The Writers' Room (ages 12–18)
2023-12-16 14:00 - 15:30 (Europe/Paris) | The American Library in Paris
Meet other writers in the community and get started on an original story as using creative writing prompts and games. Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Amber Auer will host this event dedicated to writing exercises and literary games. 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.

Story Hour: Classics and Favorites (ages 3–5)
2023-12-20 14:30 - 15:30 | The American Library in Paris
For this Story Hour, we’ll read classic stories and contemporary favorites! Each Story Hour program features short picture books such as Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts (pictured here), as well as songs and rhymes.
This Story Hour will be hosted by Children and Teens Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Children and Teens Services Intern Amber Auer. They will read books and lead you and your little one in songs and hand-rhymes during a live, interactive session. This participatory program is intended to encourage children to actively engage with stories. Plan to join in, sing along, and 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. This activity is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. Important information:
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.

(In-Person Only) Finding Form, Family, and Fatherhood with Kwame Alexander
2023-12-20 18:00 - 19:30 | The American Library in Paris
The Library is delighted to welcome poet, children’s author, and memoirist Kwame Alexander.
Alexander’s 2021 book, The Door of No Return, an instant #1 New York Times Bestseller, was first of a three-part series following a 19th-century Ghanaian boy as he encounters the transatlantic slave trade.
In 2023, Alexander released his first book for adults, a memoir called Why Fathers Cry at Night. The memoir unfolds through a medley of poems, recipes, letters, and other personal fragments, kaleidoscopically detailing Alexander’s relationships with his daughters and with his own parents.
Other works by Alexander include The Crossover, a novel told entirely through verse, which won the prestigious Newbery Medal, and The Undefeated, a picture book that commemorates the resilience of Black Americans throughout history.
Moderated by journalist Pamela Druckerman, join us for a conversation on boundary-pushing poetry and literature.
Please note this event’s early start time.

About the speakers:
Kwame Alexander is a New York Times-bestselling author of 39 books. His work includes The Crossover (2014), for which he won the Newbery Medal; Becoming Muhammad Ali (2019, co-authored with James Patterson); The Undefeated (2019, nominated for the National Book Award); and Why Fathers Cry at Night (2023). He is also the Executive Producer, Showrunner, and Writer of a television adaptation of The Crossover, which recently premiered on Disney+.
Pamela Druckerman is a French-American journalist and documentary producer who focuses on France and family life. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times International Edition, The Atlantic, Le Monde, Harper’s, and more. She is also the author of five books, including Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting (2012) and There Are No Grown-Ups: A Midlife Coming-of-Age Story (2018). Learn more:
Kwame Alexander recently appeared on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross to discuss his memoir, Why Fathers Cry at Night. Listen to the interview here.
Alexander’s award-winning novel for young adults, The Crossover, is told through a series of about two hundred poems. Watch Alexander reflect upon his poetic process and read an excerpt from the novel here.
A television adaptation of The Crossover premiered this year. You can watch the trailer here; the first season is available on Disney+. Important information: The discussion will be in person only. Alexander and Druckerman will appear in the Reading Room, and the discussion will not be recorded. Please note this event’s early start time.
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. Copies of Why Fathers Cry at Night will be available for purchase at the Library in the week leading up to this event and while the event takes place, generously provided by Smith&Son. All sales support this local independent bookstore.
Attendees will have the opportunity to have their copy signed following the conversation.
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)
2023-12-21 11:00 - 11:30 | The American Library in Paris
Stories featured during our Toddler Time programs include short picture books and board books, such as I Really Want to See You, Grandma by Taro Gomi, which will be included in this 21 December event.
Our Toddler Time is for children ages 1–3 and their caregivers, and lasts 30 minutes. The program is entirely in English, as are all of our events for children and teens. No translation will be provided. This session will be hosted by Children and Teens Services Manager Celeste Rhoads, and Assistant Children and Teens Services Librarian Jason Hazard. 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. Important information:
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.

