Children Celebrate Halloween at Larchmont Public Library

Toddlers and babies dressed in costumes went to the Larchmont Public Library Children’s Center for a Halloween celebration Tuesday.

Around 40 young children along with their caregivers attended the event, organized by the children’s librarians Rebecca Teglas—dressed as Little Bo Beep—and Christine Hollings—dressed as a witch.

“It was really popular this year,” said Teglas, who has been with the library for five years. “We had to limit the number.”

Teglas and Hollings gathered the children around and recited nursery rhymes and sang Halloween tunes. Teglas led them in saying the Little Bo Beep rhyme while Hollings read and acted witch stories with creative arts and crafts. The older children chimed in and helped them in saying the stories and singing the songs. Many caregivers sat with their kids and helped them dance and sing along because some children were still babies.

“All of our events through October have been Halloween-themed, and this is our finale for the younger children, because the older kids get a parade for school,” Teglas said.

After music and story time, the kids received Halloween bags to hold their treats. Then the group made a mini-parade around the library. They marched outside the Children’s Room and around into the main entrance where they were greeted with treats, then proceeded back outside toward the children’s room. The children followed Teglas throughout the library making stops at each desk and room to receive a treat like stickers or a snack from the other librarians. 

Teglas said the group seemed excited about the event.

“All the children were wiggling around the whole,” she said. “It was hard to control!”

None of the kids were older than 5-years-old and for some it was their first Halloween to celebrate. Parents and guardians took pictures of the kids dressed up in their costumes, which included a fireman, a ninja and superheroes.

“It’s fun to organize and to dress up,” Teglas said, “and I have a 1-year-old, so next year he’ll be doing this with me.”