Blog: Children’s Program

The category for Children’s programs that will be featured on the Children’s Collection page.

Welcoming Week: Welcome To The Table: A Welcoming Week Storytime

Posted on by Stacy Holder

Please join us on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 6:00pm for our “Welcome To The Table: A Welcoming Week Storytime.” Meet our new Children’s Librarian and hear some great stories like, “Dumpling Day,” which we now have in copies of this book in English, Portuguese, Chinese, Haitian Creole, and Spanish.

We will also have a fun “Take & Make Lunch Box Craft” for ages 3+

Welcoming Week is a global campaign that connects neighbors of all backgrounds in their communities. At the Malden Public Library we celebrate the values that unite us as neighbors.

Welcoming Week Events: September 14-19, 2026

Posted on by Stacy Holder

Join us at the Malden Public Library for Welcoming Week on September 14-19, 2026. The theme for this year’s Welcoming Week is “Stories We Share: The Courage to Connect.” Celebrated in communities around the globe, Welcoming Week is an annual campaign that connects neighbors of all backgrounds through community-informed activities and events. Welcoming Week provides communities the opportunity to publicly proclaim welcoming values, foster a mutual understanding between immigrants and non-immigrants, and build a deeper sense of belonging for all.

Throughout Welcoming Week we will provide information about local community organizations, including resources for English classes, food & housing information, job information, language learning, and more. We will also have some take & make craft kits for children.

Please join us for our Welcoming Week Movie Night on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 6:00-8:00pm. We will be showing a film about a South Korean immigrant family that moves to a small farm in rural Arkansas during the 1980s to pursue the American Dream.

“A tender and sweeping story about what roots people that follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, this film shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.” Rated PG-13 (115 min.) (2021) Free snacks will be provided. Movie times are approximate.

On Thursday, September 17, 2026 we will have a Storytime for children of all ages at 6:00pm and a “Take & Make Lunch Box Craft” for children (ages 3+) at the Malden Public Library.

This year on Saturday, September 19, 2026: 10:00-11:00am we will have our 4th Annual “Coffee, Cookies, and Conversation” at the Malden Public Library. Meet your neighbors in a relaxed environment for a cup of coffee and great conversation!

On Wednesday, September 23, 2026: 6:00-7:00pm we will have a very special event called, “Global To Local: Girls And Education In Afghanistan: The Story Of A Malden Family.” Please join us for an evening of learning, culture and meaningful conversation about the journey of one family from Afghanistan to Malden, Massachusetts. Listen to an inspiring presentation on Afghan girls’ education, see a cultural display, and enjoy some traditional foods and refreshments from Afghanistan.

Everyone is welcome to join us. All events are co-sponsored by The Friends of the Malden Public Library.

 

Welcome Back to School Night 8.26.26

Posted on by Cait Quinn

Welcome back to school to Malden’s 1st through 5th graders, and a big special welcome to our Pre-K and Kindergarten friends going for the first time! Malden Public Library welcomes you all to come participate in making personalized backpack charms, and some first day of school crowns for the Pre-Ks and Kindergarteners in preparation for their first day back September 2nd!

For our older kids, we will also have a Library Scavenger Hunt to help you familiarize yourself with the library for the upcoming school year! This will help all school age kids navigate the space and become familiar with using the Dewey Decimal System to complete any upcoming assignments! Completing the Scavenger Hunt will win you a special prize!

So join us August 26th from 6-7PM in the Program Room. The Scavenger Hunt will run an additional thirty minutes in the Children’s Room to allow for all students to participate in both!

No registration required!

Summer Reading Award Ceremony 8.14.26

Posted on by Cait Quinn

You’re Invited!

To the Malden Public Library’s End of Summer Award Ceremony enjoy cake and music while we celebrate this summer’s top readers! We’ll see you at 11am in the Maccario Room for prizes and fun.

Grand Prize winners will be notified in advance.

Top child reader recieves a family membership to the Museum of Science.

The Teen winner gets a gift certificate to Boda Borg for 4 players.

And the Adult grand prize winner will have their own rain barrel

Submit your minutes on Beanstack (you can back date for more prizes) to qualify to win!

Introducing updated Children’s Room hours and a New Children’s Librarian!

