The American Library in Paris

Crochet Corner (ages 12–18)
2026-05-09 14:00 - 15:30 (Europe/Paris) | The American Library in Paris
Meet other teens in the community and practice crochet during this afternoon crating workshop. Participants will learn the basics of crochet (a slipknot, a single crochet stitch, and a chain) and a few advanced stitches, and then get started on a project during this crafting event. Crafting books from the Library’s collections will be provided for those who wish to continue learning at home.
This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Tjasa Kmetec, with the help of Library staff and volunteers. All supplies will be provided for practice, and you are also welcome to bring in your own projects too.
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 and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Secret Society of Readers Book Club: Fantasy Reads (ages 8–12)
2026-05-10 16:00 - 17:00 | The American Library in Paris
Children ages 8–12 are invited to bring a favorite fantasy novel to share with the group. Participants should come prepared to tell the group about the book, and to read a short passage—and to try to convince others to read the book without including any spoilers. Book-related activities and games will follow the discussion.
This event will be hosted by Assistant Children’s and Teens’ Services Librarian Laurine Lucie. This activity is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. Children between the ages 8–12 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 and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

World Cup Fever with Simon Kuper and Darren Tulett
2026-05-12 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
The World Cup is the biggest sporting event on Earth. The tournament, held every four years, is watched by billions, and is shaped as much by politics and money as by what happens on the pitch. In this conversation, Simon Kuper and Darren Tulett discuss Kuper’s latest book World Cup Fever, his acclaimed account of nine World Cups and what they reveal about football’s transformation over the past three decades. From the spectacle and storytelling to the ethics and economics of the modern game, Kuper reflects on how the World Cup has come to mirror the world around it—and why it continues to captivate us.
About the speakers:
Simon Kuper (born in Kampala, Uganda in 1969) is an author and Financial Times columnist. He is a British-French dual citizen, and lives in Paris. His recent books include The Happy Traitor, his biography of the double agent George Blake (2021); Barça: The Rise and Fall of the Club that Invented Modern Football (2021, winner of Britain’s Sunday Times award for Football Book of the Year); Chums: How a Tiny Caste of Oxford Tories Took Over the UK (2022); Impossible City: Paris in the Twenty-First Century (2024) and World Cup Fever: A Footballing Journey in Nine Tournaments (2025).
Darren Tulett was born in 1965 near Brighton, on England’s south coast. After studying in Manchester—where his interests leaned more toward the city’s football teams and thriving music scene than academia—he moved to Paris, on a whim. Not speaking French, he began working as an English teacher, unwittingly launching what would become a long international career. Following a brief return to England where he nabbed his first job as a sports journalist, Darren moved back to the French capital and wrote for Bloomberg News and the Guardian before transitioning to French television. After a decade with Canal Plus covering English football, he joined beIN SPORTS in 2012. He has since reported on major global sporting events, from Wimbledon to the Olympic Games, via the Tour de France and is currently looking forward to covering his eighth World Cup. 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 GRoW @ Annenberg.

Story Hour: We Love Our Grown-Ups (ages 3–5)
2026-05-13 14:30 - 15:30 | The American Library in Paris
For this program, join us for stories about great grown-ups: moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, and other caregivers! Stories featured in this event include picture books such as In the Blue by Erin Hourigan, and Oh No, the Aunties Are Here! by Adam Rex and Lian Cho (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 staff members 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.

Breaking Bread: A Poetry Workshop with Dr. Eve L. Ewing
2026-05-13 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
What happens when poetry meets a good loaf of bread? In this playful, hands-on workshop led by American Library in Paris Scholar of Note, Dr. Eve L. Ewing, we’ll read, write, and savor our way through the senses—touching crust, breathing in warm aromas, listening to the crackle of fresh bread, and, of course, tasting. Through a craft lecture, lively prompts, and shared bread, participants will transform simple sensory pleasures into surprising poems, turning flavor into poetry.
About the speaker:
Dr. Eve L. Ewing is a writer, scholar, and cultural organizer from Chicago. She is the award-winning author of several books, including most recently Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism, an instant New York Times and USA Today bestseller. She works across genres, also penning works in theater, television, and comics. Ewing is an associate professor in the Department of Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity at the University of Chicago. As Scholar of Note at the American Library, Ewing will be working on a collection of essays about the joy and craft of bread and what it reveals about society, culture, history, and communities. Important information: This event will be in-person only and will not be recorded. Due to the nature of the event, space is limited so please sign up early!
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 GRoW @ Annenberg.

