
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 are now LIVE in our Community Room starting June 15th!
Saturday, June 26 from 12-4 PM in the Community Room
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.
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.
Saturday, June 26 from 12-4 PM in the Community Room
All games, all ages! Bring your Switch, DS, cards, and/or Pokémon Go on your phone. Come and play, or learn the trading card game, how to build a winning team in the video games, and even do some Pokémon Go battles.
We love to laugh! Ha, ha, ha, ha! Laughing begins with the letter “L”. It’s good for the spirit, and it’s just plain fun! So have a little fun with these books, songs, and activities. And perhaps, you might yourself laughing out loud, too.
Ages 2-5
“A daily dose of laughter from reading funny books is good for the soul — and great for growing readers. Naturally, most children enjoy reading and listening to humorous stories. As parents, we can use this interest in silly books to boost literacy skills.”
“Grab a stack of funny books and let your child’s love for reading grow one giggle at a time!” You can find humorous books in our online catalog here.
Hop the Croakey Pokey
As flies buzz all around,
Right in the froggy’s mouth!
Don’t miss the froggy fun in this hopping and bopping version of a favorite traditional song and game.
Daddy did a funny dance, what’ll I do?
Daddy did a funny dance, what’ll I do?
Daddy did a funny dance, what’ll I do?
I’ll laugh and chuckle and giggle
*Chorus:
Ha ha, ha ha ha
Ho ho, ho ho ho
Hee hee, hee hee hee
It’s fun to laugh together
Mommy’s gonna tickle me, what’ll I do?
Mommy’s gonna tickle me, what’ll I do?
Mommy’s gonna tickle me, what’ll I do?
I’ll laugh and chuckle and giggle
*Chorus
Brother made a silly face, what’ll I do?
Brother made a silly face, what’ll I do?
Brother made a silly face, what’ll I do?
I’ll laugh and chuckle and giggle
*Chorus
Sister blew some bubblegum, what’ll I do?
Sister blew some bubblegum, what’ll I do?
Sister blew some bubblegum, what’ll I do?
I’ll laugh and chuckle and giggle
*Chorus
Baby made a funny noise, what’ll I do?
Baby made a funny noise, what’ll I do?
Baby made a funny noise, what’ll I do?
I’ll laugh and chuckle and giggle
*Chorus
– Storybots, Netflix Jr.
Print out this coloring page!
A collection of humorous poems such as “The Dancing Hippopotami,” “You Can’t Make Me Eat That,” “My Father’s Name is Sasquatch,” and “Dear Wumbledeedumble.”
Spring is a great time for exploration, discovery and sensory experiences. You and Baby can talk about sounds, smells, colors, and how things feel to the touch such as a leaf that’s wet after a rainstorm. Try some of these books and songs to help Baby, “Welcome, Spring!”
Ages 2-5
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 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!
(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!
Even little rhymes present knowledge about our world. “Little Raindrops Falling Down” uses a familiar melody to tell the story of different types of rain and how they sound when falling to the ground, just like real rain.
Sing, “Little Raindrops Falling Down,” and do the actions with Baby. Talk about how the rain sounds. Then, when you go for a walk after it’s rained, look for puddles. You can show your child how the trees, buildings, and clouds are upside down in the water before Baby jumps in the puddle!
On a fine spring day, Baby goes for a walk and wonders about what he sees and hears in a tree, in the dirt, and behind a bush.
Invites the reader to tap, rub, touch, and wiggle illustrations to make an apple tree bloom, produce fruit, and lose its leaves.
Lift the flaps to discover the animal babies encountered by Toad and Little Blue Truck when they drive to the farm in the spring.
