See the Kids Blog for the latest CPL kids news. Other blogs:
Babies | Tweens | Parents | Thorndyke Thoughts
Books and More
Great resource: browse our book lists by topic or genre.
See also: Books and more for bestsellers and great reads.
New Materials
Award Winners
E-books
Recommendations by Grade
Recommendations by Genre
- Adventure/Survival
- Biography
- Fantasy/Science Fiction
- Graphic Novels
- Historical Fiction
- Humorous/Funny Fiction
- Michigan Authors and Stories
- Mystery
- Poetry
- Realistic Fiction
- Spooky/Scary Stories
- Sports
- Superheroes
Homework Help
Homework Help Blog
Looking for that perfect book, database, or article for your homework assignment? Try out our new Homework Help Blog! To get your own recommendations, just fill out the Homework Help form and you can expect results within 72 hours.
Databases
Databases are premium sources for articles, books, media, and organized information. We have many more sources on the main databases page.
- Accelerated Reader BookFinder
Britannica School — encyclopedia articles, primary sources, games, videos and other learning resources for K-12 students; school code is MeL5- Global Road Warrior — a comprehensive cultural database that features in-depth information on 175 countries, helpful for school reports and international travel and business
- Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia — searchable e-book
- Kids InfoBits — book passages, news, facts & figures, images
- LearningExpress Library — lessons, practice tests and study aids for math, social studies and language arts
- NoveList K8 Plus — read-alike suggestions and Lexile levels
- World Book Kids — online encyclopedia
- World of Earth Science — searchable e-book
Early Literacy
Literacy development begins at birth. Children begin to associate shapes, symbols, books, and objects with contexts before they are able to actually read and write.
To help develop these emergent skills, our early literacy area includes skills-focused manipulatives, puppets for creative play and social skills, plus iPads and AWE stations with educational apps.
Early Literacy Online Resources
These fun online resources contains stories and games specifically geared towards beginning and pre-readers.
- ABCmouse — interactive books and educational activities (in-library use only)
- BookFlix — interactively explore fiction and non-fiction
- Britannica Learning Zone — activity-centered learning to explore, play, read, and build technology skills; school code is MeL5
- Early World of Learning — early literacy games and other learning activities
- Tumblebooks — great online books
Fun and Games
- Anne of Green Gables
- Barbie Games
- Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government
- Club Penguin
- CyberChase Games Central
- Funbrain
- Learning Planet
- Polly Pocket Games
- Poptropica
- StoryPlace
- Recommended STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Sites
For Preschoolers
- Boowa and Kwala Home — songs, games, stories
- Dinosaur Puppet Activity
- Funschool Preschool Arcade
- Learn to read at Starfall
- PBS Kids — (here you'll find friends from Barney, Caillou, Clifford and more)
Thorndyke
Thorndyke T. Bear is our resident bear. He, along with his comrade-in-arms LB (Little Buddy), keep an eye over the Children's Library and have adventures. You can follow their exploits at Thorndyke Thoughts. For more on Thorndyke and LB, see: