As a boy, I attended a small Catholic school in my neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. Every year we studied Black history (back then, it was a week, but we did it for almost a month anyway). It added greater context and layers to what was titled "American history." I often wondered why those people who looked like me and their achievements weren't included in the larger text. To paraphrase, from the minds of babes, right? 

I grew up and came to understand the myriad of factors that play a part in why many of the achievements of African-Americans weren't included in the textbook called "American history" but are still, without question, an integral part of American history. 

Knowing and understanding how a diverse range of people have built our world, civilization, and culture helps make all of us and our children intellectually stronger, emotionally resilient, and culturally robust. And this month, we have another chance to focus on those achievements and the people behind them. 

If your family is visual, you can check out the Alfred Haymond photography exhibit Celebrating Diversity Through Photography at the Hastings Branch Library in Pasadena.

Is your family crafty? The Pasadena Library's Take & Make series has several options for you. You'll find links to them in the "Black History Month" section below.

As cultural touchstones go, Lift Every Voice And Sing is undoubtedly one for many African-Americans. On February 16 at 6:00 PM, the Altadena Library will host a discussion with the multi-talented Angeline Butler. Beyond being an accomplished performer, she was a teen leader of the '60s Civil Rights movement in Nashville. 

Head to Monrovia for the Black History Month Celebration on February 18, at 2:00 PM. There will be interactive and engaging programming for families and children of all ages. 

There's a beautiful world of things to know and appreciate about and within Black history. These are a sampling that we hope you'll try and enjoy. If you know of other events, please share them on our Facebook page!

Rob

Take & Make: Mae Jemison's Rocket

Your kids (ages 3-12) can join the Jefferson Branch librarians in honoring the first black woman to go to space with this rocket craft. Reservations for craft kits are open from February 13 through 27 or while supplies last.

Black History Month Celebration

Your family can join the Monrovia librarians for stories, crafts, and more to celebrate Black History Month and pay tribute to the generations of African-Americans who have enriched our society. It happens on February 18 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. See the event listing for more details.

Walk for the Wild

On February 25, the LA Zoo will host its first-ever in-person fundraising walk. Your family can join as individuals or a team (with other families or coworkers) to raise funds to support the LA Zoo's mission to save endangered species. You'll take an early morning trek through the zoo while helping many of the animals you'll see along the way. See the site for more details.

Take & Make: "I Have A Dream" Cloud Mobile

Your family (ages 3+) can join the Hastings Branch librarians in celebrating the importance of dreams in making a better world. They'll take inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech and add their dreams to a cloud mobile. Reservations for craft kits are open from February 1 through 12 or while supplies last. 

Take & Make: Inspired by Artist Pearl Fryar

Your family (ages 5+) can join the Hill Avenue Branch librarians in making a topiary inspired by the work of artist Pearl Fryar. Reservations for craft kits are open from February 1 through 28 or while supplies last. 

Take & Make: The Quilt Art of Bisa Butler

Your family (ages 9+) can join the Hill Avenue Branch librarians in making quilt art inspired by Bisa Butler. Reservations for craft kits are open from February 1 through 28 or while supplies last.

Take & Make: Sweet Potato Recipes

Your family can join the Hasting Branch librarians in celebrating the role sweet potatoes have played in the historical diet of African-Americans. Reservations for kits are open from February 13 through 26 or while supplies last.

Giveaway: Notable Black American Scientist Buttons and Bookmarks

Your family can celebrate the contributions of Black scientists by collecting three commemorative buttons and bookmarks from the La Pintoresca Branch Library starting February 14 through 28 or while supplies last.

Movie Night: The Princess & the Frog

Your family can join the Jefferson Branch librarians to watch Tiana and her frog prince find love in a screening of The Princess & the Frog on Valentine's Day on February 14 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. No registration is required.

Celebration Stories

Your little ones (ages 3-5) can join the Santa Catalina Branch librarians in celebrating Black History Month with picture books written by Black authors on February 15 from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM. See the event listing for more information.

Art Quilt Block Portraits

Your teens and adults (ages 13+) can join the Santa Catalina Branch librarians in celebrating Black History Month by making a quilt using the quilt codes used by the Underground Railroad on February 18 from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM. See the event listing for more details.

Take & Make: Alma Thomas - The Eclipse

Your family (ages 9+) can join the La Pintoresca Branch librarians in creating a vibrant masterpiece inspired by Alma Thomas' "The Eclipse." Art kit reservations are open from February 21 through 28 or while supplies last.  

African Talking Drums by Chazz Ross

Your family can join the La Pintoresca Branch librarians in listening to and learning from Chazz's world of African Drums on February 23 from 4:00 PM to 4:50 PM. See the event listing for more details.

Lift Every Voice: An Evening with Angeline Butler

Your teens and adults (ages 13+) can join the Hastings Branch librarians live and on zoom for a discussion about resistance with Angeline Butler, the celebrated singer, actress, playwright, producer, and instructor who was a teen leader of the '60s Civil Rights movement in Nashville. It happens on February 16 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Registration is required, and spots are limited.

Take & Make: Floating Heart Sensory Jars

Your family (ages 5+) can join the Jefferson Branch librarians in making a calming, floating sensory jar with heart confetti. Reservations for craft kits are open from February 6 to 27 or while supplies last. 

