April Kid and Tween Activities

by Lauren Abbott | Mar 30, 2021 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 comments

April Kid and Tween Activities

Come to our Mother Daughter Book Club meeting on Thursday, April 1st at 6:30- 7:30 p.m.! This month we’re talking about Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George.

Learn more about Mother Daughter Book Club

This month for Books for Boys we’re reading and discussing Fablehaven by Brandon Mull.

Join us on Thursday, April 8th at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room!

Learn more about Books for Boys

You won’t want to miss our April Kid and Tween STEAM activities! Starting Tuesday, April 13th, you can come pick up our hot air balloon art kits at the Front Circulation Desk. Our flying machines kits will be available a couple weeks later on the 27th.

Craft instructions will be available on our website and on our YouTube Channel.

Learn more about Kid and Tween STEAM

Visit our YouTube channel

July Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | June 30, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Summer Reading is Here! You can sign up now for Summer Reading: Color Our World! With Beanstack you can sign up online, or you can visit us at the Library and track your reading on paper. Check out our Summer Reading page for our prize schedule and more details.Story...

June Events for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | June 2, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

May Kids ‘n’ Tween Programs

by Mary Kirkpatrick | April 28, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Books For Boys & Great Reads for GirlsMeet Princess Cimorene—a princess who refuses to be proper. She’s everything a princess shouldn’t be: headstrong, tomboyish, smart… And bored. So bored she runs away to live with Kazul, one of the most powerful dragons around!...

April Kids ‘n’ Tween Programs

by Mary Kirkpatrick | March 31, 2025 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeGet ready for April celebrations 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 &...

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...

December 2024 Programs for All Ages

by Mary Kirkpatrick | November 27, 2024 | Adult Arena, Blog, Kid's Corner, Teen Zone, Tween Scene | 0 Comments

Winter Safe DrivingFirst time driving on snowy winter roads? Madison Library District is partnering with the Idaho Department of Transportation and the Idaho State Police to keep you safe this winter! Learn strategies to stay on the road, deal with slipping and...

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...

Book Babies: Wiggle Worms

by Lauren Abbott | Mar 25, 2021 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner | 0 comments

Book Babies: Wiggle Worms

Is your toddler a wiggle worm? They might have fun reading and learning about “real” wiggle worms. Try some of these activities and books which are just for the little wiggle worms in our lives.

Join us live Wednesdays at 10:00 AM – Online on Facebook

Ages 2-5

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!

Sing, Talk, Read, Write, Play

Tip

Books like “Cuckoo Can’t Find You,” which have lists of activities or items are great for babies because there’ isn’t a strong narrative. That makes it easy to read as many or as few pages as keep your baby’s interest. Stopping books when babies are done listening is a great way to keep your book sharing experiences positive and not stressful.

Activity

Find a book with a simple narrative, but vibrant pictures. Then explore and talk about the illustrations with your baby. Most picture books have a “traveling” character which moves through the book. Play “Look and Find” for this character as you and your baby turn each page.

Books Presented

Ten Wriggly, Wriggly Caterpillars by Debbie Tarbett

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Ten Wriggly, Wriggly Caterpillars by Debbie Tardett

Follow the adventures of these bright, bold caterpillars in this peek-through counting book!

Find it in Our Catalog

Find it Online

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Cuckoo Can't Find You by Lorianne Siomades

Each animal has lost an object that rhymes with its name and the hidden item is concealed within the pages.

Find it in Our Catalog

Find it Online

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Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni

To keep from being eaten, an inchworm measures a robin’s tail, a flamingo’s neck, a toucan’s beak, a heron’s legs, and a nightingale’s song.

Find it in Our Catalog

Find it Online

Songs, Rhymes, and Fingerplays

Fingerplay: Wiggle Worms

Here are some worms who are, oh, so sad.
They’ve lost all the wiggles that they once had.
They wonder if you, just for today
would lend them your wiggles so they can play.

Wiggle them up and wiggle them down
Wiggle the worms around and around
Wiggle them high and wiggle them low
Wiggle them fast and wiggle them slow
Wiggle them over your shoes and your socks
Then wiggle them back into their box.

–Hushlander.wordpress.com

Watch Gina's Example

Bounce: Trit Trot to Boston

Trit, trot to Boston, (bounce baby on your knees)
Trit, trot to Lynn,
Take care, Baby, (substitute child’s name for “Baby”)
Don’t fall IN!
(on “IN,” part knees and let baby slip through)

– Childhood

Watch Gina's Example

Scarf Song: Scarf Wiggle

You put your scarf up. You put your scarf down. Your put your scarf up.
And you shake it all around,
You wiggle on your knees and you wiggle on your toes.
You’re doing the scarf wiggle!

