Youth Services Newsletter: February 2023

A chill is in the air, but even on cold days, the library is cozy as can be!  Come stay warm with us as we weather the winter together - this month, we'll be featuring new events like a paleontology workshop and a creative building program, as well as the return of guest presenters Ed the Wizard and singer James Lepler.  Our full programming calendar can be found below - we look forward to seeing you!

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

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Library Closures

Please be advised that the WPL will be closed from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Friday February 17th for staff development.

The library will also be closed on Monday February 20th in observance of Presidents Day.
Children's Events

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Lego Build Time

Wednesdays (February 1st & 15th) from 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Monday February 6th (3:30 pm - 4:30 pm)

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.

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Homeschool News

Wednesdays (February 1st, 8th, 15th)
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

Puppeteer Liegh Baltzer and four puppets.

Puppet Storytime

Wednesday February 1st (5:30 pm - 6:00 pm)

Join us for a special PJ Storytime with Leigh Baltzer and her puppet friends!  Newton and his puppet friends from ** Through Me To You Puppetry (https://www.throughmetoyou.com/)
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!

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Baby Lapsit with Bouncing Beans

Thursdays (February 2nd, 9th, 16th)
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.

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Parent and Tween Crafting Night

Thursday February 2nd (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.

This month we will be making our version of worry dolls, traditional Guatemalan dolls to which children tell their worries and fears before hiding them under their pillow.  The dolls take their worries during the night, and by the next morning, all sorrows are said to have been taken away.

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Playtime for Toddlers

Friday February 3rd
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!

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Read to a Therapy Dog

Fridays (February 3rd, 17th, 24th)
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/)
.

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Creativity Corner

Wednesdays (February 8th & 22nd)
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.

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PJ Storytime

Wednesdays (February 8th & 15th)
5:30 pm - 6:00 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.

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Toddler Time

Friday February 10th
11:00 am - 11:30 am

Join Miss Janice for music, movement, and stories!  Best for ages 1-3.  Siblings welcome.

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Toddler Time: Spanish Fun Program

Friday January 13th (11:00 am - 11:30 am)

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.

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

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Sensory-Friendly Spanish Fun

Saturday February 11th
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

Join Miss Esther for a sensory-friendly version of Spanish Fun Program!  This program is for kids who are autistic, have sensory processing challenges, or have a hard time with large groups.  Geared toward preschool interest level.  Siblings are welcome.  Registration is required to keep the group small.

What is Spanish Fun Program? 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.

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Sing, Move, and a Story with Family ACCESS

Tuesday February 14th
3:30 am - 4:00 am

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-KpUMVhZQlpXNVNCMllYWUVKU0hKOFFZV05ZNC4u)

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STEM Explorers

Wednesday February 15th
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!

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Friday Flicks: Queen of Katwe
Friday February 17th

2:30 pm - 4:45 pm

Join us for a screening of Queen of Katwe!  Snacks will be provided.  No registration required.

This biopic of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi traces her journey from the slums of Katwe, where she is forced to abandon her schooling at the age of nine, to the upper echelons of the chess world after she develops an interest in the game at a youth-outreach program.  (2016 | Rated: PG | 124 minutes)

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Moving to the Music

Saturday February 18th
3:00 - 3:45 pm

Bring your imaginations to the library for an afternoon of dance and dramatic play, and join us for creative movement and music led by Miss Kat.  Best for ages 3-7.

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Portuguese Fun Program

Tuesday February 21st (3:30 pm - 4:00 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.

Artistic rendering of Ed the Wizard

Alchemy Laboratory with Ed the Wizard

Wednesday February 22nd (3:00 pm - 3:45 pm)

Enter Ed the Wizard's Alchemy Laboratory, where magic meets real science!  Use scientific principles to defy gravity, move objects with your mind, change the properties of water, look though solid objects, and more.  Watch, volunteer, and learn to perform amazing feats of magic with everyday items found at home.
All ages welcome

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Thursday February 23rd
4:00 - 5:00 pm

Calling all fossil hunters!  Come join real scientists as we learn all about how fossils are created, where to find them, and the scientists who study them.  We'll act like paleontologists as we examine many fossils that are hundreds of millions of years old, and we'll dig up a fossil of our own.  Come see a huge Megalodon tooth and a tiny trilobite!  Recommended for ages 7+.

