Willa Cather Branch

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!

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.

Get ready for a super-powered story time! Join us for a special event with wrestling superstar, Latin Thunder. Latin Thunder will read a story, demonstrate some of his signature wrestling moves, and answer all your questions. After the story, it's your turn to unleash your inner hero! Decorate your very own luchador mask and then strike a pose with the champion himself!

Sushi with a twist! Come hang out and make your own sushi using Rice Krispie treats and candy. Learn about different types of sushi, test your skills with some chopstick games, and enjoy a fun (and tasty) challenge. Registration is required.

¡El Pato Clic Clac llega para una hora de cuentos especial! Ven a disfrutar de cuentos, música, juegos y movimiento creativo. Todos los niños son bienvenidos, y adaptamos las actividades según la edad de quienes participen.

Celebrate reading with a party all about bookmarks! Kids can decorate a variety of bookmarks using fun supplies and their own creativity. From colorful designs to imaginative patterns, everyone will leave with a collection of unique bookmarks to enjoy with their favorite books. All supplies are included while supplies last. This is a free event for kids ages 6-10, and registration is required.

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.

Join Omaha Symphony musician Rosario Galante as he introduces the fun music the clarinet can make during this playful reading of "Kitten's First Full Moon" by Kevin Henkes. Designed for kids ages 3-5, this storytime is fun for friends of all ages with some support by their adults.

Dog Man is in trouble! He needs your help to escape Petey’s Secret Lab before time runs out! Come solve clues and puzzles themed around the Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey. Can you help Dog Man escape in time? This is a free event for children ages 8-12. Registration is required. There will be a session at 10:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

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 Bri Wright from Golem Forge and try a new crafting hobby. They’ll be making Dragon Eyes out of clay based on the How to Train Your Dragon books by Cressida Cowell. All craft materials will be provided while supplies last. All you need is your imagination! Fantasy awaits! This is a free event for children 6-12. Registration is required.

Members of American Midwest Ballet will join us for a special storytime about ballet, being a professional dancer, and The Nutcracker. Experience stories, creative movement, music, and more! Each storytime explores early literacy skills like singing, playing, reading, talking, and writing.

Are you in your beaded bracelet era? Join OPL to make these widely popular statement pieces! Use polymer clay beads, letter beads and more to bedazzle your own bracelet or make one for a friend. This is a free event and is suggested for kids aged 9-12. Registration is required

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.

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.

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!

Calling all witches and wizards! Think you have what it takes to participate in this Wizarding Adventure? Come solve puzzles and clues to unlock a prize box before time runs out in this escape room based on the best-selling "Harry Potter" book series. There will be three escape rooms, at 2 p.m., 2:45 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. for participants ages 8-12. Try to escape over summer break! 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.

Join OPL for a musical storytime with guests from the Omaha Conservatory of Music. This storytime will include a special musical story, songs with movement, and an instrument petting zoo, where participants can try out a violin, cello, glockenspiel, stirring xylophone, lollipop drum, and a shaker instrument.

Join OPL as we celebrate children around the world for DIA. We’ll take a look at the children and the culture of Japan with kamishibai, Japanese paper theater. This traditional method of Japanese storytelling combines beautiful illustrations with dramatic narration. A representative of the Japan Outreach Initiative will present kamishibai, answer questions, and tell us a little about children in Japan.

Dragon needs your help! The tacos for the party are locked in a box. Come help Dragon get to the tacos before it’s too late in this escape room based on the best-selling "Dragons Love Tacos" books by Adam Rubin. Designed for participants ages 6-10. All ages are welcome for this family-friendly drop in event. First come first served.

Join OPL as we engage in digital storytelling through exciting STEM and coding activities with our new community partner Snapology! While children are exploring robotics, coding, and design challenges using LEGO® bricks and technology, they are learning new skills and having fun! This is a free event for kids 6-12.

Taco Dragon 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 OPL for a fun-filled afternoon watching "Wonka" (2023)! It will be an interactive experience with activities during the movie. Families may bring blankets, pillows, and food with the expectation that each family will clean up their mess. Doors will open at 1:45 p.m. with the events starting at 2 p.m. This is a free event for kids 5+.

Join Omaha Symphony musician Trevor Petersen as he introduces the fun music the cello can make during this playful reading of The Ugly Duckling. Designed for kids age 3-5, this storytime is fun for friends of all ages with some support by their adults.

Greg and Rowley are stuck in a room with Rodrick! Can you help them escape? Work together to solve the puzzles and clues based on the best-selling "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book series by Jeff Kinney before time runs out!

There will be two escape rooms at 1:00 and 1:45 PM for participants ages 9-12.

The Creepy Carrots have trapped Jasper Rabbit in a box of candy! Can you solve the puzzles and clues quick enough to save Jasper Rabbit from the Creepy Carrots? Or will he eat all the candy before we can get to him? Come find out at this escape room based on the best-selling picture book "Creepy Carrots" by Aaron Reynolds.