The Children’s Library
Welcome! Located on the second floor of the Bronxville Public Library, we have books, DVDs, audiobooks, and magazines, plus fun programs, friendly librarians, and more!
Websites to check out for e-books, activities, information & more during COVID-19 :
Westchester Library System, Listen Read & Watch
Livescience.com – activities , COVID info and more
PBSlearningmedia.org
Kidshealth.org – for all health questions!
Children’s Museum of Manhattan – activities!
Junior Library Guild – free reading resources
. More sites coming soon!
Some activity ideas from the Youth Services Department: (Up to 18-years-old)
Bath Fizzies
DIY Paper Rose Materials
Lego30daychallenge
mad scientists bubbles
Mad Scientists Club (Strawberry DNA)
Sink or float
Squishy Sensory bags by lifeasamamabear.com
Baby Safe Sensory play – Pinterest search page
Up Next for Children
Electronic Resources for Children
Monday, March 16 – Tuesday, March 31 | 12:00 am
The library will be closed until further notice, but there are many online services you may use with your computer or mobile device and library card. By visiting the Westchester Library System website, you have access to these great resources for kids: Kanopy Kids: movie selections geared for younger audiences…
Ongoing Programs
All of our children’s programs are made possible by the generous funding of the Friends of the Bronxville Public Library. By donating to the Friends, you can help fund our amazing programs and even be a part of starting brand new programs!
Babies & Toddlers
Littles Playdate: A fun free play for Pre-walkers using the Library’s tunnels, scarves, instruments, & more! Open to pre-walkers, birth to 12 months.
Mommy & Baby Yoga— Enjoy a special time with the baby in your life while practicing yoga. This class will integrate baby massage, stretching, strength building and mindfulness meditation for the adults. Babies will be incorporated into poses while adults enjoy gaining the benefits of yoga. Registration required.
Musical Munchkins Pre-walkers: Your baby’s musical experience will include developmentally appropriate experiences with rhythmic and melodic sounds, joyful singing, and a variety of instruments. Pre-walkers only, up to 12 months. This is now first come, first serve. Once capacity is reached, the class will close.
Tots Playdate: A fun free play for walkers using the Library’s tunnels, scarves, instruments, & more! Open to Walkers, 13 months to 24 months.
Older Children
Family Films: A selection of family films shown on the big screen.
Mad Scientists Club: Join us each month for fun filled science experiments. Now for ages 3 years old to 8 years old. Registration required.
Preschool Storycrafts & Crafts, Thursdays: Themed stories followed by a craft project or a themed craft project for children ages 3 and up.
Tween/Teen Cooking Club: Don’t miss cooking club, different recipes each month! For ages 9 & up. Registration required.
Music for All Ages
Dawny Dew: A fun sing-along filled with music & puppets. All ages.
Learning Life Through Music with Frank!: Dance & sing while learning important life skills & ideas such as manners, respecting others, sharing & loving yourself—all taught through original music that kids & parents love! All ages.
Weekly Programs
Mondays
Littles playdate, Little Crafters and Musical Munchkins for pre-walkers birth to 12 months. If you have a pre-walker over the age of 12 months, they are more than welcome to attend.
Wednesdays
Tots playdate, Crafting tots and Music for walkers 13 months to 24 months.
Thursdays
Thursdays are storycraft and craft days! Join us for fun themed crafts and stories at 4:00pm.
Fridays
Family Film Fridays @ 3:30pm. Some holidays and school breaks, movies may be at 2:00pm.
*Note: Monday early literacy programs are for pre-walkers ages birth to 12 months and Wednesday early literacy programs will be for walkers ages 13 months to age 2. (This includes Play date, Musical Munchkins, Graham Clarke and any other early literacy programs).
Book Lists
Below are lists of great children’s books to get you started. Whether reading them for the first time or rediscovering favorites, these books are certain to become as cherished as an old friend. Read them for your own pleasure, or share them with someone you love. And remember, imagination has no limits!
Picture Books
Chapter Books
Caldecott Winners
NEWBERY WINNERS
Circulating Toys
We now have a small collection of STEM based circulating toys!
The toys can circulate for one week at a time. All you need is a grown-up and a library card. Before you come to the library, have a grown-up fill out our toy agreement form and bring it to the library!
toy agreement form (pdf)
Early Literacy
Early literacy does not mean early reading instruction or teaching babies to read; it is the natural development of skills through the enjoyment of books, the importance of positive interactions between babies and parents, and the critical role of literacy-rich experiences.
Literacy development begins at birth and is closely linked to a baby’s earliest experiences with books and stories. Babies learn language through social literacy experiences – parents interacting with them using books. These experiences also serve to associate books with parental affection, attention, and approval.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Studies have shown that families who start reading aloud to their children at birth help to strengthen their language skills and build their vocabulary – two important tools for beginning to learn to read when they enter kindergarten.
How does the 1,000 Books program work?
Read a book (any book) to your newborn, infant, toddler, and/or preschooler. The program is self-paced and can take a few months to a few years, depending on how often you read together. The goal is to have read 1,000 books (yes, you can repeat books) before your child starts kindergarten.
How do I sign-up?
Register in the children’s room and receive a free Early Literacy folder. Keep track of books on a fun log as you read them, and receive prizes when you reach milestones along the way. (100, 250, 500, 750, 1,000 books.)
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the Bronxville Public Library.
“You don’t need to be an early childhood literacy expert to help your son or daughter become a strong reader and writer. A few basic ideas and activities pursued diligently will pay big dividends and set your child on the road to full literacy.”
Read to your child daily
The single most important and helpful thing you can do is set aside 20 minutes or more regularly.
Talk to your child
Engage your child in conversation and ask lots of questions.
Limit TV Time
Television distracts children from play and interaction with others.
Choose Activities that Build Background Knowledge
Every activity you do with your child is an opportunity to build knowledge, vocabulary, and language skill.
Be a Reader, Raise a Reader
The more books in the home, the better. Demonstrate by example the importance of literacy in your life.
Source: Hirsch, Jr., E.D. (2013) What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know. New York, NY. Bantam Books.
Listen, Read & Watch
Note
Some vendors require you to go through a one-time registration process. It always involves your library card number. It sometimes involves your library PIN and/or your email address.
If you need help, ask a librarian! And remember that we offer personal eReader instruction by appointment with the Reference Desk.
For other eLibrary resources visit the WLS website
Digital Resources
ABCmouse
Amazing Animals of the World
America the Beautiful
Britannica Elementary
Britannica Primaria
Kids Infobits
Mango Languages
New Book of Knowledge
Research in Context
Fun, educational and safe websites for kids
Highlights for Kids
abcya.com
Seussville
Switcheroo
Fun Brain
Nat Geo Kids
Starfall
PBS Kids
FAQs
Can kids get library cards, too?
Bronxville children of any age can receive a library card. The age at which they get a card is at the discretion of their parents. All that is required is a parent’s/guardian’s identification showing proof of address and their signature on the application form. Click here for more information.
Do adults need to stick around?
Parents or caregivers are responsible for their children’s behavior. Parents or caregivers may not leave a child under the age of 9 unattended at any time and must make arrangements to pick-up older children at closing.