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Looking for a new way to entertain your family from home? Check out our themed Virtual Activity Kits with content for children of all ages. These kits include ebooks, streaming movies and music, craft activities, recipes, and more! Themes include Adventures in Science, Amazing Animals, Ready Set Bake!, and more!

*You will need to log in with your library card to use TumbleBooks


External links may be used as starting points in your research and are not intended to be exhaustive lists of all available external sites related to these topics. The library does not endorse or profit from these websites and external links are provided for use at your own discretion. For suggestions, comments, or to report broken links, you may contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Historical Fiction

Read: Day of the Dragon by Mary Pope Osborn
Who would burn books? Jack and Annie find out when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to ancient China. There, a powerful emperor called the Dragon King has ordered that all books be burned. Will Jack and Annie be able to save at least one book? Or will they be captured by the emperor's soldiers?

Listen: I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 by Lauren Tarshis
Chet Roscow is finally feeling at home in Elm Hills, New Jersey. He has a job with his uncle Jerry at the local diner, three great friends, and the perfect summertime destination: cool, refreshing Matawan Creek. But Chet’s summer is interrupted by shocking news. A great white shark has been attacking swimmers along the Jersey shore, not far from Elm Hills. Everyone in town is talking about it. So when Chet sees something in the creek, he’s sure it’s his imagination…until it comes face-to-face with a bloodthirsty shark!

Listen: The War I finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
When Ada awakes from surgery on her club foot, the news that greets her will change the course of her life. Doors that her mother had shut tightly are swinging open— But World War II rages on. Ada and her brother, Jamie, are forced to move into a cottage with the iron-faced Lady Thorton and her daughter, Maggie. Life in the crowded home is tense. Then Ruth arrives. Ruth, a Jewish girl, from Germany. A German? Could Ruth be a spy?

As the fallout from the war intensifies, calamity creeps closer to Ada’s doorstep, and life grows more complicated. Who will Ada decide to be? How can she keep fighting? And who will she struggle to save?

Read: Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk
Twelve-year-old Crow has lived her entire life on a tiny, isolated piece of the starkly beautiful Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts. Abandoned and set adrift in a small boat when she was just hours old, Crow’s only companions are Osh, the man who rescued and raised her, and Miss Maggie, their fierce and affectionate neighbor across the sandbar.

Crow has always been curious about the world around her, but it isn’t until the night a mysterious fire appears across the water that the unspoken question of her own history forms in her heart. Soon, an unstoppable chain of events is triggered, leading Crow down a path of discovery and danger.

Vivid and heart-wrenching, Lauren Wolk’s Beyond the Bright Sea is a gorgeously crafted and tensely paced tale that explores questions of identity, belonging, and the true meaning of family.

 

Cooking up a Storm

Read: Elmo's Breakfast Bingo by Random House
Using a funny–sometimes wacky–multiple-choice guessing game, Elmo teaches kids about the importance of starting the day with a good breakfast. Packed with facts and fun, this book makes breakfast easy to swallow! Practical tips for parents are also included!

Read: Baking Class: 50 Fun Recipes Kids Will Love to Bake! by Deanna F. Cook
Following the best-selling book Cooking Class, this delightful baking cookbook for children ages 8–12 features 50 easy-to-follow, kid-friendly recipes. Lively step-by-step photos teach bakers-in-training how to knead dough, make biscuits, decorate cookies, and produce a perfect pie, along with essential skills like following directions and accurately measuring ingredients. Kids will learn to make both sweet and savory treats and will use fresh fruits and vegetables in recipes such as Bursting with Blueberries Muffins, Zombie Zucchini Bread, and Peachy Keen Crumble. Bonus goodie bag stickers, pop-out gift tags, and bake sale signs encourage kids to share their homemade delights with pride

Read: MasterChef Junior Cookbook by MasterChef Junior
Creativity, hard work, and lots of fun – that’s what it takes to cook like a master. Beloved television competition show MasterChef Junior fosters all of this within each of its pint-size home cooks, and what they whip up is truly impressive. This book aims to give any aspiring young chef the tools he or she needs to hone essential cooking skills, with 100 recipes inspired by dishes that the contestants served in the first five seasons, as well as timeless techniques, tips, and advice. With this book, anyone can become an excellent cook.

