When it comes to raising kids, the years might be short, but the days are very long during winter break, especially when it’s pouring rain outside, and you’re trying to get work done or handle last-minute holiday hassles.
Streaming entertainment to the rescue! Through your Library card, you can access hundreds of family-friendly films, TV shows and programs through services such as Hoopla and Kanopy Kids – many of which are educational.
Because it can be overwhelming to sort through the offerings, we asked our Library staff to name a few of their family-friendly streaming picks.
In general order of age recommendation, here they are. Add your streaming picks in the comments! And if you need to get a Library card, go to spl.org/card or your closest Library branch, or call 206-386-4636 to get started.
Ernest & Celestine
: Based on the classic Belgian book series, this cozy movie takes you deep below snowy, cobblestone streets, where a civilization of hardworking mice live. Celestine the mouse is an artist and a dreamer, and when she nearly ends up as breakfast for a bear named Ernest, the two form an unlikely bond. On Kanopy and Hoopla. Ages 3 and older.
BookFlix: Sign in with your Library card to BookFlix to access animated stories and Interactive games. It’s a digital literacy resource that pairs more than 135 animated stories with a best-selling nonfiction e-book from Scholastic on a similar subject. In Spanish and English. Ages 3 and older.
Molly of Denali: This animated series features Molly Mabray, a curious Alaska Native girl who helps her parents run the Denali Trading Post in the fictional village of Qyah. Each episode helps children learn how to use informational texts to solve problems. On Kanopy. Ages 4 through 8.
Anastasia: The award-winning 1997 animated film about the Russian royals, features the evil wizard Rasputin (Christopher Lloyd), who puts a hex on the royal Romanovs. Young Anastasia (Meg Ryan) disappears when their palace is overrun. Will she make it back? With Angela Lansbury, John Cusack and Kelsey Grammer. On Hoopla. Rated G; ages 3 and older.
PNB’s Stowell-Sendak ‘Nutcracker’: The beloved Seattle classic “Nutcracker” from Pacific Northwest Ballet – which “scared a generation of Seattle children,” as one of our staff remembered – is brought to the big screen, with sets by famed children’s story author and artist Maurice Sendak. On Hoopla. Ages 4 and older.
Looney Tunes: Back In Action: A live-action animated film that follows Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny and their looniest friend, who, along with Warner Bros. security guard/aspiring stuntman DJ Drake (Brendan Fraser), embark on a madcap quest. On Kanopy. PG; ages 7 and older.
A Cat in Paris: From the animation studio Folimage comes a beautifully hand-drawn caper set in the alleyways of Paris, featuring Dino, a cat that leads a double life. On Hoopla. PG; ages 9 and older.
Redwall: Based on the fantasy books by Brian Jacques, this animated series follows the odyssey of Matthias, an innocent and bumbling young mouse destined to be the unlikely hero and great defender of Redwall, the English cathedral that is home to a community of peaceful mice. On Kanopy and Access Video. Ages 8 and older.
Kedi: A fascinating documentary about the hundreds of thousands of cats that have roamed the metropolis of Istanbul freely for thousands of years. Winner of Best First Documentary and nominated for Best Documentary at the Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards. In Turkish with English subtitles. On Kanopy. Ages 8 and older.
The Secre
t of Roan Inish: Directed by John Sayles, this movie is a classic of magical realism and stunning cinematography. Young Fiona lives with her grandparents in a small fishing village where she begins unraveling mysterious secrets. On Hoopla and Kanopy. PG; ages 8 and older.
Terry Patchett’s Hogfather: This miniseries adaptation of the Terry Pratchett novel doubles as a holiday special: In the parallel universe of Discworld, it’s the night before Hogswatch, that special time when the Hogfather delivers presents to the kiddies at the mid-winter festival. But when the Hogfather is kidnapped by a cadre of villains called the Auditors, their plan must be undone. On Hoopla. Ages 10 and older.
The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963. The film adaptation of the excellent novel by Christopher Paul Curtis is about the Watson family, who sets out on a family road trip that brings the Civil Rights movement to life, with plenty of humor and heart. Ages 12 and older. On Hoopla.
More boredom-busting streaming tips:
- You can filter for family-friendly titles on both Kanopy (look for the Kanopy Kids button on the top right) and Hoopla (also look for the “Kids” button on the top right).
- Access Video also has a “Just for Kids” section; resources include the Books & Stories Brought to Life series. Also check out the Christmas section.
- As with Bookflix, Kanopy has animated stories, from “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” to classic fairy talks to biographies of icons such as Ella Fitzgerald.
- Hoopla has animated picture books and Weston Woods titles, including Read-Along picture books (similar to BookFlix and Tumblebooks, with titles including “Last Stop on Market Street”).
- Hoopla also has digital comics for kids, including “Avatar the Last Airbender.”
- Find dozens of virtual story times on the SPL Kids’ YouTube channel.
Leave a Reply to 11 New or Unexpected Things to Do at The Seattle Public Library This Fall – Shelf TalkCancel reply