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A programme at Portland Public Library.
MakerSpace will be celebrating the illustrations from Beautiful Blackbird, Ashley Bryan’s beloved children's book. Using collage and multimedia options, let’s create together and make art to share or take home. Free-choice materials are also availble for making. All ages welcome.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Did you know there are SO MANY sharks? They are big and small, fast and slow, teeth-filled and toothless. They are fascinating, unique, and fabulous! Just like you! Explore unique sharks by putting on a shark-inspired costume and strutting your stuff in a rockin' runway event!
In celebration of the upcoming Blackbird Children’s Book Festival on September 27th, some of our favorite programs from past years will be featured.
Calling all makers and builders! Learn the basics of safe tool use during this 45-minute opportunity to try a hand tool. Adult supervision is required, no registration is needed. MakerSpace will be open for Open Studio making. Free-choice materials are also availble for making. All ages welcome.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Celebrate A Feast for Joseph by OD Bonny and Terry Farish, illustrated by Ken Daley! Using a variety of MakerSpace materials, add your favorite food or decoration to a collaborative feast and celebration! Free-choice materials are also availble for making. All ages welcome.
Art Room is a weekly drop in program for children and caregivers. Explore open-ended materials for free choice art making. The emphasis is on the fun of creating, especially alongside library friends!
Join us for a 3-week series of self-care workshops with ZagOn Beauty & Oliveen is Hair. These fun, educational drop-ins are designed to help teens understand their hair and skin while building healthy personal care habits. Rooted: A Festival of Hair, Identity & Culture is all about celebrating the beauty, pride, and diversity of our community through hair and how we choose to adorn our heads. Hair carries stories, traditions, and power — it’s a crown we each wear in our own way. That might be braids, curls, fades, locs, afros, hijabs, headwraps, cultural coverings, or even bald heads. By highlighting hair, we hope to honor and celebrate the beautiful diversity of Greater Portland.
Let’s explore Ashley Bryan's puppet-making practice and create puppets of your own using found and recycled materials. Name your puppet, write a poem about who they are, and put on a show. Visitors will have the opportunity to draw inspiration from the 30+ puppets featured in the book Ashley Bryan's Puppets: Making Something from Everything, written by Ashley Bryan, photographed by Ken Hannon, and edited by Rich Entel. Free-choice materials are also availble for making. All ages welcome.
Discover our Science for Tots series! This weekly program is designed for children ages 1–5 and their caregivers. Explore science, engineering, math, and the environment through fun, hands-on sensory play—while making new friends along the way! Thank you to L.L.Bean for their support of this program and their ongoing commitment to CMTM’s Nature Education initiatives.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Welcome to the Night Market, in the theater!. A tour guide will help you use your imagination to explore with all of your senses in this storytelling presentation. Everyone is a part of the Night Market as vendors, shop owners and more. Pop-up Performances (PUPS) are informal and interactive programs that are held in the theatre, run for 20 minutes or less, and do not require an additional ticket. All ages are welcome and encouraged to participate.
Join us at the Teen Library on Thursday and Friday afternoons to play video games our new PS5. Games start at 2 PM both days and are available until the library closes. We have the following videogames to choose from: - FC26 - 2K26 - Untitled Goose Game - NARUTO X BORUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS - Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero - Mortal Kombat 11 - Street Fighter 6. Teen Video Games are first-come, first-served. Reservations are not taken in advance. Each player gets a half-hour time slot, which may be used alone or shared with a friend for multiplayer games.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Baby Stories & Play is a weekly series for babies birth to 24-months and their caregivers. Join us for baby-friendly songs, rhymes, and movement that incorporate the elements of early literacy! We will follow storytime with open play for sensory exploration and social fun. Families can make connections with library friends and build a foundation for lifelong reading!
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Join us at the Teen Library on Thursday and Friday afternoons to play video games our new PS5. Games start at 2 PM both days and are available until the library closes. We have the following videogames to choose from: - FC26 - 2K26 - Untitled Goose Game - NARUTO X BORUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS - Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero - Mortal Kombat 11 - Street Fighter 6. Teen Video Games are first-come, first-served. Reservations are not taken in advance. Each player gets a half-hour time slot, which may be used alone or shared with a friend for multiplayer games.
