Over winter break the Madison Public Library has some fun ways to keep your family entertained and engaged with books and reading! Our We Read: Winter Break edition includes programs, take-home kits, play and more. Madison Metropolitan School District is out for winter break December 21, 2023 - January 3, 2024. If you're looking for something fun to do with the kids, we've got lots of programs and activities to engage them!
Winter Break Activities:
NEW! Maker Kits: The Collage Quest Maker Kit was designed by Bubbler Artist Grace Olson to encourage creativity and storytelling between generations. Creating a collage is a wonderful way to tell stories, share memories, or generate ideas together. This kit can be used to create many different kinds of collage, whether alone or with friends and family this holiday season, and there's something for every age to enjoy - this isn't just for kids! The kit includes a special collage page full of images to cut out and arrange into a unique composition, as well as a spinner that you can use as an interactive game to guide your art adventure. Find the kits in a library near you beginning December 20, 2023. 
Baby Song Books: For the littlest library visitors, we've got Baby Song Books back in stock! These collections of rhymes and songs are a great tool for early literacy, as well as a sweet way to connect with your baby or toddler and spend time together. Plus, each rhyme or story comes with a QR code that you can scan to hear one of our library staffers singing or performing the entry! Programs
All Ages Art with Rita: Zines and Mini-Books
Wednesday, Dec 20, 10am | Sequoya Library
New Year's Eve Noisemaker
Tuesday, Dec 26, 1:30pm | Monroe street Library
Winter Break Crafternoon - Weaving
Wednesday, Dec 27, 1:30pm | Monroe Street Library
Winter Break Crafternoon - Comics & Superheros
Wednesday, Dec 27, 1:30pm | Monroe Street Library
Bubbler Artist in the Neighborhood: Creative Juicebox -- WINTER BREAK SPECIAL!
Wednesday, Dec 27, 2pm | Alicia Ashman Library
Paper Folding: Make a Moravian Star
Thursday, Dec 28, 10am | Sequoya Library
Building Self-Esteem Workshop for Teens
Thursday, Dec 28, 2-3pm | Lakeview Library
New Year's Eve Dance Party for 2 to 4 Year Olds (and their families)
Saturday, Dec 30, 10am | Pinney Library
Every library location has activities and programs happening for kids, teens, adults and families during Winter Break. Please visit madpl.org/calendar to see all of our events!
Anytime Activities for All
Play Spaces
At Madison Public Library, we believe in the value of play, especially child-led play, to build curiosity, skills, and the confidence needed to navigate the world. We know children benefit from playing alone, with other children, and with the adults in their lives. And most importantly, playing is joyful!
Each children’s area is designed to encourage the five practices of Every Child Ready to Read—talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing—and are viewed, along with books, as a key part of the early literacy experience for children.
Stop in, take a break from the bustle, and relax while your children play at the library this winter. Check out our new Play Guide, which describes the play space at each of our libraries and helps you find the best fit for your family.
We Read to Babies & Toddlers
Your librarians have created a book of rhymes and songs for babies and toddlers as part of We Read! You can pick up copies of this booklet at your local library, scan the QR code using your smart phone's camera and access songs on the go. Thanks to the many librarians who contributed their singing talent to creating this fun resource for families! Hear the songs online.
The Bubbler Room at Central Library
The BUBBLER ROOM is a physical space within Central Library, and is a resource for the library community and beyond. It houses our rotating artist-in-residence, provides our community partners a free space to run workshops and collaborate with one another, and offers patrons of all ages a studio space to create art, make a mess, and explore various mediums when visiting Central Madison Public Library.
The Bubbler Room is always open to the public unless it is reserved for a community partner program. Any closed times will be posted on the public calendar.
Enjoy from Home:
Online Storytimes: Browse a digital catalog of stories and fun that can be enjoyed anytime from home. These videos include storytime snippets, which are just 10 minutes or less, bilingual and Spanish storytimes, and some books told through rap and song with Mr. Alexis. TIME TO READ
Kanopy Kids: Kanopy is a video streaming service available for FREE with your Madison Public Library card. Kanopy Kids is a carefully curated collection of the best children’s programming available today. Kids' selections are curated to support early literacy, STEM education, and even foreign language learning. Using favorite children’s characters from Sesame Street, PBS Kids, Weston Woods, and more, the collection of kids films inspire empathy, critical thinking, and self-esteem in young viewers. TRY KANOPY KIDS
eBooks and Audiobooks: Check out eBooks or listen to Audiobooks for free from home using the Libby App to access the Wisconsin Digital Library. There are thousands of titles in Wisconsin’s Digital Library, including books, magazines and more for kids. LEARN MORE
Art with Amy: Check out our Art with Amy webpage, which includes supply lists and videos of local artist Amy making things like Treasure Maps, Flipbooks, and mini books. You can gather the supplies yourself and then follow along to do your own craft at home! GET CRAFTING
Cooking with Chef Lily: Learn healthy cooking tips and tricks at home with our online videos featuring Chef Lily, "The Kids Chef". She'll show you how to make Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins, Quesadillas, Pepperoni Pizza Zucchini Bites and more. You can download printable ingredient lists and recipes and then follow along as Chef Lily shows you how to put it all together. GET COOKING
App Picks for Kids: High-quality apps you can feel good about using with your child. Most are free or low-cost! SCROLL AWAY
We have even MORE events happening for kids, teens, adults and families during this time. Pleas