The library Board of Trustees holds a special meeting on Tuesday, May 5, at 4:30pm.

Questions or comments can be sent to Director Tom Shilts 269-782-3826 or email librarydirector (at) dowagiacdl (dot) org

The Make & Share Cookbook Club invites participants each month to prepare one of the recipes from a selected cookbook and bring it to share during that evening's gathering where we will discuss the dishes we made and the cookbook. This book club is held on the first Thursday of the month from 5:15-6:30 pm in the community room. We ask that participants bring their item along with serving utensils and pot holders if the dish is hot.

In May, we are cooking from Simply Jamie: Fast and Simple Food by Jamie Oliver

*This program is intended for adult patrons only. If you have known food allergies, please make the host aware before attending. The monthly book selection is available for pickup at the front desk. For more information, email erin@dowagiacdl.org or call 269-782-3826.

Recipe Rock Stars is a fun beginner cooking program that dishes out simple recipes and cooking basics. This program is for teens 6th through 12th grade and meets the second Tuesday of each month at 3:30 pm in the Pokagon Room on the 2nd floor.

May’s recipe is: Candy Sushi

*Registration is required for this event. Sign up by Friday, March 6. Sign up in the youth department, call 269-782-3826, email erin@dowagiacdl.org, or fill out the form below.

The library Board of Trustees holds its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 12, at 4:30pm. The meeting is in the Community Room and open to the public.

Questions or comments can be sent to Director Tom Shilts 269-782-3826 or email librarydirector (at) dowagiacdl (dot) org

If you need special accommodations per ADA or for other reasons please contact the Director at the email address above before the meeting and accommodations will be arranged.

Join us for the Sip & Share Book Club at Sister Lakes Brewing Company. May’s book is: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston.

This event will be held at:
Sister Lakes Brewing Company
92500 CO RD 690
Dowagiac, MI 49047*

• Discussion starts at 6:30pm

• Drinks and food are available for purchase, visit Sister Lakes Brewing Company for an up-to-date menu.

To register, please fill out the form below.

To access the book using Dowagiac District Library resources:

• Download the Libby or CloudLibrary using your Dowagiac District Library card for digital content

• Visit MeL.org to request an Interlibrary Loan (usually takes a week between submitting the request and receiving a call from us that it’s available to pick up)

• Or place a hold on the library copy

• Don't have a card? Visit our Get A Card page to see if you qualify for a digital card today

• We also have copies of the book for checkout at the front desk of the library. Please make sure to bring your card to checkout.

*This book club is for adult patrons. This event is in conjunction with Sister Lakes Brewing Company, but we do ask that you ONLY contact the library for any questions you may have about it. For further information, please call Erin at (269) 782-3826 or email erin@dowagiacdl.org

Join us for Crafternoon at the Library. This is a creative break in your day where we will have a craft available for patrons on the 2nd Thursday of each month.*

In May, create your own miniature "library" using an Altoids tin! Transform these small tins into adorable bookshelves filled with tiny books, decor, and personality.

This is a free program. We will provide the supplies, just bring your creativity.

*This program is intended for adult patrons. For more information or to register, email erin@dowagiacdl.org, all 269-782-3826, or fill out the form below.

May Book: Waking the Rainbow Dragon by Tracey West

In book #10, Drake dreams about a Rainbow Dragon trapped in a cave. The dream is a message from Worm telling him that the dragon needs help. The Drake and Ana set off to look but the must Obi, a new Dragon Master. How will they find Obi and how will the find the cave?

The Adventures in Bookland Book Club is for kids 6-8 years old. The club features an easy chapter book each month. Parents/kids register and pick up their copy of the month’s selection at the beginning of the month and then meet and discuss the book on the second Wednesday of the month. For more information, stop by the Youth Services desk located on the second floor of the library.

Join us for an evening of classic bingo with a springtime twist! Between rounds of bingo, we will have quick and silly Spring-themed challenges. This program will be held in the community room of the library and is for all ages. No registration is required.

Creative Kids Club is an arts and crafts program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage artistic expression with the younger children.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the third Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Creative Kids Club information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

Each month we investigate a different subject from science, history, or the arts. Most sessions will include books, short videos, a slide presentation, and a craft project. This program designed for ages 7-14 years old.

Join us in Young Adult Area of the library at 3:00pm on the third Friday of each month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Homeschool Discoveries information.

Saturday, April 25, 2026 10:00am-12:00pm

Saturday, May 2, 2026 10:00am-12:00pm

On these two occasions everyone will have a chance to paint a character or scene from the book while they share thoughts and feelings about the story. They will work with pencils, and colors. The paintings will be compiled into a fun video. Participants will take their art, done on watercolor paper, home.

Saturday, May 16, 2026 10:00-12:00pm

During the final event, attendees will watch the video that has been developed. They will then discuss the intriguing aspects of the book and video. Refreshments will be served.

For more information call the library (269) 782-3826 or visit the front desk.

Children ages 8-12 are invited to join STEAM for Tweens, a new science program designed to engage young minds to think like a scientist. STEAM  for Tweens will meet at 4 pm in the Pokagon Room on the second level of the library.

Groundwater and Soil Porosity: Learn how water is stored underground by measuring the pore space in materials like gravel, sand, and soil.

Come to this STEAM for Tweens activity to see how our groundwater can become contaminated over time.

Space is limited, so please register by March 16 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below

Fill out the form below to register for this event.

Join us for Craft Night at the Library! In May, we will be making DIY canvas totes.

We will provide the supplies, just bring your creativity.

*This program is free and intended for patrons 12 and up and registration is required for this program. SPACE IS LIMITED to 12 patrons. Call 269-782-3826, email dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com, or fill out the form below.

Nature Ninjas is an environmental program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage environmental awareness and artistic expression with the younger children. This program corresponds to last week’s Creative Kids Club stone pottery project.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the fourth Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Nature Ninjas information.

NOTE: This is a follow-up activity from the Creative Kids Club on May 15.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

Little Beakers is a science program designed for kids ages 4-7 and will meet once a month to encourage scientific inquiry with the younger children.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 11:00 on the second Saturday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Little Beakers information.

NOTE THE DATE CHANGE!

Space is limited, so please register by May 19 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below.

Please complete to register for this event.

May Book: The Losers Club by Andrew Clements

Sixth grader Alec can’t put a good book down. So when Principal Vance lays down the law—pay attention in class, or else—Alec takes action. He can’t lose all his reading time, so he starts a club. A club he intends to be the only member of. After all, reading isn’t a team sport, and no one would want to join something called the Losers Club, right? But as more and more kids find their way to Alec’s club—including his ex-friend turned bully and the girl Alec is maybe starting to like—Alec notices something. Real life might be messier than his favorite books, but it’s just as interesting.

The Inkwell Explorers Book Club is for tweens 9-12 years old. The club features a middle-grade novel each month. Tweens register and pick up their copy of the month’s selection at the beginning of the month and then meet and discuss the book on the fourth Wednesday of the month. For more information, stop by the Youth Services desk located on the second floor of the library.

If you enjoy reading about the past, consider taking part in our new book group. We'll read mainly fiction, though sometimes we'll expand our horizons and delve into well-written narrative history. Anything's a potential subject as long as it's historical.

May’s Book: The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier

*Any questions? Call (269) 782-3826, email librarydirector@dowagiacdl.org.

Children ages 8-12 are invited to join STEAM for Tweens, a new science program designed to engage young minds to think like a scientist. STEAM  for Tweens will meet at 4 pm in the Pokagon Room on the second level of the library.

Dinosaur Robots: Create a dinosaur model using simple electronic tools.

Come to this STEAM for Tweens activity to explore science with a prehistoric twist.

Space is limited, so please register by June 1 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below

Fill out the form below to register for this event.

The purpose of the Homeschool Science Club (HSSC) is to capture the boundless potential of each child’s capacity to gain science knowledge and learn scientific skills. Monthly activities will emphasize hands-on, inquiry-based learning where children investigate and explain the natural world. The HSSC will meet at 10:30 am in the Pokagon Room on the second level of the library.

Space is limited, so please register by June 1 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below

Fill out the form below to register for this event.

The Make & Share Cookbook Club invites participants each month to prepare one of the recipes from a selected cookbook and bring it to share during that evening's gathering where we will discuss the dishes we made and the cookbook. This book club is held on the first Thursday of the month from 5:15-6:30 pm in the community room. We ask that participants bring their item along with serving utensils and pot holders if the dish is hot.

In June, we are cooking from Pretty Delicious: Simple, Modern Mediterranean, Served with Style by Alia Elkaffas and Radwa Elkaffas

*This program is intended for adult patrons only. If you have known food allergies, please make the host aware before attending. The monthly book selection is available for pickup at the front desk. For more information, email erin@dowagiacdl.org or call 269-782-3826.

Everybody loves the zoo! Enjoy an educational afternoon learning about endangered species with some animals and zoo keepers from Potawatomi Zoo. Please meet in the children’s area in the library by 12:50.

June Book: Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye by Geronimo Stilton

Who Is Geronimo Stilton? That's me! I run a newspaper, but my true passion is writing tales of adventure. Here on Mouse Island, my books are all best-sellers! What's that? You've never read one? Well, my books are full of fun. They are whisker-licking good stories, and that's a promise! It all started when my sister, Thea, discovered a mysterious map that showed a secret treasure on a faraway island. And before I could let out a squeak of protest, Thea dragged me into her treasure hunt! In no time at all, we'd set sail for the island. It was an adventure I'd never forget....

The Adventures in Bookland Book Club is for kids 6-8 years old. The club features an easy chapter book each month. Parents/kids register and pick up their copy of the month’s selection at the beginning of the month and then meet and discuss the book on the second Wednesday of the month. For more information, stop by the Youth Services desk located on the second floor of the library.

Join us for the Sip & Share Book Club at Sister Lakes Brewing Company. June’s book will be announced after May’s meeting.

This event will be held at:
Sister Lakes Brewing Company
92500 CO RD 690
Dowagiac, MI 49047*

• Discussion starts at 6:30pm

• Drinks and food are available for purchase, visit Sister Lakes Brewing Company for an up-to-date menu.

To register, please fill out the form below.

To access the book using Dowagiac District Library resources:

• Download the Libby or CloudLibrary using your Dowagiac District Library card for digital content

• Visit MeL.org to request an Interlibrary Loan (usually takes a week between submitting the request and receiving a call from us that it’s available to pick up)

• Or place a hold on the library copy

• Don't have a card? Visit our Get A Card page to see if you qualify for a digital card today

• We also have copies of the book for checkout at the front desk of the library. Please make sure to bring your card to checkout.

*This book club is for adult patrons. This event is in conjunction with Sister Lakes Brewing Company, but we do ask that you ONLY contact the library for any questions you may have about it. For further information, please call Erin at (269) 782-3826 or email erin@dowagiacdl.org

Future Scientist Society is a STEM (science-technology-engineering-math) program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage science inquiry with the younger children.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the second Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Future Scientist Society information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

Kids  of all ages are invited to join us for Messy Time Mondays throughout the summer. Projects and activities might involve paint, chalk, water and other “messy” materials, so please wear older or play clothes. We’re often in direct sunlight, so please remember to put sunscreen on before leaving the house.

Join us at the Library Pavilion at 11:00 on Monday mornings. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Messy Time information. In the event of inclement weather, Messy Time may need to be canceled. If in doubt, please call us at 782-3826.

Movie Selection: The Land Before Time

An orphaned brontosaurus teams up with other young dinosaurs in order to reunite with their families in a valley.

The program, Unearth a Movie, is for children 12 years old and younger. Each week features a Land Before Time movie selection appropriate for younger audiences. Movies will be shown in the Spark Room, located in the library’s Children’s Area.

Children ages 8-12 are invited to join STEAM for Tweens, a new science program designed to engage young minds to think like a scientist. STEAM  for Tweens will meet at 4 pm in the Pokagon Room on the second level of the library.

