Kids Calendar
(age 12 & under)
May 2025
Key to Locations
AADL: Ann Arbor District Library 327–4200, aadl.org. Events (all free) offered at Downtown (343 S. Fifth Ave.), Westgate (2503 Jackson Ave.), Traverwood (3333 Traverwood), Malletts Creek (3090 E. Eisenhower), and Pittsfield (2359 Oak Valley) branches.
HSHV: Humane Society of Huron Valley, 661–3575, humaneed@hshv.org. 3100 Cherry Hill Rd. Events also hosted at Tiny Lions Lounge & Adoption Center (5245 Jackson Rd., ste. A1). hshv.org.
Events
Every Mon.–Fri. (different times): Preschool Storytimes: AADL. Half-hour program of stories and songs for kids ages 2–5 (with caregiver). Pittsfield (Mon. 10:30 a.m., except May 26, & Thurs. 11 a.m.), Downtown (Tues. 11 a.m.), Malletts Creek (Tues. 11 a.m. & Wed. 10:30 a.m.), Traverwood (Thurs. 11 a.m.), and Westgate (Fri. 1 p.m.).
Every Mon.–Wed. & Fri. (different times): Playgroups for Babies: AADL. Fifteen minutes of stories, rhymes, and songs led by AADL staffers, followed by a short open playtime. For kids up to 24 months (with caregiver). No older siblings. Malletts Creek (Mon. 10:30 a.m., except May 26), Traverwood (Tues. 11 a.m.), Westgate (Wed. 10:30 a.m.), and Downtown (Fri. 10:30 a.m.).
May 2 (4:30–5:30 p.m.): “Wildflower Walk”: Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Environmental Education. City environmental educator Eleva Potter leads a walk for K–5 students with adult accompaniment to look for wildflowers and other signs of spring. Boots recommended for this muddy trail. Marybeth Doyle Park, 3500 Birch Hollow. Free, preregistration required (space limited) at tinyurl.com/a2parksrec. epotter@a2gov.org.
May 2 (5:30–8:30 p.m.): “Pets and Pajamas Movie Night”: HSHV. All kids ages 6–11 invited to watch an animal-themed movie and interact with adoptable pets. Cheese pizza dinner. Wear pajamas and bring a sleeping bag and pillow. Call for movie selection. HSHV. $35 per child. Preregistration required at hshv.org/event-calendar, humaneed@hshv.org, (734) 661–3564.
May 3 (11 a.m.): Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players: The Ark. Family concert by this acclaimed ensemble led by Roberts, a Minneapolis indie rock singer-songwriter turned Montessori preschool teacher who the Los Angeles Times calls “among the best craftsmen of sweet and silly kid tunes out there, making irresistible music out of small, well-observed moments from the lives of children and parents.” Today’s show features songs from Roberts’ brand-new album, Brain Freeze. The Ark, 316 S. Main. Tickets $20 (kids, $15) in advance at mutotix.umich.edu, theark.org, & at the door. (734) 761–1451.
May 3 (11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.): “The Water Princess”: U-M Kelsey Museum of Archaeology Read and Look. A reading of Susan Verde’s picture book about a girl who dreams of bringing clean water to her African village. Followed by a chance for kids ages 4–7 (accompanied by an adult) to explore the museum’s collection to find items pictured in the book. Kelsey Museum, 434 S. State. Free. (734) 764–9304.
May 3 (1–2 p.m.): Knitting Nancies: AADL Traverwood. Kids age 5 & up invited to fashion a small, handheld loom to make simple knitted items.
May 3 (2–3 p.m.): “Manoomin’s Journey: Wild Rice & the Anishinaabe People Crankie Box Show”: AADL Westgate. Kids grade K & up invited to watch a “crankie box show” depicting the relationship between wild rice and the Anishinaabe Indians. A crankie box has a long, illustrated scroll that is wound onto two spools, then cranked while a story is told.
May 3 (3–4:30 p.m.): “Extra Cute Paper Refrigerators”: AADL Malletts Creek. A chance for kids grades K–5 to create a small paper refrigerator, and then make some paper food to go inside.
May 3 (3–5 p.m.): 11th Annual Kid Fest: First Steps Benefit. Family concert (4 p.m.), with sing-alongs, by Joe Reilly, a local singer-songwriter whose playful songs draw on blues, Native American, and other traditional American idioms and address ecological and spiritual themes. The program begins with kids activities TBA. Silent auction of kid-friendly items. Bring snacks & blankets to sit on. Leslie Science & Nature Center, 1831 Traver. $10 (kids ages 2–18, $5; family of 8, $35) in advance at tinyurl.com/2025a2kidfest and (if available) at the gate.
