May 2025
The start of May means our much-anticipated Summer Reading program is just around the corner—get ready to dive into great books and win prizes from our local businesses around town! Summer Reading is for all ages so get ready for June 1st!  
This year's theme is Color Our World! It's a party for readers, artists, and creators of all ages! The program runs from June 1st through July 31st. More information to come soon! 
 
Children's Events
Storytime Schedule
 
The Los Gatos Library is pleased to offer multiple Storytime programs for early learners ages 0-5.
Find a Storytime that is perfect for your child's developmental needs:
  • Baby Lap-Sit Storytime (ages 0-12 months): Tuesdays at 9:30 am *Enter through Garden Gate* Non-walking babies from 0-12 months are welcome! We kindly ask that you do not bring older siblings/walkers. Please attend our other Storytimes for older children - see info below!
  • Preschool Storytime (ages 2-5 years): Wednesdays at 11 am
  • Wonderful Ones Storytime (ages 12-24 months): Thursdays at 11 am
For Goodness Snakes! (Ages 0-17)
Thursday, May 8, 4:00 - 5:00 PM
 
For Goodness Snakes specializes in reptile educational programs for preschool to high school age children. Their program introduces the audience to the fascinating world of reptiles with an emphasis on education. His animals have been held by thousands of people and are extremely docile. For over a decade Brian Gundy has shared his reptile friends with tens of thousands of children and adults. 
 
All ages of children and teens are welcome with their families. Children under 10 must be accompanied by and supervised by their caregivers at all times.
 
Tinker Tuesday Crafts (Ages 3-10)
Tuesdays, May 13 and May 27, 4:00 - 5:00 PM
 
Join us for a fun time of crafting and creativity! For our May events, we will be doing a variety of different activities, including paper cut-out and coloring, and rock painting. 
 
These activities are designed specifically for children ages 3 through 10 years. 
 
Youth Science Institute: Animals and Their Adaptations (Ages 4-13)
Wednesday, May 14, 1:30 - 2:30 PM
 
Join the Youth Science Institute, a local non-profit organization dedicated to igniting a love of learning and enthusiasm for science. Examine live animals from a variety of taxonomic groups. Learn about diet, habitat, ecological role, structure, and function. Observe and discuss differences among animals. This will be a hands-on program with live animals. Caregivers must be present with young children. 
 
Crafty Book Club (Ages 10-13)
Wednesday, May 21, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Registration required
 
Join us for a Crafty Book Club for tweens ages 10-13! In this book club, we will discuss the book, A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan. After our discussion, we will do an artsy activity to bring it all together. 
About the book: "A timely, accessible, and beautifully written story exploring themes of food, friendship, family and what it means to belong, featuring sixth graders Sara, a Pakistani American, and Elizabeth, a white, Jewish girl taking a South Asian cooking class taught by Sara’s mom."
 
Please note that your child must read at least part of the book in order to participate in the discussion.
 
Check out the book from our library.
 
Register on our website. Registration opens 3 weeks prior to the event. 
 
Youth History Still Life Drawing at NUMU (Ages 8-17)
Thursday, May 22, 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Registration required
 
Now presenting a new YOUTH opportunity to practice still life drawing at the New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU)! Explore Los Gatos history while you sketch objects from NUMU's extensive collection of objects and artifacts. Tween and teen artists of all levels ages 8-17 are welcome to join this informal session and materials will be provided.
 
Please note that this program will take place at NUMU, 106 E Main Street. See you at the Museum for an amazing studio art experience! 
 
Register on our website. Registration opens 3 weeks prior to the event. 
 
Mental Health Crafts for Tweens (Ages 9-13)
Thursday, May 29, 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Registration required
 
Join us to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month by delving into arts and crafts. You will have a choice of making Origami Star Worry Beads, or Mental Health Badges. This program is for Tweens ages 9-13, and requires registration. 
 
Register on our website. Registration opens 3 weeks prior to the event.
 
Kids Knitting (Ages 7+)
Wednesdays, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
 
For ages 7+ only: Join Librarians Robert and Judy in the Children's Room and learn to knit! Learn the basic skills to get started on a simple project and practice your stitching. 
 
StoryWalk at Oak Meadow Park
 
This month, we will install a new story for your family to read at
Oak Meadow Park: To Change a Planet by Christina Soontornvat.
Venture out to discover this month's read.
Enjoy reading in the outdoors with the whole family!
 
To change a planet
by Christina Soontornvat

Calming, truthful and beautiful, this poetic call-to-action demonstrates the importance of caring for our planet and how our individual and separate actions multiplied together can make the world better. 
Stories We're Celebrating
Many things at once
by Veera Hiranandani

A girl with a Jewish mother and a South Asian father hears about her family history and feels alone until she sees a butterfly and realizes it's okay to be different and feel many emotions at once. Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations.
A Vaisakhi to remember
by Simran Jeet Singh

When a Sikh family moves from their village in India to a city on the other side of the world, a girl yearns for her grandmother's hugs, her goat Ramu and lush fields, but the girl soon discovers soothing touchstones. Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations.
The Strongest Heart
by Saadia Faruqi

Mo got used to tuning out his father's rage, and after mama leaves, Mo and Abbu move to Texas to live with family, but as Mo starts to see a future, he knows the monster within his father can come anytime. 35,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook.
Rising
by Sidura Ludwig

Beautiful illustrations capture this lesson in patience, slowing down, faith and family as a Jewish mother and her child make challah to be baked and gratefully shared at a Shabbat gathering with loved ones
Things that shimmer
by Deborah Lakritz

Set in 1973, Melanie desperately wants to be accepted by the Shimmers, the popular girls in her class, but when she gets to know Dorit, the new girl from Israel, she must choose between popularity and true friendship
Rachel Friedman Breaks the Rules
by Sarah Kapit

To meet her favorite gymnast, Rachel, a funny, peanut butter-loving Jewish girl, must follow all the rules for a whole week but when a tricky situation calls for breaking the rules, she loses her chance to meet her hero and learns that some rules exist for a reason. Simultaneous and eBook. Illustrations.
Perfect
by Waka T. Brown

Miki Amelia Masuda, who likes everything in her life to be perfect, learns to appreciate life's imperfections when her grandmother teaches her about the Japanese art form kintsugi, showing that rips, cracks and tears have their own stories to tell?—?ones that are beautiful and meaningful in their own way. 30,000 first printing. Illustrations.
My life in the fish tank
by Barbara Dee

When twelve-year-old Zinnia Manning's older brother Gabriel is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it turns her family's world upside-down, especially since they are keeping the information private
Click here for more titles from our various booklists:
 
Children's Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Booklist
Children's Jewish American Heritage Booklist
Children's Mental Health Awareness Booklist
 
Stay Up to Date
 
Scroll through this newsletter for updates on programs and new resources at the library. Subscribe to this newsletter to keep up to date with what's happening each month. 
 
 
The Los Gatos Library recognizes the diversity of our community and is committed to accessibility for all patrons. We strive to make every visitor feel comfortable by ensuring equal access to programs, services, and activities. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in a library program, please contact us.
 
 
Do not hesitate to email us at library@losgatosca.gov with any questions about the library.
 
Warmly, 
Los Gatos Library Youth Services Team
 

Los Gatos Library
100 Villa Avenue, Los Gatos, California 95030
(408) 354-6891
library.losgatosca.gov