For Kids

kids

Fire Safety Storytimes

Celebrate Fire Safety Week with a series of special storytimes with the Des Moines Fire Department! Hear stories, learn about fire safety, and see a fire truck up close! • Franklin Avenue Library: Monday, October 4, 10:15 AM • South Side Library: Monday, October 4, 6:15 PM • East Side Library (bilingual): Tuesday, October 5, 6:15 PM • Forest Avenue Library: Wednesday, October 6, 10:15 AM • East Side Library: Thursday, October 7, 10 AM • North Side Library: Thursday, October 7, 10:30 AM • Central Library: Saturday, October 9, 10:15 AM

Disney Villain Scavenger Hunt

October 4-9 | Forest Avenue Library Disney villains are hiding around the library, hoping you won’t stop their evil plans. Finish the scavenger hunt and win a prize!

Science Project To-Go Bags

Thursday, October 7 & 21 | Franklin Avenue Library These free bags contain a science activity you can do at home that will let you explore different STEM concepts (science, technology, engineering, and math). These activities are recommended for ages five and up and should be completed with adult supervision.

Maker Day Challenge

Friday, October 8, 15, 22 | Forest Avenue Library 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. October 8: Pool Noodle Race Track October 15: Paper Pixel Art October 22: KNEX

Kaleidoscope Take & Make

Saturday, October 9 | Central Library Grab a bag from the Central youth section or Central pickup window with materials to make your own kaleidoscope! Adult supervision recommended.

Baby Yoda Glow

October 11-16 | Forest Avenue Library Protect the child! Bring your own Baby Yoda to the light side with this tea-light activity.

Sesame Street Take & Make

Wednesday, October 13 | Forest Avenue Library Keep your little one entertained with a craft aimed at toddlers and preschoolers.

Creative Readers Take & Make

Thursday, October 14, 28 | Franklin Avenue Library The bags will contain an art project you can create at home that will let you explore your artistic side. These activities should be completed with adult supervision.

American Sign Language Storytime

Friday, October 15, 10:15 AM | Facebook Miss Mary will be joined for this special virtual storytime by Mr. Jay, ASL certified interpreter. We will sing, rhyme, and read a story all with sign language interpretation by Mr. Jay.

Epic Graphic Novel Club: Nightlights

Friday, October 15, 4:30 PM | East Side Library We’ll be chatting about the book Nightlights by Lorena Alvarez, play games, work on crafts, and find out what book we’re talking about next month! When you register you can pick up a copy of Nightlights at the East Side Library. Registration required.

Bubble Cup Take & Make

October 16-22 | Central Library Come to the Central Library youth area or the pickup window to grab a kit with the items you will need to make amazing bubble cups! There will be an instructional video on Facebook, and the activity is easy to replicate with your own items at home as well.

Coding Bracelet Take & Make

October 16-22 | North Side Library Drop in to the North Side Library and take home everything you need to make a secret message bracelet! You will learn about binary code while making your bracelet and receive a list of books about coding if you’d like to explore more.

Mini Haunted House Craft

October 18-23 | Forest Avenue Library Build your own mini haunted house with the provided supplies or branch out and use your own.

Ghoulish Gourds Take & Make

October 20-22 | Forest Avenue Library Construct a ghoulish gourd with paint, glitter, and all kinds of goofy or chilling accessories by grabbing one of these activity bags. Create your own cats, bats, vampires or a work of shimmering art.

Goosebumps Scavenger Hunt

October 25-30 | Forest Avenue Library Watch out for the things that go bump in the night. Monsters, ghosts, vampires and more are hiding around the library. Finish the scavenger hunt and win a prize!

Day of the Dead with the Des Moines Art Center

October 25-31 | All Locations Day of the Dead Activity kits are available at all locations while supplies last. These kits include: • Materials and instructions for creating tissue paper flowers and decorative frames • Learn about the significance of the monarch butterfly in

Mexican culture • Milkweed seeds for you to grow for monarchs to eat • List of Latinx authors for related reading • And more!

Mini Costume Parade

October 26, 10:30 AM | East Side Library lawn Join us for a baby and toddler mini costume parade around the library. Bundle up and show off those cute costumes and we will meet by the picnic table on the Library lawn, and march in our own parade to the front of the library where we will have some special goodie bags for all our little friends to take home! Strollers are welcome.

Pumpkin Painting

October 27-30 | East Side Library Drop into our meeting room during open hours to paint or color a mini pumpkin! While supplies last.

Take & Make DIY Calavera

Thursday, October 28 | Forest Avenue Library Decorate your own ceramic calavera with acrylic paint. This program is intended for adults and children 4 years and older, while supplies last.

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

October 28-30 | South Side Library Can you find all of the Halloween book characters inside the library? Visit the Information Desk at South, pick up a Halloween Scavenger Hunt Card to find all of the Halloween book characters inside the library and win a small prize!

Drop-in Spooky Crafting

Saturday, October 30 | North Side Library Drop in to North Side and enjoy Halloween-themed crafting!

Storytime To-Go Bags

Pick up Storytime To-Go Bags from the Franklin Avenue Library and South Side Library throughout the month of October! Check our Events Calendar (dmpl.org/events) for more information.