Summer STEM – Charm the Dragon

by Lauren Abbott | Jun 15, 2020 | Blog, Craft Instructions Post, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 comments

Charm the Dragon

Week 1 of Summer STEM from Your Library

Watch the Instruction Video



Experiment with static electricity and charm a tissue paper dragon!

Place your tissue paper over your dragon template. Trace the lines and cut out your dragon.
Place your dragon on the sheet of tin foil. Bend the head slightly towards you.
Rub your pen against the wool for at LEAST a minute.
Hold the pen near the head of your dragon and wave it. The head will rise to meet the pen.
Experiment with other ways you can build a static charge. Will a balloon work better?

Enter the Summer STEM drawing!

Enter to win STEM-themed prizes by sending us a photo of you doing one of these activities! Place the photo in the body of your email (no attachments) and send it to madisonlib.org@gmail.com. We’ll hold drawings at the end of the month!

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...

Kid & Tween Activities March 2024

by Mary Kirkpatrick | March 1, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeJoin us in March for a world of imagination and learning at Story Time! This month we’re celebrating author-illustrator, Eric Carle! Preschool Story Time (ages 2-5): Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 10:30 AM and Tuesdays at 6:30 PM. Toddler Time (ages 10-23...

Phased Opening for the Library – Limited Hours

by Valerie Lloyd | May 27, 2020 | Adult Arena, Blog, Kid's Corner, Teen Zone, Tween Scene | 2 comments

Phased Opening for the Library – Limited Hours

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Madison Library District is excited to announce that we will begin phase three opening for limited hours starting Monday, June 22.

Hours of operation

Monday & Tuesday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Wednesday & Thursday 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Closed Saturdays

We will be following the CDC guidelines and practicing social distancing. This means we will have to limit the number of people in the building to 125 at any given time. Use of the library will be primarily for browsing and to check out materials. Some materials may be unavailable for check out.

Computer usage and seating will be very limited to encourage social distancing. Please be respectful of others and keep your visit short to allow others the opportunity to use the Library. As always children under 12 should be attended by an adult.

The book return will continue to be open. Please return materials to the book drops. If you have questions about materials or due dates, please contact us at 208-356-3461.

We continue to add virtual programs to our social media sites. For digital materials, please visit our website at madisonlib.org

Thank you for your patience! We look forward to seeing you!

Your library is your paradise.

Erasmus

More Information

Summer Reading sign-ups will begin June 8.
Book return has been and will remain open.
We will no longer be doing curbside services after Friday, May 29.
Please stay home if you are not feeling well.

We hope to extend our hours in the near future. Please continue to monitor our website and social media for further information.

Story Time – May 19, 2020

by Lauren Abbott | May 19, 2020 | Blog, Kid's Corner, Story Time | 0 comments

Story Time – May 19, 2020

10:30 am ONLINE on Facebook – ages 2 to 5

In our storytime trip around the world, Cody is lost in the city!

Or is he? Can you help us find him? Make sure you fill out your passport and come along to the city. What will you find in the city? Find out in the following books and activities below.

Parent tip: when watching a read-aloud video with your children, try muting the volume and reading the story with your child.

For the last few weeks in online storytime, we visited four different biomes around the world. Today is the final location we will visit. We have included a link to print off a passport so the children can keep a record of all the places we visited.

Download Your Free Passport!

Early Literacy Tip and Activity:

Tip

Helping children hear the smaller sounds in words, the syllables, by clapping them out is one way to develop the phonological awareness. Children can hear syllables more easily than each individual sound in words.

~ Lambert

Activity

Play this model and mock game with your child’s name or with a word that might be new to them or a challenge to say.

1) Super duper 1, 2, 3. Can you say this word with me?

2) Super duper 1, 2, 3. Can you clap this word with me?

3) Super duper 1, 2, 3. Can you snap this word with me?

4) Super duper 1, 2, 3. Can you tap this word with me?

5) Now let’s say it!

Books Presented

Songs, Rhymes and Fingerplays

Driving ‘Round

Driving round in my little red car
Driving round in my little red car
Driving round in my little red car
Zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom!

