First Zine Prompt: Summer Playlist
2026-06-24 - 2026-06-30 | Brownell Library, 6 Lincoln St, Essex Junction, VT, 05450, United States
This summer, Brownell Library invites young writers and artists ages 6–18 to unearth a story, a drawing, a comic, or a poem. New creative prompts will be released on Wednesdays starting 6/24 through 7/22. Each week the youth writer or artist with the most creative entry, which best responds to the prompt will win a $20 Phoenix gift card! Select entries will be featured in our community zine, to be released in August. THIS TIME: Create the ultimate playlist for your summer of fun! Please limit lists to 10 songs. Looking for an extra challenge? Illustrate some of your favorite lyrics!

Adopt a Dino!
2026-06-24 - 2026-07-01
A train full of dinosaurs has escaped into the library, and we need your help to find them! Beginning Wednesday June 24, patrons are invited to search the library for dinosaur figurines to take home. These little dinosaurs will only be available until July 1 – come claim yours today! Available while supplies last. This program is open to patrons of all ages.

Bookmark Stitch-In with the Embroidery Guild
2026-06-24 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Local members of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America celebrate our summer theme with a Stitch-In. Watch them create embroidery using a variety of needlework techniques. Choose a beautifully stitched bookmark to take home. For all ages.

Summer Reading Program Kick Off with Dinoman!
2026-06-24 18:00 - 19:00
Kick off the Summer Reading Program with Dinoman’s high-energy, prehistoric adventure—packed with science, stories, and dinosaurs! The Summer reading program theme is Unearth a Story and will be filled with dinosaur themed events! In the Main Reading Room.

Dungeons & Dragons (FULL)
2026-06-26 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-10 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-07-24 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-08-14 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-08-28 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-09-11 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-09-25 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-10-09 18:00 - 20:00 and 15 more dates
Players embark on imaginary adventures. The current campaign is full, if you are interested in joining, and able to commit to an ongoing collaborative story for at least 4 months, please email youth@brownelllibrary.org to add your name to the wait list. Open to 5th grade and up.

Breakout Box: The Lost Letters of Liberty
2026-06-29 - 2026-07-10
Stop by the youth desk to pick up our newest Breakout Box and unravel the clues by yourself or with friends. This time: We were digging through the Vermont Collection and found a dusty old locked box and a letter written by Abigail Adams, one of the Daughters of Liberty! We are SO curious what’s inside, but we need your help figuring out the combination to the lock on the box…

The Potter's Time Machine
2026-06-30 16:00 - 17:00
A broken pot can tell archaeologists what people ate, believed, and traded thousands of years ago. Explore ancient pottery from around the world, then design your own vessel that tells a story about you. Recommended for children in grades 3 and up, including teens!

VINS! Birds are Dinosaurs!
2026-07-28 13:00 - 14:00
VINS – Vermont Institute of Natural Science presents Birds Are Dinosaurs! Meet live birds of prey up close as VINS shares fascinating facts about wildlife, conservation, and the natural world. Find out what 65 million years of evolution turned the dinosaurs into–birds! Celebrating “Unearth a Story” at your local library, VINS representatives are excited to introduce you to some live birds of prey and learn all about their dinosaur ancestry together. We’ll explore the ways modern birds became masters of the air, and understand the immense timescale over which these dinosaur-descendants adapted!
