Valentine Public Library

Shhhh!...We’re Reading Book Club: Wild Fire
2025-10-20 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)
Teens & tweens, get ready for a page-turner you won’t want to put down! This month, we’re diving into Wild Fire by Dee Garretson.
When a simple summer camp in the wilderness turns into a fight for survival, four teens must rely on their wits, courage, and each other to make it out alive. With danger closing in and the odds stacked against them, friendships are tested, secrets are revealed, and every choice could mean life or death.
Join us for a thrilling conversation and plenty of fun. This book is perfect for kids who love adventure, suspense, and stories that keep you on the edge of your seat!
Book description:
The president’s retreat, Camp David, is one of the safest places in the United States. So, why can’t the President’s son, Luke, and his friends, Theo and Callie, stay there without Secret Service agents constantly hovering over them, watching their every move? And yet, when an earthquake sets off a raging wildfire, causing a chain reaction that wreaks havoc at Camp David, they are suddenly on their own.
Now Luke needs a plan:

To override the security systems
To save those who were supposed to save him
To get through an impassable gate
To escape Camp David

Debut author Dee Garretson delivers a heart-pounding tween thriller—an action-packed adventure with undeniable suspense.

Craft Hour: Pumpkin Yarn Art
2025-10-21 15:45 - 16:45
🎃🧶 Kids in grades 3 and up are invited to get crafty with a Pumpkin Yarn Craft! Using yarn and glue, you’ll shape and design your very own pumpkin creation—perfect for adding a cozy fall touch to your seasonal décor.
It’s simple, fun, and a little bit messy…the best kind of crafting! 🍂

Craft Hour: Spooky Watercolor Painting
2025-10-23 15:45 - 16:45
🕷️🎨 Kids in grades K–5 are invited to make a Spooky Watercolor Painting! First, you’ll draw spider webs on your paper using a white crayon. Then, watch the magic happen as you spread watercolor paint across the page—the webs stay white while the colors swirl around them.
It’s a mix of art and mystery that’s perfectly spooky for the season! 🕸️✨🎃

Pre-K Story Time: Pumpkins
2025-10-24 09:30 - 10:00
Join us for Story Time—designed especially for Pre-K kids and their grown-ups!Each Friday from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., we explore a fun new theme through stories and hands-on crafts that spark creativity and learning.
What to Expect:

Themed Story Time: Listen to an engaging story each week.
Music & Motion: Join the music fun with rhythm sticks, egg shakers, and more—perfect for wiggling and giggling!
Craft Activity: Create a fun craft related to the story’s theme.

Bring your little ones for an enjoyable and creative start to their day! And don’t rush off after story time—stay for some “Fun with Friends” time in the kid’s corner. The kids can play while their caregivers connect and socialize. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and build community bonds.
Who: all toddlers and preschool-aged children accompanied by an adult are welcome!
Date and Time: Every Friday, 9:30 am – 10:00 am
We look forward to seeing you and your little ones here!

Craft Hour: Halloween Perler Bead Creations
2025-10-28 15:45 - 16:45
👻🎨 Kids in grades 3 and up can get spooky and creative with Halloween Perler Beads! Design your own haunting creation or choose from one of our fun Halloween patterns—think pumpkins, bats, ghosts, and more. Once the beads are fused, you’ll have a festive decoration to take home and enjoy.
It’s pixel art with a Halloween twist! 🦇🎃✨

Pre-K Story Time: Monsters (Kids can wear their costumes!)
2025-10-31 08:00 - 17:00
Happy Halloween! This week’s theme is Friendly Monsters! Kids can wear their Halloween costumes (any kind!) to storytime fun—then stop back by the library at 4:30 for the Annual Scare in the Square Trick-or-Treat Parade!
Join us for Story Time—designed especially for Pre-K kids and their grown-ups!Each Friday from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., we explore a fun new theme through stories and hands-on crafts that spark creativity and learning.
What to Expect:

Themed Story Time: Listen to an engaging story each week.
Music & Motion: Join the music fun with rhythm sticks, egg shakers, and more—perfect for wiggling and giggling!
Craft Activity: Create a fun craft related to the story’s theme.

Bring your little ones for an enjoyable and creative start to their day! And don’t rush off after story time—stay for some “Fun with Friends” time in the kid’s corner. The kids can play while their caregivers connect and socialize. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and build community bonds.
Who: all toddlers and preschool-aged children accompanied by an adult are welcome!
Date and Time: Every Friday, 9:30 am – 10:00 am
We look forward to seeing you and your little ones here!