-https://storytimekatie.com/2014/04/24/cities/

London Bridge is Falling Down

London Bridge is falling down
Falling down, falling down
London Bridge is falling down
My fair lady

Build it up with silver and gold
Silver and gold, silver and gold
Build it up with silver and gold
My fair lady

– Traditional

Five Little Houses

One little house all alone it stood
Then another was built
There grows the neighborhood.
Two little houses…
Three little houses…
Four little houses…
Five little houses
All together they stood
On a beautiful street in a happy neighborhood.

-Jbrary.com

A Hippopotamus Got on a City Bus

A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus
Got on, got on, got on a city bus
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“You’re squishing us!” (hug baby)
A sheep, a sheep, a sheep got on a city bus
and all, and all, and all the people said,
“Baaaack up!”
A cow, a cow, a cow got on a bus
And all, and all, and all the people said,
“Mooooove over!”

– Jlibrary.com

The Wheels on the Bus in London

– Kiddiestv

The Elevator Song

Oh the city is great and the city is grand
There’s a whole lot of people
on a little piece of land
And we live way up on the 57th floor
and this is what we do when we go out the door.
We take the elevator up and the elevator down,
take the elevator up, take the elevator down
Take the elevator up and the elevator down
and we turn around.

– Jbrary

Craft Activities

Print out this Times Square coloring page or color online.

Go to the coloring page!

Create simple and colorful popsicle stick cars to decorate and play with!

Find full instructions here!

Create and decorate a stackable city using toilet paper rolls.

Find full instructions here!

Additional Books

Find it in our catalog

From

A Very Busy Day by Book Dash

Take a Walk with Us Through Middle Earth!

by Catherine Stanton | May 18, 2020 | Adult Arena, Blog, Kid's Corner, Teen Zone, Tween Scene | 0 comments

Take a Walk with Us Through Middle Earth!

A Walk Through Middle Earth

A 15 Week Journey: May 23 – September 7, 2020

Since the world is an uncertain place, we thought it would be fun to journey with some of our own favorite literary characters, and create our own Fellowship of Wanderers who journey throughout Madison County.

We’ll have some fun prizes, and everyone in the family can join in! Keep track of the miles you walk this summer. You may create your own log, or use ours. You can download a digital copy here, or pick up a paper version from the Library during our curbside pickup hours.

Remember, you may only count miles after you begin the challenge. Scroll down for full details.

It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door … You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to. Do you realize that this is the very path that goes through Mirkwood, and that if you let it, it might take you to the Lonely Mountain or even further and to worse places?

Bilbo Baggins

The Fellowship of the Ring

Pick Your Challenge!

Stroll Around the Shire

Walk 45 miles this summer = 3 miles per week

Visit the Ents in Fanghorn Forest

Walk 90 miles this summer = 6 miles per week

Climb Mount Doom

Walk 150 miles this summer = 10 miles per week

Rewards

After Every Challenge:

Pick up a coupon for a refreshing beverage at the “Shire Pub” (a 20 oz drink from Great Scott’s) after completing your stroll of 45 miles around the Shire, after walking 90 miles to the “Ents’ Spring,” and after your 150 mile trek up to the summit of Mt. Doom.

The week following Labor Day, turn in your log at the Library to show us how far you got. The five “Hobbits” with the top mileage in each age group will get a copy of a Tolkien novel. The three with the most mileage from all ages combined will get a boxed set of Lord of the Rings. The walker with the most miles overall will receive a Ring to Rule Them All.

Age Groups:

6-11
12-18
19-54
55 +

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

J.R.R. Tolkien
The Fellowship of the Ring

Toddler Time and Book Babies – May 11 and 13, 2020

by Lauren Abbott | May 13, 2020 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner | 0 comments

Toddler Time and Book Babies – May 11 and 13, 2020

Toddler Time for ages 10 to 23 months – 9:45 am Mondays (May 11)

Book Babies for ages 0 to 9 months – 9:45 am Wednesdays (May 13)

Look down the tracks… the animal train is rolling by again this week, and what is that in the forest car? It’s a bear, an owl, and a skunk.

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!

