Submitted by Tammy Eustis
(June 25, 2025) — Level Up your summer reading at Killingworth Library! We’re offering a wide range of activities for all ages during the month of July. For programs that require pre-registration, visit the Calendar on the library’s website – killingworthlibrary.org – or call 860-663-2000.
Reading Dragons Coloring Contest – Week of June 30th through July 5th. If your child or tween has been enjoying the Reading Dragons program this summer, don’t miss the opportunity for them to get cards inspired by their own artwork. This week, we’ll have Sphynx and Dragon coloring sheets available in the tween area. Return the colored sheets to the drop box by the end of Saturday, and we’ll hold a public vote to pick the library’s favorite creatures. The winning designs (one Sphynx and one Dragon) will each get converted to digital artwork, and be printed onto real cards for participants to collect for the rest of the summer. Have fun, and get creative!
Dungeons & Dragons for Tweens – Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m., for six weeks starting July 1, 2025. All levels of experience are welcome: seasoned dragon-slayers, and those who’ve never held a pair of dice. Materials will be provided, so all you need to bring is teamwork and a willingness to meet new friends. Registration for the first session will sign you up for all six weeks – attend as you can! (We will have overflow sessions available on Thursdays at 4:00 p.m., as needed.)
Math Mania –Tuesdays in July at 5:00 p.m., for five weeks starting July 1, 2025. Play some games that reinforce your math skills at the same time. Join Mrs. Fig and other math mania enthusiasts as we learn a new game or two in each session! Suitable for elementary age children. Please register for each session that you can attend.
Adult Movie Night: Knives Out – Wednesday, July 2, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The circumstances surrounding the death of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey are mysterious, but there’s one thing that renowned Detective Benoit Blanc knows for sure — everyone in the wildly dysfunctional Thrombey family is a suspect. Now, Blanc must sift through a web of lies and red herrings to uncover the truth. We will be meeting in the adult reading area after the library closes at 6:00 p.m. Feel free to bring your own snacks and (covered, non-alcoholic) drinks. Please register so that we know how many guests to expect.
Family Board Game Night – Monday, July 7, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Stop by and try out some of the library’s board games. We’ll have options for all age groups. Bring family or friends, or meet someone new to play with. This is a drop-in event; no registration is necessary.
Novel Games – Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. starting July 10, 2025. Come play an original board game – designed by Mrs. Fig – based on a fun book! Extra copies of each title will be available at the circulation desk for checkout, so you can read ahead. For children ages 7 to 9. Please register for the sessions you would like to attend:
July 10th title: Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express by Megan McDonald
July 17th title: Dogtown by Katherine Applegate
July 31st title: Emma and the Blue Genie by Cornelia Funke
Pool Noodle Marble Runs – Ages 4 to 10 – Thursday, July 10, 2025 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Come hear the story “Rosie Revere, Engineer.” Then use all the materials provided to create your own marble racetrack! We’ll problem-solve and level up our designs while having fun with other future engineers. For children ages 4 to 10. Please register in advance.
Summer “Drive-In” Movies –Thursdays in July at 5:30 p.m. Bring a beach blanket and come to the children’s room for a “drive-in” movie! Little patrons and their families are invited to enjoy a bag of Smartfood popcorn while enjoying a feature film. Space is limited, so please register in advance.
July 10th: Finding Nemo (Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes)
July 24th: Judy Moody & the Not-So-Bummer Summer (Running Time: 1 hour, 31 minutes)
Teen Game Night – Fridays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. starting July 11, 2025. Come play some board games or video games in our community room. We’ll have some consoles and games on hand, but feel free to bring your own, along with extra games or controllers. Meet fellow players and enjoy a fun, social environment. Pizza will be available. This event is for ages 13 to 18. Please register in advance, so that we know how much food to have on hand.
Writers Writing – Continues on Fridays, July 11th and 25th from 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Our popular writing workshop continues through the summer, with a focus on personal writing: memoirs and personal essays. We will continue with free writes, short lectures, handouts on strategy, and revision discussions and assignments. NOTE: sharing is not required – shyness and uncertainty are always welcome! Registration is preferred, but please drop in if you are considering an ongoing writing group. Suitable for teens through seniors.
Family Recess – Saturdays, July 12th and 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Families and friends of all ages who want to unplug and have some good ol’ fun are invited to play in the library’s backyard! We’ll have Bocce, Cornhole, Giant Jenga, Yardzee, and other outside activities to choose from. In case of inclement weather – or if you just want to stay inside and keep cool – there are plenty of board games and puzzles to choose from in the library’s collection. Grab a table and have fun! This activity is drop-in, no registration necessary.
Create a Pirate Mask – Saturday, July 12, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The library is hosting a Treasure-Island themed Escape Room, and we need help creating decorations! Youths ages 8 through 16 are invited to design and make the features for a pirate mask, using papier-mache. The masks will then need time to dry. If you are able to join us on Monday, July 14th from 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., you can finish the features with paint! (If you can’t make it, we will be sure your masks get painted and displayed.) All materials will be provided. Be sure to come experience our Escape Room, enjoy the game, and see all your creations. (Once the Escape Room is over, you may take your mask home.) Space is limited, so please register in advance.
Art for All: Art Deco vs. Art Nouveau – Monday, July 14, 2025 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Learn the difference between Art Deco versus Art Nouveau – starting with a brief discussion. Then, explore and create. Design your own collage or drawing in any style you prefer. In the spirit of our game-themed summer programs at the library, we’ll also have an “Art for All Jeopardy” handout – a quiz you can complete in the group or at home. Suitable for adults. Please register in advance.
BINGO with Bingo and Bluey – Tuesday, July 15, 2025 from 1:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. and Thursday, July 24, 2025 from 3:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Join Mrs. Fig – and Bingo and Bluey – for a few fun rounds of summer-themed BINGO… complete with prizes! All participants can take home a summer reading BINGO sheet to keep their pleasure reading rolling. For children ages 3 and older. Please register for whichever session you would like to attend.
Rock, Paper, Scissors – Wednesday, July 16, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon. Come hear Mrs. Fig read “The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors” by Drew Daywalt. Then we’ll learn how to play this classic game – maybe even create our own variations – and hold a Rock, Paper, Scissors Library Tournament! For elementary age children. Please register in advance.
Nature Games – Thursday, July 17th from 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. We are bringing the outdoors and nature inside for this hands-on, fun session. Enjoy bug- and animal-themed games, plus a special Rock Game presented by Miss Sparkie that will really get you thinking. For children ages 5 and older. Please register in advance.
Who Would Win? – Thursday, July 17, 2025 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. We’ve turned thef Who Would Win? books into a game! Come hear a favorite story from “Wild Warriors,” then put your math skills to work. We’ll compare the difference in animals’ lengths, weights, and speeds to determine Who Would Win. For children in grades 1 through 4. Please register in advance.
Puzzle & Game Swap – Donations accepted starting July 1st, swap on Saturday, July 19th from 10:30am-12:30pm. Do you have old puzzles or board games gathering dust? Looking for something new to play? Join the swap! Participants will get a ticket for each puzzle or game that they drop off, and can use those tickets to “purchase” games left by others. Mark donations with a note that says “swap”, and leave them at the desk. Please ensure that puzzles have all their pieces, board games are complete, and everything is in overall good condition. No registration necessary, just drop in.
DIY Photo Holders – Saturday, July 19th from 10:30am-11:15am. Looking for a simple and creative way to display a special photo? Come decorate a rock, wrap wire, and embellish it all with beads and other baubles – a great gift, or keep it for yourself! For children ages 8 and older. Materials will be provided. Please register in advance.
Music with Margie Summer Concert – Saturday, July 26th from 11:00am-11:40am. Get ready to play the Color Cruise Game – an interactive music program celebrating colors, shapes, counting, same/different concepts, and team building! It’s an action-packed indoor game, where children ages 3 to 8 are welcome to participate. It’s very musical, so babies and toddlers are welcome to enjoy from the sidelines, too. Space is limited, so please register in advance.
Escape Room: Return to Treasure Island – Monday, July 28th through Friday, August 1st
from 10:00am-5:00pm. All this week, sign up to test your wits and unlock the pirates’ treasure in our Return to Treasure Island escape room! Players will pass through the cover of a book, and enter the world of Treasure Island… Long John Silver’s treasure chest holds the key to your escape, but you’ll need to reveal all the pieces of his map before you can open it. This escape room is recommended for groups of up to 6 — teens, adults, and family groups are all welcome. You will have one hour to complete the room once you start. Registration is free! Visit the event’s listing on our Calendar – killingworthlibrary.libcal.com – for a link to the registration page, or call 860-663-2000 to reserve your spot!
Pick a Path – Tuesday, July 29th from 3:00pm-4:00pm. Have you ever wished you could make decisions for characters in the stories you are reading? Mrs. Fig will introduce you to a Choose Your Own Adventure book. We’ll make choices and pick the path we want the characters to follow. For children in grades 1 through 4. Please register in advance.
Storybook Headbanz Game – Thursday, July 31st from 3:00pm-4:00pm. Join us for this silly Q&A game – level up your questions so you can figure out “Who you are”! We’ll also have fun with Mrs. Fig’s storybook cards, to find out which storybook characters we most resemble. For children in grades 2 through 5. Please register in advance.
