Events and News

We Cannot Wait to Meet You!

Every month the Youth Services Department provides special theme-based events and guest speakers in addition to our regularly scheduled programs. These events are perfect for a mixture of ages and are made possible by generous donations from the Friends of the James Blackstone Memorial Library and grants provided by the Allan Louis Loeb Foundation.

Most of these programs take place during holidays, school minimum days, vacation weeks and throughout the summer months, so please continually check back to see what is up and coming!

Please note that all programming is subject to change and that visiting our home page and reading through our news and notices box will give you the most up to date information about date changes and cancellations.

Also, please realize that some events are age-specific and require registration. This allows us to plan accordingly and ensure we have enough supplies. To learn more about what we have to offer and how to register, head to our calendar.

For more information about any of programs and/or special events to do not be afraid to call or email.                 203. 488. 1441. ext.321                 youthservices@blackstonelibrary.org

Page to Paper: Picture Book Art Exploration for grades K-2

Page to Paper: Picture Book Art Exploration for grades K-2

Saturday, July 2

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Get ready to get messy. Join us once a month for a different art project inspired by various picture books that go along with this summer’s Ocean’s of Possibilities theme. During each session we will read a book from a specific author and then practice different art techniques inspired by the book’s illustrations.

Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend. We can’t wait to see you soon! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Blackstone Memorial Library

Tuesdays are for Twos! Storytime for ages 2-3

Tuesdays are for Twos! Storytime for ages 2-3

Tuesday, July 5

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Children & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a program filled with singing, dancing, rhyming & stories! Each week will be something new along with your old favorites.

Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Wednesday, July 6

10:00 am - 10:30 am

Babies & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a gentle storytime of rhyming, movement & song.

If you’re not able to join us for an in-person storytime, a virtual storytime is also available on Mondays. Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Wednesday, July 6

10:45 am - 11:15 am

Babies & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a gentle storytime of rhyming, movement & song.

If you’re not able to join us for an in-person storytime, a virtual storytime is also available on Mondays. Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Video Stories for ages 5 and under

Video Stories for ages 5 and under

Friday, July 8

11:00 am - 11:30 am

A virtual storytime featuring movies, music & more! For children through age 5.
We’re saving Fridays for a special event that features songs, hand rhymes, & a video story we can all share on the screen! All you need is to be ready to join in the fun. Signup is required for each event and a snack is included.
Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend. We can’t wait to see you soon! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.
Preschool Stories Ages 3-5

Preschool Stories Ages 3-5

Monday, July 11

10:00 am - 10:30 am

A live, in-person storytime for children ages 3-5! Children & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a program filled with singing, dancing, rhyming & stories! Each week will be something new along with your old favorites.

Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Tuesdays are for Twos! Storytime for ages 2-3

Tuesdays are for Twos! Storytime for ages 2-3

Tuesday, July 12

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Children & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a program filled with singing, dancing, rhyming & stories! Each week will be something new along with your old favorites.

Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Wednesday, July 13

10:00 am - 10:30 am

Babies & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a gentle storytime of rhyming, movement & song.

If you’re not able to join us for an in-person storytime, a virtual storytime is also available on Mondays. Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Wednesday, July 13

10:45 am - 11:15 am

Babies & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a gentle storytime of rhyming, movement & song.

If you’re not able to join us for an in-person storytime, a virtual storytime is also available on Mondays. Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Junior Teen Advisory Group for grades 5-8

Junior Teen Advisory Group for grades 5-8

Wednesday, July 13

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

A club for intermediate students who want to make a difference! Are you a Walsh or other middle school student who loves books, crafts, and making the world a better place? Consider joining our Junior Teen Advisory Group! This small counsel of dedicated volunteers in grades 5-8 provide book reviews, vote on books to purchase & more. Free snacks are served & as an added bonus you’ll earn community service hours you can use for the Junior Honor Society at school! Not sure if this club is for you? Drop in for your first meeting & check it out.
Video Stories for ages 5 and under