Read: Lights, Camera, Cook! by Charise Mericle Harper
A zesty series for fans of kids’ cooking competitions! It’s “lights, camera, cook!” for four tween contestants – energetic Tate, charming Rae, worldly Caroline, and hyper-competitive Oliver – who are all about to enter a televised cooking competition. What will the kids cook up? How will they all get along on and off-camera? Which junior chef will have the grit – and maybe the grits – to make it through each challenge? And which junior chef will have to hang their apron up for good? Bonus: Includes real cooking techniques for the aspiring young chef!

Watch: Fun with Food
Food with family, food with friends, food in the sun, food is fun for everyone! Join in preparing and cooking the food that all the Highlights characters enjoy. Highlight’s videos allow children to be their best selves by creating experiences that engage, delight, and foster joyful learning – join the fun!

 

Nature

Read: Nature All Around by Pamela Hickman
There are twice as many insects in the world as all other animals combined. They're everywhere … if we know where to look! This beautifully illustrated book introduces young readers to ants, honey bees, dragonflies and more! It covers their basic body parts, life cycles and habitats. It explains which bugs can be found in each of the four seasons, and where. And it includes a beginner's bug-watching guide with a series of questions to help kids identify insects in their communities.

Watch: Wild Nature Survivor Guy
Join Wild Nature Survivor Guy, Jimmy Fallon, as he drops by Sesame Street to show us that nature is all around—even in the city. Actress Debra Messing explains the word “nature,” and Ziggy Marley sings about the joys of being barefoot. Plus, Abby and her Flying Fairy School friends get ready for a dance recital, while Elmo’s World is all about helping. Finally, Murray hits the street to find out the word of the day. Brought to you by the letter D and the number 5.

Read: A Gardening in Nature by Abby Colich
In this book, early fluent readers will learn about the healing power of nature through gardening along with the importance of preparedness, patience, and resilience. Social and emotional learning (SEL) concepts support growth mindset throughout, while Try This! and Grow with Goals activities at the end of the book further reinforce the content. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text engage young readers as they learn more about increasing focus and practicing mindfulness in nature. Each book also includes sidebars, a table of contents, glossary, index, and tips for educators and caregivers.

Read: The Natural Genius of Ants by Betty Culley
Harvard is used to his father coming home from the hospital and telling him about all the babies he helped. But since he made the mistake at work, Dad has been quieter than usual. And now he is taking Harvard and his little brother, Roger, to Kettle Hole, Maine, for the summer. Harvard hopes this trip isn’t another mistake.

In the small town where he grew up, Dad seems more himself. Especially once the family decides to start an ant farm—just like Dad had as a kid! But when the mail-order ants are D.O.A., Harvard doesn't want Dad to experience any more sadness. Luckily, his new friend Neveah has the brilliant idea to use the ants crawling around the kitchen instead. But these insects don't come with directions. So the kids have a lot to learn—about the ants, each other, and how to forgive ourselves when things go wrong.

Create: Homemade Nature Suncatcher Wind Chimes
Create these stunning nature suncatcher wind chimes!

 

Magic

Watch: Paper Magic
A look at how paper is made and paper tricks.

Read: Comedy Magic by the Rosen Publishing Group
Have you ever seen an apple bounce without being bruised? How about a thimble hop from one finger to another all on its own? Learn the secrets of these and many more magic tricks as they are explained with fully-illustrated, step-by-step instructions.

Listen: Magic Marks the Spot by Caroline Carlson
Hilary Westfield has always dreamed of being a pirate. She can tread water for thirty-seven minutes. She can tie a knot faster than a fleet of sailors, and she already owns a rather pointy sword.

There's only one problem: The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates refuses to let any girl join their ranks of scourges and scallywags.

But Hilary is not the kind of girl to take no for an answer. To escape a life of petticoats and politeness at her stuffy finishing school, Hilary sets out in search of her own seaworthy adventure, where she gets swept up in a madcap quest involving a map without an X, a magical treasure that likely doesn't exist, a talking gargoyle, a crew of misfit scallywags, and the most treacherous—and unexpected—villain on the High Seas.

Watch: Alice's Magic Garden
Every great story has a beginning. In this wondrous prequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice first learns how truly magical her world can be. Alice lived at the dreariest boarding school, void of color or cheer. But after discovering a secret garden, and filling it with her love and care, her circumstances begin to change in magical ways!

