As we head into February and have another school vacation coming up, we have a very special program to offer that week: “Traditions of Chinese Acrobats” which will be held Thursday, February 23 at 11 AM. This solo acrobatic performance by Li Liu includes hand balancing, plate spinning, ribbon dancing, and more – plus the chance for a few kids to try their hand at some of these skills! The Friends of the Library will also be hosting a “Chill Out” Ice Cream Sundaes during this event. Grab an ice cream sundae after the show for only $5!
February also offers a new, quarterly storytime, “Birthday Bash” -- four times a year we’ll hold a program for kids who have birthdays during that quarter! This first session will be Saturday, February 18 at 10 AM and is for children who have birthdays in January, February, or March. We’ll do some reading, crafting, and celebrating – and keep your eye on our monthly calendars for more celebrations throughout the year.
Another interesting program in February lets kids meet a Methuen police officer and his K-9 partner. On Tuesday, February 7 at 6:30 PM Officer Michael Havey will introduce kids to Rumi, a friendly Black Labrador who is an Explosives and Firearm Detection K-9, and answer kids’ questions about Rumi’s training and duties.
This month we also kick off our Winter Reading Challenge – read as many minutes as you can, record your progress on Beanstack, and maybe win a prize! The challenge runs from February 6 through March 18, and you can visit our website for details.
Looking a little ahead to March (but you can register now), we’ll once again be offering the popular “Home Alone Staying Safe” program for children in grades 4 and 5 on Saturday, March 4 at 10 AM. If you’re wondering whether your child is ready to be left home alone, this course will be the answer you need: the program prepares kids to handle most home-alone situations, including information on basic safety and self-defense, food and kitchen safety, first aid, and handling emergencies. The cost of the program is $45; registration is open Jan. 15-Feb. 25 and, to secure your registration, you’ll need to bring a payment (check or cash) to the Children’s Room desk by Feb. 25.
As ever, we also have our usual variety of preschool programs, storytimes, book groups (don’t miss our new Graphic Novel Book Club!), craft clubs, and teen/tween programs -- keep an eye on the Youth Services calendar and Facebook page to learn about upcoming programs and register for them!
Happy February, and Happy Reading!