Rock Hound Pottery: Learn about common rocks found along the Lake Michigan shoreline and design a flower pot using these rocks.

Come to this STEAM for Tweens activity to see how our groundwater can become contaminated over time.

Space is limited, so please register by June 15 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below

Fill out the form below to register for this event.

Creative Kids Club is an arts and crafts program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage artistic expression with the younger children.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the third Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Creative Kids Club information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

THIS IS A TICKETED EVENT!

Kids  of all ages are invited to join us for Messy Time Mondays throughout the summer. Projects and activities might involve paint, chalk, water and other “messy” materials, so please wear older or play clothes. We’re often in direct sunlight, so please remember to put sunscreen on before leaving the house.

Join us at the Library Pavilion at 11:00 on Monday mornings. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Messy Time information. In the event of inclement weather, Messy Time may need to be canceled. If in doubt, please call us at 782-3826.

Movie Selection: Land Before Time 2: The Great Valley Adventure

This time, while building a hideaway in their new home of the Great Valley, Littlefoot and the gang rescue a mysterious egg from two scheming egg-nappers and make a starling surprise - and new friend - when the egg hatches.

The program, Unearth a Movie, is for children 12 years old and younger. Each week features a Land Before Time movie selection appropriate for younger audiences. Movies will be shown in the Spark Room, located in the library’s Children’s Area.

June Book: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

Can a robot survive in the wilderness? When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is--but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants. As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home--until, one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her.

From bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator Peter Brown comes a heartwarming and action-packed novel about what happens when nature and technology collide.

The Inkwell Explorers Book Club is for tweens 9-12 years old. The club features a middle-grade novel each month. Tweens register and pick up their copy of the month’s selection at the beginning of the month and then meet and discuss the book on the fourth Wednesday of the month. For more information, stop by the Youth Services desk located on the second floor of the library.

Everybody loves animals! Enjoy an educational afternoon with animals and naturalists from Sarett Nature Center to learn about Michigan’s wildlife history. Please meet in the children’s area in the library by 12:50.

Nature Ninjas is an environmental program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage environmental awareness and artistic expression with the younger children. This program corresponds to last week’s Creative Kids Club stone pottery project.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the fourth Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Nature Ninjas information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

Kids  of all ages are invited to join us for Messy Time Mondays throughout the summer. Projects and activities might involve paint, chalk, water and other “messy” materials, so please wear older or play clothes. We’re often in direct sunlight, so please remember to put sunscreen on before leaving the house.

Join us at the Library Pavilion at 11:00 on Monday mornings. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Messy Time information. In the event of inclement weather, Messy Time may need to be canceled. If in doubt, please call us at 782-3826.

Movie Selection: National Treasure

Historian and code-breaker Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) has been searching his whole life for a rumored treasure dating back to the creation of the United States. Joining an expedition led by fellow treasure hunter Ian Howe, Gates finds an ice-locked Colonial ship in the Arctic Circle that contains a clue linking the treasure to the Declaration of Independence. But when Howe betrays him, Gates has to race to get to the document ahead of his so-called colleague.

The program, Unearth a Movie, is for children 12 years old and younger. However, National Treasure (rated PG) is an appropriate movie for the older children, tweens, and teens. Movies will be shown in the Spark Room, located in the library’s Children’s Area.

Children ages 8-12 are invited to join STEAM for Tweens, a new science program designed to engage young minds to think like a scientist. STEAM  for Tweens will meet at 4 pm in the Pokagon Room on the second level of the library.

Underwater Fireworks: Learn how colors are displaced in water.

Come to this STEAM for Tweens activity to celebrate America’s 250 with a cool science activity.

Space is limited, so please register by June 30 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below

Fill out the form below to register for this event.

A special showing of An American Tale will be featured in the Community Room for children ages 4-12. Join us to experience the adventures of Fievel as he explores America.

Space is limited, so please register by June 30 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below

Fill out the form below to register for this event.

Wandering Warriors is the first activity in our Freaky Friday program, designed for kids ages 3-8 and will meet once a month to encourage younger children to be inquisitive.

Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Freaky Friday information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

Kids  of all ages are invited to join us for Messy Time Mondays throughout the summer. Projects and activities might involve paint, chalk, water and other “messy” materials, so please wear older or play clothes. We’re often in direct sunlight, so please remember to put sunscreen on before leaving the house.

Join us at the Library Pavilion at 11:00 on Monday mornings. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Messy Time information. In the event of inclement weather, Messy Time may need to be canceled. If in doubt, please call us at 782-3826.

Movie Selection: Land Before Time 3: The Time of the Great Giving

When a sudden shortage of water threatens all life in the great valley, The gang of young dinosaur must cooperate with a group of bullies to make a risky journey outside the valley and find the cause.

The program, Unearth a Movie, is for children 12 years old and younger. Each week features a Land Before Time movie selection appropriate for younger audiences. Movies will be shown in the Spark Room, located in the library’s Children’s Area.

July Book: The Underdogs: Catch a Cat Burglar by Kate & Jol Temple

Crime is on the rise in Dogtown, and it’s all thanks to a mysterious cat burglar! They’ve stolen everything from handbags to ham sandwiches, and nobody has been able to catch them. Now The Underdog Detective Agency is on the case . . . but as their name might suggest, they aren’t exactly the best sleuths in town. Barkley and the other dogs at the agency have been in a bit of a slump, but this latest case could turn it all around. So to catch this menacing cat burglar, they may have to do the unthinkable and hire their first-ever cat detective. Enter Fang, a street-smart, one-eyed feline and the newest member of the team. Being a cat in a dog’s world isn’t easy, but Fang is determined to prove she’s got what it takes. Will Fang and Barkley be able to work together to solve the case and help make Underdogs the top dogs once again?

The Adventures in Bookland Book Club is for kids 6-8 years old. The club features an easy chapter book each month. Parents/kids register and pick up their copy of the month’s selection at the beginning of the month and then meet and discuss the book on the second Wednesday of the month. For more information, stop by the Youth Services desk located on the second floor of the library.

Join us for the Sip & Share Book Club at Sister Lakes Brewing Company. July’s book will be announced after June’s meeting.

This event will be held at:
Sister Lakes Brewing Company
92500 CO RD 690
Dowagiac, MI 49047*

• Discussion starts at 6:30pm

• Drinks and food are available for purchase, visit Sister Lakes Brewing Company for an up-to-date menu.

To register, please fill out the form below.

To access the book using Dowagiac District Library resources:

• Download the Libby or CloudLibrary using your Dowagiac District Library card for digital content

• Visit MeL.org to request an Interlibrary Loan (usually takes a week between submitting the request and receiving a call from us that it’s available to pick up)

• Or place a hold on the library copy

• Don't have a card? Visit our Get A Card page to see if you qualify for a digital card today

• We also have copies of the book for checkout at the front desk of the library. Please make sure to bring your card to checkout.

*This book club is for adult patrons. This event is in conjunction with Sister Lakes Brewing Company, but we do ask that you ONLY contact the library for any questions you may have about it. For further information, please call Erin at (269) 782-3826 or email erin@dowagiacdl.org

Design and create your very own garden stone using river pebbles and stones. This is a ticketed event.

Space is limited, so please register by July 6 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Erin) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below

Fill out the form below to register for this event.

Future Scientist Society is a STEM (science-technology-engineering-math) program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage science inquiry with the younger children.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the second Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Future Scientist Society information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

Ready for a morning of dynamite dinosaur fun? Children ages 3-8, bring your adopted dinosaur to help you find dinosaur eggs at the library. Watch your eggs hatch and enjoy fossil snacks and pterodactyl punch with Tyrannus and Rexy, the library’s dinosaurs. After snacks, you will make a bed for your dinosaur in the library for a sleepover with its dinosaur playmates.

Space is limited, so please register by July 6 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below

Fill out the form below to register for this event.

Kids  of all ages are invited to join us for Messy Time Mondays throughout the summer. Projects and activities might involve paint, chalk, water and other “messy” materials, so please wear older or play clothes. We’re often in direct sunlight, so please remember to put sunscreen on before leaving the house.

Join us at the Library Pavilion at 11:00 on Monday mornings. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Messy Time information. In the event of inclement weather, Messy Time may need to be canceled. If in doubt, please call us at 782-3826.

Movie Selection: Land Before Time 7: The Stone of Cold Fire

A mysterious object crashes near the great valley and Petrie's untrustful uncle arrives in search of it, believing it to be "a storm of cold fire", a susposed rock of great powers.

The program, Unearth a Movie, is for children 12 years old and younger. Each week features a Land Before Time movie selection appropriate for younger audiences. Movies will be shown in the Spark Room, located in the library’s Children’s Area.

Children ages 8-12 are invited to join STEAM for Tweens, a new science program designed to engage young minds to think like a scientist. STEAM  for Tweens will meet at 4 pm in the Pokagon Room on the second level of the library.

Simulating Strip Mining: Explore how coal is extracted from Earth’s crust. Keep in mind, coal was formed before the dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

Come to this STEAM for Tweens activity for an edible lab simulating strip mining methods.

Space is limited, so please register by July 13 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below

Fill out the form below to register for this event.

Everybody loves music and everyone loves dinosaurs. Celebrate summer reading and unleash your musical talents with BenJammin and family. Please meet in the children’s area in the library by 12:50.

Kids  of all ages are invited to join us for Messy Time Mondays throughout the summer. Projects and activities might involve paint, chalk, water and other “messy” materials, so please wear older or play clothes. We’re often in direct sunlight, so please remember to put sunscreen on before leaving the house.

Join us at the Library Pavilion at 11:00 on Monday mornings. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Messy Time information. In the event of inclement weather, Messy Time may need to be canceled. If in doubt, please call us at 782-3826.

Movie Selection: The Great Longneck Migration

Littlefoot has been on many adventures before, but in this new edition to the Land Before Time series, the next adventure may change his life...forever.

The program, Unearth a Movie, is for children 12 years old and younger. Each week features a Land Before Time movie selection appropriate for younger audiences. Movies will be shown in the Spark Room, located in the library’s Children’s Area.

July Book: ReStart by Gordon Korman

Chase's memory just went out the window. Chase doesn't remember falling off the roof. He doesn't remember hitting his head. He doesn't, in fact, remember anything. He wakes up in a hospital room and suddenly has to learn his whole life all over again . . . starting with his own name. He knows he's Chase. But who is Chase? When he gets back to school, he sees that different kids have very different reactions to his return. Some kids treat him like a hero. Some kids are clearly afraid of him. One girl in particular is so angry with him that she pours her frozen yogurt on his head the first chance she gets. Pretty soon, it's not only a question of who Chase is--it's a question of who he was . . . and who he's going to be.

Restart is the spectacular story of a kid with a messy past who has to figure out what it means to get a clean start.

The Inkwell Explorers Book Club is for tweens 9-12 years old. The club features a middle-grade novel each month. Tweens register and pick up their copy of the month’s selection at the beginning of the month and then meet and discuss the book on the fourth Wednesday of the month. For more information, stop by the Youth Services desk located on the second floor of the library.

Nature Ninjas is an environmental program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage environmental awareness and artistic expression with the younger children. This program corresponds to last week’s Creative Kids Club stone pottery project.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the fourth Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Nature Ninjas information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

Unleash the creature within you as you learn about descendants from the Mesozoic dinosaurs and reptiles. Join the Critchlow alligator experts for an up-close opportunity to see some relatives of the dinosaurs. Please meet in the children’s area in the library by 1:50.

Children ages 8-12 are invited to join STEAM for Tweens, a new science program designed to engage young minds to think like a scientist. STEAM  for Tweens will meet at 4 pm in the Pokagon Room on the second level of the library.

Mousetrap Car: Create a car using a mousetrap and a little bit of luck.

Come to this STEAM for Tweens activity for unique experience using common household tools.

Space is limited, so please register by August 3 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below

Fill out the form below to register for this event.

