Children

Paws to Read -

Practice Reading Skills by Reading to a Dog

Saturday, February 7th 1pm-2pm

Wednesday, February 18th 3-4pm

Story Tower

Reading aloud helps your young child expand their vocabulary and improve reading comprehension. Learning to read can be scary; a friendly face, particularly one with a wagging tail, can ease reading anxieties and build confidence. Billings Public Library is hosting two sessions a month:

1^st Saturday of the month 1 pm – 2 pm with Intermountain Therapy Animals

3^rd Wednesday of the month 3-4pm with Pet Partner Therapy Animals

Each child will be able to sign up on the day of the program and have a chance to read to one dog. Space is limited

Reading to a dog gives children the opportunity to practice their reading skills without fear of judgment. Children will share a book with a trained therapy dog; accompanied by the dog’s handler (the handlers do not correct a child's reading). Parents may sit quietly in the room with their child or take this moment to sit and relax just outside the program area.

Cat Tales-

Practice Reading Skills with Shelter Cats!

4th Friday of the Month

February 27th

4 to 5 pm

Children's Story Tower

Reading aloud helps your beginning reader expand their vocabulary and improve reading comprehension. Learning to read can be scary; a friendly face, particularly one with a soothing purr, can ease reading anxieties and build confidence.

This Reading Program gives children who are learning to read time to read to a group of shelter cats in a safe and controlled environment. Children can share a book with foster/shelter cats from Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter and learn about adoption options.

Registration must be done in person at the Children's desk on the day of the event, beginning at 9 AM. Each family registering will have 15 minutes in the Story Tower.

SPACE IS LIMITED!

Books and Babies: Musical

Stories, Songs and Play

Saturdays, 10:15-11am

Story Tower

The musical instrument edition of our Books and Babies program! Music creates a positive connection to literacy and language between your child (ages 0-2) and you! Join us every Saturday at 10:15am in the Story Tower for hands-on playing on musical instruments, singing, reading books and fun!

And a BIG thank you to the Billings Library Foundation and the Friends of the Billings Public Library for supporting this program!

February Friday Night Fun

Join us Friday nights for family fun!

2/06 Curling with Billings Curling Club- 5:30-7 pm

Celebrate the start of the Winter Olympics with the Billings Curling Club at the library. Jayme Green, Level One Curling Instructor with USA Curling and Vice President of the Billings Curling Club, will be on hand with curling equipment to demonstrate how the game is played. Come try curling, ask questions, and learn about the local club!

2/13- How to Train Your Dragon Movie Night 5:30-7:30 pm Join us in the Community Room Friday February 13^th for How to Train Your Dragon Live action! Relax, watch the movie, and color!

2/20- Twilight Appreciation Night 5:30- Come watch the cult classic, Twilight: New Moon while enjoying themed treats and other Twilight fun.

2/27- Cardboard Box Building Night 6:00- 7:00 pm-

This is the night for all box fort builders to come to BPL. We'll provide the boxes, you provide the imagination - let's fill the Community Room with your creations!

Dolly Parton Imagination Library

Sign up now!

First Lady Gianforte of Montana joins Dolly Parton to announce the Montana statewide expansion of her namesake Imagination Library book-gifting program. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books each month to children from birth to age five, free of charge through funding shared by state and local community partners. Children must be registered by a parent or guardian in order to receive the books. There is no charge to register or receive the books. Age-appropriate books are mailed directly to the homes of registered children each month.

iVox Books that Move!

iVOX is a children’s book app for ages 3-8, which engages and delights curious young minds with the latest in storytelling technology. Part eBook, part audiobook and part virtual pop-up. Children follow along with the exciting stories while interacting with 3D characters and scenes immersed in the narrative like never before (no 3D glasses needed!).

Use this link on any desktop device to access iVox Books.

Download the app, log in with your library card and watch children's books come to life!

Android app

Apple app

Lantern (formerly Bright By Text)

Lantern is a free texting services that helps parents and caregivers make the most out of their early interactions by suggesting fun and easy activities, providing positive parenting tips and resources, ways to aid a child’s physical development, and much more. In addition to expert content, Bright by Text includes messages about free and low-cost events and resources specific to the Billings area, such as health clinics, preschool enrollment periods, and fun events for families.

To sign up, parents and caregivers with prenatal to age 11 children can text 406Parents to 274448. They will receive 2 to 5 text messages per week that includes a link to a landing page with more detail, short modeling videos, and links to related resources.

