Storytimes near Stratford Library

Children's Program Room

For families with babies that are still lapsitters. Join us for rhymes, songs, bounces, books, and sharing time! Registration not required-register if you'd like reminders/notifications.

Join us for a special book club celebrating America's 250th Birthday. The first book we will discuss is Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard. Books are available at Check out desk, Libby, and Hoopla Book Synopsis: James A. Garfield was one of the most extraordinary men ever elected president. Born into abject poverty, he rose to become a wunderkind scholar, a Civil War hero, and a renowned and admired reformist congressman. Nominated for president against his will, he engaged in a fierce battle with the corrupt political establishment. But four months after his inauguration, a deranged office seeker tracked Garfield down and shot him in the back. But the shot didn’t kill Garfield. The drama of what hap­pened subsequently is a powerful story of a nation in tur­moil. The unhinged assassin’s half-delivered strike shattered the fragile national mood of a country so recently fractured by civil war, and left the wounded president as the object of a bitter behind-the-scenes struggle for power—over his administration, over the nation’s future, and, hauntingly, over his medical care. A team of physicians administered shockingly archaic treatments, to disastrous effect. As his con­dition worsened, Garfield received help: Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, worked around the clock to invent a new device capable of finding the bullet. Meticulously researched, epic in scope, and pulsating with an intimate human focus and high-velocity narrative drive, The Destiny of the Republic will stand alongside The Devil in the White City and The Professor and the Madman as a classic of narrative history.

Children's Program Room

This program may be changed due to library construction. Learn about junk journaling and ways to preserve your summer memories. Be creative as you decorate the cover of your journal! Registration required. Ages 8-12.

uCreate

Welcome to the exciting, ever-evolving world of 3D printing! In this hands-on introduction, you'll learn how to operate uCreate's NEW Bambu Lab H2C 3D printer, how to navigate Thingiverse, and how to modify 3D models using Bambu Studio slicing software. All participants will receive a sample 3D print to take home. Open to: grade 7 - adult.

Ages: 3 to 6 Sign up to receive a grab ‘n’ go craft based on an American animal along with a related Library book to check out. Pick up between 6/12 - 6/26.

Children's Program Room

Do you want to introduce your child to music? Piano with a parent is for ages 5-6 with a grownup. Choose either date 7/10 or 7/24. Please register for only one date as space is limited. *Please understand, this is not a replacement for professional piano lessons.*

Lovell Room

Teens: Enjoy gaming on the big screens, featuring the Nintendo Switch 2, retro consoles, Meta Quest 3 VR, and more! Have a favorite game or lucky controller? Bring 'em along! Gamers of all skill levels welcome. Snacks provided. Open to: grades 7-13.

Children's Program Room

Ages 5 to 12. The program meets in the Children's Program Room. Are you a LEGO enthusiast? Build your own creations, and make friends who enjoy LEGOs as much as you do. Children can build anything their imagination designs.

This program will be held at the Perry House Join Giulia Gambale, UConn Extension Master Gardener, to learn how to think smarter about when to start your seeds and how to time succession sowings of vegetables for an extended harvest well into fall. This class will also help you enhance the succession of bloom in your landscape, ensuring a continuous rainbow of color throughout the second half of summer and beyond! Giulia Gambale is UConn Extension Master Gardener Coordinator for New Haven County, working with over 100 Master Gardeners and Interns to facilitate support in community,education, pocket and healthy and healing garden projects. Giulia also gardens in the IRIS Wellness Garden, and recreated and maintains the Pardee Morris House Historic Herb Garden. This program will be held at the Perry House The Perry House 1128 W Broad St, Stratford, CT 06615. Perry House is the Yellow House that shares the parking lot with Stratford Library and The Baldwin Center.

Children's Program Room

Ages 7 to 12. Use recycled materials, creativity, and engineering skills to build a container to help your cookie survive a fall. Enjoy munching on cookies, whole or broken, at the end. Sign up for one session. Registration required.

Ages 7 to 12. Use recycled materials, creativity, and engineering skills to build a container to help your cookie survive a fall. Enjoy munching on cookies, whole or broken, at the end. Sign up for one session. Registration required.

Reference Department

In honor of America’s 250th, we are featuring spices commonly used in early American cooking. Stop by the Reference Desk on the date listed and pick up a grab & go kit while supplies last. Each kit contains a sample of the spice plus information and recipes. One kit per household.

Children's Program Room

It’s time to sing and move! Join us for some of our favorite children's songs. We will dance, use some instruments, and have fun! No registration required. Ages 0-2

Children's Program Room

Ages 5 to 10. Line up for the LEGO race of the summer! Build a race car using LEGOs and wheels. Then race your vehicle down the ramp. LEGOs provided.

The Reader's Theatre Showcase scheduled for Monday, July 13 has been rescheduled New Date: Thursday, July 23 at 7pm

Children's Program Room

Ages 3 to 5. Enjoy stories, rhymes, and a craft. No need to register, just drop in!

