Explore engaging resources for supplemental learning on core subjects such as math, science, and reading that include activities like games and puzzles.

 

Brightly
An online hub from Penguin Random House to “help raise kids who love to read.” Features reading tips, book recommendations, activities, and more.

BBC iReporter
Take on the role of a BBC social media reporter breaking the story of a hacking crisis in this choose-your-own adventure game with live-action video. Touches on digital literacy issues such as sources, fake news, and sharing on social media.

Code Club
Get started learning programming languages like Scratch, HTML/CSS, or Python with these fun tutorials and creative projects! We recommend beginning coders start with the Scratch modules while more experienced coders can test out HTML/CSS or Python.

Community Oral History Project
Not only can you explore the oral histories from folks in your community, you can also help by transcribing interviews.

Digital Compass by Common Sense Education
Digital literacy choose-your-own-adventure games for middle school students.

Hour of Code
Fun, themed coding tutorials that are great for beginners as well as kids who are comfortable with coding, but want to practice or tackle a fun challenge. Spend an hour making art or designing games using popular characters from Frozen, Minecraft, or Star Wars.

Incredibox
Build an animated beatboxing crew using drag-and-drop musical samples. Play around and make your own beats or complete challenges to unlock music choruses. Incredibox has both a limited online demo and an app.

Microsoft MakeCode Arcade
Design, remix, and play games while learning the code that powers them. Start with a tutorial game before building your own game or taking a deeper dive into a coding course.

Mouse Open Projects
Find resources and tutorials for creative technology projects using 3D modeling, eight-bit pixel art, coding, and more.

NPR’s Kids and Families Podcasts
We especially love Wow in the World, “a podcast designed for parents and kids to listen to together,” with its content focus on learning more about the world.

OldNYC—Mapping Historical Photos from NYPL
Ever wondered what your neighborhood looked like way back when? See New York City through the ages in these archival photographs.

PBS Above the Noise
Each short episode in this series takes on a current event or controversial topic, giving you facts and figures to cut through the hype and rise above the noise.

Pixton (Free access with your library card!)
Pixton is a digital comic creation website for kids and teens. No drawing skills are required—just select from preset characters and backgrounds from a variety of pop culture, literary, scientific, and historical themes. Personalize the character appearances and costumes, choose poses and facial expressions, and write dialogue to tell a story. Comics are saved automatically to a user’s account and can be easily downloaded or printed from the Pixton site. Patrons will need a library card to sign in through the NYPL website and access their NYPL Pixton account.

PBS Kids
Play games online and watch fun videos.

ReadWriteThink
An online reading and language arts hub jointly hosted by the International Literacy Association and the National Council for Teachers of English. Features printable activities, book recommendations, and interactive tools like a digital comic book creator!

Sampulator
Create the next chart-topper with a web-based keyboard of music samples. Record and layer different tracks, then listen to your creation.

Scratch
A programming language developed by MIT especially for beginning coders. Use the Scratch website or download the free software to create, remix, and share coding projects like games and animations in a safe online community.

Sketchpad
An online platform for making digital art. Paint and draw with a wide range of tools and special effects or add clip art and text. Sketchpad’s website can be used on a computer or a tablet.

Stereogranimator
Create weird, old-timey gifs with the New York Public Library’s own stereography site.

Back to School with NYPL

The New York Public Library is here to support kids of all ages, educators, and parents and caregivers with an array of programs and resources, both in person and online. Discover what we’re doing for kids and teens as New Yorkers return to school this fall—plus books, free homework help, learning tools, and fun, engaging activities to help you develop all your skills.

Learn More

Our Supporters

These programs and initiatives are part of the Library’s Tisch Youth Education Programs, led by the Merryl and James Tisch Director of Branch Libraries and Education. Major support for educational programming is provided by Merryl H. and James S. Tisch.

Major support for children's and young adult programming is provided by the Andreas C. Dracopoulos Family Endowment for Young Audiences. 

Major support for youth education is provided by Arthur W. Koenig; Jane Lauder; the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF); Mr. and Mrs. Timothy R. Barakett Endowment for Children’s and Young Adult Programs and Services; The Gottesman Fund; E.H.A. Foundation, Inc.; Mr. and Mrs. Evan R. Chesler; Robert A. and Elizabeth R. Jeffe Foundation; Michael ByungJu Kim and the MBK Educational Foundation; New York Life Foundation; Verizon Foundation; the Gray Foundation; and City’s First Readers, an initiative made possible with funding from the New York City Council. 

City's First Readers logo.