Cranford Public Library Children’s Events June 2018

Looking for a way to keep your child engaged in learning over the summer months? Enroll in the Cranford Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Program. This year’s theme is “Libraries Rock,” and there are plenty of ways to get involved.
Children are able to earn a new prize each week by tracking the amount of time they spend reading or being read to each day. This year’s prizes, generously donated by local businesses, include a cone at Dairy Queen, a summer of bowling at Linden Lanes, and tickets to a Somerset Patriots game. Stop by the library from June 16 to July 28 to register. Every child who reports any amount of time to us is invited to our annual Summer Reading Carnival, happening on Thursday, August 16 from 9 a.m. to noon with a rain date of August 17.
In addition to logging reading, the library runs weekly programs for children of all ages. Preschoolers can join us every Monday morning at 10:15 from June 25 to August 6 for an Enhanced Story Time. This story time, for children ages 3 to 5 and a caregiver, will help build essential pre-reading skills using stories and song. Registration is not required, but we ask that participants arrive on time as we may be unable to accommodate latecomers.
Each Wednesday evening, the library hosts an all ages family program featuring a different professional performer every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. in the Community Center’s A/V Room (please note: the July 17 session will be held in room 200 of the Community Center). This year, the library will welcome musicians, magicians, live animals, and more. Free tickets can be picked up in the library up to two weeks before each event.
The library will be open on Saturdays in the summer and will be hosting a few special events. Music Therapist Joyce Alexander, an exceptional early literacy instructor, will be leading two sessions of a music program on July 14. Joyce will lead a short, small-group session for children with special needs and a caregiver from 10:30 to 10:55 a.m., followed by a longer session for a larger group from 11 to 11:45 a.m. that is open to everyone. Registration can be done by phone or in the Children’s Department up to two weeks before the program.
Students in grades 4 to 6 are invited to an Ice Cream Social on June 25 at 3 p.m., where they’ll help determine the following six weeks’ worth of activities. Potential projects include stop-motion animation, slime making, robot projects, and more. Have your voice heard. No registration required.
Children in grades 1 to 3 will have a program of their own every Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:30. Each week will focus on a new music-based activity. Participants will learn dance moves from around the world, write “shape songs,” learn clapping games, engineer instruments, play musical games, create jingles, and much more. Registration is not required, with the exception of the July 17 session, when space is limited but participants are asked to arrive on time as we may be unable to accommodate latecomers.
Babies and toddlers ages 3-months to 2-years and a caregiver are invited to join us Music & Movement Story Time every Thursday from June 28 to August 2 at 10:15 a.m. This short, lively story time features fun stories and songs. We’ll also be hosting an outdoor session of this story time at Sherman Park on August 9, look for us in the shade.
The programs listed are just a sampling of the many events that will be happening at the library throughout the summer, visit our cranfordlibrary.org or stop by the Children’s Department for a full calendar of events. The library’s Summer Reading Program is made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the Library. The Library is located at 224 Walnut Street, Cranford, New Jersey. For more information call Lauren Antolino at 908-709-7272. Visit Cranford Library at: cranfordlibrary.org.