‘Twas the night before winter break when all through the house,
all the creatures were stirring—pets, kids and spouse.

The backpacks were hung by the back door with care,
in hopes that vacation would soon be there.

The children were amped, and refused to go to bed,
while visions of tomorrow’s party treats danced in their heads.

Mama gave a sigh, and I poured a nightcap,
and wondered how we’d survive without having a nap.

Right then and there we decided—let’s keep down the clatter!
Let’s keep their brains busy with activities that matter.

Away to our phones we flew like a flash,
downloaded the Libby app without paying any cash.

As we scrolled through the kids’ books, we started to glow.
This is perfect for travel. Libby works on the go!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a catalog guide with just kids' books, I cheer!

With this fun, free app, so lively and quick,
I thought—what’s the catch? This must be a trick.

But thanks to my library, my kids will be tamed,
and as I scrolled through Libby, to my spouse I exclaimed,
“There’s ebooks! And audiobooks! Magazines and comics!
On smartphones! On tablets! On desktops, too!
They can listen in the car!
They can read in the hall!
Now read away! Read away!
Read away, all!"

Go on the Holiday Reading Adventure

“I’m bored.”

Don’t let those two dreaded words be uttered in your house this winter break.

With new toys galore and a herd of relatives visiting, it’s a wonder how those words seem to infiltrate our house every year. Yet, somehow...

This year, incentivize kids during their time off to go on the Holiday Reading Adventure and complete all 7 prompts in Libby! Perhaps a reward like going out for hot chocolate or a trip to the movies would give them the extra motivation to read their way to the finish line.

Checked off all 7 and ready for more? Keep playing with the Libby Reading Challenge! If your kids are making resolutions, this is a great way to stay on track and read more in the New Year.

If they’re a little too young for a reading challenge, grab some crayons and enjoy some printable coloring sheets and introduce them to some of classic literature’s favorite fairy tale characters.

Tips for navigating Libby for kids:

See what’s available right now

Kids are notorious for being impatient. Luckily, in the “Availability” filter in Libby, you can hone in on only the titles that are available to borrow now. To make it even easier, you can also apply the “Audience” filter to see only books at the Juvenile or Young Adult level.

Browse the Guides

Many libraries curate Guides on the Libby homepage, often including Kids and Teens Guides. There, librarians put their superpowers to use and create trending, seasonal collections that make finding the right book a breeze.

Narrow down with subjects

Looking for something specific? Use the “Subject” filter to narrow in on the topic you’re looking for, like Beginning Readers, Comics & Graphic Novels, Picture Book Fiction or Nonfiction, Crafts and more.

Explore read-alongs

Don’t forget about these fantastic narrated ebooks! Unlike audiobooks, these titles feature pictures and highlighted text to help developing readers learn.

To find them, filter by “Format.”

I highly recommend Disney’s The Little Mermaid - a favorite in our house!

Watch kid-friendly TV & movies

Make screen time count with fun, age-appropriate streaming options through Kanopy Kids.* Choose from a curated selection of educational and enriching videos with additional parental controls.

Find beloved characters like Blippi, Arthur, Sesame Street, The Berenstein Bears—all available to stream for free from your library on any device in your house.

Find Kanopy Kids through Libby, or go to kanopy.com/kids to get started.

Make the most wonderful time of the year even better with the Libby app.

Happy holidays, and happy reading!

*Not all libraries offer Kanopy. Check with your library to learn more about their offerings.