Tween Drawing Workshop

Your tween (ages 9-12) can join the Altadena librarians for a three-part drawing workshop. No artistic or drawing experience is needed, and supplies will be provided. Attend one or all of the workshops. No reservation is required. See the event listing for more details. Workshops are held from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM on:

February 8 - landscapes

February 15 - portraits

February 22 - abstractions

Take & Make: Pom Pom Rabbit

Your family (ages 9+) can join the Santa Catalina Branch librarians in celebrating the Year of the Rabbit by making a lucky pom pom rabbit. Craft kit registration is open from January 23 through February 13 or while supplies last. 

Art with Jeanette: Mountain Landscapes

Your kids (ages 5-12) can join artist Jeanette and the Hastings Branch librarians in studying the mountain landscapes of Paul Cezanne and find the beauty in our San Gabriel Mountains to make their own landscapes on February 15 from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Registration is required, and spots are limited.

3X3 Art Workshops: Embellished Mini Wall Hanging

Teens and adults can join the Altadena librarians in learning how to make embellished mini wall hangings using sequins, beads, and gems in this workshop with artist Brockstar on February 18 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Registration is required, and spots are limited.

Kindness Rocks!

Your family can join the Santa Catalina Branch librarians in celebrating National Random Acts of Kindness Day by painting messages on rocks and leaving them to be found on February 16 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. See the event listing for more information.

Pasadena Grows: Spring Square Foot Veggie Garden

Your family (ages 5+) can join the Hill Avenue Branch librarians outside to learn the planning and layouts for a square foot spring vegetable garden on February 18 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Registration is required, and spots are limited. 

All Ages Lego Day

Your family can join the Bob Lucas librarians for an afternoon of Lego-building fun on February 24 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. See the event listing for more details.

These events are regularly scheduled, and many do not require registrations. That said, please check with the event host in case of holidays, weather, COVID, or other reasons to cancel or reschedule.
 

Board Game Night

Your family can join others and the Altadena librarians in an evening of board game fun on Mondays through December 19, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. No registration is required.

Chess Night

Your family can join other chess lovers and the Altadena librarians in an evening of chess-inspired fun on Tuesdays through November 22, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. No registration is required.
 

Afternoon Games

The whole family is invited to the Villa Parke Community Center Branch Library to play games, from board games to giant dominos. The fun happens on Tuesdays, from 2:00 PM till 4:00 PM.

Infant & Toddler Storytimes

Your little ones (ages 0-2) and their caregiver can join the Pasadena librarians weekly at 10:30 AM for 20 minutes of reading, rhyming, and singing fun! 

Lamanda Park Branch - Tuesdays

Allendale Branch - Wednesdays

Preschool Storytime - Pasadena Public Libraries

Your kids (ages 3-5) can join the Pasadena librarians weekly for a selection of stories, songs, crafts, or a short movie. Activities vary by branch.

Villa Parke Community Center Branch - Tuesdays, 10:30 AM till 11:30 AM

Santa Catalina Branch - Wednesday, 10:30 AM till 11:00 AM

San Rafael Branch - Wednesdays, 11:00 AM till 11:30 AM

Lamanda Park Branch - Thursdays, 10:30 AM till 11:00 AM

Linda Vista Branch - Thursday, 10:30 AM till 11:00 AM

Hill Avenue Branch - Saturdays, 10:30 AM till 11:00 AM

Family Films

Villa Parke Community Center Branch hosts a family movie for you on Thursdays, from 3:30 PM till 5:30 PM. Please contact the branch at 626-744-6510 for the movie title. And this is a BYOS (bring your own snacks) event.

Video Game Club

Your Teen (age 14-19) can stop into the Hastings Branch Library Meeting Room on Thursdays, from 4:00 PM till 6:00 PM, for some gaming fun on the Nintendo Switch. They can make new friends and learn fair play every week. No registration is required. Must play well with others.

Crafting with Tish & Tosh

Join the Pasadena Library online for some all-ages crafting fun. You'll learn new crafts all year round. The crafting fun happens on every-other Monday on Instagram Live from 3:00 PM till 3:30 PM.

 

Teen Switch Hour

Your Tweens (ages 8-12) can join the Altadena librarians for some Nintendo Switch fun playing Mario Kart, Mario Party, and Smash Brothers every Thursday from 4:00 PM till 5:00 PM in the Main Library's Community Room. The library has a limited number of systems available. You are welcome to bring your own Switch. .

 

STEAM Team

Your Tweens (ages 9-12) can join the Hastings Branch librarians on the third Tuesday of most months (Thanksgiving week being a usual exception) from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM to learn about science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Registration is required, and spots are limited. 

Innovation Lab

Your kid (ages 6-11) can join the Monrovia librarians for a variety of STEM-related activities. No registration is required. Supplies are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. See the event listing for more details. All lab sessions are from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Lab dates are:

January 11

January 25

February 8

February 22
 

Crafternoons for Kids!

Your kids (grades K-5) can join the Altadena librarians on the third Tuesday of the month for their arts and crafts program. There's a different craft every month, and parents are encouraged to participate. See the library calendar for details.

Imagination Station

Your kids (ages 4-8) can join the Monrovia librarians for a trip to another world through imaginative play using toys, props, and various sensory items. No reservation is required. See the event listing for more details.

January 12

January 26

February 9

February 23
 

Abacus Workshop

Your kids (ages 5-12) can join the La Pintoresca Branch librarians in learning arithmetic with the Soroban abacus. Registration is required. See the event listing for more information.

'Dena Dishes

Your teen (grades 8-12) can join the Altadena librarians on Instagram every other Friday at 5:00 PM for reviews of the coolest, tastiest, and best-value spots for teens in Altadena.