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Events & Classes > Month of the Young Child

Celebrate the Month of the Young Child at Your Library!

young child

For the third year, Multnomah County Library is participating in a national initiative to ensure parental access to high quality early childhood education programs and encourage participation in children's early education.

 

Birth to Six

early childhood info

 

 

 

 

Crafts

Magnetic Puppet Play

Frederick bookjacket

Join local artist Kathy Karbo and create a magnetic play board for your library! First, Kathy will perform the story of Leo Lionni's classic tale Frederick. After the storytelling performance, construct a magnetic mouse puppet, scenery and props.

Saturday, March 12, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Thursday, April 21, 3:30–5:30 p.m.

Mi Piñata

Under the instruction of Nelda Reyes and Gerardo Calderon, make your own traditional cardboard piñata and decorate it with colored papers.

Saturday, March 19, 2–4 p.m.

Saturday, March 26, 2–4 p.m.

Sunday, March 27, 2–4 p.m.

Saturday, April 9, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Saturday, April 30, 4–5:30 p.m.

Harold and the Purple Crayon bookjacket

Purple Crayon Adventure

Little Harold created an entire world with only his imagination and a purple crayon. Let's go on our own purple crayon adventures, making fanciful collages filled with the purple visions, whimsy and excitement that cross our paths. Led by artist Anya Hankin, and inspired by Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon.

Wednesday, March 23, 10:30 a.m.–noon

Saturday, April 16, 4–5:30 p.m.

Interactive Storybook Workshop

Join artist Kathy Karbo in creating your very own playful puppet book. First, Kathy will perform the story of Leo Lionni's classic tale Frederick. After the storytelling performance, construct your own play book by creating scenery, puppets and props with collage, hand-painted papers, colored fasteners and other goofy stuff!

Thursday, March 24, 2–4 p.m.

The Adventures of Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley bookjacket

Stanley Lambchop was a completely flat boy! He liked being flat; he could slide under doorways and fly in the air like a kite! During this workshop, we will make our very own Flat Stanleys and take them on new adventures! Based on Jeff Brown's Stanley series, artist Anya Hankin will teach this family friendly program.

Saturday, March 26, 10:30 a.m.–noon

Thursday, April 7, 3:30–5:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 30, 1–3 p.m.

Alphabet Book Surprise

Make your own alphabet book by playing with letters! Artist Addie Boswell will show you how to make simple books and letter pictures while practicing your alphabet sounds.

Wednesday, April 6, 3:30–5 p.m.

The Art of Bookmaking with Recycled Materials

Make your own book using a paper bag, natural materials and recycled paper! Personalize your book by adding decorations and collage. For children in grades K–5.

Saturday, April 9, 2–4 p.m.

Saturday, April 23, 2–4 p.m.

 

Numbers

To Market, to Market bookjacket

Number Fun with To Market, to Market

To market, to market to buy a fat pig ... shop at the market, join the jiggity jig, and have fun budgeting and buying groceries in a play store. This fun and interactive math program is for children 3–7 years with an adult.

Saturday, April 2, 10:30–11:15 a.m.

Math Fun with Frog and Toad

Is it round? Is it square? Is it big? Is it small? Help Toad find his button and join in the fun with shapes, games and stories. This interactive program is for children 3–7 years with adult.

Thursday, April 7, 10:30–11:30 a.m.

Thursday, April 14, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 30, 10:30 a.m.–noon

The Doorbell Rang bookjacket

Math Fun with The Doorbell Rang

Add! Subtract! Multiply! Divide! Enjoy a special storytime and fun activities with numbers. This interactive program is for children 3–7 years with an adult.

Tuesday, April 26, 4–5 p.m.

Math Fun with Goldilocks

Are you taller or shorter than Baby Bear? How many small bears weigh the same as one large bear? Join the Three Bears in measuring fun, games and stories. This interactive program is for children 3-7 years with adult.

Thursday, April 28, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

 

Special storytime parties

Hip Hop Speaks to Children bookjacket

Hip-Hop Kiddy Bop

It's time to hippie hippie hop and party at the Hip-Hop Kiddy Bop. Come dance and groove with your little dudes to some cool hip-hop music that will make you move. Then listen to a few books that have a rock'n beat that will make you wanna get up and tap your feet. This is an interactive storytime for parents and children ages 2–5.

Wednesday, March 23, 4–5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 6, 10–11 a.m.

Monday, April 25, 11 a.m.–noon

Saturday, April 30, 10:15–11 a.m.

