The summer reading program for children and teens continues this month: Plant a Seed, Read! The program runs through Monday, August 31. Kids ages 3-18 can sign up any time all summer, so families can stop in to get started this month or next — whenever it’s convenient. Bring in your completed reading logs to get “library loot” and use that to buy small prizes. New prizes have continued to be added to the selection. Kids can do one reading sheet after another all summer until late August and keep earning prizes.

For the first time, the Cosmos Library is offering a summer reading challenge for adults. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, pick up a reading sheet at the library and read 5 things from a long list of options. Bring in your completed sheet by August 15 for a small prize. Make sure to check the back of the sheet for all of your reading choices. You can read the core documents of the U.S., read Revolutionary War era history or historical fiction, or read about American history and culture across the whole 250 years and more. The semiquincentennial is a great occasion to learn more about all of America, not only its founding or government.

Fun activities are happening at the library in July:

• Mondays all summer at 10:30 a.m.: Tiny Tykes Storytime. Bring the kids ages 0-5 for a short program with stories and songs. No need to sign up.
• Mondays all summer, 3:00-4:30 p.m.: Pokémon Trading Card Game. For kids age 7 and up. No need to sign up.
• Take-Home Tuesdays on the first 3 Tuesdays in July: Stop in to pick up a kids’ craft kit beginning on Tuesday, while supplies last. On 7/7 the project will be for teens: a U.S.A sand art bottle craft. On 7/14, it will be for children: a s’more campfire lacing craft. And on 7/21 it will be a paper strip ice cream craft. One per child, please.
• Thursday, July 9, 2:30 p.m.: The Science Museum of Minnesota presents Dinosaurs! Kids of all ages are welcome to attend this free educational presentation in the community room. No need to sign up.
• Friday, June 17, 5:00-8:00 p.m.: Space Festival mini golf. Drop in anytime during the program to play free mini golf in the community room and library. For all ages. No need to sign up.
• Saturday, July 18, 10:30 a.m.: Saturday Storytime. Bring the kids to the library’s monthly storytime on the 3^rd Saturday of the month all summer for stories and an activity. No need to sign up.
• Tuesday, July 21, 3:00 p.m.: Summer Splash Goldfish Painting Workshop. Artist Carol Slinden will teach this free painting class for all ages. All supplies are provided. Space is limited, so call the library at 320-440-1012 or stop at the front desk to sign up.
• Saturday, July 25, 10:30 a.m.: Garden wand class. In this free program, participants will assemble a beaded stake for their garden. All supplies are provided. For ages 8 through adult. Space is limited, so call the library at 320-440-1012 or stop at the desk to sign up.

As always, children ages 7 and younger must be accompanied by an adult or teen caregiver who will stay with them. And as always, library programs are free.

Pioneerland libraries will be closed on Saturday, July 4^th for Independence Day. Cosmos Library’s hours are Mondays 10-5, Tuesdays 2-5, Thursdays 2-6, Fridays 2-5, and Saturdays 10-1. Find us in city hall, at www.cosmos.lib.mn.us, or at 320-440-1012. You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook.

View the challenge sheet here: Adult America 250 reading challenge

Bring the kids to Saturday Storytime this summer! At 10:30 a.m. on the 3rd Saturday of the month, we’ll hold a storytime for kids in the library. At the June storytime, the Danielson Hustlers 4-H Club will lead the program, leading kids in planting seeds as well as reading stories.

Free to attend. No need to sign up. Children age 7 and younger must be accompanied by an adult or teen caregiver. Caregivers are encouraged to participate along with their children.

Dates:

• June 20: special guests the Danielson Hustlers 4-H Club
• July 18
• August 15

Pokémon Trading Card Game time is moving to Mondays this summer! Beginning June 1, this program will be offered Mondays through August 31, 3:00-4:30 p.m. No Pokémon June 29.

Open to kids ages 7-18. Children under age 8 must be accompanied by an adult or teen caregiver. Caregivers are welcome to stay with kids at any time.

Never played Pokémon before? We can teach you! No cards? No problem. The library has all the cards needed to play. Want to bring your own cards? That’s okay, too.

No need to sign up or to attend every week. Free!

Cosmos Library is offering a weekly storytime for summer! Bring your young children to Tiny Tykes Storytime on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. in the library. This free program runs from June 1 through August 31. No storytime June 29.

This short time of stories, songs, and movement is best for ages 0-5. No need to sign up. An adult or teen caregiver must accompany the children, and they are encouraged to participate, as well.

Summer is almost here, and so is the summer reading program: Plant a Seed, Read! This year’s program is all about gardening, farming, and plants. The program begins Monday, June 1, and runs through Monday, August 31. Kids ages 3-18 can sign up any time June 1 or after all summer, so families can stop in to get started in June, July, or August — whenever it’s convenient.

The summer reading program is something kids do on their own time, working their way through the reading game sheets by reading or being read to, and doing other fun activities. The reading log for children looks like a board game. The teen reading log is a chart to simply record hours spent reading.

When they sign up, kids get book bag, a reading sheet, a bookmark, a tattoo, and a treat, and they can choose a free book to keep. Each time they turn in a completed reading sheet, they will earn “library loot,” pretend money that they can turn in for a choice of small prizes.

The goal of the summer reading program is to encourage kids to read all summer long, so that they keep up their reading skills and return to school in the fall ready to learn. Kids can do one reading sheet after another all summer until late August and keep earning prizes.

Fun activities are happening at the library in June:

Mondays all summer, beginning June 1, at 10:30 a.m.: Tiny Tykes Storytime. Bring the kids ages 0-5 for a short program with stories and songs. No need to sign up. No storytime June 29.

Mondays all summer, beginning June 1, 3:00-4:30 p.m.: Pokémon Trading Card Game. For kids age 7 and up. No need to sign up. No Pokémon June 29.

Thursday, June 4, 2:00 p.m.: Tote Bag Block Printing class. Open to all ages. Space is limited: sign up by calling the library at 320-440-1012 or by stopping at the front desk. This class will be taught by Meredith Semel.

Tuesday, June 9, 3:00 p.m.: Mosaic Seed Art Treasure Boxes class. Open to all ages. Space is limited: sign up by calling the library at 320-440-1012 or by stopping at the front desk. This class will be taught by Jen Anfinson.

Take-Home Tuesdays every Tuesday in June: Stop in to pick up a kids’ craft kit beginning on Tuesday, while supplies last. On 6/2 the project will be Garden Gang Scratch Art, 6/9 will be a beaded American flag pin, 6/16 will be a Father’s Day card, and 6/23 will be a patriotic Peanuts craft.

Thursday, June 11, 2:00 p.m.: CLIMB Theatre presents Once Upon a Beanstalk, a short, interactive play for children. No need to sign up.

Saturday, June 20, 10:30 a.m.: Saturday Storytime. Bring the kids to the library’s monthly storytime on the 3^rd Saturday of June, July, and August. We’ll have stories and an activity. In June, 4-H will present a special storytime. No need to sign up.

As always, children ages 7 and younger must be accompanied by an adult or teen caregiver who will stay with them. And as always, library programs are free.

The seed library continues to be available for all ages. You can take up to 4 mini packets of seeds per week. If you have seeds to donate, we will gladly take them.

Pioneerland libraries will be closed on Friday, June 19, for the Juneteenth holiday. Cosmos Library’s hours are Mondays 10-5, Tuesdays 2-5, Thursdays 2-6, Fridays 2-5, and Saturdays 10-1. Find us in city hall, at www.cosmos.lib.mn.us, or at 320-440-1012. You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook.