For Kids ages 6 – 8 & Tweens ages 9 – 11 and their accompanying adult. Come to the library and participate in an activity that’s about science, technology, engineering, or math! Our STEAM Activities take place in the Community Room. 

Head over to our Kids and Tweens STEAM Activity page for video instructions of past activities.

For babies ages 1 to 9 months.

Enjoy songs, stories, and movement activities together with other families. Additional activities and links will be available after the program on the Madison Library District Book Babies blog.

For babies ages 10 months to 3 years.

Enjoy songs, stories, and movement activities together with other families. Additional activities and links will be available after the program on the Madison Library District Book Babies blog.

For children ages 3 to 5 and their “grown up!”

Children ages 2 to 5 with their adult will enjoy stories and related fun which may include songs, games, and rhymes in our Community Room.

Any extra crafting supplies will be available to pick up at the Children’s Reference Desk while supplies last. Additional links and activities will be available after the program on the Madison Library District Storytime blog.

Have more than one child? Wondering which early literacy library program to attend? Go to the age specific event for your oldest child.

Para niños en edad preescolar de 3 a 5 años con su adulto!

Ninos de edad 2 hasta 5 con su adulto disfrutaria historias y actividades divertidos lo cual incluye canciones. juegetes, y rimas en nuestro Community Room. Los materiales adicionales para manualidades estarán disponibles para recoger en el Mostrador de Referencia para Niños hasta agotar existencias.

Después del programa, habrá enlaces y actividades adicionales disponibles en el blog de la hora del cuento del Madison Library District.

¿Tiene más de un hijo? ¿Quiere saber a qué programa de alfabetización temprana de la biblioteca asistir? Vaya al evento específico para la edad de su hijo mayor.

¡Esperamos verles aqui!

The Concept is Simple, the Rewards are Priceless!

The key is perseverance. Make it exciting.  Are you ready to get started?

Here’s how it works:

• Pick up a tracking log at the library’s Circulation Desk.
• Read a book (any book) to your newborn, infant, and/or toddler.
• Fill out a circle for each book you read. Each tracker has 100 circles.
• Once your log is completed, come get a sticker or a small book from the library.
• When you have completed 10 sheets, you’ve read 1000 books!

The goal is to have read 1,000 books (yes you can repeat books) before your precious one starts kindergarten. Does it sound hard? Not really if you think about it. If you read just 1 book a night, you will have read about 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years. If you consider that most children start kindergarten at around 5 years of age, you have more time than you think (so get started). 

Most Items Located on the West Side of the Building

We have a wide variety of materials for all your learning and entertainment needs!
Having a hard time finding something? Ask a librarian!

We provide the following materials:

• BOARD BOOKS – located in the lounge area north of the Community Room. These sturdy books have cardboard pages to resist tearing.  They are primarily for babies ages 0 – 2.  
• EASY OR EARLY BOOKS – “E” on the spine label means “Easy” or “Early” but really designates the picture book collection.  Most are about thirty pages in length and the reading level varies from very simple to sixth grade.  
• EASY BOOKS WITH CDs – “EBCD” on the spine label means these are Easy or Early Books which also include a CD. The CD either narrates the book’s text or dramatizes the book with narration and music.
• JUNIOR EASY BOOKS – “JE” stands for Junior Easy or Junior Early. The reading level varies from pre-kindergarten to second grade.  They are shelved in order by author, or by the series or character name (“Barbie,” “D.C.,” etc.) Sometimes referred to as Early Chapter Books, these are a bridge to the Junior Fiction books.
• JUNIOR FICTION –  The target age group for these chapter book stories is ages six through nine.  Most of the books are just under 200 pages and many are illustrated.  Most of these are shelved in order by the author’s last name, or by the series name.  
• JUNIOR NONFICTION – true stories and facts.
• GRAPHIC NOVELS
• AUDIOBOOKS – books on CD.
• eBOOKS and eAUDIOS – downloadable from the Libby app on your device.
• MAGAZINES
• MUSIC CDs – appropriate for children.
• DVDs & BLU-RAYs – these are located in the front lobby. Children’s materials are on the east side of the displays.
• KITS – we have several types of kits:
  • DISCOVERY KITS – in the green bags; DKIT I, II, AND III are for lap sit babies, preschool, and primary ages, and DKIT Vs have materials for the whole family.
  • AMERICAN GIRL KITS – in the blue plaid bags.  This growing collection will feature all the historical dolls, as well as the Wellie Wishers and Bitty Babies. We are also adding the Disney Princess dolls!
  • SPEEDY READER KITS – the entire book series in one bag; in pale blue and grey bags.
  • READ-ALONG KITS – includes a book and an audiobook of the same title so you can follow along with the audio reader.
  • AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE KITS – designed to teach parents and other caregivers how to read to their children who are deaf using American Sign Language and how to use strategies to make book sharing most effective.

To Celebrate National Library Week

Our theme is “Find Your Joy at the Library!"
Create an original diaorama featuring rubber ducks to show us what that theme means to you.

Submitting Entries

• Entries must be based on a published book or depict a scene from a positive experience, program, or item you’ve used from the library such as storytime, book club, Libby, etc.
• Diaoramas must be no larger than 13" deep by 16" wide x 18" tall.
• Diaoramas must be self-contained and able to move as a complete unit.
• Entries must include at least 1 rubber duck.
• Rubber ducks must be under 6" tall.
• Submissions must be brought to the Madison Library District Circulation Desk along with a completed entry form.
• Each participant may submit up to three entries.

Judging

• Entries will be judged in the following age categories:
  • 6-11 years
  • 12-17 years
  • 18+ years
• Judging criteria: creativity, visual appeal, entertainment value, and storytelling quality.
• A panel of impartial judges will evaluate entries.

Winners & Prizes

• Judges will select 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each age category.
• Winners will be announced on April 20, 2026, on MLD's Facebook page and newsletters.
• Prizes will be awarded to all winners.
• Dioramas will be displayed at the library during National Library Week, April 20-25, 2026.

Open to all patrons ages 6 and older (minors must have approval from their legal guardian.)

Submissions will need to be turned in at the Circulation Desk by 7:00 pm on April 15, 2026.

Each submission will need an entry form filled out and turned in with your diorama: