Enjoy the outdoors by exploring books about everything outside. Here are some of our favorites.
You’ll find instructions for accessing the Alaskas Digital Library and Tumblebooks via SLED down below.
Walter’s Wonderful Web by Tim Hopgoode (Toddler, Preschool)
If you ever take a nature walk together as a family, you might see a spider’s web swaying in the breeze. Have you stopped to look at all the little shapes it contains? In this book, join Walter the spider as he tries to make his webs in different shapes that will be strong enough to stand up to the wind. Which shape will work best? Available for free online through the Alaska Digital Library. Access using your library card.
The Weather Girls by Aki
(Toddler, Preschool)
There’s no such thing as bad weather! In this book, learn about the changing seasons, the weather they bring, and the many different outdoor activities you can do all year round, whether that’s walking down city streets or nature trails, swimming, riding bikes, picking apples, or scaling snow-capped mountains. Available for free online through the Alaska Digital Library. Access using your library card.
Things to Do by Elaine Magliaro (Preschool)
This beautifully written book lets children imagine the things they could do if they were different objects and creatures in nature like rain, a bird, a honeybee, or even a snail. It invites readers to think about the descriptions and experience them for themselves the many things a child can encounter outside during their day. Available for free online through the Alaska Digital Library. Access using your library card.
The Mess That We Made by Michelle Lord (Preschool, School Age)
Explore the environmental impact of trash and plastic on the ocean and marine life in this cumulative tale. This book contains ideas and tips for ways that children and their families can make changes to help save our oceans and do their part to combat pollution. It also includes facts about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Available for free online through the Alaska Digital Library. Access using your library card.
These resources were recommended by Samantha Blanquart, an Early Literacy Outreach Librarian with Ready to Read Resource Center. Visit their website for more info about early literacy or to check out one of their reading kits for young children.
Imagination Library Picks:
One Leaf, Two Leaves, Count with Me! by John Micklos Jr. and Clive McFarland
(Toddler)
Practice counting up and down while learning about the changing seasons in this book. Watch for the little squirrel on every page. What are they up to? Available for free online through the Alaska Digital Library. Access using your library card.
How to access these books:
Alaska Digital Library
Alaska Digital Library contains thousands of eBooks and audiobooks that you can borrow with your local library card, then download to your computer, smart device, or e-reader, or enjoy in browser.
On your computer: Navigate to https://adl.overdrive.com/. Log in by choosing your library and entering your library card number. Don’t have a card? Contact your local library to sign up today.
On your smart device: Download the Libby, by Overdrive app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Log in by choosing your library and entering your library card number. Don’t have a card? Contact your local library to sign up today.
Tumblebooks
Tumblebooks is a database provided to all Alaskans for free through the Alaska State Library with no log in or library card required. You can get access to eBooks, animated eBooks, and videos for kids in kindergarten through 6th grade, in English, Spanish, and French. Flash required to access animated and video content. To access, navigate to https://lam.alaska.gov/databases/a_z and scroll down to click the Tumblebooks link. Read and enjoy!
