We Read Winter Break


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: Spring Break edition includes programs, take-home kits, play and more. Madison Metropolitan School District is out for winter break December 20, 2023 – January 2, 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: 

Winter Break at Central Library: 

Wisconsin Book Festival Presents Jan Brett for COZY
Saturday, December 2, 5pm 

Winter Break at Monroe Street Library:

New Year’s Eve Noisemaker
Tuesday, December 26, 1:30pm

Winter Break Crafternoon – Weaving
Wednesday, December 27, 1:30pm

Winter Break Crafternoon – Comics & Superheros
Wednesday, December 27, 1:30pm

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

Play space at Lakeview Library for We Read Winter BreakAt the beginning of 2022 the Madison Public Library Foundation provided financial support to update the play spaces at all nine of our libraries in order to reflect our philosophy around play City-wide. We very deliberately chose new, fun and minimally structured materials that allow kids to come up with their own ideas and figure out solutions to their own problems. The new, open-ended play materials can be used in a variety of different ways depending on your child’s interests and imagination. 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

We Read to Babies and Toddlers Baby Song BookYour 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: 

Kanopy Kids is available for free from Madison Public LibraryOnline 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

Kids magazines are available on Libby from Madison Public LibraryeBooks 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


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