10. All Ages, Best for Elementary School. No Registration Required.
Please visit the Southbury Public Library website at www.southburylibrary.org/events for program details and registration information. Visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SouthburyLibraryYouthServices/