ReadSquared Reading Program

100 Things To Do Before Kindergarten

List of fun things to do with your child before they enter kindergarten.

Go To Activities

A Colorful Hunt

“I never met a color I didn’t like.” – Dale Chihuly
Color is everywhere! Can you guess the color for each of these riddles?

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10 Pts

Ahoy Matey

Make a boat out of materials you have at home. Does it float?

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10 Pts

Ahoy Matey

Make a boat out of materials you have at home. Does it float?

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Alphabet Walk

Go for a walk and look for letters of the alphabet all around you! For example, two branches on the ground might form the letter T. The goal is to find the letters without having to move items around to create the letter. Mark off each letter as you find it!

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10 Pts

Animal Yoga

Learn about animals by acting them out through simple yoga poses for kids. Follow the animal yoga sequence below or make up your own yoga journey!

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10 Pts

Animal Yoga

Learn about animals by acting them out through simple yoga poses for kids. Follow the animal yoga sequence below or make up your own yoga journey!

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Backyard Bug Hunt

What kinds of bugs can you find around our area? Some common bugs in North Carolina are ants, ladybugs (Asian beetles), Japanese beetles and Box Elder bugs.

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10 Pts

Backyard Bug Hunt

What kinds of bugs can you find around our area? Some common bugs in North Carolina are ants, ladybugs (Asian beetles), Japanese beetles and Box Elder bugs.

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10 Pts

Balloon Tennis

No racquets required - Grab a balloon and use your hands to play tennis with a friend or family member!

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Balloon Tennis

No racquets required - Grab a balloon and use your hands to play tennis with a friend or family member!

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10 Pts

Bird Watcher

Go birdwatching around your yard or a park to see how many different kinds of birds that you can find! If you want to take it a step further, grab some paper and a pencil and draw the birds that you see.

If your family wants to join in and take it even further, there are all kinds of apps that will help you identify the birds around you. We tried out the Audobon Bird Guide app from the National Audobon Society and downloaded their free bird identification guide. Use of the app is not required to complete the mission though!

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Bird Watcher

Go birdwatching around your yard or a park to see how many different kinds of birds that you can find! If you want to take it a step further, grab some paper and a pencil and draw the birds that you see.

If your family wants to join in and take it even further, there are all kinds of apps that will help you identify the birds around you. We tried out the Audobon Bird Guide app from the National Audobon Society and downloaded their free bird identification guide. Use of the app is not required to complete the mission though!

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Build a Blanket Fort

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Build a Snowman or Snow Fort

Build a Snowman or Snow Fort (If we don't get snow, you can still build this out of any other materials! What can you come up with?)

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20 Pts

Caution: Obstacles Ahead

Make an obstacle course at home using only materials that you have on hand. Can you get someone to try out and test your obstacles?

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20 Pts

Caution: Obstacles Ahead

Make an obstacle course at home using only materials that you have on hand. Can you get someone to try out and test your obstacles?

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10 Pts

CBH Glitter Mosaic Fish Craft (June)

Did you pick up your craft kit to make a Glitter Mosaic Fish from CB Hildebrand library in June? If you did, be sure to make this mission completed!

Go To Activities

10 Pts

CBH Glitter Mosaic Fish Craft (June)

Did you pick up your craft kit to make a Glitter Mosaic Fish from CB Hildebrand library in June? If you did, be sure to make this mission completed!

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10 Pts

CBH Summer Survival Kit (July)

Did you pick up your June Summer Survival Kit from CB Hildebrand library in June? If you did, be sure to make this mission completed!

Go To Activities

10 Pts

CBH Summer Survival Kit (July)

Did you pick up your June Summer Survival Kit from CB Hildebrand library in June? If you did, be sure to make this mission completed!

Go To Activities

10 Pts

CBH Summer Survival Kit (June)

Did you pick up your June Summer Survival Kit from CB Hildebrand library in June? If you did, be sure to make this mission completed!

Go To Activities

10 Pts

CBH Summer Survival Kit (June)

Did you pick up your June Summer Survival Kit from CB Hildebrand library in June? If you did, be sure to make this mission completed!

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20 Pts

CBH Wilson Ridge Farm Visit!

Did you register and attend one of CB Hildebran's visits to the Wilson Ridge Farm? If so, be sure to check yourself off on this mission!

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20 Pts

CBH Wilson Ridge Farm Visit!

Did you register and attend one of CB Hildebran's visits to the Wilson Ridge Farm? If so, be sure to check yourself off on this mission!

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10 Pts

CBH Wooden Safari Animal Paint Craft (July)

Did you pick up your craft kit to make a Wooden Safari Animal from CB Hildebrand library in July? If you did, be sure to make this mission completed!

