Summer is here and we are all itching to spend more time outdoors! But until we get to see you in person, here is another list of resources for online storytimes and virtual activities to explore!
Lafayette Library Online
Virtual Storytimes
- Circle Round: Listen to folktales from around the world. Appropriate for kids ages 4-10.
- Flannel Boards for Circle Time: Storytimes illustrated with felt characters.
- KidLit TV: Author storytimes, drawing lessons by illustrators, and more!
- Mother Goose On the Loose At Home: Mother Goose library programs.
- Operation Storytime: #OperationStoryTime on YouTube, Twitter and Instagram to find videos of authors and celebrities reading books!
- Shark Story Hour: Live stream on Facebook (8 am Mountain Time), by the The Atlantic White Shark Conservatory in Massachusetts.
- Story Pirates: Story podcast.
- Storytime From Space: Astronauts at the International Space Station read stories.
- Storyline Online: Celebrated authors read children’s books.
- Tell Me A Story: Storytime songs and fingerplays by the King County Library System in Washington.
Spanish, Bilingual or Multiple Languages
- Language Sprout: Enjoy storytimes and games in Spanish, French, Mandarin, English, Portuguese for all ages.
- International Children’s Book Library: Read more than 4,500 free books in 61 languages.
- 123 Andrés: Interactive music and stories for kids and families teaching Spanish and Latin American culture.
- Spanish Children’s Stories: Listen to children’s stories translated into Spanish and spoken by a native Spanish speaker.
Author, Illustrator, and Performer Videos
- Kwame Alexander: The author reads his novel-in-verse The Crossover every day at 8:30 am Mountain Time on his Instagram @kwamealexander.
- Tom Angleberger: Origami, drawing, and more.
- Authors Everywhere: Workshops, readings, and activities from your favorite children’s book writers and illustrators.
- Mac Barnett: The author/illustrator Mac Barnett is hosting daily read-alouds on Instagram Live at @macbarnett.
- Laurie Berkner Band: Songs are posted on their Facebook page three times a day, and you can watch live at 8 am Mountain Time.
- Levar Burton Reads: Hear stories read by Levar Burton on his Twitter livestream. Kids stories will be read Mondays at 10 am Mountain Time; YA stories on Wednesdays at 1 pm Mountain Time; and adult stories on Fridays at 7 pm Mountain Time.
- Eric Carle: The author reads The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
- Neil Gaiman: The author reads The Graveyard Book in a series of videos on his site for young readers, the Mouse Circus.
- Jarrett J. Krosoczka: Draw Everyday with Jarrett J. Krosoczka.
- Grace Lin: The author reads selections from her books and teaches a lesson on how to draw a Chinese dragon.
- Kate Messner: Reading and Learning Resources.
- George O’Connor: Art demonstrations, tutorials, and a Q&A with the creator of the Olympians graphic novel series live daily on Instagram at @thegeorgeoconnor.
- Jerry Pallotta: The author of the Who Would Win?, reads the series aloud on YouTube.
- Dolly Parton: Join the legendary performer for a goodnight storytime at 5 pm Mountain Time hosted at her Imagination Library’s YouTube channel.
- Pete the Cat Storytimes on Instagram Live.
- Dav Pilkey: Join the Dog Man creator, in partnership with the Library of Congress, for drawing lessons, read aloud, and more engaging resources. Published every Friday at 6 am Mountain Time.
- Jerry Pinkney: The author reads I Want to Be.
- Jason Reynolds: Our current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature launches his Grab the Mic initiative encouraging young people to share their own stories.
- Mo Willems: Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems courtesy of The Kennedy Center.
- Kelly Yang: The author of Front Desk is giving free writing classes for teens at 1 pm MT every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on her Instagram live at @kellyyanghk.
Virtual Tours and Activities
- DC Kids Camp: Videos and comics tutorials on Twitter at @DCComicsKids and Instagram at @dckids.
- GoNoodle Good Energy at Home: Fun, educational and silly movement and mindfulness videos for kids. Additional videos in English and Spanish available on the GoNoodle YouTube channel.
- Harry Potter: A History of Magic: Visit this in-depth exhibit virtually courtesy of the British Library.
- Museum Virtual Tours, curated by Google Arts & Culture
- NASA Kids Club
- NASA Video and Image Library: Searchable with over 140,000 images and videos.
- New England Aquarium
- San Diego Zoo: Animal cams.
- Scholastic Learn at Home: Educational activities for preschoolers through middle schoolers.
- Visit Mars
- Kohl Children’s Museum, Chicago – Videos in English and Spanish for fun STEAM activities
Local Online Activities
- WOW Children’s Museum
- Cooking with the Children’s Museum of Denver
- Denver Public Library on YouTube – Live storytimes: Monday – Friday (Spanish at 9 am, Toddler at 10 am, All Ages at 11 am) and Read Alouds for Kindergarten – 5th grade (posted weekdays at 12 pm).
- Boulder Public Library – Daily 15-minute storytimes at 10 am on YouTube: Storytime Shorts and Read with Us