Kids & Families
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Paging All Kids: Global Reading Challenge Books Announced
Fourth and fifth graders around Seattle are buzzing with book news: The Library has just unveiled the Global Reading Challenge books for 2024-25 on our website at www.spl.org/GlobalReadingChallenge. For those new to the program, the Global Reading Challenge, now in its 30th year, is a reading incentive program for fourth and fifth graders enrolled in… Continue reading
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Spooky Picture Books
Fall means it’s time for a genre that I find delightful: spooky picture books! Even as an adult, I still enjoy reading picture books, and there is something especially fun about the ones that manage to be a little bit spooky. Here are some of my favorites, whether you are a kid or an adult! … Continue reading
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Summer StoryWalks® in Magnolia Feature Indigenous Stories
Once again, Seattle’s beautiful Magnolia neighborhood is hosting a summer family adventure that combines reading, cultural exploration and the outdoors. Through Aug. 30, four StoryWalks® in Magnolia invite children and caregivers to read picture books by Indigenous authors as they wander outdoor trails. The StoryWalks® are located outside partner locations including the Daybreak Star Preschool,… Continue reading
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Picture Books on Grieving the Loss of a Pet
I recently said goodbye to my dog, Al Pacino. His death was unexpected and far too soon. Al was a Chihuahua mutt with a heart of gold. All he needed in life were belly rubs and chunks of apple. Al was beloved by the children who came to my branch, too, ever since he starred in… Continue reading
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Reading Widely, Cheering Wildly: Global Reading Challenge City Finals Recap
Ten was the magic number for Loyal Heights Elementary’s The Sparky Beavers at the Global Reading Challenge citywide finals on Tuesday, March 26, at the Central Library. That’s how many tiebreaker rounds it took for this team of fourth and fifth graders to eliminate eight other finalist teams and become the 2024 Global Reading Challenge… Continue reading
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What Seattle Teens Read in 2023
What are the kids checking out these days? We were curious, so as a follow-up to our post on The Seattle Public Library’s most popular books for adults in 2023, we’ve gathered the top checkouts for teens last year, including fiction, nonfiction and e-audiobooks. It’s an interesting list, ranging from award-winning graphic novels such as… Continue reading
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More Middle Grade Fiction for Adults
Earlier this year, I shared some middle grade fiction books that I believe can (and should!) be enjoyed by adults, too. Since then, I’ve discovered more great titles. If you are looking for well written and compelling stories, don’t miss out on these reads based on where we shelve them in the library! Hummingbird by… Continue reading
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Read All About It! The 8 Great Titles for the 2024 Global Reading Challenge
The Seattle Public Library’s 2024 Global Reading Challenge books tell stories about many things, including a Navajo water monster, a magic button, and a rescue Chihuahua with a destiny to rule the world. Now in its 29th year, the Global Reading Challenge is a reading incentive program between the Library and Seattle Public Schools (SPS). Fourth… Continue reading
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Staff Faves 2023: Children’s Books
As 2023 draws to a close, Library staff want to share our 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 Kids books published in 2023 that our SPL staff loved! PICTURE BOOKS In I’m Going to Build… Continue reading
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July 2023 Author and Community Events at the Library
July is a great time to come to a Library program, outdoors and indoors. Wander a StoryWalk® featuring books by Indigenous authors in four locations around Magnolia; enjoy a night of spoken word, dance and choir with Path With Art at the Central Library; and listen to readings from award-winning authors including Karen Lord, Silvia… Continue reading
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Middle Grade Fiction for Adults
For a long time as an adult, I told myself that middle grade books were no longer for me. But I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was wrong! Not only can middle grade novels simply be great stories, they can also transport you back into the world of being a kid. This… Continue reading
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The Central Library Expands Hours, and 20-Plus Things to Do There
Tourists stop by all the time, but when was the last time you visited The Seattle Public Library’s internationally acclaimed downtown location? If it’s been a while, we have good news: Starting Wednesday, Jan. 18, the Central Library will be open two nights a week until 8 p.m. (with the exception of the Faye G.… Continue reading