Winter break is coming up – what will your children be doing? If you need help keeping your kids entertained and even learning while they’re on break from school, The Seattle Public Library has many solutions for families, from new Read-Along books to streaming programs and free tutoring.  

Find more programs and services at  spl.org or at any of the Library’s 27 locations. Find more ideas of 50-plus things to do through the Library at spl.org/50things. 

For young kids (ages 1-6) 

Borrow a Read-Along picture book. Families can now borrow from the Library’s new collection of Read-Along picture books, which come with an attached MP3 player on the inside front cover that reads the book aloud. The collection includes over 50 titles and 500 copies, and has books in Spanish and English. Just go to your nearest branch and ask where the Read-Along books are.  

Stream virtual books and animated stories. Use your Library card to access services such as TumbleBooks, virtual books that let your kids read along, and BookFlix, a service with animated stories in both Spanish and English. Let these services do the reading for you! 

For older kids (ages 7-18) 

Borrow a Global Reading Challenge book: Even if your 8 to 10-year-old reader isn’t signed up for Seattle Public Schools’ Global Reading Challenge, you can pick up some of these excellent books for their winter break reading. All of the Global Reading Challenge books are available at each Library location and three of the books are in Spanish this year. 

Check out a “best book of the year” for your child: Seattle Public Library staff have put together book lists of their favorite books from 2022, including teen books, picture books, graphic novels and more. Find staff picks listed on  spl.org. You can also ask Library staff at your neighborhood branch, who will be happy to help you find great books for your family. 

Keep academic skills sharp. Help kids keep up their academic skills by using the Library’s free, personalized one-on-one virtual tutoring through Tutor.com in English, Vietnamese and Spanish. Kids can brush up on math skills, practice writing and more. It’s offered seven days a week. spl.org/VirtualTutoring 

For everyone 

Stream movies and shows: You don’t need to subscribe to Netflix or Disney Plus to access great family movies and TV shows, including holiday favorites, through the Library’s subscription to services such as Kanopy, Hoopla and Access Video. Go to Movies & TV page to get started: spl.org/books-and-media/movies-and-tv 

Reserve a free museum pass: Through the Library’s Museum Pass program, you can reserve free tickets to favorite museums such as the Seattle Aquarium, the Museum of Flight, MoPop, and the Woodland Park Zoo. December passes are probably booked already, but you can book ahead for January! spl.org/MuseumPass.  

HOW TO GET A LIBRARY CARD 

If you don’t have a Library card, it’s easy to get one online or in person. Apply for a card in minutes through an application at spl.org/Card. Call 206.386.4636 or contact Ask Us, the Library’s email and chat service, for help with getting a Library card or anything else.