Tagged Summer Reading
Discover, Explore, Create: Summer of Wonder 2025!
What is your favorite summertime activity in Philadelphia? Do you hike through Wissahickon Park? Do you spend all day at your local Parks and Rec. swimming pool with your friends? Do you read new books at your neighborhood library?…
Summer of Wonder: 3 Ways to Get Kids Reading This Summer
The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Summer of Wonder program is a reading challenge for all ages that allows participants to attend fun Free Library events, find new books to read, and explore activities to stay engaged throughout…
Summertime Fun and STEM Enrichment at the Free Library
To build an enlightened community devoted to lifelong learning, The Free Library is an advocate and valuable resource for students in and around the City of Philadelphia. The Free Library Foundation proudly supports the Library’s…
Get Ready for an Exciting Summer of Wonder at the Free Library!
Summer of Wonder is the Free Library's flagship summer reading challenge for all ages. Participants can attend library programs, find new books to read, and explore activities to stay engaged throughout the summer. Summer of Wonder…
Enjoy Online Reading Challenges Year-Round!
You may have heard of our citywide Summer of Wonder program full of activities, programs, and prizes for all ages, but did you know that the Free Library offers an Online Reading Challenge that runs all year long? And…
That’s a Wrap on Summer of Wonder 2023!
This summer has flown by, and believe it or not, the Free Library’s Summer of Wonder is already wrapping up! We finished our in-person summer programming in branches on August 11, and our Virtual Summer Challenge will be complete…
Teens Working at the Free Library
We here at Youth Services are so proud of our new teen hires! Thanks to PYN, they’ll be with us all summer long. What is PYN? The Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) works with strategic partners to create education, skill-building…
Summer of Wonder: We're Halfway Through!
Neighborhood libraries have been busy this summer happily welcoming our patrons! As we get back to full staffing levels and resume Saturdays at select branches , it has been so wonderful to see our communities returning to…
Celebrate Disability Pride Month!
July is Disability Pride Month! After years of fighting, on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law, and Disability rights activists declared the day to be Disability Pride Day . It wasn't until 25…
Why Libraries Are So Important This Pride Month
Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong — like something about you wasn’t right, or didn’t meet the expectations of others — and can you remember how that felt? What about when you were welcomed —…
Kick off Your Summer of Wonder With a Week of Play!
It’s that wondrous time of year again when the sun heats up, the spray parks open, and the books come out! We’re talking about the Summer of Wonder , of course. What started over a century ago as a week-long reading…
Join the Summer Camp Challenge!
Summer is on its way, once again. If you will be working with Philly kids at an existing summer camp program, we welcome you to join us in the Summer Camp Challenge! Whether it’s your camp’s first time or third, this program…
Celebrating Another Summer of Wonder
We're setting new Summer of Wonder records in 2022! Not only did we meet our Community Reading Minutes goal for the summer, we also blasted past all of our minutes-read milestones and logged the most online community minutes…
Time Travel to the Beginning of the Universe
Interested in time travel? The superpowered James Webb Telescope has released its first images this month, giving us a window into distant space and the distant past. It’s dazzling. The Carina Nebula, a birthing ground for stars,…
Halfway through Summer of Wonder 2022!
The Summer Readers of Philadelphia are on a roll. Just halfway through the Free Library’s Summer of Wonder, we’re more than halfway to our citywide online reading minutes goal! If you’re not signed up yet, it’s…
Summer of Wonder is Heating Up!
Summer is here, and along with the rising temperatures, the Summer of Wonder is heating up! In June, we kicked off Pride Month with a brand new Pride March right here in Philly, and we’re celebrating Pride with the Free Library…
Summer of Wonder Begins! | Everyone. Everywhere.
Everyone. Everywhere. The Summer of Wonder is all around you. It is happening at libraries and bus stops, at city parks and in camps, on PlayStreets, and in your very own homes. Everywhere you look this summer, you’ll find Philly…
Start Summer of Wonder with a Treasure Hunt
There’s treasure in your neighborhood if you know where to look! Southwest Philadelphia families are invited to hunt down treasure troves of books to kick-off Summer of Wonder in June. Saturday, June 4th, starting at 10am until…
Join Science in the Summer to Be a Biologist!
Summer is a time of growth, fruit, and bloom, when life on this planet feels abundant and vibrant. It might be a season when we feel more aware of other beings living alongside us, even here in the city. Is it a natural time to consider…
Summer Camp Challenge is Back!
It’s that wonderful time of year again, when the birds begin to sing and educators, caregivers, and camp leaders start to wonder: what is this summer going to hold? If you’ll be working with Philadelphia kids at an existing…
Read, Baby, Ready: Storytime & Playgroup
Join Ms. Chen on Fridays at 10:30am for stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces! Bubbles will end storytime. Then stay after for our playgroup! This program is for babies and toddlers with their caregivers. Siblings are welcome. Read, Baby,…
Read, Baby, Ready: Storytime & Playgroup
Join Ms. Chen on Fridays at 10:30am for stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces! Bubbles will end storytime. Then stay after for our playgroup! This program is for babies and toddlers with their caregivers. Siblings are welcome. Read, Baby,…
Read, Baby, Ready: Storytime & Playgroup
Join Ms. Chen on Fridays at 10:30am for stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces! Bubbles will end storytime. Then stay after for our playgroup! This program is for babies and toddlers with their caregivers. Siblings are welcome. Read, Baby,…
Read, Baby, Ready: Storytime & Playgroup
Join Ms. Chen on Fridays at 10:30am for stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces! Bubbles will end storytime. Then stay after for our playgroup! This program is for babies and toddlers with their caregivers. Siblings are welcome. Read, Baby,…
Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Club
Come and play the trading card game Yu-Gi-Oh! Both new and seasoned players are welcomed. Staff will be present to teach the basics of the game. We'll have snacks and cards for you to use! Ages(9-18) - 3:15 to 4:45pm
Read, Baby, Ready: Storytime & Playgroup
Join Ms. Chen on Fridays at 10:30am for stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces! Bubbles will end storytime. Then stay after for our playgroup! This program is for babies and toddlers with their caregivers. Siblings are welcome. Read, Baby,…
Weekly Summer Read-a-Thon
Read books and earn prizes all summer long. Each week at Cecil B. Moore, we’ll have our all- ages reading lounge set up. Come early and pick some lo-fi beats to set the moo. We’ll set a summer-long reading goal and compete…
Tinker Thinker Thursday
Calling all mini engineers! Join Ms. Sa-de for creative building challenges using LEGOs, blocks, recyclables, and more. Develop problem-solving and teamwork skills while having fun.
Read to a Therapy Dog!
Independent readers and children who are learning to read are invited to practice their reading skills with a certified therapy dog from Comfort Caring Canines. Yes, you can pet them, too! Dogs will be accompanied by their handler…
Wonder Win Wednesday
Every Wednesday in June! Want to go on an adventure, build a world of fantasy and wonder or play in a video game or learn chess and play checkers? Come along and let’s tell stories and go on adventures together. Let’s…
Teen+ Summer Crafts!
Children of all ages, their caregivers, and teens are invited for a weekly make-and-take craft. Activities will include jewelry-making, DIY fancy pens, clay, print-making, and paper crafts.
Adult Summer Scares Book Club
Horror stories aren’t just for Halloween! Join us to discuss the book “Reprieve” by James Han Mattson and hear a haunted history talk from the folks at Grim Philly. Attend without doing the reading, if you dare, but…
Movie Mondays!
Stop in with the family on select Mondays in July and August for a family-friendly movie! Light snacks provided. Please contact the library for that day's title. Call 215-685-1964 or stop in!
One Crazy Summer Book Club
Join us on the last Monday of each month this summer for the One Crazy Summer book club and spend the summer back in time with the Gaither sisters! Each month we'll focus on one of the three books in this award-winning series by…
Kids’ Sensory Playtime
Sensory play encourages children to explore and discover new sensations, materials, and experiences, fostering curiosity and learning. Activities will include using kinetic sand, clay, DIY fidget spinners, and sensory bins.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Club
Come and play the trading card game Yu-Gi-Oh! Both new and seasoned players are welcomed. Staff will be present to teach the basics of the game. We'll have snacks and cards for you to use! Ages(9-18) - Fridays from 3:15 to 4:45pm…
Game Day for Kids
Drop in for some games! Will it be board games or video games? Stop in and see! From 3-4:30 p.m. Family-friendly.
Friday Free For Fun!
Imagination runs wild! Join us for free with puzzles, games, toys, and more. A relaxed and playful space for kids to explore and be creative after a long week.
Summer Break Video Game Hang
Compete against friends on PlayStation5 and Nintendo Switch. Last session - Thanks for playing! See you in the Fall with more great programs!!
Read, Baby, Ready: Storytime & Playgroup
Join Ms. Chen on Fridays at 10:30am for stories, songs, rhymes, and bounces! Bubbles will end storytime. Then stay after for our playgroup! This program is for babies and toddlers with their caregivers. Siblings are welcome. Read, Baby,…
Elin Hilderbrand | The Perfect Couple
“The queen of the summer beach read” ( New York Post ), Elin Hilderbrand has captured the flavor, scenery, and people of Nantucket in more than 20 New York Times bestselling novels, including The Beach Club, The Matchmaker , and The…