Ag-Citing Science: Pumpkins to Pie!
2025-11-06 15:45 - 16:45
Join 4-H educator, Blair Speck, as brings agriculture to life for kids in grades K-5th! This collection of hands-on modules, created by the Nebraska 4-H Youth Development Ag & Food Systems Team and Nebraska Ag in the Classroom materials, is utilized to help youth explore agriculture.
Pumpkins to Pie – a hands on journey with a tasty finish! Perfect for Fall or Halloween, youth will explore the pumpkin life cycle and from seed to pumpkin. We
will use all our of sense when learning about pumpkins during this STEM lesson!

Ag-Science: Positively Popcorn!
2025-11-13 15:45 - 16:45
From Seed to Snack- Nebraska is the number 1 popcorn producer in the United States. In this lesson, youth will learn about the different types of popcorn, the importance of agriculture, and the science behind how popcorn is popped.
Kids in grades K-5th are invited to join Blair Speck, 4-H educator, for an hour of fun and learning. We provide all the supplies!

Kid’s Craft Hour – Turkey Windchimes
2025-11-20 15:45 - 16:45
Celebrate the season with creativity! Kids in grades K-5th are invited to join us to make festive Turkey Wind chimes using craft items and your imagination. Kids will design colorful turkeys that jingle in the breeze—perfect for decorating your home or giving as a handmade gift.
This fun craft boosts fine motor skills and encourages creative expression while adding a festive fall touch to your day. Come gobble up some crafting fun! 🦃✨

Craft Hour: Shrinky Dinks Magic!
2025-11-25 15:45 - 16:45
Create, color, and shrink your art into something amazing! During this fun craft hour, kids in grades 3 and up will design their own Shrinky Dinks—drawings that transform in the oven into hard, miniature charms and decorations. Make keychains, backpack tags, ornaments, or anything your imagination dreams up!
This hands-on activity is a favorite for boosting creativity, fine motor skills, and pure artistic fun. Come watch your artwork shrink into something awesome right before your eyes!

STEM Project (Grades 3 & Up): Build a Bird-Themed Pendulum
2025-12-02 15:45 - 16:45
When it comes to STEM learning, there’s no need to wing it—this hands-on project has everything kids need to let their creativity take flight! Students in grades 3 and up are invited to build their own charming bird-themed pendulums using foam pieces, paper straws, baker’s twine, wood beads, and clothespins.
We’ll explore how pendulums work, share fun facts from our resource guide, and spark curiosity with questions that keep young scientists thinking and engaged. All supplies are provided—just bring your imagination and get ready to learn through motion and creativity!

Craft Hour (K-5th): Fireplace Ornaments
2025-12-04 15:45 - 16:45
Join us for a cozy and creative Craft Hour at the library! Kids will be making adorable fireplace ornaments using construction paper, tissue paper, and ribbon. They can follow our step-by-step pattern or let their imagination run wild and design their own version. All supplies are provided—just bring your creativity and have fun!

Story Time (Pre-K): Candy Canes
2025-12-05 09:30 - 10:00

Craft Hour (Grades 3 & Up): Foam Gingerbread House
2025-12-09 15:45 - 16:45
Building a gingerbread house is a beloved holiday tradition—and now kids can create their own charming version at the library! This festive craft lets participants assemble a delightful foam gingerbread house they can proudly take home and display with their holiday decorations.
With self-adhesive foam pieces, the project is fun and easy —perfect for a busy holiday season. All supplies are provided, so come ready to build, create, and celebrate!

Ag-Citing Science Day: Legen-Dairy!
2025-12-11 15:45 - 16:45
Join Blair Speck, 4-H Educator, for a truly Legen-Dairy Ag-Citing Science Day at the library! From farm to glass, youth will explore how milk is safely produced and travels from the dairy to your fridge. Kids will sample some delicious dairy treats and even learn how to make their own butter in a jar. It’s hands-on, tasty, and packed with farm-fresh fun—don’t miss it!

Story Time (Pre-K): Gingerbread Man
2025-12-12 09:30 - 10:00

Create & Play Hour: Grades K–5
2025-12-18 15:45 - 16:45
Beat the boredom blues at the library during our Create & Play Hour! We’re cleaning out the craft closet and putting all our odds and ends, leftover supplies, and mystery materials out for kids to get crafty and creative. Build, glue, design—anything goes! We’ll also have Legos and Magna-Tiles out for extra building fun. All supplies are provided—just come ready to imagine, create, and play!

Story Time (Pre-K): Reindeer
2025-12-19 09:30 - 10:00

Holiday Movie Afternoon (ages 6 & up): The Polar Express
2025-12-23 15:00 - 17:00
All aboard! Kids ages 6 & up are invited to join us for a cozy holiday movie afternoon at the library as we watch The Polar Express. We’ll have hot chocolate and popcorn ready, and everyone can pile onto the floor together for a fun, comfy viewing. Feel free to bring your own pillow to sit on—let’s kick off the holiday season with a little movie magic!

