Most Popular Books of the Year! .. 3 For Kids

kids

contest!contest!contest! sponsoredbyGingerbreadGingerbread

December 1-12 | All locations Take part in a gingerbread contest sponsored by Iowa AARP! We’re providing gingerbread kits from Molly’s Cupcakes beginning on December 1, while supplies last. Kits will include everything you need to build an adorable gingerbread home and mini gingerbread house for an extra-special addition to the main home. Send us a photo of your creation by December 12 and you’ll be eligible to win some great prizes. Go to dmpl.org/gingerbread for more info.

Epic Graphic Novel Club

Friday, December 3, 4:30 PM | East Side Library This month, plan on bringing a favorite graphic novel to share with the group. We will chat about our book, work on a fun craft, play a game and choose the next book for the club to read! For ages 8-12.

Maker Day Challenge

Forest Avenue Library Friday, December 3 – Chain Reactions Friday, December 10 – Magnets Friday, December 17 – Robots Calling all makers! Can you complete our weekly challenge to build, play, or create? Each week we will have a different activity set up in the children’s area and finishers can claim a prize.

Giant Games and Giant Gingerbread Houses

Friday, December 10 | East Side Library Stop in during our open hours to play giant board games as a family or small group and decorate our giant cardboard gingerbread houses.

Tween Writing Meetup

Tuesday, December 14, 4 PM | Zoom Do you love writing, coming up with awesome characters, and telling great stories? Then the Tween Writers Meetup is for you! We’ll get together on Zoom to learn and practice storytelling techniques and meet other folks like you who love writing! For ages 8-12. Registration required.

Virtual Storytime: American Sign Language Special Edition

Friday, December 17, 10:15 AM | Facebook and YouTube Join Miss Mary and Mr. Jay as they read On Account of the Gum, by Adam Rex. Mr. Jay will provide ASL interpretations as we read, sing, and do some rhymes!

Birds and Bird Feeding with Polk County Conservation

Wednesday, December 29, 2 PM | East Side Library Winter is a great time to feed and watch birds. We’ll learn about some common Iowa birds and ways to keep our feathered friends well fed.

Storytime To-Go Bags

Mondays and Wednesdays | Franklin Avenue Library Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays | South Side Library Each bag will include rhymes, songs, and book suggestions for babies and preschoolers along with literacy activities. The storytime bags are recommended for ages 0-5 years old and should be used with adult supervision.

Science Project To-Go Bags

Thursday, December 2, 16 | Franklin Avenue Library These kits will contain a science activity you can do at home that will let you explore different STEM concepts (science, technology, engineering, and math). For ages 5 and up.

Kid’s Craft Bag: Winter Ornaments

Saturday, December 4 | South Side Library Stop by the South Side Library and pick up a craft bag filled with supplies to color and create winter ornaments at home!

Rainbow Slime

Saturday, December 4 | Central Library Grab a bag from the Central youth section or Central pickup window with materials to make your own Rainbow Slime! As supplies last, adult supervision recommended.

Scavenger Hunts

Wood Gingerbread Houses

December 7-14 | Forest Avenue Library Stop by the library for a kit containing a wood gingerbread house to decorate and keep!

Lil’ Craft Bags

Forest Avenue Library December 8-11 – Eric Carle December 15-18 – Touch and Feel Penguin December 29-30 – Snowy Day Craft Every week enjoy a different take home craft for our littlest readers. From cotton balls to suncatchers, these bags will help kids combine learning and play using the five simple steps of literacy: read, write, talk, sing, play! For ages 2-6

Creative Readers To-Go Bags: Cocoa, Cookies, and Canvas

Thursday, December 9 | Franklin Avenue Library The bags will contain an art project you can create at home that will let you explore your artistic side.

Kid’s Craft Bag: Holiday Foam Wreaths

Saturday, December 11 | South Side Library This bag is filled with supplies to make a green foam holiday wreath at home! For ages 5-12

Creative Readers

December 11-17 | North Side Library Pick up a kit that includes a paper chain snake craft inspired by the book Zonia’s Rainforest.

Botanical Gnomes

December 13-18 | Forest Avenue Library Enjoy a seasonal art project from the Des Moines Botanical Garden using pinecones! Stop by the Forest Avenue Library to receive a take and make gnome activity. For ages 6 and up.

Preschool Snowman

December 17-22 | Central Library Come to the Central Library youth area or the pickup window to get a fun bag with supplies to make and decorate your own snowman! There will also be a fun little book and some rhymes about snowmen. For ages 3-6.

Lego Minifigures

Wednesday, December 22 | East Side Library Pick up a library learning bag where you can design your very own Lego minifigure. Also included are some ideas for Lego science experiments and books all about mini figures.

New Year’s Eve STEM Bag

December 27-30 | South Side Library Celebrate STEM and New Year’s Eve with a special activity! Each bag contains science and art activities you can do at home that will let you explore different STEM concepts (science, technology, engineering, and math). Kids can make a confetti popper, decorate paper New Year’s glasses and more. Ages 5 and up.

Elf on the Shelf

December 7-18 | South Side Library Can you find the Elf on the Shelf? Bring your sleuthing skills to the South Side Library and help us find the Elf! Kids can grab a sheet at the Information Desk to find the Elf and his favorite things and win a small prize! For all ages.

Dog Man

December 13-18 | Forest Avenue Library Help Dog Man sniff out trouble as you round up some unruly villains who are hiding around the library. If you can find all the characters you will win a prize!

Winter Scavenger Hunt

December 18-22 | Central Library Rosie is celebrating the first official week of Winter! Can you help Rosie and her friends find their winter essentials so they can play outside?

Winter Tracks

December 27-30 | Forest Avenue Library Become a beginner tracker! Find the animal footprints hidden all around the library and identify their animal to win a prize!

Winter Wonderland I-Spy

December 27-30 | South Side Library Visit the South Side Library and find all of our winter-themed characters and items during our Winter Scavenger Hunt! Pick up a scavenger sheet at the Information Desk, find all of the items listed in the Children’s Area, and win a small prize. Ages 5 and up.