More about ** SEED (https://www.seededucation.net/)
(Science & Engineering Education Development): We are PhD scientists who hope to teach young students to love science as much as we do!  We have worked in labs and have also taught science in elementary and middle school classrooms for years.  We are eager to help make science fun and interesting for both students and teachers.

Musician James Lepler plays guitar.

Music Time with James Lepler

Friday February 24th
10:30 - 11:00 am

Join musician James Lepler for a singalong!  Best for toddlers and preschoolers, but the whole family is welcome.

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BuildWave Parent/Child Workshop

Saturday February 25th
10:00 - 11:00 am

Join us for a creative building program that feels like a video game!  Over the course of the workshop, families 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.

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Sewing Bees Sewing Club

Monday February 27th
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.)

Cover image for Tabitha and Fritz Trade Places. An elephant and a cat each sit on top of a suitcase. The cat is drinking a cup of tea, while the elephant is holding a donut and waving.

Rookie Book Club

Monday February 27th
6:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Join Miss Janice for the beginner’s book club for children who are reading at a K to 2nd grade level. February's book will be Tabitha and Fritz Trade Places by Katie Frawley.  Copies of the book will be available at the Children’s Room desk. Children (age 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

Super Smash Bros Tournament with One Up Games

Wednesday February 1st
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Super Smash Bros. Tournaments are returning to the library!  Join us on your half day to play as your favorite Nintendo characters and prove you're #1!  Our friends at One Up Games will be hosting this super fun event.

This event is for students in 6-12 grade.

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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 February.

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Teen Movie Night: Frozen

Wednesday February 8th
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

It's Frozen February in the Teen Room!  Join us for a screening of Frozen - no registration required.

Synopsis: When the newly crowned Queen Elsa accidentally uses her power to turn things into ice to curse her home in infinite winter, her sister Anna teams up with a mountain man, his playful reindeer, and a snowman to change the weather condition.  (2013, Rated: PG)

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Coding for Adults and Teens: Python

Part 2: Saturday February 4th
Part 3: Saturday February 18th
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.

A folded, pinwheel-shaped valentine decorated with flowers and hearts

Teen Crafternoon: Watercolor Puzzle Valentines

Friday, February 10th
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Make your friends, family, & loved ones a unique Valentine this year!  In Victorian times, these folded Valentine's cards were designed to reveal a picture or letter piece by piece.  Learn how to create a folded puzzle and decorate it with dreamy watercolor paint.

This craft is for teens in grades 6-12.

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Teen Advisory Board

Monday February 13th
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.

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Pal-entines Day Party in the Teen Room!

Tuesday February 14th
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Alone on Valentine's Day?  That's okay!  Celebrate with your pals in the Teen Room on Feb. 14th from 3:30-5pm.  We will enjoy a cheesy movie while eating cheesy pizza.  Activities will also include making duct tape roses, writing mad-lib love letters, and creating the ultimate Valentine's playlist.

Snacks & crafts available while supplies last.

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Teen Movie Night: Frozen 2

Wednesday February 22nd
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

It's Frozen February in the Teen Room!  Join us for a screening of Frozen II - no registration required.

Synopsis: Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven leave Arendelle to travel to an ancient, autumn-bound forest of an enchanted land. They set out to find the origin of Elsa's powers in order to save their kingdom.
(2019, Rated: PG)

Cover image for 'Be Gay, Do Comics.' A rainbow array of comics panels feature characters of varying skin tones interacting with each other across panels. Tagline reads: Queer history, memoir, and satire from The Nib.

Iris Book Club

Monday February 27th
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm