Kids and parents in Kids World

Welcome to Kids' World, where kids and their caregivers can explore books, play, learn, make, ask questions, and meet other families in our community. Explore the library's reimagined and refreshed Kids’ World space designed to meet the growing needs of its youngest customers. The updated spaces in Kids’ World offer flexible, interactive and experiential learning zones dedicated to specific age groups with resources and activities to meet kids' developmental needs and interests. Kids learn through play, so come play!

Girls walking throunh entry

Welcome

This new entrance to Kids’ World was constructed at the end of 2023 to welcome library visitors. Other family-friendly upgrades include an all-gender restroom and a Wellness Room, which offers a quiet space for nursing mothers and anyone who may need a calming space during their visit.

Girls Making

Tween Space

Tweens in grades 4 to 6 now have a space all their own to explore making and DIY drop-in activities. Craft, build and tinker at the Maker Table full of supplies and projects, donated by the Library Foundation. Tweens can spend time with friends and make new ones, play video games or find a book recommended by a tween in the Tween Space.

Boy Playing

Everbright

Kids’ World’s Interactive Family Zone provides an engaging space for children of all ages and their families. At the zone’s center is the Everbright wall, measuring almost eight feet wide by four feet tall, with endless play opportunities for all abilities. Funded by the Library Foundation.

Girl playing

Floor Projection

A floor projection system provides kids with a fun, open play space to enjoy interactive games together right in the heart of Kids’ World. Check out the projection floor each time you visit. You never know what new game or activity you’ll discover just by looking down. Funded by the Friends of the Library.

girl eating carrot

Snack Area

If you need a snack break, there is now a café area with open seating just inside Kids’ World by the fish tank. A designated snack area protects all customers from accidental exposure to food allergens and keeps Kids' World lookin' good!

Kid drawing

Lindsey Room

The Lindsey Room, home to storytimes and countless craft and activity programs, has new flooring, paint colors and a sink for washing big and little hands.

Cart

Tinker Cart

Full of fun supplies, the Tinker Cart will keep kids in grades K-3 engaged during drop-in programs for making and creating in the Lindsey Room. Funded by the Library Foundation.

Girls playing

Imagination Station

This engaging play area builds vocabulary and improves social skills as kids use their imaginations to play together or with their caregiver. Theme rotates monthly.

mother and infant in baby garden

Baby Garden

The littlest library visitors now have a dedicated place of their very own to safely explore soft play toys and grow socially in this highly tactile space. For non-walking infants and their caregivers.

Upcoming Kids' Programs

20
May

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM /Lindsey Room

20
May

5:15 PM - 6:15 PM /Lindsey Room

20
May

Heart to Heart: Parents Supporting LGBTQ Youth

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM /Lindsey Room

23
May

9:30 AM - 11:00 AM /Full Hendrickson Room

28
May

Friends & Family CPR Course

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM /Hendrickson South

31
May

Summer Reading Kickoff with Mr. Scott's Bubble Show

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM /See Description for Location

NEW TO THE LIBRARY

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Please pay attention

After surviving a school shooting that left her feeling helpless in her wheelchair, Bea finds healing and empowerment through horseback riding therapy and begins to advocate for change

Central Park ghost

Potter, Ellen, 1963-

Cordelia and her friend Isaac investigate rumors of a monster on the loose in Central Park

The night we got stuck in a story

Miller, Ben, 1966-

"Lana must rescue her brother from an evil queen in this sequel to the illustrated middle grade fantasy adventure The Day I Fell into a Fairy Tale from actor, author, and comedian Ben Miller--perfect for fans of Half Upon a Time and Land of Stories! When Lana and Harrison stay with their grandparents, one of their favorite places to play is a large hollow tree that made their adventures feel magical long before they were first transported into a fairy tale. But during their latest visit, the two discover the tree is set to be demolished. That night, a magical golden thread leads them up through the hollow of the tree into a storybook land, where wind and rain rage and a fearsome beast terrifies all who live there. The siblings try to help, but things only get worse when Harrison gets kidnapped by the evil queen.Now, Lana must do whatever it takes to find him, save the villagers, and restore the balance of the storybook world in order to save their beloved landmark

Clarice Bean, smile

"Clarice Bean is thinking about all the endangered things: the BIG creatures, the LITTLE creatures, the plants and the trees. If only she can stop daydreaming, she might come up with a subject for her big school assignment--or is daydreaming part of the creative process? Meanwhile, it's not just the planet that needs help; there's her whole family too--like a forgetful granddad who keeps falling and a dad who is literally getting sick from a stressful office merger (whatever that may be)." --

"Fourteen-year-old Aria Loveridge lives at the Resthaven Home for Dreamslingers, a safe haven for children born with a genetic mutation that transports them to a powerfully magical realm while they sleep, but this magic can be unpredictable--even deadly."--

Destructo World

Cheney, Yarrow,

"Noah thought nothing was worse than being the only un-super person in Superworld. He was dead wrong. Welcome to Destructo World, where super-villains rule and heroes are on the run. With the super stone in his giant metal clutches, Dr. Destructo is re-powering the heroes with useless and humiliating powers like bubble-beams and silly string. To protect themselves, the 'heroes' have gone into hiding. Even Noah's friends are MIA! But there is hope. Noah might be the key to taking down Dr. Destructo. He might be the only one who can rally the heroes for a final, epic super-battle to save Superworld. And he might not die in the process."--

Twelve-year-old Chinese American Sophie learns about her Muslim identity for the school cultural fair while juggling expectations from her family and friends

The heron princess

Valenti, Karla,

"It's been a few months since Emma and Martín moved to Chicago. When they first arrived, their family thought outgoing Emma would adjust quickly and shy Martín might have a harder time making friends. But surprisingly, Martín is fitting in just fine, while Emma wants to go back to Mexico more than anything. She might not be able to go back to their previous home, but she can visit Mexico in the book of legends! And even better, this time the twins are joined by their abuela on the adventure. The book brings them into the story of Princess Hapunda and Lake Pátzcuaro. When an enemy tribe demands that Hapunda's father hand her over to them, she faces a difficult choice: go with their enemies or refuse and risk her people's safety. Can the twins find a way to help the princess out of the tricky situation, or is this a tale without a happy ending?" --

Mindy Kim and the fun family vacation

"Mindy Kim is about to go on an epic family vacation--her first one with her baby brother, Charlie! They are heading to Korea's Jeju Island, a popular place with lots of beaches, waterfalls, and unique stone formations called hareubang. Mindy can't wait to see everything! But as soon as they board the plane, things start to go wrong! Charlie can't stop crying, it looks like it will rain for most of the trip, and it seems everyone wants to do different things. Mindy is determined to turn things around--until she realizes that it doesn't matter what they see, as long as they are all together."--

"The three Dragon Speakers have one last chance to reunite the Great Dragon and bring peace to Bamboo Kingdom. But they face insurmountable odds. After being betrayed by someone they called friend, Rain and Ghost know that the monkeys have more plans in store--especially now that Brawnshanks holds a Dragon Speaker stone. Meanwhile, Leaf must find the strength to become a Dragon Speaker again and reunite with her siblings to stop Brawnshanks...before it's too late. Yet an even greater enemy waits in the shadows--one that no one will see coming."--

You and me and the land of lost things

Griffiths, Andy, 1961-

"The search for a misplaced rabbit's foot leads two adventurers into encounters with a bull who's lost his temper, much missing treasure, and many, many single socks. Clad anonymously in custom-made adventure suits that cover them head to toe, the never-named narrator ("Me") and sidekick ("You") drive their supposedly "uncrashable" adventure car through an interdimensional hole into the truly crowded place where all lost things go. There they run into both a tree and treasure hunter Johnny Knucklehead. Johnny, whose head is a giant clenched fist, had been reported lost in the jungle. This meeting is just the beginning of a long series of random encounters during which even the plot is lost (and then found again), Johnny is reunited with his mirror twin, Jimmy, and a lost lucky charm is recovered--only to become a bargaining chip after the adventurers are captured by a peg-legged rabbit pirate."--Provided by publisher

Lucky mermaid sleepover

Ruths, Mitali Banerjee,

Priya is helping Maddie plan a mermaid-themed sleepover party at Maddie's new apartment where they come up with lots of fun activities and decorations, and Priya has some extra special surprise decorations for Maddie's room

The secret maze

Charman, Katrina,

Now that Tag and Skyla have found Blaze's firehawk family they would like to return home to Perodia, even if it means leaving their friend behind; but in order to find the magic that will open a new portal they must first brave a mysterious underground maze where the walls are constantly shifting--and when they do find their way home there is a deadly surprise waiting for them

An unexpected journey

Kress, Adrienne,

A 12-year-old Teddy is obsessed with trains, and when he wins a Ticket to Ride on the Excelsior Express, it's a dream come true, until the train gets rerouted multiple times and takes him and fellow passengers on an unexpected journey

The boy who lived in a shell : snippets for wandering minds

Himmelman, John,

"Ivo lives in a shell that floats on the ocean and writes stories to pass the time"--