Books Presented

Bouncing and Diaper Changing Rhymes

Bouncing: Ride the Train

(Tune: Row, Row Your Boat)
Ride, ride, ride the train
Up and down the track.
Clickety, clickety, clickety clack
When will you be back?

Ride, ride, ride the train
Slowly down the track.
Clickety, clickety, clickety clack
When will you be back?

Ride, ride, ride the train
Quickly down the track.
Clickety, clickety, clickety clack
When will you be back?

-Traditional

Diaper Changing: The Little Train

The little train went up the track,
It went “Toot-toot” and then it chugged back.
Another train went up the track,
It went “Toot-toot” and then it chugged back.
Two little trains went up the track,
They went “Toot-toot” and then they chugged back.

-Lambert

Diaper Changing: Round the Garden

Round and round the garden
(draw a circle on your baby’s tummy)
Goes the teddy bear.
One step, two steps…
(walk your fingers up his chest)
Tickle him under there!
(tickle under his chin)

– www.pampers.com/en-us/baby/activities/article/fingerplays-for-preschoolers

Movement Songs and Fingerplays

If You’re Ever in a Forest

If You’re Ever in the Forest
(Tune: Did You Ever See a Lassie?)

If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some deer—
A young one and an old one,
And some that can quickly run. (Run in place.)
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some deer.

If you’re ever in the forest,
The forest, the forest,
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some rabbits.—
They hop here, and they hop there, (Jump like rabbits.)
they hop, hop, hop everywhere.
If you’re ever in the forest,
You might see some rabbits.

…
You might hear some birds.
A tweet here, and a tweet there,
they are flying around everywhere. (Fly like bird.)
If you’re ever in the forest.
You might hear some birds.

…
You might see some squirrels.
They are high up, and over there,
they climb up the trees everywhere. (Pretend to climb up a tree.)
If you’re ever in the forest.
You might see some squirrels.

…
You’ll surely see lots of trees.
There are tall ones and short ones, (Stretch high, and then get low.)
and young ones and old ones.
If you’re ever in the forest.
You surely see lots of tree.

~ Adapted by Jolanda Garcia, KidsSoup Inc.

Two Little Black Bears

2 Little black bears sitting on a hill.
One named Jack, the other named Jill.
Run away Jack, run away Jill.
Come back Jack, come back Jill.

Two little black bears digging in the snow.
One name Quick, the other named Slow.
Run away Quick, Run away Slow.
Come back Quick, come back Slow.

Two little black bears feeling very proud.
One named Soft, the other named Loud.
Run away Soft, run away Loud.
Come back Soft, come back Loud.

-Jbrary.com

The Train Wheels Are Rolling

1. There’s an animal train coming down the track,
Hear those wheels go clickety clack.

Chorus: And the train wheels are rolling, Rolling rolling rolling,
And the train wheels are rolling, rolling right along.

2. There’s a forest car where the animals ride,
There’s an owl, deer, and a skunk inside.

3. In the forest car where the animals ride,
There’s a fox, turkey and a bear inside.

4. Now the animal train’s going down the track,
Hear those wheels go clickety clack.

– Kathy Reid-Naiman

Craft Activity

DIY Lift the Flap Post-It book

Toddlers love lift-the-flap books. You can create your own with your toddler’s favorite board book. Place Post-It notes on strategic places in the book, perhaps over the face of an animal, and talk with your toddler about who or what is hiding under the flap. Then they can pull it off themselves and see the surprise!

Bottle Roll

Coax your crawler a little more with this fun activity. Just fill a clear bottle partially with beans or grains and roll it across the floor in front of your baby. Make sure the top is tightly secured. Then show him how to roll it back and forth himself. This “play” helps develop eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills.

– Baby Play

Find full instructions here!

Signing Songs

“Milk”

(tune “The Farmer in Dell)
We ask for MILK like this,
we ask for MILK like this.
(squeeze fingers together to make a fist)
When we’re thirsty and want a drink,
we ask for MILK like this.

“Food”

(tune “The Farmer in Dell)
We ask for food like this,
we ask for food like this.
(Bring fingers together & up to mouth)
When we’re hungry and need a snack,
we ask for food like this.