A musical adventure inspired by Ashley Bryan’s beloved tale. This one-performer show invites children to become colorful birds from Africa, celebrating diversity and the beauty of Blackness. Through beatboxing, dancing, and playful sound-making, young audiences will help bring the story to life in an engaging, interactive experience. Aligned with Maine schools' Black and Brown studies curriculum, this dynamic performance reinforces themes of self-love and community. Let’s move, groove, and shout together—because Black is beautiful, UH HUH! Pop-up Performances (PUPS) are informal and interactive programs that are held in the theatre, run for 20 minutes or less, and do not require an additional ticket. All ages are welcome and encouraged to particpate.
Paws & Pages is a program where children can practice reading to a certified therapy dog. Readers can sign up for their one-on-one reading session with Smith the Golden Retriever and his human companion, Jane. Registration is encouraged but not required - we can almost always accommodate walk-ins. Please call, email, or stop by the Children's Library Downtown to reserve a date and time for your child. Paws & Pages is designed for children who are learning to read aloud or who are looking to build confidence in their reading skills. Children are welcome to bring their own favorite book to read to Smith or pick a library book to read. Smith is a member of the Alliance for Therapy Dogs.
Celebrate A Feast for Joseph by OD Bonny and Terry Farish, illustrated by Ken Daley! Using a variety of MakerSpace materials, add your favorite food or decoration to a collaborative feast and celebration! Free-choice materials are also availble for making. All ages welcome.
Let's be scientists! Watch as we mix household ingredients to make a big billowing foam, big enough for an elephant's tooth brush!
CMTM is proud to partner with Indigo Arts Alliance, along with other statewide partners, for the 7th-annual Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival—a celebration of children’s book authors and illustrators of the African Diaspora on Sunday, September 27. This special event will include art-making experiences, read-alouds, and interactive literary activities for the whole family. Come anytime to enjoy programming. We recommend visiting between 9:30-2:30 for the maximum number of events. Keep an eye on our events calendar for more details! Admission to the festival is FREE, part of CMTM’s ongoing commitment to removing barriers that families may face in accessing the Museum & Theatre. Free admission applies to children and their caregivers; adult visitors must be accompanied by a child.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
MakerSpace will be open for all for free-choice making. Explore the bins and materials throughout the room for making one-of-a-kind creations. All ages welcome.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Did you know there are SO MANY sharks? They are big and small, fast and slow, teeth-filled and toothless. They are fascinating, unique, and fabulous! Just like you! Explore unique sharks by putting on a shark-inspired costume and strutting your stuff in a rockin' runway event!
Calling all makers and builders! Learn the basics of safe tool use during this 45-minute opportunity to try a hand tool. Adult supervision is required, no registration is needed. MakerSpace will be open for Open Studio making. Free-choice materials are also availble for making. All ages welcome.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Come meet a turtle ambassador and journey into the world of turtles! Pretend to be a turtle, then learn how these turtles live in the land we now call Maine. For the safety of the ambassador turtle, it will stay in its enclosure and will not be handled during the program. Thank you to L.L.Bean for their support of this program and their ongoing commitment to CMTM’s Nature Education initiatives.
Art Room is a weekly drop in program for children and caregivers. Explore open-ended materials for free choice art making. The emphasis is on the fun of creating, especially alongside library friends!
Join us for a 3-week series of self-care workshops with ZagOn Beauty & Oliveen is Hair. These fun, educational drop-ins are designed to help teens understand their hair and skin while building healthy personal care habits. Rooted: A Festival of Hair, Identity & Culture is all about celebrating the beauty, pride, and diversity of our community through hair and how we choose to adorn our heads. Hair carries stories, traditions, and power — it’s a crown we each wear in our own way. That might be braids, curls, fades, locs, afros, hijabs, headwraps, cultural coverings, or even bald heads. By highlighting hair, we hope to honor and celebrate the beautiful diversity of Greater Portland.
