Summer 2024 is here, and we’re ready for adventure. Check out all of the fun below!
You can also visit our summer reading page or take a look at our summer flyer which has our programs for teens and adults.
Ready to register? Head over to our calendar & events page!
Summer Story Times
Summer story times are available at GWJ Park & Highland Park. Mother Goose Story Time for our youngest patrons is at the library. Register here for Mother Goose Story Time.
Family Fun Fridays
Fridays are intended for children ages 6 and under with their caregivers. No registration is required.
7/12: Nature Cat with WSKG
7/19: Fiddling Around with Books
7/26: Baby Animals with Farmer Jen from Edwards Petting Farm
8/2: Musical Stories
8/9: Adventure Story Time
Adventures for 1st-3rd Graders
Calling all future 1st to 3rd graders! Join in the fun on Thursdays from 2-3pm with books, games & activities! Registration is required for each week and you can register here!
7/11: Adventures in Jurassic Times
7/18: Adventures with Flashlights
7/25: Adventures with Pirates
8/1: Adventures in a Fairy Tale Castle
8/8: Adventures with Wind
Tween Workshops
These Tuesday workshops for kids entering grades 4-6 will last from 2-3 pm and will include a variety of activities! Registration is required for each week, and you can register here!
7/9: Design a Dragon
7/16: Air Rockets with Kopernik Observatory
7/23: Painting Workshop
7/30: Lego Stories
8/6: Game Quest
Kids’ Street Art
Wednesday, 7/10 from 6-7:30pm for kids entering grades 1-6 – Artist Eric Maruscak will help us draw our own adventures in front of the library. Registration is required and space is limited!
Animal Fun with Edwards Petting Farm
Wednesday, 7/17 @ 6pm – Farmer Jen is coming to the library with some of her adorable animals! Learn about goats, donkeys, rabbits, and other animals that live at her farm. No registration is required.
Kopernik Portable Planetarium
Saturday, 7/20 – Learn about the summer night sky in Kopernik Observatory’s Portable Planetarium! The whole family can come early for a space activity before the show. Shows at 5 & 5:30pm are intended for Preschool-1st grade. Shows at 6, 6:30, 7 & 7:30 for grades 2-6. Adults must attend with children. Register is required by clicking here.
Adventures in Juggling with Will Stafford
Wednesday, 7/31 @ 6pm – Watch a performance by juggler, Will Stafford, and be amazed what he can juggle. If you’re lucky, maybe you can lend him a hand! No registration is required.
Chalk Art Extravaganza
Wednesday, 8/7 from 6-7:30pm – Artist Eric Maruscak will help your whole family create fantastic street art on the concourse in front of the library. No registration is required.
Family Adventure Nights
Join us for family fun on Thursday evenings!
7/11: Read to the Therapy Dogs – Choose a story and read to one of the therapy dogs in the Children’s Room!
7/18: Family Fun Night – Bring the whole family for a night of trivia, games, challenges, and fun!
7/25: Read to the Therapy Dogs
8/1: Lego Adventure Night – Work together using our Legos and your imaginations to build a fantastic creation!
8/8: Read to the Therapy Dogs
8/15: Family Game Night – Have a blast playing our board games!
Fun with Friends
We can’t wait to have fun with our friends with disabilities and their caregivers! Click on the flyer on the left to view it larger for more information.
Read Beads
Read beads are back! Kids and teens can create their own bracelet, necklace, or keychain by earning read beads all summer long! Get beads for attending programs, participating in independent activities, and completing missions.
We have an e-newsletter with info on GFJ’s programs & events for kids & teens!
New Picture Books
New Middle Grade Books
New Nonfiction for Kids
Check out all that we have to offer!
- We have a very large collection of books for readers and listeners of all ages including a large collection of graphic novels. We also offer an extensive collection of Playaways, Wonderbooks, board games, video games, audiobooks, DVDs, and more.
- Computers are available with early literacy games; there are others for internet use by children.
- We offer a variety of programs such as story times for children birth through preschool, monthly book clubs for elementary students throughout the school year, special events for children and families, and a wide variety of summer programs for all ages. We always have independent programs or activities that you can do in the Children’s Room too!
- Any one of our department’s four mastered librarians would be happy to answer your questions. Please come visit us!