Here is a green leaf (hold out one palm)
And here is a green leaf (hold out other palm)
That, you see, makes two (hold up two fingers)
Here is a bud (cup hands together)
That makes it a flower (slowly open hands)
Watch it bloom for you (slowly open hands)
The rain is falling down, (flutter fingers down)
SPLASH (clap loudly once)
The rain is falling down, (flutter fingers down)
SPLASH (clap loudly once)
Pitter patter pitter patter
The rain is falling down, (flutter fingers down)
SPLASH (clap loudly once)
Little raindrops falling down,
Falling down, falling down.(gently pat lap)
Little raindrops falling down,
Falling to the ground.
2nd verse – Bigger raindrops (clap hands)
3rd verse – Giant raindrops (stomp feet)
– Kcls.org
Rain on the grass
Rain on the trees
Rain on the roof
but not on me
Sun…
Snow…
Leaves…
– Jbrary
Written in super-simple rhyme, this sweet sturdy board book features Thing One and Thing Two as they frolic with iconic Spring “things”–including ducklings, bunnies, flowers, frogs, wriggling worms, and butterflies.
Before spring comes, the trees are dark sticks, the grass is brown, and the ground is covered in snow. But if you wait, leaves unfurl and flowers blossom, the grass turns green, and the mounds of snow shrink and shrink.
Hola! Hoy hablamos de llamas, or… Hello! We talked about llamas today! We love llamas and their cousins like alpacas and camels. We also love to speak Spanish which is the language they speak in Chile and Peru, where you can find both llamas and alpacas. If you’d like to have more fun with llamas and Spanish, try some of these books and songs.
Ages 2-5
Children love singing. A great option to encourage not only reading, but also singing, is to read books that can be sung. These can include nursery rhymes, books that promote singing, or books that can be sung to a specific tune.
Find or checkout a book with your child such as “Llamas in the Field,” then read and sing the book together. Check out these other books you can sing in our catalog.
Marcha marcha marcha
Marcha marcha marcha
Marcha marcha marcha
Deja de marchar
Salta salta salta
Salta salta salta
Salta salta salta
Deja de saltar
Baila baila baila
Baila baila baila
Baila baila baila
Deja de bailar
– Adapted from “Una Papa, Dos Papas” by Super Simple Español
Print out this coloring page!
We used some llama cutouts (link below) made for holding scraps of yarn and then made a 3D llama by combining 2, taping the face, and folding out the legs in front and back.
Try your hand at cut paper art and play with perspective with this hot air balloon art craft!
Things you will need include:
Children love to explore the world, especially when something is a little bit unusual. Use these books and activities to help them see the world through all of their senses, even if they say, “Ew! That’s gross!” Because gross things can be fun!
Ages 2-5
Young children are naturally curious about the world around them and often use their senses to explore and learn. By taking advantage of this eagerness to learn, you can help build their scientific knowledge.
Play this Mix ‘n Match game in your kitchen with your child. Wear a blindfold and try to guess what something is by its smell, taste, or touch. Show your child how to describe something with words before taking off the blindfold. You can also make crazy concoctions together and practice describing your creations using all five senses.
Five pairs of smelly socks
On my bedroom floor
Mom washed the BLUE pair
And then there were four
Four pairs of smelly socks
They belong to me
Dad washed the PINK pair
And then there were three
Three pairs of smelly socks
What’s a kids to do?
Brother washed the PURPLE pair
And then there were two
Two pairs of smelly socks
I wear them when I run
Sister washed the GREEN pair
And then there was one
One pair of smelly socks
One and only one
I guess I’ll wash the ORANGE pair
And then there will be none.
No more pairs of smelly socks
We washed them all today, But wait until tomorrow
More are on the way!
Icky, sticky, sticky, sticky bubble gum, bubble gum, bubble gum.
Sticky, sticky, sticky, sticky bubble gum, bubble gum.
Makes your hands stick to your knees.
And you pull ’em,
and you pull ’em,
and you pull’ em away.
(Head… Belly… Mouth… Nose… Elbows)
– David Landau
Print out this coloring page!
Describes the odors that some animals have developed to stay safe and thrive in their environments, including the striped skunk, the bombardier beetle, and the honey badger.