Discover our Science for Tots series! This weekly program is designed for children ages 1–5 and their caregivers. Explore science, engineering, math, and the environment through fun, interactive sensory play—while making new friends along the way! Thank you to L.L.Bean and Bissell Brothers Brewing Company for their support of the Science for Tots program.
Special guests from Grow Wild Portland will join us for our regularly scheduled Family Storytime. They will read a selection of Maine picture books and share information about the Grow Wild Portland initiative.
Family Storytime is a drop-in program for children and their caregivers. Play and sing along while learning about new books, songs, fingerplays, and stories from our librarians. Together we will read a variety of stories, sing songs, move our bodies and have fun! If you are interested in Storytime programs for more specific ages, look for our Baby Storytime and Preschool Storytime series.
Be a scientist! Explore a tidepool and sandflat habitat through sensory exploration and meet animals such as sea stars and sea anemones that call these habitats home. Thank you to L.L.Bean for their support of this program and their ongoing commitment to CMTM’s Nature Education initiatives.
Join us at the Teen Library on Thursday and Friday afternoons to play video games our new PS5. Games start at 2 PM both days and are available until the library closes. We have the following videogames to choose from: - FC26 - 2K26 - Untitled Goose Game - NARUTO X BORUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS - Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero - Mortal Kombat 11 - Street Fighter 6. Teen Video Games are first-come, first-served. Reservations are not taken in advance. Each player gets a half-hour time slot, which may be used alone or shared with a friend for multiplayer games.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Come chat about graphic novels and comics! Join us at the Burbank branch to talk about new and favorite graphic novels, and to draw your own doodles and comics. Come ready to share your thoughts on the graphic novels you have been reading, and to hear about new books to try! This is a casual drop-in program with conversations guided by staff. We’ll have drawing materials and illustration books for inspiration. Recommended for youth ages 9-13.
In this creative drama experience for our youngest audiences and their families, journey to exciting places through storytelling, song, and imaginative play—without ever leaving the theatre. Together, we’ll transform Maddy’s Theatre into familiar and fantastic environments through interactive exploration. Designed for children ages 1-5 and their caregivers, this offering helps build confidence in imagining, pretending, and creating together.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Baby Stories & Play is a weekly series for babies birth to 24-months and their caregivers. Join us for baby-friendly songs, rhymes, and movement that incorporate the elements of early literacy! We will follow storytime with open play for sensory exploration and social fun. Families can make connections with library friends and build a foundation for lifelong reading!
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Join us at the Teen Library on Thursday and Friday afternoons to play video games our new PS5. Games start at 2 PM both days and are available until the library closes. We have the following videogames to choose from: - FC26 - 2K26 - Untitled Goose Game - NARUTO X BORUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS - Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero - Mortal Kombat 11 - Street Fighter 6. Teen Video Games are first-come, first-served. Reservations are not taken in advance. Each player gets a half-hour time slot, which may be used alone or shared with a friend for multiplayer games.
In this interactive program, the theater will be transformed into a Harvest Festival using the audience's imagination. Enter a pie-eating contest, show off your award-winning pumpkin, or just enjoy chatting with someone new! Pop-up Performances (PUPS) are informal and interactive programs that are held in the theatre, run for 20 minutes or less, and are included with Museum admission. All ages are welcome and encouraged!
Paws & Pages is a program where children can practice reading to a certified therapy dog. Readers can sign up for their one-on-one reading session with Smith the Golden Retriever and his human companion, Jane. Registration is encouraged but not required - we can almost always accommodate walk-ins. Please call, email, or stop by the Children's Library Downtown to reserve a date and time for your child. Paws & Pages is designed for children who are learning to read aloud or who are looking to build confidence in their reading skills. Children are welcome to bring their own favorite book to read to Smith or pick a library book to read. Smith is a member of the Alliance for Therapy Dogs.