May 5, 7, & 8 (10:30–11 a.m., different branch locations): “Preschool ArtStart”: AADL. AADL staff lead children ages 2–5, accompanied by an adult, in arts and crafts, with an emphasis on fun. Traverwood (Mon.), Pittsfield (Wed.), & Malletts Creek (Thurs.).
May 6 (1–2 p.m.): “Needlepoint for Kids: Long Stitch Smileys”: AADL Westgate. A chance for kids grades K–5 to learn some basic needlepoint stitches, and then make a cute smiley face.
May 6 (1–2 p.m.): Hands-On with Tools for Kids: AADL Downtown. Kids grades K–5 invited to work with a variety of kid-friendly household tools.
May 6 (2–3:30 p.m.): “Create a Cocoon”: Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Environmental Education. All K–5 students with adult accompaniment are invited to join city environmental educator Eleva Potter to learn about cocoons, how different species use them, and create one of your own out of natural and other materials. Island Park shelter A, 1420 Island Drive. Free, preregistration required (space limited) at tinyurl.com/a2parksrec. epotter@a2gov.org.
May 7 & 21 (9:30–10:30 a.m.): “Tiny Tails Toddler Time”: Tiny Lions. Stories, crafts, finger plays, and interaction with adoptable cats. For kids ages 2–5, accompanied by an adult. Tiny Lions. $10 per kid (babies under age 1, free). Preregistration required at hshv.org/event-calendar, humaneed@hshv.org, (734) 661–3575.
May 7 (11 a.m.–noon): “Building Big with Paper Cups”: AADL Traverwood. Kids grades preK–3 invited to stack paper cups into tall towers, pyramids, walls, swirls, and other patterns.
May 8, 22, & 29 (10:30–11:30 a.m.): “Little Paws Toddler Time”: HSHV. Stories, crafts, fingerplays, and interaction with adoptable cats and dogs. Also, a chance to make a toy or treat for the animals. For kids ages 2–5, accompanied by an adult. HSHV. $5 (babies under age 1, free). Preregistration required at hshv.org/event-calendar (limited space), humaneed@hshv.org, (734) 661–3575.
May 9–11: “Kinder Concerts”: Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. AASO trombonist Dan Babcock and pianist Melissa Coppola are joined by AASO program manager Jaxon Williams to present a program for kids age 5 & under (accompanied by an adult) that includes storytelling and dancing to live music. Participants also learn about the instruments. AADL Downtown, May 9 (10–10:30 & 11–11:30 a.m.). Chelsea District Library, May 10 (10:30–11 a.m.), 221 S. Main St., Chelsea. Dexter District Library, May 10 (noon–12:30 p.m.), 3255 Alpine, Dexter. 109 Cultural Exchange, May 10 (2–2:30 & 3–3:30 p.m.), 109 W. Michigan Ave., Saline. Ypsilanti District Library—Whittaker, May 11 (2–2:30 & 3–3:30 p.m.), 5577 Whittaker Rd., Ypsilanti. Various times and locations. Free.
May 10 (10–11:30 a.m.): “Rescue Reading”: HSHV. Kids ages 6–11 invited to read to adoptable animals to work on their reading skills, using their own or provided books. Also, a group read-aloud and a dog meet-and-greet. No adults. HSHV. $10. Preregistration required at hshv.org/event-calendar, humaneed@hshv.org, (734) 661–3575.
May 10 (11 a.m.–noon): Dragon Stories & Craft: AADL Malletts Creek. Kids grades preK–3 invited to listen to stories about dragons, then make a dragon-themed craft.
May 10 (noon–1 p.m.): “Fabulous Fingerprint Necklaces”: AADL Westgate. A chance for kids grades K–5 to make little wearable necklaces out of fingerprint ink, a small charm, and other basic supplies.
May 11 (1–2 p.m.): “Squid Ink Jets”: AADL Downtown. Kids grades K–12 invited to make a little paper squid that uses ink to move around the water’s surface like the real animal does when it tries to escape a threat.
May 11 (1–2 p.m.): “Mixed-Media Circle Collage Inspired by Howardena Pindell”: AADL Traverwood. A chance for kids grades K–12 to make collages out of punched paper circles and other colorful materials in the style of this African American abstract impressionist artist.
May 11 (1–2:30 p.m.): “Unicorn Flower Pots”: AADL Pittsfield. Kids grades K–5 invited to make a little unicorn-themed flower pot, then add a live succulent.
May 13 (10:30–11:15 a.m.): “Sensation Stations”: AADL Pittsfield. Babies and infants age 2 and under, accompanied by an adult, invited to engage their senses by scooping, pouring, shaking, and sorting a variety of materials while exploring colors, shapes, textures, and sounds.
May 15 (2–3 p.m.): Marble Run Race: AADL Malletts Creek. Kids grades preK–5 invited to use tubes, ramps, and connectors to build a marble racetrack.
May 15 (2–3:30 p.m.): “HEXBUG Adventures”: AADL Westgate. A chance for kids grades K–5 to play with the library’s robotic HEXBUGs in an interactive obstacle course.
May 15 (2–3:30 p.m.): “Design a Dragonfly”: Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Environmental Education. City environmental educator Eleva Potter leads a hunt for local dragonflies and a craft activity to make a dragonfly out of natural and other materials. K–5 students with adult accompaniment. Island Park shelter A, 1420 Island Drive. Free, preregistration required (space limited) at tinyurl.com/a2parksrec. epotter@a2gov.org.
May 16 (7:15–8:45 p.m.): “Cats and Kids”: Tiny Lions. Kids ages 6–11 invited to spend time with adoptable cats and kittens at the Tiny Lions Lounge. Also, crafts and games, popcorn, and juice. Kids only. Tiny Lions. $20. Preregistration required at hshv.org/event-calendar, humaneed@hshv.org, (734) 661–3575.
May 17 (9 a.m.–1 p.m.): “Children’s Entrepreneur Market”: Ypsilanti Farmers Market/Growing Hope. A chance for kids ages 5–17 to sell their products, from homemade food to games, at a farmers market booth. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Ypsilanti Farmers Marketplace, 16 S. Washington, Ypsilanti. Free admission. ypsimarkets.info. $25 booth fee to sell; sellers must register at childrensentrepreneurmarket.com/event/ypsilanti (booths limited).
May 17 (11–11:45 a.m.): “Young Scientists”: AADL Westgate. Science-themed stories and simple science experiments for preschoolers accompanied by a caregiver.
May 17 (12:30 p.m.): “There’s a Place for You in the Circle: Joe Reilly and the Community Gardeners with the All Nations Dancers”: The Ark. Local singer-songwriter Reilly (see May 3 Kid Fest listing above) is joined by Anishinaabe pow wow dancers from Mt. Pleasant for this family-friendly concert aimed at kids grades K–5. Preceded at 11:30 a.m. by a free catered lunch. The Ark, 316 S. Main. Preregistration recommended at theark.org/event. Free. (734) 761–1451.
May 17 (2–3 p.m.): “DIY Stamps”: AADL Pittsfield. A chance for kids grades preK–5 to use foam shapes to make their own rubber stamps.
May 18 (10:30–11:15 a.m.): “Dancing Babies”: AADL Downtown. Local music teacher Momo Kajiwara leads kids age 5 & under (accompanied by an adult) in a 45-minute program of music and movement.
May 18 (noon–1 p.m.): Galaxy Sensory Bottles: AADL Malletts Creek. A chance for kids grades preK–2 to make sparkly sensory bottles using colorful water beads.
May 24 (noon–1 p.m.): “Lilo and Stitch Coloring”: AADL Traverwood. Kids grades preK–5 invited to color scenes in celebration of the upcoming Lilo and Stitch movie.
May 24 (noon–1 p.m.): Amy Sherald Paper Dolls: AADL Westgate. A chance for kids grades K–5 to make colorful paper dolls inspired by the work of this contemporary African American painter.
May 25 (2–3 p.m.): Scratch-Off Art: AADL Malletts Creek. Kids grades K–5 invited to use a scraper tool to reveal hidden colors underneath black scratch art paper and create their own designs.
May 31 (10–11:30 p.m.): “PlayLab Yoga Experience”: Ann Arbor Art Center (A2AC). Kids ages 7–12, accompanied by an adult, invited to learn about yoga philosophy, postures, and breath. A2AC, 117 W. Liberty. Free, but preregistration required at annarborartcenter.org.
May 31 (10:30–11:30 a.m.): Book Party with Black Men Read: AADL Pittsfield. Black Men Read members present stories of the African diaspora for kids ages 2–5.
May 31 (11–11:45 a.m. & noon–12:45 p.m.): “Kids Move!”: AADL Westgate. Local teachers Jesse Deucher & Sarah Kairis lead kids preK & under (11 a.m.) and K–5 (noon) in a sensory-friendly program of music and movement.
May 31 (1–2 p.m.): “Slime Time”: AADL Traverwood. Kids grades K–5 invited to play with the library’s slime.
