The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts invites the community to join them this summer to explore and create beautiful works of art inspired by some of their favorite children’s literature, old and new. Open weekdays from June 6-August 5 (closed July 4), the Summer Art Studio program is bringing popular children’s books to life with “Read all about it!” This program features kid-friendly art activities for children of all ages. Drop in any time between 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at the LCVA, on the corner of Third and Main streets in historic downtown Farmville. This program is free. No registration is required; children must be accompanied by an adult. Summer Art Studio also features little artists areas for children 4 and younger. This program is made possible through the generous support of The Outer You Salon and School and The Woodland Inc. This year’s program dates and themes are:

• 3-2-1 Blast Off!, June 6–June 17: Count down on your calendar and take off with us as we head to outer space! Come explore books and activities that celebrate the last frontier! Featured books: “If You Decide to Go to the Moon,” “I Want to be an Astronaut,” “The Wonderful Flight of the Mushroom Planet,” and “Once Upon a Starry Night Animalia.”

• June 20–July 1. Lions, Tigers and Bears…Oh my: Come create your own creatures and visit the craziest critters in children’s literature! Featured books: “Animalium, Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See?,” “Just One Bite,” and “The Carnival of the Animals.”

• Color Me Tie-Dye July 5–July 1.5 (LCVA closed Monday, July 4). Come explore all the colors of the rainbow through colorful literature and tie-dye fun! Featured books: “Planting a Rainbow,” “Lemons Are Not Red,” “The Day the Crayons Quit,” and “A Color of His Own.”

•Create with the Classics, July 18–July 29” Whether it is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs or the wacky world of Dr. Seuss, come create masterpieces of your own inspired by the old and new classics of children’s literature. Featured books: “The Secret Garden,” “Finding Winnie,” “Aesop’s Fables,” and “Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales.”

• Imagination Station, Aug. 1–5: Explore the wildness of your own imagination and ride along with some of the wackiest worlds in all of children’s literature Featured books: “Journey,” “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” and “Sam and Dave Dig a Hole.”