Happy July! We're delighted to announce that all children’s programming will now be in-person in the Library unless otherwise noted in the online calendar description.

Scavenger Hunt: Wednesday, July 6 from 10am to 2pm. Are you ready for a Scavenger Hunt at the Library! Come to the Children's Desk anytime between 10am and 2pm and pick up a sheet with clues to find objects and images around the entire area. When you are done you will get to take home a special prize of your choosing. This program is part of our Read Beyond the Beaten Path Summer Reading program. To sign up for summer reading click here.

Movers and Shakers: Wednesday, July 6 at 10:30am. Let's stretch! Let's move! Let's sing and dance! In this storytime we will read fun movement-based stories and then have lots of fun moving and dancing to some familiar rhymes and songs. Each class will begin with some light stretching, and end with a moment of mindfulness. For ages 2-4.  

Find us across the street from the Library on City Hall grounds: walk past the City Hall fountain and we'll be under the tree on the corner of City Hall Drive and Commonwealth Ave. Outdoor storytimes are weather permitting. If the ground is wet or the weather doesn't cooperate, this storytime might be canceled.

Wake Up Sunshine Storytime: Thursday, July 7 at 10:30am. Start your day with stories, songs and rhymes led by Newton Free Library children’s librarians. For children 0-4 and their caregivers.

Find us across the street from the Library on City Hall grounds: walk past the City Hall fountain and we'll be under the tree on the corner of City Hall Drive and Commonwealth Ave. Outdoor storytimes are weather permitting. If the ground is wet or the weather doesn't cooperate, this storytime might be canceled. 

Dial a Story: Listen to a children’s librarian read you a story over the phone. Call 617-796-1415 to listen to a story anytime you like. A new story is recorded weekly. For kids of all ages. 

Dance Me a Story With Joanne Langione Dance Center - Live at the Hyde Bandstand! Thursday, July 7 at 4:30pm. The Joanne Langione Dance Center brings us this fun, family event where music, movement and literature align to encourage exploration and imaginative play! This program will take place at the Hyde Bandstand and Playground. Please register if you would like to receive a zoom link to the virtual performance in case of rain. This event is taking place on public grounds and does not require registration. For directions to the bandstand click here.

A big thank you to the Hyde Community Center for helping organize this event and working with us to use the space. Additional thanks to the Newton Parks, Recreation and Culture Department.

Read Beyond the Beaten Path: Summer 2022 

Have a blast this summer by joining Read Beyond the Beaten Path with Newton Free Library from June 13 to August 31. Read books, have adventures, win prizes! Use Beanstack to keep track of your time spent reading alone or with parents, siblings or your friends. And check out all the fun adventures we've included this year. Children through rising 5th graders in the 2022-23 school year can win prizes.

 Register on Beanstack, and you will be entered in a drawing to win a prize each week of summer reading (6/13-8/31) as long as you also log minutes; write a book review on Beanstack; complete an adventure; or attend a library program (and fill in the relevant adventure). 

You can find registration, summer programming and everything else summer at newtonfreelibrary.net/summer.

Coming Up For Kids

Little Beats: Monday, July 11 at 4pm. Join Little Beats for 30 minutes of music, movement and fun on the lawn by Pooh! This event is best for kids ages 0 - 4 and their adults, but all are welcome. Rain date is July 25.

Read Beyond the Beaten Path Sunshine Storytime: Tuesday, July 12 at 10:30am. Join us for our summer reading program, Read Beyond the Beaten Path, storytimes. Each will be based on the week's theme. This week's theme is Maps and Navigation. Start your day with stories, songs and rhymes led by Newton Free Library Children’s Librarians. For children 0-4 and their caregivers.

 Find us across the street from the Library on City Hall grounds: walk past the City Hall fountain and we'll be under the tree on the corner of City Hall Drive and Commonwealth Ave. Outdoor storytimes are weather permitting. If the ground is wet or the weather doesn't cooperate, this storytime might be canceled. 

Compass Rose: Tuesday, July 12 at 4pm. Compasses can help us navigate our surroundings, while a compass rose is a drawing on a map that helps you navigate the map. Many people turn a basic compass rose into a work of art. Design your very own compass rose! For kids ages 6-9. 

 Create a Map With Ozobots: Tuesday, July 12 at 7pm. Learn  the basic parts of a map. Then draw your own forest or park using colors that Ozobots can read. The Ozobots will take a trip through your map! Registration (required) is only available for kids entering grades 3 through 5.

Draw Along Creatures: Turtles, Lizards and Snakes! Wednesday, July 13 at 4pm. Draw Along Creatures continues with a focus on turtles, lizards and snakes! After creating a drawing of these animals from simple shapes, the artist instructor will show you how to create scenes from just your imagination. Space is limited. Registration (required) is only available for ages 7-10.

Spooky Campfire Stories: Wednesday, July 13 at 7pm. What says summer more than sharing some spooky stories around the "fire?" Listen to a spooky story and go over the elements of a story that build suspense. Then you get to write and share your own spooky story! Registration (required) is only available for kids entering 4th and 5th grades.

Read Beyond the Beaten Path Stories and Activities: Thursday, July 14 at 4pm. Come explore with us!  Join us for our summer reading program, Read Off the Beaten Path, story and activity time for kids ages 4 and 5. Each will be based on the week's theme. This week's theme is Maps and Navigation.

- The Children's Room is currently located in Druker Auditorium. We look forward to welcoming you!

- Learn about the Children's Room renovation.