Kids, get in the “gobble, gobble” spirit with a Thanksgiving “take and make” craft bag that includes materials and instructions to make a fancy decorative turkey. Just supply your own crayons, scissors, and glue. One bag per child, while supplies last.
To reserve a bag, call the library at 781-324-0218 during regular hours to schedule a contact-less curbside pickup time.
Love talking about books? So do we! Join Rebecca and Heidi via Zoom as we share what we’ve been reading (both on our own and in our book clubs) and suggest books that you might enjoy.
A Zoom link will be posted here a few minutes before the event.
Even though the November 12 program is over, while supplies last, kids can still get a deck of cards from the library by calling the library at 781-324-0218 during regular curbside hours (from 10 a.m. on) and scheduling a pickup time. We’re open an hour later on Wednesday evenings and 10-2 on Saturdays.
Here are some fun activities to do with the playing cards:
CARD TRICK
Learn how to do the “21 Cards” trick.
A Million Card Tricks offers even more possibilities and tutorials.
CARD GAMES
If you visit the Bicycle Cards website, you can find rules for many different fun card gams, including ones for kids. Some of our favorite family games are listed below.
Crazy Eights (ages 4+)
Spoons (ages 4+)
Authors (ages 4+)
Concentration (ages 4+)
Trash (ages 8+)
Palace (ages 8+)
Three Thirteen (ages 8+)
EDUCATIONAL USES
Build a house of cards! (Guinness World Record-holding cardstacker Bryan Berg demonstrates his special technique in this video)
Nine Nifty Ways to Use Cards for Educational Fun
Teaching Math to Preschoolers with Playing Cards
Using playing cards to teach math – Ontario Association for Mathematics Education
Young children can also learn grouping skills by sorting the deck by number, by suit, by color, etc.
Kids can celebrate Autumn by getting a “grab and go” craft bag that includes all the materials needed to make a colorful leaf wreath. Our library also has Dragon craft bags, with instructions included in the bag (families need to provide their own glue, scissors, and black marker). One of each craft bag per child, while supplies last.
To reserve a bag, call the library at 781-324-0218 during regular curbside hours to schedule a pickup time (while supplies last). Remember, we’re now open an hour later on Wednesday evenings and 10-2 on Saturdays.
These popular books are waiting to be enjoyed by your child.
To request a book, go to this list and place a hold with your library card and PIN. When you receive notification that your hold is ready, call 781-324-0218 to schedule your contactless curbside pickup.
To see what Lexile level might be appropriate for your child, visit this webpage.
To determine whether a title is at a level similar to another book your child has read, find that book’s level here.
Young children (ages 3-5) are invited to join us on Zoom for storytimes, which feature several picture books, songs, and rhymes and last for about 30 minutes. Check the library’s online calendar for these storytimes and other upcoming virtual programs. A Zoom link will appear in the online calendar shortly before program begins.
Future storytimes include:
Thursday, November 5, 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, November 10, 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, November 19, 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, November 24, 11:00 a.m.
The Malden Public Library is now offering Book Bundles of picture books, early readers, and board books in popular themes!
To reserve your book bundle, call our Info Desk (781-324-0218, Monday-Friday, 10:15 am – 5:30 pm) or send an email to rsmith(at)maldenpubliclibrary.org and let us know your name, library card number, and which book bundle you’re interested in. One bundle per child, please.
When you receive notification (by email or phone) that your books are waiting on our holds shelf, call the Circulation Desk at the above number, provide your name and library card number, and schedule your pick-up time.
Current Picture Book Bundles:
Kindergarten – Llama Llama – Friends – Shapes – Grandmas – Pirates – Counting – Pigs – Stanley – Bears – Elephants – Monsters – Birds – Knights – Ice Cream – Sharks – Presidents – Babies – Ducks
Early Reader Bundles:
Fly Guy – Elephant & Piggie – Poppleton – Henry and Mudge – Biscuit – Fancy Nancy – Little Critter – Cat in the Hat Learning Library
Board Book Bundles:
ABC – Trucks – Colors – Boynton
Suffering from cabin fever? Longing for adventure? Get yourself outdoors and explore! Nature is a soothing balm in these stressful times. This lovely body of water is the South Reservoir, located in the Middlesex Fells Reservation, just about three miles from Malden.
For a fun activity, take yourself (or your family) on a scavenger hunt! This special Nature Scavenger Hunt is based on things actually seen in the Lawrence Woods, the southwestern-most section of the Fells. Parking is available near Victory Park on Winthrop Street in Medford. A gravel-stepped trail entrance is located on the far side of the playing field. You can bring along nature guide books (available from our library!) to help identify and learn more about what you discover.
To keep your bearings, here is a map of the Middlesex Fells Reservation
And if you’d prefer a scavenger hunt closer to home, try this Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
Have fun out there! (And don’t forget to bring a mask and practice social distancing. The Lawrence Woods is fairly unpopulated though.)
If your child is into eBooks, here are some staff-created lists of popular and downloadable titles, easily available through our network with your library card!
For those young children and caregivers who have been missing Song & Rhyme Time programs at our library, our Children’s Librarian, Ms. Rebecca, has made several short videos to help families enjoy a bit of the program at home. We miss you and look forward to being able to offer these programs again in person at the library! Stay healthy and safe.
Song & Rhyme Time – Part 1
Song & Rhyme Time – Part 2
Song & Rhyme Time – Part 3
For those who would like a bit more variety, here are some similar kinds of at-home Mother Goose videos being offered by other libraries.