If you are looking for something to keep your little one entertained while schools are closed than we have a variety of books, media, and more that you can enjoy without leaving your home.
HelpNow: Online Tutoring
Need help with school work while your child is home? BrainFuse’s HelpNow is a suite of services designed to assist with a range of homework needs, including live, one-to-one homework help between 2 PM-11 PM each day, live New Jersey-aligned skills building (includes Common Core where appropriate), test preparation, and comprehensive writing assistance. Students can draw or type their question in the online classroom and receive live assistance from a tutor. Students have access to an extensive library of Brainfuse-created lessons, video tutorials, and practice tests including those for the SAT, ACT, GED, GRE, and more. Users can archive documents, class notes, and other materials in their personal CloudPack and share these items with tutors during a live session. As a mom, as well as a librarian, I know how valuable this resource can be. Adults can get assistance too with skill building and test preparation for exams like the GED in The Adult Learning Center. Brainfuse even has an online meeting space.
Books by JK Rowling, Dr. Seuss, and new favorite eBooks from eLibraryNJ and eBCCLS
Whether your child loves to read to themselves on an iPad or is looking for an audiobook to listen to you can find a variety of classics and new favorites for all ages available from eLibraryNJ and eBCCLS such as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, A Wrinkle in Time, and Fox in Socks. You can check up to five books at a time from each of the services and with the Libby App it is easy to return them instantly to check out more. Not sure what to read, a great resource for print and ebook suggestions, provided by the New Jersey State Library that is available to Hoboken and other NJ residents is Novelist for adults and kids in k-8. You can find lists of suggested books for different interest as well as read alike suggestions.
Wild Kratts and more from Kanopy Kids
We told you recently about some of the amazing foreign films you can stream from Kanopy (10 checkouts per month for Hoboken Resident Cardholders), but it isn’t just great adult entertainment available; you can check out unlimited amounts of cartoons, book adaptations, and more fun and high quality entertainment for children. My son loves science and is fascinated by nature. If you have a future zoologist in your household then checkout these clever cartoons based on real brothers (and NJ born), Chris and Martin Kratt who get animated in this series to protect endangered animals. This funny show will have your kid giggling while they learn more about science and wildlife.
Muzzy
Is your child fascinated by other countries? For your little globe trotter check out Muzzy. Newly added at the beginning of the year, patrons now have access to English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, and Korean for children through Muzzy’s Online Learning Resource. The service provides videos, listening, writing activities, games, and even printable lessons. The fun animated videos featuring Muzzy and friends along with activities that make learning seem like a game will have your child learning a new language in no time. You can access it in the main branch of the library while using our Wi-Fi without a card, but it can also be accessed with a Hoboken Resident Library Card from home. We also continue to have Mango and Rosetta Stone available for Adults who are interested in learning another language or ESL. You can also stream Muzzy and Little Pim videos from Kanopy Kids.
Music Playlists from Freegal
Looking for a lullaby to help them get to sleep at night? Freegal has a variety of music for children including classics like Rock-a-Bye-Baby from New Born Lullabies or A Whole New World on Disney Lullabies. Besides albums, Freegal also has curated playlists you can check out such as Lullaby Songs for Baby Rockers which includes lullaby versions of popular songs from Nirvana’s Heart Shaped Box to Guns N’ Roses Sweet Child O’ Mine. If they’re feeling in dancing mood, they might enjoy some hits from the Children’s Chart-Toppers Play List. Or you can even pick out songs to create your own streaming playlist. Hoboken resident cardholders get to stream three hours of music per day. And if they find a song they really love, you can download up to 5 songs per week that are yours to keep.
Need help with any of our online resources; email reference @ hoboken.bccls.org
Written by:
Aimee Harris
Head of Reference
Hoboken Library Staff Picks 
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