Finding the Best Fit University for You (with Ashley Miller) (ages 12–18)
2025-01-25 14:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Paris) | The American Library in Paris
What’s your learning style? Are you a city mouse or a country mouse? How can you maximize your potential for growth when you head off to university? You should have a “dream,” a “reach,” a “target,” and a “likely” school on your list as you plan for university. What do those terms mean, and which schools would fit those descriptions for you individually?
One-on-one coaching on career exploration and college list building will be available for those who attend this presentation.
About Ashley Miller: Ashley Miller started her love affair with both the English Language and teaching at Bucknell University. After a brief stint in show biz as the talent assistant for actor David Morse, her career as a teacher began, with her time in the DC Public School system earning her a “teacher of the year” nomination. Prior to leaving the United States, she was the Education Enrichment Specialist at Project H.O.M.E in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In France, Ashley has been a member of the fac at both CentraleSupelec and Universite de Lorraine (lectrice), a board member of the American Women’s Group of Paris, a volunteer at Caritas Moselle and Enfants du Monde, and a proud member and judge of the Paris Spelling Bee at the American Library. In addition to getting her M2 at the Université de Strasbourg in “Technical Communication and Localization” (TCLoc), she is in the final throes of her college counseling certification through UCLA. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons.
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Story Hour: Purple Party (ages 3–5)
2025-01-29 14:30 - 15:30
For this Story Hour, we’ll read picture books featuring the color purple and its various shades, such as Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (pictured here). We’ll also sing songs and practice rhymes.
This program is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. This participatory program is intended to encourage children to actively engage with stories. Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Assistant Children’s and Teens’ Services Librarian Laurine Laurie will read books and lead you and your little one in songs and hand-rhymes during a live, interactive session. Plan to join in, sing along, move around, and model movement and listening for your little one. We ask that all caregivers put away their phones and other electronic devices for the duration of this program. With your help, we hope to inspire children to become lifelong readers!
Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Maylis de Kerangal on Canoes and Eastbound
2025-01-29 19:30 - 20:30
In Canoes, Maylis de Kerangal explores the haunting, transformative power of voice through the eyes of a young Parisian woman navigating life in rural Colorado. Seven interconnected stories, brimming with wit and intimacy, reveal how language and voice shape identity, obsession, and connection.
In Eastbound, a Russian conscript and a French woman cross paths on the Trans-Siberian railroad, each fleeing to the east for their own reasons.
This conversation will be moderated by Donatien Grau, Head of Contemporary Programs at the Musée du Louvre.
About the speakers:
Maylis de Kerangal is the author of numerous novels, collections of short stories, novellas and narratives, published with Verticales, including Naissance d’un pont (Prix Médicis 2010), Tangente vers l’est (Prix Landerneau 2012), Réparer les vivants (2014), Un monde à portée de main (2018) and Canoës (2021). Her books are translated into thirty-six languages.
Donatien Grau is a long-time friend and conversation-partner of Maylis de Kerangal. In his previous position as Head of Contemporary Programs at the Musée d’Orsay, he collaborated with the author on her 2019-2020 residence as well as on the 2021 exhibition of Maylis de Kerangal and Jean-Philippe Delhomme, « Légendes des réserves ». Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes.
Evenings with an Author are free and open to the public (with a 10€ suggested donation)
thanks to the generous support of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten of GRoW @ Annenberg.

