Ready to game on? We thought so, and Normal Public Library is here to help. Tabletop gaming, that is. Our Library of Things has games for all ages and stages.
Got littles at home? Start them out with First Orchard, a cooperative game for kids 2 & up that helps two-year-olds learn to take turns as they roll the dice and match it with fruit they can pick from a wooden 'orchard.' Once they're ready, move on to the kid classics like Candyland or Chutes and Ladders. If you'd like to reinforce color matching and other skills, try your preschooler on The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game, which requires NO reading. Count Your Chickens lets 2-4 players, aged 3 and up, work together to practice counting.
Once kids grasp the concept of gaming, they might enjoy something with a little strategy but a lot of luck, like Sorry! or Pop-o-matic Trouble. Gobblet Gobblers is a fun twist on tic-tac-toe for two players aged 5 & up. Yeti in My Spaghetti is not only fun to say, it's a blast to play, honing fine motor skills as two or more players compete to remove 'spaghetti' strands without letting the yeti fall. As their strategic skills develop, try them on Battleship and Blokus. Unstable Unicorns is a favorite for anyone who wants their own unicorn herd (and frankly, who doesn't!).
We've got the old-school strategy classics, too, like backgammon, chess, Mancala, Othello, Parcheesi, and Pente. And our collection of newer strategy games, like Carcassonne, Imhotep, The Settlers of Catan, and Ticket to Ride will keep your wits sharp. Word nerds will relish Beyond Balderdash, Huggermugger, and the ever-popular Scrabble. Aspiring investigators should check out Clue or Detective to solve their own cases.
Got a crowd? Apples to Apples, Catch Phrase, Pictionary, and Telestrations are perpetual favorites. We've got several variations on Trivial Pursuit for the factually-minded. Scruples will let you know who's likely to confess that they dinged your car door on the way in -- and who won't. And for a mixed-age crowd, try Kids Battle the Grown-ups (and if you make the stakes who gets candy vs. who has to do the dishes? IT WILL GET REAL).
If the fam prefers more active gaming, try Klask. This combo of half-foosball, half-air hockey takes only 10 minutes per round, can set up on any flat surface, and can inspire a family elimination bracket to see who's REALLY the best at scoring goals. If everyone's feeling limber, check out Twister. We also have lawn games like portable bags, yard dice, lawn darts, or giant tumbling blocks if weather and space permit.
No matter what your age, gaming level, or taste, we've got plenty to offer. That's great news, especially since you can try before you buy for an expensive-but-worth-it game like Ark Nova. Get your game on today with Normal Public Library's wonderful selection from The Library of Things!