Services for Parents & Kids

Our Youth Services department provides many enriching events and resources for kids from birth to grade 8, parents, and families.

Follow the Youth Services Pinterest page for curated lists of educational apps, booklists, and more.

Storytimes & Classes

Want your child to attend a storytime, see a show, make a craft, or learn something new? We offer a variety of events for children and families. See all of them in the Event Calendar.

See our DIY Storytimes for librarian-created storytime outlines you can use anywhere.

Book Discussions

Registration dates are listed in the Event Calendar. Pick up a free copy of the book of the month at the Youth Services Desk after you register. 

• Books and Beyond (grades 6-8)
• Family Reads Book Club (grades 1-3 with grown-up)
• Guys Read (for boys in grades 3-5 with grown-up)
• Mother-Daughter Book Club (for girls in grades 3-7 with female grown-up)

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Learn more about our ongoing reading program for families with children from birth to pre-K.

Battle of the Books

Battle of the Books is an annual interschool competition in which teams of two to six middle school students battle it out to see whose book knowledge is superior. The list of books for this year's competition can be found here.

Middle School Space

The Middle School Space for 6th-8th graders houses the middle school collection and includes study tables, board games, a TV and comfy chairs, and The Zine Project.

Picture Book Room

In addition to the picture books in the main Youth Services area, this room includes an expansive collection, a magnetic play whiteboard, and tables and chairs for little ones.

Databases

We have several databases for kids to help with homework, research, and exploration.

Technology for Kids

We have two Early Literacy Station and several tablets with pre-selected apps and limited internet access. We also have 4 Internet Computers with unrestricted access to the web for children ages 8 to 12.

Early Education

As primary caregivers are children's first teachers and 90% of a child's brain develops before they turn 5, early education is very important. We promote the Every Child Ready to Read initiative, which employs five simple everyday practices adults can use to help children get ready to read.

Educational Apps

See the Youth Services Pinterest page for apps, booklists, and other early literacy resources selected and reviewed by our Youth Services staff.

Area Schools

Learn more about the schools and districts in the Morton Grove area.

See our Recommendations for Kids page for staff picks, bestsellers, reading recommendations by grade, award winners, and more.

Want personalized recommendations? Use our Kids Book Picks form for suggested reads from our librarians.

Unattended Children

Children under 8 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or other caregiver when visiting the Library. Library personnel are not responsible for children’s behavior and well-being while they use the Library. Read the full Children in the Library policy.

Youth Library Cards

Children up to 6th grade are eligible for a Youth Library Card. There is no minimum age for a child to receive a card. Parents or guardians accept responsibility for loss or damage of Library material loaned to the child. Read the full Library Cards policy.

Children's Computer Use

Children under age 8 must be accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver when using the Internet. Parents can consent to allow children age 8 and up to access the Internet unaccompanied. Read the full Computer and Technology Use policy.