The Story Seeds Podcast On each episode, they capture the magic that sparks when kids 6-12 and bestselling authors meet up in person to collaborate and grow original stories inspired by children’s story seeds!

Under the Garden Gate by Thistle

Drawing

Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems! Weekdays at 1pm (watch previous videos anytime)

Draw Everyday with Jarrett J. Krosoczka Weekdays at 2pm (Watch previous videos anytime)

Tony DiTerlizzi: Live Drawing Daily, 1pm (Watch previous videos anytime)

Ben Clanton Draws Live (with printable coloring pages) Various times, check his page for the most up to date information.

Cassie Stephenz Daily Art lessons at Noon (various art curriculum available on her website).

Global Community

One Globe Kids Spark a child’s global imagination with beautifully photographed, interactive stories by and for children around the globe. One Globe Kids offers an innovative way to experience friendship with a peer in a different country. For children 4-10 years of age.

Learn from Home

Learn from Home through Scholastic.

May's At Home Learning Calendar: Children's Activities and Early Literacy Acitvities by Demco Ideas and Inspirations.

June's At Home Learning Calendar: Children's Activities and Early Literacy Acitvities by Demco Ideas and Inspirations.

Podcasts

Cool Facts About Animals A podcast by and for kids giving you the coolest facts about the coolest animals. We research our episodes carefully, distilling the information into manageable segments, focusing on the things that really make these animals unusual.

Unspookable Spooky stories for kids.

But Why? A podcast for kids tackling various tough and funny subjects.

Book Power for Kids Book reviews by and for kids.

Curious Kid Podcast Educational and entertaining podcast for kids by kids

Understanding Coronavirus and How Germs Spread

TumbleScience Answering Kid’s Coronavirus Questions

Kids Ask Authors Author Grace Lin invites kids to ask the authors of their favorite books a question.

Story Pirates Actors, comedians, and improvisers who act out original stories created by kids.

What If World Stories Start with silly “what if ” questions which are crafted into original stories using fun voices, making for unrelenting ridiculousness.

The Past and The Curious Comedic actors performing little-known stories from history in a playful manner. There is even a quiz at the end of each episode!

Forever Ago Brains On presents Forever Ago®, a history show for the whole family!

Science/Nature/History

Various Science Lessons and Worksheets from PhD student Olivia V. Sanderfoot.

Skype a Scientist Get matched with a scientist you can talk to right in your home. Catch up on past sessions as well.

Online Survival School A new fun online learning program for kids and parents. Earn Badges. Learn skills. Don’t panic! (requires an Instagram login)

Free Access to World Book Online for all your encyclopedia needs.

Greek Speak Illustrator and writer George O’Connor is hosting Greek Speak livestream videos, where he discusses all things Olympians, his graphic novel adaptations of classic Greek mythology.

Storytime from Space Watch astronauts on the Space Station read children’s books and perform science demonstrations! Story Time From Space offers a delightful combination of science, literacy, and entertainment through its library of free, family-friendly videos.

Yoga and Mindfulness

Cosmic Kids Yoga Yoga for tiny ones.

Children's Book Reviews

Looking for some suggested children's book titles? Here we compiled a list of all titles recommended from the Children Librarian's at the Framingham Public Library.

December:

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead. Recommended for Grades 5-9. Available in all formats: book, audio, and playaway in our catalog, and eBook and eAudio in Overdrive/Libby.

"Bea’s dad is getting married! Her dad’s new husband has a daughter so she’ll be getting a sister. She can’t wait to meet her. She may have new things now, like a sister, two houses and a dog named Rocco. But there are also things that will not change, like the fact that both her parents love her. Bea is such a positive force, but she also goes to therapy and has eczema. She’s not perfect. This middle-grade novel, by a Newbery award winning author, goes back and forth telling you about Bea’s life before her parents got divorced. Reviewed by Jennifer.

Class Act by Jerry Craft. Recommended for Grades 4-8. Available as a book in our catalog, and eBook in Overdrive/Libby.

"In this companion to the Newbery winning New Kid, 8th grader Drew Ellis begins his second year at Riverdale Academy Day School in the Bronx with his best friends Jordan and Liam. Drew and Jordan, who are both African American, face different struggles throughout this novel which, unlike in New Kid, offers the perspectives of not just Jordan, but also his two friends. Instantly I was hooked on the story and I realized I didn’t want to put the book down! The book touches on a number of social themes and is a must read for all ages. Reviewed by Jillian.

November:

Act by Kayla Miller. Available in our catalog and as an eBook on Overdrive.

"Vote for Olive! Olive is running for student council. When a class field trip leaves some classmates behind because of money woes she wants to help! She’s running against friends who want to offer chocolate pudding in the lunchroom. How can she try and help accomplish what’s right without upsetting her friends? This third book in a graphic novel series is a must read during this election season. Check out Click and Camp as well!"

October:

A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Joy McCullough. Available in Overdrive in eBook and audiobook.

Sutton and Luis’ parents are dating. Their parents want them to meet and maybe even become friends, but it’s a challenge! Sutton likes science and robots. Luis likes art and writing. On a group hike with their parents they quickly learn how to work together and use their strengths to find a way out. A Field Guide to Getting Lost is one of my new favorite middle-grade books!

SEQUEL ALERT! The Vanderbeekers Lost and Found by Karina Yan Glaser. Available in book form at the moment.

"The chaotic but lovable Venderbeeker family and all their friends are back for another adventurous season. Mr. Biederman is training for the New York City Marathon, there’s a mystery tenant in their hidden garden’s shed, and the twins are growing up and perhaps feeling twinges of jealousy! If you’ve enjoyed the previous three books starring the Vanderbeekers, you won’t want to miss this one!

September:

The Hippo at the End of the Hall by Helen Cooper. Recommended for Grades 3-5. Available in book form.

"This is a good, old-fashioned British children’s fantasy that just happens to take place in modern times with cell phones, land developers and women who keep their names when they get married. One day, Ben finds a postcard from the Gee Museum that says “Come Now or Come Never” with the milk delivery. His mom seems very reluctant to let Ben visit the museum by himself and is too busy struggling with money to come with him. But Ben has been raised to be independent and adventuresome like his Dad who was lost at sea during a solo, long-distance sail when Ben was three, so he goes on his own. On his visit, Ben discovers two things: that he remembers the museum with his dad when he was very young and that two unpleasant people are trying to buy the museum for their own purposes and don’t mind using shady means to pressure the owner into selling. As Ben decides to warn the owner of the museum about these nefarious plans and help deal with them, he discovers some other amazing things about the museum and about his past as well, things which will change his future, too, if he can defeat the schemers." – Lucy

Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly. For ages 9+. Available as an ebook and audiobook on Overdrive.

"This is the story of a 12-year-old girl’s connection to a whale whose song can’t be heard by his species, similar to how by being deaf she has trouble connecting to family and peers who do not know ASL, and the journey she takes to help him. What makes this book so moving and a great read is that, not only does it have a main character with deaf abilities, but it’s about when you are feeling out of place, reaching for your goals, and the moments in life that are hard to bear, but also those that make life something special. Along the way it explores the types of relationships you have with your friends, parents, and even grandparents, and how it’s never too late to connect better with them. Throughout the book there are whale facts and interesting information about the species which ties in nicely." – Jillian

June:

The Peacock Detectives by Carly Nugent. For ages 8-12. Available as an ebook and audiobook on Hoopla.

"I recently joined a Facebook group called “View from my window” where people all around the world post a picture of what they see outside their window. Someone posted a view of the pyramids of Giza; imagine waking up to that every day! Someone else posted the most magnificent picture of mountains in Utah; I was astounded. So it’s a fun group and is supposed to help people locked down experience a sense of travel. But when we read the posts, we also see that all around the world people are alike. Many are locked down right now, and teaching their children at home, and missing family and travel and getting outside just like us.This book is like that Facebook group because it is a view of what life is like for Cassie, an eleven going on twelve-year-old girl, who lives in a little town in Australia (population: 2000; compare Framingham population: more than 68,000) surrounded by bush, where venomous tiger snakes live under the school steps, Christmas comes in the middle of summer, and the neighbors own a peacock and a peahen. This all sounds very exotic, but as the story progresses with Cassie and her friend Jonas looking for the peacocks who have escaped, we see that life in Australia is also very like life in America with family struggles and mean girls at school and arguments with friends and the great cycle of life and death. So, for a look at a different way of life that you can relate to quite easily, I recommend this book." – Lucy

May:

The World Ends in April by Stacy McAnulty. Available as an ebook on Overdrive/Libby.

"Elle’s grandfather is a survivalist who is convinced the world is going to end soon. He trains Elle and her brothers for the end of the world on weekends but Elle doesn’t believe him and is getting tired of it. But one day she comes across an article that an asteroid is going to hit earth! She tries to warn her classmates and forms a club to help train them, just like her grandfather has trained her. Does her world end in April? Read this page turner and find out! Middle grade fiction." – Jillian

If you liked The Sisters 8 by Lauren Baratz-Logsted, try reading: The Elixir Fixers: Sasha and Puck by Daniel Nayeri. Available as an ebook on Hoopla.

"Both these early chapter books have fantastic sibling adventures that you’ll want to read in one sitting. The Sisters 8 and Sasha and Puck use science and potions to try to make discoveries and help others, though Sasha and Puck also use just a hint of magic too. Engaging stories with exciting and detailed characters you’re sure to enjoy! Beginning chapter book." – Jillian

April:

The Dark Lord Clementine by Sarah Jean Horwitz. Available as an ebook on Hoopla and OverDrive.

The Starspun Web by Sinead O’Hart. Available as an ebook on OverDrive.

"I met two delightful girls and their circles of friends this weekend despite preserving my social distancing! Yes, I’m talking about the heroines and supporting characters in the above two books."

"Clementine is the lonely daughter of the Dark Lord Elithor and will take over the title someday. Her father alternates between neglectful and ranting over her faults, she can only observe the village children playing from a distance since they fear her as their sorcerous future ruler, and the only mother she’s known is a white splotch of snow on the mountains called the White Lady. But when her father, whom she loves despite everything, is cursed, Clementine rises to the occasion in her own way, taking care of the farm, committing Dastardly Deeds to keep their home, and breaking her father’s rules to save him —by making friends." – Lucy

"Teresita Mariana de Sousa,or Tess as her friends call her and she has many friends, is a foundling with a scientific bent. She experiments with her friend Wilf, keeps a pet tarantula named Violet in her hair, and loves the women who run her foundling home. But one day, a strange man appears to claim her, and she finds out she came from an alternate reality. Not only that, but she may also have the ability to travel to alternate realities, too. Forced to go with Mr. Cleal, Tess has to be very brave and resourceful, while using her scientific methods to save herself, some new friends, and possibly a number of alternate realities while trying to find a way back to her friends at the Foundling Home.These were both excellent, engaging adventure books for Grades 4 or 5 and up that are sure to entertain." – Lucy

Virtual Storytimes with FPL

Storytimes with Molly

The Secret Shortcut by Mark Teague
The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman
If All the Animals Came Inside by Eric Pinder
Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima

Farm Storytimes

Click, Clack, Moo, Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin