SUMMER READING CLUB

CHILDREN'S SUMMER PROGRAMS

SUMMER FAMILY PROGRAMS

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

This program promotes reading to newborns, infants, toddlers, and children up to Kindergarten. The goal is to have read 1000 books before your child starts Kindergarten. Sign up in the Children’s Room to get more information, and your first reading record, or print the record and instructions from our website:

Take and Make Crafts

Every Monday the Children's Room will have a new craft ready for pickup for children to do at home on their own anytime!  Stop by the back door to the Children's Room to pick up, and send a picture of your completed craft to vclkids@rcls.org for a prize and to have it posted on our social media!

No registration.

Crafts available Monday through Saturday, during library hours, while supplies last.

Summer Sidewalk Chalk Challenge 

June 21-August 14 

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Come and pick up a Sidewalk Chalk Challenge card and chalk in the Children’s Room. Complete the fun activities on the card at home on your driveway or sidewalk! Send a picture of your completed chalk art creations to vclkids@rcls.org to have it posted on our social media!

No registration.

One per family while supplies last. 

Valley Cottage Library on YouTube

Click below to access our YouTube channel anytime! You'll find a variety of children's videos, including at home preschool toddler circle times with Ms. Melinda!

Valley Cottage Library Children's Library Online

Click below to access our Children's Library Online anytime! It is filled with a huge variety of wonderful virtual resources and activities for children.

SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR AGES 6 and UNDER IN THE LIBRARY

Bouncing Babies 

Select Fridays at 10:30am 

July 16, 23, Aug. 20, 27 

Ages 2 months-12 months with adult 

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In-person movement, rhymes & music at the library. Please make alternate arrangements for other children. 

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Register separately for each session. 

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Registration for in-person programming is open to Nyack School District patrons only and will begin one week before each program date.

Intrepid Toddlers  

Select Thursdays at 11am 

July 1, July 15, July 29, Aug. 12 

Ages 13-24 months with adult

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Join Ms. Elizabeth for storytime at the library with books and beyond! Please make alternate arrangements for other children.

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Register separately for each session. 

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Registration for in-person programming is open to Nyack School District patrons only and will begin one week before each program date.

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Creature Features  

Ages 2-6 years 

Monday, June 28 at 1pm 

Tuesday, July 20 at 10:30am 

Wednesday, July 28 at 4:30pm 

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Join Ms. Melinda at the library for a book and some zany animal activities!  

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Register separately for each program.  

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Registration for in-person programming is open to Nyack School District patrons only and will begin one week before each program date.

VIRTUAL SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR AGES 6 and UNDER

Virtual Toddlers with Ms. Elizabeth 

Thursdays, June 17, June 24, July 8, July 22, Aug. 5 

Ages 13-24 months 

Receive an email with a link to Ms. Elizabeth’s pre-recorded toddler storytime and more! 

Register separately for each program. 

Zoo Zoo Zoom in the Wild! 

Ages 2-6 years 

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Join Ms. Melinda for an exciting virtual Zoom program full of books, games, songs, puzzles, and more! We will explore several types of animals while introducing basic early reading skills in a fun way for children and families. Additional online resources will be available. A Zoom meeting link will be sent before the program. Register separately for each session. 

Wednesday, June 23 at 4:30pm - Wild Cats 

Tuesday, Aug 17 at 10:30am   –   It's a Jungle Out There 

Virtual Craft Program for Ages 3-6 

Select Tuesdays at 4:30pm 

June 29, July 13, July 27   

Ages 3-6 years 

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Pick up craft materials the week before the program at the library and then join Ms. Danielle to listen to a story and make a craft.  A Zoom meeting link will be sent the morning of the program. Register separately for each program. 

Let’s Pretend! Virtual Fun 

Ages 2-6 years 

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Bring your imaginations as we play games, do show-and-tell, and have fun! A Zoom meeting link will be sent before the program. Register separately for each session. 

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Monday, July 12 at 11am: Virtual Pet Show- Show off your favorite stuffed pet!  

Wednesday, August 25 at 4:30pm:  Animal Charades- Act out an animal and we’ll all guess! 

SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

Family Book Club

Grades K-5

Here’s a spin on our library book clubs!  Every month a new book will be chosen to read as a family.  Each week Ms. Danielle will email participants an activity and trivia question for the week.  Send back your answers and then come to the library to receive a special prize.  An email with a reading schedule will be sent to all participants the week before the program begins.  The books are available on Overdrive and Hoopla. This book club will be completed at home. 

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Starting Monday, June 7:  Life According to Og the Frog, by Betty G. Birney.

Starting Tuesday, July 6:   Ribsy, by Beverly Cleary. 

Virtual Reading Adventures for Children entering Grades 1-3   

Entering Grades 1-3   

Select Mondays at 4:30pm  

June 28, July 19

Join Ms. Danielle for virtual Monday Book Club!  Each month Ms. Danielle will read a picture book, then we will discuss it, and do a small craft. A Zoom meeting link will be sent the morning of the program

Virtual Reading Adventures for Children entering Grades 4-6 

Entering Grades 4-6 

Select days at 4:30pm  

Join Ms. Danielle for virtual Book Club!  Read the assigned book at home before the day of the book club.  Then we will discuss the book and make a small craft.  A Zoom meeting link will be sent before the program.  

