MML Children’s Programs
Overview
Here in the Children’s Department, we love reading, learning, and organized chaos. We’re always excited to share that with you. Within the department we offer places to play, read, explore, and learn. Throughout the year we offer a variety of programs that offer a hands-on approach to that ideal. See details on our current programs below and feel free to call 419-347-5576 EXT 5 or email [email protected] with questions or ideas.
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Summer Reading 2025: Color Our World
Let’s get Creative!
This summer’s theme is Color Our World and we’re looking forward to being creative, trying new art, and learning about colors, artists, and techniques.
Remember to keep an eye on our Calendar and Facebook for the most up-to-date information and changes.
Register for Children’s Summer Reading here.
Summer Reading Basics
- Children’s Summer Reading is for children aged 2 – 6th Grade.
- Children leaving 6th Grade can choose to do one more year in the Children’s Program, or move up to the Teen Program.
- Summer Reading ends on July 18 – this will be the last chance to return all gameboards, coloring contests, short stories, and raffle slips.
- Children who complete a Gameboard earn a free book and a chance at Grand Prizes.
- Children who complete a Coloring Contest earn a coloring book, ticket to the Buckeye Imagination Museum Program, and the chance for an additional prize.
- Children who complete a Short Story have the chance for an additional prize.
Game Boards
- Start at the beginning and work your way across the board, checking off items as you finish them. Activities include: visit MML, read a book, color a picture, participate in our Crayon Display, and more!
- *Some activities require staff initials*
- Read a book can mean you completed an entire book, or it can mean you read for 20 minutes, depending on your age and the size of your books.
- When Game Boards are returned, you get a certificate, Ohio State Parks Camping Coupon, Ohio State Fair Coupon, Ohio Renaissance Festival coupon, and a free book.
- Your name is then added to the Bear for our Grand Prizes.
Coloring Contest
- Coloring Sheets must be returned by the time we close at 7:00 on July 18.
- Winners will be announced after judging.
Weekly Prize Drawings
- Earn Raffle Slips towards the weekly prize drawing by checking out items and attending MML Events.
- Prizes for the weekly drawings include games, puzzles, books, and more.
Short Story Contest
Rules
- Your story must happen in the year 2000 or earlier, that way it is historical fiction.
- Your story must feature a famous artist; it can be about them or they can appear in it.
- Stories can be typed or handwritten. Either way, make sure the attached cover sheet has the following information (see attached page for example format):
- Name,
- Age,
- Grade in the Fall,
- Contact Information (phone and/or Email),
- Year Your Story is Set, and
- Famous Artist Featured.
- To be considered all stories must be handed in by the time the library closes at 7:00 p.m. on Friday July 18, 2025.
- Must Write at least 1 paragraph (5 sentences)
- Prizes:
- First Place: Columbus Museum of Art Family Pass and a $10 Gift Card to Paul’s
- Second Place: Creative Writing Kit (includes notebooks, pens, prompt books, and more)
- Must Write at least 3 paragraphs (3-5 sentences per paragraph)
- Prizes:
- First Place: Columbus Museum of Art Family Pass and a $10 Gift Card to McDonald’s
- Second Place: Creative Writing Kit (includes notebooks, pens, prompt books, and more)
Weekly Activities
Lap Sit Story Time with Miss Juli
Wednesdays at 10:00
Ages 0-2
Kerr Garden Room
Story Time with Miss Jami
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30
Ages 2-5
Kerr Garden Room
Book & Craft Time with Miss Juli
Wednesdays at 1:00
Kindergarten – Third Grade
Kerr Garden Room
Tween Group with Miss Jami
Tuesdays at 1:00
Fourth – Sixth Grade
Kerr Garden Room
Weekly Themes
- June 17: Henri Matisse
- June 24: Messy Painting
- July 1: Collages/Mixed Media
- July 8: Children’s Books and Animation
- July 15: That’s Art?!?
Science Nights with Miss Jami
Tuesdays at 1:00
Kindergarten – Sixth Grade
Kerr Garden Room
Weekly Themes:
- June 16: Bees
- June 23: Tornados
- June 30: Trees
- July 7: Birds
- July 14: Animals
More Fun Programs
Messy Art Nights
Tuesday June 17 and July 1 at 5:30
Kindergarten – Sixth Grade
Kerr Garden Room
Join us for a night of Messy Art. We’ll get messy, try new things, and have fun!
Themes:
- June 17: Glue Art
- July 1: Tissue Paper Painting
Family Book Club
Tuesday June 10 and July 8 at 6:00
Kindergarten – Sixth Grade
Kerr Garden Room
In June we’ll meet and discuss Henry and the Chalk Dragon by Jennifer Trafton and in July we’ll do Art Club by Rashad Doucet.
Pick up a copy in the Children’s Department and enjoy it together as a family before coming to Book Club.
Family Game Night
Tuesday June 24 and July 15 at 6:00
Kindergarten – Sixth Grade
Multipurpose Room
Join us for Family Game Night featuring the Thinking Money for Kids games! In June we’ll be playing Making Moo-lah and in July we’ll have fun with Piggy Bank Theater.
Story Time at the Farmer’s Market
Saturday June 7, June 21, and July 5 at 10:30
All Ages Welcome
Kerr Garden Room
Drop by to see Miss Juli! She’ll have books and activities centered around art in nature.
More Fun Programs
Tiny Art Show
Thursday June 19 at 6:00
All Ages Welcome
Main Floor of MML
Join us for a gallery showing of all the Tiny Art submissions. We’ll have snacks, and you’ll have a chance to see all the art, vote for your favorites, and see the winners awarded their prizes.
**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.**
Stellar Robotics
Thursday June 28 at 6:00
All Ages Welcome
Kerr Garden Room
Stellar Robotics will be here with one of their competition robots, information about their programming, and a chance to build and race your own robot.
Color Our World with Armstrong Air & Space Museum
Thursday July 3 at 6:00
Kindergarten – Sixth Grade
Kerr Garden Room
Armstrong & Space Museum will be here with their Color Our World program. Children will learn how space is observed through different filters and how the color of light tells us a lot about an object in space. They will experiment with how colors can change by using different colored filters. Then the children will make a bracelet using pony beads and look at them through filters to observe how their bracelets change.
Ohio School of Falconry
Thursday July 10 at 6:00
All Ages Welcome
Kerr Garden Room
Ohio School of Falconry will be here with birds! They allow 10 people over the age of 10 to catch a bird on their arm!
Program at Buckeye Imagination Museum
Thursday July 17 at 6:00
Must have Ticket to Attend
Buckeye Imagination Museum
Join us at Buckeye Imagination Children’s Museum for a night of play and exploration. You Must have and present a ticket to attend.
Tickets can be earned by completing the BINGO Card and admit only 1 child and 1 adult.
End of Summer Reading Block Party
Friday July 18 from 5:00 – 7:00
All Ages Welcome
Kerr Garden Room/Parking Lot
Join us at our final Summer Reading Event! We’ll have a Car Show, games, Magic Nate, snacks and more.
This is the last chance to return all Game Boards, Coloring Contest, and Items Checked Out/Event raffle slips.
Photo Sharing
Have awesome pictures from our programs, activities, or finished Take & Make crafts? Share them with us by tagging us in your Facebook Post or emailing them to [email protected]. By sending pictures, you acknowledge that we may or may not use them for promotions or other library related-media.