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Exploring other places on our beautiful Earth is an amazing experience. While you are saving your money for your next big adventure with your family, give these great travel stories a shot. You just might find your next vacation destination!

 

Then, head back to 62 Days of Summer for more ways to participate in the summer program!

Off to see the sea by Nikki Grimes

Bath time is full of magic. The faucet flows like a waterfall, the bathroom floor is a distant shore, toy boats sail against the waves. An imagination-fueled adventure on the high seas is just what it takes to get little one clean.

Meet some of the people who represent the "M" in STEAM. The mathematicians and math-whizzes who calculate and crunch the numbers. Titles are arranged so that those intended for older audiences are last, the first titles might be of interest to most readers.

Introduces trailblazing mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani from her unexpected interest in geometry as a young girl to becoming the first woman to win the world's most prestigious honor in mathematics.

Also available in: video | e-video

If Ramanujan could crack the number 1 open and find infinity, what secrets would he discover inside other numbers?

Art and science seem so different, but they actual meet, overlap, and inform each other in many different areas. Try one of these book suggestions to see how creativity and scientific methods go hand in hand.

The Secret Language of Color imparts a beautiful and thorough investigation into the nature of color, such as how and why we see color, rainbows, animals with color vision far superior and inferior to our own, how our language influences the colors we see, and much more.

Photography and science have long been intertwined, helping to shape the way we look at the world. Scientists use photography as a way to gather information, explore, and learn, but just as important, photography is also used to promote scientific advances and has long served as an interface between the sciences and the public.

Throughout history, humans have fought against invisible bacteria, viruses, and fungi that make us sick. There are many people who have made incredible discoveries that helped us learn about the diseases that plague us and how to vanquish them; learn about some of these people, and others involved in fighting off these public health threats.

Titles are listed with those intended for older audiences toward the bottom.

The child of immigrants who never learned to speak English, Jonas was struck by the devastation he saw when the soldiers returned from battle after WWII. Determined to help, he worked to become a doctor and eventually joined the team that created the influenza vaccine. 

This narrative follows Anthony from his Brooklyn beginnings through medical school and his challenging role working with seven US presidents to tackle some of the biggest public health challenges of the past fifty years, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Finding the perfect read can be something of a treasure hunt. Try one of these titles that feature different kinds of scavenger hunts. Books intended for younger audiences are listed first.

Treasure by Mireille Messier

When two siblings go on a treasure hunt, they aren't sure exactly what kind of treasure they are looking for. What they do know is that treasures are shiny, mysterious and precious. And that all the really good treasures are hidden!

Also in French.

When the gingerbread man gets separated from his class during a field trip to the zoo, he uses his teacher's animal scavenger hunt clues to find his way back to them.

Rosie's Girl Texting on Dog Beach--Long Beach--United States Photo by kevin turcios on Unsplash

 

Sharing an experience creates a bond between two people. Sometimes we share a moment of time together. Other times we tell someone about something we went through alone. Reaching out to share time, resources, memories, or even ideas helps to build our relationships and our community.

Share Your Summer Activities

Welcome to the Snap a Photo Square on your 62 Days of Summer Journey.

There are so many ways to capture visual reminders of a summer well-spent. We hope you can use this square to get you started on a new hobby, new way of looking at things, or to just grab some new memories and hold them close.

  • We have some great materials to help you learn how to take amazing photos in your backyard or of the people you love.
  • Are you ready to step up your game? Try looking at the art of taking photos in a completely different way using Pokemon Snap, available for the Nintendo Switch.
  • Once you have stacks of your favorite shots, be sure to check out our upcoming program on Photo Organization and Preservation.
  • Are you more into the decorative side of photography? Let someone else take the photos and then you can embellish them for scrapbooks and crafts.

 

When you finish, head back to the 62 Days of Summer home page for more ways to participate in the summer program!

Did you know that reading and writing poetry is actually good for your health? Reading poetry can help sharpen your brain with insight and critical thinking, while writing poetry can be therapeutic and help you be more self-aware. Appreciation for poetry is beneficial for all ages, whether you're a senior citizen, or a kid.  Some poems may make you ponder, while others will make you laugh together. Some may take you awhile to read, while others can be a "quick fix" to your reading time. No matter your reason for reading poetry, it can be extremely fulfilling and gratifying. The variety of topics that poems cover is vast. Take some time to explore the endless variety out there. The library offers some awesome poetry books as well. There is something for everyone, kids and adults alike. Head back to 62 days of summer for more ways to participate in the summer program.

Music

Have you ever wanted to make up your own theme song? Think of what matters most to you.

  • What's your motto, your philosophy about life?
  • What defines you as a person or as a family?
  • What are you passionate about?
  • What has made you the most happy or the most sad?

Write at least 5 things down. These are the themes that are important to you! Now, follow these instructions:

Write Lyrics

Start by writing a simple, rhyming poem with one of your themes. It doesn't have to be perfect. The most important thing is to be honest. If you've never written a poem before, or if you need help to make it sound good, try these:

Understanding Song Structure

That poem you made is basically a verse (or verses)! Write a bit more to get your chorus and bridge. There are many ways to make a song, but for your first one try this structure: Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus. No idea what those words mean? Watch these videos:

Write Melodies

Now that you've got the lyrics, it's time to make the melody. You can sing your lyrics to what ever tune comes to your head. Or, try making music for it with one of these free programs.

Make Music With An Instrument

Have you already got an instrument like a guitar or a piano? Here's some tips to get you started writing great melodies in no time:

Share Your Song

Practice singing your song while playing your music. It might take you several times to get it right. Then, share your song with a close friend or family member to brighten their day, or record your song for yourself to playback sometime in the future.

Music Courses

Want to learn about music in general?

Books

Big and small. Furry and smooth. Fierce and calm. Animals are incredibly diverse and represent so much that is amazing about our vast planet. 

Grab your favorite one, two, three, or four-legged friend and get ready to investigate and discover more about what makes animals such a gift to our lives. 

Awesome Animals Book Lists

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