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, STEAM kits, and Storytime 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.

Games & Toys
Borrow a fun game or doll to bring home and play with!

American Girl Dolls
American Girl and Truly Me dolls are 18-inch dolls that portray kids of various ethnicities, faiths, and social classes from different time periods throughout history and contemporary life. Each doll comes with an outfit, accessories, a book, and a carrying case.

Dolls Include:
Felicity
Kit
Luciana
Marie-Grace
Melody
Truly Me Boy

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Instruments
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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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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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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Fairy Tales Problem Solving STEAM Kits
Kids engineer happier endings to fairy tales—as they design a house that can’t be blown down, build a chair even Goldilocks can’t break, and more. These kits help children discover the STEAM in their favorite fairy tales—and naturally inspire them to explore each challenging situation until they find a solution. Each kit comes with a book, a STEAM-focused story card, building materials, a teacher's guide, and challenge cards. Suggested age: 3+

Kits include:
Gingerbread Man
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Little Red Riding Hood
Rapunzel
Three Little Pigs
Three Billy Goats Gruff

Click on each link above to place a hold.

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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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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Storytime Kits are geared towards children birth to five and support the development of early literacy skills. The kits encourage five activities that caregivers can do with children: reading, singing, talking, writing, and playing. Each kit has a theme and includes books, toys, and an activity sheet.

Alphabet
Get children excited about alphabet practice. Suggested age: 3+. Kit includes:
Melissa & Doug Self-Correcting Alphabet Letter Puzzles: Help kids learn the ABCs as they match capital and lowercase letters to pictures.
Write the Letter Activity Center: Gives early learners a hands-on way to explore letters as they practice printing perfect letters on mini magic boards.
Book: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. & John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
Book: LMNO Peas by Keith Baker
Book: Alphaprints: ABC by Roger Priddy

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Colors Colors
Help children learn their colors. Suggested age: 2+. Kit includes:
Melissa and Doug Colorful Fish Wooden Chunky Puzzle: Colors and color names underneath the eight, easy-to-grasp pieces help make this beginning puzzle quick to solve and help reinforce color and word recognition.
Colors Bean Bag Set: Explore colors with a fun-filled beanbag toss with eight labeled, colorful bean bags.
Book: Blue Goose by Nancy Tafuri
Book: Dog's Colorful Day by Emma Dodd
Book: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Bill Martin, Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle

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Construction
Build, zoom, and demolish! Suggested age: 2+. Kit includes:
Magnetic Construction Vehicles: These chubby, easy-grip construction vehicles have safe, fully contained magnets in front and back, so it’s a cinch for little ones to link them together into a fun-filled convoy.
Learning Resources New Sprouts Fix-It Toy Tool Set: Encourage early imaginative play with chunky tools made from durable, soft plastic.
Book: Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
Book: Roadwork by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock
Book: Construction Crew by Lynn Meltzer, illustrated by Carrie Eko-Burgess

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Dinosaurs
Discover dinosaurs with these fun toys and books. Suggested age: 3+. Kit includes:
Soft & Squeezy Dinosaurs: From a triceratops to a stegosaurus, this set includes 8 vinyl, squeezable dinosaurs with charming details and friendly features children are sure to love.
Melissa and Doug Dinosaur Jigsaw Puzzles: Features 4 wooden puzzles: a Triceratops, Apatosaurus, Stegosaurus, and T-Rex
Book: Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs by Catherine D. Hughes, illustrated by Franco Tempesta
Book: We Love Dinosaurs by Lucy Volpin
Book: When Dinosaurs Came With Everything by Elise Broach, illustrated by David Small

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Farm Farm
Make some noise with animals that live on the farm. Suggested age: 1+. Kit includes:
Farm Discovery Box: Four squeezable vinyl animals to explore, giving kids opportunities to develop language skills, from naming objects to early sorting practice.
Melissa & Doug Large Farm Jumbo Knob Puzzle: Seven favorite farm animals and a farmer stand out against the big red barn, with thick puzzle pieces and jumbo knobs that encourage hand-eye, fine motor and visual perception skills.
Book: Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Felicia Bond
Book: Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming
Book: Old MacDonald Had a Farm by Jane Cabrera

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Feelings
Explore your moods and emotions through books, mirrors, and a puzzle. Suggested age: 3+. Kit includes:
Moods & Emotions Mirrors: Safe, shatterproof mirrors on one side and an expressive photo on the other—helping children recognize and identify each emotion in themselves.
Moods & Emotions Wooden Match-up Puzzle: Each self-correcting 2-piece puzzle features a relatable scenario on one half and a corresponding emoji on the other—so kids make a visual connection between everyday situations and feelings.
Book: The Color Monster by Anna Llenas
Book: Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard
Book: Visiting Feelings by Lauren Rubenstein, illustrated by Shelly Hehengerger

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Food Food
Encourage your aspiring chef or baker to serve up some delicious food. Suggested age: 2+. Kit includes:
Lunch Discovery Box: Four squeezable vinyl foods to explore, giving kids opportunities to develop language skills, from naming objects to early sorting practice.
Melissa and Doug Deluxe Wooden Kitchen Accessory Set: Get ready to cook up something yummy with this 8-piece wooden cook's set.
Book: How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? By Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague
Book: Pancakes by Lotta Nieminen
Book: The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza by Philemon Sturges, illustrated by Amy Walrod

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Gingerbread Man
Read and recreate the classic fairy tale of the Gingerbread Man. Suggested age: 3+. Kit includes:
Felt Storytelling Characters & Glove: The five felt puppet pieces stick onto the glove so you can act out the story again and again.
Book: The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by Laura Murray, illustrated by Mike Lowery
Book: The Gingerbread Man retold by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Megan Lloyd

