Children's Activities 
 
May 2025
Letter from Your Librarian
Hello all, 
    I hope you're all enjoying the nicer weather. Thank you so much for choosing to spend time with us in April, even with thunderstorms and giant crowds of people. 
    Looking ahead to May, programming is winding down for the season so that we can prepare for Summer Reading 2025: Color Our World. We hope to see you at Builders' Club, Family Game Night, Top Chef, or one of our other regular activities. 
    If you haven't done so yet, please take a minute to complete this survey. We're working on our new Strategic Plan and would appreciate your input so that we can better meet your needs.  
    Happy Reading! 
  ~Miss Jami 
 
Tiny Art Show

As part of our Summer Reading 2025: Color Our World programming, we are holding a Tiny Art Show and competition. Beginning May 1, everyone aged 10 and up is invited to pick up a tiny canvas to decorate. 
 
You'll have until May 31 to return them if you'd like us to display it during Summer Reading. If you'd just like to compete, you have until June 17 to return the completed canvas. 
 
Special Events
Children's Top Chef Contest 
May 17, 10:30 am
Multipurpose Room 
Grades 4 - 6 

Test out your skills and show off  your talents. Create a dish using the supplied ingredients and judges will look at the creativity, resourcefulness, appearance, and taste of each dish.

Space is limited and registration is required. Registration is open and will close on Thursday May 15. 
SR Kickoff Party
Thursday, May 31, 11:00
Kerr Garden Room

Join us as we kickoff Summer Reading in style! Activities include:

*Register for Summer Reading,
*Crafts (coloring, suncatchers, and more)
*Watch a Michael Mage Magic Show
*Door Prizes
*Nature BINGO
*Scavenger Hunt

 
STEM Saturday 
Kindergarten-6th Graders Welcome! 
 
Join Miss Juli for some hair-raising scientific experimentation! We’ll get messy, try new things, and learn something about the world while having fun.
 
On May 3 at 11:00 we'll be experimenting with volcanic explosions and making our own volcanoes. 
 
Crafturday 
Kindergarten-6th Graders Welcome! 
 
Join Miss Jami for some creative crafting! We'll get messy, try new things, and have something awesome to take home afterwards.
 
On May 10 at 11:00 we'll be doing Sand Art in the Garden Room.
 
    Story Time
    We are taking a Story Time break to prep for Summer Reading 2025: Color Our World.
     
    Be on the lookout for upcoming information about this Summer's program, activities, and themes.
     
    Here's a few Summer Story Time highlights: 
    • Lap Sit Story Time with Miss Juli: Wednesdays at 10:00
    • Story Time for ages 2-5 with Miss Jami: Tuesdays/Thursdays at 10:30
    • Book & Craft Time for 1st-3rd graders with Miss Juli: Wednesdays at 1:00 
    • Tween Group for 4th-6th graders with Miss Jami: Tuesdays at 1:00 
     
    Homeschool Program 


    Join us once a month! 
     
    Homeschool families are invited to join us on the third Wednesday of the month at 1:00. This year’s theme is Interesting People. We’ll read some biographies and learn about the lives of artists, inventors, scientists, musicians, and more. Then we’ll complete an activity (or two) corresponding to that person’s life work.
     
    We’re planning for middle school students (5th-8th grade), but can be adjusted for younger students as well. As with our story times, you know your children best, if you think this is a good fit, please come, we’d love to have you.
     
    • May 14 at 1:00: Musicians  
     
    Family Book Club
     
    No Talking
    May 13 at 6:00 - Multipurpose Room
     
    Pick up your copy of this month's book in the Children's Department. Read and enjoy it as a family, then join us for Book Club. We'll talk about the book and do an activity that coordinates. 
    Family Game Night with Miss Juli 
    Fourth Tuesday
    6:00 - Multipurpose Room 
     
    Join us for family fun! Each month we'll be highlighting one of the Thinking Money for Kids games. 
     
    On May 27  we'll be playing Pet Cents. Practice your budgeting skills while taking on the responsibility of a pet. 
     
    Builders' Club
    First and Third Tuesdays
    4:00 - Children's Department
     
    Drop by the Children’s Department on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 4:00 to build, challenge your engineering thinking, and have fun!
     
    Study Buddies
    Kindergarteners - 6th Grade: September 4 - May 21
    We'll be meeting on Wednesdays at 4:00 this year. 
     
    Register at the front desk or in the Children's Department as a Buddy to meet with the same person every week to practice, or come as needed to meet with various/available buddies without registering. 
     
    We are still looking for Helper Buddies! Middle School/High School Helpers preferred. Earn volunteer hours while helping others practice skills! 
     
    Passive Program
    Bug Scavenger Hunt 
     
    Try our May Activity! We hid 15 bugs around the department. See if you can find them all for a prize!  
     
     
    Upcoming Things to Watch For
    Summer Reading 2025: Color Our World
    • Story Times
    • Special Events
    • Prizes
    • Science Nights
    • Messy Art Nights
    • Family Book Club
    • Family Game Night
     
     
     
    Curbside Service 
    Don't forget-you can still pick up items through our curbside service! Place items on hold through our catalog or by using the Materials Request Form. Then just call from the Mobile Pickup spots closest to the staff entrance and we'll bring them out to you. 
     
    *Please be aware that you can put multiple items on the Materials Request Form--you do not have to complete one for each item, just one for each order. Thank you! 
     

    Marvin Memorial Library
    29 W. Whitney Avenue, Shelby, Ohio 44875
    419-347-5576
    https://marvinlibrary.org/