Kid and Tween STEAM: Hot Air Balloon Art

by Lauren Abbott | Apr 13, 2021 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 comments

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Try your hand at cut paper art and play with perspective with this hot air balloon art craft!

Things you will need include:

Scissors
Glue stick
Something round to trace a circle from (such as a cup)
Markers
Paper for the sky, grass/trees, balloon basket, and clouds
6 thin strips of colorful paper for the balloon

Watch the Video Instructions

See the craft that inspired ours

April Kids ‘n’ Tween Programs

by Mary Kirkpatrick | March 31, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeGet ready for April celebrations with our early literacy programs! Book Babies – Wednesdays at 9:30 AM* for babies not yet walking and their grown-ups. Enjoy songs, stories, baby sign language, movement, and sensory activities. Toddler Time – Mondays &...

March Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | February 28, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeGet ready for March magic with our early literacy programs! Book Babies – Wednesdays at 9:30 AM for babies not yet walking and their grown-ups. Enjoy songs, stories, baby sign language, movement, and sensory activities. Toddler Time – Mondays & Tuesdays...

Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | January 27, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Old School PoetryThis February, let love take center stage! Stop by our special collections area to type out a heartfelt poem on our vintage typewriter—whether it’s for a dear friend or your favorite pizza. Drop your masterpiece into the submission box nearby if you'd...

January Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | December 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeJanuary Story Time is serving up something soup-er! Book Babies (infants/babies not yet walking and their caregivers) meet Wednesdays at 9:30 AM with songs, stories, and sensory fun for our "Soup’s On!" theme. (Library Closed Jan. 1) Toddler Time (walking...

November Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | October 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeNovember Story Time is here, and our themes are “Duck, Duck, Goose!” for Book Babies and Toddler Time and the letter “G” for Story Time! Join us in the Community Room for songs, stories, and sensory activities perfect for each age group. Book Babies...

October Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | September 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeGallop into Story Time fun this October! Toddler Time (ages 10-23 months) on Mondays & Tuesdays at 9:30 AM and Book Babies (ages 0-9 months) on Wednesdays at 9:30 AM will both feature “Clippity-clop, on a horse and pony we’ll hop!” Note: there will be no...

September 2024 Activities for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | August 29, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeJoin us for Story Time fun at Madison Library District! Book Babies (0-9 months) Wednesdays at 9:30 AM in the Community Room September theme: "Feelings... Big and Small!" Toddler Time (10-23 months) Mondays and Tuesdays at 9:30 AM September theme:...

July 2024 Kids & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | June 27, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Summer Reading 2024Adventure Begins at Your Library with Summer Reading 2024! This annual program is designed for all ages to read every day, participate in special Library programs, and keep smashing our reading goals! The second prizes for every level will be...

June 2024 Kid & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | May 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Summer Reading 2024Adventure Begins at Your Library with Summer Reading 2024! This annual program is designed for all ages to read every day, participate in special Library programs, and stay active all summer long! Sign-ups begin on Monday, June 3rd, either online or...

April 2024 Kids & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | March 29, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

National Library Week Book Nook ContestStep into a world of tiny wonders during National Library Week! Our Book Nook Contest invites you to explore Small Adventures to Amazing Places! From fantastical realms to cozy real-world corners, you may create a miniature...

Book Babies: Fun with Scarves and New Board Books!

by Lauren Abbott | Apr 12, 2021 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner | 0 comments

Book Babies: Fun with Scarves and New Board Books!

Today we decided to have fun with scarf songs (always a favorite!) and with some of our brand new board books! Click the links below to check them out for you and your baby – you’ll love them!

Join us live Wednesdays at 10:00 AM – Online on Facebook

Ages 2-5

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together! Oh, here we are together in our library. There’s (sing names)… Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*, clap our hands, clap our hands. Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today! *pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.) Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play! Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

Singing to and with your child is very important, and it doesn’t matter if you sing in English or another language. In one scientific study, babies as young as one week could distinguish their mother’s voice from a group of other female voices. Children love being sung to by their parents, and such singing helps to trigger their speech development. So, sing aloud to your children at home in any language you like.

- Lambert

Activity

Make a bedtime routine where songs and books play an important role. Sing favorites over and over again. And add a new one every now and then perhaps connected to a new book that you just read.

Books Presented

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Bubbles by Ben Clanton

Narwhal accidentally bursts a saddened Jelly’s bubble before offering comfort by showing his friend how the ocean has oodles of bubbles in all sizes and colors.

Find it in Our Catalog

Find it Online

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Hello, Baby Shark by John Bajet

Say hello to Baby Shark and all his friends!

Find it in Our Catalog

Find it Online

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Waddle! by Rufus Butler Seder

In the same way that kids can’t read Gallop! without wanting to gallop around the room, Waddle!, an animals-in-motion Scanimation book, will inspire prancing, hopping, stomping, and scampering.

Find it in Our Catalog

Find it Online

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Twinkle, Twinkle, Robot Beep by Jeffrey Burton

In a twist on the classic nursery rhyme “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”, take a trip to the stars with this little robot.

Find it in Our Catalog

Find it Online

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Move! by Liesbet Slegers

Six animals demonstrate their preferred methods of locomotion with help from rectangular flaps that lift up or to the side.

