Youth Services Newsletter: April 2023

In-Person Event Guidelines:
In the interest of social distancing, space is limited and registration is required for most children’s events.  Registration links for our programs are located on the library's Events Calendar (https://woburnpubliclibrary.org/events-calendar/ ) .

Masks are no longer required in the library. However, masks are encouraged in the Children's Room, especially for those who are unvaccinated, have a weakened immune system, or live with a highly vulnerable person.

General Announcements
Decorative image
Children's iPads Now Available!

iPads have returned to the Children's Room!  If you'd like to use an iPad, please see a staff member at the desk - these devices can be checked out with a library card and must be used inside the Children's Room.

Library Closures

Please be aware that the library will be closed on Monday, April 17th for Patriots' Day.

Children's Events
Decorative image
Spanish Fun Program
Saturday April 1st
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Whether you're interested in learning Spanish or you're already fluent, you will enjoy this fun, bilingual program!  Miss Esther will lead you through vocabulary-building activities, music, and games.  Best for ages 5 and under.  Siblings are welcome.  Registration is required.

Si ya hablas español o si quieres aprender una lengua nueva, puedes participar en esta hora de cuentos bilingüe con Señorita Esther!  Para niños de 1 a 5 años.  Requiere registro.

Buildwave 6-week Series
Mondays (April 3rd & 10th)
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Foster your child's interest in STEM while igniting their creative spark at the same time!  ** Buildwave (http://buildwave.com)
is a creative building program that feels like a video game.  Over the course of the series, kids will create with over a dozen different building materials, including Lego®, PlusPlus®, and custom-made Buildwave materials.  The workshop is structured like a video game, with an audiovisual setup featuring animations and music that guide students through the different building waves.  As your child creates with wave after wave of new objects, they build creative confidence, become better collaborators, and encounter design and engineering fundamentals in a unique and memorable context.

Recommended for 1st graders and up.  Sign up once for the whole six week series.

Creativity Corner
Wednesdays (April 5th & 19th)
10:00 am - 11:00 am

Stop by the Craft Room and get creative with our craft supplies!  This event will be first come, first served, as space allows.  For grades 5 and under.

Homeschool News
Wednesdays (April 5th, 12th, 26th)
10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Join us for an exciting and engaging child-led activity where kids will work together to produce a weekly newsletter.  The facilitator will provide weekly themes, brainstorming support, and resources.  Each child will be given the freedom to develop an idea and produce a piece that matches their areas of interest.

Kids can work on projects individually or in small teams. The facilitator will work with parents to help supplement their homeschooling goals.  The facilitator will also provide any adaptations needed to support children during the activity.

School-age children of all abilities are welcome. Parents are required to remain at the library during the program.

Facilitated by Dale Goldstein, homeschool mom and ASHA certified Speech Language Pathologist

PJ Storytime
Wednesdays (April 5th & 12th)
5:30 pm - 6:15 pm

Get a jump start on bedtime!  Join Miss Kristine for songs, movement activities, and stories.

Best for ages 5 and under.  Siblings are welcome.

Decorative image

Baby Lapsit with Miss Kristine

Thursday April 6th
11:00 am - 11:30 am

Sing, play and bounce with your baby to gentle rhymes and stories with Miss Kristine.
Best for 12 months and under.

Parent and Tween Crafting Night
Thursday April 6th (7:00 pm - 8:30 pm)
Come join us on Thursday night for an adult and tween (ages 8-11) craft.  Tweens are invited to bring an adult of their choice to make a craft together. Each month will be a different craft - this month we will be making string art!

Toddler Time with Bouncing Beans
Fridays (April 7th & 21st)
11:00 am - 11:30 am
This toddler playgroup is designed by an occupational therapist, and will include movement-based activities, sensory play/art, and stories.  Kids will have the opportunity to learn the group routine, practice transitions, and build upon attention.  General tips about developmental skills for this age range will be shared with caregivers throughout the session.
Best for ages 1-3. Siblings are welcome.