Create: Defying Gravity
Learn how to defy gravity with this easy trick appropriate for all ages.

 

Once Upon a Time

Read: The Grand Opening by Helen Perelman
Tiana has always dreamed of having her own restaurant, and now her dream is about to come true. The grand opening is just around the corner, and all of Tiana's friends and family will be there, along with a famous food critic! But suddenly everything starts to go wrong. Her bandleader Louis loses his prized trumpet. Then the power goes out after the guests arrive. Will the princess be able to fix things in time, or will her big night be a royal disaster?

Read: Ninja Red Riding Hood by Corey Rosen Schwartz
Wolf just can’t catch a break! Ever since the three little pigs started teaching everyone Ninja skills, huffing and puffing just hasn’t been enough to scare up a good meal.

His craving for meat sends Wolf to classes at the dojo, and soon he’s ready to try out his new moves. A little girl and her tiny granny should be easy targets—right?

Not if Little Red has anything to say about it! Kiya!

Read: Jasmine and the Star of Persia by Disney Book Group
One night, as Princess Jasmine and her husband Aladdin gaze at the night sky, Aladdin points to a star and tells Jasmine the story of the Star of Persia: the biggest, most beautiful jewel in the world. Legend has it that the jewel belonged to a beautiful queen, and after she died, her subjects hid the jewel in a tower, certain that no one could be worthy of its beauty again. Now Jasmine is determined to know if the story is true. So the next morning, Jasmine, Aladdin, Abu, and the Magic Carpet set off to find out! Will the friends be able to find the legendary jewel, or are all the stories just fiction?

Listen: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
Alex and Conner Bailey's world is about to change, in this fast-paced adventure that uniquely combines our modern day world with the enchanting realm of classic fairy tales.

The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with fairy tale characters they grew up reading about. But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought.

Create: Magical Paper Cup Fairy House
Channel your creativity to create a magical paper cup fairy house!

Walk a While in Their Shoes

Read: Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai
When Jingwen moves to a new country, he feels like he's landed on Mars. School is torture, making friends is impossible since he doesn't speak English, and he's often stuck looking after his (extremely irritating) little brother, Yanghao.

To distract himself from the loneliness, Jingwen daydreams about making all the cakes on the menu of Pie in the Sky, the bakery his father had planned to open before he unexpectedly passed away. The only problem is his mother has laid down one major rule: the brothers are not to use the oven while she's at work. As Jingwen and Yanghao bake elaborate cakes, they'll have to cook up elaborate excuses to keep the cake making a secret from Mama.

Listen: The Jigsaw Jungle by ristin Levine
Claudia Dalton’s father has disappeared. What began as a late night at work has spiraled into a missing persons case—one that’s left twelve-year-old Claudia questioning everything she’s ever known about her father and their family.

But when she finally gets word from her dad, it turns out he isn’t missing at all. He’s just gone to “think things over” and visit an old friend, whatever that means. Feeling confused and helpless, Claudia starts to assemble a scrapbook, gathering emails, receipts, phone transcripts and more, all in a desperate attempt to figure out what’s happening with her dad. Claudia’s investigation deepens at her grandfather’s house, where she receives an envelope containing a puzzle piece and a cryptic message.

It’s this curious first clue that sets Claudia on an unexpected treasure hunt that she hopes will bring her dad home and heal whatever’s gone wrong with her family. Told through the pages of Claudia’s scrapbook, The Jigsaw Jungle is a moving story of a family lost and then found, with a dash of mystery and loads of heart, from award-winning author and middle-grade master Kristin Levine.

Read: Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton
You know the Super Soaker. It’s one of top twenty toys of all time. And it was invented entirely by accident. Trying to create a new cooling system for refrigerators and air conditioners, impressive inventor Lonnie Johnson instead created the mechanics for the iconic toy.

A love for rockets, robots, inventions, and a mind for creativity began early in Lonnie Johnson’s life. Growing up in a house full of brothers and sisters, persistence and a passion for problem solving became the cornerstone for a career as an engineer and his work with NASA. But it is his invention of the Super Soaker water gun that has made his most memorable splash with kids and adults.

