Welcome to the Kids Zone!

Research shows that reading books and sharing stories with your child is one of the best ways to help them enter school with the language skills they need to be ready to learn and grow. 1,000 Books before kindergarten will ensure that your child is on the path to success.

Here's how to participate:

• Pick up a reading log at the Youth desk in the library or participate online with Beanstack, our reading portal.
• Check off the log next to the number of books you have read or write down the titles of books you have read to your child.
  Remember to include stories that your child hears at preschool, library story time, chapter books you read together, e-books and
  audiobooks, bedtime stories - any and all books and stories count.
• When you've filled out 25 books, bring the completed log back to the library so that we can record it, and you will receive a new log.
• Children will receive a sticker or badge (if participating online) for every 25 books read. After 100 books read, they will receive a
  small prize.
• If you read 4 books a week, your child will have read 1,000 books in five years!

Help your child get ready to read with these simple activities every day:

• Talk
• Sing
• Read
• Write
• Play

Come to the library to discover books, music to help! Attend one of our free events for all ages, babies and toddlers, preschoolers at ten library locations across Sarasota County.

Storycasts

Storycasts are podcasts and YouTube videos of children's stories, crafts, teen book reviews and author interviews. Visit the Storycasts page to see and hear them all.

Storytimes 

Visit a storytime in person or watch on-demand storytime on our Vimeo Channels- A-Z Storytime, Spanish Storytime, and Fast Fun for Little Ones!

Brainfuse HelpNow

HelpNow is a unique tutoring, homework help, and studying suite designed to assist patrons of all ages succeed.

• Get Live homework help every day 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. (except holidays).
• Develop skills within the SkillSurfer section, which offers extensive library of lessons, videos, and practice tests in a wide range of academic subjects. SkillSurfer includes state-aligned skills building, practice tests, college application assistance, ESL services, parent resources, life skills development and more.
• Test your knowledge with practice tests in ASVAB, TOEFL, SAT, ACT, and more.

Elementary (Gale in Context)

Introduce elementary students to database searching with resources featuring age-appropriate, curriculum-related content. Best for students K-Grade 5. formerly Kids InfoBits

Khan Academy

Offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. Topics include math, reading, science, computer skills, arts, economics and life skills.

Reading

• ABCmouse (Only available at the library) - Helps kids learn with phonics, and teaches lessons in math, social studies, art, music and much more.
• Beanstack - Reading portal for virtual reading programs.
• Picture Books - Explore our catalog of picture books.
• AR BookFinder - Search for books with corresponding Renaissance Accelerated Reader using Bookfinder. 
• Reading Counts - Search for books that are supported by Reading Counts! quizzes by title, author, Lexile measure and other criteria.
• Sarasota County Schools Library Catalog - Search the catalog of books at your school.

Florida Book Awards

Locate many of this year's titles in cloudLibrary as eBooks or eAudiobooks.

• Sunshine State Young Reader's Award 
  • Grades K-2
  • Grades 3-5
  • Grades 6-8

• PowerMyLearning - Free online learning games and activities for K-12 students, parents and educators.
• UCF Diversity Family Database - Explore bibliographies that empower children with materials that reflect their families. Developed by University of Central Florida.
• Notable Childrens' Media - Discover real-time, dynamic, and interactive media content for children 14 years of age and younger that enables and encourages active engagement and social interaction while informing, educating, and entertaining in exemplary ways. Developed by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Assocation.
• Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County - The community’s one-stop resource for information about early learning experiences in Sarasota County.