Little Things

Little Things is a collection of non-traditional library items, geared towards youth, that provide diverse opportunities for learning and engagement. The collection currently includes youth instruments and STEAM kits. Additional types of items and kits will be coming soon to the Little Things collection. All Little Things items can be checked out for free with your library card and are subject to our circulation policy.

Visit our library catalog to see a complete list of our Little Things collection.

For more items that provide opportunities for learning and engagement, check out our Library of Things collection.

STEAM Kits are amazing resources for all ages to learn about science, technology, engineering, art, and math through play-based fun. Each kit provides a unique STEAM resource accompanied by relevant and engaging books, DVDs, and guides.

Blocks Rock!
Blocks Rock! is competitive structured block play for kids that helps develop spatial thinking skills. Players compete to build a wooden block structure. There is also an optional free 3D app that adds an advanced expansion to the game. Suggested age: 4+
Includes book: Awesome Engineering Activities for Kids by Christina Herkert-Schul

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Bloxels

Get into video game development with Bloxels. Build your video games with a mix of physical and digital tools that include designs to help you get started creating your first game. Then bring your design to life with the free Bloxels Builder app. Suggested age: 8+
Includes book: Gaming with Bloxels by Amy Quinn

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Code & Go Robot Mouse

This coding set for kids turns coding into a hands-on analog activity for tactile and visual learners. Kids learn to program while they build key skills that include critical thinking, problem solving, sequencing, and programming fundamentals. Suggested age: 4+

Includes book: Find Out! Coding by James Floyd Kelly

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Coding Critters: Ranger & Zip
Meet the Coding Critters: your first coding friends! These playful puppy pets bring early STEM concepts to preschool learning through 100% screen-free coding. Kids code along with their new pets’ storybook adventure, and help the brave Ranger and mischievous Zip have a playtime they'll never forget! Suggested age: 4+

Includes book: My First Coding Book by Kiki Prottsman

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Dash Robot

Kids can give Dash Robot voice commands and explore loops, events, conditions, and sequences with the five free apps. It offers an open-ended learning platform that makes tech knowledge simple and accessible, helping kids grow into confident, creative architects. Suggested age: 6+

Includes book: Robotify It! by Elsie Olson OR Bots: Robotics Engineering with Hands-On Makerspace Activities by Kathy Ceceri

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Gravity Maze
This gravity-powered logic maze is sure to put your visual perception and reasoning skills to the test. The towers can be arranged in a wide variety of visually stimulating structures but, for each challenge, you’ll have to think carefully to build a path that will carry your marble to the Target Tower. Suggested age: 8+
Includes book: Science Stunts by Jordan D. Brown

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Human Body
Enter the amazing world of the human body with this hands-on kit – complete with vital organs as well as representative skeletal, vascular and muscular systems. Explore the workings of the human body and see how they fit together. Suggested age: 8+
Includes book: Human Body by DK and Magic School Bus Human Body DVD

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Keva Planks
Building with these precision-cut, quality-stained planks is an ideal way to experiment with balance and proportion, gain an interest in architecture and learn about color theory. Suggested age: 5+
Includes book: Dreaming Up by Christy Hale

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littleBits
The perfect introduction to inventing. The littleBits inventor kit includes everything creative kids need to turn their ideas into inventions. With a range of bits that move, light up and make noise, kids learn how technology is built and functions. Suggested age: 8+
Includes book: Getting Started with LittleBits by Ayah Bdeir

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Magna-Qubix
This 85-piece set of 3D magnetic building shapes are a great introduction to early building skills for little hands that are struggling to balance traditional building blocks. Magna-Qubix help develop hand-eye coordination, early math and engineering skills, promote the development of spatial awareness, and improve fine motor skills. Suggested age: 3+
Includes book: Magnets Push, Magnets Pull by David A. Adler, illustrated by Anna Raff

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Magna-Tiles
Magna-Tiles easily connect for hours of open-ended play. You can create 3D objects like cubes, pyramids, and other geometric shapes. Suggested age: 3+
Includes book: Tinkering by Curt Gabrielson