(ONLINE) Critical Conversations Meeting Two: Athenian Democracy, Collective Intelligence at Work
2023-12-21 19:00 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
What would it mean to design a society of participatory, collective problem-solving? One place to look is the often-misunderstood “first democracy” of the Athenians (509-330 BCE). We will explore the core principles that made this system work: filling offices by lottery, “civic tribes”, and a culture of critical thinking and learning by doing. How did the Athenian people create their democracy against the odds? What were its weak points? And what lessons for us today?
Readings to prepare:

Josiah Ober (Stanford), “Epistemic Democracy in Classical Athens” (chapter)

Please note:
This session of Critical Conversations will be held online on Zoom. A link will be sent out by email.

If you are interested in participating in Critical Conversations 2023–24: Redesigning Democracy, sign up here with our registration form at the bottom of the page.
Some details: Whether in France or America, debate is central to healthy democracy. Critical Conversations encourages both disagreement and agreement through thinking, talking, reading, and actively participating in community. Since the series’ inception in 2020, we have tackled race in America, the climate crisis, migration, and technology. Across seasons, participants have challenged themselves, their peers, and the world in which we live.
Please write to programs@americanlibraryinparis.org with any questions or thoughts.
About Critical Conversations: Whether in France or America, debate is central to healthy democracy. Critical Conversations encourages both disagreement and agreement through thinking, talking, reading, and actively participating in community. Since the series’ inception in 2020, we have tackled race in America, the climate crisis, and migration. Across seasons, participants have challenged themselves, their peers, and the world in which we live.
About the Critical Conversations 2023-24 leaders:
Prof. Lex Paulson is Executive Director of the UM6P School of Collective Intelligence (Morocco) and lectures in advocacy at Sciences Po-Paris. Trained in classics and community organizing, he served as mobilization strategist for the campaigns of Barack Obama in 2008 and Emmanuel Macron in 2017. He served as legislative counsel in the 111th U.S. Congress (2009-2011), organized on six U.S. presidential campaigns, and has worked to advance democratic innovation at the European Commission and in India, Tunisia, Egypt, Uganda, Senegal, Czech Republic and Ukraine. He is author of Cicero and the People’s Will: Philosophy and Power at the End of the Roman Republic, from Cambridge University Press, and is co-editor of the Routledge Handbook of Collective Intelligence for Democracy and Governance.
Prof. Mark Klein is a Principal Research Scientist at the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence, serves as a professor and Senior Scientific Advisor at the UM6P School of Collective Intelligence, and Chief Scientist at HiveWise Inc, a startup in the collective intelligence space. His research draws from such fields as artificial intelligence, social computing, economics, operations research, and complexity science to develop and evaluate computer technologies that enable greater ‘collective intelligence’ in large groups faced with complex decisions. He has over 180 publications in these areas, and has served on the editorial boards of many prominent journals and conferences related to AI and social computing.
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: Hot Cocoa and Movie Night (ages 12–18)
2023-12-22 19:00 - 21:30 | The American Library in Paris
Vote on the film to you’d like to watch when you register for this event. Participate in movie trivia at the start of the evening, then settle in with popcorn and hot cocoa 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 Manager Celeste Rhoads, Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Amber Auer with the help of Library volunteers.
Popcorn and hot cocoa 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.

Saturday Series: Exploring Cut Paper Crafts (ages 6–12)
2023-12-23 11:00 - 12:00 | The American Library in Paris
From famous artworks in museums by Henri Matisse to illustrations in picture books by Eric Carle and Oge Mora, and traditional art such as kirigami, there are myriad examples of cut paper art. Participants in this workshop will take a look at examples of paper cutting art and crafts such as portrait silhouettes, pin-pricked paper designs, and decoupage, then make their own pieces of art. All supplies will be provided by the Library.
This event will be hosted by Children and Teens Services Manager Celeste Rhoads with the help of Library volunteers. The 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. 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 and Teens Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Teen Lit Trivia Madness (ages 12–18)
2023-12-23 15:00 - 16:00 | The American Library in Paris
Meet other bookworms in the community and win prizes! In teams, participants will work together to conquer the Library’s trivia on teen literature. Trivia questions will cover titles such as The Hunger Games, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Recruit, The Cruel Prince, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and many, many more! There’s no need to be an expert to play.
Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads will host this event dedicated to the highlights of teen literature. Snacks and drinks will be provided. 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.