The Kids Lit Book Fair at the Maine Lit Fest is an opportunity for kids and families to celebrate the diversity of children’s, middle grade, and young adult books coming out of Maine and New England. Family-friendly and free to attend, this event features 18+ Children's authors and illustrators, plus Storytime, Illustrator Draw-Offs, Crafts, and more! - For a full list of authors, illustrators and programs, please visit https://www.mainewriters.org/calendar/kids-litfest - Check out this featured list of books by visiting authors and illustrators in our library catalog
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Spirograph devices combine art, math, and geometry to create patterns; we'll use them to create abstract art using paper and colored pens and pencils. Free-choice materials are also availble for making. All ages welcome.
Embark on an imaginative birdwatching adventure throughout the aquarium! Search high and low for bird figures hiding in unexpected places, and check off each bird you spot along the way. Thank you to L.L.Bean for their support of this program and their ongoing commitment to CMTM’s Nature Education initiatives.
Examine a display of real moose and deer antlers and celebrate these iconic Maine mammals! Compare antler size, weight, and texture, and learn about the life of the elusive Maine moose. Everyone will also have the opportunity to make their own pair of wearable antlers during this program. All ages welcome! Thank you to L.L.Bean for their support of this program and their ongoing commitment to CMTM’s Nature Education initiatives.
Spirograph devices combine art, math, and geometry to create patterns; we'll use them to create abstract art using paper and colored pens and pencils. Free-choice materials are also availble for making. All ages welcome.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Let's gather in Maddy's Theatre for an interactive puppet show and learn how to be a puppeteer! Using the puppets in CMTM's collection, together we will practice different techniques to help us bring our puppets to life. All ages welcome.
Calling all makers and builders! Learn the basics of safe tool use during this 45-minute opportunity to try a hand tool. Adult supervision is required. MakerSpace will be open for free-choice making for all ages from 2:45-3:30.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Come by the Teen Library every 1st Tuesday of the month to ask questions or get information you need from our partners over at Planned Parenthood!
Explore, create, and collaborate during this drop-in class for children ages 1-5 and their caregivers. Each week, experiment with different art supplies and projects. Please plan for a messy but fun morning; aprons will be provided. Thank you Hancock Lumber and The Little Gym of Scarborough for their support of the Art for Tots program.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Dive deep in our aquarium on a shape and color adventure. Spend time observing the aquarium animals while matching shapes and colors to the world around us. Thank you to L.L.Bean for their support of this program and their ongoing commitment to CMTM’s Nature Education initiatives.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Art Room is a weekly drop in program for children and caregivers. Explore open-ended materials for free choice art making. The emphasis is on the fun of creating, especially alongside library friends!
Join us for a 3-week series of self-care workshops with ZagOn Beauty & Oliveen is Hair. These fun, educational drop-ins are designed to help teens understand their hair and skin while building healthy personal care habits. Rooted: A Festival of Hair, Identity & Culture is all about celebrating the beauty, pride, and diversity of our community through hair and how we choose to adorn our heads. Hair carries stories, traditions, and power — it’s a crown we each wear in our own way. That might be braids, curls, fades, locs, afros, hijabs, headwraps, cultural coverings, or even bald heads. By highlighting hair, we hope to honor and celebrate the beautiful diversity of Greater Portland.
Discover our Science for Tots series! This weekly program is designed for children ages 1–5 and their caregivers. Explore science, engineering, math, and the environment through fun, interactive sensory play—while making new friends along the way! Thank you to L.L.Bean and Bissell Brothers Brewing Company for their support of the Science for Tots program.
Family Storytime is a drop-in program for children and their caregivers. Play and sing along while learning about new books, songs, fingerplays, and stories from our librarians. Together we will read a variety of stories, sing songs, move our bodies and have fun! If you are interested in Storytime programs for more specific ages, look for our Baby Storytime and Preschool Storytime series.
Be a scientist! Explore a tidepool and sandflat habitat through sensory exploration and meet animals such as sea stars and sea anemones that call these habitats home. Thank you to L.L.Bean for their support of this program and their ongoing commitment to CMTM’s Nature Education initiatives.
