Programs & Events for Kids
Library staff design a full schedule of engaging, entertaining, and educational programs and events for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children. Various events – including options for early literacy, STEAM, gaming, and crafts – are offered year-round.
1KB4K: 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
1KB4K is a library initiative that promotes reading 1,000 books to preschoolers before they begin Kindergarten. It’s easy to do, and the child gets a free book every time they read and report 100 books. Register and track their reading progress online with Beanstack, or visit the Youth Services Department for additional information or to register in person. You can also view the 1KB4K brochure here.
100 Club
The 100 Club is a fun way for kids to build their reading habits year-round – while earning prizes! Kids in kindergarten through 8th grade can join the club and track their progress on Beanstack. There’s no time limit for completing the challenge, but the goal is to read 100 books! The structure is simple: log books in any category and earn a prize for each 10 books read. Each month, a prize winner will be drawn from active readers, and readers who finish all 10 badges will earn a 100 Club completion prize and get to pick a free book to keep. Learn more about signing up in Beanstack at fondulaclibrary.beanstack.org/reader365 or ask a librarian for help and get your young readers involved in this awesome reading challenge!
Anytime Activities, Toys, & Games
Even when there’s not a program scheduled, there’s always something fun to do at the library! Stop by the desk in the Youth Services Department to learn more about the library’s current Anytime Activities – crafts, games, or projects kids can do whenever they visit the library. Additionally, the library offers a wide selection of board games and card games, as well as a train table, Lego table, puzzles, and a puppet theater to play with during your visit.
Superstars of Women’s Basketball
Did you join the women’s sports bandwagon during March Madness? If you haven’t, no worries, there is still plenty of time! For all those aspiring women’s basketball fans, the library has you covered with some great books that will give you a crash course on all things women’s basketball just in time for the summer Olympics and WNBA season! (photo courtesy of ESPN)
Here are a few good reads that celebrate legendary and modern women’s basketball stars:
Suggested Ages: 8 and up
AT FDL!
Basketball Belles: How Two Teams and One Scrappy Player Put Women’s Hoops On the Map
by Sue Macy
Inaugural Ballers : the True Story of the First US Women’s Olympic Basketball Team
by Andrew Maraniss
Women Athletes Who Rule!
by Elizabeth McGarr McCue
ON HOOPLA!
G.O.A.T. Women’s Basketball Teams
by Matt Doeden
Legends of Women’s Basketball
by Emma Huddleston
Women in Basketball
by A. W. Buckey
by Jacob Roberts, Youth Services Specialist
Chinese Culture and Language
The Youth Services department is offering a weekend course in Chinese culture and language for tweens and teens! Learn about Chinese culture and language with Mengmeng, teacher and principal of the Peoria Chinese Language School. She starts each class by reading popular Chinese storybooks, then students learn Chinese games and crafts, and try authentic Chinese food.
A study by Drexel University School of Education determined multiple reasons why multicultural education is valuable for young people. Students become more empathetic and open-minded. Young people who learn about different cultures feel more comfortable and safe with differences later in life. This allows them to interact in a wider range of social groups and feel more confident in themselves as well as in their interactions with others.
We hosted the first course in March, the topic being the Chinese Spring Festival. Participants heard stories about the history of the festival, and learned about lucky and unlucky numbers in the Chinese culture. They rounded out the program by making Chinese lanterns AND got to try sticky dumplings with sesame paste!
The next class is Saturday, April 6. The topic is basic Chinese characters. Students will learn four ways of forming the characters by practicing calligraphy, then carve a rubber stamp to take home with their names in Chinese. The featured food is wontons!
The third course on May 4 will introduce conversational Chinese dialogue. Participants do not need to have attended all of the classes. Chinese Culture and Language is open to ages 13-19. Students can be registered online for the April 6 class here: https://fondulac.librarycalendar.com/event/chinese-culture-language-353 .
Follow this link to register for the May course: https://fondulac.librarycalendar.com/event/chinese-culture-language-365
