Resources for Children
2022 Summer Reading Program: Oceans of Possibilities
The annual Summer Reading Program for children is back again! Activities will include: reading contests for several age groups; weekly story times with crafts, games, and songs; and three educational performances by professional children’s entertainers! The Summer Reading Program kicks off on June 20 and continues through August 3.
How to Register Your Child
First, parents or guardians can register their children by coming by or calling the Deltaville or Urbanna Branches at 804-776-7362 or 804-758-5717. Each child, from 2 ½ years old to rising 8th-graders, have a choice of using a paper reading log or using the Library’s new online reading resource, Beanstack, to track their reading. Also, children up to rising 5th-graders will receive a weekly schedule of story times and educational performances. Registration will allow each child to participate in the age-appropriate reading contest and ensure enough craft supplies and incentives are available each week for the children.
Story times Weekly story times will be held at the Deltaville Branch library and Urbanna Branch library. Check our calendar for dates and times for each age group.
Paws to Read
Our “Paws to Read” program is back this summer! Volunteers will have well-behaved dogs available for children to read to weekly at both the Urbanna and Deltaville Branches. We ask that parents and guardians call ahead of time to reserve a timeslot. Check our calendar for dates and times. Studies show that children who read to animals experience lower anxiety when reading aloud and improved reading skills over time.
Reading Contests
Starting on June 20, children should start recording their reading in their paper reading logs or in Beanstack. Children (or parents and guardians) are encouraged to bring in paper reading logs or let the library staff know they have recorded their reading in Beanstack weekly at the front desk of either branch library so the child’s progress is recorded and to receive a small prize. All paper reading logs will need to be turned in by August 1. Reading recorded in Beanstack will be automatically tallied. Winners will be announced at the Summer Reading Grand Finale on August 3. The top three winners in each age group up to rising 5th graders will receive a T-shirt and hard cover book. All other participants will receive their own paperback book at the end of the program and other small goodies. The reading contest prizes for rising 6th graders through rising 8th graders will consist of Amazon gift cards for first, second, and third place, and a free book for all participants.
Educational Performances
We are happy to announce two free, educational performances to be held at the Middlesex YMCA gym. First, Jonathan Austin, magician and juggler, will entertain children of all ages on Thursday, June 23, starting at 2:00 P.M. Then, on Thursday, July 14, starting at 2:00 P.M., science storytellers Talewise will perform “Pirates: Lost at Sea,” mixing a fantastical story with science experiments. Performances are free and open to the public.
Aug. 3: Grand Finale!
We are excited to partner with the Deltaville Community Association for the Summer Reading Grand Finale on August 3, starting at 10:30 A.M. at the Deltaville Community Association building, 17147 General Puller Hwy., Deltaville. Renowned puppeteers Barefoot Puppets will present “New Squid on the Block,” the winners of the Summer Reading contests will be announced, prizes and other goodies passed out to all children, and snacks provided by the Middlesex Kiwanis.
The summer reading program is designed to keep children engaged in reading and listening over the summer break. Studies show that children who engage in recreational reading can keep up their skill levels over the summer break. This program is made possible through funding by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the River Counties Community Foundation.
Digital Resources for Children
NoveList K-8 Plus is a comprehensive reading resource for children’s fiction and nonfiction. With a fun and intuitive interface, and extensive proprietary content, NoveList K-8 Plus will help you integrate reading across the curriculum and support your young readers. Click on the logo to start!
Just For Kids streaming video Just For Kids Streaming Video gives children—and their parents—a thoroughly kid-safe, advertisement-free media platform they can freely explore and enjoy. Just for Kids has the educational videos children want to watch—Sesame Street, The Electric Company, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, The Berenstain Bears, Franklin, and thousands more—plus songs, games, and other interactives that are sure to entertain, educate, and inspire young ones. Click on the logo to start!
Explora High School, Explora Middle School, and Explora Primary School databases provide content suitable to students in each school level. Features include a simple search that quickly delivers relevant results and easy-to-browse categories organized by popular topic.
Gale in Context: Elementary meets the research needs of students in Kindergarten through Grade 5. It features a developmentally appropriate, visually graphic interface, a subject-based topic tree search and full-text, age-appropriate, curriculum-related magazine, newspaper and reference content for information on current events, the arts, science, health, people, government, history, sports and more.
DaybyDayVA is a family literacy calendar featuring a book recommendation, a song, an activity, a video and additional resource links for every day of the year. Grouped by seasons and themes, the entries are intended to provide school readiness activities and behaviors in which caregivers can engage their little ones. No library card is needed. Click on the logo to get started.
E-Books
Children’s and young adult ebooks are available through Libby by Overdrive, and Junior Library Guild Digital.
