Bellingham Children's Library - Bellingham, WA

06/16/2026

06/16/2026

For school age kids looking for a chapter book to read for Pride Month, Library Assistant Brigid recommends "Melissa" by Alex Gino. “Melissa is a children’s book addressing the amazingly difficult issue of transgender people. I can only imagine and read about trying to figure this out, and reading about a young person going through it was eye-opening. The author focuses on Melissa and her emotional roller coaster and not as much outside vitriol as I expected and guess trans people go through. Very positive story; I love how her friend reacts and supports her.”

The Bellingham Public Library celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride in June. As always, the library staff have great recommendations for books, DVDs and music for all ages. Visit our website for a full list of booklists and recommendations or pop into any BPL location to check out our display shelves!

06/15/2026

Calling all fans of papercraft, manual typewriters, and letter writing! Join us for "The Art of Typing Snail Mail" in the Lecture Room at the Central Library on Saturday, June 20, from 3:00 - 5:00 pm and discover the joy of hand-crafted communication and hands‑on creativity. This free event combines two of our most popular library programs, Typewriters 101 and Correspondence Club.

Create postcards, birthday greetings, and mail art with a manually typewritten address or salutation, then add the perfect finishing touch with a variety of provided art supplies. Whether you're decorating an envelope, surprising a friend with a heartfelt note, or crafting a keepsake to mail to yourself, you’ll find plenty of inspiration. All ages and abilities are welcome to join and explore, create, and connect through the art of old-fashioned correspondence.

06/11/2026

In the USA, Cinco de Mayo has become widely recognized as a day of celebrating Mexican-American culture and heritage. Many Americans think that Cinco de Mayo is the Mexican Day of Independence, but it actually commemorates the Mexican army's 1862 victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla. The true Mexican Independence Day is September 16.

You can learn more about the history of Mexico by logging in to CultureGrams Online with your Bellingham Public Library card. While digital access to CultureGrams is found on our website through the Learning Resources webpage for kids, CultureGrams has a wealth of information about countries around the globe for all ages. Check it out!

Doing homework? Writing a paper? Need an idea for a science fair project? You can use the databases below, start your internet research on a kid-friendly search engine, or visit the library and ask the friendly Children’s staff for help with research! Databases for Grades K – 8 The library’s h...

06/11/2026

Robeks Fresh Juices and Smoothies has been one of our Summer Reading Prize Partners for many years, and children ages 5 - 18 could earn a coupon for a free smoothie again this summer if they complete their Summer Reading challenge and bring their activity card to any Bellingham Public Library location.

“The youth in our community support the roots of all that surround us. Let’s all celebrate that kind of growth!” says franchise owner Travis Norwick. We are grateful for the celebration and support of our Summer Reading program. Thanks, Robeks!

Summer Reading at the Bellingham Public Library is from June 1 - August 31. Pop into any BPL location to pick up an activity card!

06/02/2026

Summer Reading is for EVERYONE - babies, kids, teens, and adults - and it begins June 1 throughout Bellingham and runs through August 31.

This year Bellingham Public Library has Summer Reading activity cards for all ages. Pick up your Summer Reading Activity Cards at any BPL branch. Then, fill out the activity cards and return them for prizes between June 1 – Aug. 31. All children ages birth – teen will receive a free book. We will celebrate early learners with a special prize, kids AND teens will receive a mystery coupon from a local business, and there will be prize drawings for adults! Plus, all ages will receive a Summer Reading Superstar yard or window sign.

Thank you to our Summer Reading sponsor, the Friends of the Bellingham Public Library. Thank you also to our Summer Reading prize partners – local businesses who have donated mystery coupons for Summer Reading prize winners ages 5 – 18.

05/13/2026

We're celebrating Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month in May with books, films and more that feature APIDA authors, characters, and experiences. Lark, a Bellingham Public Library Clerk, recommends the children's picture book "The Tray of Togetherness" by Flo Leung for APIDA Heritage Month.

“This is a celebration of the delicious food, vibrant traditions, and wonderful community that marks the festival of the Lunar New Year. Candied kumquats are such a delicious treat!” Recommended for ages 4 and up.

05/08/2026

Join us for a very special program featuring the City of Bellingham's Public Works crew and the big trucks they use to build and repair our roads! Wednesday, May 13 from 12:05 - 1:30pm at the Bellis Fair Library Branch.

Read with the Crew is for children ages 3 and up! We'll listen to a story about big trucks read by our City's Public Works crew in English and Spanish, then head outside (near Dick's Sporting Goods parking lot) to meet some of the trucks that help our community. We'll see you there!

05/08/2026

We're celebrating APIDA Month throughout the month of May with BPL staff recommendations, book lists, and physical displays at all of our locations! Come visit us in person or online to find fantastic reading, watching, and listening materials.

Kate, our fabulous Staff Development Coordinator, recommends "Revolutions are Made of Love: The Story of James Boggs and Grace Lee Boggs" by Sun Yung Shin, Mélina Mangal, and Leslie Barlow.

“Dedicated ‘to the next generation of young activists and changemakers,’ this book follows Grace Lee Boggs and James Boggs as they navigate the promises and perils of life in America between 1915 and 2015. Racial justice, labor rights, fair housing, and disability justice are all explored through both the individual and the shared experiences of Grace and James. Their belief in the power of ideas and in seeking truth through shared conversation shines in their commitment to each other, in their love for their communities, and in their efforts to answer the question ‘what kind of world do we want?’ by consistently working to create it.”

Included in APIDA Month celebrations are people from all of the countries located on the Asian continent including China, Japan, Vietnam, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka and many more. Also included are people from the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).

04/22/2026

Get your bicycle ready for spring and summertime riding with Libby Chenault and Whatcom Smart Trips! Drop by the SkillShare Space at the Central Library on Thursday, April 23 between 4:00 - 5:45pm and learn all about basic bike maintenance. All ages are welcome!

Learn how to l**e a chain, pump a tire or fix a flat, then take your new skills home to keep your bike rolling smoothly. Find out which tools are essential, how often you should perform these simple tasks and when your bike needs a more serious repair. Note: You will not be able to bring your own bicycle into the Library for this event but there will be a demo bike onsite.