** NEW ** Straws and Connectors

This fun building kit contains straws (hollow plastic tubes, approx 8 inches in length) and connectors (six-sided plastic connector pieces), which kids can use to build... almost anything they can imagine! They can practice simple shapes like cubes and stars, or build castles, spaceships, and arches.

It's very open-ended and lots of fun, while also giving a chance to practicing STEM skills- namely, engineering! It is recommended for 4+, due to the smaller connector pieces (approx one inch in length). Use on its own as a program, or combine with other building stations (Legos, Keva planks) for a building party!

Kit contains:

• 390 sticks
• 315 connectors
• Endless building opportunities!

** NEW ** Giant Four Across

The latest in our oversized board games collection! Play life-sized four across at your next library event with this equipment. Borrow to keep children entertained during a book sale, or book it alongside other oversized board games for a Giant Board Game program!

Kit contains:

• Giant Four Across game board
• 21 green game pieces
• 21 yellow game pieces

** NEW ** Book Bingo

The BINGO game you know and love, with a library twist. Participants will have to use their listening skills and have lightning-fast reflexes, as they listen for the titles on their BINGO cards and race to be the first to shout BINGO!

This Book Bingo kit is a fun way to introduce children to new books, while having fun and winning prizes! Participants can play while maintaining physical distance- though some smaller ones may need to bring a grown up with them to help them out, as this program is intended for children of reading age.

This program runs just like a bingo game- every participant gets a bingo card and bingo chips, and covers their square as its contents are called. But there’s a twist: every item on the bingo card is a Canadian children’s book!

Kit contains:

• Laminated BINGO cards (x30)
• BINGO calling cards (x100)
• Bingo chips (x30 sets of 25)
• Prizes (enough for approximately ten winners per library)
• Booklist

Outdoor and "Giant" Games

Giant Jenga

• Regular
• Colourful

Yardzee (giant Yahtzee)

• Five giant wooden dice
• Scorecards

Cannonball Drop

• Tower (4 parts; 122cm assembled)
• 24 straws
• 30 balls
• Instruction sheet

Giant Snakes and Ladders

• Giant Play Board
• Giant Inflatable Die
• 8 Ground Pegs

Physical Literacy Fit Kits

Remember the excitement you felt when your teacher brought out the colourful parachute in gym class? Or how much fun it was to play jump rope games with your friends? Our two physical literacy kits let you share that joy through library programming!

Run, Jump, Throw, Skip Kit
Contains balls, frisbees, pylons, and jump ropes so you can play a variety of yard and playground games at your library! Contains an activity guidebook and a booklet of classic jump rope rhymes to get you started with your programming activities. Great for summer reading clubs!

Parachute Kit
Contains a play parachute, rubber chicken, bean bags, and a booklet full of games and activities to help guide your programming activities (if the kids don't decide for you what games they want to play!)

Winter Physical Literacy Kit
Outdoor programs don't have to be limited to the summer months. This winter version of our popular physical literacy kits encourages kids to get outside and build snowmen, construct igloos, and even go sledding. Comes with several snow brick shapers, snow paints/sprayers (to write in/colour the snow!), a snowman kit, and a guide to outdoor winter games and activities you can use to round out your program.

Harry Potter Escape Room: Escape the Professor's Office

There's something very mysterious about your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, so you and your friends decide to break into her office and find out what she's hiding. Only problem: she's booby-trapped the office, and now you're locked inside! Can you break out before she returns?

This kit contains everything you need to set up an escape room in your library and is suitable for both larger and smaller spaces. Suitable for ages 8 and up. It is very easy to set up and run, but we recommend borrowing it at least a week in advance of when you wish to hold your program in order to familiarize yourself with the contents and game.

