Summer Reading looks a little different this year—everything will be done virtually! Make sure you bookmark this page–everything you need will be here!
Since we can’t travel this summer, we are IMAGINING a trip around the world! From June 1 to July 31, we’ll visit a different country each week. We’ll post crafts, facts, reading lists, and videos for you to imagine visiting each place! Check back here every week to see our new location.
CLICK to download your Reading Log!
Fill it out, snap a pic, and email it to us, and you’ll be entered to win our Summer Reading Grand Prize!
The best part? It’s all FREE, no sign up or library card required.
Enjoy your trip around the world!
Week 9: India
Namaste, and welcome to India!
VIRTUAL STORY TIME: INDIA
Print off this coloring sheet of the Indian flag.
Craft: Mehndi
Virtual Craft with Miss Kami
- Printer
- Something to color with
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Print out the hand template. No printer? No problem! Trace your own hand on some paper and use that instead!
- Decorate with some beautiful mehndi designs! We have some pictures below for inspiration.
- Traditional henna is brown, but feel free to use whatever colors you want!
You can also find an instructional video with some facts about Mehndi and henna on our Facebook!
Videos & Other Resources
- Facts About India for Kids
- MORE Interesting Facts About India
- 13 Popular Indian Dishes to Try
- Indian Recipes from Kidspot Kitchen
- Facts About Mehndi
Read more about India
K-2
- My Dadima Wears a Sari
- The Rajah’s Rice
- Hidden in Sand
- My Mother’s Sari
- Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
- Holi Colors
- The Stonecutter: An Indian Folktale
- Diwali
3-5
- Anni’s India Diary
- Blue Jasmine
- The Night Diary
- Bindi Babes
- The Bridge Home
- I Am Gandhi
- Where is the Taj Mahal?
- An Indian Cookbook for Kids
- India
- Jahanara, Princess of Princesses
- One Last Wish: A Tale from India
- T is for Taj Mahal
- Holi
6-8
Bem-vinda! Welcome to Brazil!
Virtual Story Time: Brazil
Print off this coloring sheet of the Brazilian flag.
Craft: Make a mask for Carnival!
Virtual Craft with Miss Kami
Materials:
- Printer
- Glue
- Something to color with
- Scissors
- Either a stick to hold your mask to your face, or strings to tie it around your head
- Optional: buttons, sequins, stickers, glitter, feathers, or other fun things to decorate your mask with
Instructions:
- Print out the craft template.
- Color your mask!
- Cut it out.
- Optional: use fun things like feathers, buttons, stickers, whatever you have on hand to make your mask EXTRA special!
- Glue or tape a stick to the side of the mask for one that you can easily hold up to your face.
- OR, punch holes in the side and use strings or elastic to tie it around your head.
Find a step-by-step video on our Facebook page!
Videos & Other Resources
- Chimichurri Sauce Recipe
- Brazil Facts for Kids
- Welcome to Snake Island, Brazil
- Cristo Statue: Nat Geo Kids
Read more about Brazil
K-2
- Songs from a Journey with a Parrot: Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes from Brazil and Portgual
- So Say the Little Monkeys
- The Shaman’s Apprentice: A Tale of the Amazon Rainforest
- We’re Roaming in the Rainforest: An Amazon Adventure
- The Great Kapok Tree
- Sergio Saves the Game
- Let’s Play Soccer
- Brazilian Playground Music CD, by Putumayo World Music
- Brazil ABC’s
3-5
- Mardi Gras and Carnival
- Brazil
- Foods of Brazil
- Wild Girl
- Pink River Dolphins
- The Mystery in the Amazon Rainforest
- Soccer
- Mira and the Stone Tortoise
6-8
Buongiorno and welcome to Italy!
Virtual Story Time: Italy
Print off this coloring sheet of the Italian flag.
Craft: Make your own gondola!
Virtual Craft with Miss Kami
Materials:
- Printer
- Glue
- Something to color with
- Scissors
- Optional: something to make the oar sturdier, like a skewer or popsicle stick
Instructions:
- Print out the craft template.
- Color your gondola and gondolier however you want!
