For Youth
Imagine Your Story Summer Reading 2020 is now live and completely virtual. We are using Beanstack this year. You can register your whole family for Summer Reading because we have something for every age. Missing the Game Cards? The physical Game Cards can be accessed here and match the Summer Reading Challenge in Beanstack.
Do you have a question for a Youth Librarian? Want us to pull some suggested books for you? Please call us at 248-554-4670 or email us at youth.reference@baldwinlib.org.
Location - View Map
300 W. Merrill St.
Birmingham, MI 48009
Library Hours
Monday to Thursday
9:30 am - 9:00 pm
Friday & Saturday
9:30 am - 5:30pm
Sunday
12:00 - 5:00pm
BPL Art Show
Celebrate creativity and community with our first ever digital art show.
Email an image of your artwork, your first name and age to youth.reference@baldwinlib.org. Various media, including paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture, and more are acceptable.
Entries are due by July 31 and will be displayed online and on Baldwin’s bulletin boards in August. If desired, send along a headshot of the artist.
Baldwin Nature Challenge
The Kids Library Society has a challenge for you! Get outside and look for specific items found in nature.
If you are signed up for Summer Reading you will be able to join the challenge in Beanstack or you can create an account to get started by visiting baldwinlib.beanstack.org.
The challenge runs from August 1 – August 8 and the first three people to complete it will win a prize!
Baldwin Kids Write
Use your imagination and one of our writing prompts to create your very own tale for us to display in the Youth Room.
Email your work to youth.reference@baldwinlib.org or drop it off at the Youth Desk by August 31.
Writing prompts can be found here.
Fairy Tale Creations
Check out one of our fairy tale craft books and make a craft, write a story, or experiment with a science project as you explore imaginary lands.
Book list and more detailed instructions here.
Virtual Pet Show
Presenting Baldwin Public Library’s First Virtual Pet Show!
Watch to see all of our beloved pets.
Summer STEM Challenge: Marshmallow Catapults
All you need is your competitive spirit and some common household items to complete this month’s challenge.
Watch the video to learn how!
Instructions can be found here.
Check out last months challenge: Boats – video and directions.
Librarian Letters
Would you or your child like to receive a letter from a Baldwin Librarian? We would love to write you one! Fill out this form and a librarian will joyfully write you or your child a letter.
Kids Library Society
Bedtime Tales
Don’t forget to wear your pajamas for this virtual edition of our evening story time.
July Theme: Dragons
Directions for the dragon crafts can be found here.
Story Time
Reading to your child is a great way to grow a lifelong reader. And it’s easy to start them early with engaging story times led by our enthusiastic librarians. We have programs for young listeners and their parents from birth through age 5. Checkout our virtual story times and programs for babies through second grade.
Sign up to receive an email alert each time a new story time is released.
Book Adventures
Miss Rosemary will pick a topic each Thursday, share fun facts, suggest a book you can download and read, and give ideas for an activities you can do at home. Each video has a resource guide with clickable links to every thing she mentions. Book Adventures can be found on the Story Time page.
Sign up to receive email alerts when a new one is released.
Book Scavengers
Do you miss Miss Susan’s Library Scavenger Hunts? So do we! Fill out this form and Miss Susan will send you a DIY At Home scavenger hunt every other week.
Visit Beverly Park and walk the 0.4 miles trail and read an entire book that is posted on permanent posts throughout the park. Experience a new story every month April to December.
The current book is Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog by Mo Willems.
Youth Homework Help
Use these educational and fun databases to keep your kids learning and entertained! From our online database resources and live online tutoring to our friendly librarians, we’re here to help your children with their homework.
1000 Books before Kindergarten
We are excited to offer this free program that encourages reading and helps to prepare your child for kindergarten. A big thank you to the Bob and Jean Kelly Endowment for making this early literacy initiative possible. The goal is to share 1,000 books together before your child starts kindergarten. Click here for more information.
This directory contains a comprehensive list of local preschool programs, including contact information. Click here to access the 2020 Preschool Directory.
Youth eNewsletter
Want to stay in-the-know on upcoming youth programs? Sign up for our monthly newsletter here.
Are there titles you’d like to see at Baldwin? Make a recommendation! Residents of Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms or Bloomfield Hills are invited to share suggestions on great titles we may be missing from our collection. Let us know here.
Fourth and fifth grade students enrolled in the Birmingham Public School District are invited to participate in this challenging and fun book battle that encourages students to read and explore books of varying genres. Congratulations to all of our teams! Check back in the fall for details regarding Battle of the Books 2021.
A mock Newbery program for 6th to 8th graders in Birmingham Public Schools. Speak to your school librarian for more information (BCS, Berkshire, Derby).
The 2020 Winner is:
- Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
The 2020 Honors are:
- The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
- We’re Not From Here by Geoff Rodkey
Click here to see the 2020 nominations.
Save on Tickets to Local Attractions
MAP (Michigan Activity Pass) allows you to use your Library card to print passes for free or reduced admission to popular Michigan institutions. Click here to check out your pass today!
TLN (The Library Network) members save on tickets, dining and more at the Detroit Zoo! Click here for details and to purchase and print your discounted tickets.
Need a book recommendation? You’ve come to the right place! Take a peek at these lists and check some books out today!
- Books for Babies and Toddlers
- Books for Preschoolers
- Books for Kindergarten
- Books for 1st and 2nd Grade
- Books for 3rd and 4th Grade
- Books for 5th and 6th Grade
- Books for 7th and 8th Grade
- Books for Children in Grades K-1 Who are Reading At a 3rd Grade Level
- Books for Children in Grades 2-3 Who are Reading At a 5th Grade Level
- Books for Children in Grades 4-5 Who are Reading At a 7th Grade Level
- 100 Picture Books to Know
Free Parking in Chester Street Deck through September 1
Metered street parking around Library
Free Parking on Sundays
248-554-4650
300 W. Merrill St.
Birmingham, MI 48009
Library Hours
Monday to Thursday
9:30 am - 9:00 pm
Friday & Saturday
9:30 am - 5:30pm
Sunday
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Library Closed
September 5-7, 2020 - Labor Day Weekend