Go To Activities

10 Pts

CBH Wooden Safari Animal Paint Craft (July)

Did you pick up your craft kit to make a Wooden Safari Animal from CB Hildebrand library in July? If you did, be sure to make this mission completed!

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Do an Art Project or Craft

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10 Pts

Forest Explorer

Explore a forest or some woods with adult supervision.

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10 Pts

Forest Explorer

Explore a forest or some woods with adult supervision.

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20 Pts

Greenway Ahead!

Ride a bike or walk along one of our local paths or Greenway.

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20 Pts

Greenway Ahead!

Ride a bike or walk along one of our local paths or Greenway.

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10 Pts

Head in the Clouds

Spend some time cloud watching and see how many pictures you can find in the sky!

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10 Pts

Head in the Clouds

Spend some time cloud watching and see how many pictures you can find in the sky!

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20 Pts

Helping Hands

Help someone work in their garden or yard.

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20 Pts

Helping Hands

Help someone work in their garden or yard.

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20 Pts

I Spy

Go on an outdoor scavenger hunt to see how many of the following things you can find!

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20 Pts

I Spy

Go on an outdoor scavenger hunt to see how many of the following things you can find!

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20 Pts

July Pet Pantry Donation

Donate to Burke County Animal Services's Pet Pantry by dropping off supplies at your local library. The Pet Pantry assists people in our community take care of their pets.

The Pet Pantry can use donations of any of these items:

Dry or canned food
Pet Treats
Cat Litter or Litter Boxes.

Go To Activities

20 Pts

July Pet Pantry Donation

Donate to Burke County Animal Services's Pet Pantry by dropping off supplies at your local library. The Pet Pantry assists people in our community take care of their pets.

The Pet Pantry can use donations of any of these items:

Dry or canned food
Pet Treats
Cat Litter or Litter Boxes.

Go To Activities

20 Pts

June Pet Pantry Donation

Donate to Burke County Animal Services's Pet Pantry by dropping off supplies at your local library. The Pet Pantry assists people in our community take care of their pets.

The Pet Pantry can use donations of any of these items:

Dry or canned food
Pet Treats
Cat Litter or Litter Boxes.

Go To Activities

20 Pts

June Pet Pantry Donation

Donate to Burke County Animal Services's Pet Pantry by dropping off supplies at your local library. The Pet Pantry assists people in our community take care of their pets.

The Pet Pantry can use donations of any of these items:

Dry or canned food
Pet Treats
Cat Litter or Litter Boxes.

Go To Activities

20 Pts

Kindness Counts

Choosing to be kind is always a bigdeal!

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20 Pts

Kindness Counts

Choosing to be kind is always a bigdeal!

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10 Pts

Library Fairy

Write a letter to the Library Fairy at the Morganton Public Library, and leave it in her box. She will write back to you if you include your address!

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Library Fairy

Write a letter to the Library Fairy at the Morganton Public Library, and leave it in her box. She will write back to you if you include your address!

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10 Pts

Library Leaders

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10 Pts

Library Leaders

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Listen to an Audiobook

Listen to an Audiobook (Don't forget about the Libby app and our digital libraries, and let us know if you need help getting this set up!)

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Match the Tail

Do you love animals? Guess what animal each tail belongs to!

*Need a hint? Try one of these! Alligator, beaver, chameleon, elephant, giraffe, lemur, pig, tiger, whale, zebra.

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Match the Tail

Do you love animals? Guess what animal each tail belongs to!

*Need a hint? Try one of these! Alligator, beaver, chameleon, elephant, giraffe, lemur, pig, tiger, whale, zebra.

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Nature Walk

Go for a nature walk.

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10 Pts

Nature Walk

Go for a nature walk.

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20 Pts

No Litter Allowed

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20 Pts

No Litter Allowed

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Ocean Movement

How does a jellyfish move? Little ones will learn different ways creatures in the ocean move while getting up and moving!

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20 Pts

Outdoor Fort

Build an outdoor fort using materials you find around your house!

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20 Pts

Outdoor Fort

Build an outdoor fort using materials you find around your house!

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10 Pts

Park Day Double-Take!

Visit a park today and have lots of fun!

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10 Pts

Park Day Double-Take!

Visit a park today and have lots of fun!

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20 Pts

Park Day Triple Play!

Visit a park today and have lots of fun!

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20 Pts

Park Day Triple Play!

Visit a park today and have lots of fun!

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10 Pts

Park Day!

Visit a park today and have lots of fun!

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10 Pts

Park Day!

Visit a park today and have lots of fun!

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10 Pts

Picnic Time!

Go on a picnic with family or friends!

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10 Pts

Picnic Time!

Go on a picnic with family or friends!

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Pirate Scavenger Hunt

Arrgh! Think you are ready to be a pirate? Can you find at least 5 pirate-themed items. Look around your house, the library, park, all around you!