Read to a Therapy Dog
Fridays (April 7th, 14th, 21st)
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Young readers are invited to spend 10 minutes reading aloud to dogs from the Therapy Dogs International Program.  Registration is not required for this event - 10 minute time-slots with a dog will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.  We will try to accommodate as many children as we can without overwhelming the dogs.  Siblings and parents are welcome to join.

You can find general information on therapy dogs from the Cummings Veterinary Medicine Magazine at the following link: ** The Benefits of Reading to Dogs (http://sites.tufts.edu/vetmag/fall-2017/the-benefits-of-reading-to-dogs/)
.  For more details about each participating dog and their handlers, please see the individual event pages on our ** Events Calendar (https://woburnpubliclibrary.org/events-calendar/)

Portuguese Fun Program
Saturday April 8th
2:30 - 3:00 pm
Join Miss Esther as we dance and sing with the music from the highest-selling Brazilian female singer Xuxa!  We will also have fun playing games with the parachute while you learn and practice Portuguese.

Best for ages 2-5.  The whole family is welcome.
Sing, Move, and a Story with Family ACCESS
Monday April 10th
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Join Community Connections for singing, movement and a shared story!  Let's get your little one's fine motor, gross motor, language and early literacy skills going.  For children 0 - 5 with a parent/caregiver. Siblings are always welcome.

Register here through Family ACCESS. (https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=9tLaOHHGdki8ubtOlAVcA8NC46CiC5lLs-_QuGoy-KpUQVNMVUZaU1cwUkNDTVpESTlVRUVQRUxEUy4u)

Lego Build Time
Wednesday April 12th (10:00 am - 11:00 am)
Tuesday April 18th (3:30 pm - 4:30 pm)
Tuesday April 25th (10:00 am - 11:00 am)
Stop by the Craft Room and see what you can create with our Legos.  If you like, your amazing creation can be displayed in the library until the next Lego Build time!

For grades 5 and under.
Baby Lapsit with Bouncing Beans
Thursdays (April 13th & 27th)
11:00 am - 11:30 am
Children learn through play!  Bouncing Beans facilitates developmental playgroups where children and caregivers can learn and grow.  Our playgroups are designed by a pediatric occupational therapist, and in addition to fun activities, general tips to build upon skills will be shared.  Children are accompanied by a caregiver.

This baby group (recommended for children birth to 12 months) will provide your child the opportunity to practice skills in different positions, and to build upon sensory-motor, communication, attention, and social skills.  Infant massage, simple sign language, and a familiar routine will be introduced.

Playtime for Toddlers
Fridays (April 14th & 28th)
11:00 am - 11:45 am
Bring your toddlers to the library to play, read books, color, and socialize with other families.  No registration required.  Drop in and hang out with us!

Moving to the Music
Saturday April 15th
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
Bring your imaginations to the library for an afternoon of dance, music, and dramatic play led by Miss Kat!
Best for ages 3-7. Siblings are welcome.
Puppeteer Leigh Baltzer smiling while surrounded by four puppets.

Puppet Storytime with Leigh Baltzer
Tuesday April 18th
11:00 am - 11:30 am
Through Me To You Puppetry (https://www.throughmetoyou.com/)
invites you to join Newton and the gang for some storytime fun!  Newton and his puppet friends will take turns reading stories and singing songs with the kids.  At the end of the show, the kids are invited to say hi to Newton & even play with some of his puppets!

Three hands holding a large green insect.

Professor Bugman: Entomology Adventures
Wednesday April 19th
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Amazing creatures have amazing adaptations!  And what better way for kids to discover these concepts than through hands-on experiences with a whole zoo of exotic invertebrates?  Join Professor Bugman for this exciting, interactive science experience.  There will be a high-power camera setup that gives an extra-magnified view of insect features that otherwise aren't very visible to the naked eye, as well as a way for more bug-shy guests to get an up-close look without, you know, getting up-close!

Recommended for ages 5-11, but all are welcome.

Musician James Lepler playing guitar and singing to an audience of children.

Family Singalong with James Lepler
Thursday April 20th
11:00 am - 11:30 am

Join musician James Lepler for a singalong!  Best for ages 5 and under.  Siblings are welcome.