The Child's Fairy Tale Book bookjacket

Fairy Tale Party

Once upon a time there was a library that turned into an enchanted world of fairy tales where everywhere you looked a classic tale came to life. Come join us for a fairy tale party where happy ending stories will be read, magical crafts will be made, and enchanted games will be played. This is an interactive party for parents and children ages 3–6 so come prepared for happily ever after.

Tuesday, April 12, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 23, 10:30–11:30 a.m.

 

Performances

Mother Goose

Mixed-Up Fairy Tales

Join Mother Goose, the Gingerbread Man and Foxy Woxy as they travel through the woods of mixed-up fairy tales. Sing, dance and laugh along in this musical puppet journey with Penny's Puppet Productions.

Saturday, March 5, 2:30–3:15 p.m.

Saturday, April 9, 2–2:45 p.m.

Storytime with the Fairy Funk Mother

Participate in singing and moving to the beat of a musical storytime! Tyleena Winslow, the Fairy Funk Mother, provides shakers, drums, tambourines, sticks and scarves to encourage children to feel the groove. Join the fun as your favorite books are turned into interactive songs!

Saturday, March 12, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Friday, April 1, 10:30–11:30 a.m.

Saturday, April 16, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Tikki Tikki Tembo

Tikki Tikki Tembo bookjacket

What happens when Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo, with his great long name, falls into the well? Don’t miss the fun as Tears of Joy Theatre performs this beloved story by Arlene Mosel.

Saturday, March 12, 4–4:45 p.m.

Thursday, March 24, 1:30–2 p.m.

Saturday, April 9, 10:30–11 a.m.

Saturday, April 9, 2:30–3 p.m.

Wednesday, April 13, 4–4:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 23, 4–4:30 p.m.

Travis Brass Concert

Enjoy music by the Travis Brass Quintet, one of six performing musical groups that make up the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West.

Sunday, March 13, 3–3:45 p.m.

Sing, Sign & Playtime: The Big Blue Bowl

The Big Blue Bowl bookjacket

Gather around the big blue bowl and learn the American Sign Language signs for corn, peas, bread and other edible items! Join local children's author Dawn Babb Prochovnic as she leads a lively, interactive storytime filled with songs, stories and signing activities. This program is geared for families with children ages 0–2 years.

Friday, April 1, 10:15–11:15 a.m.

Saturday, April 2, 11 a.m.–noon

Thursday, April 14, 2–3 p.m.

Thursday, April 21, 10:15–11:30 a.m.

A Rhythmic Road Trip Around Brazil

Grab a seat as we travel up the east coast of Brazil, defining each region by its music, rhythms, instruments and culture. Children will have a chance to play percussion instruments and clap along while Ronnie Robins takes them on a musical journey with his voice and his guitar.

Saturday, April 2, 10:30–11:15 a.m.

The Treetop Collector's Club

The Treetop Collector's Club

Follow the adventures of Vel-Crow, as he bravely searches for his lost friend, Hazel, the Kanga-Raccoon. This show, created and performed by Mudeye Puppets, is filled with music, jokes, and an important lesson about how resources can be reused.

Saturday, April 2, 11–11:30 a.m.

The Princess and the Peanut

Join Penny's Puppet Productions for this traditional fairy tale with a twist. Princess Robin gets stuck in a rainstorm on her way to the library and stops at the nearest castle for shelter, but the queen is not sure that Robin is a real princess. See what the queen does to find out the truth.

Saturday, April 2, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Get Ready to Read . . . with Music

Greta Pedersen

This spirited program for children ages 0–5 years celebrates words, rhyming and sound through songs, movement and sign language. Named 2009 National Young Audiences Artist of the Year, songwriter Greta Pedersen will captivate audiences in this melodic workshop.

Wednesday, April 6, 12:15–1 p.m.

Wednesday, April 20, 10:30–11:15 a.m.

Bike Trike Spoketacular

Air-Rick, the inflatable car salesman, dreams of a Spoketacular bicycle that can take him far away from his dreary drudgery. Join Air-Rick on his adventure to find a bike as he meets a cast of colorful characters in this interactive, all-ages musical puppet performance. Stick around after the show to meet Air-Rick, Bikey Spikey and many other Mudeye Puppet Company characters.

Saturday, April 9, 4–4:45 p.m.

The Alphabeticians

The Alphabeticians Play the ABCs!

The Alphabeticians play "Kindie Rock" music that is fun for the whole family! They combine humor, clever (mostly original) songs, and interactive elements in their shows. Adults will have as much fun as the kids!

Saturday, April 16, 11 a.m.–noon

 

Space at programs is limited. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, except as noted.

Programs made possible in part by the Mary B. Mason Estate Fund of The Library Foundation.