No children's programs this week

December 27th-January 3rd: No children's programs this week

January 1st: Happy 2010! The library is closed.

Children's Programs December 20th-26th

Please note: no regular programs this week or next week.

Tuesday December 22, 1:00-4:00
Holiday Crafternoon
School's out, but crafting's in! Come make something to cheer up the dark (but getting lighter as of today!) days of winter!
Ages 4 and up

Wednesday December 23rd, 2:00
Holiday Movie: The Polar Express
Join us for this popular film!
Recommended for ages 6 and up.

Thursday December 24th: The library is open 9:30-12:00 today. Please note the early closing.

Friday December 25th: Merry Christmas! The library is closed.

Saturday December 26th: Happy Kwanzaa! The library is open 9:30-5:30.

Children's Programs December 14th-19th

Tuesday December 15th
10:00
Baby/Toddler Laptime
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday December 17th, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
A special holiday session of our popular program! Bring a homemade ornament to decorate our tree; learn about Kwanzaa, Christmas, and other winter festivals; sing, dance, and have fun, as always!
For children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

Children's Programs December 7th-12th

Tuesday December 8th
10:00
Baby/Toddler Laptime
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday December 10th, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week. For children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

Saturday December 12th, Happy Hanukkah!
11:00-3:00
Holiday Craft Program
Join us for a holiday craft session! As always, you can do our suggested projects or invent your own. Make cards, decorations, or even gifts for whatever holiday you celebrate in December!
Ages 4 and up.

Children's programs November 23rd-28th

Tuesday November 24th
10:00
Baby/Toddler Laptime
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.


Thursday November 26th: The Library is closed. Happy Thanksgiving!

Children's Programs November 15th-21st

Tuesday November 17th
10:00
Baby/Toddler Laptime
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Wednesday November 18th, 2:00
Film: The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
Can Elmo find his way from Grouchland to his home in Sesame Street? Join us and find out!
Recommended for ages 3 and up.

Thursday November 19th, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week. For children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

November Special Children's Programs

Saturday November 14th, 1-4pm
November Crafternoon
Drop in and join us and make all kinds of seasonal and other crafts! Do your own thing or follow our suggestions, whatever you do it'll be yours and it'll be great!
Ages 3 and up.

Wednesday November 18th, 2:00
Monthly Movie: The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland
Oh no! Elmo's lost his blankie and it's been taken to Grouchland by a nasty villian named Huxley. Can Elmo find his blanket, defeat Huxley and the evil Pesties, and make it back home to Sesame Street? Join us and find out!
Ages 2 and up.

Children's Programs November 8-14th

Sunday November 8th: The Library is Closed.

Tuesday November 10th
10:00
Baby/Toddler Laptime
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 25 children.

Wednesday November 11th: The Library is closed for Veterans Day.

Thursday November 12th, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week.
For children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

Saturday Novemeber 14th, 1-4pm
Autumn Crafternoon
Join us for an afternoon of Fall crafts. Drop in and complete our suggested projects or create your own! Ages 3 and up.

The Children's department is looking for independant readers younger than 14 who are interested in helping us start a book club. Probably we would meet once a month, other than that the details are to be determined by interested kids. Please drop by the Children's Room and talk to Polly, the Librarian, or leave a message with your name and phone number if Polly isn't there. Or you can e-mail Polly

Children's Programs November 1-7th

Sunday November 1st: The Library is Closed.

Monday November 2nd: Dia de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead. Come check out some books about this Mexican festival!

Tuesday November 3rd
10:00
Baby/Toddler Laptime
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Today's story time will be part of the Eurokids festival! We will feature books, rhymes and songs from England.
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday November 5th, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week.
For children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

The Children's department is looking for independant readers younger than 14 who are interested in helping us start a book club. Probably we would meet once a month, other than that the details are to be determined by interested kids. Please drop by the Children's Room and talk to Polly, the Librarian, or leave a message with your name and phone number if Polly isn't there. Or you can e-mail Polly

Children's Programs October 25th-31st

Tuesday October 27th
10:00
Baby/Toddler Laptime
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday October 29th, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week. This week we'll be celebrating Halloween! Come in costume or join us tomorrow (in costume) for our special Halloween Story Time!
For children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

Friday, October 30th, 10:00
Halloween Story Time
Join us for some Halloween fun with songs, stories, and a costume parade! Everyone (adults too!) is encouraged to come in costume.
Ages 2-5.

