SUMMER STEM: Food Web Puzzle Game
Our Summer STEM from Your Library program is made possible by our sponsors: the Idaho Commission for Libraries and the Idaho STEM Action Center. A big thank you to them for their support!
Storytime: Deep Down Underground
Storytime: Deep Down Underground
A lot of children love to play in the dirt and mud, but do they know what lives underground? Explore the earth beneath their feet with these books, activities and videos. Then talk about what they have discovered and the new words that they have learned such as soil, burrow, and fossils.
Join us Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. or Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room.
Ages 2-5
Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play
Tip
Reading to your child with excitement and enthusiasm helps make reading a special time for you and your little one.
Activity
Try reading a story with your child using funny voices. Practice with a high, low, fast, or slow voice, and try using funny expressions on your face.
Books Presented
Underground by Denise Fleming
Pulp paintings and rhyming text spotlight the underground world of burrowing, tunneling, and digging animals. Includes “Creature Identification” page.
A Dog Named Doug by Karma Wilson
Egged on by a ground squirrel, a dog named Doug digs miles underground–taking a detour through the White House–until he returns home, goes to bed, and dreams of digging some more.
Hedgehog Needs a Hug by Jen Betton
Hedgehog wakes up needing a hug, but has trouble finding a friend who will get so close to his prickles.
Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays
Herman the Worm
Sitting on a fencepost, chewin’ my bubblegum
chomp chomp chomp chomp
Playin’ with my yo yo
weeooo weeooo / pretend to use a yo yo
When along came Herman the Worm
And he was thiiiiis big / fingers a few inches apart
So I said, Herman, what happened? / put arms out and shrug
And he said, I ate my sister
Sitting on a fencepost, chewin’ my bubblegum
chomp chomp chomp chomp
Playin’ with my yo yo
Weeoo weeoo / pretend to use a yo yo
When along cam Herman the worm
And he was thiiiiis big / hands about six inches apart
So I said, Herman, what happened? / put arms out and shrug
And he said, I ate my mother
Sitting on a fencepost, chewin’ my bubblegum
chomp chomp chomp chomp
Playin’ with my yo yo
Weeoo weeoo / pretend to use a yo yo
When along cam Herman the worm
And he was thiiiiis big / hands about two feet apart
So I said, Herman, what happened? / put arms out and shrug
And he said, I ate my father
Sitting on a fencepost, chewin’ my bubblegum
chomp chomp chomp chomp
Playin’ with my yo yo
Weeoo weeoo / pretend to use a yo yo
When along cam Herman the worm
And he was thiiiiis big / hands as far apart as possible
So I said, Herman, what happened? / put arms out and shrug
And he said, I ate my grandpa
Sitting on a fencepost, chewin’ my bubblegum
chomp chomp chomp chomp
Playin’ with my yo yo
Weeoo weeoo / pretend to use a yo yo
When along cam Herman the worm
And he was thiiiiis big / fingers close together again
So I said, Herman, what happened? / put arms out and shrug
And he said, I burped
Let’s Dig a Hole
Let’s … Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a Hole!
Let’s … Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a Hole!
A… Deeper, Deeper, Deeper, Deeper, Deeper, Deeper Hole!
A… Deeper, Deeper, Deeper, Deeper, Deeper, Deeper Hole!
Let’s … Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a Hole!
Let’s … Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a, Dig-a Hole!
Five Hungry Ants
Five hungry ants, marching in a line,
Came upon a picnicwhere they could dine.
They marched into the salad,they marched into the cake,
They marched into the pepper….uh oh, that was a mistake!
AHHHH-CHOOO!
Crafts and Activities
Coloring Page
Print out this cute coloring page – click below!
Create an adorable hedgehog by weaving paper strips
Additional Books
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett
Sam and Dave are on a mission. A mission to find something spectacular. So they dig a hole. And they keep digging. And they find . . . nothing. Yet the day turns out to be pretty spectacular after all. Attentive readers will be rewarded with a rare treasure in this witty story of looking for the extraordinary — and finding it in a manner you’d never expect.
Hedgehugs and the Hattiepillar by Steve Wilson
Horace and Hattie watch a caterpillar become a butterfly … and are inspired to attempt a transformation of their own!
The Ants Go Marching
One by one the ants march to get to shelter from the rain in this illustrated version of the classic children’s song.
Hop by Jorey HUrley
A day in the life of a rabbit family, from sleeping to grazing to hiding from danger
More Story Times
JULY Kid and Tween Activities
JULY Kid and Tween Activities
Summer Reading
Final month of Summer Reading – last day to sign-up is July 24th and program ends July 31st.
Each year, from June through July, we host Summer Reading. We have programs for all ages.
The 2021 Summer Reading Theme is “Tails and Tales.” The possibilities are endless!
You won’t want to miss our Summer STEM program for ages 6-11! Unlike the rest of the year, starting June 15th we have a new activity every single week through the end of July! Pick them up at the Front Circulation Desk while supplies last.
Craft instructions will be available on our website and on our YouTube Channel.
July 6: Food Web Puzzle Game
July 13: Exploding Soap
July 20: UV Sensitive Animal Building Challenge
July 27: Animal Coding Game
Earn a gorilla!
Fill out the online form below and upload a photo of your child doing one of our STEM activities. Then come to the Children’s Reference Desk and talk to a librarian to take one of the gorillas in the children’s area home!
1 per child while gorillas last; for ages 6-11.
Our Summer STEM from Your Library program is made possible by our sponsors: the Idaho Commission for Libraries and the Idaho STEM Action Center. A big thank you to them for their support!
Meghan Casey and Rocky Mountain Puppets presents:
Tall Tales of the Lost Temple
Monday, July 12 at Porter Park in the Beehive Pavilion.
Two performances at 10:30a.m. and 6:30p.m.
Grab your blankets and lawn chairs for a special presentation and puppet show by Rocky Mountain Puppets! Meghan Casey is an award winning ventriloquist who entertains audiences all over the country. Join us as she presents a unique program based on the Summer Reading 2021 theme, “Tails and Tales.”
This event is sponsored by the Madison Library Foundation.
Summer STEM: Toothbrush Critters
Our Summer STEM from Your Library program is made possible by our sponsors: the Idaho Commission for Libraries and the Idaho STEM Action Center. A big thank you to them for their support!
Learn about circuits while making a neat little bot critter that vibrates!
Materials needed:
- Toothbrush
- (2) 3 volt coin battery
- 10 mm coin cell phone charger or page motor
- 2-3 mm LED bulbs
- Glue dots
- Painter’s or masking tape
- Scissors
This craft was inspired by this post by Cub Scout Ideas
Story Time: Big and Tall
Story Time: Big and Tall
Stories and activities about large animals.
Join us Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. or Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room.
Ages 2-5
Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play
Tip
Practicing fine motor skills, such as making small finger motions while singing a song, helps develop your child’s coordination. Four-year old children have greater control of their fingers and hands than younger children do. Songs such as “Open Them, Shut Them” are easier for three-, four-, and five-year olds than for younger children because children develop greater coordination and control of small movements as they age.
Activity
Encourage children to use their hands and fingers to follow the directions to the song, “Open Them, Shut Them.”
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them,
Give a little clap.
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them,
Put them in your lap.
Creep them, creep them, creep them, creep them
Right up to your chin.
Open up your little mouth… (pause)
But do not let them in! (shake finger)
Books Presented
Hiccupotamus by Steve Smallman
The jungle animals are having a musical celebration! Mouse squeaks, Bird tweets, and Centipede taps his feet. Then more animals hear the music and want to join in, as Monkey, Warthog, and Crocodile bring their own music-making talents to the group. But what is that silly Hippo doing?
Who Eats Orange? by Dianne White
Who eats orange—a chicken? A bunny? A bear? Find out in this unique exploration of colors and animals’ favorite foods.
Animals eat a rainbow of different foods. Gorillas in the mountains eat green, octopi in the ocean eat red, and toucans in the canopy eat purple. Young animal enthusiasts will love digging into this lively journey around the world to explore the colorful diets of many animals, from the familiar to the exotic.
Giraffe Problems by Jory John
Can you guess what’s making this giraffe self-conscious? Could it be . . . HIS ENORMOUS NECK?? Yes, it’s exactly that–how on earth did you figure it out?
Edward the giraffe can’t understand why his neck is as long and bendy and, well, ridiculous as it is. No other animal has a neck this absurd. He’s tried disguising it, dressing it up, strategically hiding it behind bushes–honestly, anything you can think of, he’s tried.
