It’s the perfect time of the year for hot cocoa! This hot cocoa mix recipe only requires three ingredients, so it’s perfect to make at home with your kids.

Welcome to Little Learners! Storytime for ages 0-3. We hope everyone has a very happy New Year!

Welcome to Bookworm Buddies! Storytime for ages 3-5. We hope everyone has a very happy New Year!

Happy Friday! Here is a fun holiday story from Cranberryport!

Happy Friday, Everyone! Here is another story from the “archives,” Llama, Llama, Red Pajama!

Check out this fun Ornament Craft project! Here is a quick video tutorial. Templates are available in the Take-and-Make craft basket at the library!

Here are a couple of songs and our story from Bookworm Buddies, in case you missed it this morning!

I’m a Little Snowman (tune: I’m a Little Teapot)

I’m a little snowman,

short and fat

Here are my buttons,

here is my hat.

When the sun comes up,

I cannot stay.

Slowly I just melt away.

Dance Like Snowflakes (Tune: Are You Sleeping?)

Dance like snowflakes,

dance like snowflakes

In the air, in the air

Whirling, twirling snowflakes

Whirling, twirling snowflakes

Everywhere, everywhere

Happy Friday!

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy some turkey fun with the kids today!

In case you missed it during storytime this week, here is Bear Says Thanks read with permission from Simon and Schuster. Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Also, flip along with Brightly Storytime: The Night Before Thanksgiving!

Happy Friday, Everyone! Here is a throw back to our days in quarantine!

Here is our story and finger puppet rhyme from Little Learners this morning!

Make your own Four Seasons Tree, just like Ms. Ranea’s from Bookworm Buddies this week!

Get the template here!

Happy Friday, Everyone!

We have templates for two fall craft projects available to pick up at the library. Below are quick instructional videos for both projects. Pick up the templates and paper instructions in the Kids Craft Project basket across from the circulation desk!

Hello! We’re posting our usual Friday story TODAY! We apologize for the delay! Don’t forget, we have a Halloween scavenger hunt set up in the children’s section today and special Halloween prizes.

Have you carved your pumpkin yet? Sing this song at home while you create your jack-o-lantern! (Tune: I’m a Little Teapot)

In case you missed our craft project during storytime this morning, here is a quick how-to video!

Good morning, everyone! Welcome to the Friday Story!

Welcome to Friday Morning Story! Correction: We have permission from CHRONICLE BOOKS to read this story, not Penguin Random House. 🙂

Dance, move and sing with us today!

As the leaves change color, this is the perfect project to try with your kids. Go for a walk around your neighborhood and collect leaves of all difference shades, sizes and shapes.

This week, with permission from Chronicle Books, Ms. Ranea reads/sings Old MacDonald Had a Boat by Steve Goetz, illustrated by Eda Kaban.

Try this no-cook playdough recipe from the Artful Parent. It’s a simple recipe that uses common kitchen ingredients.

Looking for great read-aloud suggestions or homeschooling advice? Check out the Read-Aloud Revival blog and podcast. Sarah Mackenzie has a passion for reading and books for all ages. She is a homeschool mom of five children. Check out the Read-Aloud website here: https://readaloudrevival.com/

Take the 1000 Hours Challenge! 1000 Hours Outside is an organization that encourages parents and kids to engage in more outdoor play and nature learning. Ginny, the organization’s founder, is also a homeschooling mom who is always happy to share resources and tips with parents considering homeschooling for their families.

Follow them on Instagram and Facebook @1000hoursoutside!

Here is the video tutorial for today’s craft project!

In case you missed Early Readers Book Club tonight, below is a video tutorial on how to make the cat art project that went along with the book we read: How to Give Your Cat a Bath in Five Easy Steps.

If you would like to read the book at home, we have a copy available at the library for checkout. It is also available on Overdrive.

The next Early Learners Book Club will be live online on Monday, September 21st at 5:00 PM.

On Tuesday, August 18, we will create penguins during storytime. The supplies you will need are scissors, glue, black pen or marker, black and white paper, orange paper -OR- an orange crayon, marker or colored pencil, and something round for tracing (I used an old coffee can lid.)

Beginning in August, we will be adding an Early Reader’s Book Club to our regularly scheduled programming. This will be a program for children in grades K-2 who are learning to read independently. We will read an award winning or nominated story and create a book related project.

Our first meeting is this coming Monday, August 17th at 5:00 PM. We will meet on Facebook Live, and we will create a fun cat art project. For the project, the participants will need a sheet of construction paper (it can be whichever color they would like their cat to be) and a blank sheet of paper to make a background (preferably a different color than the first sheet of construction paper.) They will also need scissors and a variety of crayons, colored pencils or markers.

Tomorrow during storytime, we will be making a paper clam shell. The template is below. For this project you will need: an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper (any color you choose) a pair of scissor and glue. Also, crayons or markers, if you’d like to color your clam shell.

If you’re looking for some screen free fun this summer, check out these activities from Demco.

Download the printable versions below!

Hello, everybody! We’ll be making a fun giraffe project during virtual storytime on Tuesday. Above is the PDF, so you can print it out, if you’d like to follow along. You will need two pieces of paper, (one for the giraffe and one for the background) scissors and glue. If you only have white paper at home, you could use crayons or markers to color the giraffe.

Hello, Everyone! Our visiting detectives sent a handout for parents about tonight’s presentation. We will leave the file here, so you can download it before the presentation tonight.

Below is the Bee craft we will make during storytime this coming Tuesday (June 30th.) You will need yellow, black and blue (or white) paper, scissor, glue, and a marker (if you’d like to draw a face on your bee.)

Hello, everyone! Welcome to Musical Mayhem! If you would like to complete the Music & Movement Mission in ReadSquared, you can follow along with this video and have a Jim Gill Dance Party at home!

Above is a PDF file for the craft project we will be creating together in Bookworm Buddies on Tuesday, June 23 at 10:30 AM. Print it on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper, if you and your child would like to make the craft along with us. You will also need scissors and glue to make this craft. We hope you’ll join us on Tuesday!

The butterflies emerged from their cocoons! They stayed with us in the butterfly tent for a few days as they ate, rested and gained some strength. Then we set them free into the wild. Watch their journey in the video below.

Click the “Download” button to download a copy of the coloring sheet for the Will County Fair coloring contest!