Our Weekly Workshop is a fun, hands-on, drop-off style gathering where kids get to dive into the weekly theme through stories, activities, and conversation.

Workshops require prior registration. You can view the weekly schedule & sign up here.

Workshops are designed to spark a love of reading, build friendships, and give kids a chance to reflect and connect.

Each 1-hour workshop session includes an activity centered on that week's theme (ex. Friendship, Sharks, Ice Cream), time to update their reading tracker, and the excitement of receiving their new book and activity kit for the week.

No quizzes, no pressure—just joyful learning.

…a formal class or academic session. There’s no test, no assigned reading, and no pressure to perform. We won’t be reading the book aloud or leading a structured lesson on its content. Instead, think of it as a joyful, casual gathering—where kids are celebrated for the reading they’ve already done and inspired to keep going.

It’s a place to build confidence, community, and curiosity. Kids can connect with peers, get excited about their new book, and enjoy playful, themed activities that tie into the week’s topic. Our goal is to make reading feel rewarding and fun—not like homework.

This is not school. It’s not a classroom. It’s a little weekly dose of encouragement and delight to help your child fall in love with reading in their own way, at their own pace.

Workshops are held on:

• Mondays @ 2:30pm
• Tuesdays @ 8:30am & 2:30pm

You’ll receive a reminder email before your workshop session with all the details.

We recommend arriving about 15 minutes early to check in and get settled.

Each workshop is about 1 hour long. Just enough time to get your book + activity kit, do a fun project, meet a friend and log your independent reading minutes on our "Meet the Readers" wall.

Yes, advance registration is required. You can register online here.

Your Summer Reading Program Membership includes a 5-week or 10-week punch card, and you’ll select which sessions you’d like to attend.

Our weekly workshops tend to fill quickly, so we encourage signing up early to reserve your spot!

If you’re on a waitlist for a session, we’ll do our best to accommodate you, but to ensure we have enough materials and maintain our child-to-educator ratio, we do have to cap capacity.

If you don’t get into your preferred time, we encourage you to sign up for a different available session.

And remember, workshops are optional. If you can’t attend, you’re always welcome to stop by during open hours to pick up your book, reading tracker update, and activity kit for that week.

Please bring the following things each week:

• Little Joy tote bag
• Their reading tracker so we can log minutes and celebrate milestones
• water bottle

We’ve got the rest covered, including all materials. Plus we have lots of snacks & refreshments available for purchase at the café!

Each child receives a name tag that includes their name, age, and which book level they signed up for (picture or chapter book). On the back, we’ll include a grown-up contact name and number for safety. They’ll return their name tag at pick-up.

Each week, kids take home:

• A copy of that week’s book (yours to keep!)
• A themed activity kit
• A reading reflection sheet

We’ll also update their reading tracker with minutes logged during the workshop and add to their Meet the Reader Wall.

Nope! Drop-off is welcome and encouraged. Use that hour to grab a coffee, run a quick errand, or just enjoy a quiet moment. Our team has it covered.

We kindly ask that only registered participants join the workshop.

If you want to stick around, we've got fun patio activities set up for younger siblings outside. Otherwise, we recommend heading to nearby Joy Ice Cream or the nearby playgrounds Washington or Roosevelt Elementary Schools to explore while you wait.

No problem at all. The workshops are optional and designed to enrich the reading experience—but missing one doesn’t mean missing out.

You can swing by anytime during open hours to pick up your child’s book and activity kit.

We want every child to feel welcome and safe.

Please make sure that your child's account is updated with important notes such as this. Our check-in system helps us flag this info so our team is always in the loop.

Please email us at learn@thelittlevillageplaycafe.com with any allergy info or accommodations your child may need, and we’ll do our best to support them.

Since workshops are held indoors, we rarely cancel. If weather ever affects operations, we’ll notify you by email or text with any updates or next steps.