Just when he has exhausted his neck-hiding options and is about to throw in the towel, a turtle swoops in (well, ambles in, very slowly) and helps him understand that his neck has a purpose, and looks excellent in a bow tie.
Can Somebody Please Scratch My Back? by Jory John
Persnickety Elephant has an itch–a big one–and he can’t reach it! While he isn’t above asking for a little help, no one is up to the task. Turtle is too lazy, Snail is too slimy, and Alligator… well, Elephant isn’t sure he wants his assistance. Does Elephant have to do everything himself?
Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays
Five Elephants in the Bathtub
One elephant in the bathtub
Going for a swim
Knock, knock (clap twice)
Splash, splash (slap knees twice)
Come on in! (motion with both hands to come in)
(count up from 1-5)
Five elephants in the bathtub
Going for a swim
Knock, knock (clap twice)
Splash, splash (slap knees twice)
It all fell in! (knock the felt pieces down)
The Jungle Song
Tiger, tiger, orange and black,
He’s got stripes upon his back.
When he growls, sharp teeth I see.
He’s as scary as can be!
Tiger, tiger, orange and black,
He’s got stripes upon his back.
Elephant, elephant, large and grey
Swings his trunk along the way.
His ears are big, his tusks are white,
Don’t be scared, he doesn’t bite!
Elephant, elephant, large and grey,
Swings his trunk along the way.
Crocodile, crocodile, long and green,
The sharpest teeth you’ve ever seen.
His legs are short, his mouth is wide,
Get too close and you’ll be inside!
Crocodile, crocodile, long and green,
The sharpest teeth you’ve ever seen.
Giraffe, giraffe, so very tall,
He spreads out his legs so he won’t fall.
He eats leaves from the tops of the trees,
His long neck helps him reach them with ease!
Giraffe, giraffe, so very tall,
He spreads out his legs so he won’t fall.
Hippopotamus, wallows and lies,
In the mud right up to his eyes.
Wallowing in the muddy pool,
Keeps his skin so very cool.
Hippopotamus, wallows and lies,
In the mud right up to his eyes.
Lion, lion mighty and strong.
With a very loud roar and a mane so long.
A lioness has no mane,
Acub is a baby lion’s name.
Lion, lion mighty and strong.
With a very loud roar and a mane so long.
If You’re an Elephant and You Know It!
To the tune “If You’re Happy and You Know It”
If you’re an elephant and you know it,
Stomp your feet!
If you’re an elephant and you know it,
Stomp your feet!
If you’re an elephant and you know it,
And you really want to show it,
If you’re an elephant and you know it,
Stomp your feet!
Other options:
Monkey – jump up and down
Crocodile – snap your jaws
Lion – give a roar!
I Know a Giraffe
To the tune “On Top of Old Smokey”
I know a giraffe.
With a neck that’s real high.
She stretches and stretches
Til it reaches the sky.
She lives on the plains
With the elephants too
You might also see her when you go to the zoo.
Crafts and Activities
Elephant Nose Craft
Have fun making this silly elephant trunk craft!
Additional Books
Abigail by Catherine Rayner
Abigail the giraffe wants to count the spots on her animal friends, Ladybug, Zebra, and Cheetah, but when they move too fast for counting, Abigail comes up with a new plan.
A Big Guy Took My Ball! by Mo Willems
Piggie is upset because a whale took the ball she found, but Gerald finds a solution that pleases all of them.
Boa's Bad Birthday by Jeanne Willis
It was Boa’s birthday.
It was going to be the best one ever.
Or so he hoped.
It was going to be the best one ever.
Or so he hoped.
He invited his friends round.
They would all bring him wonderful presents.
Or would they?
The Short Giraffe by Neil Flory
Geri is the shortest giraffe in the herd, which causes all kinds of problems when Boba the baboon tries to take a photo. Can Geri stretch up tall enough to be in the picture? Or are the other giraffes looking at things from the wrong perspective? A very sweet story for preschoolers about difference and acceptance.
Jangles: A BIG Fish Story by Davin Shannon
Breathtaking oil paintings bursting with energy pull readers along into Big Lake, the home of Jangles, the biggest fish anyone has seen. Fishing alone at dusk, a boy feels a tug on his line and comes face-to-face with the gigantic trout–whose enormous jaw is covered with so many lures and fish hooks that he jingles and jangles when he swims. Terrified by the sight, the boy is shocked when Jangles befriends him and takes him on an adventure to the bottom of the lake. A surprise ending will leave readers laughing and shaking their heads. Here is Shannon at his very best-in a wild and witty story that begs repeated reading.
