We’ve all been there... Days when something goes wrong and we feel down in the dumps or maybe it someone else is having a hard time. When someone we care for is having a bad day, how can we… continue reading

By Monica C.   May 21, 2018   

TheFree Library is teeming with opportunities for little ones to get cozy with letters, words, and books from the earliest ages. Our storytimes for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers incorporate… continue reading

By Julie B.   May 14, 2018   

We all have our favorites when it comes to picture books, and for me, one of my top ten picture books of all time is Leaves by David Ezra Stein . It is such perfect book – one very young… continue reading

By Monica C.   April 5, 2018   

Author/illustrator Maria Van Lieshout has a series of books aptly called Big Kid Power . Drawing from her own experience as a mother, the books are meant to help caregivers and children reach… continue reading

By Monica C.   March 19, 2018   

Thanks to a generous grant from the William Penn Foundation, the Free Library is embarking on a series of fun programs for babies , toddlers and their families called Read, Baby, Read , using new… continue reading

By Sarah S.   February 26, 2018    1

Happy February, everyone! Let’s celebrate Black History Month with our favorite African American authors and illustrators. The recently published books linked to in this month's… continue reading

By Sarah S.   February 12, 2018   

Here at the Free Library, we often have parents ask us, "How can I help my child learn to read?" Of course, we know that sharing books with children helps to develop a love of reading,… continue reading

By Sarah S.   February 2, 2018    2

Happy New Year! Let’s start this new year right, by singing, talking, playing, writing—and of course reading—with our little ones! Not only did we celebrate New Year’s Day… continue reading

By Peter SM   January 3, 2018   

We may have gotten our first snowfall of the year, but our families love storytime at Christmas Village in LOVE Park despite the cold weather. Every Wednesday morning until December 20, join us at… continue reading

By Laura W.   December 15, 2017   

Beginning December 15, 2017, the Free Library will host an all ages online Winter Reading Challenge. The program encourages participants to continue reading all winter long, and also provides… continue reading

By Barbara T.   December 14, 2017    6

The Free Library will celebrate the holiday season this December with a variety of events throughout the city!   On December 3, 10, and 17, Sundays on Stage will take over the auditorium at… continue reading

By Laura W.   December 1, 2017    3

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, whether you celebrate Hanukkah (December 12 – 20), the Winter Solstice (December 21), Christmas (December 25), Kwanzaa (December 26 –… continue reading

By Sarah S.   December 1, 2017   

This month, we are celebrating Native American Heritage Month , and the unique contributions to children’s books made by Native/First Nations authors and illustrators. When you were little,… continue reading

By Sarah S.   November 1, 2017   

And we're back, for a new Picture Book Hightlighs , a series of posts where we put the spotlight on a new picture book that has been ordered for all agencies. Years ago, we wrote a blog post… continue reading

By Monica C.   October 26, 2017   

October is here and we are fall ing into lots of fun and free Fall activities and events here at the Free Library! Traditional and unique holidays throughout October include World Smile Day the… continue reading

By Sarah S.   October 4, 2017   

Now that the summer is drawing to a close, children, teens, and even adults are prepping for the start of the coming school year. We at the Free Library of Philadelphia are prepping, too! That is,… continue reading

By Becky F.   September 1, 2017   

Feel that cool fall air? That means it’s September, and time for a new Early Literacy Calendar! September is the time we head back to school (or start school for the first time) and begin to… continue reading

By Sarah S.   September 1, 2017   

With the end of August comes the end of this year’s Summer of Wonder . But what a summer it’s been! We’ve sleuthed with the best at the The Rosenbach , written our own stories at… continue reading

By Becky F.   August 25, 2017   

Did you know that the Phillie Phanatic loves to read? He does! He even enjoys hanging out with other book lovers. That’s why he and the Phillies teamed up with the Free Library of… continue reading

By Becky F.   August 18, 2017   

The Summer of Wonder is happening across the city at every Free Library of Philadelphia location . It’s also happening online through the end of August. But did you know that the Summer of… continue reading

By Becky F.   August 4, 2017    1