Saturday October 31st, 1:00-5:00
Haunted Library!
Come celebrate the scary season with drop-in Halloween activities. A craft table, films, and a few spooky surprises await you! Come for as long as you can, short or long, and enjoy some scary fun. A special treat awaits if you come in costume!
Ages 5 and up (younger children are welcome, but not all activities will be suitable for them).

The Children's department is looking for independant readers younger than 14 who are interested in helping us start a book club. Probably we would meet once a month, other than that the details are to be determined by interested kids. Please drop by the Children's Room and talk to Polly, the Librarian, or leave a message with your name and phone number if Polly isn't there. Or you can e-mail Polly.

Children's Programs October 18th-24th

Sunday October 18th: the Library is Closed. Visit Martin Luther King Jr. Main Library for Sunday Library Services.

Tuesday October 20th
10:00
Baby/Toddler Laptime
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday October 22nd, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week.
For children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

The Children's department is looking for independant readers younger than 14 who are interested in helping us start a book club. Probably we would meet once a month, other than that the details are to be determined by interested kids. Please drop by the Children's Room and talk to Polly, the Librarian, or leave a message with your name and phone number if Polly isn't there. Or you can e-mail Polly.

Children's Programs October 11th-17th

Sunday October 11th: The Library is Closed.

Monday October 12th: The Library is Closed.

Tuesday October 13th
10:00
Baby/Toddler Laptime
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday October 15th, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week.
For children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

Saturday, October 17th, 10:00
Twin Fun!
A celebration for twins and their families/caregivers. Music, stories, snacks, and a chance to meet other 'twin' families!
All twins under 10 and their familiy members are invited.

The Children's department is looking for independant readers younger than 14 who are interested in helping us start a book club. Probably we would meet once a month, other than that the details are to be determined by interested kids. Please drop by the Children's Room and talk to Polly, the Librarian, or leave a message with your name and phone number if Polly isn't there. Or you can e-mail Polly.

Children's Programs October 25th-31st

Tuesday October 27th
10:00
Baby/Toddler Laptime
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday October 29th, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week. This week we're celebrating Halloween, so come in costume today or join us for a special Halloween Story Time tomorrow!
For children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

Friday, October 30th, 10:00
Halloween Story Time
Join us for some Halloween fun with songs, stories, and a costume parade! Everyone (adults too!) is encouraged to come in costume.
Ages 2-5.

Saturday October 31st, 1:00-5:00
Haunted Library!
Come celebrate the scary season with drop-in Halloween activities. A craft table, films, and a few spooky surprises await you! Come for as long as you can, short or long, and enjoy some scary fun. A special treat awaits if you come in costume!
Ages 5 and up (younger children are welcome, but not all activities will be suitable for them).

The Children's department is looking for independant readers younger than 14 who are interested in helping us start a book club. Probably we would meet once a month, other than that the details are to be determined by interested kids. Please drop by the Children's Room and talk to Polly, the Librarian, or leave a message with your name and phone number if Polly isn't there. Or you can e-mail Polly.

Children's Programs October 4th-10th

Tuesday October 6th
10:00
Baby/Toddler Laptime
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday October 8th, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week. This week we'll be participating in Jumpstart's Read for the Record, reading Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar along with thousands of others across America. Help Jumpstart reach 1 million readers this year!
For children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

The Children's department is looking for independant readers younger than 14 who are interested in helping us start a book club. Probably we would meet once a month, other than that the details are to be determined by interested kids. Please drop by the Children's Room and talk to Polly, the Librarian, or leave a message with your name and phone number if Polly isn't there. Or you can e-mail Polly.

Special October Children's Programs

A few one-time programs for the month of October...

Saturday, October 17th, 10:00
Twin Fun!
A celebration for twins and their families/caregivers. Music, stories, snacks, and a chance to meet other 'twin' families!
All twins under 10 and their familiy members are invited.

Friday, October 30th, 10:00
Halloween Story Time
Join us for some Halloween fun with songs, stories, and a costume parade! Everyone (adults too!) is encouraged to come in costume.
Ages 2-5.

Saturday October 31st, 1:00-5:00
Haunted Library!
Come celebrate the scary season with drop-in Halloween activities. A craft table, films, and a few spooky surprises await you! Come for as long as you can, short or long, and enjoy some scary fun. A special treat awaits if you come in costume!
Ages 5 and up (younger children are welcome, but not all activities will be suitable for them).

