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KIDS

EVENTS & STORY TIMES
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The Great American PoeTREEs - writing, display, and magnetic poetry
Mon, Apr 13, All day
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Celebrate National Poetry Month and great American poets by adding your poem to Beatley’s poet-trees in the children’s and teen areas and experimenting with magnetic poetry. (all ages)
Baby Time
Mon, Apr 13, 10:15am - 10:45am
James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl and clap at Baby Time!
Storytime in the Reading Garden - Cuentos en el jardín de lectura
Mon, Apr 13, 11:00am - 11:30am
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden
Children love to be outdoors! Join us in Beatley Central Library's beautiful outdoor Reading Garden for stories, songs and movement. Ages 0-5 with an adult.
Baby Time
Mon, Apr 13, 11:15am - 11:45am
James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Wiggle, crawl and clap at Baby Time!
Restful Readaloud - Stories from American History
Mon, Apr 13, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Story Room
No one's too old to enjoy being read to! Relax and unwind while a librarian reads you a story or two that explores 250+ years of American history. Ages 6-12 (and anyone who can sit quietly and listen)
Rescheduled
AAR Tween Book Party! - Eat pizza, make friends, and talk about books!
Mon, Apr 13, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
New date Wednesday, April 22, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
Let's eat pizza, talk about "Freewater" by Amina Luqman-Dawson and share additional recommendations for Historical Fiction books set in the United States of America!
The Great American PoeTREEs - writing, display, and magnetic poetry
Tue, Apr 14, All day
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Celebrate National Poetry Month and great American poets by adding your poem to Beatley’s poet-trees in the children’s and teen areas and experimenting with magnetic poetry. (all ages)
Family Storytime - Martes de niños
Tue, Apr 14, 10:15am - 11:15am
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Join us for a fun-filled hour of stories, music, and movement for ages 0-5!
Bilingual Storytime - Hora de cuentos bilingue
Tue, Apr 14, 10:30am - 10:45am
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Youth Services Area
Start your morning with stories, rhymes, and songs in English and Spanish ¡Empieza su mañana con cuentos, rimas y canciones en inglés y español!
Baby and Toddler Time - La hora de los bebés y los niños
Tue, Apr 14, 11:00am - 11:35am
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Youth Services Area
Just right for ages 0-23 months. Songs, games, movement activities, and bubbles.
Baby and Toddler Play Date
Tue, Apr 14, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Join us for a special uninterrupted playtime with your child and meet other caregivers. Discover how play and learning go hand-in-hand. (ages 0-4).
Passport to American History with Melody Ellison - American Girls Celebrate America 250
Tue, Apr 14, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Craft tambourines, sing karaoke, and learn about 1960s America through the eyes of American Girl Doll Melody Ellison! (Ages 6-12)
Creatives's Club: All Alexandria Reads - I am an American flag craft
Tue, Apr 14, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Create an American flag as unique as you are! Ages 6-12
The Great American PoeTREEs - writing, display, and magnetic poetry
Wed, Apr 15, All day
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Celebrate National Poetry Month and great American poets by adding your poem to Beatley’s poet-trees in the children’s and teen areas and experimenting with magnetic poetry. (all ages)
1s and 2s Time (first session) - Tiempo para niños de 1 y 2
Wed, Apr 15, 10:30am - 11:00am
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Periodicals Room
Join us for stories, songs, and activities for your active, growing little ones! Ages 1-2
Just Babies - Solo Los Bebés
Wed, Apr 15, 11:00am - 12:30pm
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Youth Services Area
A lap-sit and playtime just for babies ages 0-12 months and their grownups.
1s and 2s Time (second session) - Tiempo para niños de 1 y 2
Wed, Apr 15, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Periodicals Room
Join us for stories, songs, and activities for your active, growing little ones! Ages 1-2
Spitfire Club - Kindergarten - 3rd grade
Wed, Apr 15, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Changing the world, one book at a time!
Paws to Read
Wed, Apr 15, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Story Room
Do you want to practice reading aloud? Do you like dogs? Sign up for a 15-minute reading slot to read to a dog by calling (703) 746-1753 or by stopping by Beatley's Children's Desk. Ages 6-12.
Knit Nite! - A knitting club for kids ages 8-18.
Wed, Apr 15, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Learn to knit under the guidance of experienced knitters. All supplies will be provided. Ages 8-18.
The Great American PoeTREEs - writing, display, and magnetic poetry
Thu, Apr 16, All day