Posted on by Pixie Rose

Hello Malden Library Community! My name is Pixie (they/them) and I would like to introduce myself as the new Children’s Librarian! I come to Malden Public Library from being a substitute teacher with Newton Public Schools, but I have worked in libraries since my very first page job in 2013. Since then, I have worked in libraries academic and public, including serving as the ALA Sustainability Round Table Coordinator for a term! I am excited to continue in the tradition of accessibility and diversity that lifts up the Malden Library Community as well as the history of fun, creative programming that brings joy and excitement to your children.

Favorites:
Dinosaur: Deinonychus
Disney Princess: Aurora
Kids Movie: The Emperor’s New Groove
Iconic Friendship: Frog and Toad
Fairy Tale: Twelve Dancing Princesses
Food: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Some of my favorite children’s books include:
Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard
Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
The Day You Begin by Jaqueline Woodson
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
Half Magic by Edward Eager
Witchlings by Claribel Ortega
The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
Root Magic by Eden Royce
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths by Ingri D’Aulaire
The Flicker by H.E. Edgmon

Favorite programs:
Book clubs
Story time dance party!
Nature based programming
Crafts, especially paper or fiber arts

Please tell me about what books and programs YOU would like to see at the library!

Additionally, the Malden Public Library Children’s Room has updated hours! We are now open on Thursday nights through 8:45pm! Come by and say hello!

Rockabye Beats – Kids Program on Tuesday July 14th @ 11AM

Posted on by Patrick Brennan

Sing, dance, and get a little loco! Rockabye Beats is more than just an entertaining music program for young children—it’s a place where friends are made and families grow closer by creating music together! Join us for some musical fun as Berklee-graduate Shon Gordon plays his guitar while subliminally teaching basic Spanish vocabulary. Join us on Tuesday, July 14th at 11:00 AM in the Children’s Room. Appropriate for ages 2-6+.

This program, presented in coordination with the North Suburban Child & Family Resource Network, is supported by a grant from the Malden Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Dinosaurs with the DinoMan! – Kids Program July 8th @ 3PM

Posted on by Patrick Brennan

Dinosaur tracks lead right to our library! Have no fear, Dinoman is here! With magic, merry mayhem, and magnificent props, you will be taken on a trip throughout the Mesozoic era. How do we know dinosaurs were here? What is a fossil? How are they made? This program is fun and informative for all ages: we will learn about the age of the earth, how it is divided into eras, how fossils are formed, dinosaur behavior, and the newest finds. And did we mention that there will be life-size inflatable dinosaurs on stage?

Recommended for children ages 4 and up and their caregivers.

This free program is generously funded by Preotle, Lane & Associates, Ltd.

Annual Ice Cream Social and Summer Reading Kick off 6.25.26

Posted on by Cait Quinn

This Thursday, June 25th at 1pm, join the library staff in celebrating the start of summer…reading! We’ve once again invited Dairy Delight to dish up their tasty ice cream to all our friends in the community. We’ll also be hosting a dinosaur or two, a musical guest, and the Friends of the Malden Public Library will be hosting a book give away to help encourage kids to find their first read of the summer.

The event is free, but in order to move things efficiently, we ask that each family sign up for our Summer Reading Challenge in Beanstack ahead of time. If you participated last year, you can just log into your account and go to the challenges section and select Dig Into Reading Challenge. If you haven’t used Beanstack before you can log in on the website:  bit.ly/BeanstackMPL or download the mobile app via your device store. Search Beanstack and then follow the prompts. Hate tech? Stop by the Information desk and we can help get you started with an account, or just log your minutes for you.

And even if you can’t make it, we’d still love to see you this summer. We will have 8 weeks packed with activities for all ages. Oh and for reader’s who complete their reading challenges, we have prizes provided by local businesses to thank you for helping meet our community reading goals. For kids and teens, we’ll have coupons for food at local restaurants. For adults we’ll be holding a weekly raffle for bigger prizes. And then, for the end of summer the top reader in each category will receive a grand prize. For kids there is a family membership to the Museum of Science. For Teens a gift certificate for 4 to Boda Borg. And finally Adults will win a city of Malden rain barrel with a custom library logo.

Book Squad – Book Club for 4th/5th Graders – Thursday, March 5, 2026

Posted on by Rebecca Smith

Beginning March 5, this book club for 4th and 5th graders will meet monthly on the first Thursday of the month at 4:00pm for about 50 minutes. The program will include an informal book discussion, some snacks, and a book-related activity when appropriate. Sign up online, at the Children’s Room desk, or by calling the Children’s Room at 781.388.0803. Regular attendance is expected. Pick up the book from the Children’s Room desk and read it before the club meeting.

March 5 selection:  TBA