- Cut out the pieces.
- Fold your gondola in half and glue it together, leaving some space in the middle to put your gondolier.
- Attach the gondolier inside the gondola.
- Glue the stick to the gondolier’s hand.
Find a step-by-step video on our Facebook page!
Videos & Other Resources
Virtual Art Project with Miss Mary
Miss Mary teaches us about the Italian Renaissance and Michelangelo, and gives you an idea for an art project.
- Gluten Free DIY Play-Doh Recipe
- Kid-Size Pizza Recipe
- Interesting Facts About Italy for Kids
- 15 MORE Facts About Italy for Kids
- 80 Delicious Facts About Pizza
Read more about Italy
K-2
- Count Your Way Through Italy
- Strega Nona
- Big Anthony
- Pizza for the Queen
- Madeline and the Cats of Rome
- Olivia Goes to Venice
- Mangia! Mangia!
- Paolo, Emperor of Rome
- On Top of Spaghetti
- Papa Gatto: An Italian Fairy Tale
3-5
- The Mystery at the Roman Colosseum
- Carnival at Candelight
- An Italian Cookbook for Kids
- Vacation Under the Volcano
- I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii
- Italy
- Find Out About Italy
- Cooking the Italian Way
- Where is the Colosseum?
- The Time Trekkers Visit the Romans
- Michelangelo
- Heroes, Gods, and Emperors from Roman Mythology
6-8
Welcome to Egypt!
VIRTUAL STORY TIME: EGYPT
CLICK HERE TO PRINT ALL ACTIVITIES
Print off this coloring sheet of the Egyptian flag.
Craft: Make A Pharaoh Headdress
Materials:
- Printer
- Glue
- Something to color with
- Scissors
- Construction paper
Instructions:
- Print out the craft template.
- Color your headdress however you want!
- Cut out the pieces.
- Cut a pair of slits following the dotted lines at the lower corners of the main headdress.
- Take the right side piece and apply glue on the area above the dotted line.
- Lift up the flap on the right corner of the main headdress. Position the right side piece under the flap. The dotted line on the side piece should be aligned with the lower edge of the headdress flap.
- Press down on the flap to glue the side piece in place.
- Repeat on left side.
- Cut out a strip of construction paper long enough to go around your head. Glue one end onto the excess strip on the headdress. Glue the headband shut.
- All hail the Pharaoh!
Find pictures with step-by-step directions on Firstpalette.com. You can also find an instructional video with some Pharaoh Fun Facts on our Facebook!
Videos & Other Resources
- History of Ancient Egypt for Kids
- National Geographic Kids: The Pyramids
- Colossal Mysteries—How Were the Pyramids Built?
- Short Film: Nobody Nose Cleopatra
Read more about Egypt
K-2
- We’re Sailing Down the Nile
- Bill and Pete Go Down the Nile
- The Hundredth Name
- Tutankhamen’s Gift
- Skippyjon Jones in Mummy Trouble
- Diego’s Egyptian Expedition
- Scooby-Doo: Museum Madness
- How the Camel Got His Hump
3-5
- The Mystery of the Ancient Pyramid
- Tut Tut
- Royal Diaries: Cleopatra, Daughter of the Nile
- Mummies in the Morning
- Pyramids
- Where Are the Great Pyramids?
- Egypt
- Ancient Egypt: 15 Step By Step Projects
- Who Was King Tut?
- You Wouldn’t Want to be Cleopatra!
- Foods of Egypt
- Ancient Egyptian Myths and Legends
6-8
Konnichiwa, and welcome to Japan!
VIRTUAL STORYTIME :JAPAN
CLICK HERE TO PRINT ALL ACTIVITIES
Print off this coloring sheet of the Japanese flag.
MAKE A SUSHI CRAFT.
VIRTUAL INSTRUCTIONS WITH MISS KAMI
Craft: Make your own sushi
Materials:
- Printer
- Glue
- Something to color with
- Scissors
- Cotton ball
- Black tape or strip of black paper
- A dish or something to serve your sushi on
Instructions:
- Print out the craft template.
- Color and cut out your “fish” pieces.
