Woburn Public Library Youth Services Newsletter - December 2022

From: Woburn Public Library
December 1, 2022

Youth Services Newsletter: December 2022

Winter is right around the corner, and the end of the year is nearly here!  But before we say goodbye to 2022, we invite you to stop in at the WPL for an assortment of end-of-year activities.  This month, we're looking forward to puppet shows, singalongs, Spanish storytelling, family crafts, and more - please see our programming calendar below for a full list of events.

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.
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

Food Drive in the Children's Room

This month, the Children's Room is hosting a donation box for food drive items benefiting the ** Council of Social Concern (https://www.socialconcern.org/)
-  The box will be available at the Children's Room desk until December 19th.  All nonperishable items within date are accepted, but a list of suggested items is available at the Council of Social Concern's ** food pantry wish list (https://www.socialconcern.org/services/interior-design/)

Library Closures
Please be advised that the WPL will be closed on Friday December 9th from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm for staff development.

We will also be closed from Saturday December 24th through Monday December 26th.

Children's Events

Baby Lapsit
Thursdays (December 1st, 8th, 15th)
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.

Toddler Time

Friday December 2nd
11:00 am - 11:30 am

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

Read to a Therapy Dog
Fridays (December 2nd and 30th)
Thursday December 8th
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/)

Spanish Fun Storytelling: La Noche Buena
Saturday December 3rd (3:00 pm - 4:00 pm)
Wednesday December 7th (6:30 pm - 7:30 pm)

Join Esther Gomez and Karina Liendo for the bilingual story "La Noche Buena," where we will learn about Christmas Eve traditions in Latin American countries.  After the story, you will go over some Spanish vocabulary, play games, and make a craft.  Recommended for ages 4 and up.

The night of December 24th is when the Latin American countries celebrate Christmas Evening or Noche Buena. Each country has different traditions, but all of them have in common family reunions, celebrating with big meals, and gifts.  In this story, a young girl visits her grandma's house to experience a multicultural festivity and a magic night that she will always remember.

Lego Build Time
Monday December 5th (3:30 pm - 4:30 pm)
Wednesday December 14th (10:00 am - 11:00 am)
Saturday December 31st (9:30 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.

Story Crafternoon
Tuesdays (December 6th, 13th, 20th)
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Join Miss Christine for songs, stories, and a simple craft.  Best for ages 3-6.  Siblings are welcome.

Creativity Corner
Wednesdays (December 7th and 21st)
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 (December 7th, 14th, 21st)
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

Parent & Tween Crafting Night
Thursday December 8th
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Join us upstairs in the Maker Space for an adult and tween (ages 8-11) cooperative craft.  Tweens are invited to bring an adult family member of their choice to make a craft together.  We'll be using recycled tealight tins and ribbon to make a sparkly holiday garland!

Sensory-Friendly Storytime
Saturday December 10th
10:30 am - 11:15 am

Join Miss Christine for 20 minutes of gentle songs and stories followed by sensory playtime.  Fidgeting and roaming are welcome.

Intended for children who have a hard time in large groups or have other sensory sensitivities.  Book choices geared toward preschool interest level.  Siblings are welcome.

PJ Storytime
Wednesday December 14th
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.

Holiday Gift-Making for Kids
Thursday December 15th
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Kids can use beads, ribbon, paper, and all kinds of odds and ends to make gifts for the holidays.  Drop in and see what you can create!  First come, first served, as space allows.  No registration required.

Playtime for Toddlers

Friday December 16th
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!

Movie poster for Minions: The Rise of Gru. A minion wearing goggles and overalls faces the camera with an eager expression against and yellow and blue background. Tagline text reads 'Brace yourself.'

Friday Flicks: Minions: The Rise of Gru

Friday December 16th
2:30 - 4:00 pm

Join us for a screening of Minions: The Rise of Gru!  No registration required.

Moving to the Music

Saturday December 17th
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.

STEM Explorers

Wednesday December 21st
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!

Musician James Lepler playing guitar and singing for audience of children.

Family Singalong with James Lepler

Tuesday December 27th
10:00 am - 10:30 am

Join musician ** James Lepler (http://www.kidsnharmony.com/biography.html)
for a singalong!  Best for ages 5 and under.  Siblings welcome.

Clay yeti sculpture lit from within by candle.

Pop Up Art School: Clay Yeti Luminaria
Wednesday December 28th
3:00 - 4:30 pm

A teacher from Pop Up Art School will teach you to craft a cute yeti with air dry clay.  Make the body from a pinch pot, then handbuild arms, horns, and a toothy smile before painting your creation!  Glowing from within is a battery-operated candle that illuminates the face.

Geared toward ages 8-12.

Family Movie Night: Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Wednesday December 28th
6:30 - 8:30 pm

Bring the whole family to watch a movie and enjoy some seasonal treats!

With Maddie and Tom away on vacation, things go awry for Sonic upon the unexpected return of the sinister Dr. Robotnik and his new ally, Knuckles. As the duo seeks out a powerful crystal capable of destroying the world, it is up to Sonic and Tails to thwart Dr. Robotnik's schemes. (2022 | Rated PG | 122 minutes)

Sensory-Friendly Family Free Play
Thursday December 29th
9:45 am - 10:30 am

Drop in and have some family fun!  Explore different stations and try a variety of games and activities, including sensory and fine-motor activities, puzzles, STEM toys, and more!

This sensory-friendly play period is intended for kids who are autistic, have sensory processing challenges, or have difficulty in large groups for any reason. Siblings are welcome to attend--please include them in your registration.

If you have any questions about the sensory-friendly period, please call 781-933-0148 (ext. 6155) or email Christine at camatrudo@cityofwoburn.com.

Family Free Play

Thursday December 29th
10:30 am - 11:30 am

Drop in and have some family fun!  Explore different stations and try a variety of games and activities, including sensory and fine-motor activities, puzzles, STEM toys, and more!  No registration required.

(There will also be a sensory-friendly play period from 9:45 AM to 10:30 AM intended for kids who are autistic, have sensory processing challenges, or have difficulty in large groups for any reason.  If that session would be a better fit for your family, please register on our Events Calendar for ** Sensory-Friendly Family Free Play (https://woburnpubliclibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/family-free-play-sensory-friendly-period/)

Glittery painted fireworks in blue, red, and green

Family Craft
Thursday December 29th
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Make some sparkly New Years firework art!  Experiment with interesting methods of painting using cardboard tubes, pipe cleaners, and forks.

(We will use washable paint, but we recommend wearing old clothes just in case.)

An orange and white cat puppet is surrounded by other cat puppets, an elephant puppet, and a pig puppet. There is a dreidel in the upper right corner.

Hanukkats: A Musical Puppet Show

Friday December 30th
11:00 am - 11:30 am

Join us for a musical puppet show presented by ** Talking Hands Theater (http://www.talkinghandstheatre.com/)
!  Audience members will have a chance to get up and dance, sing, and act out parts of the story in this musical, interactive journey through time.

How do you play dreidel - and why?  Find out when you join Ziva the cat as she goes back to the time of the first Hanukkah to recover the missing letters on her dreidel.  You’ll meet Judah Meowcabee, Oliver the olive oil maker, and a cast of other cat characters who help Ziva solve the mysterious connection between the dreidel letters, the Hanukkah story, and the way the game of dreidel is played.

Cover image for Minnie and Moo: The Case of the Missing Jelly Donut. Two cows in purple outfits sit in a pile of hay surrounded by sleeping chickens. The cows are looking suspiciously from side to side.

Rookie Book Club

Monday December 12th
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.  This month's book is Minnie and Moo The Case of the Missing Jelly Donut by Denys Cazet.  Copies of the book will be available at the Children’s Room desk.  Children (ages 5 +) who are not yet reading independently can have the book read to them.  We will talk about the story and do some related early reading activities.

Cover image for My Father's Dragon. A boy embraces a blue and yellow striped dragon. The boy wears blue shorts, a blue cap, a red and white striped shirt, and red shoes. The dragon has yellow wings, red spikes, and a red horn on its head.

BeTween the Lines Book Club
Wednesday December 14th
3:30 pm - 4:15 pm

Join our book club for tweens (approximately grades 3-5).  This month we'll chat about Three Tales of My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett.  You can get a copy of the book at the Children's Desk.

Teen Events

Teen Dungeons and Dragons: Dragon Heist
Thursdays (December 1st, 8th, 22nd, 29th)
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

A new campaign is coming to the Woburn Library!  This fall, join us as we take on the adventure of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist!  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 starting September 15; we hope you are able to make the majority of the meetings.  Dice and premade character sheets provided if needed, though you are welcome to bring your own.

Register ONCE for all sessions in the month of December.

Teen Crafternoon: Best Paper Snowflakes Ever
Monday December 5th
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Do you know the secret behind the perfect paper snowflake?  Learn Ms. Erin's perfect snowflake technique then create the best snowflakes ever with a wide array of stencils from your favorite fandom!  Lego, Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter - you can make a snowflake for that!

One Up Games logo
One Up Games for Teens

Tuesday December 6th
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Spend your day at the library playing a variety of games (including Oculus virtual reality) with ** One Up Games (https://www.oneupgames.net/)
!  Drop in anytime; no registration required.

Hailey, a goldendoodle wearing an orange bandana.

Hailey the Therapy Dog Visits the Teen Room
Thursday December 8th
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Need a break? If so, come get to know Hailey the therapy dog, a 2 year old Goldendoodle who loves cuddling and playing with toys.

Teens and tweens in grades 6-12 are invited to come pet and relax with Hailey.  Registration is not required.  We will try to accommodate as many teens as we can without overwhelming Hailey!

Hailey is part of the Therapy Dogs International Program. Her owner Julia is a TDI volunteer.

Movie poster for Elf. Buddy, a grown man wearing yellow and green elf clothes, stands with his hands on his hips in front of a snowy cityscape. His body forms the 'L' in the word 'Elf'.

Teen Movie Night: Elf
Wednesday December 14th
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Join us for a screening of Elf in the Teen Room!  No registration required.

Raised as an oversized elf, Buddy travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs, who doesn't know he exists and is in desperate need of some Christmas spirit.

Teen Advisory Board
Monday December 19th
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 Button Workshop
Tuesday December 20th
3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Free reign of the button machines?  Yes, please!  Come make pins, buttons, and badges for your favorite bands, shows, and more.

Iris Book Club
Tuesday December 27th
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Are you part of or an ally of the LGBTQ+ community? Are you trying to find more inclusive novels? Do you wish you had more queer friends? If so, join the Iris Book Club, an LGBTQ+ book club for teens!

Since December is such a busy month, we will not have an assigned book for this meeting. Instead, let's eat cookies and talk about our favorite queer & LGBTQ+ books and why they are important to us!

Also, get a head-start on January's book   Last Night at the Telegraph Club (https://find.minlib.net/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3964717?lang=eng)
by Malinda Lo.

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