Multi-format kits that contain a number of developmentally appropriate materials—books, CDs, DVDs, toys or other manipulatives, and a resource guide on various subjects.
All kits are packaged in sturdy containers and may be checked out for three weeks.
The Library offers the following kits for use at home:
| ADD/HD | Measurements and Weights |
| All About Me! (NEW) | Metamorphosis* |
| The Alphabet | Mouse Paint* |
| Autism | Numbers |
| Blended Families | Numbers and Counting |
| Chicka Chicka Boom Boom* | Numbers and Letters |
| Colors | Nursery and Preschool |
| Community Helpers (puzzle) | Nursery Rhymes |
| Community Helpers (figures) | Nutrition |
| Cultures of the World | Opposites |
| The Dentist | Potty Training for Boys/Him |
| Dinosaurs | Potty Training for Girls/Her |
| Diverse Abilities | Pre-reading Skills |
| The Doctor | Pre-reading Skills Set 1 |
| Dogs (NEW) | Pre-reading Skills Set 2 |
| The Doorbell Rang* | Pre-writing Skills |
| Earth & Environment | Princesses (NEW) |
| Ethnic Heritage | Self-esteem |
| Ethnicity | Shapes and Colors |
| Fall (NEW) | Shapes |
| Fairy Tales and Folk Tales | Siblings |
| Families (box) | Solar System* |
| Families (bag) (NEW) | Sounds |
| Farm Animals | Space (coming soon) |
| Fear | Starting School |
| Feelings | Stranger Danger |
| Fire Safety | Surgery |
| Five Senses | Telling the Truth |
| Gardening (NEW) | Time |
| Getting Dressed | Touching |
| Health & Safety | Trains (NEW) |
| Hibernation (Time to Sleep) | Transportation |
| Hygiene | Under the Sea (NEW) |
| Insects | Weather* |
| Life Cycles | Wild Animals |
| Math | Winter (NEW) |
| * bilingual kit |
Thematic Kit Guidelines
1. Thematic Kits are checked out in the Tomie dePaola Children’s Library. (KITS MAY NOT BE USED INSIDE THE LIBRARY BUILDING DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR LOST PARTS)
2. Patron will return Kits to the Children’s Library.
3. Patron is responsible for all contents in the Kit. There will be a charge for lost items, including replacement of the whole set (where items cannot be purchased individually).
4. There will be a replacement cost for damaged media containers.
5. Meriden Public Library charges $1.00 per day in late fees on Thematic Kits.
6. Thematic Kits circulate for three (3) weeks.
7. Thematic Kits cannot be renewed.
8. Maximum of one (1) Kit per household, per circulation cycle.
9. Children’s Library staff must examine contents of Thematic Kit with patron before checking out/discharging kits.
10. Thematic Kits are checked out with an adult library card.