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KIDS

EVENTS & STORY TIMES
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The Great American PoeTREEs - writing, display, and magnetic poetry
Tue, Apr 28, All day
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Celebrate National Poetry Month and great American poets by adding your poem to Beatley’s poet-trees in the children’s and teen areas and experimenting with magnetic poetry. (all ages)
Family Storytime - Martes de niños
Tue, Apr 28, 10:15am - 11:15am
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Join us for a fun-filled hour of stories, music, and movement for ages 0-5!
Bilingual Storytime - Hora de cuentos bilingue
Tue, Apr 28, 10:30am - 10:45am
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Youth Services Area
Start your morning with stories, rhymes, and songs in English and Spanish ¡Empieza su mañana con cuentos, rimas y canciones en inglés y español!
Cancelled
Playtime! - ¡Hora de jugar!
Tue, Apr 28, 11:00am - 11:45am
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Meet your old friends and make new friends at an unstructured, outdoor playtime in the library's Reading Garden! Toys will be supplied. Ages 0-5 with an adult.
Baby and Toddler Time - La hora de los bebés y los niños
Tue, Apr 28, 11:00am - 11:35am
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Youth Services Area
Just right for ages 0-23 months. Songs, games, movement activities, and bubbles.
Baby and Toddler Play Date
Tue, Apr 28, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Join us for a special uninterrupted playtime with your child and meet other caregivers. Discover how play and learning go hand-in-hand. (ages 0-4).
Passport to American History with Felicity Merriman - American Girls Celebrate America 250
Tue, Apr 28, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Learn to embroider, play colonial-era ninepins, and learn about 1770s America through the eyes of American Girl Doll Felicity Merriman! (Ages 6-12)
The Great American PoeTREEs - writing, display, and magnetic poetry
Wed, Apr 29, All day
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Celebrate National Poetry Month and great American poets by adding your poem to Beatley’s poet-trees in the children’s and teen areas and experimenting with magnetic poetry. (all ages)
1s and 2s Time (first session) - Tiempo para niños de 1 y 2
Wed, Apr 29, 10:30am - 11:00am
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Large Meeting Room
Join us for stories, songs, and activities for your active, growing little ones! Ages 1-2
Just Babies - Solo Los Bebés
Wed, Apr 29, 11:00am - 12:30pm
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Youth Services Area
A lap-sit and playtime just for babies ages 0-12 months and their grownups.
1s and 2s Time (second session) - Tiempo para niños de 1 y 2
Wed, Apr 29, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Large Meeting Room
Join us for stories, songs, and activities for your active, growing little ones! Ages 1-2
Spitfire Club - Kindergarten - 3rd grade
Wed, Apr 29, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Changing the world, one book at a time!
Knit Nite! - A knitting club for kids ages 8-18.
Wed, Apr 29, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Learn to knit under the guidance of experienced knitters. All supplies will be provided. Ages 8-18.
The Great American PoeTREEs - writing, display, and magnetic poetry
Thu, Apr 30, All day
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Celebrate National Poetry Month and great American poets by adding your poem to Beatley’s poet-trees in the children’s and teen areas and experimenting with magnetic poetry. (all ages)
Bilingual Storytime - Cuentacuentos Bilingüe
Thu, Apr 30, 10:15am - 10:45am
James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room,Children's Area
A storytime in English and Spanish. un cuentacuentos en inglés y español.
PreSchool Story Time: American Folk Songs
Thu, Apr 30, 11:00am - 11:40am
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Youth Services Area
PreSchool Story Time celebrates our country with traditional songs and stories.
Bilingual Storytime - Cuentacuentos Bilingüe
Thu, Apr 30, 11:15am - 11:45am
James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room,Children's Area
A storytime in English and Spanish. un cuentacuentos en inglés y español.
Baby Bounce - for babies 0-14 months and their caretaker(s)
Thu, Apr 30, 1:15pm - 2:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Large Meeting Room
Baby storytime, plus opportunities to build relationships with other caretakers of young children! For ages 0-14 months, accompanied by an adult. 15 months and older, please attend 1s and 2s.
Preschool Storytime
Thu, Apr 30, 4:00pm - 4:30pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Periodicals Room
Join Miss Amy for stories, songs, movement, and activities just right for preschool children. Ages 3-5 with adult.
Coding Game Night - ages 6-12 - Hands-on fun in programming, robotics, and electronics!
Thu, Apr 30, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Story Room
Drop in and play with our coding board games, card games, toys, and robots! Ages 6-12.
Lego Competition
Fri, May 01, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Bring your best building brains! Ages 6-12
Baby Time
Mon, May 04, 10:15am - 10:45am
James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl and clap at Baby Time!
Storytime in the Reading Garden - Cuentos en el jardín de lectura
Mon, May 04, 11:00am - 11:30am
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden
Children love to be outdoors! Join us in Beatley Central Library's beautiful outdoor Reading Garden for stories, songs and movement. Ages 0-5 with an adult.
Baby Time
Mon, May 04, 11:15am - 11:45am
James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl and clap at Baby Time!
Sensory Storytime
Mon, May 04, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Come join Ms. Naomi for an interactive story time that is full of adventure and fun! Ages 2-8 Venga y unirse con Ms. Naomi por un cuentacuentos interactivo lleno de aventura y diversión. Edades 2-8
Family Storytime - Martes de niños
Tue, May 05, 10:15am - 11:15am
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Join us for a fun-filled hour of stories, music, and movement for ages 0-5!
Bilingual Storytime - Hora de cuentos bilingue
Tue, May 05, 10:30am - 10:45am
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Youth Services Area
Start your morning with stories, rhymes and songs in English and Spanish ¡Empieza su mañana con cuentos, rimas y canciones en inglés y español!
Baby and Toddler Time - La hora de los bebés y los niños
Tue, May 05, 11:00am - 11:35am
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Youth Services Area
Just right for ages 0-23 months. Songs, games, movement activities, and bubbles.
Playtime! - ¡Hora de jugar!
Tue, May 05, 11:00am - 11:45am
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden
Meet your old friends and make new friends at an unstructured, outdoor playtime in the library's Reading Garden! Toys will be supplied. Ages 0-5 with an adult.
Baby and Toddler Play Date
Tue, May 05, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Join us for a special uninterrupted playtime with your child and meet other caregivers. Discover how play and learning go hand-in-hand. (ages 0-4).
American Girl Birthday Party and Meet-and-Greet - Plus prize drawing! Passport to American History
Tue, May 05, 4:00pm - 4:45pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Celebrate the American Girl Company’s 40th birthday and meet Alexandria Library’s BRAND NEW American Girl dolls! (Ages 6-12)
See all events

 

DIGITAL FUN

 

Room to Read Comics Plus children

 


 

READING LISTS


Here's a sampling of great books from our collection. Don't limit yourself to these -- we have many more that you're sure to love!

Any staff member at the children's desk is happy to make recommendations!

Babies & Toddlers

Preschoolers

K-3rd Grades

4th-6th Grades

6th-8th Grades

Don't forget to check out our Early Literacy Guide for more resources!

 

PARENTS' CORNER

Looking for books on toilet training, bullying or getting your baby to sleep through the night?
The library's got a book for you! 

 


Grief


Potty Training


Feelings


Divorce

 

Last updated: March 2026