Video Stories for ages 5 and under

Friday, July 15

11:00 am - 11:30 am

A storytime featuring movies, music & more! For children through age 5.
We’re saving Fridays for a special event that features songs, hand rhymes, & a video story we can all share on the screen! All you need is to be ready to join in the fun. Signup is required for each event and a snack is included.
Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend. We can’t wait to see you soon! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.
Fishy Fun: Provided by the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center for grades K-4

Fishy Fun: Provided by the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center for grades K-4

Friday, July 15

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Slimy, scaly, slippery and speedy fish are a standard part of most aquatic habitats. Learn about fish anatomy, the lifecycle and interesting adaptations. Don’t forget to say hello to our brand new fish tank and take part in our pet naming contest before closing out with a fishy art activity inspired by fish prints! Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Sponsored by the Branford Community Foundation

Saturday Songs & Stories for babies through age 5

Saturday Songs & Stories for babies through age 5

Saturday, July 16

10:00 am - 10:30 am

Let’s sing dance and read! Sign up with us once a month for a feel good storytime for the entire family. We will be sure to include songs, rhymes, books and instruments to get you moving and grooving.

Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Touch Tank Experience: Provided by Mystic Aquarium for all ages

Touch Tank Experience: Provided by Mystic Aquarium for all ages

Saturday, July 16

11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Drop-in event. Visit the Youth Services Department anytime between 11am and 1pm to get a tiny taste of the Mystic Aquarium since they will be setting up their portable touch tank! During this drop-in event, families will have an opportunity to touch a variety of sea creatures (crabs, urchins, snails & more!), plus ask questions about more things swimming below the surface.

Sponsored by the Branford Community Foundation

Preschool Stories Ages 3-5

Preschool Stories Ages 3-5

Monday, July 18

10:00 am - 10:30 am

A live, in-person storytime for children ages 3-5! Children & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a program filled with singing, dancing, rhyming & stories! Each week will be something new along with your old favorites.

Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Family Paint Night: Let's Paint a Beachscape with Pam’s Picassos for grades K-4

Family Paint Night: Let’s Paint a Beachscape with Pam’s Picassos for grades K-4

Monday, July 18

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Pam’s Picassos wants you to drop the phone and ditch the tablet and experience a family paint night on the Blackstone lawn. Artistic experience is not necessary since you will be following an instructor step-by-step. Best part, children and caregivers will be working together by bridging their completed canvases to make one ocean filled masterpiece! Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Sponsored by the Branford Community Foundation

Tuesdays are for Twos! Storytime for ages 2-3

Tuesdays are for Twos! Storytime for ages 2-3

Tuesday, July 19

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Children & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a program filled with singing, dancing, rhyming & stories! Each week will be something new along with your old favorites.

Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Gaming Cafe: a Tabletop Space for grades 5-8

Gaming Cafe: a Tabletop Space for grades 5-8

Tuesday, July 19

3:30 pm - 4:45 pm

Gaming as a group, sounds good to me! Join our gaming club where you can meet a bunch of middle school peeps to decompress, connect and laugh. Each month we will meet in-person to play a combination of multiplayer games that call for strategy, teamwork and plain old fun!

Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend. We can’t wait to see you soon! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Blackstone Library

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Wednesday, July 20

10:00 am - 10:30 am

Babies & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a gentle storytime of rhyming, movement & song.

If you’re not able to join us for an in-person storytime, a virtual storytime is also available on Mondays. Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Wednesday, July 20

10:45 am - 11:15 am

Babies & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a gentle storytime of rhyming, movement & song.

If you’re not able to join us for an in-person storytime, a virtual storytime is also available on Mondays. Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Video Stories for ages 5 and under

Video Stories for ages 5 and under

Friday, July 22

11:00 am - 11:30 am

A storytime featuring movies, music & more! For children through age 5.
We’re saving Fridays for a special event that features songs, hand rhymes, & a video story we can all share on the screen! All you need is to be ready to join in the fun. Signup is required for each event and a snack is included.
Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend. We can’t wait to see you soon! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.
Preschool Stories Ages 3-5

Preschool Stories Ages 3-5

Monday, July 25

10:00 am - 10:30 am

A live, in-person storytime for children ages 3-5! Children & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a program filled with singing, dancing, rhyming & stories! Each week will be something new along with your old favorites.

Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

SUMMER Take-N-Make for grades K-12

SUMMER Take-N-Make for grades K-12

Tuesday, July 26

9:00 am - 8:00 pm

Drop-in event. The program with no schedule is back for another season, this time for grades K-12! If you’ve enjoyed our TeenCraft Events & Take-and-Makes in the past, this program is for you. Each month, we’re putting together a different craft kit with an underwater theme, No sign up is required but kits are limited. Drop by to pick one up while supplies last!

Sponsored by the Friends of the Blackstone Library

Tuesdays are for Twos! Storytime for ages 2-3

Tuesdays are for Twos! Storytime for ages 2-3

Tuesday, July 26

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Children & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a program filled with singing, dancing, rhyming & stories! Each week will be something new along with your old favorites.

Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Wednesday, July 27

10:00 am - 10:30 am

Babies & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a gentle storytime of rhyming, movement & song.

If you’re not able to join us for an in-person storytime, a virtual storytime is also available on Mondays. Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Wednesday, July 27

10:45 am - 11:15 am

Babies & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a gentle storytime of rhyming, movement & song.

If you’re not able to join us for an in-person storytime, a virtual storytime is also available on Mondays. Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Video Stories for ages 5 and under

Video Stories for ages 5 and under

Friday, July 29

11:00 am - 11:30 am

A storytime featuring movies, music & more! For children through age 5.
We’re saving Fridays for a special event that features songs, hand rhymes, & a video story we can all share on the screen! All you need is to be ready to join in the fun. Signup is required for each event and a snack is included.
Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend. We can’t wait to see you soon! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.
Preschool Stories Ages 3-5

Preschool Stories Ages 3-5

Monday, August 1

10:00 am - 10:30 am

A live, in-person storytime for children ages 3-5! Children & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a program filled with singing, dancing, rhyming & stories! Each week will be something new along with your old favorites.

Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Tuesdays are for Twos! Storytime for ages 2-3

Tuesdays are for Twos! Storytime for ages 2-3

Tuesday, August 2

10:00 am - 11:00 am

Children & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a program filled with singing, dancing, rhyming & stories! Each week will be something new along with your old favorites.

Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Wednesday, August 3

10:00 am - 10:30 am

Babies & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a gentle storytime of rhyming, movement & song.

If you’re not able to join us for an in-person storytime, a virtual storytime is also available on Mondays. Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Stories & Music for babies through 24 months

Wednesday, August 3

10:45 am - 11:15 am

Babies & their caregivers are invited to sign up for a gentle storytime of rhyming, movement & song.

If you’re not able to join us for an in-person storytime, a virtual storytime is also available on Mondays. Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend.

We can’t wait to see you @ the library! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Video Stories for ages 5 and under

Video Stories for ages 5 and under

Friday, August 5

11:00 am - 11:30 am

A storytime featuring movies, music & more! For children through age 5.
We’re saving Fridays for a special event that features songs, hand rhymes, & a video story we can all share on the screen! All you need is to be ready to join in the fun. Signup is required for each event and a snack is included.
Space is limited & a waiting list will open when each event is full. Please be respectful of limited space & only sign up for events you can attend. We can’t wait to see you soon! To sign up for this and other children’s events, visit our Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.
Commotion in the Ocean: a Theater Workshop for grades K-2

Commotion in the Ocean: a Theater Workshop for grades K-2

Saturday, August 6

10:00 am - 11:15 am

Come and explore under the sea by discovering the types of animals that lie beneath with theater teacher Ingrid Schaeffer! Commotion in the Ocean will have you acting out the sounds and motions of crabs, dolphins, sharks and more. Ice breaker activities will be included along with a scavenger hunt. Previous acting experience is not necessary. Youth Services Events Sign Up Page Here.

Sponsored by the Branford Community Foundation