LibraryAware October 15, 2025 Newsletter

Watsonville Youth Poet Laureate Submissions are Open

Watsonville Public Library is accepting nominations for the second

Watsonville Youth Poet Laureate. The program’s primary goal is to recognize

a youth under the age of twenty for their literary achievements with a

commitment to and a passion for promoting awareness of poetry and

whose work (literary or otherwise) demonstrates a commitment to

social justice, equity, and diversity.

Nominations for the Watsonville Youth Poet Laureate are being accepted

in-person and online through November 15th, 2025.

Find the application and more information here.

FEATURED PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Storytime with the Aquarium

Storytime with the Aquarium ~ Youth educators from the Monterey Bay Aquarium

will be facilitating a story time. Expect interactive stories, games, songs, and

rhymes all about different ocean habitats. Learn from aquarium experts and

get your questions about ocean life answered.

Thursday, October 16

10:30am

Main Library, Children’s Area

Audience: Children ages 1-5 and their caregivers

Youth Poetry Workshop

Join us for Entre Mundos y Metáforas: Poetry as Remembrance and Release ~ a youth poetry workshop facilitated by Noemi Romero, Teen Poet. The topic will connect

to Day of the Dead, including writing as a way to process grief, celebrating

ancestors, and maintaining legacies.

This workshop will create a safe space for writers to allow themselves to

explore their emotions through poetry and speak from the soul. By using

metaphors, imagery, and other non-literal techniques, participants can explore difficult emotions in a way that feels safer and easier to digest.

Wednesday, October 22

4:30pm-5:30pm

Main Library

Audience: Teen

Day of the Dead Celebration

Join us for our annual Day of the Dead program for lotería and crafts.

We will be decorating foam skulls and picture frames, making paper

skeletons and tissue paper headbands.

All ages are welcome to attend this program.

Tuesday, October 28

5:30-7:30pm

Main Library

Audience: Families

Scary story writing contest - concurso de cuentos de miedo

Monster Drawing Contest

"About my monster" sheets are available at the children's desk through

October 22nd.

Entries are due

Friday, October 24 by 6pm.

3 finalists from each grade (K-5) will be featured on this board.

Community voting occurs

October 27 - 31.

Winners will be contacted on

Monday, November 3.

Prize: Target gift cards

Scary Story Writing Contest

Instructions, permission slips, and writing sheets are available at the children's desk

500 words or less!

Original stories only!

Authors, get permission from your parent/guardian to participate.

Entries due Friday, October 24 at 6pm.

Three age groups: grades 3-4, 5-6,

and 7-8.

Librarians will choose 1 winner and

1 runner up from each age group

Winners will be contacted on

Monday, November 3

Prize: Target gift cards

A list of all upcoming programs is available on our website.

All events are free with thanks to the Friends of the Watsonville Library.

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Click here to subscribe to our Booklist Newsletters!

Questions? Call us at (831) 768-3404

or Ask a Librarian online.

Watsonville Public Library