Teen Night: Murder Mystery (ages 12–18)
2025-01-31 19:00 - 21:00
Working in teams, participants will attempt to solve the murder mystery by the end of the evening.
This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads with the help of Library volunteers. Light snacks and drinks will be provided by the Library. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Saturday Series: Just Joking (ages 6–12)
2025-02-01 11:00 - 12:00
Come along to the Children’s Library to learn about riddles and jokes. Join Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste and volunteers as we learn how to tell American knock-knock jokes, and then create your own jokes in classic formats working with idioms and homonyms. This activity is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Children between the ages 6–12 may participate in Library programs on their own, while their chaperone remains inside the Library. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Study Hacks (with Ashley Miller) (ages 12–18)
2025-02-01 14:00 - 16:00
Managing School and life as a busy teen can be complicated. During this workshop, learn tips and tricks to keep your schedule on track and work efficiently. Some examples covered include: using templates, keeping your calendar in order, thinking backward (planning for deadlines), chunking (batching tasks), and much more.
One-on-one coaching on career exploration and college list building will be available for those who attend this presentation.
About Ashley Miller: Ashley Miller started her love affair with both the English Language and teaching at Bucknell University. After a brief stint in show biz as the talent assistant for actor David Morse, her career as a teacher began, with her time in the DC Public School system earning her a “teacher of the year” nomination. Prior to leaving the United States, she was the Education Enrichment Specialist at Project H.O.M.E in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In France, Ashley has been a member of the fac at both CentraleSupelec and Universite de Lorraine (lectrice), a board member of the American Women’s Group of Paris, a volunteer at Caritas Moselle and Enfants du Monde, and a proud member and judge of the Paris Spelling Bee at the American Library. In addition to getting her M2 at the Université de Strasbourg in “Technical Communication and Localization” (TCLoc), she is in the final throes of her college counseling certification through UCLA. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons.
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Story Hour: Fairy Tales and Fables (ages 3–5)
2025-02-05 14:30 - 15:30
For this Story Hour, we’ll read picture books versions of classic fairy tales as well as new interpretations, such as The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas and Helen Oxenbury (pictured here). We’ll also sing songs and practice rhymes.
This program is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. This participatory program is intended to encourage children to actively engage with stories. Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Children’s and Teens’ Services intern Nicole Hoffman will read books and lead you and your little one in songs and hand-rhymes during a live, interactive session. Plan to join in, sing along, move around, and model movement and listening for your little one. We ask that all caregivers put away their phones and other electronic devices for the duration of this program. With your help, we hope to inspire children to become lifelong readers!
Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Rebuilding Notre-Dame
2025-02-05 19:30 - 20:30
This event is part of Ways of Seeing, a special series exploring the connections between storytelling, creativity, and the visual world. Join the conversation and attend events featuring cultural luminaries. Learn more →
Five years after the devastating 2019 fire, Notre Dame has reopened to the public, thanks to the tireless efforts of thousands of workers in a €900 million restoration. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges, triumphs, and artistry that brought Notre Dame back to life.
New York Times journalist Aurelien Breeden, carpenter Hank Silver, architect Axelle Ponsonnet, and photographer Tomas Van Houtryve will share their unique perspectives on the restoration process. Moderated by Erin Ogunkeye, broadcast journalist with France 24.
About the speakers:
Aurelien Breeden is a Franco-American journalist who has been a reporter at the Paris bureau of The New York Times for over a decade. He covers a broad spectrum of news, including the 2019 fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral and the efforts to rebuild it. He has a dual master’s degree in journalism and international affairs from Sciences Po university in Paris, where he teaches an eight-week writing and reporting workshop. He lives in Paris with his wife and three daughters.
Erin Ogunkeye grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia but has spent more time living in Paris than any other city. She studied French law before realising she wanted to feel a closer connection to the rest of the world by following, relaying and breaking down current events; perhaps not too differently from the way a lawyer connects with a jury. She is an anchor at France 24 and presents ‘Around the World’ from Thursday to Sunday.
Axelle Ponsonnet, an architect graduated from the École d’Architecture de Paris Belleville, has been involved in the reconstruction of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral for the past four years, overseeing the lead roofing. Passionate about imagery and drawing, Axelle has been sketching the site since 2020, providing an intimate and privileged perspective on the rebuilding process of the iconic structure. Her book, “Balade dans Notre-Dame, carnet de chantier,” a unique and intimate exploration of the reconstruction of Notre-Dame Cathedral, is forthcoming.
Hank Silver is an American timber frame carpenter who has spent close to two years working on the restoration of Notre Dame de Paris. Born in New York City, Silver honed his craft in Vermont, before opening his own workshop in western Massachusetts. Since 2018, Silver has been a member of the France-based volunteer crew, Charpentiers sans frontières (Carpenters Without Borders) whose mission is the restoration of world carpentry heritage and the transmission of the skills and techniques to future generations of craftspeople. Silver currently resides in Paris.
Tomas van Houtryve is a Paris based artist, photographer and filmmaker whose major works interweave investigative journalism, philosophy and metaphor. Van Houtryve was selected to document the Notre-Dame cathedral of Paris after it was devastated by fire in 2019. With rare access to the rebuilding of the Paris icon, he made images using a wide range of techniques: 19th-century wet plate collodion, traditional photo reportage, and aerial drone videography. Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes.
Evenings with an Author are free and open to the public (with a 10€ suggested donation)
thanks to the generous support of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten of GRoW @ Annenberg.

