Charles B. Washington Branch

Kids, parents, teachers, and fans! Come meet the Caldecott-winning author and illustrator of Big. Vashti Harrison is also the #1 New York Times bestselling creator of "Little Leaders," "Little Dreamers," and "Little Legends," and the illustrator of Lupita Nyong’o’s "Sulwe" (for which she received a Coretta Scott King Book Award Illustrator Honor), Matthew A. Cherry’s "Hair Love," Andrea Beaty's "I Love You Like Yellow," and Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic’s "Hello, Star," among others. Vashti will discuss her books and her journey to becoming both an illustrator and an author.

Discover the basics of drawing in this beginner-friendly class led by artist Yulia Brynskikh. Participants will learn foundational techniques using simple tools such as pencils while exploring line, shading, and observation. No prior drawing experience is needed. All supplies will be provided. This is a free event for adults 19+. Registration is required

Curious George will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

Professor Pippy P. Poopypants has captured best friends Harold and George! Captain Underpants needs your help to save them. You’ll have to work together to solve clues and puzzles themed around the Captain Underpants series by Dav Pikey to save Harold and George before time runs out. Do you have what it takes to be a hero like Captain Underpants? Registration is required.

Calling all dino-designers; get ready for an adventure millions of years in the making! Unleash your inner sculptor and join us to make a clay dinosaur. After your prehistoric pal is built, you can give them a voice by writing a thrilling mini-adventure about their life in the wild! No experience needed—just bring your imagination! All materials are included, while supplies last. This is a free event for children ages 8-12. Registration is required.

Join OPL for a Mario Kart World tournament. They will be playing the game on the Nintendo Switch 2. This is a free program for ages 13-18. Registration is required

Jeff Quinn is roaring into our library with "Jurassic Magic", a dinosaur-themed Summer Reading Program magic show that's fun for all ages

Unearth A Story: Animals from the Past: Journey back in time this summer as we look at how modern-day animal adaptations can help us uncover the truth about our past!

Lil Rosies Teaching Artist, Chloe Hug, from The Rose Theater will be visiting to lead an interactive reading of the book "Frozen." Children and families will get to enjoy the story, participate in fun theater activities, and get excited as we prepare for our spring show "Frozen." Don’t miss this lively morning of imagination, singing, dancing, and storytelling—all inspired by snow, princesses, and the magic of live theater! All are welcome!

Bring your imagination to life with stories and scrapbooks! In this creative workshop, participants will use a instant camera to take pictures (and/or bring their own pictures!) and turn them into colorful scrapbook pages using paper, stickers, letters, and more. It’s the perfect mix of storytelling and hands-on art—no writing or crafting experience needed!

Our friends from Metro will join us, along with a real city bus, at today's special storytime celebrating Nebraska Public Transit Week! Children of all ages are welcome.

Click Clack Duck will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

Join our Creative Movement Workshop! Perfect for all levels, this fun session explores expressive movement to boost confidence and unique style. Learn a simple dance routine from a teaching artist with Pear Tree Performing Arts. This is a free event for kids 6-12. Registration is required.

Come enjoy a cooking demonstration with No More Empty Pots to learn skills such as nutrition, teamwork, and food-safety. The session will feature local, seasonal and garden fresh foods. This free event is open to adults and children aged 5 and up. Children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Registration is required.

Enter the world of Goosebumps with this program full of spooky fun inspired by R.L. Stine’s bestselling books! Kids will enjoy creepy crafts, ghoulish games, and interactive stations that bring the eerie excitement of the series to life. Perfect for brave readers and thrill-seekers alike! This is a free event for children ages 8-12.

Bundle up and join Keep Omaha Beautiful educators for a wintery exploration of nature’s hidden magic! We’ll begin by reading "Jayden’s Impossible Garden," a heartwarming story about a boy who finds beauty and nature in unexpected places—even in the middle of a city. After our story, we’ll head outside on a short winter nature walk to observe animal tracks, bare branches, dried seed pods, and other signs of life that often go unnoticed in the colder months. Back inside, we’ll share our discoveries and create a collaborative mural that captures the quiet beauty of Omaha’s winter landscape.

Get creative with color, texture, and imagination in this hands-on collage workshop just for kids! Participants will use paper, fabric, and found materials to design their own one-of-a-kind masterpieces while learning about shape, layering, and visual storytelling. This is a free event for children ages 8-12. Registration is required and opens Nov. 15.

Join OPL for a storytime all about eyes and vision! Children ages 6 months to 6 years are invited to participate in a free vision screening by Lions Clubs International after storytime. Parental permission is required. 

Join Master Kim, a 6th degree Black Belt with over 20 years of teaching experience, for an exciting introduction to Taekwondo! Students will get a taste of this respected martial art while learning about discipline, building self-confidence, and embracing a healthy lifestyle. This is a free event for children ages 3-6. All participating children will need to have a release waiver signed by their guardian prior to the program. Registration is required

Oh no! We're stuck in the past! Or is this the future? Work together to find hidden relics from each era and fix the T.I.M.E machine before that hungry dinosaur eats you for dinner. Do you have what it takes? Registration is required 

Poop, vomit, slime, and even more amazing disgusting topics will be explored as we learn about some of the grossest (and coolest) animal traits. Join OPL and educators from the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium to learn about mammal digestion and discover why scientists use poop to track animal migration patterns.

Pancake Pig will visit for a special storytime! Children of all ages are welcome. Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. We explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing in each storytime. There will be opportunities to take photos.

Jeff Quinn's all-new magic show needs YOU! Get your friends and family together and join Jeff Quinn's Summer Reading Show. This is a free event for all ages.

Join OPL for a Super Smash Bros tournament at the Washington Branch. We will be playing the game on Nintendo Switch. This is a free program for ages 11-18. Registration is required

Experience stories, creative movement, music and more. Explore the early literacy skills of singing, playing, reading, talking and writing in each storytime! Children of all ages are welcome; storytimes will be tailored for the age of the children present. At this storytime, we will learn about fire safety with a local firefighter and even see a fire truck!

Join OPL as we welcome staff from Papio Natural Resources District. They will teach us all about turtles! Did you know Nebraska is home to 9 species of turtles? With the help of a few animal educators, we will learn all about what makes a turtle, a turtle!