Join us at the Teen Library on Thursday and Friday afternoons to play video games our new PS5. Games start at 2 PM both days and are available until the library closes. We have the following videogames to choose from: - FC26 - 2K26 - Untitled Goose Game - NARUTO X BORUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS - Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero - Mortal Kombat 11 - Street Fighter 6. Teen Video Games are first-come, first-served. Reservations are not taken in advance. Each player gets a half-hour time slot, which may be used alone or shared with a friend for multiplayer games.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Teens: we need your help painting miniature dinosaurs and lizardfolk! Once painted and dried, these minis will be added to our brand new addition of Warcry, a tabletop tactical fantasy game that you can borrow and play in the Teen Library. All Dinosaur programming in the Teen Library from October-December 2026 coincides with Illustrasaurus, the Illustration Exhibit in the Lewis Gallery at the Downtown Branch.
In this creative drama experience for our youngest audiences and their families, journey to exciting places through storytelling, song, and imaginative play—without ever leaving the theatre. Together, we’ll transform Maddy’s Theatre into familiar and fantastic environments through interactive exploration. Designed for children ages 1-5 and their caregivers, this offering helps build confidence in imagining, pretending, and creating together.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Baby Stories & Play is a weekly series for babies birth to 24-months and their caregivers. Join us for baby-friendly songs, rhymes, and movement that incorporate the elements of early literacy! We will follow storytime with open play for sensory exploration and social fun. Families can make connections with library friends and build a foundation for lifelong reading!
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Meet our friends from the Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District by using an interactive watershed model to see how water you use connects to lakes, rivers, and the ocean! Thank you to IDEXX for supporting the Visiting Scientist program at CMTM.
Join us at the Teen Library on Thursday and Friday afternoons to play video games our new PS5. Games start at 2 PM both days and are available until the library closes. We have the following videogames to choose from: - FC26 - 2K26 - Untitled Goose Game - NARUTO X BORUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS - Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero - Mortal Kombat 11 - Street Fighter 6. Teen Video Games are first-come, first-served. Reservations are not taken in advance. Each player gets a half-hour time slot, which may be used alone or shared with a friend for multiplayer games.
Do you love to sing with your family and friends? Let’s meet in Maddy’s Theatre to sing as a group, using our voices and our bodies to learn a new, special Children’s Museum song! Lyrics will be provided—all you need to bring is you! Pop-up Performances (PUPS) are informal and interactive programs that are held in the theatre, run for 20 minutes or less, and are included with museum admission. All ages are welcome and encouraged!
Embark on an imaginative birdwatching adventure throughout the aquarium! Search high and low for bird figures hiding in unexpected places, and check off each bird you spot along the way. Thank you to L.L.Bean for their support of this program and their ongoing commitment to CMTM’s Nature Education initiatives.
Let's be scientists! Watch as we mix household ingredients to make a big billowing foam, big enough for an elephant's tooth brush!
Examine a display of real moose and deer antlers and celebrate these iconic Maine mammals! Compare antler size, weight, and texture, and learn about the life of the elusive Maine moose. Everyone will also have the opportunity to make their own pair of wearable antlers during this program. All ages welcome! Thank you to L.L.Bean for their support of this program and their ongoing commitment to CMTM’s Nature Education initiatives.
Explore Maine landscapes through color, shape, and imagination! Participants will cut and arrange colorful felt and foam sheets to create their own layered landscapes inspired by the forests, rivers, coastline, and wildlife of Wabanaki lands. This interactive activity invites children to think about their connection to the land while experimenting with texture, color, and composition. Marissa Joly is an Indigenous visual artist residing in Durham, ME. Her Wabanaki heritage holds a lot of inspiration for her creations. Nature, color, line, and organic shapes play big roles in her work. She aims to strike up conversations on spirituality and emotions brought forth through her use of color, patterning, and abstract designs.