Toddler Time (ages 1–3)
2025-02-06 11:00 - 11:30
This event for children ages 1–3 and their caregivers features 30 minutes of stories, songs, and rhymes. Stories presented during our Toddler Time programs include short picture books and board books, such as I Know Numbers by Taro Gomi (pictured here), which will be included in this 6 February event. This session will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads.
The program is entirely in English, as are all of our events for children and teens. No translation will be provided. Each child must be accompanied by an adult chaperone, and chaperones are required to remain with their children for the duration of the program. Parents and caregivers are expected to sit with their children beside them, or in their laps, and participate in the program. We ask that all caregivers put away their phones and other electronic devices for the duration of this program. With your help, we hope to inspire children to become lifelong readers! Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Music Together with Stacey Pavesi Debré (ages 0–5)
2025-02-08 14:00 - 15:00
Today, it’s common for us to simply listen to music rather than create it ourselves. But actively making music—with our voices and our bodies—is important to children’s overall development. Since 1987, Music Together, has introduced millions of children, parents, and teachers to the joys of music-making and the powerful benefits of having music in their lives. In our family workshops children and parents learn together through active exploration and live, meaningful interaction. So, take out the earbuds and pick up the instruments we were all given at birth—ourselves! Each child (aged 0–5) should accompany one of their favorite grownups.
About Stacey Pavesi Debré: An American in Paris since 2014, Stacey has been passionate about music and learning her whole life. She studied piano and string bass, joined choirs, orchestras, a capella groups and musical theaters, and worked as a vocalist in Japan and a singing bartender in NYC. In 2017, Stacey founded Bébé Music Box to bring Music Together’s award-winning music and movement classes to families and schools in Paris. Our weekly mixed-age family classes are a fun, dynamic, and inspiring way for families to connect through music. Plus, because music learning supports all learning, the benefits for our young music-makers extend well beyond class. For more information about Bébé Music Box family classes or to contact Stacey, visit www.bbmusicbox.com. To read more about music’s magical effects on children, visit www.musictogether.com. Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Caregivers must remain with their children for the duration of this program. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Story Hour: Valentine's Day (ages 3–5)
2025-02-12 14:30 - 15:30
For this Story Hour, we’ll read picture books all about Valentine’s Day, such as Love, Violet (pictured here). We’ll also sing songs and practice rhymes.
This program is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. This participatory program is intended to encourage children to actively engage with stories. Assistant Children’s and Teens’ Services Librarian Laurine Lucie and Children’s and Teens’ Services intern Nicole Hoffman will read books and lead you and your little one in songs and hand-rhymes during a live, interactive session. Plan to join in, sing along, move around, and model movement and listening for your little one. We ask that all caregivers put away their phones and other electronic devices for the duration of this program. With your help, we hope to inspire children to become lifelong readers!
Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

An Alternative History of Paris with Justinien Tribillon and Aaron Peck
2025-02-12 19:30 - 20:30
Join us for an illuminating discussion on Justinien Tribillon‘s The Zone: An Alternative History of Paris, who explores the Parisian hinterland that has shaped the city’s identity for over two centuries. From its origins as defensive walls to its reinvention as the Boulevard Périphérique, The Zone offers a compelling perspective on the intricate social and spatial dynamics that define modern Paris.
This conversation will be moderated by author and critic Aaron Peck.
About the speakers:
Justinien Tribillon is a curator, writer, editor and educator with a transdisciplinary practice including social sciences, photography, architecture, history and design. He recently published The Zone: An Alternative History of Paris (Verso, 2024), Ruderal: Liquid Identities (Deux-cent-cinq, 2024) and Visible upon Breakdown (Spector Books, 2024). Justinien is a lecturer in History, theory and criticism at the École nationale supérieures des arts décoratifs in Paris. He received his PhD in Urban Studies from The Bartlett, University College London.
Aaron Peck is the author of Jeff Wall: North & West, Letters to the Pacific, and The Bewilderments of Bernard Willis. A literary and art critic, he writes regularly for the Times Literary Supplement and Aperture magazine. Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes.
Evenings with an Author are free and open to the public (with a 10€ suggested donation)
thanks to the generous support of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten of GRoW @ Annenberg.

History Tour at the Library
2025-02-14 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-02-21 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-02-28 11:00 - 12:00
The American Library in Paris invites you to register for a History Tour. Come visit us in person at 10 rue du Général Camou and discover:

Our origin story, when our Library warehoused a collection of books donated to the Doughboys fighting alongside Allied troops in WWI
The establishment of the American Library in Paris as a private library
The famous writers of the Lost Generation (Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, Henry Miller, and more) who explored our stacks during their time in Paris
Our Paris Library School, which brought American innovations to French libraries in the 1920s
The true stories of the brave Librarians who kept the Library open during the Occupation of WWII
How the Library has evolved over its 105-year history into the largest English-language lending library on the European continent

All tours are on Fridays at 11h00, last one hour, and take place in person at the American Library in Paris.
Tours are free of charge and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. Please contact us if you wish to reserve for 5 or more people (do not reserve through the site).
For school or group reservations, or for other questions, please email tours@americanlibraryinparis.org.
This initiative is made possible through the generous support of the Florence Gould Foundation and the American Center for Art and Culture.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes.

Saturday Series: Black History Scavenger Hunt (ages 6–18)
2025-02-15 11:00 - 12:00
Let’s celebrate Black History Month by finding out more about Black literary and artistic figures from the 20th and 21st centuries!
Learn about several important historical figures; then receive tips and tricks for navigating the Library before heading into the stacks to discover more information about Black heroes in American history. Prizes will be given to those who complete the scavenger hunt. Children under the ages of 9 will require an adult chaperone to assist them during this event.
Check in at the Children’s and Teens’ Services Desk to begin!
We encourage you to explore these resources (most recommended titles are available in the Library’s collections):
We Need Diverse Books strives to create a world in which all children can see themselves in the pages of a book.
The Diverse BookFinder is a comprehensive collection of children’s picture books featuring Black and Indigenous people and People of Color (BIPOC).
Brown Bookshelf is designed to push awareness of the myriad Black voices writing for young readers.
Children should be able to read and write in English in order to participate in this workshop. Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Story Hour: Rad Reptiles (ages 3–5)
2025-02-19 14:30 - 15:30
For this Story Hour, we’ll read picture books all about turtles, lizards, snakes and other reptiles, such as Alfie by Thyra Heder (pictured here). We’ll also sing songs and practice rhymes.
This program is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. This participatory program is intended to encourage children to actively engage with stories. Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads, Children’s and Teens’ Services intern Nicole Hoffman and Library Volunteer Amber Auer will read books and lead you and your little one in songs and hand-rhymes during a live, interactive session. Plan to join in, sing along, move around, and model movement and listening for your little one. We ask that all caregivers put away their phones and other electronic devices for the duration of this program. With your help, we hope to inspire children to become lifelong readers!
Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Toddler Time (ages 1–3)
2025-02-20 11:00 - 11:30
This event for children ages 1–3 and their caregivers features 30 minutes of stories, songs, and rhymes. Stories presented during our Toddler Time programs include short picture books and board books, such as A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel (pictured here), which will be included in this 20 February event. This session will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Assistant Children’s and Teens’ Services Librarian Laurine Lucie.
The program is entirely in English, as are all of our events for children and teens. No translation will be provided. Each child must be accompanied by an adult chaperone, and chaperones are required to remain with their children for the duration of the program. Parents and caregivers are expected to sit with their children beside them, or in their laps, and participate in the program. We ask that all caregivers put away their phones and other electronic devices for the duration of this program. With your help, we hope to inspire children to become lifelong readers! Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Teen Night: Classic Movie Night (ages 12–18)
2025-02-21 19:00 - 21:00
Was qualifies as a classic movie? Can you name the director of several classic films? Share your take on these questions and more, and enjoy a film during this event for teens. Vote on the film you’d like to watch when you register for this event. Participate in movie trivia and a game at the start of the evening, then settle in with popcorn and enjoy a screening in the Library’s comfortable reading room. We’ll discuss the film as a group at the end of the night. This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services staff with the help of Library volunteers.
Drinks and light snacks will be provided, as well as lots of popcorn. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Comic Club (ages 6–12)
2025-02-22 11:00 - 12:00
Bring in a favorite comic book or graphic novel to share with the group, and find out what everyone else is reading. Discuss the language of comics, comic books, and graphic novels and then create your own comic strip.
Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads will lead this event with the help of Library volunteers. Children between the ages 6–12 may participate in Library programs on their own, while their chaperone remains inside the Library. Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Wheatley at 250: Celebrating the Legacy of America's First Published African-American Poet
2025-02-25 19:30 - 20:30
Phillis Wheatley Peters, the first African-American woman to publish a book of poetry, revolutionized American literature with Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral (1773). In celebration of her groundbreaking work and to mark its 250th anniversary, Wheatley at 250: Black Women Poets Re-imagine the Verse of Phillis Wheatley Peters brings together 20 Black female poets to reimagine her legacy and voice.
Join Danielle Legros Georges and Artress Bethany White, co-editors of the collection, and Florence Ladd, novelist and poet, as they discuss Wheatley’s impact on the literary world and how her work resonates today. This conversation, moderated by Professor and author Trica Keaton, will explore the transformative power of Wheatley’s words and the ongoing influence of Black women poets across generations.
About the speakers:
Danielle Legros Georges is a writer and editor whose work has been supported by fellowships from organizations including the American Antiquarian Society, the PEN/Heim Translation Fund, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Black Metropolis Research Consortium. Appointed Boston’s Poet Laureate in 2014, she served in the role for four years. Her books include Wheatley at 250: Black Women Poets Re-imagine the Verse of Phillis Wheatley Peters (Pangyrus, 2023); Blue Flare: Three Haitian Poets (Zephyr, 2024); and Three Leaves, Three Roots: Poems on the Haiti-Congo Story (Beacon Press, 2025).
Artress Bethany White is a poet, essayist, and literary critic. Her third poetry collection, A Black Doe in the Anthropocene: Poems, is forthcoming from University Press of Kentucky in spring 2025 and chronicles her family’s history of enslavement in America. She is the recipient of the Trio Award for her poetry collection My Afmerica: poems (Trio House Press, 2019), selected by poet Sun Yung Shin. Her prose, Survivor’s Guilt: Essays on Race and American Identity, received a 2022 Next Generation Finalist Indie Book Award. White is co-editor of the new anthology Wheatley at 250: Black Women Poets Re-imagine the Verse of Phillis Wheatley Peters. She is associate professor of English at East Stroudsburg University.
Florence Ladd is the author of two novels, Sarah’s Psalm and The Spirit of Josephine. She has published two chapbooks: Reclaiming Rose: A Suite of Poems and Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges and His Mother: An Epic. Other poems have been published in The Women’s Review of Books, The Progressive, The Rockhurst Review, Sweet Auburn, Beyond Slavery, Transition, The Golden Shovel Anthology, MUSE, Oberon and Renga for Obama. She co-founded Langston’s Legacy, a collective of poets. For decades, she lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and currently lives in Burgundy.
Trica Keaton is a professor and an interdisciplinary social scientist in the department of African and African American Studies at Dartmouth College with affiliations in the departments of Sociology and Film and Media Studies. Her publications include #You Know You’re Black in France When…: The Fact of Everyday Antiblackness. She is the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow at French Institute for Advanced Study/ Iméra-Aix*Marseille Université, France 2024-2025. Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes.
Evenings with an Author are free and open to the public (with a 10€ suggested donation)
thanks to the generous support of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten of GRoW @ Annenberg.

Story Hour: Under the Sea (ages 3–5)
2025-02-26 14:30 - 15:30
For this Story Hour, we’ll read picture books all about the ocean and underwater creatures, such as Ocean: Waves for All by Stacy McNulty, illustrated by David Litchfield (pictured here). We’ll also sing songs and practice rhymes.
This program is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. This participatory program is intended to encourage children to actively engage with stories. Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Children’s and Teens’ Services intern Nicole Hoffman will read books and lead you and your little one in songs and hand-rhymes during a live, interactive session. Plan to join in, sing along, move around, and model movement and listening for your little one. We ask that all caregivers put away their phones and other electronic devices for the duration of this program. With your help, we hope to inspire children to become lifelong readers!
Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Teen Night: Write, Draw, Create (ages 12–18)
2025-02-28 19:00 - 21:00
Join us for an evening dedicated to creative exploration and storytelling. Try your hand at creating a character and a comic to put them in. Individually, and in groups, we’ll create comics with compelling characters. This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services staff with the help of Library volunteers.
Light snacks and drinks will be provided by the Library. Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Family Dance Party (all ages)
2025-03-01 13:30 - 14:30
Join us to dance, sing, and move to classic children’s songs, and fun dance tunes. This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services staff members with the help of Library volunteers.
Comfortable attire is recommended!
The activity is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. Children between the ages of 0–6 must be accompanied by a chaperone at all times while inside the Library. Children between the ages 6–12 may participate in Library programs on their own, while their chaperone remains inside the Library.

*Fairies, unicorns, elves, yetis, and other magical creatures are also appropriate.

Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Story Hour: Readers and Writers (ages 3–5)
2025-03-05 14:30 - 15:30
For this Story Hour, we’ll read picture books all about people who create stories and those who enjoy them, such as The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read by Curtis Manley, illustrated by Kate Berube (pictured here). We’ll also sing songs and practice rhymes.
This program is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. This participatory program is intended to encourage children to actively engage with stories. Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Children’s and Teens’ Services intern Nicole Hoffman will read books and lead you and your little one in songs and hand-rhymes during a live, interactive session. Plan to join in, sing along, move around, and model movement and listening for your little one. We ask that all caregivers put away their phones and other electronic devices for the duration of this program. With your help, we hope to inspire children to become lifelong readers!
Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Toddler Time (ages 1–3)
2025-03-06 11:00 - 11:30
This event for children ages 1–3 and their caregivers features 30 minutes of stories, songs, and rhymes. Stories presented during our Toddler Time programs include short picture books and board books, such as A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin (pictured here), which will be included in this 6 March event. This session will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads.
The program is entirely in English, as are all of our events for children and teens. No translation will be provided. Each child must be accompanied by an adult chaperone, and chaperones are required to remain with their children for the duration of the program. Parents and caregivers are expected to sit with their children beside them, or in their laps, and participate in the program. We ask that all caregivers put away their phones and other electronic devices for the duration of this program. With your help, we hope to inspire children to become lifelong readers! Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Board Game Night
2025-03-06 19:00 - 21:00
Join us for a fun-filled Board Game Night at the library! Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or just looking for a casual night of gameplay, you’re welcome to come along.
🕒 When: Thursday 6 March, 7:00pm-9:00pm
📍 Where: American Library in Paris, 10 rue du Général Camou, Paris 75007
Bring your friends or come solo and team up with fellow game enthusiasts. A wide selection of games will be available for all skill levels and interests.
Details:

Free for library members. Non-members are welcome for 10€.
Registration is required. Click on the RSVP button above!
Light refreshments will be provided on the night

We can’t wait to see you there! For any questions, contact us at info@americanlibraryinparis.org

History Tour: 1920s Edition
2025-03-07 11:00 - 12:00
Did you know that Gertrude Stein had a penchant for pulpy mystery novels? Or that Hemingway attempted to secure a job at the Library for his drinking buddy?
The American Library in Paris invites you to register for a 1920s-focused History Tour. Come visit us in person at 10 rue du Général Camou and discover:

Our origin story, when our Library warehoused a collection of books donated to the Doughboys fighting alongside Allied troops in WWI
The establishment of the American Library in Paris as a private library
The famous writers of the Lost Generation (Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, Henry Miller, and more) who explored our stacks during their time in Paris
Our Paris Library School, which brought American innovations to French libraries in the 1920s

All tours are on Fridays at 11h00, last one hour, and take place in person at the American Library in Paris.
Tours are free of charge and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. Please contact us if you wish to reserve for 5 or more people (do not reserve through the site).
For school or group reservations, or for other questions, please email tours@americanlibraryinparis.org.
This initiative is made possible through the generous support of the Florence Gould Foundation and the American Center for Art and Culture.
Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes.

Teen Night: Rock Quiz Nite with Rock U. (ages 12–18)
2025-03-07 19:00 - 21:00
Join Matt Black, creator of Rock U., for a series of musical quizzes and games to test your musical knowledge. No need to be an expert at rock music to play—all teens are welcome: diehard music fans and those just looking to discover great music and great people.
Light snacks and drinks will be provided by the Library.
About Matt Black: Matt Black has worked as an educator for more than 30 years, and gets big thrills as a guitarist and vocalist with beloved Paris party band The Doodads. In 2012, he searched Paris for a rock band program for his daughter—and when he couldn’t find one, he created Rock U. instead! Matt works with Rock U. students on the techniques of playing together to craft a live band performance. Learn more about Matt Black and Rock U. here.
Important information:
This event is free for Library members, and 15€ per teen for non-members. Advance registration is required. All visitors are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. After-hours events for teens, such as Teen Nights, require a signed permission slip, which can be downloaded here. One permission slip is needed per academic year (September–July).
Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Bilingual Storytime (ages 3–6)
2025-03-08 10:30 - 11:30
To celebrate the centennial of France’s first children’s library (l’Heure Joyeuse)—an initiative in which our Library played an active role—we are presenting a special bilingual storytime at a Paris municipal library. Join Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Assistant Children’s and Teens’ Services Librarian Laurine Lucie for a bilingual storytime at Médiathèque Françoise Sagan in French and English.
This participatory program is intended to encourage children to actively engage with stories. Our librarians will read books and lead you and your little ones in songs and hand-rhymes during this live, interactive session. Plan to join in, sing along, move around, and model movement and listening for your little one. We ask that all caregivers put away their phones and other electronic devices for the duration of this program. With your help, we hope to inspire children to become lifelong readers!
Find out more here.

Important information: This event is for Library members, and advance registration is required. Caregivers are expected to familiarize themselves with the Library Policy for Children and the Rules and Code of Conduct so that we can provide a pleasant library environment for all patrons. Questions about collections and programs for children and teens can be sent to the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.