- Place your fish on top of the “rice” (cotton ball)
- Wrap with “seaweed” (black tape)
- Serve in your sushi boat!
Find an instructional video with some fun facts about Sushi on our Facebook!
Videos & Other Resources
- The 8 Regions of Japan
- National Geographic Kids Japan Ninjas
- Japan: Snow Monkeys
- Origami Paper Cranes
- Taiko Drummer, Atsumi
- Facts about Japan
- MORE fun facts about Japan
Read more about Japan
K-2
- Count Your Way Through Japan
- Tea with Milk
- Moshi Moshi
- The Drums of Noto Hanto
- The Wakame Gatherers
- Yoko’s Paper Cranes
- Wink: The Ninja Who Wanted to Be Noticed
- Umbrella
- The Funny Little Woman
- Yoshi’s Feast
3-5
- Sword of the Samurai: Adventure Stories from Japan
- The Mystery at Mount Fuji
- Choose Your Own Adventure: Return of the Ninja
- Sam Samurai
- Kazunomiya: Prisoner of Heaven
- I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011
- The Big Wave
- Japan: A Primary Source Cultural Guide
- Nintendo Innovator: Hiroshi Yamauchi
- Pokemon Designer: Satoshi Tajiri
- Ninjas and Samurai
- Anime
- Foods of Japan
6-8
Welcome to England this week!
CLICK TO VIEW VIRTUAL STORY TIME: ENGLAND
MAKE A CUPPA TEA WITH MISS MARY (VIRTUAL)
CLICK HERE TO PRINT ALL ACTIVITIES FOR THIS WEEK
Print off this coloring sheet of the British Union Jack.
Craft: Make your own Bobby
Materials:
- a toilet paper tube
- a printer
- a piece of paper
- some crayons or colored pencils
- scissors
- glue
Instructions:
- Print out the craft template.
- Color and cut out the template pieces.
- Glue the bobby together in the following order:
- Pants
- Shoes
- Coat
- Belt
- badge/pocket
- hat
- night stick
- whistle
See picture on the template for further help.
See full instructions on DLTK-Kids.
Videos
- Lonely Planet for Kids tour of London
- National Geographic Kids England Big Ben
- How to Make a Cup of Tea (according to the BBC and Science)
- Harry Potter at Home
Read more about England:
K-2
- Smudge, The Little Lost Lamb
- Octopus’s Garden
- Mary Poppins
- Yellow Submarine
- Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales
- The Bells of London
- KeeKee’s Big Adventures in London, England
- Teatime with Emma Buttersnap
- Queen Elizabeth II
- The Boy, The Bear, The Baron, The Bard
3-5
- The Tempest
- Who Was Queen Elizabeth?
- Who Was William Shakespeare?
- Where is Stonehenge?
- Saint George and the Dragon
- Oliver Twist
- Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village
- This is London
- King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable
- The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail
- Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars: The Fall of the Amazing Zalindas
- Alice in Wonderland
- Who Were the Bealtes?
6-8
Bonjour, and welcome to France!
CLICK TO VIEW VIRTUAL STORY TIME: FRANCE
CLICK HERE TO PRINT ALL ACTIVITY PAGES
Print off this coloring sheet of the French flag:
Make your own Madeline
Materials:
- a toilet paper tube
- a printer
- a piece of paper
- some crayons
- scissors
- glue
Instructions:
- Print out the craft template.
- Color and cut out the template pieces.
- Glue the large rectangular piece on first to cover the tube.
- Glue on the head, arms, and legs.
See full instructions and a video on DLTK-Kids.
Videos
Read more about France:
K-2
- Dodsworth in Paris
- This is Paris
- Adele and Simon
- Morris the Artist
- Bonjour, Mr. Satie
- Murphy Meets Paris
- Madeline
- When Pigasso Met Mootisse
3-5
- Who Was Joan of Arc?
- Marie Antoinette, Princess of Versailles
- The Phantom of the Opera
- The Three Musketeers
- Night of the New Magicians
- A French Cookbook for Kids
- Paris
- Where is the Eiffel Tower?
