Children
SUMMER READING 2023Registration begins June 6thFor more information or to register, please see the Children's Reading Programs page. |
Adventures in Story Time
Stories, songs and craft activity
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10 am
Story Tower
Story Time will be on vacation May 1 - June 5
Adventures in Story Time introduces young children to books, songs, crafts, and other fun interactive activities designed around a theme. Each weekly Story Time is a chance to practice reading readiness skills like listening during stories, letter awareness and predicting. Themes for the month of April are Frogs, Bugs, Earth Day and Bubbles!
Books and Babies : Classic
Stories, songs and play
Thursdays, 3:15-4pm
Story Tower
Books & Babies will be on vacation May 1 - June 8
Want to foster a love of reading at an early age and build important early literacy skills for your young child (ages 0-2)? Join us in the Story Tower for stories, rhymes, and finger plays intended for our littlest pre-readers!
Effective June 8th, 2023, the 'Classic' Books and Babies will only be on Thursdays at 3:15 and the 'Music' Books and Babies will be every Saturday.
Books and Babies: Music
Stories, songs and play
Saturdays, 10:15-11am
Story Tower
Books & Babies will be on vacation May 1 - June 8
The musical edition to our ever popular Books and Babies program! Music creates a positive connection to literacy and language between your child (ages 0-2) and you! Join us every Saturday at 10:15am in the Story Tower for books, hands-on musical play and fun!
And a BIG thank you to the Billings Library Foundation and the Friends of the Billings Public Library for supporting this program!
Art Explorers: Art Club for Tweens
Thursdays
4-5pm
Children's Craft Corner
Art Explorers will be on vacation May 1 - June 8
Unleash your inner-artist by exploring fun art concepts. Create new projects every week… Painting, zines, mixed media, still life, portraits—you name it, we’ll do it! Ages 9-12. No pre-registration required.
R.E.A.D to a Dog
1st Saturdays of Every Month
11:00AM - 12:00 PM
Story Tower
Join us the first Saturday of the month from 11:00am to Noon for READ to a Dog! Each reading child will be able to sign up on the day of the program for one 15 minute session and have a chance to read to one dog. R.E.A.D. to a Dog is an affiliate program of R.E.A.D.® (or) Reading Education Assistance Dogs® which is part of Inter-Mountain Therapy Animals of Salt Lake City, Utah. This program is made possible by funding through the Otto and Yvonne Mansfield Endowment for Pet Therapy at St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation and the Billings Public Library Foundation.
Game On!
Fridays and Saturdays
3-4:45 pm
Craft Corner
Join us for open game time. There will be family friendly board games and lots of Legos! Children of all ages are welcome.
Citizen Science Kits
Now available for checkout!
What is citizen science? Citizen science is real scientific research done by people like you and me! Whether you are participating in squirrel watching, observing pollinators, visiting a State Park to study the relationship between milkweed and monarchs, or measuring light pollution, you can contribute! There are projects and resources to match a variety of interests, and Citizen Science is perfect for all ages and great for family activities. No prior scientific knowledge is required, simply a willingness to learn and participate.
Citizen Science Kits are available through generous donations from the Friends of Billings Public Library, the Billings Public Library Foundation, Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society. The kits will be available for checkout at the Children’s desk.
Try It Yourself (TIY) STEAM Kits
Now available for checkout!
Through generous grants from the Friends of Billings Public Library and the Billings Public Library Foundation, kids and families will have the chance to explore STEAM components in a new way.
- Children and families can enjoy hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM)
- 12 kits are available; each kit contains a unique collection of multi-media materials including books, DVDs, games, and models chosen to appeal to a variety of learning styles and ages.
iVox Books that Move!
iVOX is a children’s book app for ages 3-8, which engages and delights curious young minds with the latest in storytelling technology. Part eBook, part audiobook and part virtual pop-up. Children follow along with the exciting stories while interacting with 3D characters and scenes immersed in the narrative like never before (no 3D glasses needed!).
Download the app, log in with your library card and watch children's books come to life!
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Do you have a child not yet in kindergarten? Sign up today and foster a love of reading at an early age. Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are all encouraged to participate.
One book a day = 1000 books before kindergarten!
Bright by Text
Bright by Text is a free texting services that helps parents and caregivers make the most out of their early interactions by suggesting fun and easy activities, providing positive parenting tips and resources, ways to aid a child’s physical development, and much more. In addition to expert content, Bright by Text includes messages about free and low-cost events and resources specific to the Billings area, such as health clinics, preschool enrollment periods, and fun events for families.
To sign up, parents and caregivers with children under 5 years old can text 406Parents to 274448. They will receive 2 to 5 text messages per week that includes a link to a landing page with more detail, short modeling videos, and links to related resources.