Interest: Little Ones
Interest: Little Ones
Summer Challenge Wrap Up
Published: August 27, 2025
The Summer Challenge wraps up with grand prizes donated by local donors being distributed.
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ABCmouse (in the library)
ABCmouse Early Learning Academy is an engaging online curriculum for children ages 2–8+, including reading and language arts, math, beginning science, social studies, art, and music. Enter your YDL card number to create an account.
Spy a Sign, Score a Badge!
Published: July 3, 2025
This summer, keep your eyes peeled. There’s a new way to earn badges in the YDL Summer Challenge! Spot a sign. Crack the code. Make your own.
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Summer Starts With a Win!
Published: June 26, 2025
Meet the First Winners of YDL’s Summer Challenge Weekly Raffle Prizes!
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Summer Challenge Kickoff Party!
Published: June 9, 2025
YDL Celebrates the Start of Summer Challenge with an awesome Kickoff party!
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Finally Back on the Block!
Published: April 11, 2025
Patrons and library staff can let out a collective breath as the downtown branch (finally) reopens.
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2025 Family Read and the Spring Challenge
Published: February 19, 2025
We are thrilled to announce The Puppets of Spelhorst as the 2025 Family Read.
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Play Bigger! Enjoy the new giant dollhouse at YDL-Whittaker
Published: December 13, 2024
Create new worlds at YDL-Whittaker with the new dollhouse in the Youth Department. The four-story structure is located by the rotating toy area, and stocked with furniture and other items to keep your little ones occupied for hours! The Beal family donated the dollhouse to YDL in 2023, and our Youth Librarian Liz spent a year restoring and resurfacing it to get it ready for action. See the photo gallery for pictures of the various stages of restoration. Click to see pictures of the finished dollhouse and the work in progress
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Access Granted: September is Library Card Sign-Up Month
Published: August 30, 2024
September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month
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New catalog coming soon
Published: July 15, 2024
Upgrade coming! Catalog services unavailable August 13-21.
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Celebrate National Library Week with YDL!
Published: April 3, 2024
April 7-13 marks National Library Week 2024, a week dedicated to honoring libraries, library workers, and their impacts on their communities. This year’s theme is Ready, Set, Library!
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Get ready for the 2024 Family Read
Published: February 23, 2024
We are thrilled to announce Little Monarchs by Jonathan Case as this year’s Family Read.
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September is National Library Card Sign-up Month!
Published: August 28, 2023
September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month
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YDL receives $30,000 from Toyota to boost STEM learning
Published: May 2, 2023
A $30,000 grant from Toyota will fund Project STEM@YDL which will bring more kits, activities, and talks from experts in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math.
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Celebrate National Library Week 2023!
Published: April 19, 2023
April 23-29 marks National Library Week 2023, a week dedicated to honoring libraries, library workers, and their impacts on their communities. This year’s theme is “There’s more to the Story.”
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2023 Family Read brings virtual visit from national award-winning author
Published: March 6, 2023
Lisa Yee, who has won multiple national awards for her writing, will pay a virtual visit in April to Ypsilanti as part of the 2023 Ypsilanti District Library Family Read activities.
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Bring YDL Storytimes home!
Published: February 28, 2023
If you haven’t attended a storytime at the new Superior Branch of the Ypsilanti District Library yet, you’re missing the chance to bring home a free book!
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Winter Fun at YDL!
Published: December 15, 2022
Winter has arrived and YDL has great family-friendly, seasonal events for all ages.
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Toy Blog 2022
Published: December 13, 2022
YDL’s youth librarians share a few toys and kits that they have found particularly fun, educational, and worth buying in 2022.
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ABCmouse (from home)
ABCmouse Early Learning Academy is an engaging online curriculum for children ages 2–8+, including reading and language arts, math, beginning science, social studies, art, and music. Enter your YDL card number to create an account.
Celebrate the Winter Season with YDL!
Published: November 29, 2022
Winter has arrived and YDL has great family-friendly, seasonal events for all ages.
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Welcome to Fine-Free
Published: May 31, 2022
Exciting news! Effective June 1, YDL will no longer charge fines for late materials.
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Discovery Time: Spring 2022 Playlist
Published: April 2, 2022
Watch and listen to the original versions of some of our favorite Discovery Time songs from Spring 2022.
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Diversifying Play by Diversifying the Toy Box
Published: November 30, 2021
Today it is easier than ever to find toys that physically represent a wide range of human experience, from skin color to differences in mobility. Read on to find some of the resources and companies YDL staff use when choosing toys for kits and play spaces.
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Get Your Library Card This September
Published: September 1, 2021
September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month
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Garden Gatherings: Nature Art
Published: July 21, 2021
Looking for an outdoor activity? Gather supplies and make a nature collage!
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Garden Gatherings: Backyard Jungle
Published: July 12, 2021
Looking for an outdoor activity? Measure off a square foot and explore.
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Garden Gatherings: Dendrochronology
Published: June 25, 2021
Pick up information at the YDL-Whittaker youth desk, then study our tree slices from Matthaei Botanical Garden, or use the resources in this post to learn more!
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Garden Gatherings: Birding
Published: June 19, 2021
If you missed our Birding Garden Gathering, hear the read aloud and find the activities you can do at home!
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Little Ones STEAM: Colors
Published: May 4, 2021
Talk about colors while you write, read, sing and play!