More Story Times
Summer STEM: Outdoor Art
Our Summer STEM from Your Library program is made possible by our sponsors: the Idaho Commission for Libraries and the Idaho STEM Action Center. A big thank you to them for their support!
How tall is a giraffe? Find out with the Outdoor Kit! Have even more fun creating birds from items you find in nature.
Materials needed:
- String – 5 yards
- Sidewalk chalk
- Bird template
- Flowers, leaves, sticks, etc found in nature
This craft was inspired by this post from EdVentures With Kids
Story Time: The Animal Book Club
Story Time: The Animal Book Club
Who loves to read? We love to read! Summer is a great time to establish reading habits with your children, and this year’s summer reading theme is “Tales and Tails.” So, pick up a “tale” about something with a “tail” and have fun with the activities and books we have planned for this summer.
Join us Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. or Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room.
Ages 2-5
Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play
Tip
Make Books a Part of Your Daily Routine — The more that books are woven into children’s everyday lives, the more likely they will be to see reading as a pleasure and a gift.
Activity
At Meal Times- Sing or read a story during a moment of quiet nursing or to gather the kids around the noisy breakfast table.
Books Presented
Who Has this Tail? by Laura Hulbert
Short and fuzzy, long and scaled: no matter their size and shape, tails aren’t just hanging around–they’re useful! This book invites readers to guess the owner of nine tails, and then turn the page to see the animal and its tail in action.
Five Little Monkeys Reading in Bed by Eileen Christelow
After their mama reads to them, it’s bedtime for the Five Little Monkeys. But they can’t resist reading just one more book . . . or three! Soon Mama is so tired of trying to get her monkeys to quiet down and go to sleep, she picks up their books and takes them with her. At last, the monkeys are ready to settle down . . . until they hear strange sounds from down the hall. Could it be that Mama likes to read in bed too?
We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems
Gerald and Piggie discover the joy of being read. But what will happen when the book ends?
Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays
Ten Reading Monkeys
One little, two little, three little monkeys.
Four little, five little, six little monkeys.
Seven little, eight little, nine little monkeys
Ten little monkeys reading in bed.
Ten little, nine little, eight little monkeys
Seven little, six little, five little monkeys
Four little, three little, two little monkeys
One little monkey reading in bed.
Crafts and Activities
Coloring Page
Print out this coloring page!
Create this swinging monkey craft!
Additional Books
Warning: Do Not Open This Book! by Adam Lehrhaupt
Monkeys, toucans, and alligators unleash mayhem.
What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins
Readers can explore the many amazing things animals can do with their ears, eyes, mouths, noses, feet, and tails in this beautifully illustrated interactive guessing book.
Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates
Dog loves books so much that he decides to open a book store.
Llama Llama Loves to Read by Anna Dewdney
Throughout the school day, the teacher helps Llama Llama and the other children practice their letters, shows word cards, reads stories, and brings them to the library where they can all choose a favorite book. By the end of the day, Llama Llama is recognizing words and can’t wait to show Mama Llama that he’s becoming a reader!
More Story Times
Summer STEM: Binary Code Animals
Our Summer STEM from Your Library program was made possible by our sponsors: the Idaho Commission for Libraries and the Idaho STEM Action Center. A big thank you to them for their support!
Story Time, Toddler Time, and Book Babies Now Live
Story Time, Toddler Time, and Book Babies Now Live
Story Time Now Live
Story Time, Toddler Time, and Book Babies are now LIVE in our Community Room starting June 15th!
Story Time
Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
NEW After Dinner Story Time Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. (This is the same program as the other two, but now offered in the evening!)
Each week’s Story Time Take n’ Go kit will be available during our live Story Times, and any extras will be at the Children’s Reference Desk at the end of the week.
Toddler Time
Ages 11-23 months
(for walking toddlers)
Tuesdays at 9:45 a.m.
Book Babies
Ages 1-10 months
(for babies not yet walking)
Wednesdays at 9:45 a.m.
As always, we will post all our books, crafts, songs, and literacy tips on our blog at madisonlib.org/kids-corner.
We’re so excited to be able to offer these programs live! A big thank you to those who have joined in our online Story Times – we’ll see you at the library!