Join Black Creators Week Starting on February 1

With Black History Month starting on February 1, the Pasadena Public Library is modifying its Social Media Storytime for preschoolers and celebrating Black Creators Week.

This event is intended for children between the ages of 3 and 5 and is a great opportunity to teach them valuable information at a young age.

Preschool Storytime begins at 10:30 a.m. Monday and will be live on the Library’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pasadenalibrary.

Throughout Black History month, Preschool Storytime repeats on Thursday, February 4, at 3 p.m. on Instagram Live @pasadenalibrary, and on Wednesday, February 17, 10:30 a.m. on Zoom.

Pasadena Public Library also highlights Black history and Black creators this month with a special Black History Month challenge, a just-for-fun, month-long reading challenge that starts Monday. You can participate by logging your reading, posting reviews, and attending some of our virtual programs. Sign up through www.pasadena.beanstack.com/reader365.

On YouTube, Library staffer and storyteller Nick Smith shares a mix of folk tales and historical pieces about African Americans. This collection of stories, presented in partnership with Pasadena Media, is perfect for school-age kids and their families, and is available 24/7 on demand. To view these programs, go to www.youtube.com/user/pasadenalibrary.

The Library also presents Signs ‘n Storytime, a fun storytime featuring a few American Sign Language (ASL) signs to learn. Watch this on Instagram Live @pasadenalibrary on Friday, February 5, 4 p.m.

Black History Month’s celebration will also feature STEAM Storytime, where the Library’s Miss Monica reads the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Charlotte Huck Award winner, “I Am Every Good Thing,” by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James. This will be presented on Thursday, February 11, 11 a.m., on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pasadenalapintoresca.

Also on February 11, the Library features “African and African American Tales” with Storyteller Michael D. McCarty, who entertains and educates with tales from Africa and of African Americans that depict the challenges and triumphs of Black people throughout history. This is for ages 5 and up and begins at 4 p.m. on Zoom.

And on Friday, February 26, “Chocolate Storytime,” an afternoon of storytelling and village building, features stories authored by and/or about African Americans. Join the Library on Facebook, www.facebook.com/pasadenalapintoresca as Dr. Ayesha Randall reads a book celebrating the culture of Black Americans. Ideal for ages 3 and up, the program begins at 4 p.m.

For a full outline of Black History Month events presented by the Pasadena Public Library, download this brochure, www.cityofpasadena.net/library/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/LIB_Black-History-Brochure.pdf.

Library programming is sponsored by The Friends of the Pasadena Public Library.