Library is closed
2023-12-24 - 2024-01-01

Story Hour: Happy New Year! (ages 3–5)
2024-01-03 14:30 - 15:30 | The American Library in Paris
For this Story Hour, we’ll read new books to start off the new year, as well as a tale about the changing of the seasons. Each Story Hour program features short picture books such as What Happened to You? by James Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George (pictured here), as well as songs and rhymes.
This Story Hour will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Amber Auer. They will read books and lead you and your little one in songs and hand-rhymes during a live, interactive session. This participatory program is intended to encourage children to actively engage with stories. Plan to join in, sing along, and 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. This activity is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. Important information:
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)
2024-01-04 11:00 - 11:30 | The American Library in Paris
Stories featured during our Toddler Time programs include short picture books and board books, such as The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, which will be included in this 3 January event.
Our Toddler Time is for children ages 1–3 and their caregivers, and lasts 30 minutes. The program is entirely in English, as are all of our events for children and teens. No translation will be provided. This session will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads. 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. Important information:
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.

Folk Song Sing-Along with Emily Bonn (ages 0–12)
2024-01-06 11:00 - 12:00 | The American Library in Paris
Children and their caregivers are invited to sing, dance, jump and play with musician Emily Bonn. You are welcomed to sit, but Emily’s tunes will have you up and on your feet in no time!
About Emily Bonn: Emily Bonn is an American musician and children’s music educator from the Bay Area. She currently works as a children’s librarian at the Mill Valley Library in California. Her country swing band, The Vivants perform regularly around the Bay Area with a mix of bluegrass, swing and old-time country Americana. 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. This activity is entirely in English, and no translation will be provided. Caregivers are encouraged to participate in this event with their children. Children ages 0–5 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. 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.

De-Stress for the New Year (ages 12–18)
2024-01-07 16:00 - 17:00 | The American Library in Paris
Meet other teens as you explore techniques to feel calm, conquer stress, and organize your workload. Participants will try simple yoga poses, group games, and more.
Assistant Children’s and Teens’ Services Librarian Laurine will host this event. Snacks and drinks will be provided. 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.

Story Hour: Read the Rainbow (ages 3–5)
2024-01-10 14:30 - 15:30 | The American Library in Paris
For this Story Hour, we’ll read books in all colors of the rainbow, and we’ll learn about natural rainbows. Each Story Hour program features short picture books such as Rainbow Stew by Cathryn Falwell (pictured here), as well as songs and rhymes.
This Story Hour will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Amber Auer. They will read books and lead you and your little one in songs and hand-rhymes during a live, interactive session. This participatory program is intended to encourage children to actively engage with stories. Plan to join in, sing along, and 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. 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. 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.

(Hybrid) Learning to Laugh with Nuar Alsadir
2024-01-10 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
Why do humans laugh? What effect does laughter have on the body? What is its role in a social setting? What does it communicate, and why does it matter? Poet and psychoanalyst Nuar Alsadir uses psychology, philosophy, history, personal experience, and more to answer these questions in new book Animal Joy. A whimsical, wide-reaching meditation upon the power of laughter, populated by figures ranging from Donald Trump to Alsadir’s classmates at clown school, the book reveals hidden dimensions to humor, while highlighting the challenges of defining what humor is. More than an expression of amusement, it can be wielded as a political tool, poetic instrument, and therapeutic mechanism.
Learn More:
For a sample of Alsadir’s poetry, check out her poem titled “Invertebrate.”
For a preview of Alsadir’s meditations on laughter and its various forms, check out her essay “Corpsing: On Sex, Death, and Inappropriate Laughter” in The Paris Review.
About the speaker:
Nuar Alsadir‘s most recent book, Animal Joy: A Book of Laughter and Resuscitation was a TIME Magazine must-read of 2022 and a Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of 2022. She is also the author of two poetry collections: Fourth Person Singular, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Forward Prize for Best Collection, and More Shadow Than Bird. She is a fellow of the New York Institute for the Humanities and a member of the curatorial board of The Racial Imaginary Institute. She works as a psychoanalyst in private practice in New York.
Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (Alsadir 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.
This event requires advance registration.
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.

Critical Conversations Meeting Three: Democratic Innovation Across the Globe
2024-01-11 19:00 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
Is the Athenian model making a comeback? In this session we will look at how innovations like citizens’ assemblies, participatory budgets, and civic technologies are remaking the debate on democracy today — and possibly bringing it closer to its ancient roots.
Readings to prepare:

Vox, “Study: Politicians listen to rich people, not you” (2015, article)
Audrey Tang (Digital Minister, Taiwan): “The Frontier of Democracy” (2021, video)
Bastien Berbner, ”The Unlikely Friendship that helped Legalize Gay Marriage in Ireland” (2020, article)
World Bank, “Toward a More Inclusive Development in Kenya” (2018, video)

Some details: Whether in France or America, debate is central to healthy democracy. Critical Conversations encourages both disagreement and agreement through thinking, talking, reading, and actively participating in community. Since the series’ inception in 2020, we have tackled race in America, the climate crisis, migration, and technology. Across seasons, participants have challenged themselves, their peers, and the world in which we live.
Please note, this event and all event in the Critical Conversations series require advance registration and payment. Please register here by filling out the form at the bottom of the page.
Please write to programs@americanlibraryinparis.org with any questions or thoughts.
About Critical Conversations: Whether in France or America, debate is central to healthy democracy. Critical Conversations encourages both disagreement and agreement through thinking, talking, reading, and actively participating in community. Since the series’ inception in 2020, we have tackled race in America, the climate crisis, and migration. Across seasons, participants have challenged themselves, their peers, and the world in which we live.
About the Critical Conversations 2023-24 leaders:
Prof. Lex Paulson is Executive Director of the UM6P School of Collective Intelligence (Morocco) and lectures in advocacy at Sciences Po-Paris. Trained in classics and community organizing, he served as mobilization strategist for the campaigns of Barack Obama in 2008 and Emmanuel Macron in 2017. He served as legislative counsel in the 111th U.S. Congress (2009-2011), organized on six U.S. presidential campaigns, and has worked to advance democratic innovation at the European Commission and in India, Tunisia, Egypt, Uganda, Senegal, Czech Republic and Ukraine. He is author of Cicero and the People’s Will: Philosophy and Power at the End of the Roman Republic, from Cambridge University Press, and is co-editor of the Routledge Handbook of Collective Intelligence for Democracy and Governance.
Prof. Mark Klein is a Principal Research Scientist at the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence, serves as a professor and Senior Scientific Advisor at the UM6P School of Collective Intelligence, and Chief Scientist at HiveWise Inc, a startup in the collective intelligence space. His research draws from such fields as artificial intelligence, social computing, economics, operations research, and complexity science to develop and evaluate computer technologies that enable greater ‘collective intelligence’ in large groups faced with complex decisions. He has over 180 publications in these areas, and has served on the editorial boards of many prominent journals and conferences related to AI and social computing.
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 at the Library
2024-01-12 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-01-19 11:00 - 12:00 | The American Library in Paris
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 troupes 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 103-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 email us if you are reserving for 4 or more people. (Do not reserve through the site.)
Please email tours@americanlibraryinparis.org with any questions.
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.

Winter Wonderland (all ages)
2024-01-13 14:00 - 15:00 | The American Library in Paris
Kick off the new year, and meet fellow Library members during our annual winter and new year celebration full of music, games, crafts, fun, and surprises! This event will be hosted by Children and Teens Services staff members with the help of Library volunteers. Musical Emily Bonn will perform as part of the celebration and light refreshments will be provided.
For this winter-themed celebration, put on something sparkly, or dress up as your favorite winter creature*!
About Emily Bonn: Emily Bonn is an American musician and children’s music educator from the Bay Area. She currently works as a children’s librarian at the Mill Valley Library in California. Her country swing band, The Vivants perform regularly around the Bay Area with a mix of bluegrass, swing and old-time country Americana.
The 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. 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, 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.

Journalism from A–Z: DIY Zines (ages 12–18)
2024-01-13 16:00 - 17:30 | The American Library in Paris
Meet other writers in the community and explore all aspects of creating a zine (a handmade magazine). Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Amber Auer will host this event dedicated to writing exercises and literary games. 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.

Story Hour: Kings and Queens (ages 3–5)
2024-01-17 14:30 - 15:30 | The American Library in Paris
For this Story Hour, we’ll read books about kings and queens—including stories that are factual and stories that are fictional! Each Story Hour program features short picture books such as King Louie’s Shoes by D.J Steinberg and Robert Neubecker (pictured here), as well as songs and rhymes.
This Story Hour will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Amber Auer. They will read books and lead you and your little one in songs and hand-rhymes during a live, interactive session. This participatory program is intended to encourage children to actively engage with stories. Plan to join in, sing along, and 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. 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. 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.

(Members Only) Music and Mingle with Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Baird Dodge
2024-01-17 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
Finding one’s place in Paris can be challenging. As an expatriate institution, we champion the forging of connections at the Library. This is why we’re delighted to announce Music and Mingle, a Members-only event series. Those seeking to foster new friendships, build their network, and toast the new year in good company are invited to this special concert by Chicago Symphony Orchestra violinist Baird Dodge. Dodge will be performing a curated selection of songs from Bach to “Over the Rainbow,” developed, in the spirit of connection, to challenge the boundaries between classical and popular music. Whether seeking to discover our community for the first time, or to reunite with old friends, join us in celebrating everyone who makes the American Library in Paris a cultural home.
Please note, this event will be in-person only and reserved for Library members.
This event will be followed by a cocktail reception.
About Baird Dodge:
A New York City native, Baird Dodge joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as a violist in 1996 and moved to the second violin section later that same year. In 2002, he was appointed principal second violin of the CSO by Daniel Barenboim. An avid chamber musician, Dodge has collaborated with such artists as Isidore Cohen, Timothy Eddy, Hillary Hahn, Yo-yo Ma, Samuel Rhodes, and Orion Weiss, and has toured with Music from Marlboro. Baird has a special interest in contemporary music, having performed and recorded works by his father, Charles Dodge. During the pandemic, when live orchestral and chamber music were shut down, Baird explored solo repertoire and found different ways to perform outdoors in his community that felt meaningful and sustaining.
About the Chicago Symphony Orchestra:
Founded in 1891, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is consistently hailed as one of the greatest orchestras in the world. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra commands a vast repertoire ranging from Baroque to contemporary. Performing in over 150 concerts each year, the CSO’s talented musicians are the driving force behind the ensemble’s famous sound heard on best-selling recordings as well as in performances in Chicago and on tour throughout the United States and around the globe. Important information: This event will be in person at the Library only and reserved for Library Members. Please bring your Library card to the event for verification.
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)
2024-01-18 11:00 - 11:30 | The American Library in Paris
Stories featured during our Toddler Time programs include short picture books and board books, such as Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle, which will be included in this 18 January event.
Our Toddler Time is for children ages 1–3 and their caregivers, and lasts 30 minutes. The program is entirely in English, as are all of our events for children and teens. No translation will be provided. This session will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads. 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. Important information:
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.

(Hybrid) Fixing France: How to Repair a Broken Republic with Nabila Ramdani
2024-01-18 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité: la devise de la République française. Since the French Revolution, this motto of liberty, equality, and fraternity has served as a pillar for the republic. Though, after a period of mass dissent– from the Yellow Vests protests, to movement against the 2023 réforme de retraites, to the mass protests following the fatal police shooting of Nahel M.– does France live up to its founding ideals?
Nabila Ramdani, journalist, academic and broadcaster, will appear at the Library to present her new book, Fixing France: How to Repair a Broken Republic.
In Fixing France, Ramdani develops a nuanced critique of some of France’s modern issues, from racial and religious discrimination, looming executive power, terrorism and extremism, and the rise of the far-right. Ramdani will dive into the historical dynamics that have led us to the present: what was the influence of Algeria on the founding and development of the current Fifth Republic? What issues do residents of France face in Paris intramuros, the suburbs of Grand Paris, and beyond in France’s countryside? And how can the French Republic be fixed?
Moderated by journalist and anchor Erin Ogunkeye.

About the speakers:
Nabila Ramdani is a French author of Algerian descent who works as a journalist, academic and broadcaster. Nabila began her award-winning journalistic career in the BBC Paris Bureau. She has since broadcast for outlets including Sky News, Al Jazeera and CNN, and has written extensively for The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Washington Post and others. Educated at Paris VII University and the London School of Economics (LSE), Nabila has taught at the University of Oxford and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
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 realizing 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 Live From Paris in the mornings. Learn more:
Ramdani appeared on France24 to discuss social inequality in France in contrast with the country’s ideals, as well as the shortcomings of the Fifth Republic. Watch the interview.
Ramdani published an opinion piece in inews.co.uk on Paris’s recent bedbug outbreak as a symbol of the French Republic. Read more.Read an excerpt of Fixing France about the history of modern terrorism and its intersection with French post-revolutionary history. Read on LitHub. 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. Copies of Fixing France will be available for purchase at the Library in the week leading up to this event and while the event takes place, generously provided by Smith&Son. All sales support this local independent bookstore.
Attendees will have the opportunity to have their copy signed following the conversation.
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: Library Hide and Seek (ages 12–18)
2024-01-19 19:00 - 21:00 | The American Library in Paris
Join us for an evening dedicated to indoor games including classic games such as hide and seek, as well as new adaptations and original creations.
This event will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads, Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Amber Auer with the help of Library volunteers.
Drinks and lights 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’s and Teens’ Services Manager, Celeste Rhoads: celeste@americanlibraryinparis.org.

Music Together with Stacey Pavesi Debré (ages 0–5)
2024-01-20 16:00 - 17:00 | The American Library in Paris
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.

Library is closed
2024-01-21
The Library will be exceptionally closed on Sunday 21 January 2024.

Fashion Week: An Exclusive Review with Idris Balogun
2024-01-22 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
Idris Balogun is the founder of WINNIE New York, a menswear brand that creates high-quality, long-wearing clothing. Balogun was born to Nigerian immigrants in New York and raised in London. His career has taken him to the heights of the sartorial world, from London’s Savile Road to the creative suites of Burberry and Tom Ford. With WINNIE New York, Balogun has brought his designs to runways in London, New York, and Paris.
The Library is pleased to welcome Balogun in conversation with internationally renowned stylist Julie Ragolia to discuss his Fall/Winter 2024 collection, inspired by the work of African American jazz poet Ted Joans. Over the course of this exclusive preview, Balogun and Ragolia will review Fall/Winter 2024-25 Fashion Week in Paris and assess the contemporary luxury landscape. In turn, they will meditate upon the meaning of clothing, the role of fashion in self-expression, and innovations at the horizons of modern design. Learn more:
Balogun’s latest collection takes inspiration from African American poet Ted Joans. For an introduction to Joans’s work, check out this video excerpt, which features his poetry performed alongside live jazz.
Be sure to browse the website of WINNIE New York to get a sense of Balogun’s designs.
About the speakers:
At a young age, Idris Balogun earned an apprenticeship on the prestigious Savile Row. There he was able to hone and master his skills as a cutter and tailor before moving on to Burberry, where under the direction of Christopher Bailey, he helped to develop a singular view of the Burberry lines. Shortly after, he began his career with Tom Ford, where he worked as the Director of Menswear and Made to Measure before launching his label. In 2022 Idris won the Karl Lagerfeld award for design. He founded WINNIE, a label informed by luxury in its purest form, in 2019.
Julie Ragolia is renowned internationally for her work as a fashion stylist and consultant. Her approach is strikingly modern, rooted in observation; creating a distinct effect across editorial stories, fashion shows and advertising campaigns. Born in Brooklyn, New York to complex means, art was a way forward. Her desire to understand her own life story compels her deep interest in subject, and the manner in which clothing can define, enhance or recreate one’s self.
About WINNIE New York:
WINNIE, a label informed by luxury in its purest form. It is our mission to merge a modern design identity with classic artisanal practices. A focus on exceptional fabric, tailoring and craftsmanship is at the forefront of the brand’s core values. After holding positions at Tom Ford and Burberry, Idris Balogun founded WINNIE in 2019, as an ode to his grandmother. From the outset, WINNIE has endeavored to deliver the utmost quality product made in Italy, and is stocked worldwide at retailers including SSENSE, Mytheresa, Tasoni, Très Bien and MATCHESFASHION. Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (Balogun and Ragolia 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.

(Hybrid) Paris of the Present with Will Mountain Cox
2024-01-23 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
Tired of romanticized visions of the Paris of the past, author Will Mountain Cox sets out in Roundabout to write Paris present: from the Notre Dame fire, to the November 2015 attacks, to concerns of gentrification, climate, and hyper-tourism. Cox, founder of the Belleville Park Pages, first proposed this present-tense vision in With Paris in Mind, a collection of interviews which dismisses the mythology of Paris as a city of artists and features the voices of the new creative generation. This generation is depicted yet again with attentiveness and insight in Roundabout— this time, through the prism of fiction. Ever sensitive to the spirit of the age, Cox will speak at the Library about the living Parisian cultural landscape.
About the speaker:
Will Mountain Cox is a writer from Portland, Oregon, living in Paris, France. His work has appeared in Forever Magazine, Hobart, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, Shabby Doll House, and The Drunken Canal. He is the author of With Paris in Mind and was a cofounder of the literary magazine Belleville Park Pages. He is a graduate of Boston University and Sciences Po. Roundabout is his debut novel. Learn more:
Cox appeared on France 24 for an interview on With Paris in Mind, his book of collected interviews with artists in Paris. Watch on France 24.
Read one of Cox’s short stories published in the online magazine Vol. 1 Brooklyn.
Discover an excerpt of Roundabout in English and in French in an online journal dedicated to the 20th arrondissement. Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (Cox 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. Copies of Roundabout will be available for purchase at the Library in the week leading up to this event and while the event takes place, generously provided by Smith&Son. All sales support this local independent bookstore.
Attendees will have the opportunity to have their copy signed following the conversation.
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: That's Ridiculous! (ages 3–5)
2024-01-24 14:30 - 15:30 | The American Library in Paris
For this Story Hour, we’ll read truly ridiculous, laugh-out-loud reads. Each Story Hour program features short picture books such as Penguin Problems by Jory John, illustrated by Lane Smith (pictured here), as well as songs and rhymes.
This Story Hour will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Amber Auer. They will read books and lead you and your little one in songs and hand-rhymes during a live, interactive session. This participatory program is intended to encourage children to actively engage with stories. Plan to join in, sing along, and 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. 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. 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.
