Children's Summer Reading Challenge
At the Central Library, East Branch, and West Branch
Sign up starting June 17; Program ends August 16
- Sign up at any branch and receive your 2024 Summer Reading Bingo card!
- Write down the titles of the books you read in your reading log, or color in the circles each time you read for 15 minutes
- Check in each week at the branch you signed up to receive a sticker for your check-in sheet and keychain tag to take with you!
- One lucky reader from each branch will win a grand prize raffle! Earn one entry each week you check in, and earn extra entries for getting Bingo and Blackout on your Bingo card!
Lego Clubs
Drop-In Lego Club -- East -- 11am-4pm
June 24 / July 15 / July 29 / August 12
Do your own thing or try one of our challenge cards!
Lego Club -- West -- 1-3pm
Let's build! Join us for Lego Club at West!
CRAFTernoons
Good CRAFTernoon
June 25 -- East -- 3:30-4:30pm July 2 -- West -- 1-3pm
July 16 -- West -- 1-3pm July 23 -- East 3:30-4:30pm
August 6 -- East -- 3:30-4:30pm
Let's get crafty!
Free Choice CRAFTernoon
July 17 -- Central -- 1:30-5:30pm
Imagine something great or use one of our suggestions!
Stuffed Animal Sleepover
June 26 -- Central -- 9am-6pm
July 15 -- West -- 3-6pm
August 1 -- East -- 10am-5:30pm
Bring your stuffed animal to the Children's Room within the posted times, then watch the library's social media to see what they do in the library overnight! Sleepover for stuffed animals only, not humans!
STEAM Workshops
STEAM with Jessica Garrett: Cartesian Divers
June 27 -- West -- 3-4pm July 9 -- East -- 2-3pm
Join Somerville resident at science educator Jessica Garrett to learn why objects float or sink, and make your own Cartesian Diver!
STEAM with Jessica Garrett: Build Windmill Blades
July 11 -- Central -- 3-4pm
Learn how windmills generate electricity. Attach your blades to a small turbine and see if your blades can generate enough power to light up a light!
Mr. Vinny's Shadow Puppets
June 27 -- East -- 6-7:15pm
Families are invited to join us as the East Branch kicks off our Summer Reading Program with Mr. Vinny's Shadow Puppets! Best for ages 4-10, but all ages welcome.
Singalong with Matt Heaton
July 1 -- West -- 6-6:30pm
July 2 -- Central -- 3-3:30pm
July 3 -- East -- 11-11:45am
Families are invited to sing and dance to Matt's kid-friendly blend of surf-rockabilly tunes! We'll enjoy some familiar favorites as well as Matt's original songs.
Events will be held outside weather permitting. Don't forget a towel or blanket to sit on!
Astronomy with Alex: Craters on the Crescent!
July 11 -- East -- 7:30-8:45pm
Join astonomer Alex Trunnell as we turn our eyes to the skies and learn about our moon's craters! Stick around for a crescent-moon viewing with a telescope!
Kamishibai: Japanese Paper Theater Storytelling & Craft
July 12 -- West -- 11-11:45am
July 17 -- East -- 11-11:45am
July 23 -- Central -- 11am-12pm
Join Yumi Izuyama for Kamishibai Storytelling! The theme of this year's Japanese paper theater is Acts of Kindness. After the story, we will work together to make a paper kindness quilt.
Dig in! The Sweet Story of Dirt
July 18 -- East -- 6-7pm
July 31 -- West -- 3-4pm
August 8 -- Central -- 2-3pm
Learn fun facts about soil and its importance to the earth, and use cookies, candy, and other sweet treats to create layers of "dirt" in a plastic cup! All materials will be provided, and distributed on a "first come, first served" basis.
Touch a Truck
July 16 -- Central -- 10:30-11:30am
July 19 -- West -- 10:30-11:30am
Let's Get Truckin'!
Get up close and personal with a DPW truck at Central and West!
Comix Con
July 20 -- Central -- 9:15am-4:30pm
With programming from your favorite fandoms, stalls with local artists and vendors, cosplaying, and more!
Animal Events
Goats & Giggles
July 23 -- Central -- 2-3pm
July 25 -- East -- 2-3pm
Meet baby goats from Chip-In Farm! Goats & Giggles is your chance for a hands-on playtime with the goats with plenty of time for goat cuddles and photo ops! A maximum of 20 people may visit with the goats at one time. This program is funded by the Friends of the Somerville Public Library. Thanks, Friends!
Wingmasters: New England Birds of Prey
July 29 -- West -- 1-2pm
Join wildlife rehabilitators, WINGMASTERS, as they explain predation, the birds' place at the top of the food web, their different hunting adaptations and their status in a rapidly changing world. Will include five live birds of prey! All ages welcome.
Rockabye Beats
July 26 -- West -- 11-11:45am
July 31 -- Central -- 10:30-11:30am
August 9 -- East -- 10:30-11:15am
Come move and grove with Rockabye Beats! This program will be outside weather permitting. Don't forget a towel or blanket to sit on!
Container Gardening with Green City Growers
July 29 -- Central -- 1:30-2:30pm
In this workshop, learn everything you need to know to get started with container gardening. Topics will include how to determine how much light your location gets and how that impacts what you can grow; types of containers; soil and fertilizers; when and how much to water; plant spacing; as well as determining whether to direct seed or buy transplants. Come with questions and leave with a small container and plant!
Game Day
July 30 -- East -- 11am-4pm
It's a drop-in Game Day at the East Branch! Visit us between 11am- 4pm and enjoy the library's games: Apples to Apples Junior, Blokus, Checkers, Chess, Connect4, HeadBanz, Jenga, Mancala, Parcheese and more!
Summer Jam on the Lawn
July 30 -- Central -- 4-7pm
With sno-cones, a DJ, giant Connect 4, temporary tattoos, and more! This program is being run in collaboration with Teen Empowerment. 
Teddy Bear Picnic Storytime
August 2 -- East -- 10:30-11:30am
Bring your story-loving stuffed animal to East for a Teddy Bear Picnic Story Time. We'll provide the stories and snack (donut holes! but you may bring your own snack if you prefer). Outside weather permitting. Don't forget a towel or blanket to sit on!
Toy Swap
August 3 -- Central -- 10:30am-12:30pm
Are you looking for a new home for your toys? Bring one or more to the Central Library on the first Saturday of August, and exchange them for previously loved toys from other families!
End of Summer Reading Events
EcoMagic
August 13 -- Central -- 2-4pm
Celebrate the end of Summer Reading with a visit from magician Mike Bent and his new program EcoMagic! Following the program we'll keep the party going with popsicles, prizes and more!
Let's Get Truckin!
August 14 -- East -- 10:30-11:30am
Summer Readers and their families are invited to celebrate the end of the East Branch SRP with a visit from our DPW! Climb aboard a DPW truck and enjoy snacks & acivities on our lawn.
Popsicle Party
August 14 -- West -- 4-6pm
Join us in the West Branch backyard for music, prizes, popsicles and more to celebrate the end of Summer Reading!
Movie on the Lawn
August 14 -- Central -- 7:30-9:30pm
Bring blankets or lawn chairs and some snacks and enjoy Elemental on the library lawn!
Questions about summer events for children at SPL? Contact Keri: kbradeen@somervillema.gov .