Read: For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousfzai's Story by Rebecca Langston-George
She grew up in a world where women were supposed to be quiet. But Malala Yousafzai refused to be silent. Discover Malala's story through this powerful narrative telling, and come to see how one brave girl named Malala changed the world.

 

Spooky Reads

Read: The Berenstain Bears and the Ghost of the Forest by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Brother, Sister, and Cousin Fred are off to a Bear Scout camping trip. But once they are in the woods, the cubs think they see a ghost – or is it just Papa playing a trick? This beloved story is a perfect way to teach children that some practical jokes aren’t very nice.

Listen: Stinetinglers by R.L. Stine
A boy who hates bugs starts to see them everywhere. A basketball player’s skin starts to almost drip off his hands – but no one else can see it. Three friends find a hole in the ground that just gets bigger, and bigger, and bigger…and each story is introduced by Stine himself, providing a personal touch sure to delight fans.

Read: The School is Alive! by Jack Chabert
This series is part of Scholastic’s early chapter book line called Brances, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!

In this first book in the series, Sam Graves discovers that his elementary school is ALIVE! Sam finds this out on his first day as the school hall monitor. Sam must defend himself and his fellow students against the evil school! Is Sam up to the challenge? He’ll find out soon enough: the class play is just around the corner. Sam teams up with friends Lucy and Antonio to stop this scary school before it’s too late!

Create: Coffee Filter Monsters
Create super cute, yet super spooky, coffee filter monsters!

 

We're Going on an Adventure

Read: Children of Stardust by Edudzi Adodo
Zero Adedji dreams of joining one of the Saba guilds―groups of intergalactic travelers who explore space, retrieve lost treasures, and hunt down criminals. Instead, he must scrape by as a guide to travelers stranded on his home planet of Anansi 12. Then he meets Wanderblatch, a strange creature with an even stranger object: a golden pyramid that houses a legendary Kobasticker called the Jupiter. When the Jupiter chooses Zero as its next host, he is recruited by a top Saba guild so he can harness his newfound powers.

But the stakes are rising, and Zero and his friends Camih and Ladi are tasked with recovering an artifact known as the Mask of the Shaman King, which can grant wishes at a terrible price. And they’re not the only ones on the hunt―Space Mafia head Rozan Leombre is desperate to use the Mask to break his family’s curse. The trio must use their wits, courage, and friendship to achieve their quest and protect the galaxy.

Action-packed, wildly imaginative, and laugh-out-loud funny, Children of Stardust is a fast-paced space adventure that launches a brand-new and unique voice in children’s literature.

Watch: Walking with Dinosaurs: Prehistoric Planet
Walking with Dinosaurs: Prehistoric Planet is an exciting adventure that transports audiences back to Cretaceous Alaska. The main characters in the story are a herd of large, frilled, plant-eating dinosaurs — Pachyrhinosaurus. The film follows their youngsters, and from the moment they hatch, they face predators, weather extremes and natural disasters as they fight for survival through the seasons. A BBC Production.

Read: The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson
The Penderwicks meets The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street in a story about a young girl who gets to know her mom’s side of the family and hunts for hidden treasure over the course of one chaotic summer.

Watch: Bushwhacked! - Series 1
Bushwhacked! is a 13-part series that brings the bush to the burbs! Hosts Brandon Walters and Kayne Tremills set off on the adventure of a lifetime to remote corners of Australia, meeting the country’s weird and wonderful wildlife, and learning about Indigenous rites and rituals.

Create: Stained Glass Camping Lantern
Pretend that you’re going on a camping adventure and create a stained glass camping lantern out of cardstock, contact paper, and tissue paper!

 

Under the Sea

Read: Marikit and the Ocean of Stars by Caris Avendano Cruz
Marikit is used to wearing recycled clothes. Her mother, the best seamstress in the barrio, has become an expert at making do ever since Marikit’s father and brother were lost at sea. But for her tenth birthday, all Marikit wants is something new. So when her mother gifts her a patchwork dress stitched together with leftover scraps from her workshop, Marikit vows to never wear it. That is, until the eve of her birthday, when shadow creatures creep into their home, attempt to take Marikit away, and upend the very life she knew.

When she’s swept away from the human world, Marikit discovers that her dress is a map, one lovingly crafted to lead her to safety in the magical lands of the Engkantos. She trudges through the enchanted lands of mythical creatures, making friends out of monsters and challenging gods. With the help of her friends, including an exuberant firefly and a cursed boy, Marikit journeys through the land of the Engkantos to find the key to saving her family, all without being eaten alive.

Watch: Grey Nurse Shark: Coastal, New South Wales
Brandon challenges Kayne to swim with Grey Nurse Sharks and to take an underwater photograph in case one day they are gone for good.

Read: Sea Monsters by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce
When Jack and Annie got back from their adventure in Magic Tree House Merlin Mission #11: Dark Day in the Deep Sea, they had lots of questions. How big is a giant squid? What is a dragonfish? How do deep-sea creatures find food when it’s so dark down there? What do scientists think mythical sea monsters might really be? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts.

Filled with up-to-date information, photos, illustrations, and fun tidbits from Jack and Annie, the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers are the perfect way for kids to find out more about the topics they discovered in their favorite Magic Tree House adventures.

Listen: The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler
For as long as she can remember, twelve-year-old Emily Windsnap has lived on a boat. And, oddly enough, for just as long, her mother has seemed anxious to keep Emily away from the water. But when Mom finally agrees to let her take swimming lessons, Emily makes a startling discovery — about her own identity, the mysterious father she’s never met, and the thrilling possibilities and perils shimmering deep below the water’s surface. With a sure sense of suspense and richly imaginative details, first-time author Liz Kessler lures us into a glorious undersea world where mermaids study shipwrecks at school and Neptune rules with an iron trident — an enchanting fantasy about family secrets, loyal friendship, and the convention-defying power of love.

Watch: Life Cycle of a Shark
Sharks! Everyone should be afraid of them... right? No! Sharks are an important part of nature who usually leave us alone. In this video, LeVar goes behind the scenes to show the complete life cycle of a shark from hatching egg to full grown adult.

 

Making a Difference

Listen: She Persisted: Harriet Tubman by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Born enslaved, Harriet Tubman rose up to become one of the most successful, determined and well-known conductors of the Underground Railroad. With her family's love planted firmly in her heart, Harriet looked to the North Star for guidance—and its light helped guide her way out of slavery. Her courage made it possible for her to help others reach freedom too.

Watch: Courageous People Who Changed the World
From Abraham Lincoln to Rosa Parks, COURAGEOUS PEOPLE WHO CHANGED THE WORLD is a perfect introduction to historical figures who stood up to make a difference in the world. The heroic true stories are told through simple text and engaging illustrations, sure to become an instant favorite for young audiences. Featured are William Wilberforce, Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony, Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malala Yousafzai. Each story will inspire courage, determination, and a belief that anyone can change the world.

Read: Who Was Ruth Bader Ginsberg? by Patricia Brennan Demuth
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was famous for her stylish collars (called jabots) and her commanding dissents. This opera-loving New Yorker always spoke her mind; as a young lawyer, RBG advocated for gender equality and women's rights when few others did. She gained attention for the cases she won when arguing in front of the Supreme Court, before taking her place on the bench in 1993. Author Patricia Brennan Demuth answers all the questions about what made RBG so irreplaceable and how the late Supreme Court justice left a legacy that will last forever.

Listen: Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 200 Tales of Extraordinary Women by Francesca Cavallo
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, Books 1-2 is packed with 200 bedtime stories about the lives of extraordinary women from the past and present, from Elizabeth I to Beyoncé. Painters, scientists, dancers, chefs, astronauts, jazz singers, pharaohs, boxers, writers, political leaders...from every corner of the globe! Each short biography is written in the style of a fairy tale, filling listeners with wonder and with a burning curiosity to know more about each hero.

Create: Earth-Friendly Crafts: Clever Ways to Reuse Everyday Items by Kathy Ross
What do you do with old toys, clothes, and other stuff? Instead of throwing them away, get creative and see what crafts you can make! This book shows you how to make crafts out of old playing cards, marker caps, toy cars, neckties, hairbrushes, and more. Color photos of the finished crafts and step-by-step illustrations make these crafts a snap. Along with 21 crafts, you'll find information about recycling and tips for what you can do to help the planet. So find new uses for your old stuff and get crafting!