Children's Programs September 27th-October 3rd

Tuesday September 29th
10:00
Baby/Toddler Laptime
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday October 1st, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week.
For children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

The Children's department is looking for independant readers younger than 14 who are interested in helping us start a book club. Probably we would meet once a month, other than that the details are to be determined by interested kids. Please drop by the Children's Room and talk to Polly, the Librarian, or leave a message with your name and phone number if Polly isn't there. Or you can e-mail polly.ross[at]dc.gov.

Book Sale - Everything Under $1.00!

Support your local neighborhood library.

Saturday, September 26, 2009
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Mount Pleasant Library
3160 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20010

Sponsored by the Friends of Mount Pleasant Library

Children's Programs September 20th-26th

Tuesday Sept. 22nd

10:00
Baby/Toddler Laptime
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday September 24th, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week.
For children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

The Children's department is looking for independant readers younger than 14 who are interested in helping us start a book club. Probably we would meet once a month, other than that the details are to be determined by interested kids. Please drop by the Children's Room and talk to Polly, the Librarian, or leave a message with your name and phone number if Polly isn't there. Or you can e-mail polly.ross[at]dc.gov.

Children's Programs Sept. 13th-19th

Tuesday September 14th:
10:00
Laptime @ the Library
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday September 17th, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week.
For children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

Friday September 18th, 10:00
PBS Film: Elmo and the Bookaneers
Join Elmo and some book-loving pirates for lots of silly fun!
Ages 2 and up.

And be sure to drop in and visit our PBS Raising Readers Reading Corner, sponsored by PBS and DC's own WHUT! Watch clips of PBS kids shows, visit the Raising Readers website on our dedicated computer (equipment courtesy of WHUT), and pick up some fun freebies!

Children's Programs Sept. 6th-12th

Monday September 7th: Labor Day. The Library is CLOSED.

Tuesday September 8th:
10:00
Laptime @ the Library
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday September 10th, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week.
Children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

And be sure to drop in and visit our PBS Raising Readers Reading Corner, sponsored by PBS and DC's own WHUT! Watch clips of PBS kids shows, visit the Raising Readers website on our dedicated computer (equipment courtesy of WHUT), and pick up some fun freebies!

Children's Book Club

The Children's department is looking for independant readers younger than 14 who are interested in helping us start a book club. Probably we would meet once a month, other than that the details are to be determined by interested kids. Please drop by the Children's Room and talk to Polly, the Librarian, or leave a message with your name and phone number if Polly isn't there. Or you can e-mail polly.ross[at]dc.gov.

Children's Programs Aug. 30th-Sept. 5th

Monday August 31st, 4:30
Puppet Monday!
Join us for fun with puppets! Explore our puppet collection, watch puppet movies or TV shows, make puppets, and help perform stories with puppets.
All ages welcome, activities are most suitable for ages 3 and up.
Please note, this will be the last session of this program until further notice. Let staff know if you are interested in seeing it continue.
Maximum 30 people.

Tuesday September 1st:
10:00
Laptime @ the Library
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday September 3rd, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week.
Children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

Sign up for summer reading ends August 31st, but children can continue to collect prizes as long as our supplies last!

And be sure to drop in and visit our PBS Raising Readers Reading Corner, sponsored by PBS and DC's own WHUT! Watch clips of PBS kids shows, visit the Raising Readers website on our dedicated computer (equipment courtesy of WHUT), and pick up some fun freebies!

Children's Programs August 23rd-29th

Monday August 24th, 4:30
Puppet Monday!
Join us for fun with puppets! Explore our puppet collection, watch puppet movies or TV shows, make puppets, and help perform stories with puppets.
All ages welcome, activities are most suitable for ages 3 and up.
Maximum 30 people.

Tuesday August 25th:
10:00
Laptime @ the Library
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday August 27th, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week.
Children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

And be sure to drop in and visit our PBS Raising Readers Reading Corner, sponsored by PBS and DC's own WHUT! Watch clips of PBS kids shows, visit the Raising Readers website on our dedicated computer (equipment courtesy of WHUT), and pick up some fun freebies!

Children's Programs August 16th-22nd

Please be aware that DCPL policy states that all children 8 and younger must be directly supervised by someone over 13 at all times.

Monday August 17th, 4:30
Puppet Monday!
Join us for fun with puppets! Explore our puppet collection, watch puppet movies or TV shows, make puppets, and help perform stories with puppets.
All ages welcome, activities are most suitable for ages 3 and up.
Maximum 30 people.