August Book: Murray and Bun: Murray the Knight by Adam Stower

Murray the cat likes the quiet life. Too bad for him, he lives with Bun, a rabbit who is bound to end up in trouble, and Fumblethumb, a wizard who accidentally enchanted the cap flap. Which means sometimes the cat flap leads to the garden, but sometimes it leads to adventure, which is how Murray and Bun find themselves as knights! But things are not calm in this world of kings, castles, and chaos. Sir Nasty is less than noble and has stolen Princess Rubytoes. Murray and Bun must master a jousting competition and navigate one super complicated maze if they have any hope of bringing the princess home in time for a cat nap.

The Adventures in Bookland Book Club is for kids 6-8 years old. The club features an easy chapter book each month. Parents/kids register and pick up their copy of the month’s selection at the beginning of the month and then meet and discuss the book on the second Wednesday of the month. For more information, stop by the Youth Services desk located on the second floor of the library.

Join us for the Sip & Share Book Club at Sister Lakes Brewing Company. August’s book will be announced after July’s meeting.

This event will be held at:
Sister Lakes Brewing Company
92500 CO RD 690
Dowagiac, MI 49047*

• Discussion starts at 6:30pm

• Drinks and food are available for purchase, visit Sister Lakes Brewing Company for an up-to-date menu.

To register, please fill out the form below.

To access the book using Dowagiac District Library resources:

• Download the Libby or CloudLibrary using your Dowagiac District Library card for digital content

• Visit MeL.org to request an Interlibrary Loan (usually takes a week between submitting the request and receiving a call from us that it’s available to pick up)

• Or place a hold on the library copy

• Don't have a card? Visit our Get A Card page to see if you qualify for a digital card today

• We also have copies of the book for checkout at the front desk of the library. Please make sure to bring your card to checkout.

*This book club is for adult patrons. This event is in conjunction with Sister Lakes Brewing Company, but we do ask that you ONLY contact the library for any questions you may have about it. For further information, please call Erin at (269) 782-3826 or email erin@dowagiacdl.org

Future Scientist Society is a STEM (science-technology-engineering-math) program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage science inquiry with the younger children.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the second Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Future Scientist Society information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

Children ages 8-12 are invited to join STEAM for Tweens, a new science program designed to engage young minds to think like a scientist. STEAM  for Tweens will meet at 4 pm in the Pokagon Room on the second level of the library.

It’s All About Space: Design a mural using clay and scientific knowledge of our solar system.

Come to this STEAM for Tweens activity for an out-of-this-world experience.

Space is limited, so please register by August 17 by calling (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com or fill out the form below

Fill out the form below to register for this event.

Creative Kids Club is an arts and crafts program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage artistic expression with the younger children.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the third Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Creative Kids Club information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.

August Book: Pax by Sara Pennypacker

From bestselling and award-winning author Sara Pennypacker comes a beautifully wrought, utterly compelling novel about the powerful relationship between a boy and his fox. Pax is destined to become a classic, beloved for generations to come. Pax and Peter have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a kit. But one day, the unimaginable happens: Peter's dad enlists in the military and makes him return the fox to the wild. At his grandfather's house, three hundred miles away from home, Peter knows he isn't where he should be—with Pax. He strikes out on his own despite the encroaching war, spurred by love, loyalty, and grief, to be reunited with his fox.

The Inkwell Explorers Book Club is for tweens 9-12 years old. The club features a middle-grade novel each month. Tweens register and pick up their copy of the month’s selection at the beginning of the month and then meet and discuss the book on the fourth Wednesday of the month. For more information, stop by the Youth Services desk located on the second floor of the library.

Nature Ninjas is an environmental program designed for kids ages 4-8 and will meet once a month to encourage environmental awareness and artistic expression with the younger children. This program corresponds to last week’s Creative Kids Club stone pottery project.

Join us in The Pokagon Room at 10:30 on the fourth Friday of the month. Please check the website’s calendar and/or Facebook page for additional Nature Ninjas information.

Questions? Please call (269) 782-3826 or email (att: Pam) at dowagiaclibrarystaff@gmail.com.