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School Readiness
School Readiness WHAT IS SCHOOL READINESS? There are many types of school readiness skills generally considered important for kids to master before they start kindergarten. 4-5 year olds develop at different rates, so your child might master some easily and not learn others before they start school. In general, being able to do the types of skills you’ll find on this page will help make your child’s transition to kindergarten more successful. A parent’s role in preparing a child for school is to create a healthy, safe, supportive, and engaging environment. Scroll down to find tips and fun activities to …
Footprints in the Snow
Published: February 25, 2021
Find fun activities to do inside and outside with your little one to learn about animal tracks!
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Magnet Magic
Published: February 10, 2021
Use magnets to discover what is magnetic and what is not.
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A2SO Virtual KinderConcerts
Published: January 28, 2021
Missing music time at the library with your children? Our friends with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra have KinderConcerts videos!
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Learn the ABCs
Published: January 19, 2021
Gather supplies around your house, then do some fun activities to help your child learn the ABCs!
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Constellations for Little Ones
Published: November 11, 2020
Learn about constellations with a read aloud of Zoo in the Sky and activity suggestions for little ones!
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Pumpkins
Published: October 28, 2020
PUMPKINS–THE ORANGE ICON OF FALL Pumpkins were one of the earliest cultivated foods of the Americas. Over 9,000 years ago the indigenous peoples of North America were growing pumpkins in Oaxaca, Mexico. Pumpkins spread north to the eastern region of the United States by 2700 BCE, where they were grown by the Pueblo tribes of the southwestern United States, as well as the Apaches, Hopi, Navajo, Havasupai, Papago, Pima and Yuman tribes. The pumpkin’s thick orange flesh was a staple food source for thousands of years, and the seeds can be eaten too. The Tohono O’Odham people ground pumpkin seeds …
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Shapes
Published: October 22, 2020
Learn all about shapes with fun activities you can do at home!
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Town Hall Anti-Racism Series: Talking with Kids about Race and Racism
Published: September 2, 2020
Our final installment in our family townhall anti-racism series.
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Town Hall Anti-Racism Series: Self-Care, Community Care, and Reflection
Published: July 28, 2020
Join YDL Storytme presenter Kristen Hamilton and Kekere Freedom School to learn about anti-racism.
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YDL to Expand TALK Program with Prestigious IMLS Grant
Published: July 27, 2020
The Ypsilanti District Library, with the Library of Michigan and the Midwest Collaborative Library, will expand our early literacy text messaging service, TALK: Text and Learn for Kindergarten, to reach parents of children birth through five years old across Michigan and Indiana.
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Town Hall Anti-Racism Series: Community Transformation and Uplifting the Voices of Young People
Published: July 22, 2020
Join YDL Storytme presenter Kristen Hamilton and Kekere Freedom School to learn about anti-racism.
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Body Shadow Science
Published: July 21, 2020
Teach your little one about shadows using sidewalk chalk and the sun at this week’s TinkerLab.
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Town Hall Anti-Racism Series: Youth Empowerment and Radical Imagination
Published: July 13, 2020
Join YDL Storytme presenter Kristen Hamilton and Kekere Freedom School to learn about anti-racism.
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Town Hall Anti-Racism Series: The Power of Stories
Published: July 8, 2020
Join YDL Storytme presenter Kristen Hamilton and Kekere Freedom School to learn about anti-racism.
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Nature Scavenger Hunt
Published: July 3, 2020
Go on an outdoor scavenger hunt with your little one for this week’s Little Ones STEAM.
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Trash to Treasure
Published: June 19, 2020
What can you do with a toilet paper tube? Nicole shows you!
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Earth Crowns
Published: June 12, 2020
Make a wreath with leaves and flowers you can find outdoors. Liz shows you how!
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YDL’s Update on Resuming Services
Published: June 2, 2020
We’re excited to resume operations at YDL, and we appreciate everyone’s patience and perseverance. We plan to gradually phase in our services in a way that keeps our community, patrons, and staff safe. Please read on for more information about what to expect as we re-open responsibly.
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PebbleGo
Animals and social studies come to life in this easy-to-navigate and visual learning tool for youngsters pre-K and up.
Pretend Play at YDL-Whittaker
Published: September 5, 2019
Discover educational toys in our pretend play spaces. We’ve changed over to a new theme for Fall 2019, “Let’s Play School.”
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You’re Invited to our 150th Birthday Party!
Published: August 27, 2018
Celebrate 150 years of library service to the community with music, kids activities, history, and cake!
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Early World of Learning
An interactive educational experience for young learners age 3 and up. With stories, songs, games, and videos, kids will practice concepts such as letters, numbers, shapes, and more.
What is “early literacy” and why does my kid need it?
Published: February 5, 2018
We’re constantly bombarded with messages about making sure our kids are prepared to succeed in school. “Try this app, read this parenting book, watch that DVD…” and so on. Many of those materials can offer good suggestions (we have a great selection of parenting materials at YDL, for example) but being pulled in so many different directions, while trying to survive on less than 8 hours of sleep, can be overwhelming! YDL librarians are here to help. Let’s start by talking about early literacy skills, defining them and unpacking the mystery that “experts” create around them. What is early literacy? …
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TumbleBook Library
Kids will love these animated, talking books! Watch your favorite children’s books come alive with narration, music, and interactive elements.
Hoopla
Download movies, television shows, music, comic books, eBooks, and eAudiobooks to your laptop or mobile device.
Gardens
Pollinator and Community Gardens at YDL-Michigan
