By Jaci Foged, Extension Educator in Lancaster County
Keeping children engaged and learning through fun and playful experiences during the summer months is important. Reading books with children can spark excitement around a topic and encourage them to put what they have heard or read into action. This action often emerges through play, which can lead children to experiment, create and feel inspired to try something new.
COLLABORATIVE SUMMER LIBRARY PROGRAM
The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) is a national non-profit organization that has been providing summer programming resources since 1987. Each year, CSLP selects a theme, and Nebraska Extension develops reading guides to match that theme for use in libraries across Nebraska.
Two sets of resources are created annually:
• Extension’s Early Childhood Team focuses on infants, toddlers and preschoolers with the “STEAM Imagination Guides.”
• Extension’s 4-H Team develops “Reading Connection Resources” to support school-aged children in kindergarten through sixth grade.
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.
2026 THEME: UNEARTH A STORY
This year’s theme for the CSLP is “Unearth a Story,” which focuses on paleontology and archaeology. The Early Childhood Team selected nine preschool books and three books for infants and toddlers. One of the featured books was written by a Nebraska author and highlights paleontology work currently underway in northeast Nebraska at Ashfall Fossil Beds.
Libraries across the state received a list of the books featured in this year’s “STEAM Imagination Guides” program, though not every library will have all of the books available.
WHAT IS STEAM?
STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Engaging children in these subject areas provides opportunities to build math and engineering skills — such as comparing, reflecting and reasoning — while also supporting language, literacy, reading and writing development.
HOW TO USE THE GUIDES
The “STEAM Imagination Guides” take the guesswork out of lesson planning. The Nebraska Department of Education developed the Early Learning Guidelines (ELGs), which outline learning and development standards from birth through age five. Each activity included in the guides connects to at least one ELG, though many activities support multiple standards.
Each guide includes:
• Conversation Starters — questions to ask before, during or after reading to promote engagement and help children connect the story to their own lives.
• Three Activities — designed to deepen learning and reflect a variety of interests and developmental needs:
* A STEAM Connection activity on the front page (the most detailed activity)
* A nature-based or outdoor activity
* A creative-arts activity
WHAT EDUCATORS AND FAMILIES ARE SAYING
We consistently hear that these guides are engaging, easy to use and valuable for lesson planning. The guides promote strong child engagement, clear literacy, STEAM integration and flexibility across ages and settings. One educator shared,“These are so incredible because they take the guesswork out of planning activities. I know I can go to these guides and find something that fits what I am looking for.”
GET STARTED
We are excited for you to “dig in.” Check out your local library or access the STEAM Imagination Guides and Reading Connection Resources for no cost at https://go.unl.edu/imagination. For CSLP, visit https://www.cslpreads.org.