Everyone talks about Dream Park. I would like to introduce the title Dream Library to
describe the Verona Library (No.12), because it is equally as awesome! I feel like when they built the
new library in 2006, they give the children’s librarians a blank check and said
“oh, just make a list of everything that would make a kid’s program
spectacular.”
They have a train table, mountains of puzzles, and even a
slide! There are blocks for
building, gears for connections, and a magnetic sand table for shifting around metal
cars. Aurora has spent hours and
hours pretending to shop, prepare, and eat their giant collection of plastic
food. Adeline enjoys playing
with/smashing together their Sesame Street figurines and loves their wooden
baby toy.
Their book collection is enormous, as is their kid’s music
collection. Their computers are
set up with fun children’s games that only allow for fifteen-minute sessions to
encourage kids to do other things while simultaneously expediting sharing. They have a terrific themed box
selection of kits they have compiled with books, movies & toys centered
around a theme. This is the library
that allowed us to check out a parachute!
We have played with rocks and minerals and learned animal
tracks in their rotating science corner. It is currently stocked with
binoculars and field guides to encourage birding from their windows, which
overlook the beautiful tall grass prairie of neighboring Badger Prairie Park.
Their activity room is clean and modern. Their story times are well blended with
songs, dancing, crafts, short films, and lots and lots of books. Storytimes are diversely themed; this
spring we went to one promoting good money practices and the following week we
enjoyed one about pickles! For their really big events, they
move into the community room. Here
Aurora has seen magicians, danced with the Verona ballet, and discovered she does
like eating ham thanks to their Green Eggs and Ham party!
Best of all, in the center of their rows and rows of books,
they have a castle. A castle! In the middle of the library! Each corner is cushioned creating four
delightful reading nooks - perfect places to devour piles of books to fill your
1000 Books Before Kindergarten or summer reading book journal.
I feel like I am forgetting to rave about something. Their iPad full of educational apps.
Their family bathroom complete with toddler potty located right in the kid’s
section. The fact that Aurora and
Adeline never want to leave and beg to stay at the library longer. Anyway, like I was saying earlier –
Dream Library!
