Programs & Activities for Kids
All library events will be held in person or as a grab-and-go kit. Please read program descriptions for special locations, registration requirements, and more. All library programs are free.
Make It! Junior
Grades 5K-6 
March 4 | March 25 | April 15
Get crafty with our grab and go craft kits designed to educate and delight. A new project is introduced every three weeks.
March 4: Paper Bag Otters
March 25: Rocking Snails
April 15: Bunny and Carrot Garland
Kits are available while supplies last. No registration required; just pick up.
Tiny Art Show
All Ages
Public display: April 5-30
The second annual Tiny Art Show is a month-long community art project for all ages. The twist? All art must be tiny!
Learn more about the Tiny Art Show here!
Stuffed Animal Sleepover
All Ages
Drop off: April 18 4:00-6:00 pm
Pick up: April 19 12:00-5:00 pm
Ever wonder what mischief a group of stuffed animals can get up to in the library? Sign your stuffed animal up for the library sleepover and find out! Bring your animal to the library any time during drop off time and complete a fun craft together, then read a book and tuck them in. Starting at 6:00 pm watch the library Facebook page for updates on the animals’ antics. Pick up your stuffie the next day and hear all about their fun night.
Registration required and is available here.
Early Explorer LabCrafts
Grades 1 & 2
Select Mondays
4:00-7:00 pm
Drop in anytime between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. on the dates below and have fun with STEAM projects. These projects are planned with younger creators in mind and are the perfect level for 1st and 2nd graders.
January 22: Clothespin Puppet
February 26: Pipe Cleaner Pencil Topper
March 25: Jiggling Jellyfish
April 22: Yarn Turtle
No registration required; just drop in.
Summer Reading Adventures: Adventure Begins at the Library
Birth-Grade 6
May 31- August 10
Adventure begins at the library with Summer Reading Adventures! Starting May 31, register on Beanstack for a summer of reading and activities. Receive fun prizes as well as coupons from local businesses for each of the six adventure completed.
To download the Beanstack app on your apple device, click here.
To download the Beanstack app on your android device, click here.
Are you going into 8th grade or older next school year and interested in being a teen volunteer with our Summer Reading Adventures? Check out more information on volunteering here.
Summer Reading Kickoff Party
All Ages
Friday, May 31
4-7 PM
Library Lawn
Party on the library lawn! Register for the summer reading program, play games, and get your face painted. At 6 PM Hale O Malo will present Hands On Hawaii, featuring traditional Hawaiian dance. Food and ice cream will be available for purchase. All ages are welcome!
5 and Up Performer Series
Ages 5 and older 
Select Mondays
1 PM
Village of Sussex Civic Center Community Room
Join us for fantastic performances that are certain to amaze and delight all who attend!
Pick up your free ticket at the Youth Services desk starting at 12:30 PM on performance days. Tickets will be needed to attend the performer. Due to room capacity, adults and children younger than 5 will not be able to attend performers.
June 17: Mad Science of Milwaukee in Up, Up and Away
During this event, experiments demonstrating the principles of air and pressure will captivate the audience. A dry-cleaning bag that becomes a hot air balloon, creating air vortexes with our vortex generator, and an exothermic reaction will leave the audience “blown” away!”
July 8: James the Magician
Join us for an amazing show that will delight and thrill all who come to see! James has been performing magic for most of his life, winning a talent show with his skills when he was just 6 years old, and know that magic and joy are contagious!
July 22: Ms. Kim’s Amazing Animals
Join Ms. Kim and her Amazing Animals for an interactive live animal show that educates and entertains. Stars of the show include lizards, snakes, hedgehog, chinchilla, and 25 year old tortoise. Participants will get a chance to hold and touch some of their favorite critters. A treat for animal lovers of all ages.
No registration required for performers; pick up your free ticket for performers at the Youth Services desk starting at 12:30 on performance days.
Family Storytime
Ages 0-4
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
June 11-July 25
(No programs the week of July 4)
10:00 AM
Traditional weekday storytime featuring stories, fingerplays, movement, and more. The same storytime is repeated throughout the week, so choose your favorite day to attend.
Storytime will be held indoors this summer.
No registration required; just drop in.
Toddler Time
Ages 0-4
Tuesdays
June 11-August 6
10:30-11:30 AM
Mondays
June 17, July 8, July 22
12:30-2:00 PM
Join us on the library lawn after storytime on Tuesdays for free play made just for younger friends. Toys and activities perfect for this age group will be available. Toddler Time will also be available during our Summer Performers on select Mondays to entertain those who are not old enough to go into our performer series.
No registration required; just drop in.
Make It! Junior
Grades 5K-6
June 3 | June 17 | July 1 | July 15 | July 29
Get crafty with our grab and go craft kits designed to educate and delight. A new project is introduced every two weeks.