Murder Mystery Party Kits

• Mystery in the Library:
  • During an author talk at the local library, a rare historical volume goes missing! Patrons must try to solve the theft before the thief can strike again! (Ages 10 & up, no costumes required.) 
• Murder at the Deadwood Saloon:
  • A high-stakes poker tournament takes a deadly turn when one of the participants is found murdered. Can party-goers solve the crime before the killer strikes again? (Ages 13 and up.)
• The Wizard of Oz Murder:
  • Things were just starting to settle down in the Land of Oz when the East Witch turned up dead -- and now it's up to your favourite characters to find out whodunit. Join Dorothy, the Tin Man, Glinda, and more in trying to catch the killer. (Ages 9 and up.)

Board Game Kits

Kit #1:

• Party Games
  • Taboo
  • Apples to Apples
  • Scattergories
  • Pictionary
• Card Games
  • Uno
  • Old Maid
  • Cribbage
• Strategy Games
  • Risk
  • Carcassonne
  • Clue
• Other:
  • Playing card decks, x2
  • Dice

Kit #2:

• Party Games
  • Snake Oil
  • Anomia
  • Trivial Pursuit: Party
• Card Games
• Animal Rummy
• Go Fish
• Strategy Games
  
• Dominion
• Settlers of Catan
• Other
  
• Scrabble
• Dominoes (Double 6)
• Playing cards x2 packs

Oculus Quest Virtual Reality

Experience virtual reality in the library space! Our two Oculus Quests are fully wireless VR headsets designed to be easy for anyone to set up and use. You do not need a large open space, a computer, or a television to use this kit. Suitable for all ages! If you would like information about or assistance with running this program, please contact the Client Services Librarian. Games included:

• Beat Saber: Use light sabers to smash laser blocks, as demoed by Jimmy Fallon and Brie Larson here
• Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes: work together with partners to defuse a bomb before it explodes! A great puzzle game for tweens, teens, and adults.
• Wander lets users explore the world without leaving the room. This is a great, quiet game for adults who want to experience VR in a calm, relaxed way.

Many more, including roller coasters and fishing!

Karaoke

• Karaoke Machine
• Two Microphones
• Super Hits Volume 21 CD-G
• Greatest Ever CD-G
• 100 Party Hits CD-G
• Track List for CDs

Duct Tape Crafts

Ever wanted to make a wallet out of duct tape? How about duct tape roses, bow ties, or Christmas ornaments? Our duct tape crafts kit has everything you need to make all of these cool projects and more!

Contains: 

• 25 rolls of Decorative Duct Tape
• Sharpies and Markers
• 2 Rulers
• 3 Pairs of Scissors
• Print-Outs of Instructions for Crafts
• Sample Duct Tape Crafts

Keva Planks

Keva Planks can be used to build some seriously impressive structures. These small wooden planks (all the same size and width) fit together without using ANY glue or connectors, letting you create whatever you can think of, from marble runs to towers taller than you! If you can think of it, you can build it using Keva. Two kits of 400 planks each are available to borrow. This kit is suitable for all ages and can be used as either a passive program, part of a STEAM/maker night, or on its own. Encourages teamwork, creativity, and engineering skills!

Contains:

• 400 Keva Planks
• Plastic ping pong balls
• Diagrams and instructions for building various structures

Button Maker

• 2 ¼ inch button maker
• Circle cutter
• Supplies for 30-50 buttons
• Stickers, ribbons, glitter, washi tape, etc for decorating buttons

*Please note that due to supply costs, this kit may only be borrowed once per library per year. However, if you would like to purchase your own button parts and borrow our machine, that option is available to you! Contact the Client Services Librarian for details.

Makey Makey

Ever wanted to play piano with bananas? Make your own Dance Dance Revolution board? Play Tetris with a Play-Doh controller? You can do all of these things and more with our MaKey MaKey kit! MaKey MaKeys are “the invention kit for everyone”.

Kit contains:

• 3x Makey Makeys
• Project supplies
• Laptops

Bananas* or other perishable items are not included.

Perler Bead Art 

Great for kids and teens! Perler bead art (link to examples) is made by arranging plastic beads into patterns and shapes, then using a hot clothes iron to melt them together (please have an adult use the iron). Shapes take on a pixelly/8-bit appearance, making this a fun project for participants into video games and other kinds of "nerd" pop culture. Ships with all necessary supplies, including beads, pegboards, and iron, as well as suggested patterns.

Beginner Coding with Ozobots

Basic computer programming has never been easier (or more fun!) than with Ozobot. These tiny robots read colour code and travel on paths created by you -- all you need to make them go is some paper and markers. Make them race, solve a maze, spell your name, dance -- if you can draw it, these little bots will go there. 

• 4x Ozobots (2 Evo, 2 Bit)
• 2x play boards (for quick start / bot demos)
• Ozobot markers (black, red, green, and blue)
• Paper
• Ozobot dice
• 2x activity guides

Origami for Beginners

Advanced Origami

Easy origami not enough of a challenge? This kit contains everything you need to fold some seriously cool projects, including pretty patterned paper and instructions for folding more complicated projects.

Fibre Arts: Knitting and Crochet

Have you heard? Knitting is cool again! Lead a learn to knit or learn to crochet program at your library with this kit, or just set out supplies in a sunny spot and watch people cozy up with yarn. Who knows -- maybe someone will make you a scarf!

• Crochet hooks, various sizes
• Knitting needles, various sizes
• Yarn, various weights and colours
• Teach Yourself VISUALLY: Crochet how-to book
• Teach Yourself VISUALLY: Knitting how-to book

Osmo

Osmo transforms iPads into devices that allow users to use physical items like Hot Wheels, blocks, and pen and paper to interact with a digital world! Race real Hot Wheels cars on a digital track, learn some basic coding, play word and math games, or draw pictures that magically animate! Osmo is suitable for kids aged 4-12 and makes an especially great STEM program for younger participants. Learn more about Osmo here.

• 4 iPads
• 4 Osmo bases
• Osmo games: 
  • Hot Wheels Mind Racers
  • Coding Awbie
  • Newton (draw your own Pong game)
  • Masterpiece & Super Studio (foster art skills)
  • Tangram (create shapes out of blocks)
  • Words and Numbers

Zentangle-Inspired Art *NEW*

The Zentangle Method (created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas) is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images using structured patterns. If you have patrons who love the meditative, crafty nature of our origami or fibre arts kits, they'll love learning how to tangle with our Zentange-inspired kit! Suitable for all ages but an especially great option for adult or seniors programming. Learn more about the Zentangle Method here.

• Artists' pens in various sizes and colours
• Artists' tiles, for creating your art
• Zentangle pattern books for both adults and kids

Kindness Rocks

Ever been out for a walk and come across a beautifully painted rock with a picture or affirmation on it? You found a Kindness Rock! Meant to bring a little joy and happiness to the world around us, these little rocks are a fun, easy way to brighten anyone's day. With our Kindness Rocks kit, you can share a little of your own joy with the world.

• Acrylic paints
• Paint pens
• Spray sealant
• Paintbrushes
• Art tutorials and a list of suggested positive affirmations, in case you need a little inspiration
• ~40 rocks suitable for painting

** NEW ** Hula Hoop kit

Hula hoops: the perfect distancing tool! This kit includes ten hula hoops, plus a tape measure and masking tape. Use the hoops to demonstrate to kids where they should be sitting, in order to maintain a six-foot distance from each other.

Learner’s License Prep

Do you have teen patrons who need a little extra help ahead of taking their learner's license exam? This is a great kit to borrow during spring break or early summer, when many teens are getting ready to take their exam.

• 106 Study Cards
• 13 Traffic Signs
• 16 Traffic Tiles
• 15 Vehicle Tiles
• 5 Traffic Sign Tiles
• 1 Lanyard with USB Drive
• 1 Measuring Tape
• 1 Expo Marker

Minecraft

A perennial favourite. Minecraft is already installed on public computers, so your patrons can build and battle Creepers right away!

