Preschool Storytimes for 3, 4, and 5 year olds*: Tuesdays at 10:30 am or Wednesdays at 1:00 pm Join our staff for storytime culminating in a simple hands-on activity.  Sessions run approximately 40 minutes.  Limited to 15 children (ages 3, 4, and 5) per session. Session I: Tuesday, January 10, 17, 24, 31 Wednesday, January 11, 18, 25 Session II: Tuesday, February 7, 14, 21, 28 Wednesday, February 1, 8, 15, 22 Session III: Tuesday, March 7, 14, 21, 28 Wednesday, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Session IV: Tuesday, April 4, 11, 18, 25 Wednesday, April 5, 12, 19, 26  *The train table may be closed during storytimes. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you for understanding.

Toddler Storytimes**: Mondays at 10:30 am or Thursdays at 10:30 am Join Miss Sharon for a half hour of interactive fingerplay, songs, rhymes, and stories followed by an easy craft.  Limited to 10 children (ages 24 to 36 months). Session I: Monday, January 9, 23, 30* Thursday, January 12, 19, 26 *There will be no storytime on January, 16th.  The library will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Session II: Monday, February 6, 13, 20, 27 Thursday, February 2, 9, 16, 23 Session III: Monday, March 6, 13, 20, 27 Thursday, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Session IV: Monday, April 3, 10, 17, 24 Thursday, April 6, 13, 20, 27 **The train table may be closed during storytimes. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you for understanding.

Winter Reading Program Starting: Monday, January 2 Ending: Friday, March 3 Want help in fighting off the winter blues?  Join our winter reading program and earn raffle tickets for great prizes simply by reading!  Pick up a reading log starting on Monday, January 2nd and keep a list of the books you read throughout the months of January and February.  Tickets will be awarded for every 10 books read if you are a Read-To-Me Reader and every 5 books read if you are an Independent Reader.  Receive an additional raffle ticket for every additional 5 or 10 books read.  The final raffle will be held on Friday, March 3.

Storytime in Spanish (La Hora de Cuentos en Espanol) Date: Saturday, February 11 Time: 10:00 am Join us to warm up a chilly day with a bilingual storytime.  Enjoy songs, stories, fingerplays and other activities in both Spanish and English.  It is for those who know and understand Spanish, for those who would like to hear this language, or for those who want something different!  For children in Kindergarten and up.

Chess Tournament Date: Saturday, February 18 Time: 9:30 am Every year Allegheny County holds a county-wide chess tournament for children kindergarten through 8th grade.  Students will first compete against colleagues at our library.  Winners continue on to the city wide tournament.  Register between January 16 and February 14.

Monkey Business with Curious George Date: Saturday, February 25 Time: 11:00 am Join us to celebrate everyone's favorite monkey!  We'll read stories about Curious George and other monkeys, play games and make a craft.  Get ready for "Cuious George" the movie coming out later in 2006!  This program is for all ages.

Baby Lap-Sit Date: Friday, March 10, 17, 24, 31 Time: 10:30 am* Join Miss Sharon for an interactive storytime focused on our youngest patrons.  This program is for babies 6 to 24 months old and a parent/caregiver.  We will have fun with fingerplays, songs, and books.  This program is limited to 10 babies and their partners. *The train table may be closed during storytime. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you for understanding.

Fun With Origami Date: Saturday, March 11 Time: 2:00 pm Who knew folding paper could be so much fun.  Learn how to make fantastic animals using origami paper.  We will also create paper airplanes and see who’s plane will go the furthest.  This program is for children ages 6 and up.

Puppets and Peanut Butter Date: Wednesday, April 5 Time: 11:00 am  Joann, the puppet-maker, is back for a fun-filled program full of puppets, songs and stories.  We will provide peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and juice.  This program is excellent for toddlers and preschoolers.

A Fairy Flower Tea Party Date: Saturday, April 22 Time: 2:00 pm   Put on your favorite dress and join us for a fantastical tea party.  We will read about some of our favorite storybook characters and their tea parties, brush up on our manners, and then enjoy our own tea party.  The event will end with a craft.  This program is for children ages 6 and up.

Hand-Made By Me Date: Wednesday, May 3 Time: 4:00 pm  Get ready for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day by creating special gifts to give.  This program will focus specifically on creating handmade crafts to show how much you love Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa.  Recommended for children ages 5 and up.

Registration is requested for all programs. Events subject to cancellation one week before scheduled date if fewer than 10 children enroll.