This post is sponsored by Johnson County Library.
Check out their full summer programming online!
There are Ocean of Possibilities at Johnson County Library this summer! Youth-centered June programs will be offered virtually or outdoors, including the Summer Reading Launch on Saturday, June 4. For a full list of programs, visit the online calendar.
Read to a Dog 
The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program improves children’s reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to a registered therapy dog. These dogs volunteer with their owner/handlers as a team. Please note, space is limited for this program. Kids will get a ticket at arrival and wait their turn to read to one of several dogs.
Wednesday, July 6, 1 p.m. | Monticello
Wednesday, July 13, 1 p.m. | Central Resource
Wednesday, July 20, 1 p.m. | Leawood Pioneer
Wednesday, July 27, 1 p.m. | Antioch
Storytimes
Online Storytimes
Facebook Live Storytimes at 10 a.m.
June 10, 17, 24 and July 1
Bilingual: June 6, 13, 27
Special Storytime: Celebrate Juneteenth (June 15, virtual)
Celebrate Juneteenth with Newbery and Caldecott Honor author Carole Boston Weatherford and poet and illustrator Jeffery Boston Weatherford. The whole family will enjoy Juneteenth stories and spoken word poetry on African American heritage. Register to receive Zoom link.
Walk and Reads
Wilder Bluffs Walk and Read
Two stories, Boats Float! and After Squidnight, will be posted for kids of all ages to enjoy while exploring the great outdoors. May 21-30 at Wilder Bluffs Park. Learn more.
Sar-Ko-Park Walk and Read
Two stories, “Hello Ocean” by Pam Muñoz Ryan and “Just Be Jelly” by Maddie Frost, will be posted.May 28-June 5 at Sar-Ko-Par Park. Learn more.
Juneteenth Walk and Read
The stories posted for this special event will be “Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free” by Alice Faye Duncan and “Change Sings” by Amanda Gorman. June 19-June 30 at Johnson County Square. Learn more.
Special Summer Events at Johnson County Libraries
Meet Narwahl and Jelly Creator Ben Clanton (June 4, virtual)
Ben Clanton, creator of the “Narwhal and Jelly” books, will share his journey from struggling to avid reader, and how his characters come to life. He will demonstrate doodling and guided drawings while attendees learn about making characters and discovering their stories. Register to receive the Zoom link.
Summer Reading Trivia Launch Party (June 4, virtual)
Everyone is welcome for our Summer Reading launch extravaganza featuring live musical entertainment and trivia. Groove to the music then pause to catch your breath and test your trivia mettle on questions suitable for the whole family. Can you claim the top spot? Register to receive Zoom link.
Penguin Encounter with the Kansas City Zoo (June 21, virtual)
Visit the penguins of the Kansas City Zoo from the comfort of your home! Animal experts will walk us through a day in the life of the three different species of penguins that call the zoo home. Watch the animals eating, swimming, and living life. Come ready to ask your questions about these incredible swimming birds as we explore Oceans of Possibility this summer. Register to receive Zoom link.
Family Fun on a Bike (June 16, Central Resource Library)
Join BikeWalkKC and Johnson County Library for a family bike party at Central Resource Library. Test out family-oriented bike gear like kid carriers and strider bikes for the little ones, practice fitting bike helmets and learn the basic rules of the road for Kansas and Missouri. Live and in-person, we’ll meet at the bicycle fix-it stand in front of Central Resource Library. Register here.
How to Snag a Sea Monster with Mesner Puppet Theater (July 8, Cornerstone Park)
Join Mesner Puppet Theater for a summer reading inspired adventure! After a monstrous wave washes a creature ashore, the people of a small Cape Cod town hear a strange wailing. Is it a sea monster in their midst? No, it’s a baby as big as a house! The village adopts the giant baby, whom they name Stormalong — ‘Stormy’ for short. Growing over 24 feet, Stormy struggles to fit in, and chooses a life at sea aboard a clipper ship to find a place in the world. Meanwhile, a real sea monster torments the village… and only Stormy is big and brave enough to save them all. Stick around after the performance for a screening of the 1970s classic Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Location: Cornerstone Park in Gardner, Kan.
Movie in the Park: Free Willy (July 22, Electric Park)
Grab a blanket, pack a picnic, and cool down with us for this 1990s classic. The Kansas City Civic Orchestra will kick-off at 7 p.m. prior to the showing which will start at dusk. Learn more.
End of Summer Reading Celebration (July 29, Thompson Park)
We will celebrate our summer of reading with live music, activities and a movie in the park (Finding Nemo) in downtown Overland Park. Bring the family to enjoy an evening in the park. Check the Library’s Summer Reading website at jocolibrary.org/summerreading and social media in July for more details.