Tuesday August 18th:
10:00
Laptime @ the Library
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday August 6th:
10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week.
Children under 5.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

2-4:00
PBS Raising Readers Back-to-School Celebration!
Drop in during our afternoon of fun activities from our PBS Raising Readers Corner. Play Word Joust with Word World, help perform an Electric Company Puppet Show, and other fun and educational games to help kids get back in learning mode with favorite PBS Kids Characters!
Please note that this is not a two hour continuous program. It's a drop-in session where kids can choose activities to do together and complete as many as they can during their stay.
Children 3-8 years.

And be sure to drop in and visit our PBS Raising Readers Reading Corner, sponsored by PBS and DC's own WHUT! Watch clips of PBS kids shows, visit the Raising Readers website on our dedicated computer (equipment courtesy of WHUT), and pick up some fun freebies!

Children's Programs August 9th-15th

Monday August 10th, 4:30
Puppet Monday!
Join us for fun with puppets! Explore our puppet collection, watch puppet movies or TV shows, make puppets, and help perform stories with puppets.
All ages welcome, activities are most suitable for ages 3 and up.
Maximum 30 people.

Tuesday August 11th:
10:00
Laptime @ the Library
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Thursday August 13th, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our extremely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week.
Children under 5 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

Saturday August 15th
Be Creative Saturday
Our last Summer Reading Saturday!
Drop in any time from 10-5:00 and make some cool arts and crafts projects. Do your own thing or follow our suggestions!
Ages 3 and up.

And be sure to drop in and visit our PBS Raising Readers Reading Corner, sponsored by PBS and DC's own WHUT! Watch clips of PBS kids shows, visit the Raising Readers website on our dedicated computer (equipment courtesy of WHUT), and pick up some fun freebies!

Children's Programs, August 2nd to 8th

Monday August 3rd, 4:30
Puppet Monday!
Join us for fun with puppets! Explore our puppet collection, watch puppet movies or TV shows, make puppets, and help perform stories with puppets.
All ages welcome, activities are most suitable for ages 3 and up.
Maximum 30 people.

Tuesday August 4th

10:00
Laptime @ the Library
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Wednesday August 5th, 1:30
Summer Movie Series: The Spiderwick Chronicles
The last of our Summer Movie Series!
Recommend for ages 6 and up.
Maximum 80 people.

Thursday August 6th, 10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our insanely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week.
4 months to 4 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

Saturday August 8th, 2:00
Movie: Elmo and the Bookaneers
Elmo meets some book-loving pirates and decides to join them. But bookaneering isn't as easy as Elmo thinks...
Ages 2 and up.
Maximum 60 participants.

And be sure to drop in and visit our PBS Raising Readers Reading Corner, sponsored by PBS and DC's own WHUT! Watch clips of PBS kids shows, visit the Raising Readers website on our dedicated computer (equipment courtesy of WHUT), and pick up some fun freebies!

Children's Program Schedule, July 26-August 1st

This week in the Children's Room
Monday July 27th, 4:30
Puppet Monday!
Join us for fun with puppets! Explore our puppet collection, watch puppet movies or TV shows, make puppets, and help perform stories with puppets.
All ages welcome, activities are most suitable for ages 3 and up.
Maximum 30 people.

Tuesday July 28th
10:00
Laptime @ the Library
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Wednesday July 22nd

1:30
Summer Movie Series: High School Musical
Recommend for ages 6 and up.
Maximum 80 people.

4:30
Teatro de Luna/Theatre of the Moon presents:
La Caja de Sorpresas/The Box of Surprises
A bilingual play for children. Ages 4 and up.

Thursday July 23rd

10:00 and 11:00
Neighbor Time!
Join us for our insanely popular Thursday program, now offered twice to accomodate more participants! Songs, dancing, stories, counting and other fun stuff! Please note that we will be offering one program twice each Thursday, not two different programs each week.
4 months to 4 years.
Maximum 80 participants per session.

1:30
Knitting Workshop!
Learn to knit or improve your skill!
Advance registration is required if you need yarn and needles. If you have your own, feel free to drop in.
Ages 7 and up.
Maximum 12 participants, call 202-671-0196 to register.

