Storytime: Puzzles, Scavenger Hunts & Mysteries
Mysteries, scavenger hunts, and puzzles are not only great fun for both you and your child, but they also build critical thinking, problem solving and social skills. So, pull out a puzzle or go on a nature scavenger hunt together. When reading a book with a mysterious plot, help your child to look for clues in the illustrations or text and then make a “who-dunnit” deduction before the final reveal at the end.
Join us Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. or Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room.
Ages 2-5
Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play
Tip
“Child-adult relationships that are responsive and attentive—with lots of back and forth interactions—build a strong foundation in a child’s brain for all future learning and development. This is called “serve and return,” and it takes two to play!” – https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/5-steps-for-brain-building-serve-and-return/
Activity
Try to observe a “serve” from your child. Did she point at something or make a sound or facial expression? Then “return” the “serve” with an acknowledgement, hug, smile, etc. Try this a couple of times a day. When you return a “serve”, your child knows that their thoughts and feelings are understood.
Books Presented
![Where Oliver Fits by Cale Atkinson Book cover for Where Oliver Fits by Cale Atkinson](https://www.madisonlib.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/where-oliver-fits.jpg)
Where Oliver Fits by Cale Atkinson
Oliver has always dreamed about where he will fit. Will he be in the mane of a unicorn? The tentacle of a pirate squid? The helmet of an astronaut? When he finally goes in search of his perfect place, he finds that trying to fit in is a lot harder than he thought. But as with any puzzle, a little trial and error leads to a solution, and Oliver figures out exactly where he belongs.
![What About X?: An Alphabet Adventure by Anne Marie Houppert Book cover for What About X?: An Alphabet Adventure by Anne Marie Houppert](https://www.madisonlib.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/what-about-x.jpg)
What About X?: An Alphabet Adventure by Anne Marie Houppert
Ready to go on a camping trip with the Alphabet Academy? F packs fishing poles. J has juice boxes for everyone. T tackles a tent. But X can’t think of a thing to bring!
![Secret, Secret Agent Guy by Kira Bigwood Book cover for Secret, Secret Agent Guy by Kira Bigwood](https://www.madisonlib.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/secret-secret-agent-guy.jpg)
Secret, Secret Agent Guy by Kira Bigwood
When a 007-year-old embarks on a bedtime mission called Operation Lollipop, he’s prepared for every eventuality–except one.
![Hornswoggled!: A Wacky Words Whodunit by Josh Crute Book cover for Hornswoggled!: A Wacky Words Whodunit by Josh Crute](https://www.madisonlib.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/hornswoggled.jpg)
Hornswoggled!: A Wacky Words Whodunit by Josh Crute
Deer wakes up to find one of his antlers is missing…and there’s a tennis racket in its place? One by one his friends also uncover that their important items from glasses to lucky boots have been swapped with silly, useless replacements like donuts and swim flippers. They’ve been hornswoggled! (Hornswoggled means tricked.) It’s pure poppycock! (Poppycock means nonsense.) Once they gather together to find out what happened, will they find the true thief or be outfoxed? Laugh along with a hilarious cast of animal characters searching for the mysterious trickster in this humorous whodunit bursting with exciting, wacky words that kids will love.
Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays
The Very Last Puzzle Piece
Who has the very last puzzle piece?
_______ has the very last puzzle piece!
Who me?
Yes you!
Couldn’t be!
Then who?
_______!
Source: Cooperative Summer Library Program
Where is Thumbkin?
Where is Thumbkin?
Where is Thumbkin?
Here I am. Here I am.
How are you today, sir?
Very well, I thank you,.
Run away, run away.
Verses: Where is pointer?
Where is tall man?
Where is ring man?
Where is pinky?
Source: Jbrary
The ABCs in 5 Different Tunes
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
London Bridge
Mary Had a Little Lamb
This Old Man
Head, shoulders Knees & Toes
Source: Jbrary
Crafts and Activities
![Search and Find Coloring page Coloring page featuring a camping scene and asking if you can find things in the picture.](https://www.madisonlib.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/search-and-find-coloring-page-e1720198346704.png)
Search and Find
![Craft Stick Puzzle Puzzles made from painted craft sticks.](https://www.madisonlib.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/craft-stick-puzzle-e1720198258619.webp)
Craft Stick Puzzle
Additional Books
![The Thingamajig by Rilla Alexander Book cover for The Thingamajig by Rilla Alexander](https://www.madisonlib.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/the-thingamajig.jpg)
The Thingamajig by Rilla Alexander
![We're Gong on a Treasure Hunt by Kelly DiPucchio Book cover for We're Gong on a Treasure Hunt by Kelly DiPucchio](https://www.madisonlib.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/were-going-on-a-treasure-hunt.jpg)
We're Going on a Treasure Hunt by Kelly DiPucchio
![I Spy Ocean Animals by Camelia Jacobs Book cover for I Spy Ocean Animals by Camelia Jacobs](https://www.madisonlib.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/i-spy-ocean-animals.jpg)
I Spy Ocean Animals by Camelia Jacobs
![How to Catch a Clover Thief by Elise Parsley Book cover for How to Catch a Clover Thief by Elise Parsley](https://www.madisonlib.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/how-to-catch-a-clover-thief.jpg)
How To Catch a Clover Thief by Elise Parsley
When a wild boar with a passion for clover discovers a rare patch in the woods, he is determined to patiently stand guard until it blooms–but he is not the only clover enthusiast in the forest, and it takes reading a good book for him to figure out the mystery
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