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Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Read and recreate the classic fairy tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Suggested age: 3+. Kit includes:
Storytelling Puppet Set: set of four plush puppets with working mouths and movable arms.
Book: The Three Bears by Byron Barton
Book: Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems
Book: The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett

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Little Red Riding Hood
Read and recreate the classic fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Suggested age: 3+. Kid includes:
Storytelling Puppet Set: set of four plush puppets with working mouths and movable arms.
Book: Little Red Riding Hood adapted by Mara Alperin, illustrated by Loretta Schauer
Book: Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. Smith
Book: Very Little Red Riding Hood by Teresa Heapy and Sue Heap

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Music
Sing, play, and dance with fun musical toys. Suggested age: 1+. Kit includes:
Play-Along Baby Band: The 5 toddler-safe instruments are easy for little hands to jingle, clap, shake and drum. Plastic instruments include an ocean-themed drum, bells, a clip clap, a maraca and a shaker.
Echo Microphone: Perfect for oral language exercises, sound manipulation, encouraging correct pronunciation and more, this lightweight microphone makes it a cinch for kids to amplify their voices.
Book: Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
Book: Hilda Must Be Dancing by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Suzanne Watts
Book: I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illustrated by Frank Morrison
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Pete the Cat
Read and play with everyone's favorite storybook cat, Pete! Suggested age: 3+. Kit includes:
Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses Magnetic Storytelling Kit: Place the magnetic pictures on the storyboard to tell stories about Pete, great for building vocabulary and oral language skills.
Pete the Cat Meow Match Game: Boosts visual discrimination and memory skills as players flip over cards to make matches with Pete and his friends.
Book: Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses by Kimberly & James Dean
Book: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean
Book: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean

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Pets Pets
Engage children with their love of pets. Suggested age 3+. Kit includes:
Melissa and Doug Lace and Trace Pets: With adorable pets pictured on both sides, it's fun to practice lacing and tracing skills and develop hand-eye coordination and attention skills.
Melissa and Doug Playful Pets Hand Puppets: Four simple glove puppets with an animal theme make it easy and so much fun to act out scenes, practice new vocabulary, and spend quality time playing together.
Book: Pet This Book by Jessica Young & Daniel Wiseman
Book: My Pet Wants a Pet by Elise Broach, illustrated by Eric Barclay
Book: Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings

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Rapunzel
Explore different versions of the Rapunzel fairy tale and build a castle. Suggested age: 3+. Kid includes:
Castle Blocks Set: The durable, stackable blocks come in 12 unique shapes and are printed on every side with a fun medieval theme—so kids can construct castles from all directions!
Book: Rapunzel by Bethan Woollvin
Book: Rapunzel retolded and illustrated by Rachel Isadora
Book: Rapunzel by Chloe Perkins, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan

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Shapes
Help children learn their shapes. Suggested age: 3+. Kit includes:
Melissa and Doug Take-Along Shape Sorter: Using nine plastic shapes and the padded carrying case, children can lift crinkly flaps, identify the pictures, match the shapes, and drop the textured blocks through the sorter.
Educational Insights Shape Bean Bags: It’s time to “shape up” with these toss-and-learn beanbags, each a different color and shape.
Book: Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh
Book: Perfect Square by Michael Hall
Book: City Shapes by Diana Murray, illustrated by Bryan Collier

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Storytelling
Use your imagination and practice narrative and sequencing skills. Suggested age: 3+. Kit includes:
Story Wands: Eight vinyl story wands encourage discussion and understanding of stories.
Rory's Story Cubes: Combine items, characters, places and animals to create and share unique tales!
Book: What If by Samantha Berger, illustrated by Mike Curato
Book: Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
Book: A Squiggly Story by Andrew Larsen, illustrated by Mike Lowery

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Puppets Three Billy Goats Gruff
Read and recreate the classic fairy tale of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. Suggested age: 3+. Kit includes:
Storytelling Puppet Set: set of four plush puppets with working mouths and movable arms.
Book: The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Jerry Pinkney
Book: The Three Billy Goats Gruff adapted by Mara Alperin, illustrated by Kate Pankhurst
Book: The Three Billy Goats Buenos by Susan Middleton Elysa, illustrated by Miguel Ordóñez

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Puppets Three Little Pigs
Read and recreate the classic fairy tale of the Three Little Pigs. Suggested age: 3+. Kit includes:
Storytelling Puppet Set: set of four plush puppets with working mouths and movable arms.
Book: The Three Little Pigs adapted by Mara Alperin, illustrated by Ag Jatkowska
Book: The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague
Book: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith

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Sea Under the Sea
Dive in to learning fun with ocean life. Suggested age: 3+. Kit includes:
Pout-Pout Fish Magnetic Storytelling Kit: Place the magnetic pictures on the storyboard to tell stories about Pout-Pout Fish, great for building vocabulary and oral language skills.
Melissa and Doug Deluxe Fishbowl: Take fishy fun on the go with these plush, multi-textured sea creatures that rattle and jingle when they're dropped into the soft fishbowl.
Book: The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen, illustrated by Dan Hanna
Book: Secret Seahorse by Stella Blackstone & Clare Beaton
Book: Nugget and Fang by Tammi Sauer & Michael Slack

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Vehicles
Vroom and cruise around with things that go. Suggested age: 3+. Kit includes:
Peaceable Kingdom Trucks Color Match Up Game & Puzzle: Enjoy fire trucks, dump trucks, delivery trucks and more while playing 3 ways with one colorful box of fun, each game targeting a different learning skill.
Mix & Match Magnetic Vehicles: The 22 mix and match pieces stick together in endless combinations so children can create real-rolling big rigs, bulldozers and more!
Book: Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry
Book: Cars Galore by Peter Stein, illustrated by Bob Staake
Book: Freight Train by Donald Crews

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