Children's Program Room

Rediscover the delight in sending and receiving letters. Stay connected to family and friends in farflung places. Bring your recipient's name and address. We'll supply the stationery. Your grown up is welcome to participate as well. Ages 6-12.

Join us for a casual, and unique book discussion on Tuesday, July 14th at Riverview Bistro, 946 Ferry Blvd, Stratford, CT 06614. We will meet at 7:00pm and then start our discussion at 7:30pm. Please tell all your friends this is so exciting. We will be discussing A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern. Copies are available at the check out desk. Let me know if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing everyone. Book Synopsis: What if we could redefine leadership? What if kindness came first? Jacinda Ardern grew up the daughter of a police officer in small-town New Zealand, but as the 40th Prime Minister of her country, she commanded global respect for her empathetic leadership that put people first. This is the remarkable story of how a Mormon girl plagued by self-doubt made political history and changed our assumptions of what a global leader can be. When Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister at age thirty-seven, the world took notice. But it was her compassionate yet powerful response to the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, resulting in swift and sweeping gun control laws, that demonstrated her remarkable leadership. She guided her country through unprecedented challenges—a volcanic eruption, a major biosecurity breach, and a global pandemic—while advancing visionary new policies to address climate change, reduce child poverty, and secure historic international trade deals. She did all this while juggling first-time motherhood in the public eye. Ardern exemplifies a new kind of leadership—proving that leaders can be caring, empathetic, and effective. She has become a global icon, and now she is ready to share her story, from the struggles to the surprises, including for the first time the full details of her decision to step down during her sixth year as Prime Minister. Through her personal experiences and reflections, Jacinda is a model for anyone who has ever doubted themselves, or has aspired to lead with compassion, conviction, and courage. A Different Kind of Power is more than a political memoir; it’s an insight into how it feels to lead, ultimately asking: What if you, too, are capable of more than you ever imagined?

Lovell Room

NERF WARS with a twist—this year it’s Teens vs. Adults! Bring a teacher, parent, sibling, or other “adult” (18 ) and battle it out for the ultimate Nerf victory. Fast, chaotic, and ridiculously fun—you don’t want to miss it. Grades 7–13 Registration required for teens their adult (Signed Parent/Guardian Permission Form is required for all teens) Tues., 7/14 7:45-9:00 pm. Location: Baldwin Center Safety: No Rival balls No oversized blasters

Lovell Room

Ages 5-12. It's summer and Stratford's favorite magician, Jay Reidy, is back to entertain and remind everyone of the magic of reading! Registration is required.

Children's Program Room

Ages 9 (adults and teens welcome). Learn basic crochet stitches like single and double chain or bring questions about your current project. Materials provided.

Lovell Room

Join Michael Langlois for an engaging presentation exploring the story of our nation’s founding through two iconic American musicals, "1776" and "Hamilton." This lecture examines how each musical offers a distinct and contrasting vision of an American society at a crossroads, reflecting the values and tensions of their respective eras. Michael Langlois is a performer, lecturer and storyteller with decades of experience on stage and off. He has lectured on topics ranging from acting and directing to using one’s passions to bridge divides and engage with others. He has directed across New England, including performances for the Hartford Children’s Theatre, Springfield’s Drama Studio and the Ashford Youth Theatre, where he worked for nearly 20 years as Artistic Director.

Ages 5-12 can sign up for a book scientist kit on American topics. Kits include Library books, crafts, and extension activities. Pickups begin on Thursdays. Registration required. Kits can be picked up between 7/16 - 7/30.

Children's Program Room

For families with babies that are still lapsitters. Join us for rhymes, songs, bounces, books, and sharing time! Registration not required-register if you'd like reminders/notifications.

Children's Program Room

Ages 6-12. Kindness Club will meet during the summer to work on projects with a community benefit. Be a part of our kindness club to spread joy and support a spirit of community! Registration required.

Teen Department

Whether you’re an experienced chess player or playing for the first time, join us for refreshments and friendly competition! Grades 7-13. Thurs., 7/16 | 5:00-6:00pm

Library Amphitheatre

What could be better than a BINGO night? How about a Plant BINGO night! Enjoy a fun evening of BINGO with fellow plant lovers, and take home plant prizes! Did we mention there will be plants?! This is an adult program ages 18 and up. Registration is required.

Lovell Room

The Stratford Library Board of Trustees will meet in the Lovell Room at 6:30 p.m. beginning with the Annual Scholarship reception.

Lovell Room

Tai chi easy/qigong practice combines breathwork, gentle movement, massage, meditation, and mindfulness to support overall physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Class will focus on integrating body, breath, and mind to promote relaxation and restore balanced energy. Each session encourages individuals to engage at their own pace and according to their personal needs. Your instructor, Dottie Lerner is a retired Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. She is certified to be a Practice Leader in Tai Chi easy and certified as a Practice Leader in Qigong. Please wear comfortable clothes and bring water. Registration is required. Sign up for each session that you are interested in attending.

Children's Program Room

Ages 3-6. Playing, learning, and fun for preschoolers! Join us for sensory play with a wide variety of engaging, exploratory, "summer" themed STEAM activities.