Children’s Event Series
Storytimes
Please check our calendar for upcoming dates and registrations!
The Children’s Department at the Thomas Crane Public Library runs a number of different storytimes for all ages, starting with Rock-a-Bye Baby for ages 4-11 months, all the way up to StoryLab, for ages 4-8 years. Some of our storytimes take place weekly, running in five week blocks. Others are monthly events that happen on a regular basis.
- Rock-a-Bye Baby
- Mother Goose on the Loose
REGISTRATION REQUIRED - Toddler Storytime
- ABC Storytime
- Family PJ Storytime
- StoryLab
- Arabic Storytime
Rock-A-Bye Baby Storytime
Ages 4-11 months, accompanied by an adult
Main Library Large Meeting Room
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
Rock-a-Bye Baby is a storytime designed for some of our youngest patrons and their caregivers. This storytime series provides an introduction to stories, songs, nursery rhymes and gentle movement exercises for very young children.
Mother Goose on the Loose Storytime
Ages 12-23 months, accompanied by an adult
Main Library Meeting Room
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
Mother Goose on the Loose is a storytime for Rock-a-Bye Baby graduates, ages 12-23 months, who are mobile; includes stories, songs, fingerplays and creative movement for young children accompanied by an adult.
Toddler Storytime
Ages 2-3 years, accompanied by an adult
Adams Shore Library
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
This program for two- and three-year-olds and their caregivers introduces simple stories and concepts to young children. Songs, rhymes, fingerplays, and felt board activities will be used to reinforce concepts.
ABC Storytime
Ages 3-5 years
North Quincy Library
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
This storytime series for preschoolers meets each week to explore a different letter of the alphabet. We’ll read stories, sing songs and play games all centered around the letter of the day, including our favorite game: Mystery Bag!
Family PJ Storytime
Ages 1-5, accompanied by an adult
Main Library Children’s Room
No registration required
An evening pajama storytime for the whole family. Join us for a family storytime for children ages 1-5 accompanied by an adult. We will read stories, sing songs, recite rhymes, and more. Children are allowed (encouraged!) to wear their pajamas to this storytime.
StoryLab
Ages 4-8, adults must stay in the building
Wollaston Branch Library
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
StoryLab is a combination storytime and science activity for children ages 4-8. We will use stories to introduce a science concept or topic, then explore that topic further with science demonstrations, activities, and experiments.
Arabic Storytime
Ages 0-7, adults must stay in the building
Adams Shore Library
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
The Library is pleased to be working with dedicated community members to offer a monthly storytime in Arabic.
Join us at the Adams Shore Library for this program which will be conducted primarily in Arabic with the intention of helping young Arabic language learners to improve their skills. This program is suitable for children up to age 7.
Book Clubs
Please check our calendar for upcoming dates and registrations!
The Children’s Department at the Thomas Crane Public Library runs several different book discussion groups for children in grades 1 through 7. The Chickadees Book Club for 1st and 2nd graders runs on the same schedule as our weekly storytimes. All other book clubs run once per month on a regular schedule. Book titles or themes for each discussion can be found on our online calendar.
- Chickadees Book Club
- Bedtime Book Club – NEW!
- Night Owls Book Club
- Double Booked – NEW!
- Page Turners Graphic Novel Book Club
- Review Crew
Chickadees Book Club
Grades 1-2
Main Library Children’s Room
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Children MUST be in 1st or 2nd grade to register for this program and MUST be able to read independently and converse about the material. Registrations which do not meet these requirements will be canceled.
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
This book club for children in grades 1 and 2 works a little differently than our other book groups – It’s a bit of a cross between a book group and a storytime. Where our book clubs for older readers meet once per month, the Chickadees meet weekly on the same schedule as our weekly storytimes. The group reads a book together, working through the book a bit each week and discussing what they have read. Please note that this is NOT a tutoring or reading instruction class.
Bedtime Book Club – NEW!
Grades 1-3 with an adult
Main Library Children’s Room
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
Each month we will choose either a short book or a section of a longer book to read together before the meeting, then get together to discuss it, children and caregivers together. Caregivers should be willing to read the selections with children before each meeting and to stay and participate in the discussion.
Night Owls Book Club
Grades 3-4
Main Library Children’s Room
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
The Night Owls Book Club for children in grades 3 and 4 meets monthly. Children attending this book club are encouraged to participate in an open discussion of a different book each month, sharing their opinions and questions with the group. At the end of each session, the group helps to select the next book to be read from options presented by a children’s librarian.
Double Booked – NEW!
Grades 4-7 with an adult
Main Library Children’s Room
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
This new book discussion group is for parents/caregivers and children in grades 4-7. Each month, the kids and the adults will read the same book, then meet at the library to discuss it.
Page Turners Graphic Novel Book Club
Grades 3-7
Main Library Children’s Room
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
Each month this book group for 3rd-7th graders will discuss a different graphic novel and make our own.
Review Crew
Grades 5-7
Main Library Children’s Room
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
Do you like talking about books, movies, or video games? Want your favorites displayed in the children’s room? The Review Crew for will meet on the third Thursday of each month at the Main Library to present and discuss our thoughts on library materials, write reviews, and put together a display to share our favorites with the rest of the children’s room!
S.T.E.M. for Kids
Please check our calendar for upcoming dates and registrations!
Science programs and events at the library are available for a wide range of ages, from 12 months to 12 years old. Some of our science programs are monthly workshops and others are storytimes or weekly events that run in limited series. Our science programs and events cover topics from animals and outer space to engineering and coding to earthquakes and bubbles. All of these events are hands-on and meant to inspire kids to explore more on the topic later.
- Mother Goose Explores Science
- Preschool Discovery
- StoryLab
- STEAM Team – REGISTRATION REQUIRED- NEW!