June 3: Otherworld gates
June 17: Rainbow spinners
July 1: Toadstool folks
July 15: Pipe cleaner dragons
July 29: Sun prints
Kits are available while supplies last. No registration required; just pick up.
Advanced Adventurers
Grades 3 and up
Select Mondays
5:00-6:30 PM
Drop in and have fun with STEAM projects this summer! LabCrafts is prepared to have fun with an exciting array of science-y and artsy activities made for kids going into 3rd grade or older.
June 10: Bubble fish
June 24: Cardboard treehouses
July 8: Magic floating ball toy
July 22: Pompom critters
No registration required, just drop in.
Early Explorers
Grades 1 & 2
Select Mondays
5:00-6:30 PM
Drop in anytime on the dates below and have fun with STEAM projects. These projects are planned with younger creators in mind and are the perfect level for those going into 1st and 2nd grades.
June 17: Mythical critter houses
July 15: Animal suncatchers
July 29: Glitzy dragon eggs
No registration required; just drop in.
Open Lab
Grades 1 & up
Select Thursdays
June 13 & 27, July 11 & 25, August 8
1-3 PM
Drop in free time in KidsLab. Complete an activity that was previously offered during Advanced Adventurers or Early Explorers or work with other fun things in KidsLab.
No registration required; just drop in.
Reading on the Roof
Ages 6-10
Select Wednesdays
3:30 p.m.
Civic Center Roof Patio
Listen and lounge to a read-aloud of the first few chapters of an unforgettable chapter book. Afterwards, take home your own copy of the book to keep so you can find out where the story goes. Snacks and quiet activities, such as coloring, are welcome during the reading of the book.
June 12: Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
July 10: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
August 14: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
No registration required; just drop in. Program will be held rain or shine.
Sew XO
Grades 3–12
Thursdays, June 13 & 27: Meet the Sewing Machine
Thursdays, July 11 & August 1: Meet the Sewing Machine, Part 2
Prerequisite: Meet the Sewing Machine, Part 1
4:30 PM
Registration begins May 28
Do you love sewing? Join our small-group classes for tweens and teens to learn sewing machine basics and how to make simple, beautiful items with it. The class will be using Viking sewing machines, purchased with grant money from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Registration required and begins May 28; visit or call the youth services desk. Space is limited.
American Girl Dance Academy
Ages 6-12 (with an adult)
Wednesday, June 19
3:00 PM
Registration begins May 28
Get ready to dance at American Girl Dance Academy! Create crafts for yourself and your doll that will get you ready for all your dance needs. Learn a fun dance and even complete a dance obstacle course for you and your doll. Dolls are welcome, but having an American Girl doll is not required.
Registration is required and begins May 28.
Please note:
- -Registered attendees only may participate. There is usually a waitlist for this high demand program. An exact number of participants are expected and planned for. Additional materials and resources are not available for walk-ins, including unregistered siblings.
- -An adult (age 16+) must attend this event with the child.
Jedi Academy
Ages 6-12 (with an adult)
Wednesday, July 17
3:00 PM
Registration begins July 1
Is the force strong with you? Train at our Jedi Academy and complete games and activities created to make you the best Jedi ever!
Registration is required and begins July 1.
Please note:
- -Registered attendees only may participate. There is usually a waitlist for this high demand program. An exact number of participants are expected and planned for. Please respect that. Additional materials and resources are not available for walk-ins, including unregistered siblings.
- -An adult (age 16+) must attend this event with the child.
Dance Party!
Ages 10-18
Select Fridays
2:00 PM
Bring your friends and come hang out at the library to enjoy snacks, crafts and music from your favorite artists.
June 14: Dance Party! (Taylor’s Version)
July 19: Dance Party! (Just Dance)
August 9: Disco Dance Party! (ABBA and more!)
No registration required, just drop in.
Tie Dye Party
All Ages
Saturday, August 10
10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Library Lawn
Everyone is invited to our tie dye party! Bring your own items to dye on the library’s lawn and we will provide the dye and tools.
Kids ages 11 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
No registration required; just drop in.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Ages 0-Kindergarten
Self-paced
Ongoing
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a reading incentive program for the youngest readers/listeners, beginning at birth. The tracking program Beanstack, available both on your computer or as an app, offers an online framework that allows books to be counted and milestones to be marked with digital badges as well as stickers and other tokens picked up at the library.
Read more about 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten and Early Literacy.
Registration for this program is available on Beanstack! Sign up whenever you are ready to begin.
Please note: For the protection of children using the library, the Pauline Haass Public Library Child Safety Policy states:
Pauline Haass Public Library is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for children and families. Library staff have many duties to perform in order to serve the public. For this reason, the staff cannot monitor the behavior or whereabouts of each patron, including children, or take over parental responsibilities.
Children age five and under must be accompanied by, and within view of, an adult or caregiver at all times and in all areas of the building including the Children’s Area and the restrooms.
Please feel free to refer to our complete Child Safety Policy.