- France
6-8
- Spider’s Voice
- The Mystery of the Third Lucretia
- The Red Necklace
- The French Revolution
- Marie Antoinette and the Decline of French Monarchy
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame Graphic Novel
Check out Ebooks by subject!
Bienvenido! This week we’re visiting our closest neighbor geographically—Mexico!
CLICK TO VIEW VIRTUAL STORY TIME: MEXICO
CLICK HERE TO PRINT ALL ACTIVITY PAGES FOR THIS WEEK.
Print off this coloring sheet of the Mexican flag:
This is a fun and simple craft that children can enjoy while they practice their coloring, scissor, and basic assembly skills.
Materials:
- something to color with
- scissors
- glue or brass fasteners
- printer
Print out this Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead craft—it’s a great way to practice with scissors.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW MISS KAMI’S INSTRUCTIONAL VIDE
Instructions:
- Print out the craft template
- Color the pieces and cut out the template pieces.
- Children can choose to glue the skeletons to a sheet of paper, OR connect the skeletons using brass fasteners to make them poseable
See full instructions and a video on Red Ted Art.
PRINT OUT THESE PAGES TO MAKE THE CRAFT:
CLICK HERE to find some great, kid-friendly recipes for Mexican food.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Dia de los Muertos!
Videos
Read more about Mexico:
K-2
- My First Generation Family
- Count Your Way Through Mexico
- The Bravest Flute: A Story of Courage in the Mayan Tradition
- Chavela and the Magic Bubble
- Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin
- Green is a Chile Pepper
- Viva Frida
- Meals in Mexico
3-5
- Mexico
- Mexico! 40 Activities to Experience Mexico Past and Present
- Eating Enchiladas
- Josefina: An American Girl Story Collection
- Day of the Dead
- The First Rule of Punk
6-8
- Esperanza Rising
- I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
- The Story of Mexico: The Mexican Revolution
- Mexican Immigrants: In Their Shoes
- Return to Sender
Check out Ebooks by subject!
First stop: CANADA! One of our closest neighbors geographically, Canada is a great place to kick off our summer tour around the world!
CLICK to print ALL craft and activity pages.
CLICK TO VIEW VIRTUAL STORY TIME: CANADA
Print this Canadian Flag Coloring Sheet:
Print out this Inuksuk craft—it’s a great way to practice with scissors.
This is a fun cut and paste craft that children can enjoy while they practice their scissor skills and matching skills.
This Inuit themed craft is a fun and interactive way for children to become engaged in Inuit culture by learning about Inukshuks.
An Inukshuk is an Inuit monument made of unworked stones. In the Inuit language, Inukshuk means “in the likeness of a human”. They are used by the Inuit for communication and survival and indicate that “someone was here” – an important message in the remote areas of the arctic region.
Materials:
- something to color with
- scissors
- glue
- paper
- printer
Instructions:
- Print out the craft template
- Color the rocks and cut out the template pieces.
- Children can choose to glue the rocks in the pattern of the template this is a good way for children to practice their matching skills).
or
- Children can use their imagination and glue the rocks onto a blank piece of paper to create their own inukshuk.
Craft from dltk-kids.com
Videos
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDEFYRa7DkU
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emSv0xHmDLs
- Canadian food
Read more about Canada:
K-2
- When We Were Alone
- Count Your Way Through Canada
- Duck, Duck, Moose
- Maple
- Maple Syrup Season
- Sam the Zamboni Man
3-5
- Canada (NF)
- Body Check
- The Curse of Wendigo: An Agate and Buck Adventure
- The Fledgling
- The Hockey Mystery
- A Pioneer Sampler: The Daily Life of a Pioneer Family in 1840 (NF)
- The True Story of Trapper Joe’s Left Toe
- Canada (NF)
6-8
Check out Ebooks by subject!
Reading Log Prize Rules
- Put your name and phone number/e-mail address on your log.
- To enter, read or listen to at least ten books and write them on your log.
- One entry per child.
- MPL Staff & Board, and their immediate families, are not eligible to win..
- Reading logs must be turned in by AUGUST 13, 2020. Winners will be notified AUGUST 14, 2020.