- Coding Club – Grades 2-3 – ON HIATUS
- Coding Club – Grades 4-5
REGISTRATION REQUIRED - Ex.P.L.O.R.E.
Mother Goose Explores Science
Ages 12-23 months, accompanied by an adult
Main Library Large Meeting Room
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
Mother Goose Explores Science is a science program series for some of our youngest library patrons and their caregivers. Activities at this program series introduce basic science topics such as colors, shapes, and sounds, and encourage early literacy and motor skills.
Preschool Discovery
Ages 3-5, accompanied by an adult
All locations
No registration required
Drop in with your preschooler at any one of our four library locations for fun science once a month. Each month activities, experiments and instructions will be provided on a different science topic you can do with your child. This program travels! If you can’t make it to Wollaston at the beginning of the month, catch it at Adams Shore, North Quincy, or the Main Library later in the month!
Check our calendar for details on upcoming dates and topics!
StoryLab
Ages 4-8, adults must stay in the building
Wollaston Library
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
StoryLab is a combination storytime and science activity for children ages 4-8. We will use stories to introduce a science concept or topic, then explore that topic further with science demonstrations, activities, and experiments.
STEAM Team – NEW!
Grades 1-3, accompanied by an adult
Main Library Children’s Room
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Welcome all 1st-3rd graders to this awesome new STEM program! We are excited to start this monthly project-based program that will get your children excited about STEM! Through experiments, hands-on projects, and lots of technology we will have tons of fun learning!
Please check our calendar for registration information and upcoming dates.
Coding Club – Grades 2-3
Grades 2-3
Main Library Children’s Room
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
Currently on hiatus. Coding Club for grades 2-3 will return later in the year.
Coding Club – Grades 4-5
Grades 4-5
Main Library Children’s Room
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
This five week series meets at the Main Library and will introduce coding in Scratch. This series is for beginners who have little to no coding experience. Please only register if you can attend every date.
Ex.P.L.O.R.E.
Ages 8-12
Wollaston Library
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
ExPLORE (Experiment, Play, Learn, Observe, Read, Examine) is a series of monthly hands-on science workshops for children ages 8-12, covering a wide variety of topics. Meeting at the Wollaston Branch Library once a month, each workshop has a short portion of instruction and then exploration and experimentation. Topics range from forensic science to bubbles and parents/caregivers are welcome to participate as well alongside their children.
Crafts, Games, and More!
Please check our calendar for upcoming dates and registrations!
In addition to our storytimes, book clubs, and S.T.E.M. programs, we also offer a variety of other events and programs for kids of all ages. Most of these events run on a monthly basis, and many run throughout the entire year. A few of these programs do go on hiatus during the summer, so make sure to check out our online calendar to see what we have going on from month to month. From music to crafts, games to homeschooling resources, we have plenty to do at the Thomas Crane Public Library!
- Music and Movement
- Toy Time
- Art in the Evening – NEW!
- Puppy Pages
- Super Awesome Hangout Club
- Homeschool Hangouts
- Tween Crafternoon
- Dungeons & Dragons
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Music and Movement
Ages 0-2
Main Library Large Meeting Room
Ticket required – see below
Ages 3-7
Main Library Large Meeting Room
Ticket required – see below
Join us each month for this popular music and movement program with Ms. Rubi Lichauco! Ms. Rubi gets the kids moving and shaking with her special blend of music and dancing. This event is split into two age ranges to ensure that the youngest children can still have fun without the older kids having to be held back.
Due to overcrowding, tickets are now required for this event. First come, first serve. Pick up tickets at the children’s desk 15 minutes before each event.
Toy Time
Ages 9-23 months with an adult
Main Library Large Meeting Room
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
Toy Time brings out plenty of imaginative play activities for small children and toddlers. This program is perfect for both encouraging motor skills and social skills in children, and allowing parents and caregivers to meet and socialize.
Art in the Evening – NEW!
Ages 2-5 with an adult
North Quincy Library
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
Kids and their grownups are invited to join us for this new monthly art program at the North Quincy Library. This program is for adults and children together. All grownups must be accompanied by a child.
Puppy Pages
Ages 6-8 years, accompanied by an adult
Adams Shore Library
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
Meet Elliot the therapy dog and spend some time practicing your reading with him. Young readers ages 6-8 are invited to spend 10 minutes reading aloud to Elliot. Reading takes practice and reading aloud with a patient and non-judgmental canine friend is a great way for young readers to practice and become more confident.
Registration is not required. 10 minute timeslots with Elliot will be assigned on a first come first served basis.
Elliot and his owner Michelle are volunteers trained by Dog B.O.N.E.S. therapy dogs of Massachusetts.
Super Awesome Hangout Club
Grades 3-7, adults must stay in the building
Main Library Children’s Room
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
3rd, 4th, and 5th graders are welcome to come hangout with us on the third Wednesday of each month in the Children’s blue program room. This event will feature arts and crafts and a chance to get to know other kids.
No registration required, while supplies last.
homeschool Hangouts
Ages 5-13 with an adult
Main Library Children’s Room
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
This new program series is intended to help homeschooling and unschooling families with library resources and instruction. Each month we will cover a different topic, rotating through STEM, History, Literature, and library instruction topics.
Tween Crafternoon
Grades 5-8
Main Library Children’s Room
No registration required
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
Tween Crafternoon is a monthly craft program just for grades 5-8. This event will feature a different craft project suitable for middle school aged children each month.
No registration required, while supplies last.
Dungeons & Dragons
Ages 10-15
Main Library Children’s Room
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Check our calendar for upcoming dates.
Each month we will meet to play Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. This group has an ongoing adventure and new players are welcome! You don’t need to have ever played before to join us.
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