Over spring break the Madison Public Library has some fun ways to keep your family entertained and engaged with books and reading! Our We Read: Spring Break edition includes programs, take-home kits, play and more. Madison Metropolitan School District is out for spring break March 27-31, 2023. If you're looking for something fun to do with the kids, we've got lots of programs and activities to engage them!
We Read Spring Break Activities:
Whoopensocker Creativity Workshops
- March 27, 2-4PM | Sequoya Library
- March 28, 2-3PM | Meadowridge Library
- March 29, 10-11:30AM | Central Library
- March 30, 2-3PM | Meadowridge Library
Do you love to have fun? Be silly? Tell stories? Whoopensocker is for you! Whoopensocker teaching artists have been working with local elementary school students in Madison for years.
To help kick off the We Read Youth Voices Writing contest for 2023, we are delighted to welcome their teaching artists to the library for fun, interactive workshops that encourage creativity, expression, writing, collaboration, and performance.
Community teaching artists will engage kiddos to share their great ideas through games, writing, and performance. No pressure, just fun. No previous experience necessary, all ideas are good ideas!
This workshop is designed for kids ages 7 and up.
Passive Writing Programs in All Library Locations
Starting Saturday, March 25, Madison Public Library will also have a passive program happening in all of our library locations. Kids can participate in a community ideas board by contributing a character, action, conflict or setting to do some storytelling together. Free writers notebooks will also be available to pick up and take home (while supplies last), so kids can grab an idea from the board and write their own submission for the We Read Youth Voices Writing Contest.
More Spring Break Activities:
Spring Break at Meadowridge Library:
March 27, 12-1:30PM | Meadowridge Library
Calling all school age kids! Join us for a week of fun activities at the library during MMSD's spring break! Today we will be making our own necklaces with polymer clay pendants. Use this fun oven bake clay to make your own jewelry.
March 28, 12-1:30PM | Meadowridge Library
Today we will be decorating our own canvas pencil bags! Use a variety of supplies to customize your bag.
March 29, 12-1:30PM | Meadowridge Library
Today we will be using beads to create our own jewelry, charms, etc...!
Make Your Own Fabric Bookmarks
March 30, 12-1:30PM | Meadowridge Library
Today we will be making our own fabric bookmarks! Choose from many different fabrics and ribbons to create a beautiful book mark.
Crafternoon at Monroe Street Library:
Are you looking for something to do on a day without school? Stop by the library and make a craft! We will have a different project each day this week. Stop by to make your craft and pick up a book or movie to take home with you.
March 27, 1-3PM | Monroe Street Library
March 28, 1-3PM | Monroe Street Library
March 29, 1-3PM | Monroe Street Library
March 31, 1-3PM | Monroe Street Library
Every library location has activities and programs happening for kids, teens, adults and families during Spring Break. Please visit madpl.org/calendar to see all of our events!
Anytime Activities for All
Play Spaces
At the beginning of 2022 the Madison Public Library Foundation provided financial support to update the play spaces at all nine of our libraries in order to reflect our philosophy around play City-wide. We very deliberately chose new, fun and minimally structured materials that allow kids to come up with their own ideas and figure out solutions to their own problems. The new, open-ended play materials can be used in a variety of different ways depending on your child's interests and imagination. Check out our new Play Guide, which describes the play space at each of our libraries and helps you find the best fit for your family.
We Read to Babies & Toddlers
Your librarians have created a book of rhymes and songs for babies and toddlers as part of We Read! You can pick up copies of this booklet at your local library, scan the QR code using your smart phone's camera and access songs on the go. Thanks to the many librarians who contributed their singing talent to creating this fun resource for families! Hear the songs online.
The Bubbler Room at Central Library
The BUBBLER ROOM is a physical space within Central Library, and is a resource for the library community and beyond. It houses our rotating artist-in-residence, provides our community partners a free space to run workshops and collaborate with one another, and offers patrons of all ages a studio space to create art, make a mess, and explore various mediums when visiting Central Madison Public Library.
The Bubbler Room is always open to the public unless it is reserved for a community partner program. Any closed times will be posted on the public calendar.
Enjoy from Home:
Online Storytimes: Browse a digital catalog of stories and fun that can be enjoyed anytime from home. These videos include storytime snippets, which are just 10 minutes or less, bilingual and Spanish storytimes, and some books told through rap and song with Mr. Alexis. TIME TO READ
Kanopy Kids: Kanopy is a video streaming service available for FREE with your Madison Public Library card. Kanopy Kids is a carefully curated collection of the best children’s programming available today. Kids' selections are curated to support early literacy, STEM education, and even foreign language learning. Using favorite children’s characters from Sesame Street, PBS Kids, Weston Woods, and more, the collection of kids films inspire empathy, critical thinking, and self-esteem in young viewers. TRY KANOPY KIDS
eBooks and Audiobooks: Check out eBooks or listen to Audiobooks for free from home using the Libby App to access the Wisconsin Digital Library. There are thousands of titles in Wisconsin’s Digital Library, including books, magazines and more for kids. LEARN MORE
Art with Amy: Check out our Art with Amy webpage, which includes supply lists and videos of local artist Amy making things like Treasure Maps, Flipbooks, and mini books. You can gather the supplies yourself and then follow along to do your own craft at home! GET CRAFTING
Cooking with Chef Lily: Learn healthy cooking tips and tricks at home with our online videos featuring Chef Lily, "The Kids Chef". She'll show you how to make Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins, Quesadillas, Pepperoni Pizza Zucchini Bites and more. You can download printable ingredient lists and recipes and then follow along as Chef Lily shows you how to put it all together. GET COOKING
App Picks for Kids: High-quality apps you can feel good about using with your child. Most are free or low-cost! SCROLL AWAY
We have even MORE events happening for kids, teens, adults and families during this time. Please visit madpl.org/calendar to see all of our events and actvities.