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Play a Board or Card Game

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Read a Book about a Winter Sport or Activity

Read a Book about a Winter Sport or Activity (hockey, ice skating, sledding, ice fishing, maple syrup making, etc).

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Read a Book That has Been Made into a Movie

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Read a book with "SNOW" in the Title

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Read a book with "WINTER" in the Title

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Read a Book with a Blue Cover

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Read a Fairy Tale or Fantasy

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Read a Graphic Novel

Read a Graphic Novel (If your child isn't old enough for these, feel free to substitute another book!)

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Read a New Book

Read a New Book - Visit our New Books section and pick out something great! (Also, feel free to consider anything published in 2020 or after a "new" book.

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Read a Non-Fiction Book

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Read an Award Winner

Read an Award Winner. (It can be any award: Just a few ideas to get you started are the NC Children's Book Award, Newbery, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Pura Belpre, Geisel, Sibert, and the National Book Award.)

Go To Activities

Read to a Buddy

Read to a Buddy. (Your buddy can be a pet, a stuffed animal, a sibling - anyone or anything that you consider your buddy!)

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10 Pts

Reading Buddies

Spend some time reading to a pet or a friend!

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10 Pts

Reading Buddies

Spend some time reading to a pet or a friend!

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20 Pts

Reading Buddies x2

Spend some time reading to a pet or a friend!

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20 Pts

Reading Buddies x2

Spend some time reading to a pet or a friend!

Go To Activities

20 Pts

Recycled Art

Find leaves, twigs, flowers and other things around your house and use them to make a new picture or creation!

Go To Activities

20 Pts

Recycled Art

Find leaves, twigs, flowers and other things around your house and use them to make a new picture or creation!

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Robot-o-Rama

Build a robot with materials that you have at home. You can go as simple or complex with your model robot as you would like! Make sure that you have adult permission before using any tools or sharp objects.

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Robot-o-Rama

Build a robot with materials that you have at home. You can go as simple or complex with your model robot as you would like! Make sure that you have adult permission before using any tools or sharp objects.

Go To Activities

20 Pts

Science Kid

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20 Pts

Science Kid

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20 Pts

Show Time

Get creative and put on a play for your family or friends. (It can be as short or long as you want it to be!)

Go To Activities

20 Pts

Show Time

Get creative and put on a play for your family or friends. (It can be as short or long as you want it to be!)

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Stargazer

On a clear night, stargaze with a family member. Can you identify any constellations?

If you really enjoy or want to learn more about constellations or stars, this site from the American Museum of Natural History has some great information! American Museum of Natural History's Kid's Guide to Stargazing

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Stargazer

On a clear night, stargaze with a family member. Can you identify any constellations?

If you really enjoy or want to learn more about constellations or stars, this site from the American Museum of Natural History has some great information! American Museum of Natural History's Kid's Guide to Stargazing

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Storytime On Demand

Watch a recorded storytime in the "Burke County Public Library Storytimes!" Facebook group with your parent's permission.

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Storytime On Demand

Watch a recorded storytime in the "Burke County Public Library Storytimes!" Facebook group with your parent's permission.

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Storytime On Demand x2

Watch a recorded storytime in the "Burke County Public Library Storytimes!" Facebook group with your parent's permission.

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Storytime On Demand x2

Watch a recorded storytime in the "Burke County Public Library Storytimes!" Facebook group with your parent's permission.

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Storytime On Demand x3

Watch a recorded storytime in the "Burke County Public Library Storytimes!" Facebook group with your parent's permission.

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Storytime On Demand x3

Watch a recorded storytime in the "Burke County Public Library Storytimes!" Facebook group with your parent's permission.

Go To Activities

10 Pts

Toes in the Water!

Spend some time playing in the water! (Sprinklers, lakes, water balloons, pools - anything goes! With your parent's permission of course.)

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10 Pts

Toes in the Water!

Spend some time playing in the water! (Sprinklers, lakes, water balloons, pools - anything goes! With your parent's permission of course.)

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10 Pts

Yummy!

Help an adult prepare a meal!

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10 Pts

Yummy!

Help an adult prepare a meal!

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Learn About Smokey Bear

Complete at least two of these Smokey Bear activities and earn a badge!

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60 Pts

Page Turner Adventures - The Lighthouse Adventure

The adventure begins at Page Turner’s mysterious lighthouse when Kenny accidentally releases Shelldon the Tale Snail. Our intrepid Storyologists must travel to the Lost Library of Atlantis to find the only book that can stop Shelldon from devouring every story in the lighthouse.

Click here to see all the videos and activities!

Go To Activities

30 Pts

Page Turner Adventures - The Lighthouse Adventure

The adventure begins at Page Turner’s mysterious lighthouse when Kenny accidentally releases Shelldon the Tale Snail. Our intrepid Storyologists must travel to the Lost Library of Atlantis to find the only book that can stop Shelldon from devouring every story in the lighthouse.

