Martin Luther King Jr. Day

• An excellent way to teach children about an important man in the United States history is dedicating the entire month to Martin Luther King Jr. After all, Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on the third Monday of the month. Place pictures of King on the walls and set books pertaining to him or to his cause on tables. Print out and place on the walls a copy of the "I Have a Dream" speech. When the children come in for library time, teach them something new about King and why this day is important in America.
  
  

New Year's

• This theme is good for teaching about new beginnings. When the children come back from Christmas break, throw a little New Year's party. Get some party hats and confetti and some whistles. Encourage the children to try new things and read different types of books this month. Tell them what resolutions are and that they can make resolutions as well. Encourage them to stick to their resolutions.
  
  

Snow

• January would be excellent for snow theme. Get out the winter books, hang snowflakes from the ceiling and have the children cut out and color snowmen. Throughout the month, ask the children to a pick a different book revolving around snow and winter. If you live in a warmer region, display pictures of snow and where children can go to find snow. Talk about why it is warm in your region and what children can do outside in the winter that children in snowy areas might not be able to do.
  
  

Get Creative

• If you feel those themes are outdone, do not be afraid to be beyond the norm for January. A variety of themes exist from which you can pick. You can do art. Set out the informational and how-to art books. Hang pictures of famous art on the walls, and ask the children to contribute a piece of art to the wall based on some books they have read.
  
  You can do fairy tales. Read a different fairy tale each time the children come in to the library. Discuss what the fairy tales mean and what elements of a story make it a fairy tale. Hang pictures of castles, knights, dragons, mermaids and other fairy tale creatures on the walls. Challenge the children to read four fairy tales during the month.