Welcome to our Virtual Children's Department! Click the images below to learn more about our programs, new books, and other library resources.

Have you visited the library recently? As of April 1, our children’s computers and AWE early literacy station are back up and running.

We received a generous donation from the Friends of the Library to purchase a variety of new toys for the children’s department, including new textured foam blocks, sensory blocks for babies, a train table, dinosaurs and wild animal figures, a dump truck, doll clothes for our baby dolls, and more play food for our kitchen.

We look forward to seeing you back in
our children’s department!

2023 Nutmeg Nominees Announced

The 2023 Nutmeg nominees were announced on May 1. Below is the list of nominees in each category. We have several copies of each book at the library, and many are
available to borrow as downloadable e-books through the Overdrive and Hoopla links on our library website. The winners of the 2022 Nutmeg Awards will be announced on May 15.

The Nutmeg Book Award encourages children in grades 2-12 to read quality literature and to choose their favorite from a list of ten (fifteen elementary) nominated titles. The award is jointly sponsored by the Connecticut Library Association (CLA) and the Connecticut Association of School Librarians (CASL). Nominees are selected by a committee of students, school librarians and public librarians around the state.

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May Storytimes

Registration is now open for our May storytime mini-sessions. Join us for songs, stories, and more each week. A craft will be offered at the end of each preschool program. Masks are recommended, but not required for these programs.

Registration is required; space is limited.

Preschool Storytime
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.
May 3, 10, 17, 24

Storytime for Toddlers and Tots:
Mother Goose on the Loose
Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m.
Wednesdays at 11:15 a.m.
May 4, 11, 18, 25

Family Craft Night:

Summer Welcome Signs

Wednesday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Warm weather is just around the corner. Greet your guests with a summer-themed custom welcome sign that YOU created in this month’s Family Craft Night program. This activity has steps that are appropriate for all ages, but a parent or guardian must be with children to help with
supervision.

Registration is required and space is limited.

Lego Club

Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.

April 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26

You supply the imagination, and we supply the LEGOs in this drop-in program for kids of all ages. Complete the weekly “Master Builder” challenge or enjoy free building time.

No registration is required for this program.

Reading Lists

Not sure what to read next? Check out these book lists for some new ideas.

Adventures for Children

Books for Animal Lovers in Grades 3-5
Character Counts: Picture Books about Kindness and Caring
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Readalikes
Historical Fiction for Children
Mysteries for Children
Ready for School

Scary Stories for Kids
Science Fiction for Children

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1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Raise a reader! 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a national reading initiative that encourages parents and caregivers to provide positive, nurturing early experiences by reading aloud daily to their children from birth to age five. Reading to children builds important vocabulary and language skills that are needed for kindergarten. We invite you to participate in this exciting, free program open to children birth to age five.

How long will it take to read 1,000 books? This is a self-paced program that depends on how often you read together. Reading three books together a night—approximately 15 minutes—will mean you will have read 1,095 at the end of one year.

Come into the library and pick up your 1,000 Books Before Kindergartenwelcome packet in the children’s department.

Thank you to the Friends of the Portland Library for funding this program.

Not able to come to the library but want to get started on your next reading journal? Print them out here!

Computers in the Children's Area

Early Literacy Computer Station Added

In September 2014, the Youth Services Department added an AWE Early Literacy Computer Station to its list of services. Stocked with more than 40 games that build skills in the areas of reading, words and phonics; science and nature; math and problem solving; reference; music and arts; writing and computer skills; and social studies and geography, this colorful touch-screen computer is great for kids between the ages of 2-8. Users may sign up at the children’s reference desk to use the computer.

Portland Library Computer Information

We have two computers with Internet access in the Children's Department that can be used by patrons under the age of 11. Only children or others accompanied by children are allowed to use these computers.

Please note the following when using the computers:

Parents and guardians will have to sign a Public Computer Procedures form the first time their child uses a computer.
If others are waiting, use is restricted to 30 minutes per user.
There is filtering software on the computers in the Children's Department.
Please, no eating or drinking at the computer.
Our printing rates are as follows: Each user is allowed two free black and white pages. Additional pages are $.15 per page. Color copies are always $.50 per page.