Library Programs for Children & Teens

For a little library, we are very busy!

From infants to teens, the Youngstown Free Library has programs for all ages. We welcome everyone to try something new and connect with your friends and neighbors!

Summer Reading programs

The Library's Summer Reading Program runs from June 29 - August 8. All programs but one are drop-in and require no registration: T-Rex Tea Party is the only program requiring registration.

FOR AGES 2-5:
Toddler & Preschool Storytime is held on Wednesdays from 10:30-11 AM in Falkner Park. Join Miss S. for stories and songs perfect for your toddlers and preschoolers. It will be an active romp of reading, singing and learning. When storytime is finished, the splashpad turns on!
Storytime will be held in the park pavilion rain or shine. In case of thunder or lightning, we will hold storytime in the Programming Room of the Youngstown Free Library.
• Wednesday, July 1 from 10:30-11 AM
• Wednesday, July 8 from 10:30-11 AM
• Wednesday, July 15 from 10:30-11 AM
• Wednesday, July 22 from 10:30-11 AM
• Wednesday, July 29 from 10:30-11 AM
• Wednesday, August 5 from 10:30-11 AM

FOR AGES 4-8:
Take & Make Craft Kits are available for pick-up at the Library every Monday starting at 2 PM. There will be 15-20 kits released every week--first come, first served.
• Monday, June 29
• Monday, July 6
• Monday, July 13
• Monday, July 20
• Monday, July 27
• Monday, August 3

Jurassic Readers is held on Wednesdays from 1-1:45 PM in Falkner Park. Let's explore dinosaurs and prehistoric animals! Every week, we'll read books and learn about history. After we finish, we'll have a frozen treat for everyone!
This program will be held in the park pavilion rain or shine. In case of thunder or lightning, we will move it to the Programming Room of the Youngstown Free Library.
• Wednesday, July 1 from 1-1:45 PM
• Wednesday, July 8 from 1-1:45 PM
• Wednesday, July 15 from 1-1:45 PM
• Wednesday, July 22 from 1-1:45 PM
• Wednesday, July 29 from 1-1:45 PM
• Wednesday, August 5 from 1-1:45 PM

FOR AGES 4-10:
T-Rex Tea Party is the grand finale of this summer's programming. Indulge your inner dinosaur with a royally proper tea. We'll play games, enjoy tea, and learn tea etiquette from a special guest. Registration will open in a week or so.
• Saturday, August 8 from 11:30-1 PM

FOR AGES 5-12:
Make Your Own Dinosaur Terrarium is a chance for kids to build their own prehistoric-looking terrarium! Miss Melanie from Nioga will be leading you through designing your plants, figures, and sandy ground so you can go home with your very own terrarium.
• Tuesday, July 7 from 4-5 PM

Make Your Own Reading Journal is a chance for readers to get started tracking the books they read. First, we'll decorate a reading journal. Then we'll talk about different strategies for keeping track of books in their journal.
• Tuesday, July 21 from 4-5 PM

FOR AGES 9+
Take & Make T(w)een Craft Kits are available for pick-up at the Library every other Monday starting at 2 PM. There will be 15-20 kits released every other week--first come, first served.
• Monday, July 6
• Monday, July 20
• Monday, August 3

FOR ALL AGES:
Town of Porter Rec Dept is held on Tuesday mornings in June and July from 10-11 AM at the Youngstown Free Library.
• Tuesday, June 30 from 10-11 AM: Niagara Down Under
• Tuesday, July 7 from 10-11 AM: Brain Dance with scarves, noodles, and stretchy bands!
• Tuesday, July 14 from 10-11 AM: Yoga for Kids with Michelle Drennan
• Tuesday, July 21 from 10-11 AM: Digging for Dinos from the Buffalo Museum of Science
• Tuesday, July 28 from 10-11 AM: Bugology from the Buffalo Museum of Science

Storywalk in the Park is held on Friday evenings in Falkner Park during the free Friday night concerts. Each StoryWalk integrates a children's picture book into stops along a walking path. Families can walk...and read!
• Friday, July 3 from 6-8:30 PM
• Friday, July 10 from 6-8:30 PM
• Friday, July 17 from 6-8:30 PM
• Friday, July 24 from 6-8:30 PM
• Friday, July 31 from 6-8:30 PM
• Friday, August 7 from 6-8:30 PM

Any last-minute updates to programs will be posted to the Library's Facebook page.

Summer Reading challenge

The Library's Summer Reading Challenge will run from June 29 - September 12 (the end of the first week of school). This year, families can track their child's time spent reading two ways:

• Download the READSquared app from the App Store or the Google Play Store and create an account under the Youngstown Free Library OR
• Log in to the READSquared website on your computer to create an account and track time spent reading.

Either way, great prizes await you!
100 minutes: door hanger
200 minutes: pencils & eraser
300 minutes: glow-in-the-dark or sticky dinosaur figurines
400 minutes: dinosaur bracelet
500 minutes: sunglasses
600 minutes: dinosaur slime egg
700 minutes: dinosaur glider
800 minutes: dinosaur squeeze ball
1,000 minutes: rechargeable flashlight
2,000 minutes: aluminum water bottle