The kids library offers a wide variety of literary programs, clubs, and special events.
Listed below are all of our events for October 2018.
Or feel free to look at our calendar for library-wide events.

Literacy programs

Our librarians put on quite the show during our story times! 

• Drop-In Baby Story Time
  Ages 0-18 months: Baby Story Time supports early literacy and language skills by encouraging singing, playing, talking, and shared reading. Join us for fun stories, fingerplays, and snuggling in a welcoming environment. Caregivers stay with their children. No registration required!
  Mondays: 10:30-11:00am: 10/1, 10/15, 10/29
  Wednesdays: 12:30-1:00pm: 10/3, 10/17, 10/31
• Toddler Story Time
  Ages 18 months-3 years: Toddler Story Time encourages early literacy, and helps develop language skills and social skills through the use of simple books, fun fingerplays, and action rhymes. Children learn the joy of choosing a book and shared reading. Caregivers stay with children. Please register.
  Tuesdays: 10:30-11:00am: 10/2, 10/16, 10/30
  Thursdays: 10:30-11:00am: 10/4, 10/18, 11/1
• Preschool Story Time
  Ages 3-5 years: We read stories, do fun fingerplays, sing songs, play letter-recognition games, make crafts and more. Join us for a fun time and develop literacy, language, and social skills as well as positive associations with reading and the library. Caregivers must stay in library. Please register.
  Tuesdays: 10:30-11:10am: 10/9, 10/23
  Wednesdays: 10:30-11:10am: 10/10, 10/24
• Read to Rover
  All ages: Spend some time practicing your reading with friendly dogs from Fox Valley Therapy Dogs. Children who are able to read on their own can read their favorite stories to dogs who love to listen! Please register separately for each month.
  Saturday, October 13th, 10:30-11:30am

Clubs

These clubs are geared towards kids in kindergarten through 5th grade.  

• *NEW* Fandom Frenzy: Sonic the Hedgehog
  Grades K-5: : Have you dreamed of training to be a Jedi, saving the world with Sonic and company, or defeating the Elite Four to become a Pokémon Master? Then come to this new monthly program where we celebrate a different fandom each month! Please register separately for each month.
  Monday, October 1st, 4:30-5:30pm
• Chess Club 
  Grades 4-8: Love chess? Join our chess club! There will be a puzzle or a new strategy at the beginning of each session, followed by playing a game of chess. A teen moderator will lead the group and help instruct on chess skills. Chess club meets the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month. This club is for kids in grades 4-8 who already know how to play chess. Please register.
  Tuesdays, October 9th & 23rd, 4:00-5:30pm
• Books and Cookies Club: Night of the New Magicians by Mary Pope Osborne
  Grades 3-5: This exciting monthly club includes specific book-themed crafts and activities. Read "Night of the New Magicians" (book #35 in the Magic Treehouse Series) in advance and come discuss it with other kids your age while sampling delicious cookies. A separate registration is required each month. Pick up a copy of the book at the Youth Services Desk OR download a digital copy from OverDrive or Axis360, available at sgpl.org. Please register separately for each month.
  Thursday, October 11th, 4:30-5:20pm
• Lego Club 
  Grades K-5: Everything is awesome at Lego Club! Let your imagination soar; the ceiling is the limit! Lego activities include building, games & more.  Lego materials provided by SGPL and all creations will be displayed in the library for the month following each club. Please register.
  Tuesday, October 16th, 4:30-5:30pm
• Curiosity Club: Ewwy Gooey Slime!
  Grades K-2: This fun monthly program includes books, crafts, and activities geared toward curious kids in K-2nd grade. Join us as we explore a new and interesting topic each month. Please register separately for each month.
  Thursday, October 25th, 4:30-5:30pm

Special Events

TECH-FREE FAMILY NIGHT

Tuesday, October 2: 6:00-7:30pm

All ages: Bring the whole family for a night away from your electronic devices! Leave your phones at home or put them on "silent" for the evening while you spend time playing games, working on huge puzzles, doing crafts, reading books, and munching on popcorn! This monthly event is a great time to reconnect with your family and friends without the distraction of technology!!  Registration is encouraged, but not required.

SCHOOL'S OUT: COLUMBUS DAY

Monday, October 8: 11:00am-3:00pm

All ages: School’s out for the day, but don’t stay at home and be bored! Come to the library and make a fort with the Toydle Fort Building Kit, watch a movie in the Story Time Room at 1:00pm, and try out one of our many games in the Youth Lounge. Drop in. No registration required.

PASSPORT TO LEARNING

Thursday, October 11: 5:30-7:00pm

All ages: Be the first to check out the library’s new nonfiction titles purchased with our Back To Books Grant! Tour the library, do fun activities, and fill up your passport to be entered into a prize drawing!!

Funding for this grant was awarded by the Illinois State Library, a Department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). Registration is encouraged, but not required.

HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR

Saturday, October 27

Drop in activities include:
All day: Guess the candies in the jar for a chance to win the jar!
10:30-11:00: Story Time with Elephant and Piggie: featuring stories, rhymes, movement, and songs!
11:00: Balloon Artist, Sweet Poppin' Pete will be creating incredible balloon art for you to take home!
11:00-3:00: Trick or Treating in the Library: come dressed in your Halloween costume and collect treats!
11:00-2:00: Drop-in crafts in the Story Time Room.

All ages. All events are drop in. No registration required.