New Rochelle Library Offers Week-Long Celebration For Children

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A host of activities are being offered by the New Rochelle Public Library, as it joins schools and libraries across the country in celebrating the 100th anniversary of National Children’s Book Week, from April 29 through May 4, and the year-long celebration of NRPL’s 125th Anniversary. In addition to daily festivities and a big event on Saturday, May 4, there will be free posters and bookmarks, balloons, and pop-up craft experiences.

To encourage all New Rochelle children to “Read Now. Read Forever,” the motto for the National Children’s Book Week, the library will have an amnesty on all overdue book fines accumulated on Teen cards and Juvenile cards that have been issued by NRPL, and on all overdue books teens and children bring in this week, from April 29 through May 5. NRPL is also offering free replacements for lost Teen and Juvenile library cards this week. The amnesty is in effect at the main library and the Huguenot Children’s Library.

Toddlers and preschoolers are invited to enjoy a variety of performances in the Children’s Room of the main library. Musical Monday will take place from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. April 29th. In traditional Mariachi costume, Miguel Ponce, the director of the Mariachi Aguila, will bring his guitar and great spirit for a session of songs and stories, in English and Spanish.

From 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 30, Tuneful Tuesday will feature Zev Haber. The popular children’s entertainer will have things hoppin’ when he brings his guitar, songs and humor. Miss Keila’s Jukebox, a wonderful session of music and movement, will take place on Thoroughly Melodically Thursday, from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. May 2. The next day, May 3, Fun-time Friday will feature children’s entertainer Kurt Gallagher from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. He’ll have the room rockin’ with his terrific music, cool instruments and contagious enthusiasm.

On Wednesday, May 1, the annual “Our Children, Our Artists” Exhibit Reception for elementary students, will be held from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The brief ceremony recognizing the young artists with works in the “Our Children, Our Artists” Exhibit in the Lumen Winter Gallery, will be followed by a fabulous array of “Refreshments from Storybooks” in the Meeting Room.

The grand finale for this special week-long event will be “Storybook Saturday,” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Children of all ages (and adults) are invited to come to this big party dressed as their favorite storybook character. The children’s room at the main library will be decorated and ready for all kinds of activities.

Rita Meade, author of "Edward Gets Messy," will read her book and help kids get a little messy themselves with a special craft. A station for “Make Your Own” book will provide guidance and materials for this special take-home project. There will also be a Photo Booth for pictures capturing all characters.

Kicking-off at noon, Louise’s Literary Parade will be led by Grand Marshal “Bad Kitty” and the fabulous Shinbone Alley Stilt Band. The parade will begin in the Children’s Room and make its way through Library Green, and then onto the Ossie Davis Theater for stage appearances. To top off the day with more sweet memories, birthday cake for the New Rochelle Public Library’s 125th Anniversary will be served.

This week-long event is made possible by a generous gift made by Sarah and Steve Sonet to the New Rochelle Public Library Foundation, in memory of their mother and former NRPL Children’s Librarian, Louise Sonet. Additional financial support had been provided by the Friends of NRPL.

Find and “Like” Hudson Valley Patches' Facebook Pages.