This program provides all caregivers (early childhood professionals and parents) with books, guided questions, and expanded learning resources to support literacy development, enhance relationships, and to make a connection with your local library.
Each year the theme changes to align with the Collaborative Summer Library Program’s annual theme, but the imagination guides always include the following:
- Conversation Starters
- STEAM Connections
- Nature
- Creative Arts
2026 STEAM Imagination Guides
Collaborative Summer Library Program Theme: Unearth a Story
Brighten young minds by connecting storybooks and STEAM!
Children are naturally curious about the world and are continuously exploring various ways to express themselves. This year’s STEAM Imagination Guides focus on dinosaurs, paleontology, and archaeology.
Oh My, Oh My, Oh Dinosaurs!
Infant & Toddler Guide
STEAM Connection: Science Through Senses
Other Activities in this Guide:
- Nature: Treasure Basket
- Creative Arts: Footprints and Fossils
I’m a Dinosaur
Infant & Toddler Guide
STEAM Connection: Dino Egg Float and Catch
Other Activities in this Guide:
- Nature: Nature Dino Nest
- Creative Arts: Dinosaur Scale Stamping
Digging for Dinosaurs
Infant & Toddler Guide
STEAM Connection: Gross Motor Fossil Hunt
Other Activities in this Guide:
- Nature: Clay Fossils
- Creative Arts: Fossil Stamps
One Hundred Bones
Preschool Guide
STEAM Connection: Fossil Finder
Other Activities in this Guide:
- Nature: Scent Safari
- Creative Arts: Prehistoric Puzzle
Stomp, Dinosaur, Stomp!
Preschool Guide
STEAM Connection: Dinosaur Bridge Challenge
Other Activities in this Guide:
- Nature: Sound Hunt
- Creative Arts: Dinosaur Feet Marching to the Beat
Trapped in the Tar Pit
Preschool Guide
STEAM Connection: Slime Tar Pit Dig
Other Activities in this Guide:
- Nature: Hunting for Fossils
- Creative Arts: Dramatic Play Tar Pit Dig
If the Dinosaurs Came Back
Preschool Guide
STEAM Connection: Dinosaur City Diorama
Other Activities in this Guide:
- Nature: Dino Habitat Exploration
- Creative Arts: Dinosaur Helpers
Here We Go Digging for Dinosaur Bones
Preschool Guide
STEAM Connection: Dig Like a Paleontologist
Other Activities in this Guide:
- Nature: Dinosaur Habitat Hunt
- Creative Arts: Fossil Impressions
Am I Yours?
Preschool Guide
STEAM Connection: Dinosaur Egg Lab
Other Activities in this Guide:
- Nature: Dinosaur Egg Hunt
- Creative Arts: Design a Dinosaur Egg
Paleontologists at Work: Ashfall Fossil Beds
Preschool Guide
STEAM Connection: Volcano Eruption
Other Activities in this Guide:
- Nature: Waterhole Sand Trap
- Creative Arts: Skeleton Art
Drawing Outdoors
Preschool Guide
STEAM Connection: Engineer Your Own Dinosaur
Other Activities in this Guide:
- Nature: Dino Footprint Adventure
- Creative Arts: Dinosaur Shadow Drawing
Groovy Joe Ice Cream and Dinosaurs
Preschool Guide
STEAM Connection: Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag
Other Activities in this Guide:
- Nature: Groovy Nature Ice Cream
- Creative Arts: The Groovy Dance
“The activities engage the children.
The connection between the activities and the book content is easy to grasp. These guides encourage play and the children are eager to participate.”
— Early Childhood Educator
4-H Reading Connections Resources
Collaborative Summer Library Program Theme: Unearth a Story
Looking for engagement for school-aged children in your care? This program is available to youth development and early childhood professionals, afterschool clubs, summer school and camps, libraries, and parents. Resources provide engaging learning opportunities to spark an interest in STEM concepts and 4-H.
- Head: Unearthing Earth
- Heart: Dino Detectives
- Hands: Do You have a Favorite Dino?
- Health: Dino Diet Detective
No endorsement of products or services by 4-H is intended or implied.
Want to request this program? Please send an e-mail to Jennifer Hansen.