Parent/Child Canvas Painting Workshop
Thursday April 20th (6:30 am - 8:00 pm)
Wednesday April 26th (6:30 pm - 8:00 pm)
Calling all artists!  Adults and children (ages 7+) are invited to join us for a guided painting session led by ** Studio on the Common (https://www.studioonthecommon.com/)

Wildlife ambassador holding a hawk on a gloved hand.

Meet a Local Animal with Mass Audubon
Saturday April 22nd
10:30 am - 11:00 am (Sensory-Friendly Small Group Session)
11:00 am - 11:30 am (Session 1)
11:30 am - 12:00 pm (Session 2)

What hawks live in your neighborhood?  Meet a wildlife ambassador you might see nearby this spring for an up-close and unique opportunity to learn about the features that make it a bird.  Then, discover the amazing adaptations that make it an expert hunter!

[There will be three sessions for this event, as outlined above.  Please register for ONE session only.]

Sewing Bees Sewing Club
Monday April 24th
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Come meet others who like to sew at our Sewing Bees Sewing Club!  Ages 8 through adulthood are invited to bring the project they're currently working on or start something new.  All skill levels welcome!  (Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.)

Spanish Fun: The Three Little Pigs and the Silly Wolf
Monday April 24th
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Come join us for a special theatrical session of Spanish Fun Time, where we learn Spanish by acting out a funny story!  The three little pigs build their homes with hay, wood, and brick, but there is one silly wolf whose antics will make us laugh!

Best for children 6-9 years old (siblings welcome) accompanied by caregiver.

STEM Explorers
Wednesday April 26th
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Join Miss Lobna for a fun STEM activity!  We'll explore science through hands-on activities.

Best for ages 5-11. Come dressed for a mess!

Cover image for 'Frog and Toad are Friends' by Arnold Lobel. A frog and a toad, both wearing jackets and pants, sit across from each other in a woodland setting. Toad is reading a book to Frog.

Rookie Book Club
Monday April 24th
6:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Join Miss Janice for a beginners' book club for children who are reading at a K to 2nd grade level. March's book will be Caldecott Honor Book Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel.  Copies of the book will be available at the Children’s Room desk.  Children (ages 5+) who are not reading independently yet can have the book read to them.  We will talk about the story and do some related early reading activities.

Teen Events
Coding for Adults and Teens: Python
Part 5: Saturday April 1st
Part 6: Saturday April 15th
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Python is a computer programming language often used to build websites and software, automate tasks, and conduct data analysis.  Python is a general-purpose language, meaning it can be used to create a variety of different programs and isn’t specialized for any specific problems.  As one of the most popular programming languages in the world, it has created everything from Netflix’s recommendation algorithm to the software that controls self-driving cars.

In this hands on workshop, you will learn to program in Python.  This is a six part intensive class.  Registering for one part will automatically register you for all six.  No experience necessary.  Open to ages 16 and up.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Woburn Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Oil and Acrylic Painting: 5 Week Series
Saturdays
2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Oil painting used to be the last step in the historic artistic journey of painting, embarked upon only after becoming familiar with proper drawing techniques and practicing watercolor for a good while.  Oil painting, now along with acrylic painting, has a major fundamental scope and directive that the other two mediums contribute to, but in most cases encompasses a more tested impressive effect, base of utility, and additional artistic knowledge.

If you are interested in learning to paint with oil or acrylic, join us at the library for an introductory course where Joseph will take us through the basics, including tools, theories, mediums, and paints.  This is a five-week, in-depth course open to adults and teens.  Register once for the entire series.

Teen Poetry Sessions
Tuesdays
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Join us every Tuesday in April leading up to our Teen Poetry Slam for poetry writing sessions!  These sessions will provide a calm and inspiring atmosphere to sit and write, share your work and ideas with other teens, gain feedback on your writing (if you would like), and learn more about different forms of poetry.

No registration required; just swing by!

Teen Chess Club
Tuesdays
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Want to learn to play chess?  Know the basics, but want improve your skills?  Already know how to play, but have no one to play with?  Stop by Chess Club, Tuesdays at 5:30 in the Makerspace!  No registration required and boards provided.  All skill levels welcome!

Teen Chess Club is for students in 6-12 grade.