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Celebrate National Poetry Month and great American poets by adding your poem to Beatley’s poet-trees in the children’s and teen areas and experimenting with magnetic poetry. (all ages)
Stories and Songs
Thu, Apr 16, 10:15am - 10:45am
James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room,Children's Area
Come join us for engaging stories that are worth gathering for. Great for toddlers and siblings. Ages 0-5.
PreSchool Story Time: American Folk Songs
Thu, Apr 16, 11:00am - 11:40am
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Youth Services Area
PreSchool Story Time celebrates our country with traditional songs and stories.
Stories and Songs
Thu, Apr 16, 11:15am - 11:45am
James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room,Children's Area
Come join us for engaging stories that are worth gathering for. Great for toddlers and siblings. Ages 0-5.
Baby Bounce - for babies 0-14 months and their caretaker(s)
Thu, Apr 16, 1:15pm - 2:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Large Meeting Room
Baby storytime, plus opportunities to build relationships with other caretakers of young children! For ages 0-14 months, accompanied by an adult. 15 months and older, please attend 1s and 2s.
Preschool Storytime
Thu, Apr 16, 4:00pm - 4:30pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Large Meeting Room
Join Miss Amy for stories, songs, movement, and activities just right for preschool children. Ages 3-5 with adult.
Coding Game Night - ages 6-12 - Hands-on fun in programming, robotics, and electronics!
Thu, Apr 16, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Story Room
Drop in and play with our coding board games, card games, toys, and robots! Ages 6-12.
The Great American PoeTREEs - writing, display, and magnetic poetry
Fri, Apr 17, All day
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Celebrate National Poetry Month and great American poets by adding your poem to Beatley’s poet-trees in the children’s and teen areas and experimenting with magnetic poetry. (all ages)
The Great American PoeTREEs - writing, display, and magnetic poetry
Sat, Apr 18, All day
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Celebrate National Poetry Month and great American poets by adding your poem to Beatley’s poet-trees in the children’s and teen areas and experimenting with magnetic poetry. (all ages)
Borrow a Board Game
Sat, Apr 18, 10:00am - 4:45pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Use the library's board and card games while hanging out in the youth services area!
Games of the States - Games for ages 6-12
Sat, Apr 18, 11:00am - 3:00pm
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
Celebrate America 250 with board games about the states. Ages 6-12
Dungeons & Dragons at the Library
Sat, Apr 18, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library - Second Floor
Come play Dungeons & Dragons. No experience necessary. Open to ages 8-13.
This event is full
The Great American PoeTREEs - writing, display, and magnetic poetry
Sun, Apr 19, All day
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Celebrate National Poetry Month and great American poets by adding your poem to Beatley’s poet-trees in the children’s and teen areas and experimenting with magnetic poetry. (all ages)
Preschool STEAM Sundays
Sun, Apr 19, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
James M. Duncan Jr. Branch Library - Beth Patridge Meeting Room
Bring your preschooler to the Duncan Library on Sunday afternoons to explore STEAM activities (science, technology, engineering, art, and math)! This is a drop-in event. Recommended for ages 3-6
The Great American PoeTREEs - writing, display, and magnetic poetry
Mon, Apr 20, All day
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Celebrate National Poetry Month and great American poets by adding your poem to Beatley’s poet-trees in the children’s and teen areas and experimenting with magnetic poetry. (all ages)
Storytime in the Reading Garden - Cuentos en el jardín de lectura
Mon, Apr 20, 11:00am - 11:30am
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden
Children love to be outdoors! Join us in Beatley Central Library's beautiful outdoor Reading Garden for stories, songs and movement. Ages 0-5 with an adult.
Restful Readaloud - Stories from American History
Mon, Apr 20, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Story Room
No one's too old to enjoy being read to! Relax and unwind while a librarian reads you a story or two that explores 250+ years of American history. Ages 6-12 (and anyone who can sit quietly and listen)
See all events

 

DIGITAL FUN

 

Room to Read Comics Plus children

 


 

READING LISTS


Here's a sampling of great books from our collection. Don't limit yourself to these -- we have many more that you're sure to love!

Any staff member at the children's desk is happy to make recommendations!

Babies & Toddlers

Preschoolers

K-3rd Grades

4th-6th Grades

6th-8th Grades

Don't forget to check out our Early Literacy Guide for more resources!

 

PARENTS' CORNER

Looking for books on toilet training, bullying or getting your baby to sleep through the night?
The library's got a book for you! 

 


Grief


Potty Training


Feelings


Divorce

 

Last updated: March 2026