Escondido Public Library

Escondido Public Library is offering fun, Star Wars-themed programs May 1 through May 6, 2023.

• Build Your Own Spaceship Monday, May 2, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Build your own custom Star Wars spaceship from upcycled materials while supplies last (ages 5+ and families).
• BeYOUtiful Nail Art Tuesday, May 2, 4:00-6:00 p.m. The galaxy you want to explore may be far away, but you can create your very own galaxy...on your nails! Supplies are limited, so please register at www.escondidolibrary.org/register (ages 12 and up).
• May the Fourth Be with You Star Wars Day Celebration Thursday, May 4, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Celebrate everything Star Wars with crafts, costumes, and some very special guests from the 501st, Rebel Legion, Mando Mercs, and Saber Guild (all ages).
• All Inclusive Art Club Friday, May 5, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Join Mrs. Garcia during this special Star Wars-themed all ages and abilities storytime featuring a story, songs, and the opportunity to create art from a Star Wars picture book (all ages)!
• Star Wars Week Finale: Free Comic Book Day Saturday, May 6, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Star Wars Week concludes with Free Comic Book Day, board games, a trivia competition, and even more special guests! Get a free comic book courtesy of Knowhere Games & Comics (while supplies last) and take photos with fan favorite Star Wars characters from the 501st, Rebel Legion, and Mando Mercs. Join in the trivia competition at 11:30 a.m. in the Turrentine Room (all ages).

For more information on other Library programs for children, visit the Library’s website at http://www.escondidolibrary.org or contact Principal Librarian of Youth and Literacy Services, Dan Wood, at 760-839-4827 or dan.wood@escondidolibrary.org. Library programs are free, open to the public, and sponsored by the Friends of the Escondido Public Library. Escondido Public Library is located at 239 S. Kalmia St., Escondido, CA 92025.

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Escondido, CA – Escondido Public Library invites the community to go “Around the World in Many Ways” in its four-program celebration of different cultures, funded by the California Humanities Library Innovation Lab Grant.

• Mid-Autumn Festival: Thursday, September 8, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Local author Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan will tell a story about the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, followed by an all-ages lantern-making craft. Chinese mooncakes will be provided while supplies last.
• South American Adventure: Thursday, September 29, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Bilingual storyteller Georgette Baker will perform an interactive musical storytime about South American countries. Cultural artifacts will be available for show and tell.
• Danza Xinaxtli: Saturday, October 15, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Escondido-based Aztec dance group Danza Xinaxtli will perform traditional Aztec dances and discuss Aztec culture. Atole and champurrado will be provided while supplies last.
• Tradición Mexicana USA: Saturday, December 3, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Local Baile Folklorico group Tradición Mexicana USA will perform several dances and share the stories behind them. A presentation will be given in English and Spanish. Participants will be invited to make a piñata craft and enjoy traditional Mexican snacks, while supplies last.

Now entering its sixth year, the Library Innovation Lab program supports the design and delivery of responsive and relevant public humanities programming in California’s public libraries. The program provides a nine-month practice-based professional development experience and cash grants of up to $5,000 to participating library programmers. The creative and innovative programs that library staff develop will respond to the needs and circumstances of today’s immigrants and foster more inclusive communities within our state.

For more information on Around the World in Many Ways, contact Children’s Librarian Maureen Hogan at 760-439-5458 or maureen.hogan@escondidolibrary.org. For a calendar of Library events, visit www.escondidolibrary.org/events. Escondido Public Library is located at 239 South Kalmia Street, Escondido, CA 92025.

Escondido, CA – Escondido Public Library’s 2022 Summer Reading Challenge invites babies, children, tweens, teens and adults to plunge into “Oceans of Possibilities.” The Challenge encourages reading for fun and life-long learning for all ages and runs from June 18 to August 7, 2022.

Educational, recreational and cultural events are offered throughout the Challenge. Anyone can take part in the program from home, on a mobile device or by using Library computers. Participants can log reading and event participation online at http://www.escondidolibrary.org/summer to earn prizes donated by the Friends of the Library and local businesses.

Summer Reading Challenge festivities kick off on Saturday, June 18 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the Library’s front patio. Sign-up for the Challenge and receive a free slice of Rock-On Pizza, while supplies last.

Summer Reading Challenge programs for babies, children, tweens, teens and families include special story times, STEAM-themed craft events, traveling tidepools, a visit from rainforest animals and Marc Griffiths’ Oceans of Possibilities puppet show.

Teen events include a chance to explore table-top and virtual reality games, attend art-based events such as Anime Your Way and Sanrio Pom Poms and attend film showings by the “Walt Disney of Japan,” Hayao Miyazaki. Learn how to compost with worms, discover the haunted past of the Queen Mary and Star of India, make a beachy photo frame and more at adult-oriented events throughout the summer.

For more information on the 2022 Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Challenge including program dates and times, prizes, sponsors and rules for participation, visit www.escondidolibrary.org/summer. Summer Reading events are free, open to the public and generously sponsored by Friends of the Escondido Public Library and local businesses. Escondido Public Library is located at 239 South Kalmia Street, Escondido, CA 92025.

Escondido, CA – Escondido Public Library offers special programming for children in the month of May. All events are virtual, free and open to the public.

• Virtual Tea Time for Kids for children ages 5-12 years old on Friday, May 14, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. Enjoy English tea and snacks, learn about tea etiquette, do a craft, and listen to stories on Zoom with The Grand Tea Room. Registration is required online at www.escondidolibrary.org/register. Once participants receive confirmation, craft and snack kits can be picked up at The Grand Tea Room beginning Tuesday, May 11, 2021. The Grand Tea Room is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 145 West Grand Avenue in Escondido.
• The San Diego Poetry Annual hosts its annual workshop, Kids! San Diego Poetry Annual for children ages 6-12 virtually on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Registration is required online at www.escondidolibrary.org/register. Francisco Bustos and Ying Wu will lead writing activities that stimulate creativity and self-expression. This workshop is free and open to young poets (ages 6 - 12) that reside in San Diego County. Children's poems and artwork can be submitted via email for consideration in the 2021 KSDPA anthology. Ying Wu is a poetry editor of Writers Resist and the Kids! San Diego Poetry Annual. More examples of her work can be found online at writersresist.com and poetryandartsd.com, as well as in the material world at the San Diego Airport (arts.san.org/portfolio-item/before). Francisco Bustos is poet, musician and member of the spoken work/music collective Frontera Drum Fusion. He is a professor of English composition at Southwestern College (SWC) and hosts SWC Guest Writers Series.

All programs are generously sponsored by Friends of the Escondido Public Library. Escondido Public Library is located at 239 S. Kalmia Street in downtown Escondido. For more information about these programs visit www.escondidolibrary.org or contact Outreach Coordinator, Eveleen Crouthamel, at 760-839-5457 or eveleen.crouthamel@escondidolibrary.org.