COVID-19 Resources for Families

See our E-Resources for Kids page to download e-books and audiobooks, access the POWER Kids resource for research help, and read books online with Tumblebooks and BookFlix.

The online resources on this page are have been collected and curated by our staff for families during this time of reading and learning at home. Find activities to support learning and reading for pleasure, including videos made by our staff. Please continue to check back, as we will update this page as we find new resources.

Learning at Home Resources

Library Virtual Content

Check out our YouTube channel! You'll learn how to use some of our online resources, can watch tutorials on craft and science projects, and get inspired for creative at-home activities. Videos feature library staff members!

Ready Set Music
Explore a collection of social and emotional learning and expression resources featuring music, songs, videos, activities, and printables designed for young learners and their caregivers, provided by Pennsylvania PBS and the PA Dept. of Education.

PBS Learning Media
Get free curated interactives, videos, and lesson plans to support at-home learning with PBS Learning Media resources.

DK Home Learning Hub
Download free activity packs from DK Publishers that allow kids to explore their scientific and creative sides.

Bedtime Math
Explore hands-on math activities, games, and daily math challenges, all designed to help make learning about numbers fun. 

Franklin Institute: Spark of Science
Explore videos of Franklin Institute science interpreters doing a variety of science experiments, including some you can try at home.

Virtual Field Trips
Local independent bookstore Children’s Book World has compiled a list of virtual field trips to museums, zoos, farms, and more.

America's Test Kitchen: Kitchen Classroom
Get recipes, hands-on activities and experiments, and fun food quizzes to tackle in the kitchen.

Kids Listen Activity Podcast
Listen and learn about science, history, animals, music, and language and then discover hands-on activities that relate to each episode. Lesson descriptions are at the end of each episode,  and printed materials (if applicable) are available on the site.

Arts and Crafts Resources
Get ideas for craft projects, discover online interactive art activities, and take virtual field trips to art museums. This site links to multiple free resources and even includes links to learn more about careers in art.

Reading and Author Resources

Mo Willems: Kennedy Center Artist-in-Residence
Draw, doodle, and explore writing in these virtual visits with Mo Willems. 

Draw Every Day with JJK
Free art, cartooning, and writing lessons from author and illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka, creator of the Lunch Lady series and many other popular children's books.

Dav Pilkey at Home
Watch videos with drawing tips and read-alouds from the author of Dog Man and Captain Underpants.

KidLitTV
Explore the world of children's literature through educational shows, a podcast, and more! Kids can learn how stories are created and get drawing and writing tips.

Kids Ask Authors
A weekly 5-to-10 minute podcast with author Grace Lin and a guest author where they answer questions from kid readers. Kids are welcome to submit questions, book reviews, poems, short stories, or jokes.

The Story Seeds Podcast
Episodes feature popular authors meeting up with kids ages 6 to 12 and creating stories together that come from the child’s original ideas. Also includes author Q&As.

Author Read Alouds
Watch virtual readings from a wide variety of celebrated and popular authors!

Talking with Children about Coronavirus

Below are a variety of resources for parents and caregivers to explore as you navigate how to discuss the coronavirus pandemic with children. There are resources to support our families' emotional health and resources to share with kids to help them understand what is happening.

Scholastic: Teaching About the Coronavirus
Read a collection of articles and other resources collected by Scholastic that offer ways to teach children about the coronavirus. Material is organized by age/grade level.

PBS Kids: How to Talk About the Coronavirus
A great primer for how to talk about the situation with young children.

ChildTrends: Resources for Emotional Health
A discussion of how we can best address and support children's emotional health during this uncertain time. 

Zero to Three: Family Tips and Resources
Find age-appropriate responses to common questions, a guide to self-care, activity suggestions, and answers to parent questions about how to navigate this time with young children.

Free Downloadable Books for Children About the Coronavirus

Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring the Coronavirus
From NPR, kids can read about the coronavirus in comic format.

Staying Home: A Free Digital Book for Children
Written by Sally Nicholls and Viviane Schwarz and published by Andersen Press, Staying Home is a free digital picture book that depicts a family's experiences while staying home.

First Aid for Feelings: A Free Downloadable Workbook
Get this free downloadable workbook designed to help kids cope during the coronavirus pandemic. Created by Denise Daniels, a leading child development expert, in partnership with Scholastic and the Yale Child Study Center.

Coronavirus: A Book for Children
This informative and accessible guide for young readers defines the coronavirus, explains why everyday routines have been disrupted, and lays out how everyone can do their part to help. With child-appropriate answers and explanations, the book addresses several key questions.