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Makey Makey
It’s a simple invention kit for anyone doing art, engineering, and everything in between. Connect the alligator clips to an object – be creative! – and the computer thinks a keyboard key is being pressed, so you can type a letter, jump in a video game, take a picture, or play some music. Suggested age: 8+
Includes book: Makey Makey by Sandy Ng

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MathLink Cubes
The Learning Resources MathLink Cubes Early Math Activity Set helps children learn addition, subtraction, sequencing, and more through fun hands-on math building activities. In addition to introducing early math concepts, MathLink Cubes also help little hands strengthen fine motor skills. Suggested age: 4+
Includes book: Bedtime Math by Laura Overdeck

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Microscope
The My First Lab Duo-Scope Microscope functions as a compound and stereo microscope in one unit. This allows you to view microscope slides as well as three dimensional items such as rocks and leaves. Suggested age: 9+
Includes book: The Ultimate Guide to Your Microscope by Shar Levine

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Rush Hour Game
In Rush Hour, a sliding block logic game, you have to battle the gridlock as you slide the blocking vehicles out of the way for the red car to exit. With 40 all-new challenges, ranging in difficulty, players can progress at their own speed. Suggested age: 8+
Includes book: Brain Games: Colossal Book of Cranium-Crushers by Stephanie Warren Drimmer and Dr. Gareth Moore

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Rush Hour Jr. Game
Rush Hour Jr. is the younger player version of ThinkFun's popular Rush Hour Traffic Jam logic game. Shift blocking cars and trucks out of your way to clear a path to the exit. The 40 leveled brainteaser challenges are a fun way to build problem-solving skills. Suggested age: 5+
Includes book: Awesome Brain Games for Kids by Tori Cameron

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Snap Circuits

Elenco Electronics Snap Circuits contains over 60 color-coded, real circuit components that snap together to create working electronic circuits and devices. This set offers 305 do-it-yourself projects that will give an entertaining, concrete education on how electronics work. Suggested age: 8+

Includes book: Electronics for Kids by Oyvind Nydal Dahl

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Snap Circuits Jr.
The Elenco Electronics Snap Circuits Jr. kit gives an introduction to electronics. It contains over 30 color-coded, real circuit components that snap together to create working electronic circuits and devices. This set offers 101 projects. Suggested age: 8+
Includes book: Circuits by Theodore Buchanan

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Squishy Circuits
Squishy Circuits uses conductive and insulating play dough to teach the basics of electrical circuits in a fun, hands-on way. Let your creations come to life as you light them up with LEDs and make noises with buzzers. Suggested age: 8+
Includes book: Building Squishy Circuits by AnnMarie Thomas

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Strawbees
Learn about engineering and develop problem-solving and motion skills in a fun way. Explore mechanisms and movements with connectors and construction straws designed to be used multiple times and combined with different materials. Suggested age: 6+
Includes book: Make This! by Ella Schwartz

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Telescope
The Celestron 21035 Travel Scope 70 is a compact 70mm refractor telescope that is easy and convenient to set up. It allows you to view the planets, moon, and star clusters, as well as brighter deep sky objects. Suggested age: 9+
Includes book: Night Sky by Howard Schneider

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3Doodler
A tactile learning toy, the 3Doodler Start inspires creativity, design, planning, building and spatial understanding. This 3D printing pen exudes low heat plastic that hardens almost instantly, allowing kids to literally draw in the air. Designed with no hot parts and safe for kids. Suggested age: 8+

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Try out a new instrument, learn to play, or just have fun with music with these instruments made for kids.

accordion

Accordion
The Woodstock Kid’s Accordion is a fun-yet-sensible introduction to the accordion. Just the right size for young hands, children can practice with detailed playing instructions and eight easy-to-play songs.

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Keyboard
Casio electronic keyboard with 44 mini sized keys and an easy-to-read LCD display.
Includes book: Level 1 Instruction Book

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Percussion Set
Making music can be fun and easy with pre-tuned instruments made of solid wood with a natural finish. Includes a hand-held bongo drum, a tambourine with 4 chrome-plated jingles, and a pair of crisp-sounding maracas.

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Ukulele
Try out the ukulele with this Ohana soprano ukulele, great for beginners, which comes with a tuner and carrying case.

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