October is the best month of the year. We still have warm-ish weather, foods and drinks with pumpkin flavoring abound, there’s apple picking and cider apple donuts, plus the new crop of fall books has usually arrived at the Library. And just to remind you, our Halloween books are available, and while some of our Halloween movies are still missing from the move, we do have several copies of the original Hocus Pocus for your enjoyment. Check out what’s happening!
This week’s events on Zoom
Due to the holiday, there is no storytime Monday, September 28.
Register for the Monday, October 5 Toddler Time here.
Tuesday, September 29 at 10:30 am
Preschool Storytime for ages 3 to 5. Register here.
Thursday, October 1 at 10:30 am
Baby Lapsit for ages 0-1. Register here
Thursday, October 1 at 6:30 pm
Homework Helpers online for grades K-6. Register here.
Saturday, October 3
DIY Storytime – Octopi
Check out our website for a storytime to enjoy anytime at www.stratfordlibrary.org/kids. New storytimes posted on Saturdays.
Upcoming Events
Read to Therapy Dogs
Tuesday, October 6 at 4 pm. Children can read online to therapy dog Drago and say hi to owner Miss Lauren. Register here.
Alphabet Parade… is back!
Wednesdays at 3:30 – ages 4-6. We’ll march through the alphabet, one letter each week. This is a short, 15 minute program on Zoom. Register for October 7.
Phonics Parade… is here!
Wednesdays at 4 pm. Ages 5-8. This is a short program in which we’ll play silly games that explore sounds within words, writing, and sight words. Register for October 7.
All Ages Trivia is back!
Grades 3 to adult
Register here to test your knowledge.
Draw with Josie … is spooky!
Monday, October 12, 4 pm
Josie and our teen volunteers Maggie and Natalie will teach how to draw “The Nightmare Before Christmas’s Jack Skellington. Children should bring paper, pencil, and an eraser to the Zoom. Register here.
Grab’n’Go Art Classes!
Tuesday, October 13 at 6:30 pm for ages 3-6. Register here.
Tuesday, October 20 at 7 pm for ages 6-12. Register here
Kits will be available for pick-up two weeks before the program date.
Science Camp – Gumdrop Engineering Grab’n’Go
Thursday, October 15, 4 pm. Ages 5-8.
Register, and we’ll let you know when you can pick up your gumdrop kit. Join us on the Zoom for the science of building.
Coding Club
Monday, October 19, 4 pm
Ages 7-12.
Watch a demonstration of a Scratch Coding project you can try on your own, then we’ll all participate in a group coding challenge using hieroglyphs, made-up languages, tongue-twisters, and other fun coding mysteries. Meets every other month in alternation with Astronomy Club. Register here.
Special Programs
1000 Books Before Kindergarten. If you have children ages 0 to 4, sign up at the Library any time to get them started on a lifelong love of reading, 1000 books at a time! Small prizes along the way to make the journey special. Visit anytime the Library is open.
Read Around Stratford. Grades K-6. October-March reading challenges and visits to Stratford sites. This year, because of COVID, families will complete site visits on their own. Complete 3 months’ challenges to receive a special surprise in the spring. October’s challenge is a spooky book and a graveyard scavenger hunt we will send to registered participants. Want to register? Stop by the Library or email us at childrens [at] stratfordlibrary.org.
School Support Tips will post on our kids page every Monday with tips for distance learning and home learning.