Books will be available on Hoopla or Overdrive, or by placing a hold and picking up curbside. 

Tuesday, July 6:    The Chicken Squad, by Doreen Cronin. 

Monday, July 26:  Socks, by Beverly Cleary. 

SUMMER S.T.E.A.M.* PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

* Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math 

Fun with Tangrams

Ages 5 and up

What is a Tangram?  A Chinese geometric puzzle consisting of a square cut into seven pieces that can be arranged to make various other shapes. 

Every month the Children's Room will have a new tangram project ready for pickup for children to do at home on their own anytime!  Stop by the back door to the Children's Room to pick up, and send a picture of your completed tangram to vclkids@rcls.org by the end of that month for a prize and to have it posted on our social media!  

No registration. (Crafts available while supplies last.)  

Monthly LEGO® Challenge!

June and July 

Ages 5 and up

Are you up for a monthly LEGO® challenge?  Register anytime to receive an email with the challenge of the month.  Create at your own pace and share your results with us by Email at vclkids@rcls.org by the end of that month. Check our YouTube and Facebook to see everyone's creations! Register separately for each session. 

Weekly LEGO® Challenge!

Weekly in August 

Ages 5 and up

Are you up for a weekly LEGO® challenge?  Register to receive an email with the challenge of the week.  Create at your own pace at home and share a picture of your results with us to vclkids@rcls.org by the end of that week. Check our YouTube and Facebook to see everyone's creations! Register separately for each program. 

Let’s Be Dramatic: Duck for President   

Wednesday, July 7 at 4:30pm  

Entering Grades 3-6

Come to the library and try your hand at acting in the amusing play adaptation of this entertaining picture book by Doreen Cronin. We’ll choose parts, create simple costumes, and read the play together in a fun performance for our adults. Please register each child separately. 

Children’s Craft Program for Ages 7-10     

Select Wednesdays at 4:30pm 

July 14, Aug. 11 

Ages 7-10 

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Join Ms. Meredith at the library to make a cool craft! 

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Register separately for each session. 

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Registration for in-person programming is open to Nyack School District patrons only and will begin one week before each program date.

LEGO® DOTS!  

Friday, July 30 at 3:30pm 

Ages 6-10 

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Let’s have a cupcake party with LEGO® DOTS at the library! Decorate your own adorable cupcake then take it home! 

Storytelling Game 

Wednesday, August 4 at 4:30pm 

Ages 5 and up

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Join Ms. Meredith at the library as we get our imaginations going! Everyone will contribute to our Mad Libs® stories and then we’ll make up one of our own stories as well. Be prepared to laugh!  

Marshmallow Engineering

Monday, August 16 at 4:30pm 

Entering Grades 1-6 

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Can you build a skyscraper from marshmallows and toothpicks? Let’s create our most imaginative buildings and have fun learning some basic engineering principles along the way, in person in the library. Buildings will be displayed temporarily in the library. 

VIRTUAL SUMMER S.T.E.A.M.* PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

* Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math 

Virtual Children’s BINGO  

Thursday, June 17 at 5pm

Select Thursdays at 4:30pm: 

July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29 

Ages 5 and up

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Join Ms. Danielle for Virtual BINGO!  Everyone who registers will receive an email with a link to the BINGO card and the Zoom meeting. Register separately for each session. 

Let's Do Letterboxing! 

Monday, August 2  

4pm: Entering Grades K-3 

5pm: Entering Grades 4-6 

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Join Ms. Alexsis to learn about letterboxing!  You will learn all about this worldwide scavenger hunt and make your own personal stamp so that you can start a letterboxing adventure of your own.  You might even get a few clues to help you find your first letterbox! A Zoom meeting link will be sent before the program.   

Children's Registration 

​​Coronavirus and the Library:  ​

• No appointments needed for in-building browsing and internet.​

• Masks are required for non-vaccinated people in the library and required for all in the Children’s room.

• ​Curbside pickup service is still available by appointment. Click on the green button at the top of this page to schedule your appointment.​

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​Summer 2021

• Summer Programs will run from June 15 - Sept. 15.

• Registration for virtual programs is open. 

• Registration for in-person programming is open to Nyack School District patrons only and will begin one week before each program date. For programs in the library, strict Covid safety measures will be followed.

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Register for Summer 2021 programs below.

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• Registration is required for all programs (unless noted otherwise) and group size is limited.

• Using the CHILD's name, register by clicking below.

• Please notify us of cancellations in order to allow more children to attend our programs. Wait-listed patrons will be contacted only if there is room in the program.

• Programs are free and are designed for the intended age group.

• Please note, registration requires an active email account. The program will send a confirmation and reminder to your email. Please check your SPAM folder or contact the library if you do not see a confirmation or reminder email.

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