Children

Take and Make Kit:February- Love Bugs

This craft is all gone1 You may make it at home by following these directions. Stop by the Children's Desk beginning March 2nd for a new craft.

Take and Make Kit: January- Snowman Mitten

Family Reading

Family reading is designed to encourage families to develop the habit of reading aloud together. Studies have shown that children who read aloud have improved language skills and are more successful in school. The goal of this program is for families to read 20 minutes a day for 20 days.

For more information and to download the postcard. Head to this page: https://billingslibrary.org/446/Childrens-Reading-Programs

中文故事時間 Chinese Story Time

3:30pm

2nd Monday of the month

Story Tower

Join us for stories, songs, and more! Speakers of all levels are welcome.

Your presenter is a native Chinese speaker excited to share her language.

Adventures in Story Time

Stories, songs and craft activity

Preschool Story Time (3-6 year olds)

Tuesdays & Thursdays

10 am Story Tower

Tiny Tales (2-3 year olds)

Wednesdays

10am Story Tower

Adventures in Story Time introduces young children to books, songs, crafts, and other fun interactive activities designed around a theme. Each weekly Story Time is a chance to practice reading readiness skills like listening during stories, letter awareness and predicting.

Art Explorers

Art Club for Tweens (9 years-12 years)

Tuesdays

4 to 5 pm

Children's Craft Corner

Unleash your inner-artist by exploring fun art concepts. Create new projects every week. Painting, zines, mixed media, still life, portraits—you name it, we’ll do it!

Ages 9-12. No registration is required, unless specifically noted.

Paws to Read -

Practice Reading Skills by Reading to a Dog

Saturday, February 7th 1pm-2pm

Wednesday, February 18th 3-4pm

Story Tower

Reading aloud helps your young child expand their vocabulary and improve reading comprehension. Learning to read can be scary; a friendly face, particularly one with a wagging tail, can ease reading anxieties and build confidence. Billings Public Library is hosting two sessions a month:

1st Saturday of the month 1 pm – 2 pm with Intermountain Therapy Animals

3rd Wednesday of the month 3-4pm with Pet Partner Therapy Animals

Each child will be able to sign up on the day of the program and have a chance to read to one dog. Space is limited

Books and Babies : Classic

Stories, songs and play

Thursdays, 3:15-4pm

Story Tower

Want to foster a love of reading at an early age and build important early literacy skills for your young child (ages 0-2)? Join us in the Story Tower for stories, rhymes, and finger plays intended for our littlest pre-readers!

Game On!

Fridays and Saturdays

3-4:45 pm

Craft Corner

Join us for open game time. There will be family friendly board games and lots of Legos! Children of all ages are welcome.

¡Hora de Cuentos en Español!

Spanish Story Time!

2nd Friday of the Month

4pm

Story Tower

Cancelled for the month of February

Join us for Spanish Story Time. We will enjoy stories, songs, and more! Speakers of all levels are welcome. Your presenter is a native Spanish speaker excited to share her language.

Cat Tales-

Practice Reading Skills with Shelter Cats!

4th Friday of the Month

February 27th

4 to 5 pm

Children's Story Tower

Books and Babies: Musical

Stories, Songs and Play

Saturdays, 10:15-11am

Story Tower

The musical instrument edition of our Books and Babies program! Music creates a positive connection to literacy and language between your child (ages 0-2) and you! Join us every Saturday at 10:15am in the Story Tower for hands-on playing on musical instruments, singing, reading books and fun!

And a BIG thank you to the Billings Library Foundation and the Friends of the Billings Public Library for supporting this program!

ASL Social Hour

Saturday February 14th

2-3 pm

Story Tower

Krafty Kids

Art Club for 6-9 year olds

1st & 3rd Saturdays

2-3 pm

Children's Craft Corner

February 7th class is CANCELLED

Come get creative with us! We will have different projects to work on at each meet up. No pre-registration is required, unless specifically noted.

Kid Friendly Co+Lab Programs

The CO+Lab is a makerspace for all ages and skill levels. It offers tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing machines, and a sound booth, along with hands-on programs to help the community explore, learn and create.

1^st Saturday of the month 1 pm – 2 pm with Intermountain Therapy Animals

3^rd Wednesday of the month 3-4pm with Pet Partner Therapy Animals

2/13- How to Train Your Dragon Movie Night 5:30-7:30 pm Join us in the Community Room Friday February 13^th for How to Train Your Dragon Live action! Relax, watch the movie, and color!