Click here to see all the videos and activities!

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Campfire Safety

Complete at least two of these Smokey Bear activities and earn a badge!

Go To Activities

60 Pts

Page Turner Adventures - The Coral Reef Adventure

Traveling in their submarine, our intrepid heroes head for the Great Barrier Reef in search of the next clue that will lead them to the Lost Library of Atlantis. Along the way, they find themselves trapped in the Bermuda Triangle where they must decipher a message that is sent using semaphore code, the flag signals used by sailors.

Click here to see all the videos and activities!

Go To Activities

30 Pts

Page Turner Adventures - The Coral Reef Adventure

Traveling in their submarine, our intrepid heroes head for the Great Barrier Reef in search of the next clue that will lead them to the Lost Library of Atlantis. Along the way, they find themselves trapped in the Bermuda Triangle where they must decipher a message that is sent using semaphore code, the flag signals used by sailors.

Click here to see all the videos and activities!

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Nature Adventure

Complete at least two of these Smokey Bear activities and earn a badge!

Go To Activities

60 Pts

Page Turner Adventures - Arctic Adventure

It gets a bit chilly as our intrepid heroes follow the clues (and a pod of whales!) to the arctic where they gather enough information to solve more ocean riddles. As they continue their search for the Lost Library of Atlantis, they get stuck in The Great Pacific Garbage Patch where they learn things that we all can do to help keep the ocean clean and safe.

Click here to see all the videos and activities!

Go To Activities

30 Pts

Page Turner Adventures - Arctic Adventure

It gets a bit chilly as our intrepid heroes follow the clues (and a pod of whales!) to the arctic where they gather enough information to solve more ocean riddles. As they continue their search for the Lost Library of Atlantis, they get stuck in The Great Pacific Garbage Patch where they learn things that we all can do to help keep the ocean clean and safe.

Click here to see all the videos and activities!

Go To Activities

60 Pts

Page Turner Adventures - The Atlantis Adventure

Our Storyologists are closer than ever to discovering the Lost Library of Atlantis and retrieving the only book that will stop the Tale Snail. They travel to the deepest part of the ocean and collect fascinating facts that help them solve the final clue. But will they make it to the Lost Library of Atlantis in time or is this THE END for our intrepid heroes?

Click here to see all the videos and activities!

Go To Activities

30 Pts

Page Turner Adventures - The Atlantis Adventure

Our Storyologists are closer than ever to discovering the Lost Library of Atlantis and retrieving the only book that will stop the Tale Snail. They travel to the deepest part of the ocean and collect fascinating facts that help them solve the final clue. But will they make it to the Lost Library of Atlantis in time or is this THE END for our intrepid heroes?

Click here to see all the videos and activities!

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Tree Exploration

Complete at least two of these Smokey Bear activities and earn a badge!

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Career Exploration

Complete at least two of these Smokey Bear activities and earn a badge!

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60 Pts

Page Turner Adventures - The Ocean's Got Talent

SHOW: The Ocean’s Got Talent

We’ve searched the seven seas for some of the ocean’s most talented creatures. Octopus performs an amazing vanishing act. Mantis Shrimp proves he’s not just a pretty face. And Angler Fish has a “glowing” personality. With so much talented competition, will Seymour the Sea Slug still be able to shine?

(Encore Adventure)

Click here to see all the videos and activities!

Go To Activities

30 Pts

Page Turner Adventures - The Ocean's Got Talent

SHOW: The Ocean’s Got Talent

We’ve searched the seven seas for some of the ocean’s most talented creatures. Octopus performs an amazing vanishing act. Mantis Shrimp proves he’s not just a pretty face. And Angler Fish has a “glowing” personality. With so much talented competition, will Seymour the Sea Slug still be able to shine?

(Encore Adventure)

Click here to see all the videos and activities!

Go To Activities

30 Pts

Page Turner Adventures - Captain Book’s Pirate Adventure

Shiver me timbers! Captain Book has been cursed to live as a pirate with a book permanently attached to his hand. To break the curse, kids at home join Page, Kenny, and a cast of salty dogs on a comic quest to discover the captain’s treasure trove of overdue library books. (Encore Adventure)

Click here to see all the videos and activities!

Go To Activities

60 Pts

Page Turner Adventures - Captain Book’s Pirate Adventure

Shiver me timbers! Captain Book has been cursed to live as a pirate with a book permanently attached to his hand. To break the curse, kids at home join Page, Kenny, and a cast of salty dogs on a comic quest to discover the captain’s treasure trove of overdue library books. (Encore Adventure)

Click here to see all the videos and activities!

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Wildfire Science

Complete at least two of these Smokey Bear activities and earn a badge!

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Make a Difference

Complete at least two of these Smokey Bear activities and earn a badge!

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