And be sure to drop in and visit our PBS Raising Readers Reading Corner, sponsored by PBS and DC's own WHUT! Watch clips of PBS kids shows, visit the Raising Readers website on our dedicated computer (equipment courtesy of WHUT), and pick up some fun freebies!

This week in the Children's Room

Monday July 20th, 4:30
Puppet Monday!
Join us for fun with puppets! Explore our puppet collection, watch puppet movies or TV shows, make puppets, and help perform stories with puppets.
All ages welcome, activities are most suitable for ages 3 and up.
Maximum 30 people.

Tuesday July 21st
10:00
Laptime @ the Library
Join us for short books with lots of songs, games and fingerplay, all designed to encourage literacy in the very young!
Ages 0-2 with an adult, maximum 20 people.

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Books, songs, games, and maybe a craft, all on a special theme!
Ages 2-5, maximum 35 people.

Wednesday July 22nd, 1:30
Summer Movie Series: The Cheetah Girls
Recommend for ages 6 and up.
Maximum 80 people.

Thursday July 23rd, 2:00
Vintage Short Films
Help us give our 16mm film collection a rousing send-off! We will show a series of short films, mostly animated picture books. Films last 8-20 minutes each, and everyone is welcome to drop in and leave whenever they've had enough!
Recommended for ages 3 and up, maximum 60 people.

Saturday July 25th, 1:00
Music!
Join us for a piano and voice program with two local musicians, Leticia MacDonald (piano) and Martha Strickland (soprano). This family-friendly concert will include Classical, Jazz and Folk music, and everyone is welcome to come clap, dance, and listen along.
All ages welcome, maximum 40 people.

And be sure to drop in and visit our PBS Raising Readers Reading Corner, sponsored by PBS and DC's own WHUT! Watch clips of PBS kids shows, visit the Raising Readers website on our dedicated computer (equipment courtesy of WHUT), and pick up some fun freebies!

This Week in the Children's Room

Monday July 13th
4:30
Puppet Monday!
All ages welcome to watch, most activities suitable for ages 3 and up.
Join us for puppet shows, books and movies, plus puppet making and other crafts! Learn about different types of puppets, puppet history, and explore the library's huge puppet collection!

Tuesday July 14th
10:00
Laptime at the Library (note time change)
For children ages 4-24 months with a parent or caregiver.
Join us for songs, games, fingerplays, and of course, reading, all designed to promote early literacy!

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Ages 2-5
Join us for songs, stories, games and perhaps a craft.

1:30
Washington National Opera
Cinderella Workshop
Help a WNO performer present the story of the opera Cinderella. Here music, do a craft, act it out, and take home a free WNO family guide to the opera.
Ages 6-12

Wednesday July 15th
1:30
Summer Movie: Mad Hot Ballroom
Ages 6 and up.

4:30
Vintage Family Movie Series: The Adventures of Robin Hood
Enjoy the swashbuckling 1938 classic complete with cartoon and newsreel!
Recommended for ages 8 and up.

Friday July 17th
1:30
Friendship Bracelets
Call 202-671-0196 to register for this workshop on making thread friendship bracelets. All levels of expertise welcome, although the ability to make a basic braid is recommended.
Ages 7 and up.

And be sure to drop in and visit our PBS Raising Readers Reading Corner, sponsored by PBS and DC's own WHUT! Watch clips of PBS kids shows, visit the Raising Readers website on our dedicated computer (equipment courtesy of WHUT), and pick up some fun freebies!

This week in the Children's Room

Monday July 6th
4:30
Puppet Monday!
All ages welcome to watch, most activities suitable for ages 3 and up.
Join us for puppet shows, books and movies, plus puppet making and other crafts! Learn about different types of puppets, puppet history, and explore the library's huge puppet collection!

Tuesday July 7th
10:00
Laptime at the Library (note time change)
For children ages 4-24 months with a parent or caregiver.
Join us for songs, games, fingerplays, and of course, reading, all designed to promote early literacy!

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Ages 2-4
Join us for songs, stories, games and perhaps a craft. This week's theme: Clothes!

Wednesday July 8th
1:30
Summer Movie: Holes
Ages 6 and up.

Thursday July 9th
Sesame Street Party!
Ages 2-6.
Call to register, 202-671-0196.

Saturday July 11th
1:00
Perry King, Guitar
Come dance and sing along with this Mount Pleasant singer and guitarist.
All ages.