** NEW** Escape Walk kits are now available!

We have two kits currently available:

• Escape the Enchanted Forest
• Journey to the Stars

These kits are a cross between StoryWalks® and Escape Rooms, and are intended for children of reading age. Solve puzzles and collect clues in order to escape!

Each kit contains 7 corrugated plastic signs, measuring 18x24 inches.

Please contact Kait for more information and/or to make a booking!

StoryWalk® kits are now available!

We have three StoryWalk® kits currently available:

• Planting a Rainbow, by Lois Ehlert
• 50 Below Zero, by Robert Munsch
• If You Plant a Seed, by Kadir Nelson

Each kit contains between 10 and 20 boards, and accompanying H-frame metal stakes. Instructions for assembly are included.

Before borrowing one of these kits, please read the following information.

1. These StoryWalks® are not intended for extended use. They should usually only be left up for one day at a time.
2. The materials will not work well in areas with very high wind. Try to identify a location with as little wind as possible.
3. There are between 10 and 20 story boards in each kit. You'll need to ensure that each board can be adequately distanced from the rest, to ensure patrons can physically distance while enjoying the story. Plan out the route for the StoryWalk® kit in advance.
4. If you don't have a suitable space to use on library property, connect with the town, local schools, or other community organizations to see if you can use their space. You can even speak with local businesses to place them in their windows, and have a storefront StoryWalk®.
5. Plan around the weather and bring these StoryWalks® indoors if you are going to have heavy snow, extreme winds, etc.
6. When promoting your StoryWalk® event on social media, please credit the original creator of StoryWalks® using the following text:
   1. The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® is registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.

To borrow one of these StoryWalk® kits, or if you have any questions, contact the Client Services Librarian.

To request promotional materials, please contact the Client Services Librarian at least one week prior to your event.

Stuffy Sleepover

The Stuffy Sleepover kit is a fun way to get kids reading. Children bring their stuffies to the library, drop them off for a sleepover, and pick them up the next day, ready to find out what mischief they got up to overnight! Children will love seeing their toys enjoy the library after hours.

Why is this program a great idea? Because seeing their stuffies reading and enjoying the library, can help encourage kids to read! This CNN article from 2017 tracks the effectiveness of stuffy sleepovers in encouraging children to love picture books. Children who have participated in these sleepovers will often read to their stuffed animals!

This program can be paired with a Sleepover Storytime- invite kids to come to the library for a pajama storytime and read a bedtime book, before leaving their stuffed animals for the night and heading home. Or, it can be a standalone event, with kids dropping their stuffies off and picking them up!

To make things very COVID-safe, we are currently recommending that you do not invite children to bring their own stuffies to the library. While surface transmission risk is thought to be minimal, we don’t recommend handling these sort of soft materials- especially stuffies, which children often cuddle and hold close to their faces! Instead, this kit includes the materials to make a simple, moveable teddy bear craft. Children can complete the craft at home or during a library storytime, and then leave their craft teddy bear for a sleepover instead!

• Mini popup tent
• Soft blanket
• Flashlight
• Mini table hockey game
• Mini bowling game
• Tea party / midnight snack set
• Mini flutes for toy music time
• Materials for Teddy Bear Craft

Sidewalk Obstacle Course

A fantastic passive program that library users can enjoy even when their library is closed, the Sidewalk Obstacle Course is a path along the ground outside the library made of chalk!

Libraries will receive a kit containing chalk paint supplies and paintbrushes, as well as ideas and props and stencils for their obstacle course. You can then draw out the course, including lots of fun challenges for participants to complete! This is a fun and easy passive program that is perfectly suited for the sunniest place in Canada- after all, the obstacle course will disappear if it rains or snows!

• Equipment to make chalk paint:
  • Cornstarch
  • Food colouring
  • Measuring cup
  • Plastic containers
• Paintbrushes
• Sidewalk chalk
• Stencils
• Laminated sign with information and a QR code