So many online resources are available to engage your child at home lately. Where DOES one begin? In our very own back yard, of course! We’ve been perusing the Montgomery County Library System website week after week, year after year to stay up-to-date with events and happenings; somewhere along the way we forgot about all the great virtual resources our libraries offer. What a treasure trove of goodies we’ve gotten reacquainted with! There’s something for everyone, even the big kids and adults. Here’s a sneak peek, but visit countylibrary.org for all the details.
BookFLIX (for Kids): This Scholastic program is one of our Editor’s TOP PICK for the little ones, offering video storybooks for children up to a 3rd grade reading level. BookFlix is an exciting online literacy resource that pairs interactive, fictional video storybooks with related nonfiction eBooks. The program engages young students, reinforces reading skills, and introduces early readers to a world of knowledge and exploration. Six reading category topics: Animals and Nature, Earth and Sky, People and Places, ABCs and 123s, Adventure, Family & Community, Celebrations, Music & Rhyme, and Imagination.
hoopla: Enjoy no wait times for free eBooks. hoopla digital partners with our library system to provide online and mobile access to eBooks, audiobooks, comics, music, movies, and TV. You can borrow, instantly stream, and download dynamic content via hoopla’s mobile app or www.hoopladigital.com. All you need to get started is your library card and a web browser, smart phone, or tablet.
eMagazines: We enjoy reading magazines, but we don’t like paying for them, so finding FREE current editions of some of our faves was a big deal. With your library card, you can flip through the complete copy of over 100 magazines such as Consumer Reports (yes please!), Vogue, People, Travel & Leisure, Southern Living, National Geographic, Real Simple, Car & Driver, and other favorites. We found our Easter 2020 menu and recipes using our eMagazines copy of The Pioneer Woman Magazine.
Tumblebooks (for Kids): Tumblebooks is a collection of books, puzzles, games, and more for Children and Young Adults, and is another of our Editor’s TOP PICKS. The animated storybooks are super adorable, and there’s an abundance of them, even some in Spanish and French. We especially like all the National Geographic videos on a variety of non-fiction topics, a perfect resource for older kids.
OverDrive: Borrow free eBooks and Audiobooks, including Bestsellers, from OverDrive’s Houston Area Digital Media Catalog. OverDrive is a fresh and easy way to borrow from your library. We were able to find wonderful classics plus popular favorites by Marie Kondo, J.K. Rowling, and much more!
RBdigital: Borrow free eAudiobooks, including Bestsellers, to stream or download to any device. RBdigital boasts a wonderful title list across a variety of genres. We could hardly believe all the treasures we found!
This isn’t all! Visit countylibrary.org and check out ALL our library system has to offer!
