Kids & Families

Join us for a new series of storytimes this fall! Our theme this session is "What Makes a Family?" and each week we'll share new stories about different types of families, big and small. Our Thursday storytimes are geared towards kids ages 3 to 5, but siblings of all ages are always welcome to attend.

New this session, we'll also have a monthly "coffee break" from storytime. On these weeks, there will be no official storytime, but parents and caregivers are invited to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea on us during our usual meeting time while kids have free range to play in the storytime room. This unstructured time is great for socializing and meeting new friends.

Our weekly themes for the fall include:

• Sept. 4: Here Comes the Bus (Storytime will be held on a school bus!)
• Sept. 11: Coffee Break Time -- Open Play Session
• Sept. 18: New Babies
• Sept. 25: Moms & Dads
• Oct. 2: All Kinds of Families
• Oct. 9: Sisters & Brothers
• Oct. 16: Family Pets
• Oct. 23: Coffee Break Time -- Open Play Session
• Oct. 30: Halloween & Monster Families (Feel free to wear costumes!)
• Nov. 6: Adoption Stories
• Nov. 13: Animal Families
• Nov. 20: Coffee Break Time -- Open Play Session
• Nov. 27: Library Closed for Thanksgiving
• Dec. 4: Fairy Tale Families
• Dec. 11: Grandparent Stories
• Dec. 18: Family Holiday Traditions

Join us for baby lapsit storytimes! These storytimes are designed for babies up to 18 months and their caregivers. We'll learn finger plays, sing songs, and read one or two easy board books each week. Join the fun, socialize with other parents and caregivers, and learn how to grow a lifelong reader!

This session of Baby Storytime will run every Friday at 10AM from September 5 to December 19. Once a month, we will take a week off of official storytimes and have a "Coffee and Play Break"—feel free to join us at our regular time to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea on us, while babies have a chance to free play in the storytime room. This is a great opportunity to socialize and make new friends in a relaxed environment. Our coffee break weeks will be as follows:

• September 12
• October 24
• November 21

There will also be no Baby Storytime on Friday, November 28 due to the library being closed for Thanksgiving.

Come read to our dog pal, Brighty! Sign-up for a 15 minute session to read to our favorite dog and his human handler, Jenny. This opportunity is open to kids of all ages. Email cabaer [at] rgpl.org (cabaer[at]rgpl[dot]org) or ask for Catherine at the library to sign-up!

Join us every week for stories and a craft project or science experiment related to the stories we read. This program is geared towards ages 4 and under, but older siblings and kids are welcome, too!

Join us on your day off of school for a visit to the Dane County Trash Lab! The Trash Lab will be at the library from 10AM to 2PM and is open to visitors of all ages.

The Trash Lab is a mobile exhibit designed to educate people about waste and motivate us to create less trash. Hosted in a 27-foot cargo trailer, the Trash Lab features 10 interactive stations supported by engaging stories, a wealth of data, and lots of photo and video footage. Visitors of all ages will come away from the exhibit with a new understanding of the environmental impact of trash, how landfills work, and some sustainable solutions to create less waste.

The Trash Lab was created by the Dane County Department of Waste and Renewables in conjunction with the Madison Children's Museum. More information can be found on their website. 

This is a drop-in program. Registration is not required.

Join us for a Tween book club discussion! These meetings will occur every other month and are geared towards kids ages 9 to 12. This month we'll be reading The Wanderer by Sharon Creech:

The sea, the sea, the sea. It rolled and rolled and called to me. Come in, it said, come in. Sophie hears the sea calling, promising adventure as she sets sail for England with her three uncles and two cousins. Sophie's cousin Cody isn't sure he has the strength to prove himself to the crew and to his father. Through Sophie and Cody's travel logs, we hear stories of the past and the daily challenges of surviving at sea as The Wanderer sails toward its destination—and its passengers search for their places in the world.

The first 3 participants to register for this program will receive a free hardcover copy of the book to keep! There will be library copies available for check out as well. The Wanderer is a Newbery Honor book by Sharon Creech, who also won the Newbery Medal for her book, Walk Two Moons.

Image

Are you a family that homeschools your children? Whether you've been homeschooling for years or are just getting starting on your homeschool journey, join us for a meet-up! Youth Services Librarian Catherine will be leading a brainstorming session with parents about what homeschooling resources and programs the library can offer this year, while kids can enjoy time to socialize, play, and have a snack. We will also host a short storytime if time allows. Please contact Catherine at cabaer [at] rgpl.org (cabaer[at]rgpl[dot]org) with any questions before the meet-up.

Please read and share our behavior guidelines with your children.

Are you about to embark on a new adventure like potty training your child? There is help waiting for you in the Parent Zone of our children's department. Take a look at the variety of resources this special collection has to offer.