Children’s Librarian: Susan Slater sslater@warrenlibrary.org 814 723-4650 x126
Children’s Room Assistant: Kelley Wood
Children’s Room Summer Assistant: Madelyn Rodgers
Children’s 2024 Summer Reading Program Schedule: Adventure Begins at Your Library
Note: Preschools, daycares and/or groups of six or more are encouraged to call the Children’s Librarian to schedule a special time for your group.
Reading Component
- Children keep track of books read over the summer and receive prizes.
- Registration begins in the Children’s Department on Saturday, June 1.
- We encourage the children to read for pleasure, so we do not expect a specific number of books to be read.
- Children will receive prizes for reading whether they read five books, twenty books, fifty books or one hundred books.
- All formats count: e-books, audio books, chapter books, picture books, nonfiction books, comic books, graphic novels, etc.
- Younger children can participate because parents can record books read to their tiny tots.
- Two ways to keep track of books: Parents/children can pick up Adventure Begins at Your Library book logs by registering at the Children’s Department staff desk starting June 1. If no one is available, please go to the Main desk where someone can register your child and give you a book log. Parents who prefer the online method may use Reader Zone (readerzone.com), which can be accessed via the Reader Zone website, or put a Reader Zone app on their smartphones. Join with the code: c3ab8.
- Prizes: Children can turn in their Reading Logs between July 22 and August 6. We will not keep the logs; we just want to record the information for statistical purposes. Children will receive Reading Certificates and choose a book to keep and a toy-type prize. Those who use Reader Zone will receive email instructions via Reader Zone in regards to prizes.
Weekly Programs
Note: Summer camps and/or groups of six or more, please call the Children’s Librarian to schedule a special time for your group.
Toddler Time: Mondays, 10:30 am, Children’s Department. Join Ms. Susan for fun theme-based stories, songs, crafts and creative play. Aimed at ages 1 – 4, but all are welcome. Dates: June 10, 17, 24; July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29.
Reading Wednesday: Wednesdays, 10:30 am, Children’s Department. Join Ms. Kelley for story time fun and crafts. Aimed at ages 4 – 8, but all are welcome. Dates: June 12, 26; July 10, 17, 24, 31.
DIY Activities:
A Great Adventure Short Story Contest: Ages 5 – 11. Write a short story about a great adventure, something unusual or exciting! It could be a real adventure you actually experienced, one created in your imagination, or a mixture of both. Start your story with the prompt: “My great adventure began when…”. Pick up an A Great Adventure Short Story Contest entry form for details. Starting June 1, forms will be located across from the staff desk in the Children’s Department or download one from the Children’s Program page on our website. Stories and the Writer Information Page are due July 15. Entries will be judged by age categories (5-6; 7-9; 10-11) and winners will be notified by July 23. One winner in each age category will receive a $30 Rivers Edge gift card.
Story Walk: Monday, July 1 – Monday, July 15. This story walk focuses on Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party by Kimberly and James Dean. Families, children and preschools can complete this story walk at their leisure during the dates listed above. Certain businesses along Second Avenue and Liberty Street will post pages from the selected book in their windows. Participants will read the story in progression as they walk along Second Avenue and then up and down both sides of Liberty Street. Participating businesses will be noted in the packet. Story Walk packets will be available starting *June 24, can be completed between July 1 – July 15, and are due into the Warren Library by July 20. *Packets will be located across from the staff desk in the Children’s Department or download one from the Children’s Program page on our website. The first 100 children who turn in the “Submission Form” from their packet by the due date will each receive a goody bag plus their names will be entered into a drawing. Thirteen names will be randomly drawn and winners notified on July 23. Twelve children will each win a gift bag filled with a medley of items; one child will win the grand prize of a large fun-filled gift basket.
Special Events
Ice Cream Social: Monday, June 3, 3:30-6:30 pm, Slater Room, 3rd floor. This event is hosted by the Adult, Teen and Children’s staff. All ages are welcome to pop in to enjoy some ice cream and register for the reading portion of our summer programs. You can also pick up summer program schedules for all ages to see what fun we have in store this summer. If you cannot make this event, you can register throughout the month.
Composting for Kids: Thursday, June 13, 1:00 pm, Slater Room, 3rd floor. For children in grades K – 8. Composting household waste is good for your garden and the environment. The Master Gardeners of Warren County will host a hands-on lesson exploring composting. The children will learn why it’s smart to compost food scraps, about the different ways to compost, and make their own starter compost to take home. Registration mandatory. Registration slips will be available in the Children’s Room starting June 1.
The Great Reading Adventure Magic Show: Thursday, June 20, Slater Room, 3rd floor. Two shows, same content: 10:30 am and 12:30 pm. Professional magician Cris Johnson returns to Warren for another zany magic show that also promotes reading. Cris always has both young and old laughing throughout his shows which feature music, age-appropriate humor, fun magic, audience participation and more. Intended for ages 4-12 but all are welcome. Each show can accommodate 115 attendees. All will be seated at a first come, first seated basis.
Alien Invasion, Program A: Saturday, June 22, 11:30 am, Children’s Department. We will start with a few alien-themed stories and end with each child stuffing their own adorable plush alien to keep. Each plush comes unstuffed with a stuffing kit, which includes: stuffing packet, wish star to insert into the alien, birth certificate and a buddy bag. Registration mandatory. Registration slips will be available on the staff desk in the Children’s Department starting June 6. Note: children can only attend one of the Alien Invasion programs. (Program B is listed below.)
Sundance Kids Farm Petting Zoo: Wednesday, July 3, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm. All ages are invited to visit with Michael Morton’s farm animals on the Library’s front lawn, Market Street side. Rain or shine. Stop by and visit with goats, chickens, hedgehogs, prairie dogs, rabbits, tortoises and a Pantagonian Cavy. Registration not required.
Alien Invasion, Program B: Thursday, July 18, 11:30 am, Children’s Department. We will start with a few alien-themed stories and end with each child stuffing their own adorable plush alien to keep. Each plush comes unstuffed with a stuffing kit, which includes: stuffing packet, wish star to insert into the alien, birth certificate and a buddy bag. Registration mandatory. Registration slips will be available on the staff desk starting July 6. Note: Children can only attend one of the Alien Invasion programs. (Program A is listed above.)
Mandy the Hoopster Lady: Tuesday, July 23, 11:00 am – noon, Children’s Department. Children of all ages are welcome to pop in to have fun with all sorts of wands and hoops with a demonstration and a little bit of help from Mandy. A great way to expel some energy. Registration not required.
Erie Traveling Zoo – Mammals vs. Reptiles: Friday, August 2, 11:00 am, Slater Room, 3rd floor. Children will learn the characteristics of mammals and reptiles and what makes them different from each other and other animals. They will also learn about their adaptations. There will be one live mammal and one live reptile plus biofacts such as fur, skulls, scales, etc. This show can accommodate 95 attendees. All will be seated at a first come, first seated basis.
Available All Year
1000 Books Before Kindergarten: Help put your child on the right track for kindergarten and build a solid foundation for academic success by reading early and often to your young children. The Warren Library is providing the opportunity to participate in this popular program open for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Information about this program and reading logs can be found on our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten page here. When visiting the library, information and a reading log for the first 100 books can be found on a shelf directly across from the staff desk in the Children’s Department. Those who prefer an online method may keep track at Reader Zone. Register on their website www.readerzone.com using the program code fc392. Like apps? Download the Reader Zone app from Google Play, the App Store or Amazon by searching for “Reader Zone”; be sure to use program code fc392.
Portions of these programs are possible due to the generous donations made at the Annual Midwinter Library Fundraiser.