Polar Express Movie Matinee
2025-12-23 15:00 - 17:00
All aboard! Join us at the Valentine Public Library for a cozy showing of The Polar Express. We’ll be serving hot chocolate and popcorn, so come ready to sip, snack, and settle in for this holiday favorite. You are welcome to bring a warm throw and pillow to be extra comfy!
The movie is rated G and all ages are welcome; children 6 and under are invited to attend with an adult. Make it a new holiday tradition and share the magic of the season at VPL! 🚂✨

Story Time (Pre-K): Whales
2026-01-02 09:30 - 10:00

STEAM Activity: Doodling Shake Bots (Grades 3 & Up)
2026-01-06 15:45 - 16:45
Get ready for a hands-on STEAM adventure! Kids in grades 3 and up are invited to build their very own doodling shake bots—simple little robots that wiggle, shake, and create awesome designs all on their own.
We’ll explore creativity, problem-solving, and a bit of science and engineering while having tons of fun. Kids will build, test, tweak, and watch their bots come to life as they doodle across the page. Join us for a high-energy, creative STEAM challenge!

Bingo at the Library!
2026-01-08 15:45 - 16:45
Ready to shout BINGO!? Join us at the Valentine Public Library for an all-ages Bingo hour filled with laughter, a little friendly competition, and fun prizes!
This time slot is usually our craft hour for kids in grades K and up, but today we’re mixing things up and inviting everyone to play… the more the merrier! Bring your best Bingo luck and get ready for a great time at the library!

Story Time (Pre-K): Snowman
2026-01-09 09:30 - 10:00

STEAM with 4-H: Potato & Lemon Power! (Grades 3 & Up)
2026-01-13 15:45 - 16:45
Join us and Blair Speck, 4-H Educator, for an exciting hands-on STEAM adventure! We’ll discover how everyday items like potatoes and lemons can make electricity. Kids will learn a little science, do a little experimenting, and have a whole lot of fun as we explore how energy works.
Come get curious, get creative, and see science spark to life at the library!

Craft Hour (Grades K-5): Chalk Pastel Snowglobes
2026-01-15 15:45 - 16:45
Kids in grades K–5 are invited to join us for a magical winter-themed craft hour! This week, we’re creating chalk pastel snowglobe pictures—bright, colorful, and full of snowy fun.
We’ll provide all the supplies and guidance, so kids can let their creativity shine and take home a cozy winter scene they’ll be proud of. Come make art, make friends, and make a little winter magic at the library!

Story Time (Pre-K): Appreciate a Dragon Day!
2026-01-16 09:30 - 10:00
Join us for Story Time—designed especially for Pre-K kids and their grown-ups! This week is ‘Appreciate a Dragon Day’ and we will have guest reader, Dana Miller, here to help us celebrate!Each Friday from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., we explore a fun new theme through stories and hands-on crafts that spark creativity and learning.
What to Expect:

Themed Story Time: Listen to an engaging story each week.
Music & Motion: Join the music fun with rhythm sticks, egg shakers, and more—perfect for wiggling and giggling!
Craft Activity: Create a fun craft related to the story’s theme.

Bring your little ones for an enjoyable and creative start to their day! And don’t rush off after story time—stay for some “Fun with Friends” time in the kid’s corner. The kids can play while their caregivers connect and socialize. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and build community bonds.
Who: all toddlers and preschool-aged children accompanied by an adult are welcome!
Date and Time: Every Friday, 9:30 am – 10:00 am
We look forward to seeing you and your little ones here!

Craft Hour (Grades K-5): Snow Dough Snowman
2026-01-22 15:45 - 16:45
Let it snow… indoors! Kids in grades K–5 are invited to join us for a super fun craft hour where we’ll be making our very own snow dough snowmen. This squishy, moldable “snow” is perfect for shaping, decorating, and bringing a frosty friend to life—without getting cold!
We’ll roll, stack, and add cute details to make each snowman unique. It’s creative, hands-on, and guaranteed to bring lots of smiles. Come build a snowman with us at the library!

Loom Bracelet Craft (Grades 3 & Up)
2026-01-27 15:45 - 16:45
Get ready to create something colorful and awesome! Kids in grades 3 and up are invited to join us for a hands-on craft hour making loom bracelets. We’ll twist, loop, and design our own wearable creations using bright bands and lots of creativity.
It’s fun, relaxing, and the perfect chance to make something to keep or share with a friend. Come craft with us!

Craft Hour (Grades K-5): Snowflake Bookmark
2026-01-29 15:45 - 16:45
Warm up with a cool craft! Kids in grades K–5 are invited to make their very own snowflake bookmarks using a fun foam craft kit. Each bookmark will be unique, colorful, and perfect for saving a place in their favorite winter reads.
It’s easy, creative, and a great way to add a little winter magic to reading time. Come craft with us and make something you’ll love using again and again!
