Some authors / illustrators have a special talent for creating stories perfect for storytime, for audience participation, and plenty of belly laughs. Today we will talk about one of them: Jan Thomas and her deceptively simple but masterfully written and illustrated books for toddlers and the preschool crowd. It all started when Jan attended a… continue reading Picture ebook Highlights | Author and Illustrator Jan Thomas

By written by Monica C.    July 2, 2020   

• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• Early Literacy
• Picture Book Highlights

Summer is looking a little different this year without in-person programming at the Free Library. As someone who lives for summer arts and crafts programs, I’m sure I’m not the only one itching for some quality craft time with the kids. If you are looking for fun, engaging crafts to make with your kids but don’t have a lot of… continue reading Creating on a Budget with Recycled Crafts

By written by Echo P.    July 1, 2020   

• Childrens Programs
• Family Programs
• Summer
• Crafts and Hobbies
• Recycling

Celebrate Pride Month , Independence Day, and your own creativity as the Summer of Wonder continues this week! Beat the summer heat and learn to keep cool without AC ! For a special treat, make DIY ice cream with LEAP ! Join us Daily Challenges on Facebook for Week 5 of Wonder, June 29 – July 5! Monday: Imagination Station Get into the… continue reading Summer of Wonder - Week 5: Pride Dress Up Day, Adventure Journals, Independence Day, and DIY Ice Cream!

By written by Emily S.    June 26, 2020   

• Childrens Programs
• Family Programs
• Teens
• Summer Reading
• Summer
• Adult Learning
• Virtual Programs

Families come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. These wonderful ebooks can help you celebrate the richness and diversity of families today:   Baby’s First Words written by Stella Blackstone ; illustrated by Christiane Engel Spend the day with a busy baby and her two dads, and learn the words for things you do and see along the way!… continue reading Celebrating Families During Pride Month

By written by Monica C.    June 25, 2020   

• Ebooks
• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• Free Library of Pride

The Summer of Wonder continues as next week we are highlighting all of our great Pride month virtual programming! Also, we've updated our Summer Camp Challenge page with a video playlist for training resources and information to add literacy-rich activities into your camp and group programs this summer! Join us on Facebook for Week Three,… continue reading Summer of Wonder – Week Four: Healthy Sexuality Workshops, Queer Authors and Playwrights, Drag Queen Storytimes, and Virtual Museum Tours!

By written by Emily S.    June 18, 2020   

• Childrens Programs
• Family Programs
• Teens
• Summer Reading
• Summer
• Free Library of Pride
• Adult Learning
• Virtual Programs

Philadelphia's Mayor Kenney has declared Friday, June 19, 2020 a City holiday in recognition of Juneteenth! Juneteenth is the most popular annual celebration of Emancipation, and commemorates June 19, 1865, the date when Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas to ensure that slaves were freed in accordance with the Emancipation… continue reading Picture ebook Highlights | Celebrating Juneteenth!

By written by Monica C.    June 18, 2020   

• Holidays
• African American
• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• Black Lives Matter

What are your plans for Father’s Day this year? Even if you’re not able to be out and about, there is something you can do right at home – cozy up and share a good book together! Celebrate as a family with these fun picture ebooks:         Hike by Pete Oswald Take to the trails for a… continue reading Stories to Share for Father's Day

By written by Monica C.    June 17, 2020   

• Ebooks
• Holidays
• Reading
• Childrens Books
• Recommendations

Hello library world friends! You have no idea how much we miss you and how much we miss recommending titles for you and your children! On the subject of recommendations, I have a few for kids who want to hear all-new stories of inclusion and love with their magic! Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi Twelve-year-old Aru Shah has a… continue reading All of the Magic, None of the Hate

By written by Rachel F.    June 15, 2020    1  

• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• YA literature

Today marks the last day of classes for School District of Philadelphia teachers and students and the beginning of summer break! It's been a challenging school year, to say the least, so let's celebrate with some fun activities as we continue our Summer of Wonder ! Join us on Facebook for Week Three, June 15 - 19! Monday: Imagination… continue reading Summer of Wonder – Week Three: Virtual Concerts, Therapy Dog Storytimes, Summer Crafts, and Juneteenth Celebration!

By written by Emily S.    June 12, 2020   

• Childrens Programs
• Teens
• Summer Reading
• Digital Media
• Summer
• Adult Learning
• Virtual Programs

We are back with another Picture ebook Highlights , a series where we put the spotlight on an ebook that you can read at home, using the Free Library's Digital Media portal. And this one is a winner: It’s Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type , written by Doreen Cronin and Illustrated by Betsy Lewin . This year marks the book's 20th… continue reading Picture ebooks Highlights | Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type

By written by Monica C.    June 11, 2020    1  

• Ebooks
• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• Picture Book Highlights

The first week of Summer of Wonder has already flown by! Join us on Facebook for Week Two, June 8 through 12! Mondays: Imagination Station Share your feelings with the world by designing and making emoji charm bracelets and keychains. Tuesdays: Question Connection Use recycled materials and everyday household objects to build towers and… continue reading Summer of Wonder – Week Two: Maker Crafts, Animation, Storytimes, Trivia, and Yoga!

By written by Emily S.    June 5, 2020   

• Childrens Programs
• Teens
• Summer Reading
• Summer
• Adult Learning
• Virtual Programs

We are back with another Picture ebook Highlight , a series where we put the spotlight on an ebook that you can read at home, using the Free Library's Digital Media portal. This time our selection is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jane Cabrera . All around the world, from the sleeping city to the icy pole, baby animals and their parents… continue reading Picture ebooks Highlights | Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

By written by Monica C.    June 4, 2020   

• Ebooks
• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• Picture Book Highlights

Feeling at a loss for learning this summer? Looking for fun ways to expand your mind and keep your summer fresh and engaging—even indoors? The Free Library has a new virtual Summer of Wonder experience for you! What’s Your Story? From artistic inspiration to STEAM building projects, from writing groups to world exploration, connect… continue reading Find Your Story with the Free Library’s Virtual Summer of Wonder!

By written by Emily S.    May 29, 2020    2  

• Childrens Programs
• Teens
• Summer Reading
• Pre K
• Summer
• Adult Learning
• Virtual Programs

We are back with another Picture ebook Highlights blog, a series where we put the spotlight on an ebook that you can read at home, using the Free Library's Digital Media portal. And this time, it’s a book that has two of my favorite things: dogs and books! I am extremely fond of books with dog characters and in this case, we have one… continue reading Picture ebooks Highlights | Dog Loves Books

By written by Monica C.    May 28, 2020    1  

• Ebooks
• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• Picture Book Highlights

Like me, you may already use RBdigital for its great selection of magazines for adults. But did you know that all four magazines in the Highlights family are available to read online? With kids unable to access the latest issue of their favorite magazine at the library right now, RBdigital allows young readers and their caregivers to read… continue reading Magazines for Kids on RBdigital

By written by Leigh U.    May 26, 2020   

• Ebooks
• Childrens Books
• Early Literacy
• Digital Media

We are back with another Picture ebook Highlight, a series where we put the spotlight on an ebook that you can read at home, using the Free Library's Digital Media portal. And bonus: we will actually be talking about two books today! We are all feeling a bit stir crazy at home. So how about using all that pent-up energy for some fun reading… continue reading Picture ebooks Highlights | Dancing Feet and Farmyard Beat

By written by Monica C.    May 21, 2020    1  

• Ebooks
• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• Picture Book Highlights

If you’re like me, you already love Hoopla for streaming movies, music, and audiobooks. But did you know that Hoopla also has a great selection of comics and graphic novels? I particularly love the range of graphic novels available for middle-grade readers. Tweens at home will love that their favorite series are only a few clicks away.… continue reading Digital Comics and Graphic Novel Series for Tweens on Hoopla

By written by Leigh U.    May 20, 2020    1  

• Ebooks
• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• Comics and Graphic Novels

by Nourishing Literacy  staff members Shayna M. and Carolyn After reading a New Yorker article a few weeks ago, our curiosity and interest grew in how to use kitchen scraps in resourceful ways. Tamar Adler, the highlighted chef and cookbook author in the article, is passionate about creating wholesome, satisfying dishes with foods… continue reading Making Sense of Food Scraps

By written by Shayna M.    May 18, 2020   

• Childrens Programs
• Ebooks
• Family Programs
• Gardening
• Going Green
• How To
• Digital Media
• Culinary Literacy
• Recipes
• DIY
• Crafts and Hobbies
• Nature
• Library Resources

Wishes have been on my mind more than usual these days. Wishes for family to be safe and healthy, wishes for friends to keep in good spirits, and a wish to be able to visit my favorite bakery, look through the display case, and pick a quick sweet treat. When it comes to wishes, these are pretty basic with a good chance of coming true. … continue reading Three Wishes for the Days Ahead

By written by Jeff B.    May 15, 2020   

• Ebooks
• Childrens Books
• Recommendations

We are back with another Picture ebook Highlight , a series where we put the spotlight on an ebook that you can read at home, using the Free Library's Digital Media portal . In 2005, author and illustrator Anna Dewdney introduced an endearing new character: Baby Llama. Since then, we've fallen in love with the character. In the… continue reading Picture ebooks Highlights | Llama Llama Red Pajama

By written by Monica C.    May 13, 2020   

• Ebooks
• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• Picture Book Highlights