Movie poster for 'The Princess Bridge.' Farmhand Wesley and princess Buttercup hold hands and stand forehead-to-forehead in the foreground. Behind them are men riding on horseback and a castle in the distance.

Teen Movie Night: The Princess Bride
Wednesday April 5th
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Join us for a screening of The Princess Bride in the Teen Room.  No registration required.
Based on the novel by William Goldman, Buttercup is a beautiful princess who--after being separated by her true love, the farmhand Westley--is captured by and forced to marry a conspiring prince.  As the wedding day approaches, her true love, a vengeful swordsman, and a kind giant come to her rescue.  (1987, Rated: PG)

Teen Dungeons and Dragons: Dragon Heist
Thursdays
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Our grand Waterdeep: Dragon Heist adventure continues, and it isn't too late to join our band of adventurers!  This is an adventure designed to take your characters from level 1-5.

New to D&D?  That's ok; whether you have only played a few times or have never rolled a 20-sided dice before, this is a supportive environment to learn the rules and have fun.

Teen D&D will run every Thursday; we hope you are able to make the majority of the meetings.

Register ONCE for all sessions in the month of April.

Teen Advisory Board
Monday April 10th
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Help decide what happens at YOUR library!  Do you have concerns, comments, or ideas for teen events and programming?  Join the monthly Teen Advisory Board (TAB) meeting to have your voice heard.  Snacks will be provided, and you can earn volunteer hours for your participation.

TAB is for students entering 7-12 grade.

Teen Mural Painting with SCI
Monday April 10th
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Join Social Capital Inc (SCI) to create a mural that will be displayed in the library's Teen Room.  No registation necessary; drop in when you can!

Retro Recipes: Teen Cooking Class
Wednesday April 19th
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
What were people eating in the 1960s?  What about the 1940s?  The 1880s?  Join us for a super special cooking event to learn how to bake a selection of retro recipes using real antique cookbooks from the Woburn Library's Glennon Archives.  This program is offered in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Woburn and will be held in their state-of-the-art kitchen.  In small groups, you will be baking either a cookie, cake, pie, or pudding recipe, then we will share our delicious creations with everyone and get to take home copies of all the recipes!

Who: Students in grades 6-12
When: Wednesday, April 19th @ 2-4pm
Where: James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn, 1 Charles Gardner Lane, Woburn, MA 01801

Register (https://woburnpubliclibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/teen-cooking-placeholder/)
TODAY as a group or individually!

Coding for Adults and Teens: SQL (Part 1)
Saturday April 29th
10:30 am - 12:00 pm

SQL (pronounced “ess-que-el”) stands for Structured Query Language.  SQL is used to communicate with a database of information.  SQL statements are used to perform tasks such as update data on a database, or retrieve data from a database.  Some common relational database management systems that use SQL are: Oracle, Sybase, Microsoft SQL Server, Access, etc.

In this hands on workshop, you will learn the basics of SQL.  This is a two part intensive class.  Registering for one part will automatically register you for both classes.  Prior experience with programming languages is recommended but not required.  Open to ages 16 and up.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the, Woburn Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Teen Poetry Slam
Wednesday April 26th
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Please join us on April 26th from 6:30 - 8:30 PM for a Tween & Teen Poetry Slam in honor of National Poetry Month!  Share a poem you’ve already written, a piece you craft during one of our optional April writing sessions, or a poem you love by another poet!  No prior experience as a poet or performer necessary.
This special event will be held in the Richardson Gallery in the library.  Performances are for tweens and teens in 6-12th grade, but all ages are welcome to attend and cheer on our poets.  Each registrant will have a 5-minute time slot to share their words - make sure you register to hold your spot!

If you have any questions, please contact Ashley O’Leary at [email protected].

(Be sure to also check out our optional April poetry writing sessions, happening every Tuesday in April from 4 PM - 5 PM leading up to the Slam.)

Cover image for ‘All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens Throughout the Ages.’ Title text is surrounded by a border of images in different hues of green and blue – flowing figures in robes holding rollerskates, a rocket ship, two silhouettes running away from a cliff, a sailing ship, an archer holding an electric guitar, and a canine face.

Iris Book Club
Monday April 24th
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm