The American Library in Paris

Story Hour: Think Positive! (ages 3–5)
2026-01-07 14:30 - 15:30 (Europe/Paris) | The American Library in Paris
For this Story Hour, join us for picture books about looking on the bright side, sharing good cheer, and cheering up! Stories featured in this event include picture books such as Daniel’s Good Day by Micha Archer(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 Tjasa Kmetec 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.

From Stage to Page with Katie Kitamura
2026-01-07 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
In Katie Kitamura’s taut, hypnotic novel Audition, an acclaimed actress is confronted by a young man who claims to be her son. Halfway through, the narrative flips—upending what we think we know and unraveling competing stories about identity, desire, and performance.
Kitamura probes the porous boundaries between artistic forms, revealing how an actor’s craft can illuminate the shifting roles, impulses, and blind spots that shape a story.
Moderated by the Library’s Curator of Cultural Programs, Rachel Donadio, this conversation will explore how we construct, inhabit, and continually revise the selves we present to the world.
About the speakers:
Katie Kitamura’s most recent novel is Audition. A finalist for the Booker Prize, it was one of Barack Obama’s 2025 Summer Reads. She is also the author of Intimacies, one of the New York Times’ 10 Best Books of 2021 and one of Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2021. It was longlisted for the National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award, and was a finalist for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize. In France, it won the Prix Litteraire Lucien Barriere, was a finalist for the Grand Prix de l’Heroine, and was longlisted for the Prix Fragonard. Her work has been translated into 27 languages and is being adapted for film and television. She is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Rome Prize in Literature, a Cullman Center Fellowship, among other fellowships. Katie has written for publications including the New York Times Book Review, Harper’s, the Guardian, BOMB, Triple Canopy, and Frieze. She teaches in the creative writing program at New York University.
Rachel Donadio, the Library’s Curator of Cultural Programs, is a Paris-based writer, journalist and critic, a contributing writer for the Atlantic, a regular contributor to the New York Review of Books and a former European Culture Correspondent and Rome Bureau Chief of the New York Times. Important information: The discussion will be available in person only.
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.

Toddler Time (ages 1–3)
2026-01-08 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 Bedtime for Sweet Creatures by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon, which will be featured during this session. This session will be hosted by Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Assistant Children’s and Teens’ Services Librarian Laurine Lucie. 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.

History Tour at the Library
2026-01-09 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-01-16 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-01-30 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: Library Hide and Seek (ages 12–18)
2026-01-09 19:00 - 21:00 | The American Library in Paris
Meet other Library members and local teens as you play hide and seek, sardines, and other retro games.
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.

Story Hour: Make a Wish! (ages 3–5)
2026-01-14 14:30 - 15:30 | The American Library in Paris
For this Story Hour, join us for picture books about dreams and wishes! Stories featured in this event include picture books such as Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson (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 Lucie 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.

Music Together with Stacey Pavesi Debré (ages 0–5)
2026-01-17 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-02-28 11:00 - 12:00 | 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.

Retro Game Day (ages 12–18)
2026-01-17 14:00 - 15:30 | The American Library in Paris
Try out Candy Land, Battleship, checkers, pick-up-sticks, and a other retro games with teens and Library staff.
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.
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.

Between Paint and Print with Rachel Cusk and Megan Rooney
2026-01-20 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
Writers and painters are both storytellers. Join two of today’s most vital artists — writer Rachel Cusk and visual artist Megan Rooney for a conversation across mediums and methods, as the two explore how images and narratives take form and shape one another.
Rooney will reflect on her process of creating characters for her paintings, while Cusk will explore her process of questioning the limits of language and turning to image-making patterns in prose. What can be gained by bridging the gulf between words and images?
About the speakers:
Rachel Cusk is the author of Parade, Second Place, the Outline trilogy, the memoirs A Life’s Work and Aftermath, and several other works of fiction and nonfiction. She is a Guggenheim Fellow. She lives in Paris.
Megan Rooney is an enigmatic storyteller. Working across painting, installation and performance, she develops interwoven narratives within which the gestural body is a uniting thread. Her layered canvases—built through cycles of erasure and renewal—function as capsules of time and memory. Rooney’s work has been featured in solo museum exhibitions at Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge; Salzburger Kunstverein, Salzburg; Museum of Contemporary Art, Toronto; and Kunsthalle Düsseldorf; in a two-person show with Joan Mitchell at the Espace Louis Vuitton, Beijing; and in group shows at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris; Lyon Biennale; Palais de Tokyo, Paris; and Venice Biennale. 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.

Story Hour: Builders and Buildings (ages 3–5)
2026-01-21 14:30 - 15:30 | The American Library in Paris
For this Story Hour, join us for picture books both factual and fictional all about buildings and construction! Stories featured in this event include picture books such as Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Loren Long (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 Tjasa Kmetec 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)
2026-01-22 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 B is for Baby by Atinuke, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank, which will be featured during this session. This session will be hosted by Assistant Children’s and Teens’ Services Librarian Laurine Lucie and Children’s and Teens’ Services Intern Tjasa Kmetec. 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.

History Tour: 1920s Edition
2026-01-23 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.

Matisse in Morocco with Jeff Koehler
2026-01-27 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
Join James Beard Award–winning author Jeff Koehler as he discusses his book Matisse in Morocco: A Journey of Light and Color, the remarkable story of Henri Matisse’s winters in Tangier. Struggling to find critical and financial success in Paris, Matisse found inspiration in the city’s light, colors, and Islamic art, producing some of the most dazzling works of his career. This event offers a rare glimpse into the artist’s life, his relationships, and the cultural encounters that defined a pivotal moment in modern art.
About the speakers:
Jeff Koehler is a Barcelona-based American writer and author of eleven books. His titles have won a James Beard Award, named Editors’ Choice in the New York Times and paperback of the week in the Guardian, given a starred review in Kirkus, and included in “best of” roundups in numerous publications, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Le Monde, National Geographic Traveller, NPR’s “Here and Now,” Science, Nature, CS Monitor, Smithsonian, Mother Jones, Entertainment Weekly, and Bustle. His writing has appeared in the Washington Post, NPR.org, Wall Street Journal, Saveur, Times Literary Supplement, South China Morning Post, Vogue Arabia, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, and many other publications. Follow him on Instagram @jeff_koehler.
Rachel Donadio, the Library’s Curator of Cultural Programs, is a Paris-based writer, journalist and critic, a contributing writer for the Atlantic, a regular contributor to the New York Review of Books and a former European Culture Correspondent and Rome Bureau Chief of the New York Times. 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: I Have a Dream (ages 3–5)
2026-01-28 14:30 - 15:30 | The American Library in Paris
For this Story Hour, join us for picture books both factual and fictional about dreamers and change-makers! Stories featured in this event include picture books such as Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington (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 Member Services Assistant Colette Dia 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.

Behind the Scenes of the Notre-Dame Restoration with Hank Silver
2026-02-03 19:30 - 20:30 | The American Library in Paris
Join carpenter Hank Silver for an inside look at the remarkable reconstruction of Notre-Dame’s iconic roof. From hewing oak logs in Normandy to assembling the intricate medieval-style roof trusses in Paris, Silver will guide us through the craftsmanship, engineering, and devotion behind this historic restoration. This talk offers a rare glimpse into the traditional techniques and collaborative efforts across many disciplines that brought the historic cathedral back to life.
About the speaker:
Hank Silver is an American carpenter who spent close to two years working on the restoration of the medieval roof framing of Notre-Dame de Paris. Starting with 600 oak logs, the crew hand-hewed over one thousand beams using medieval-patterned axes, reproduced the 13th-century wooden joinery, and installed the finished frame in Paris. Silver is a member of the 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.
Silver is a 2025-26 Director’s Grant recipient at the American Library in Paris as he works on a memoir on his experience in the historic restoration of the cathedral.
Photo credit: Rebatir Notre-Dame 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: Surprise! (ages 3–5)
2026-02-04 14:30 - 15:30 | The American Library in Paris
For this Story Hour, join us for picture books all about surprises! Stories featured in this event include picture books such as Keep an Eye on Ivy by Barroux (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 Tjasa Kmetec 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.

Story Hour: Magnificent Mammals (ages 3–5)
2026-02-18 14:30 - 15:30 | The American Library in Paris
For this Story Hour, join us for a reading of picture books (both factual and fictional) about mammals—warm-blooded vertebrates such as lions, tigers, rhinos, and more. Stories featured in this event include picture books such as Never Take Your Rhino on a Plane by K.E. Lewis, illustrated by Isabel Roxas (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 Member Services Assistant Colette Dia 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.

Bilingual Storytime (ages 3–7)
2026-03-28 10:30 - 11:30 | The American Library in Paris
Join Children’s and Teens’ Services Manager Celeste Rhoads and Assistant Children’s and Teens’ Services Librarian Laurine Lucie for a bilingual storytime in French and English at a Paris municipal library in the 14th arrondissement: Bibliothèque Georges Brassens. Laurine and Celeste will read several contemporary American picture books and lead the group in songs. 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. Participants should 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!
Library members and non-members are welcome to sign up by email directly with the team at Bibliothèque Georges Brassens: bibliotheque.georges-brassens@paris.fr or 01 53 90 30 30. Please be sure to mention the age of the children and the number of chaperones when registering.
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.
