KIDS

Welcome to Hillside Public Library!

Did you know you can access so much more than books?

Borrow videogames, puzzles, educational tables, toys, and more!

Play, share and create with available toys and craft supplies in the Library’s Youth area. Participate to win a prize with our monthly scavenger hunt and attending our programs to have a good time.

Visit us. We will be so glad to have you here, and we’re here to help you find anything you’re looking for!

Book Recommendations

Native American Heritage Month Picture Books

Native American Heritage Month Chapter Books

Food Picture Books

Food Chapter Books

Celebrate Marc Brown’s Birthday

Thanksgiving Picture Books

Resources

Use our computers or access from home to all the e-resources available with your library card.

Unlimited access to thousands of digital comics, graphic novels and manga from a variety of publishers – no holds or wait lists required.

A resource for parents, teachers, and students offering engaging, ready-to-use educational materials for grades Pre-K through 5

Crafting resource for all ages with video tutorials on everything from knitting and crocheting to art and design for crafters of all experience levels.

Online literacy resource, reinforces early reading skills and provides an introduction to a world of knowledge and exploration.

Software program designed for young people (ages 8-18) that provides a comprehensive and engaging way to learn computer programming.

Online Whiteboard resource focusing on engaging science and social studies content for students spanning grades 3-5.

Designed to help young children (ages 2–7+) build a strong foundation for academic success. (In-Library Access Only)

Website Recommendations

This list features free educational websites designed to make learning enjoyable for children.

Educational games and videos from Curious George, Wild Kratts and other PBS KIDS shows!

The place for children of all ages to play games and discover new jokes, surveys, answers to science questions, and fun crafts and recipes from Highlights.

Learn with millions of people worldwide by exploring videos, tackling practice problems and getting AI-powered support.

Great resource for children and students, offering a fun and engaging platform with games, videos, and lessons on a wide range of topics, including history. It provides a variety of content like facts about ancient civilizations, biographies of historical figures, and interactive games and quizzes, making it both entertaining and educational.

Launch rockets, build a Moon Habitat, solve spacey puzzles, and other activities for kids, adults and the whole family! For Students Grades K-4.

Educational games for grades PreK through 6 that will keep kids engaged and having fun. Topics include math, reading, typing, just-for-fun logic games, etc.

Join 10 million+ kids and enjoy a safe & free online chess experience with the best tools – tactics, puzzles, videos, lessons & more! The #1 kids’ site!

The official online hub for kids, offering games, videos, and activities that complement LEGO products and themes.

Free online resource that provides a collection of math games, videos, and worksheets for students in grades 1 through 8. It acts as a directory of educational materials, with all resources aligned to the Common Core State Standards.

An interactive science website for kids created by the American Museum of Natural History. It offers games, videos, stories, and hands-on activities for children to explore topics like astronomy, paleontology, genetics, and marine biology. The website is designed to be fun and engaging, encouraging scientific curiosity and discovery for kids ages 7-11.

Free, web-based tool from Discovery Education that allows users, including kids, to create and print custom puzzles like word searches, mazes, and math puzzles. Users input their own word lists, phrases, or other content to generate a puzzle, which can help reinforce vocabulary, spelling, and other academic skills.

Free, online website that teaches kids how to type by using lessons, games, and videos. It offers a comprehensive typing curriculum that adapts to different grade levels and includes features like instant feedback, progress tracking, and customizable lessons. The platform is designed to improve typing speed and accuracy for students in a fun and engaging way.

Offers a digital world for kids called the Ranger Rick Web Club, which provides access to articles, videos, games, and crafts from its award-winning children’s magazines. A subscription includes access to content from Ranger Rick, Ranger Rick Jr., and Ranger Rick Cub and comes with a free “Go Wild! With Ranger Rick” app for daily nature adventures. The site also provides free resources like videos, games, crafts, and recipes.

Programs

Our children’s librarian is always adding fun programs including Storytimes, craft programs, Lego and Play dough clubs, bingo, and more!

Check a full list of events and programs for children and register:

Calendar

Group of families, participating in a fun group activity at Hillside Public Library

Kids doing science experiments at Hillside Public Library

Kids sitting around a table playing bingo

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

It sounds like a daunting task but if you read one book a day with your child from birth until they enter kindergarten you will have read about 1,825 books! We know that reading is important for a child’s growing brain and this program encourages literacy from birth. You get to spend time bonding with your child over the love of reading and begin to build reading as an association with happiness and positive memories.

How it Works

Just read any book to your child. You can reread books as many times as you like. When you’ve completed one read color in a book on your log sheet. Every 100 books completed your child gets a small prize. You can turn in the log at any time. This is at your own pace. Books read during a library story-time, at daycare, or with another caregiver all count. You can complete the program as many times as you like as long as it’s before your child is in kindergarten.