Manitowoc, WI, October 19, 2026—Manitowoc Public Library’s November 2026 Children’s Programs are scheduled with the following events and dates:

Best Gift Ever Book Drive @ Manitowoc Public Library November 2 through December 4

Help build a lifetime of reading enjoyment by giving the gift of reading! Manitowoc Public Library is running our "Best Gift Ever" campaign to collect new children's books for local families in need. From November 2 through December 4, you can donate new, unwrapped books by placing them in the donation box near the First Floor Service Desk. All book donations will be given to three local nonprofits for distribution over the holiday season:

· Incourage

· Lakeshore Foster Family and Friends

· Salvation Army of Manitowoc County

All types of books are welcome—picture books, board books, chapter books, young adult books, anything you feel a child or teenager would enjoy reading! You can also make a monetary donation that will go towards purchasing new children's books to be donated. For checks, please make it to the "Friends of the Manitowoc Public Library," with "Best Gift Ever" in the notes line. Make sure monetary donations are submitted by November 24, so we can have the books ready for delivery in December. Owning something as simple as a book can have a tremendous impact on a child’s self-esteem and help boost their spirits. We ask that you work with us to provide new children’s books for these needy kids. The benefits will last a lifetime.

Baby Storytime Wednesdays & Thursdays, 9:30AM

Baby Storytime is twenty minutes of stories, songs, rhymes, bounces, parachute activities, and bubbles, followed by twenty minutes of playtime! Baby Storytime is recommended for developmental ages 0-2 and siblings are always welcome. All Library storytimes are inclusive and welcoming. You are encouraged to attend the storytime that best meets your family's developmental needs.

Preschool Storytime Wednesdays & Thursdays, 10:30AM

Join us in singing, talking, reading, creating, and playing at this inclusive Storytime for families with preschoolers. Storytime focuses on concepts such as life skills, counting, colors, emotions, patterns, and the alphabet. It's a great opportunity to meet new friends, socialize, and strengthen early literacy skills. Storytime is recommended for developmental ages 2-5 and siblings are always welcome. All library storytimes are inclusive and welcoming. You are encouraged to attend the storytime that best meets your family's developmental needs. Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.

Drop-In Chess Club @ MPL Wednesday, November 4, 6-7:30PM

Want to improve your memory and concentration or practice logical thinking skills? Make a smart move and join us for Drop-In Chess Club in Manitowoc Public Library’s Second Floor Balkansky Community Room from 6-7:30 PM on Wednesday, November 4! Chess offers many brainy benefits—and it's just fun! Those of all abilities and ages (6-years plus, please) are welcome, but staff will not offer formal instruction. Chessboards are provided and library materials are available for further learning. Please remember that children under the age of 8 (even prodigies!) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.

Messy Marvins Friday, November 6, 10-11AM

It's baby art studio morning! We provide the supplies; you supply the creativity! Drop in any time during this hour with your littles (babies to preschool age) for an artistic experience. Stay neat or get messy with our self-directed art stations.

SENSE-sational Baby Storytime Tuesday, November 10, 10:30-11:30AM

Dim the lights, lower the volume, and enjoy a sensory-friendly storytime designed for little ones who find traditional Baby Storytime overstimulating. With gentle stories, songs, and bounces, caregivers and babies (birth to 2 years) will explore preliteracy activities in a calm, welcoming space. Group size is limited to twelve to ensure a relaxed environment.

Family Activity Nights (FANs) Tuesday Evenings

Join us Tuesday evening at Manitowoc Public Library for something different and fun for the whole family! While November’s FAN is geared towards kids aged 5-11, older siblings are always welcome! Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Please check our Facebook page and event calendar for updates!

· Play Like a Pioneer—October 10, 6-7PM Slow down, put down the devices and play a few games from long ago, like KENO, hoop rolling, ball-in-cups, and Jacob's Ladders. Experience pioneer play with presenters from Pinecrest Historical Village.

Read to Certified Therapy Dogs Tuesday, November 17, 6:30-7:30PM

Help your child grow as a reader! Studies show that children who read aloud to animals, like our therapy dogs, gain confidence and improve their overall reading skills. Drop in and spend some time reading to one of our four-legged friends. Please Note—No Registration Required!

Enchanted Evergleams at MPL November 25, 2026, through January 10, 2027

'Tis the Season for the “Gleam Team”—Manitowoc Aluminum Kitsch-Mas Inc., or MAKI, for short—to present "Evergleams on Eighth" in Downtown Manitowoc! Over 100 glittering aluminum Evergleam trees in over forty different styles, sizes, and colors will be featured in participating downtown businesses, with an impressive number showcased at MPL in Frankie’s Enchanted Evergleam Forest at Manitowoc Public Library! Give into the sparkle of the rare trees on display! Returning this year—an incredible custom-made 14-foot Evergleam marvel that has been donated to Manitowoc Aluminum Kitsch-Mas Inc. by a very generous pair of sisters from Kansas! And as always, a number of additional Mirro ephemera items on loan from Manitowoc County Historical Society will lend additional community resonance to the goings-on! The glitter, the glitz, the history, the kitsch! All in the comfy confines of Manitowoc Public Library!