Kids
Special Events
BACK TO SCHOOL WITH XEN’S CRITTERS PETTING ZOO
Friday, September 25th from 12:30–2:30 pm
Start the school year with furry friends, scaly pals, and plenty of smiles!
Join us for a special visit from Xen’s Critters as they bring an amazing variety of friendly animals to the library. Meet, pet, and learn about each critter while discovering fun facts from their expert handlers.
With older siblings heading back to school, this is the perfect chance for younger siblings to have an adventure of their own with a whole lot of adorable animals!
Storytimes
PRESCHOOL STORYTIME
Mondays at 10:30 am
Targeted for ages 3+ with a caregiver
Start the week with Miss Rain and a mix of stories, songs, movement, and drama for curious preschoolers. Builds early literacy, empathy, and imagination.
BOOK BABIES
Fridays at 10:30 am
Enjoy rhymes, rhyming books, and music for babies aged birth to 24 months, along with a parent or caregiver!
TODDLER TIME
Fridays at 11:15 am
September 11th, 18th, 25th
Join us for stories, crafts, and movement activities designed for children aged 2 to 3 years, along with a parent or caregiver!
ProgramsPlease call 821-7910 to reserve a spot
MISS RAIN’S READER ADVISORY
Fridays from 12:00–1:00 pm
Not sure what to read next? That’s what I’m here for! Stop by during Readers’ Advisory hours and I’ll help you find books you’ll actually want to read. Whether you’re looking for your next chapter book, an awesome graphic novel, a funny read, a fantasy adventure, or books for a brand-new reader, we’ll find something that fits.
Parents and caregivers are welcome to stop by too! I can help find books that match your child’s interests, reading level, or favorite series, and I’m always happy to recommend new authors and hidden gems.
No registration required. Just drop in and let’s find your next favorite book!
KIDS HOMESCHOOL HUB
Mondays from 1:00–2:00 pm
Enjoy a fun-filled hour where you can explore new skills with Miss Rain!
POKÉMON TRAINER TUESDAYS
Tuesdays 5:30–7:00 pm
Ready to train, battle, or level up your Pokémon skills? Join Miss Rain for Pokémon Trainer Tuesdays, a fun mix of learning and gameplay! This program is perfect for new players who want to learn the Pokémon TCG and for anyone who loves to play Pokémon. All ages and experience levels are welcome, from beginners to seasoned trainers and children to adults.
TODDLER HAPPY HOUR
Tuesdays at 10:30 am
A weekly play date at the library! Come enjoy indoor play with Miss Rain in the community room and invite your friends.
POKÉMON CLUB
Fridays, 2:30–4 pm
Meet other Trainers, trade cards, build decks, and talk strategy! Open to all experience levels, this relaxed, supervised club is ideal for kids who enjoy collecting and playing Pokémon TCG. Bring your cards or play matches with our library-provided 60-card decks, and have fun connecting with fellow Pokémon fans!
Early Literacy Tips from Reading Rockets*
Reading Rockets is a national public media literacy initiative offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.
Please visit their website for LOTS of wonderful information, including early literacy tips for parents of preschoolers.
Educational Websites
A place where natural curiosity and imagination lead to exploration and discovery in learners of all ages. Each day, an intriguing question—the Wonder of the Day®—is posed and explored in a variety of ways.
Wonderopolis was created by the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) in 2010 and has become one of the most popular education sites today.
The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. Their online educational website lets learners explore these rich resources and a fun and engaging environment.
Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and personalized learning that empowers students to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. Subjects for K-14 include math, science, computing, history, art history, economics, and more. They also offer test preparation for a variety of formal exams including the SAT, Praxis, and LSAT exams.
Educational Games
iCivics
iCivics games are free and accessible from anywhere online. They provide a great opportunity for families, parents, and caregivers to be involved in their child’s learning.
PBS Kids Games
PBS KIDS creates curriculum-based entertainment. The games site hosts a number of browser-based gaming experiences based on popular literary and media franchises such as The Cat in the Hat, Curious George, Sesame Street, and more. Games are organized by subject-type, which includes math, healthy habits, science, reading, and teamwork.
Funbrain
Funbrain, created for kids ages preschool through grade 8, offers more than 100 fun, interactive games that develop skills in math, reading, and literacy. Plus, kids can read a variety of popular books and comics on the site, including Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amelia Writes Again, and Brewster Rocket.
ABCYa.com
This game site offers teacher-created and approved educational computer games for elementary students to learn math and language arts on the web. Featured by The New York Times, Apple, and Fox News, ABCYa.com provides young children well-crafted games and activities.
Educational Apps
The American Association of School Librarians has a list of Best Apps for Teaching and Learning. The list was begun in 2013 and is updated annually. The recommended apps “foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration”. Make sure to scroll down to see lists of past award winners and nominees.
National Geographic Kids
The world-famous National Geographic hosts over 100 fun, engaging, and interactive science, action, adventure, geography, quiz, and puzzle games. For a free game hub, the production quality on games or interactives such as Wildest Weather, On the Trail of Captain John Smith, and The Underground Railroad: Journey to Freedom is truly remarkable.
Under the creative direction of Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Poptropica® is a virtual world in which kids explore and play in complete safety. Every month, millions of kids from around the world are entertained and informed by Poptropica’s engaging quests, stories, and games.
For more website recommendations, please visit:
The American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL)
The Best Websites for Teaching & Learning List
The Association for Library Service to Children’s (ALSC) list of award-winning websites
ALSC’s archived Great Websites for Kids page lists past winners in the following categories:
Animals
The Arts
History & Biography
Literature & Languages
Mathematics & Computers
Reference Desk
Sciences
Social Sciences