You put your scarf out. You put your scarf in. You put your scarf out.
And you shake it all around.
You wiggle on your head and you wiggle n your nose
You’re doing the scarf wiggle!

You put your fingers up. You put your fingers down. Your put your fingers up.
And you shake them all around,
You wiggle on your knees and you wiggle on your toes.
You’re doing the finger wiggle!

You put your fingers out. You put your fingers in. You put your fingers out.
And you shake them all around.
You wiggle on your head and you wiggle n your nose.
You’re doing the finger wiggle!

– Adapted from the “Hokey Pokey” song

Watch Gina's Example

Bounce or Manipulative Play: Wally the Worm

Wally the Worm went up and down
(lift baby up & down)
Up and down,
Up and down.
Wally the worm went up and back into the ground.
(let baby slip through knees)

Watch Gina's Example

Additional Books

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Owl and Wormy: Friends All Aflutter! by Andy Runton

Good friends Owly and Wormy are disappointed when their new plant attracts fat, green, bug-like things, instead of butterflies, until a metamorphosis occurs.

Find it in Our Catalog

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Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr.

Illustrations and rhyming text follow ten caterpillars as one wriggles up a flower stem, another sails across a garden pool, and one reaches an apple leaf, where something amazing happens.

Find it in Our Catalog

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Wiggle, Jiggle by Book Dash

A little Caterpillar loves to wiggle!

Scroll and Read on Storyberries

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Danger Worm by Andrea Kaczmarek

Little Worm wants nothing more than to leave his cosy home. But there are so many dangers!

Scroll and Read on Storyberries

More Book Babies

APRIL Book Babies + Toddler: Birthdays

by Marybeth Isle | April 2, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

It’s my birthday! Did you know that birthdays aren’t just fun and exciting for children—they’re also a great learning opportunity? Looking forward to and celebrating a birthday helps children understand traditions, family gatherings, and the joy of giving and...

MARCH Book Babies + Toddlers: Lambs

by Marybeth Isle | March 4, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

Many of us grew up with classic nursery rhymes like Mary Had a Little Lamb and Baa, Baa, Black Sheep. As you teach those songs to your child, consider incorporating these additional activities to expand both your and your baby's nursery rhyme repertoire.Book Babies:...

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

FEBRUARY Book Babies + Toddlers: “C” is for Counting

by Marybeth Isle | February 5, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

One, two, three, count with me. It’s as easy as can be! Teaching numbers at an early age can be great fun! Here are some fun ways to introduce numbers to your infant or toddler: ? 0-1 Year (Introduction to Numbers) Talk & Count: Count fingers, toes, and everyday...

JANUARY Book Babies + Toddlers: S is for Soup

by Marybeth Isle | January 27, 2025 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

Making and eating soup can be a sensory explosion for you and your child, especially when you make it together. Look for ingredients with a variety of colors, textures, and scents, then talk about where they came from, or count the pieces you’ve cut. Here are some...

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

NOVEMBER Book Babies + Toddler Time: Duck, Duck, Goose

by Marybeth Isle | November 12, 2024 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

“Play is serious business when it comes to a child's health and development. From peek-a-boo to pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek to hopscotch, the many forms of play enrich a child's brain, body and life in important ways.” HealthyChildren.org. When reading books with...

OCTOBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Horses & Ponies

by Marybeth Isle | October 2, 2024 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

This is how the ladies ride… clippity-clop, clippity-clop. This is how the gentlemen ride… giddy-up, giddy-up. This is how the cowboys ride… Yee haw! Ride ‘em cowboy!! There are many rhymes and songs about horses which encourage parent and child communication,...

SEPTEMBER Book Babies + Toddlers: Feelings

by Marybeth Isle | September 3, 2024 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

Ah, emotions… however big or small, can be difficult to manage for everyone, especially children. There are, however, tips and tricks you can use to help your child learn how to recognize and regulate their feelings, and you can start early, even with an infant. The...

JULY Book Babies + Toddler Time: Adventures in the Dark

by Marybeth Isle | July 3, 2024 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner, Toddler Time | 0 Comments

At the end of the day, it’s a great time to establish a routine to help your child prepare for bed. Some of the activities in your routine could include reading a book, taking a bath, singing a song, picking up toys, or perhaps doing a knee bounce. When you follow the...

Story Time: Earth, We Love You!

by Lauren Abbott | Mar 23, 2021 | Blog, Kid's Corner, Story Time | 0 comments

Story Time: Earth, We Love You!

The Earth is awesome! It starts with the letter “E”. And it’s the only place we have to live, so we better take care of it. Try talking with your child about some of the small things he can do to help take care of the Earth such as turning off the water while brushing his teeth, picking up garbage outside, or even recycling the bottle from the juice he drank for lunch. You might find some other ideas in the books and rhymes below.