And be sure to drop in and visit our PBS Raising Readers Reading Corner, sponsored by PBS and DC's own WHUT! Watch clips of PBS kids shows, visit the Raising Readers website on our dedicated computer (equipment courtesy of WHUT), and pick up some fun freebies!

This Week in the Children's Room

Monday June 29th
4:00
Puppet Monday!
All ages welcome to watch, most activities suitable for ages 3 and up.
Join us for puppet shows, books and movies, plus puppet making and other crafts! Learn about different types of puppets, puppet history, and explore the library's huge puppet collection!

Tuesday June 30th
10:00
Laptime at the Library (note time change)
For children ages 4-24 months with a parent or caregiver.
Join us for songs, games, fingerplays, and of course, reading, all designed to promote early literacy!

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Ages 2-4
Join us for songs, stories, games and perhaps a craft. This week's theme: Monsters!

Wednesday July 1st
4:30
Mary Poppins
Families and children over 2.
Join us for the first in our series of vintage family movies!

Thursday July 2nd
10:00
Short Film Program
Children over 2.
Join us as we get some final use out of our 16mm film projector! We'll show a series of short vintage films, and you're welcome to stay as long or as short as you like!

1:30
Independance Day Program
Join Martha Washington and learn about the founding of our country, make some Colonial crafts, and eat some celebratory goodies!

This Week in the Children's Room

Our first week of new programs!

Monday June 22nd
4:00
Puppet Monday!
All ages welcome to watch, most activities suitable for ages 3 and up.
Join us for puppet shows, books and movies, plus puppet making and other crafts! Learn about different types of puppets, puppet history, and explore the library's huge puppet collection!

Tuesday June 23rd
10:00
Laptime at the Library (note time change)
For children ages 4-24 months with a parent or caregiver.
Join us for songs, games, fingerplays, and of course, reading, all designed to promote early literacy!

11:00
Preschool Storytime
Ages 2-4
Join us for songs, stories, games and perhaps a craft. This week's theme: Night!

Wednesday June 24
1:30
Ella Enchanted
We are showing a movie each week during the summer in this time slot. They are primarily intended for camp and school groups, but we welcome as many drop-ins as we can fit!

This week in the Children's Room

Tuesday June 16th
10:30
Laptime at the Library
For children ages 4-24 months with a parent or caregiver.
Join us for songs, games, fingerplays, and of course, reading, all designed to promote early literacy!

Saturday June 20th
1:00
Be Creative Saturday
Join us for a creative Summer Reading program, with crafts, music and reading!
Ages 3 and up.

This week in the Children's Room

Tuesday June 9th
10:30: Laptime @ the Library
For children ages 4-24 months with a parent or caregiver.
Join us for songs, games, fingerplays, and of course, reading, all designed to promote early literacy!

1:30: Janice the Griot
Join us for this Summer Reading presentation! Janice tells stories both old and new using traditional and modern techniques including rap and song. If you've never seen her before, you must, and if you have, I don't need to tell you how great she is!

Thursday June 11th

10:30: Our last presentation of the incredibly popular "Neighbor Time" program before a summer break/restructuring period. Admission is by ticket only in order to keep us at a somewhat safe capacity, please arrive by 10:15 to pick up tickets.
Ages 4 months to 4 years with an adult.

This week in the Children's Room

Tuesday June 2nd, 10:30: Mr. Derby's Jam Session!
Get ready to sing and dance with Mr. Derby! Classic nursery rhymes are performed live in a playful and energetic spirit. For children ages 3-8.

And of course, you can still sign up for summer reading!

Thursday Program Break

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Our Thursday Neighbor Time program is taking a break. Our last program will be June 11th. In July or August we should be in a position to resume the program on an adjusted schedule, with two programs per Thursday morning, in order to accommodate the immense popularity of the program. We wish we didn’t have to take a break, as we know that will be very hard on all our friends, but there are safety reasons why we cannot continue the program as it stands for much longer (currently, the 2nd floor is dangerously overcrowded whenever we hold this program), and we will also be undergoing staffing changes in the children’s room over the next month or two, which means we will need some time to adjust.

When we are ready to resume the program, we will advertise in the library and around the community. It will also be posted here on our blog, and you can call us at 202-671-0196 if you have any questions. We assure you that we will be resuming the program; nothing but disaster would make us cancel it permanently! Please also be aware that our system as a whole is doing everything it can to support us; Thursdays will resume as soon as we can once again guarantee a safe and enjoyable program for everyone.

