Back to school is in the air! With all the excitement older children have about returning to learning, it’s a great time to introduce early literacy and math concepts. The number of options can be overwhelming! Luckily, the library has quite a few resources made exactly for young children learning the basics.

• TumbleBooks: TumbleBooks is a wonderful way to engage children in reading, no matter where you are. Both fiction and nonfiction books for pre-readers and early readers add animation, sounds, music and narration. Perfect for reading or having it read to you!
• ABC Mouse: This site lets you choose your child’s age group – Toddler Time for children up to age 3, Preschool (ages 3 and up), Pre-K (ages 4 and up), and Kindergarten (ages 5 and up). Lessons about the world, reading, colors, and more are taught through age-appropriate games and activities. While this is a subscription-based service, it is completely free to use at the library!
• Playaway Launchpads: These made-for-kids tablets are great for learning on the go. All four branches of the Bay County Library System have a collection of these tablets, with games on a variety of subjects from art to phonics to math. Check out the full list of tablets available here.
• Hoopla: This app lets you browse a collection of digital books, audiobooks, comics, TV, movies, and music – all ready to download when you want them. There’s a checkbox next to the search bar to enter “Kids Mode” that lets you see just what’s available for our younger patrons.