Alisha

Bippity-Boppity…BookBike!

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Books.  Bikes.  Activities.  Libraries.  A beautiful day.  Put them together and what’ve you got?  Bippity-Boppity…BookBike!  The library’s BookBike, a mini library on wheels, brings the library out into the community.  It makes weekly visits to the Downtown Farmers Market in Phoenix Park on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  Keep your eye out, though, because we pop up at all kinds of events around the community!  The BookBike collection includes a variety of new and popular titles that often have a lot of holds.  Check out a handful of books, chat with staff, sign up for a new library card, try out our activities or a Dabble Box kit, or find a spot in the grass to enjoy a new story.  Take a look at the BookBike calendar to see where we’ll be next!

Alisha

Summer Shows for Kids and Families

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Our summer performer series is returning with TWO performances each week!  So many of our all-time favorite performers are returning this summer including a brand new comedic show from A Touch of Magic Entertainment, the brilliantly hilarious comedy of Kenny Ahern, live reptiles and amphibians, totally awesome “science-ing” with popular UWEC professor, Erik Hendrickson, a magic show with Glen Gerard, and an interactive musical program from Duke Otherwise!  Visit us Thursdays, June 15-July 20 for shows at 10 a.m. and repeated at 1 p.m.  FREE tickets are available one week prior to each program to reserve your spot.  Stop by the library to pick up your tickets, or give us a call at 715-839-5007.  All shows will be held in the beautiful new Riverview Room on the library’s third level.

 

June 15: A Touch of Magic: Treasure Beyond Measure

June 22: Kenny Ahern: To Laugh is to Live

June 29: Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo

July 6: Science Theatre: Fun with Liquid Nitrogen

July 13: Magic and Comedy with Glen Gerard

July 20: Duke Otherwise

 

(Psst…Want a sneak peek?!  Check out this fun music video from Duke Otherwise!)

Alisha

Mondays = Fundays this Summer!

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Mondays at the library this summer are going to be SO. MUCH. FUN!  With programs for grades K-6 on seven consecutive Mondays, there is something that will suit everyone’s fancy.  Arts and crafts enthusiasts will like the Upcycled Art or Explore with Paint programs.  Are you a fan of comic books?  Check out the Comic Book Bash!  Have you ever secretly wanted to send something over the library’s bridge from the second story down to the first?  Then come to the Zip Line program where we’ll build a creation to send down the one-story zip line.  Are your interests rooted in gardening?  Visit the From Seed to Plant program.  A Grossology program will be held for the strong-stomached, and science (and/or candy) fans will love our Candy Science program.

“Do I need to bring anything,” you ask?  Nope!  All materials will be provided, while supplies last.  Come to one or all!

See all of out summer activities at www.ecpubliclibrary.info/kids/summer2023

Schedule

June 12: Upcycled Art

June 19: Zip Line

June 26: Comic Book Bash!

July 3: From Seed to Plant

July 10: Grossology

July 17: Explore with Paint

July 24: Candy Science

Jill

Hunt for fun @ the library!

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Does your kid love scavenger hunts? Come to the library! There is always a scavenger hunt in Youth Services which rotates every couple of months. All hunts are designed for both pre-readers and kids that read. These hunts are a fun family activity, and the prize at the end is usually a high five from the Youth Librarian. Come to the library anytime we are open and try a scavenger hunt today!

Bonus at-home scavenger hunt activity…

Find:

  • Something blue
  • Letter S
  • An animal (or photo of an animal)
  • Something outside that is growing
  • A new place to read a book

 

Sadie

Bundles of Fun!

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Have you ever wished someone would help you pick books to bring home for your family? You can always ask the Youth Services Staff for personalized recommendations, and you can also check out our selection of pre-made Book Bundles!

Bundles provide families a stack of about 6 books on a popular topic without the work of looking up items in the catalog and finding them on the shelves. There are set topics like dogs, cats, grandparents, shapes, books that rhyme, unicorns, bedtime, and many more. Staff also have fill-in tags which I like best! I love to get creative and make bundles about rainbows, mermaids, kindness, and even pizza. All Youth Services staff help put bundles together and we strive to have a good range of new, classic, and diverse books.

You can find Book Bundles on the first range of picture books, A-B/B-D. On your next library visit stop and see if there is a topic you would like to read with your family! Take the bundle, leave the tag and band in the basket on the range, and check out all the books at self-check. We hope you enjoy the surprise and ease of these pre-made bundles!

Julia

Dog Man Is Back!

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Woman reading book.Good news Dog Man fans! Your favorite graphic novel hero is back in a new adventure, Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea by Dav Pilkey! The Dog Man series, like many graphic novels, has the power to spark a love of reading, and is enjoyed by both reluctant and enthusiastic readers alike. Graphic novels are beneficial because readers make meaning through both pictures and text. Whether you love silly superhero animal stories, realistic fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, scary stories, there is a great graphic novel out there for you!

Are you all caught up on the Dog Man series and ready for something new? Check out these recommendations…

If you love silly stories starring animals like Lil’ Petey, try:

Max Meow Cat Crusader by John Gallagher 

Agent Moose by Mo O’Hara

Mayor Good Boy by Dave Scheidt

Officer Clawsome: Lobster Cop by Brian Smith

Woman holding three books.If you like unlikely superheroes, check out:

When Pigs Fly by Rob Harrell

Mischief and Mayhem by Ken Lamug 

Katie the Catsitter by Colleen A.F. Venable

HILO by Judd Winick

If you love robots, science, and cool gadgets, explore:

Sanity & Tallulah by Molly Brooks

InvestiGATORS by John Patrick Green

Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yang & Mike Holmes

Science Comics Robots and Drones by Scott Mairghread 

Kelly W

Give Your Kids Fun, Educational Content with the Library’s New Launchpad Tablets!

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Launchpad tablets are pre-loaded with content for kids, designed with a simple, easy-to-use interface, and 100% secure. Launchpad tablets are made to be passed from one set of hands to the next.

Going on a road trip, vacation, or spending some downtime at home? Launchpad tablets are the perfect device to keep your kiddos busy! There is no download time and no need for Wi-Fi. Furthermore, access to powerful content is as simple as turning on each device—anytime, anywhere!

With a range of topics from emotional wellbeing to learning about the environment and more, you are sure to find something that suits your kiddo now! For a list of Launchpad tablets available for checkout from the library, click here.

*Note: Launchpads cannot be returned in a drop box. Please return Launchpads to the customer service desk on the first floor.

 

Proud young finisher of 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten poses with her certificate of completion and book prize.
Jerissa

Raise a Reader with 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

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Do you have a baby, toddler, or preschool-aged child? Sign them up for 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. This self-paced reading program helps parents prepare their young children for one of life’s big milestones: kindergarten.

Reading early and often with your child helps them develop early literacy skills that will later help them learn how to read. Shared reading experiences will build their vocabulary and language skills, support their social and emotional development, expand their background knowledge, develop their executive functioning skills, and so much more.

Raise a reader! Get started by participating in 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten. Learn more here: https://www.ecpubliclibrary.info/kids/1000-books-before-kindergarten/

 

Shannon

Hang Out in The Lookout!

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Have you been to The Lookout? It’s a space here at the Eau Claire Library meant just for our school age visitors! We were excited to add this area to Youth Services during our renovation, and we immediately filled it with all sorts of fun things to discover and do.
In The Lookout, you will find iPads loaded with tons of games, computers for kids and their grown-ups to use, a weekly Try-It Tray activity, art supplies, board games, a scavenger hunt, and various other special activities. And, since we are constantly thinking of new fun things to do, many of the activities change weekly—so you should find something new just about every time you are here. Make sure to check out The Lookout during your next visit to the library. It just might become your new favorite place to hang out!
Andria

Check Out Our Youth Study Rooms

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Did you know the library has…youth study rooms?

That’s right, the Youth Services area of the library has three kids/family study rooms and two teen study rooms that are free to use, no library card required. Each room can be reserved for two hours per day, with an additional hour if no one is waiting. Walk-in requests are also accepted, as rooms are available.

Whether you’re looking for a quiet room for virtual learning or a collaborative group project or even a place to simply hang out and read, we have a variety of options for kids and teens.

How to Get Started

Simply hop over to our Reserve a Room page to browse available spaces or give our Youth Services desk a call at 715-839-5007.