Thank you very much,

Polly Ross
Annie Thacher
Inga Williams

P.S. We will be planning some special programs to offer to you during our break, and we will get you details of those before the break starts.

This week in the Children's Room

Tuesday May 26th, 10:30 - Daniel Barash: The Shadow Puppet Workshop
Learn the art of shadow puppetry and watch a puppet show including stories from the Be Creative @ your Library Reading List. Audience participation is encouraged, and volunteers are invited to help perform the shows. People of all ages are welcome to come and watch.

May 25th-31st - Mount Pleasant Youth Arts Fair
Final week of the display! Come by to see the art created by Mount Pleasant's young people on the theme Mount Pleasant: Places and Faces.

This week in the Children's Room

Tuesday May 19th, 10:30 - Laptime @ the Library
For children 4-18 months and their caregivers. Join us for songs, fingerplays, and of course, reading!

Thursday May 21st, 1:30 - The Nicolo Whimsey Show
This show combines juggling, music, poetry and storytelling. Nicolo emphasizes language skills and encourages children to discover and voice their creativity. Ages 4-9. No groups, please.

And remember to Be Creative @ your Library and sign up for summer reading!

This week in the Children's Room

This week's activities at Mt. Pleasant Library's Children's Room:

Tuesday May 12th, 10:30 - Laptime @ the Library
For children 4-18 months and their caregivers. Join us for songs, fingerplays, and of course, reading!

Saturday May 16th, 1:00 - Be Creative Saturdays.
Join us every 3rd Saturday during the summer for some creative fun! This month features an open, do-it-yourself craft table for ages 4 and up. Bring your ideas and creativity, we'll supply the materials!

And remember to sign up for Summer Reading!

Summer Reading is here!

DCPL's Summer Reading program kicks off officially on May 5th. But you can sign up right now at Mt. Pleasant Library! Our themes this summer are: Be Creative @ your Library (birth to 13) and Express Yourself @ your Library (13 and up).

Summer Reading is very simple:
1. Sign up with your name, age, grade and school, and take home a reading log.
2. Read 3 books, write the titles on your log, bring it to us, and you'll get a
level 1 prize.
3. Read another 3 books (total of 6), and you get a level 2 prize!

You can continue doing this until September (we have a variety of prizes) and the people who've read the most books at this location get a prize package at the end of the summer!

The kick-off activity for Be Creative @ your Library is a visit by Storyteller Marc Spiegel on May 5th at 1:30. This program is recommended for ages 6 and up. Please call us at 671-0196 if you want to bring a group to this or any of our programs. We cannot admit groups of more than 6 without pre-registration--we just don't have room!
Please stop by the library to see a schedule of upcoming special events for summer reading!

Book Review - Watchmen

Let me begin by saying this: until recently, I have never considered myself a graphic novel aficionado. I did not grow up reading comic books. As a child, I never found anything remotely interesting about the stories of Superman, Batman, or the X-Men. If anything, I generally looked down upon the superhero genre. I thought their pretty pages offered tremendous form, but minimal substance. About to turn 29, I now realize I have a lot of a catching up to do, thanks to Alan Moore and his tour de force Watchmen.

Louis Giannetti, a respected film scholar, argues that genres go through four formative stages:

1. The Primitive - the first stage in which authors establish a genre's characteristics
2. The Classical - the stage when a genre's generic qualities are refined
3. The Revisionist - the stage when authors reevaluate the rules of a genre, often critically
4. The Parodic - the stage when authors satirize the genre and poke fun at its conventions

Watchmen is definitely in stage three. Alan Moore examines the superhero concept and takes it to its logical conclusion. He asks tough questions: What would a world with superheroes look like in the long run? What would motivate superheroes to do what they do? And, how far would superheroes go to protect humanity from its worst excesses?


Moore seems to argue that governments would eventually try to exploit superheroes to serve their geopolitical interests, in essence changing their function from protecting individuals to asserting the power of the nation-state. In Watchmen, superheroes help the US government fight the Cold War abroad and help it maintain domestic order by putting down citizen riots. The dramatic turn of events forces superheroes to reevaluate their raison d'être. After Congress passes legislation banning their existence, superheroes are left with three choices: 1) submit to the control of government and become a military weapon; 2) retire from the profession; or 3) go into hiding and become a fugitive of government law enforcement.

Moore also suggests that not all superheroes would have altruistic motives. Some, like the Comedian, would pursue the vocation to fulfill their need to use violence and exert power over people. Others, like Rorschach, would use their profession as means to exact retribution on a human society they overwhelmingly despise. His point: superheroes are not necessarily good people.

Without revealing too much, the ending of Watchmen exposes Moore's final misgiving about superheroes: when they realize they cannot change the human condition (that we are often fearful, violent, and selfish creatures), will they try to control us instead of having us control them? Other authors, like Asimov in I, Robot, have posed similar questions. Ultimately, Moore concludes that superheroes are undesirable because they create more problems than they solve. The story ends with a quote that would make Johnnie Cochran proud: "Who watches the watchmen?" Indeed.

April Program Schedule

Every Tuesday
Laptime at the Library
10:30-10:50 AM: Children's Room
Come sing, read, and play with us! Admission is limited to the first 20 participants. Ages 4 to 18 months

Every Thursday (except April 16th)
Neighbor Time!
10:30-11:00 AM: Children's Room
Song, dancing, and stories! It's big, it's active and it's fun! Admission is limited to the first 90 participants. Tickets are required for entry; you can pick up your tickets starting at 10:00 AM on the day of the program. Ages 4 months to 4 years

Every Saturday
English Conversation Circle
10:00-12:00 PM: Large Meeting Room
Make new friends by speaking with English language learners! Ages 14+

Wednesday, April 7th
Spring & Easter Crafts
3:30-5:00 PM: Children's Room
Drop in for some creative fun! Ages 4-14

Wednesday, April 8th
Video Games!
4:00-7:00 PM: Children's Room
Play family-friendly video games projected onto a large screen! Ages 10+

Wednesday, April 8th
Picturing America: Jacob Lawrence
4:00-4:30 PM: Children's Room
Follow the Great Migration of African-Americans through the bold, colorful work of Jacob Lawrence. Ages 6-12

Sunday, April 26th
Washington National Opera's Madame Butterfly for Children
1:30-2:30 PM: Children's Room
Music, arts and crafts, and more! Ages 6-12

Reminders

We are closed Sunday, April 12th for Easter.

We are open April 16th, Emancipation Day, but the Neighbor Time! program is cancelled for that day.

Book Review - Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service

Nearly 60 years ago, Joseph Campbell wrote a seminal work, the Hero with a Thousand Faces, in which he argued that among all the world's narratives existed a common pattern. Somehow, I doubt he could have ever imagined a story like Otsuka's Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service - about a group of university students who make money by transporting dead bodies.

The main characters are social outcasts - too strange be accepted by the "in" crowd and too average to get ahead professionally among the living. They find solace in each other and earn their income using their unique talents working for the deceased, who arrange for karmic payoffs. One satisfied client rewards them with a winning lottery ticket.

The genius of this manga series is how it manages to balance the tragic with the comic. The heroes' task is to liberate troubled souls, which often belong to victims of murder, abuse, and illness - both physical and mental. These stories within the story are profoundly disturbing. In one case, a "loving" father stores the body of his dead daughter at home to keep him company.

And yet, Otsuka's work is also downright hilarious. The most rational character in the Kurosagi crew is frequently one who communicates via a hand puppet. The heroes, often short on dinero, complain about having to transport corpses using mass transit. It gets to the point where one has to ask: who is more twisted, the story or the reader?

Book Review - Bartimaeus Trilogy

What do you get when you cross "Harry Potter" with "V for Vendetta?" Answer: Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus Trilogy.

The series takes place in an alternate world where the British Empire is a superpower ruled by an elite class of magicians. The story follows the lives of three main characters: Nathaniel, Bartimaeus, and Kitty. Nathaniel is a precocious boy whose magical talent will bring him fame and power in magician society. Unfortunately for Nathaniel, this attention makes him powerful enemies and he finds himself constantly having to outmaneuver political rivals seeking to undercut him for personal gain. For assistance, he often conjures the powerful, but witty djinn Bartimaeus, whose humorous dialogue is one of the story’s highlights.

Adding depth to the story, the author also delves into the life of Kitty, a commoner who has witnessed first-hand the brutality of magician oppression. Kitty joins a secret group comprised of commoners with special talents of their own that plans to overthrow the authoritarian regime. In the process, Kitty’s fate crosses paths with those of Nathaniel and Bartimaeus and all are forced to question their beliefs.

If you're interested, these are the three books in the series:

1. Amulet of Samarkand
2. The Golem's Eye
3. Ptolemy's Gate