History Tour at the Library
2026-05-15 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-22 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-05 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-12 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-19 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-26 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: How our Library grew out of a collection of books donated to troops in WWI
The establishment of the American Library in Paris as a private non-profit library
The famous writers of the Lost Generation (Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, Henry Miller, and others) who explored our stacks
The Paris Library School, which brought American innovations to French libraries between the wars
The true stories of the brave librarians who kept the Library open during the Occupation of WWII
How the Library has evolved over its 106-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.

Teen Night: Steampunk Role Play (ages 12–18)
2026-05-15 19:00 - 21:00 | The American Library in Paris
Interested in tabletop role-playing games? Role playing games offer a chance to sharpen your storytelling skills and have fun creating characters. Join us for a Friday night campaign TTRPG in a steampunk setting! We’ll have characters, mini-figures, dice, and an awesome story for you! The game offered during this event will be a short one-off, with no experience needed, and all materials will be provided.
This event will be hosted by Volunteer Tjasa Kmetec with support from Library staff. Costumes and accessories are welcome!
Drinks and light snacks 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.

Toddler Time (ages 1–3)
2026-05-21 11:00 - 11:30 | The American Library in Paris
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 Tuck Me In! by Dean Hacohen and Sherry Scharschmidt and The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? by Mo Willems (pictured here), which will be featured during this session.
Toddler Time sessions are hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services staff members, and include age-appropriate stories selected by the Library’s Children’s and Teens’ librarians. Enjoy stories, music, movement and rhymes and help develop your child’s early literacy skills. Stay for play and social time after the event.
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.

Fracture Fairy Tales with author Robin Newman (ages 8–12)
2026-05-23 11:00 - 12:30 | The American Library in Paris
Join author Robin Newman for a reading of her book Who’s Writing This Story? and then talk about writing, revision, and crafting stories using fairy tales as a starting point. Participants in this workshop will begin crafting their own fractured fairy tales with guidance from Robin Newman.
This activity is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. All participants must be able to understand and speak English in order to participate in the program. Caregivers and parents of young children are encouraged to participate in this event with their children. Children between the ages 8–12 may participate in this Library programs on their own, while their chaperone remains inside the Library.
About Robin Newman: Raised in New York and Paris, Robin is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and the City University of New York School of Law. She was a practicing attorney and legal editor, but she now prefers to write about witches, mice, pigs, bears, and peacocks. She’s a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, National Writing Project’s Writers Council, Bank Street Writers Lab, Read Alliance Advisory Council, and PEN America, CYAB. She lives in New York with her husband, son, and two spoiled dogs.
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.

The Paris Novel with Ruth Reichl and Lindsey Tramuta
2026-05-26 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
Join iconic food writer and bestselling author Ruth Reichl for an evening that unfolds like a literary tasting menu. In conversation with Lindsey Tramuta, she’ll revisit the brasseries, bakeries, and vanished haunts of The Paris Novel, blending memory and imagination into a richly layered portrait of the city.
Beloved for her evocative food writing, Reichl will reflect on how real meals and markets became fiction, exploring a Paris both remembered and reinvented.
About the speakers:
Ruth Reichl wrote her first cookbook in 1972. She spent the seventies as restaurant critic for New West Magazine and the eighties restaurant critic and food editor of the Los Angeles Times. From 1993 to 1999 she was the restaurant critic for the New York Times before moving to Gourmet Magazine as Editor in Chief. She has written five memoirs, two novels and two cookbooks, edited a dozen books and hosted two television series. Her movie Food and Country is available on streaming and she produces a weekly newsletter, La Briffe, on Substack. The recipient of 7 James Beard Awards, including Lifetime Achievement, she is currently working on a sequel to The Paris Novel.
Lindsey Tramuta has been based in Paris since 2006. She is a bilingual French-English culture and travel journalist, bestselling author, podcaster, and editorial consultant. Since 2012, her work has appeared in T: The New York Times Style Magazine, the New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, Fortune Magazine, Afar Magazine, Travel & Leisure, Eater, Bloomberg, Elle, and Vogue, among other international publications. 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 GRoW @ Annenberg.

[Patron Circle] Law in a Changing America with Andrew Weissmann
2026-05-27 19:00 - 20:00 | The American Library in Paris
In this lecture, bestselling author and MSNOW legal commentator Andrew Weissmann draws on more than two decades at the Department of Justice—including his roles as General Counsel of the FBI and a senior lawyer on the Mueller investigation—to offer a rare insider’s view of law under political pressure. Reflecting on his books Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation and The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary, as well as his forthcoming work on political lies, Liar’s Kingdom, he will explore how legal institutions confront disinformation, power, and accountability in a polarized age.
This event is reserved for Library Patron Circle members (formerly: Friends of the Library) and will be followed by a champagne cocktail apéro. If you’d like to join, please email giving@americanlibraryinparis.org.
About the Speaker:
Andrew Weissmann is an American attorney and professor. A former Assistant United States Attorney (1991-2006), he also has served as a lead prosecutor in Robert S. Mueller’s Special Counsel’s Office (2017-2019), as Chief of the Fraud Section in the Department of Justice (2015-2019), as General Counsel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation under Director Mueller (2011-2013), and as a leader of the Enron Task Force (2002-2005). He is a frequent legal analyst for MSNBC and, alongside Mary McCord, is the co-host of the network’s award-winning podcast Main Justice. He is the author of two New York Times bestsellers, Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation and (with Melissa Murray) The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents With Commentary. His newsletter Behind the Headlines has over 100K followers on Substack. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School, and teaches criminal and national security law and procedure at NYU School of Law. He lives in New York City. Important information: This is an event reserved for the Library’s Patron Circle members (formerly: Friends of the Library). The Patron Circle follows a yearly cycle beginning each September, bringing together our most committed supporters through a tiered donor programme. With giving levels for individuals and families, it invites those who wish to invest more deeply to enjoy exclusive access and meaningful recognition. Learn more about joining.
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.

History Tour: 1920s Edition
2026-05-29 11:00 - 12:00 | The American Library in Paris
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.

Bringing Stories to Life: A Conversation with Nikki Grimes and E.B. Lewis (ages 7–adult)
2026-05-29 18:00 - 19:30 | The American Library in Paris
Join award-winners, author Nikki Grimes and illustrator and fine artist E.B. Lewis, for a conversation about how their work brings historical figures to life and how research impacts their art as they create original works of historical fiction, fiction, and memoir. These two prolific creators of children’s literature will be together on stage for the first time for a conversation focusing on their individual works and as well as their collaborations: Stronger Than and Talking About Bessie: the Story of Aviator Bessie Coleman.
Books will be available for purchase at the Library, and Nikki Grimes and E.B. Lewis will be available to sign books.
Light refreshments will be provided by the Library.
About the speakers:
Nikki Grimes: New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes was inducted into the Black Authors Hall of Fame in 2023. Her honors include the CSK Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, the ALAN Award for significant contributions to young adult literature, the Children’s Literature Legacy Medal, and the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Author of the Coretta Scott King Award-winner Bronx Masquerade, and five Coretta Scott King Author Honors, she won the Printz Honor and Sibert Honor for her memoir Ordinary Hazards. Her latest titles include Garvey’s Choice:The Graphic Novel, a School Library Journal 2023 Best Book; Lullaby for the King, one of Book Riot’s 25 Best Christmas Books of All Time; and A Walk in the Woods, recipient of 8 starred reviews, and 11 Best Book listings for 2023, including the New York Times, NPR, and Smithsonian Magazine. Ms. Grimes lives in Corona, California. Find out more here.
E.B. Lewis: The award winning illustrator and fine artist, E.B. Lewis has illustrated over seventy books for children, including: Jacqueline Woodson’s 2004 Caldecott Honor Award Winner Coming on Home Soon; Five time Coretta Scott King winner Nikki Grimes’ Talking About Bessie; Jabari Asim’s New York Times 2016 Best Illustrated Book Award, Kirkus 2016 Best Illustrated Book Award, and the 2016 Golden Kite Honor Award, Preaching to the Chickens. Inspired by two artist uncles, as early as the third grade, Lewis displayed artistic promise. Beginning in the sixth grade, he attended the Saturday Morning Art League and studied with Clarence Wood. Lewis attended the Temple University Tyler School of Art, where he discovered his medium of preference was watercolor. Presently, E.B. teaches at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. He is also a member of The Society of Illustrators in New York City, and an artist member of Salamagundi Art Club of New York. In 2003, the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota purchased a collection of original watercolors from E.B.’s first fifty children’s books. Today, his works are displayed in museums, owned by private collectors, and sold by art galleries throughout the United States and Europe. Find out more here.

Important information: This event is free and open to the public, and advance registration is required. The discussion will be available in person only. Please note this event will be in English and no translation will be provided. Attendees 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. 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.

Ways of Seeing with Hisham Matar
2026-06-02 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
In the Library’s last Ways of Seeing event, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Hisham Matar invites us to slow down and look—patiently, deliberately, without distraction. Together, we will dwell with a single painting — Titian’s Man with a Glove — allowing its details, textures, and silences to emerge over time.
Drawing on the sensibility he brings to A Month in Siena, his luminous meditation on art and the human condition, Matar allows us to explore what happens when we give a work of art our full attention. What can sustained looking reveal about presence, vulnerability, and the passage of time?
About the speaker:
Hisham Matar was born in New York to Libyan parents, spent his childhood in Tripoli and Cairo and has lived most of his life in London. He is the recipient of numerous international prizes, including the Premio Gregor von Rezzori, the Commonwealth Writers Prize, the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize, the Slightly Foxed First Biography Prize, the Prix du livre étranger, the Geschwister/Scholl Preis, the Rathbones Folio Prize, the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award, the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography and, most recently, the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. 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 GRoW @ Annenberg.

American Library in Paris Gala with Amy Tan
2026-06-04 19:00 - 22:00 | Automobile Club de France
Join us at 7PM on Thursday, 4 June 2026, at the Automobile Club de France for an unforgettable evening celebrating literature, creativity, and the enduring mission of the Library. This annual Gala is the Library’s most significant fundraising event of the year, directly supporting our collection, programs, and services that have inspired readers, writers, and thinkers for over 105 years. Amy Tan, acclaimed author of The Joy Luck Club and The Backyard Bird Chronicles, will be the 2026 American Library in Paris Gala Honoree.

Read More and Purchase your Gala Tickets Here

Deadline to apply: 2026–2027 teen clubs
2026-07-31 22:00 | The American Library in Paris
Do you want to know more about the behind-the-scenes life of the Library? Did you see a cool film made by a member of the Master Shot Film Club? Have you heard from a friend about how much their writing improved after joining the Teen Writing Group? Are you interested in working on your public speaking skills? Applications open on 1 March for all of the Library’s teen clubs (the Teen Advisory Group Group, Master Shot Film Club, the Teen Writing Group, and the Youth Leadership Program). Teens can apply via the online forms on the Library website. All applications are due by 31 July at 23h00, and an application is required for each individual club.

Teen Writing Group (open to Library members ages 12–18)
Meets one Saturday a month from 17h00–18h30

Master Shot Film Club (open to teens ages 12–18)
Meets one Saturday a month from 17h00–18h30

Teen Advisory Group (open to Library ages 12–18)
Meets one Friday a month from 17h00–18h30

The Youth Leadership Program (with Toastmasters) (for ages 14–18)
Meets one Friday a month from 19h00–21h00
