• Mondays at the Forest Avenue Library: Cookie and Cupcake Decorating, 4 PM
• Tuesdays at the East Side Library: Cardboard Creations, 3:30 PM
• Wednesdays at the North Side Library: Breakdance, 3:30 PM
• Thursdays at the South Side Library: Painting, 4 PM
MAY
asap days
Sensory Poetry Walk
Thursday, April 3, 5:30 PM | East Side Library
Celebrate National Poetry Month and join us for a sensory poetry walk. We will take a walk around the Library and Easttown Park noting what we see, hear, smell, and touch. We’ll listen to some poetry along the way, and also learn more about the local plants and animals.
Art Club
Thursday, April 3 and May 1, 6:30 PM | Forest Avenue Library
• Mondays at the Forest Avenue Library: Design and Print Custom Cards, 4 PM (no program May 26)
• Tuesdays at the East Side Library: Air Dry Clay, 3:30 PM
• Wednesdays at the North Side Library: Cardboard Creations, 3:30 PM
• Thursdays at the South Side Library: Drama Games, 4 PM
Play, Grow, Learn
Tuesdays, 10 AM | South Side Library
Children ages 0-5 and their caregivers can engage in open play, come-and-go activities at South. Play, Grow, Learn is an opportunity for families to engage in the five simple steps to success — Read, Write, Sing, Play, and Talk. We will have a variety of toys available that promote learning for little ones.
Movie Watch Party: The Wild Robot
Tuesday, April 1, 3 PM | Forest Avenue Library
After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island’s animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose. Rated PG.
Drop-In Crafternoon and STEM Challenge
Wednesdays, April 2-May 14, 2-7 PM | North Side Library
Friday, April 25 and May 23, 1-5 PM | Forest Avenue Library
Drop-in to make a new craft or take on a STEM-based challenge! Check dmpl.org/events to see what this week’s program is. For grades K-5.
Science Wednesdays: Watercolor Reactions
Wednesday, April 2, 4 PM | Franklin Avenue Library
Come and experiment with different materials to see how they react with watercolors. For ages 6-12. Registration required.
Each month, we learn about artists, art concepts, and more relating to a specific artist. Afterward, we do an art project! In April, we're learning about Agnes Martin. In May, we'll learn more about Faith Finggold. For ages 6-11.
AViD Presents: Amina Luqman-Dawson
Thursday, April 3, 6:30 PM | Central Library
Kid’s Craft Day
Amina Luqman-Dawson is the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award-winning and bestselling author of Freewater The book is a middle grade novel about two enslaved children, their escape from a plantation, and the community that they find as they search for freedom.
Saturday, April 5 and May 3 | South Side Library
Spend your Saturday at the South Side Library crafting! In April, we’re making raindrop mobiles. In May, make yourself a king or queen with paper flower crowns. Crafts available all day as supplies last.
National Poetry Month Drop-In
April 7-12 | East Side Library
Celebrate the magic of words all week long with interactive poetry stations throughout the library! Create your own blackout poetry, craft a poem from book spines, or add a line to our community poem. No registration required—just drop in and let your creativity flow!
¡DÍA DEL NIÑO! DAY OF THE CHILD! AT DMPL
Take-and-Make Mondays
Mondays | South Side Library
Día del Niño Celebration! /¡Celebración del Día del Niño!
Saturday, April 26, 10 AM-12 PM | Union Park (2009 Saylor Road)
Join us at Union Park to celebrate Día del Niño with FREE activities for the whole family: books, piñatas, carousel rides, meet a luchador, face painting, balloon art, folkloric dance groups, and so much MORE!
Día del niño is an international celebration of the joy found in early childhood and reading. For the fourth year, the Des Moines Public Library and its community partners are celebrating together!
sábado, 26 de abril | Union Park (2009 Saylor Road)
¡Acompáñannos en Union Park para una celebración del Día del Niño con actividades y recursos comunitarios GRATIS para toda la familia: Libros, piñatas, paseos en carrusel, conoce a un luchador, pintacaritas, arte de globos, bailadoras folklóricas y muchas más!
Día del niño es una celebración internacional de la alegría que uno siente durante su niñez y primeras etapas de lectura. Des Moines Public Library (la biblioteca) y tus socios comunitarios están celebrando juntos para el cuatro año.
Stop in on Mondays and bring home a special take-and-make craft bag. Check our events calendar to see each week’s specific craft. Bags available while supplies last.
Little Explorers/Sensory Play Hour
Monday, April 7 and May 5, 10 AM | Franklin Avenue Library
Saturday, April 19 and May 17, 10 AM | Central Library
Tuesday, April 15 and May 20, 4 PM | South Side Library
Bring your young ones to these drop-in programs, designed for children ages 0-5, to discover, learn, and play with different sensory activities. Please wear play clothes as some activities may be messy.
Art Club
Tuesday, April 8 and May 13, 4 PM | North Side Library
Children and teens can join us at the North Side Library on the 2nd Tuesday of each month for Art Club. In April, we’ll make colorful prints by etching a design into styrofoam to create a stamp. In May, you can learn how to make flowers out of old book pages
Chess Club
Tuesday, April 8 and May 13, 4 PM | Forest Avenue Library
Learn to play or come to test your skills with other players. Chess boards will be provided at the library, or you can bring your own. One rule or strategy will be featured each month. This program is geared towards ages 8-12, but accompanying caregivers may join the game as well.
LEGO Club
Tuesday, April 15 and May 20, 3 PM | Forest Avenue Library
Join us for an after-school LEGO Club where building blocks will be available for open play. Use your imagination to build your ideas or use the STEM-challenge prompts and building guides to bring ideas to life. Drop-in anytime between 3-5pm. Ages 6+.
Reading Buddies with ARL TheraPets
Tuesday, April 15 and May 13, 4 PM | Central Library
Thursday, May 15, 5:30 PM | East Side Library
Practice reading out loud with an ARL TheraPet. Engaging with animals is a great way to boost confidence and reduce anxiety around learning to read.
Games Galore
Wednesday, April 16, 4 PM | South Side Library
Visit South Side Library for an hour of games! Play Nintendo Switch or try your hand at one of our giant board games!
Eco-Friendly Crafts: Wind Chimes
Thursday, April 17, 6:30 PM | East Side Library
Turn everyday recyclables into a one-of-a-kind wind chime! Using materials like soup cans, keys, and beads, kids will craft their own breezy, musical masterpiece while learning about upcycling and sustainability.
Pop Bottle Bird Feeders
Tuesday, April 22, 5:30 PM | East Side Library
Join us this Earth Day for a fun and eco-friendly workshop where we turn everyday pop bottles into a bird feeder! Joel, with City of Des Moines Parks & Rec, will help you craft your bird feeder and fill it with bird feed to take home. This hands-on event is perfect for families, children, and nature enthusiasts of all ages. All materials will be provided as supplies lasts!
Kids Pokémon Card Swap
Thursday, April 24 and May 15, 4 PM | Franklin Avenue Library
Bring your friends and come to this monthly program with any cards you want to trade. This event is open to children ages 6-18.
Mix-Tape Journal Workshop
Thursday, April 24 and May 8, 6:30 PM | East Side Library
Throw it back to the retro days of cassette tapes—with a creative twist! Join us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll turn old cassette tapes into personalized journals. Perfect for doodles, quotes, song lyrics, or mini memory keepsakes!
Paws & Claws Craft Hour
Friday, April 25, 10 AM | Central Library
In anticipation of National Pet Month in May, participants will create recycled t-shirt dog toys, teaser wand cat toys, stylish pet bandanas, and more. Items may be created for pets at home or for donation to our ARL TheraPet partners. Please note that only humans are allowed at this event.
Springtime Family Social
Saturday, April 26, 10:30 AM | North Side Library
Spring is in the air! Celebrate the magic of spring with us through community, stories, and hands-on fun! Families will enjoy a seasonal story and share a tasty snack. Participants will also get to take home a Spring Take-Home Kit filled with a book, a small craft, and a fun surprise.
Crossroads: A Journey with the Blues featuring Scott Eggleston
Saturday, April 26, 2 PM | Forest Avenue Library
Art Cart
Join us at Forest Avenue Library for a live Blues performance provided by the Central Iowa Blues Society. Scott Eggleston, a founding member of the award-winning blues band The Soul Searchers, will be presenting Traditional and Delta Blues Guitar.
Monday, April 28, 10 AM-7 PM | North Side Library
Get creative at North Side! Drop-in and enjoy our cart full of arts and crafts supplies!
Mini Gardens
kids
Monday, April 28, 3 PM and 4 PM | Central Library
Join us at the Central Library in creating whimsical Mini Gardens (also known as Fairy Gardens) in honor of National Garden Month! All materials will be provided to make your own miniature garden to take home and display! There are two sessions. Registration required.
Alice in Wonderland Sneak Preview
Saturday, May 3, 10:30 AM | Franklin Avenue Library
Visit the library for a special sneak preview of the Des Moines Community Playhouse production of Alice in Wonderland based on the book by Lewis Carroll. Enjoy the performance and enter to win free tickets to the play!
Movie Watch Party: Turning Red
Tuesday, May 6, 3 PM | Forest Avenue Library
Disney and Pixar’s Turning Red introduces Mei Lee, a confident, dorky 13-year-old torn between staying her mother’s dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. Rated PG. Popcorn and activities provided.
Sonic the Hedgehog Escape Room
Wednesday, May 14, 4 PM | South Side Library
Come to South Side Library to solve puzzles, follow clues, and test your knowledge of Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends in order to escape the clutches of the evil Doctor Robotnik! Best for ages 8 to 12. Registration required.
Plant. Grow. Fly. with Des Moines Parks & Recreation
Tuesday, May 20, 5:30 PM | East Side Library
Learn about butterflies and plants with Joel from Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department! This program will involve learning about what pollinators need so they can survive and why they are so important to people. Participants will also decorate and plant a pot to support pollinators at home.
The Belin String Quartet, presented by the Civic Music Association
Tuesday, May 27, 5:30 PM | Central Library
The Belin Quartet will perform a 45-minute program that will feature music that spans from classical to modern. Bring a lawn chair, enjoy the spring weather, and relax while listening to this free program. This is part of the Belin String Quartet’s 25th anniversary season.
STORYTIMES
Join us for a special Juneteenth storytime at all six DMPL locations! This year is the 35th anniversary of the Iowa Juneteenth observance, and Juneteenth Jubilee organizers are celebrating by getting the word out early and often about this year's great event. Enjoy a captivating read-aloud, learn about upcoming celebrations, and take part in a hands-on craft. Plus, enter for a chance to win a free book to build your library at home!
• North Side Library: Thursday, April 28, 10 AM
• Franklin Avenue Library: Tuesday, April 29, 4 PM
• South Side Library: Monday, May 5, 6:30 PM
• Central Library: Thursday, May 8, 10:15 AM
• East Side Library: Monday, May 12, 10 AM
• Forest Avenue Library: Wednesday, May 14. 10:15 AM