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day with art, music, making, and opportunities to learn from and connect with Indigenous artists. Throughout the weekend, the MakerSpace will feature guest artists Marissa Joly (Mi’kmaq) and Norma Randi Marshall (Passamaquoddy), offering families interactive experiences rooted in creativity, culture, and connection. The Burnurwurbskek Singers will also be part of the celebration, sharing the power and beauty of Indigenous song and bringing an important musical dimension to the weekend. This year’s celebration also marks the unveiling of a new mural in the IDEXX STEM Learning Hub. Created by Norma Randi Marshall (Passamaquoddy), the mural celebrates the life of the Sebago watershed and its meaningful relationship with Abenaki peoples. Developed with consultation from Conor Cubit (Abenaki from Odanak) and Brianne Lolar (Penobscot), the mural offers a reflection on what it means to be a water protector and invites us to consider our own relationships and responsibilities to the waters and lands around us. The mural was made possible through the generous partnership and support of Sebago Clean Waters, with additional funding from the Casco Bay Estuary Partn
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day at CMTM! From 10:30 am – 11:30 am, we are excited for the return of the Burnurwubskek Singers from the Penobscot Nation who will be drumming and sharing songs and stories from their 25 years as a drum group. After participating in drumming and dancing, visit Ckuwaponahkiyik Atkuhkakonol: Wabanaki Storytelling Through Art and Traditions. This outdoor exhibit celebrates and highlights Wabanaki storytelling and art traditions that have been part of this cultural landscape that we currently call Maine for more than 12,000 years. Included with admission. Location: Gather Lawn (outside) Rain Location: Maddy’s Theatre (1st floor)
In celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day, we are welcoming Wabanaki Guest Artist Norma Randi Marshall. Norma Randi Marshall will work with guests on a large canvas watershed-inspired mural, titled "What Does a River Mean to Me?" Participants are encouraged to think about the kinds of animals and other species in the natural world that depend on rivers as they add to the mural. Norma Randi Marshall is a Wabanaki artist from the Sipayik Passamaquoddy community. Having grown up on the rural downeast coast, Norma has been inspired to live in the homelands of her ancestors while working to honor and depict the rich culture she comes from. She is a landscape painter, digital illustrator, and full-time artist.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
Come by the Teen Library every 2nd Tuesday of the month to ask questions or get information you need from our partners at Blunt Youth!
Explore, create, and collaborate during this drop-in class for children ages 1-5 and their caregivers. Each week, experiment with different art supplies and projects. Please plan for a messy but fun morning; aprons will be provided. Thank you Hancock Lumber and The Little Gym of Scarborough for their support of the Art for Tots program.
A programme at Portland Public Library.
In this interactive program, the theater will be transformed into a Harvest Festival using the audience's imagination. Enter a pie-eating contest, show off your award-winning pumpkin, or just enjoy chatting with someone new! Pop-up Performances (PUPS) are informal and interactive programs that are held in the theatre, run for 20 minutes or less, and are included with Museum admission. All ages are welcome and encouraged!
Dive deep in our aquarium on a shape and color adventure. Spend time observing the aquarium animals while matching shapes and colors to the world around us. Thank you to L.L.Bean for their support of this program and their ongoing commitment to CMTM’s Nature Education initiatives.
Art Room is a weekly drop in program for children and caregivers. Explore open-ended materials for free choice art making. The emphasis is on the fun of creating, especially alongside library friends!
Whether you are meeting a dog for the first time or own a dog yourself, all are welcome to greet our friendly four-legged therapy dog friends. Come hang out, read a book, sing a song, or explore dog training with a certified therapy dog and its caregiver. Therapy dogs will be visiting with a trained adult in the 3rd floor IDEXX STEM Learning Hub and would love to say "hi" to you if you wish. Thank you to IDEXX for supporting the Therapy Dog program at CMTM.
Discover our Science for Tots series! This weekly program is designed for children ages 1–5 and their caregivers. Explore science, engineering, math, and the environment through fun, interactive sensory play—while making new friends along the way! Thank you to L.L.Bean and Bissell Brothers Brewing Company for their support of the Science for Tots program.
A programme at Portland Public Library.