Kids & Families
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Three Thousand Cheers for Reading: Global Reading Challenge 2026 in the Books
On Tuesday, March 31, with an electric crowd cheering at every opportunity, a team of fourth graders from John Stanford International School became the 31st Global Reading Challenge city champions. With a sweet team name — the Global Bananana Pancake Group — the Stanford students scored a whopping 115 out of 120 points. They were… Continue reading
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Impact Story: When a Children’s Author Comes to Town
The benefits of reading for kids are well-known: literacy, language skills, empathy. But on a winter morning at Seattle’s John Rogers Elementary, a group of 40 fourth and fifth grade readers are showing something else: pure, unadulterated excitement. The students are crowded on the floor of the school library for a talk from Ernesto Cisneros,… Continue reading
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Winter Break 2025 Activities at The Seattle Public Library
Looking for family fun and community while the kids are on winter break? Our libraries have planned board game bashes, crafternoons, maker events and early New Year’s parties. We are also hosting regular story times and other family programming. You can also stop by one of The Seattle Public Library’s locations any day we’re open… Continue reading
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2025 Staff Faves: Picture Books
As the year draws to a close, we enjoy asking staff from across the library system to share their favorite Kids books of the year. From picture books to chapter books, and from graphic novels to nonfiction – below are just a few of the Kids books published in 2025 that our SPL staff loved! … Continue reading
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2025 Staff Faves: Kids Books
KIDS CHAPTER BOOKS Benny on the Case by Wesley King is a heartfelt character-driven mystery featuring a neurodivergent male protagonist that explores friendship, belonging, and family. [-School Library Journal] In Grace Lin’s The Gate, the Girl and the Dragon, a Stone Lion cub travels from the spirit realm into ours in order to save his… Continue reading
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Book Buzz: 2026 Global Reading Challenge Books
Across Seattle, fourth and fifth graders are getting excited about books — specifically, eight books that range from a story about a 10-year-old sock detective to a graphic novel about an all-girls, hijab-wearing basketball team. This year’s Global Reading Challenge books have been selected! The Global Reading Challenge is a 31-year-old reading incentive program that’s… Continue reading
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Day of the Dead – Día de los Muertos at the Library
It’s almost Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos, which is celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2 in Mexico and Latin America. Join us as we explore the history of Día de los Muertos and explore the variety of ways this holiday remembers and honors deceased loved ones. Join us to learn and honor your… Continue reading
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Middle Grade Fiction that Adults & Kids Will Love
Will I ever outgrow my love for middle grade novels? I think not. And I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to, either! There’s something magical about middle grade novels. They depict the thrills and pains and stumbles that come along with growing up and discovering ourselves. They can tell stories of lives… Continue reading
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Miss Amanda’s Picture Books- Summer 2025
Summer is underway and hopefully you are taking advantage of the longer days and beautiful Seattle weather. If you haven’t picked up a Book Bingo card or your Summer of Learning gameboard, it’s not too late to start! Here are some new picture books for your summer reading that capture that summer feeling. Don’t Trust… Continue reading
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12 Ways to Enjoy Summer at the Library
Summer is here, and The Seattle Public Library is here for you. Head to your neighborhood library with your kids to pick up a Summer of Learning activity booklet, go to a fun program, check out some books, explore, and chill out! Here are 12 ways to turn up the summer fun and learning, library… Continue reading
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Keep Kids Learning All Summer: Summer of Learning Kicks Off Today
School’s almost out, but reading, learning and growing are in! The Seattle Public Library’s 106th annual Summer of Learning kicks off today with free activities, programs, and reading challenges designed to keep kids curious, creative and engaged all summer long. Get started by visiting your closest Library location (www.spl.org/Hours) to pick up a Summer of… Continue reading
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6 Books for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, but often, Pacific Islander and Filipino books and authors are less acknowledged in publishing, articles and displays. Here are some Pacific Islander and Filipino voices to discover in May and beyond. “Kapaemahu,” a picture book by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson, illustrated by Daniel… Continue reading
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Building Literacy and Reading Joy for 30 years: the Global Reading Challenge
On Wednesday, April 2, after 60 tense minutes of competition in front of a cheering crowd in the Central Library auditorium, The Library Lynx team from Queen Anne Elementary won the title of 2025 Global Reading Challenge city champion. Wearing orange headbands and purple T-shirts, the seven fourth and fifth graders competed against 10 other… Continue reading
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Middle Grade Fiction for the New Year
I’m still a huge fan of middle grade fiction and love finding new titles to enjoy, even as an adult. Here are some that I recommend for the new year A Whale of the Wild by Rosanne Parry Vega, an orca whale living in the Salish Sea, knows that someday she will take on the responsibility… Continue reading
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Miss Amanda’s Picture Book Picks – January 2025
Picture books are such a wonderful way to explore the world, and I am a firm believer that they can be enjoyed by all ages. Here are three new(ish) books that I recommend as we start the new year. Brown Girl, Brown Girl, written by Leslé Honoré and illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera Honoré wrote… Continue reading
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Digital Book Bonanza
Are you an ebook reader? An audiobook convert? The Library’s collection of digital books (OverDrive if you’re on the web, or Libby if you’re using the app) just grew by the thousands in December. Here are a few highlights: Nearly 300 new audiobooks have been added to our Always Available Audio collection – no holds,… Continue reading
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Staff Faves 2024: Children’s Books
Each year, we enjoy asking staff from across the library system to share their favorite kids’ books of the year. From picture books to chapter books, and from graphic novels to nonfiction – here are just a few of the children’s books published in 2024 that our SPL staff loved! (Annotations are by enthusiastic staff… Continue reading
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Exploring Food and Culture Through Picture Books
As a Children’s Librarian, I am lucky to get interesting opportunities that expand my concept of what books can do and be. Last year I was invited to a Roxhill Elementary School Family Night. As I set up my table with free books and Library swag, the coordinator came by and insisted that I eat… Continue reading