Children's Programs

Summer Reading starts on June 24th at 10am

Can't make it to the library for our kick-off? Stop by anytime during library hours from June 24th through the beginning of August to sign up for Summer Reading!

For all summer programs that require registration, the form will open on our calendar two weeks before the date of the program.
For more information, please call the library at 860-793-1450.

Summer Programs for All Ages:

Touch-a-Truck Summer Reading Kick-Off 
June 24 | 10:00 am 
See trucks up close at this year’s Summer Reading Kickoff, in collaboration with the Town of Plainville, Plainville Police Department, and Plainville Volunteer Fire Department. We will start indoors with a themed storytime, then move outside to view the trucks. This marks the first official day of Summer Reading, so don’t forget to sign up and pick up your reading log while at the library!

Music with Michele Urban
July 15th | 10:30 am | Registration is required and opens two weeks before program date.
Connecticut-based family music performer Michele Urban is known for her whimsical songs that weave genres from folk, to kindie rock, to jazz, all while exploring themes of inclusion, kindness, and friendship. Michele will be visiting Plainville to perform an engaging and interactive concert filled with laughter, movement, and the simple joy of making music together. 
Find her latest album, Something You Don’t Know, on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon music, and more!

Acrobat Li Liu
August 5th | 6:00 pm | Registration is required and opens two weeks before program date.
Professional Acrobat Li Liu will be performing an exciting solo show that includes hand balancing, plate spinning, trick cycling, foot juggling, ribbon dancing, and Chinese water bowl manipulation. Li will also share about Chinese language, geography, and culture, and young audience members may have a chance to try some of the easier (and safer!) skills such as ribbon dancing.

Family Bingo 
August 12 | 6:00 pm | Registration is required and opens two weeks before program date.
Join us for Bingo Night at the library! We will play several rounds of classic bingo and a few twists with a break in the middle for some book-themed trivia. Small prizes will be available for bingo winners.

Pig Visit
August 13th | 6:00 pm | Registration is required and opens two weeks before program date.
Meet Gilbert and Meadow, two happy pigs who can’t wait to visit you at the library! We will learn about pigs and read a story with them, and then participants will have some time to pet and interact with our new pig friends.

Summer Fun Fair
August 21st | 10:30 am
Finish Summer Reading strong with crafts, games, and more at our Fun Fair! Bring your reading logs for one last chance to pick up prizes. Weather permitting, some activities will take place outside.

Summer Programs for Young Children:

Picture Books & Popsicles
Fridays: June 26th through August 14th | 9:30 am | All ages, family groups welcome
Enjoy a popsicle, songs, and storytimes at this outdoor Summer favorite. Weather permitting, storytime will be held outside in the grass, so participants are encouraged to bring a blanket or towel to sit on.

Sensory Play and Art
Wednesdays: July 8, July 22, August 5, and August 19 | 10:30am | Ages 2-5 with a caregiver | Registration is required and opens two weeks before program date.
Sensory Art and Play is for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers to explore, create and get messy through process-based art experiences and sensory exploration. This program will be held outside in the garden, weather permitting.
July 8:  Texture Painting with Bubble Wrap
July 22: Water, Ice and Color Play
August 5: Marbled Art Printing
August 19: Oobleck Fun

Ice Cream Storytime & Art
July 29th | 10:00am | Ages 3-6 with a caregiver, family groups welcome | Registration is required and opens two weeks before program date.
Celebrate National Ice Cream Month with stories, songs, and puffy paint ice cream art!

Summer Programs for Grades K-5:

Lego Club
June 25, July 16, and August 6 | 10:30am | All Ages
Put your Lego skills to the test with challenges for a range of builder experience levels. When finished, put your creations on display in the Youth Services Department!

Nature Makers
Mondays, June 29, July 13 and July 27  | 10:30am | Grades 1-5 | Registration is required and opens two weeks before program date.
Get creative with nature-themed crafts inspired by plants and other natural materials. Please register separately for each session.
June 29: Pot Painting and Planting
July 13: Nature Mosaics and Sculptures
July 27: Fairy Gardens

A Plant’s Life 
June 30th | 2:00 pm | Grades 1-5 | Registration is required and opens two weeks before program date.
Join White Memorial Conservation Center to learn about the life cycle of plants! Through interactive activities and a visit from a live owl, participants will understand similarities and differences between basic animal and plant life cycles. All aspects of the plant life cycle will be covered, including seed germination, growth, flowering, pollination, and seed dispersal. 

Fireworks in the City Art
July 1st | 2:00pm | Grades 2-5 | Registration is required and opens two weeks before program date.
We will use a variety of art materials including paint, chalk pastels and paper to create a firework scene in celebration of the Fourth of July!

Seed Planting
July 2 and July 30 | 10:00 am | All Ages
There are lots of seeds you can plant at the library…including real ones! Choose from a selection of seeds to plant in a tray of starter soil, then take them home to watch them grow. 

Cook a Book: Ice Cream
July 7th | 1:30 pm | Grades 3-5 | Registration is required and opens two weeks before program date.
Listen to a story about ice cream, and then learn how to make your own soft serve in a bag! Toppings will be available to build your sundae.
Please note any dietary restrictions upon registration.

Stuffed Animal Storytime and Sleepover
Storytime and drop off: July 8th at 6:00 pm 
Pick up: July 9th from 9:15 am to 10:00 am. 
Ages 4-8
Bring one of your own stuffed animals or borrow one from the library for a cozy pajama storytime. Then, drop your animals off for a sleepover and check the library's social media pages throughout the evening to see what your stuffed friends are doing during their stay. Stuffed animals can be picked up in the morning by 10am.

Messy Science
Tuesdays: July 14, July 28, August 11 | 10:00 am | Grades 2-5 | Registration is required and opens two weeks before program date.
Learn about science concepts through messy experiments and open-ended exploration. Please register separately for each session. This program will be held outside, weather permitting.

Crochet for Kids
July 15th | 2:00 pm | Grades 3-5 | Registration is required and opens two weeks before program date.
Learn the basics of crochet in this program for beginners. We will learn to tie a slip knot, make a chain, and single crochet to start a simple, beginner-friendly project.

The Bad Seed Children’s Play
Rehearsals on July 28th and August 4th, Performance on August 6th | 6:00 pm | Auditorium | Grades K-3 | Registration is required and opens two weeks before the first rehearsal date.
Carol Glynn from the CT Storytelling Center will be visiting the library to direct a play featuring your favorite characters from The Bad Seed series! Children will complete two rehearsals before their friends and family will be invited to watch the performance.
This program has been made possible by a generous donation from the UBI Federal Credit Union in Plainville!

Space Art 
August 10th | 2:00 pm | Entering Grades 2-5 | Registration is required and opens two weeks before program date.
Create space art to celebrate the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower on Aug. 12-13!  Participants will create a vibrant space scene of planets, meteors and stars using oil pastels and paint.

Crafternoon: Perler Bead Keychains
August 20th | 2:00 pm | Grades K-5 | Registration is required and opens two weeks before program date.
Create your own design with perler beads, then attach the final product to a keychain. Great for backpack decorations, or to attach your library card!

Support the Friends of the Plainville Library
	Purchase a reusable Community Bag from Big Y for $2.50   After purchasing, visit MyBigYCause.com, enter the code on the bag, and search “Friends of the Plainville Public Library” to donate $1.00 (for each bag purchased) directly to supporting your local library.     Community Bags are located in the self-checkout area at Plainville Big Y.

School Resources

• Elementary Schools' Library Page: Linden, Toffolon, Wheeler

• Nutmeg Nominees - Check out the 2025 Nutmeg Nominees lists of Elementary, Intermediate, Middle School, and High School suggestions.