for children & parents
A B C games
- Very easy online activities to explore the alphabet.
Gus & Inky -
- game 1 |
game 2 |
game 3
Karaoke
- Sing along with familiar songs. See words and pictures as you sing.
One More Story
- Listen to picture books. Available only at Library workstations.
PBS Kids
- Music and games with TV characters.
Peep and the Big Wide World
- Explore science and math concepts in online games for preschoolers.
Sesame Street
- Games by topic (examples: alphabet and numbers).
TumbleBook Library
- Listen to picture books. Click Story Books to begin.
for parents
Brain Development
- How do literacy skills begin in the early years in developing brain? From the Zero to Three organization.
Center for Early Education and Development (CEED)
- Information about young children, including children with special needs. From the University of Minnesota.
ECFE: Early Childhood Family Education
- For more information contact your local school district or call (651) 582-8402.
ELSIE: Early Literacy Storytime Ideas Exchange
- Find books to help children develop early literacy skills.
Leading to Reading
- Songs, rhymes, stories, fingerplays and more plus literacy tips.
Mama Lisa's House of Nursery Rhymes
- Words, audio, and simple animations for traditional verses.
Mem Fox's Ten Read Aloud Commandments
- From a notable children's author and champion of literacy.
Minnesota Storytime Guides
- Guides for picture books with suggestions for sharing stories with young children. From the Minnesota Humanities Commission.
Parent Guide to Literacy
- Pre-Talkers: birth to 2 years (pdf)
- Talkers: 2 to 3 years (pdf)
- Pre-Readers: 4 to 5 years (pdf)
- from the Public Library Association and Association for Library Service to Children.
Parenting & Child Care
- General information, selected by Hennepin County Librarians.
Parents Know - parenting A-Z
- Select topic Reading Aloud for each age level. From State of MN.
- newborn
- age 1-2
- age 3-5
Reading Checkups
- Simple questions to help prepare children to read. From the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Ready for K
- A Minnesota campaign working for comprehensive policy change for our children, their parents and caretakers.
TV and Your Family
- Information and tips for parents. From the American Academy of Pediatrics.

|