Find it in Our Catalog

Find it Online

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Zoom Zoom Zoom

Zoom, zoom, zoom
We’re going to the moon.
Zoom, zoom, zoom
We’re going to the moon.
If you want to take a trip
climb aboard my rocket ship.
Zoom, zoom, zoom
We’re going to the moon.
In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Blast off!
Additional verses:
Fun, fun, fun
We’re going to the sun…
Far, far, far
We’re going to the stars…

– Herrickdl.org

Watch Gina's Example

Popcorn, Popcorn

Sizzling in the pan.
Shake it up, shake it up,
Bam, bam, bam!
Popcorn, popcorn,
Now it’s getting hot,
Shake it up, shake it up,
Pop, pop, pop!
(lift baby up with each “pop”)

– Sayrshirelib.files.wordpress.com

Watch Gina's Example

The Fish in the Sea

(Tune: Wheels on the Bus)

The fish in the sea
Go swish, swish, swish, (wave scarf side to side)
Swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish,
The fish in the sea,
Go swish, swish, swish,
All Day Long…
Dolphins in the sea
Swim round and round (paint circle in front of you with scarf)
Round and round
Round and round
The dolphins in the sea
Swim round and round
All day long.
The sand in the sea
Drifts down, down, down (slowly lower scarf or throw scarf and watch it drift to the floor)
Down, down, down,
Down, down, down
The sand in the sea
Drifts down, down, down
All day long.
The waves on the sea
Go up and down, (wave scarf up and down)
Up and down,
Up and down.
The waves on the sea
Go up and down,
All Day Long….

– Kcls.org

Watch Gina's Example

We Wave Our Scarves Together

Tune: The Bear Went Over the Mountain

We wave our scarves together.
We wave our scarves together.
We wave our scarves together,
At music class today!
We wave them way up high!
We wave them way down low!
We wave our scarves together,
At music class today!

Other verses:
We shake our scarves together.
We spin our scarves together.
We wear our scarves together.

– Weegroove.com

Watch Gina's Example

Helicopter, Helicopter Way Up High

Tune: Frère Jacques
Helicopter. Helicopter.
Way up high. Way up high.
See the blades are spinning. See the blades are spinning.
In the sky. In the sky.

Little songbird, little songbird
Way up high. Way up high.
See their wings flapping.
See their wings flapping.
In the sky. In the sky.

Butterfly, butterfly.
Way up high. Way up high.
See them flutter, flutter.
See them flutter, flutter.
In the sky. In the sky.

– Adapted from Weegroove.com

Watch Gina's Example

Bubbles All Around

Sung to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”

Bubbles floating all around (pretend to catch bubbles)
Bubbles fat and bubbles round (make a circle with arms)
Bubbles on my toes and nose (point to toes and then to nose)
Blow a bubble, up it goes! (pretend to blow bubble and point up)
Bubbles floating all around. (pretend to catch bubbles)
B..u..b. .b..l..e..s f..a..l..l. .i..n..g to…the…ground. (sing slowly while sinking to ground)

-Cde.state.co.us

Watch Gina's Example

More Book Babies

APRIL Book Babies + Toddler: Birthdays

by Marybeth Isle | April 2, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

It’s my birthday! Did you know that birthdays aren’t just fun and exciting for children—they’re also a great learning opportunity? Looking forward to and celebrating a birthday helps children understand traditions, family gatherings, and the joy of giving and...

MARCH Book Babies + Toddlers: Lambs

by Marybeth Isle | March 4, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

Many of us grew up with classic nursery rhymes like Mary Had a Little Lamb and Baa, Baa, Black Sheep. As you teach those songs to your child, consider incorporating these additional activities to expand both your and your baby's nursery rhyme repertoire.Book Babies:...

March Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | February 28, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddlers: “C” is for Counting

by Marybeth Isle | February 5, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

One, two, three, count with me. It’s as easy as can be! Teaching numbers at an early age can be great fun! Here are some fun ways to introduce numbers to your infant or toddler: 👶 0-1 Year (Introduction to Numbers) Talk & Count: Count fingers, toes, and everyday...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddlers: S is for Soup

by Marybeth Isle | January 27, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

Making and eating soup can be a sensory explosion for you and your child, especially when you make it together. Look for ingredients with a variety of colors, textures, and scents, then talk about where they came from, or count the pieces you’ve cut. Here are some...

Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | January 27, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Duck, Duck, Goose

by Marybeth Isle | November 12, 2024 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

“Play is serious business when it comes to a child's health and development. From peek-a-boo to pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek to hopscotch, the many forms of play enrich a child's brain, body and life in important ways.” HealthyChildren.org. When reading books with...

OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Horses & Ponies

by Marybeth Isle | October 2, 2024 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Feelings

by Marybeth Isle | September 3, 2024 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

Ah, emotions… however big or small, can be difficult to manage for everyone, especially children. There are, however, tips and tricks you can use to help your child learn how to recognize and regulate their feelings, and you can start early, even with an infant. The...

JULY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in the Dark

by Marybeth Isle | July 3, 2024 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

At the end of the day, it’s a great time to establish a routine to help your child prepare for bed. Some of the activities in your routine could include reading a book, taking a bath, singing a song, picking up toys, or perhaps doing a knee bounce. When you follow the...

Story Time: Loving Our Library

by Lauren Abbott | Apr 6, 2021 | Blog, Kid's Corner, Story Time | 0 comments

Story Time: Loving Our Library

It’s National Library Week! We love our library and everyone who comes to visit. Try doing a scavenger hunt at the library to find all the different items you can check out such as movies, easy CD picture books, graphic novels, magazines, informational books, and so much more.

Print off a free library scavenger hunt