Parents and children are invited to dive into our Virtual Library and enjoy ebooks, videos, music, crafts,
recommended reads, and more! Check back each week for a new set of themed activities.
Click on the title/image to go to the listed activity, or watch our pathfinder videos if you need help.
To access these activities, you'll need a Thousand Oaks library card and PIN.
Don't have a library card? Sign up for a card now! 
If you have questions, call us at 805-449-2660 (M-F 10am-5pm) or email us.

Looking for more fun? Sign up for our Summer Reading Club!

Bushwhacked! - Emu Join Brandon and Kayne as they travel to remote corners of Australia and discover weird and wonderful wildlife. In this episode, our hosts track the flightless (but fast) Emu and try to borrow one of its eggs. Want more outback avians? Hop over to Cassowary, Sea Eagle, and Wedge-Tailed Eagle! To watch the episodes, click "Watch Now" to create a new Kanopy account with your library card or "Log In" if you already have a Kanopy account.

Curiosity Quest Goes Green - Wild Bird Rescue Find out how people are helping Planet Earth in an upbeat, educational family show. On this colorful trip to a wildlife center in the Florida Keys, viewers will meet exotic birds and learn why some birds must be rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the wild.

The Day Henry Met...A Parrot Every day Henry meets something new! Today, Henry meets a parrot and becomes a pirate in search of buried treasure. If you like this episode, get up early for the day Henry meets...A Rooster! To watch the episodes, click "Watch Now" to create a new Kanopy account with your library card or "Log In" if you already have a Kanopy account.

Earth To Luna! - Wings of a Bird Imagination and science combine in this series about a curious girl, her younger brother, and their pet ferret. After seeing a baby bird's first flight, Luna starts wondering how birds fly and if little birds copy their parents. To find the answers, she'll need to become a baby bird herself! Circle back for more fun with Pretty Bird.

Joe and Jack - Parent Flap Preschoolers will love the imaginative adventures of Joe and his cat Jack! When they find a baby bird, Joe, Jack, and their friends decide to become the bird's parents. Can they teach this fledgling how to fly, or will showing a youngster how to take its first steps be more difficult than they thought?

Little Bear - Duck, Baby-Sitter Duck has lost a duckling, so Little Bear and his friends work together to find the wandering waddler. This episode also contains Little Bear's Band and Hop-Frog Pond. Don't fly off yet! Another search begins in Little Bear's Egg. To watch the episodes, click "Watch Now" to create a new Kanopy account with your library card or "Log In" if you already have a Kanopy account.

The Little Bird and the Squirrel In this charming short film, a squirrel's theft of little bird's watering can leads to an exciting chase through the forest! The brave blackbird returns in The Little Bird and the Caterpillar and The Little Bird and the Leaf!

Making Stuff - Feather Pillows Ever wonder how pillows are made? Robots Gear and Wiz investigate how goose feathers transform into a good night's sleep. To watch the episode, click "Watch Now" to create a new Kanopy account with your library card or "Log In" if you already have a Kanopy account.

Monkey See Monkey Do - Peacock Kids will love playing along with Monkey as he mimics other animals in these short films. When Monkey sees Peacock, it's time to fan those tail feathers and do a walk that's as proud as the peafowl! Want to ape more birds? Take a look at Duck, Ostrich, and Rooster.

Peep and the Paperplane While Mama Bird is off searching for food, her son Peep gets unexpected help from a Paper Plane. The two head out to explore the world around them, but will their unusual friendship last?

Punky - Kitchen Bird Follow the everyday adventures of Punky, a spirited little girl who has Down syndrome. When a bird accidentally flies into the kitchen, it's up to Punky to lead the bird back outside. To watch the episode, click "Watch Now" to create a new Kanopy account with your library card or "Log In" if you already have a Kanopy account.

SciGirls - Feathered Friends In this PBS Kids series, middle school girls use science and technology to explore their world. Denver residents Regina, Schuyler, and Anayia investigate what makes a good urban bird habitat, then use that knowledge to make a school garden in the city welcoming to any flock.

Sesame Street - Elmo Finds a Baby Bird Elmo and Rosita find a baby bird. They want to help the cute chirper, but can they figure out what the bird needs? To watch the episode, click "Watch Now" to create a new Kanopy account with your library card or "Log In" if you already have a Kanopy account.

Wibbly Pig - Chicken When Wibbly tries to help a chicken locate her missing clutch, it's one case of mist-egg-ken identity after another as Wibbly finds quail, ostrich, and even house-sized eggs!

Birds Kelvin Roy performs musical tributes to all your favorite feathered friends! Stream songs anytime and download up to 5 songs per week with Freegal.

Bold Little Bird (More Please!, Track 13) Chirp along to Caspar Babypants' song about one brave bird! Then, hang out with Robin on a Wire (Track 3).

Families of Crows (Diamonds by the Sea, Track 8) Let your thoughts swoop, soar, and circle with a soothing song by Charlotte Diamond. Stream songs anytime and download up to 5 songs per week with Freegal.

Five Little Chickadees (Sing Along 1,2,3, Track 10) The Montreal Children's Workshop helps little ones learn their 123s by counting cute chickadees! Once the chickadees fly away, try counting quacks with Six Little Ducks (Track 11).

First Bird Call (First Bird Call, Track 6) No matter how dark the night, Bill Harley reminds us that dawn is only a bird call away!

Five Little Owls (Five Little Owls, Track 1) It's a fun time for owl with a treetop twirl by Playsongs People. Next, clap your wings to My Little Blackbird (Track 3). Stream songs anytime and download up to 5 songs per week with Freegal.

Green Robin (Island Songs for Children, Track 8) Flying in on a musical island breeze, this cheerful bird will be welcome in any home!

Hummingbird Feeder (I'm A Green Chicken, Track 3) Brighten your day with a song about birds flying by like rainbow rockets! Then, invite everyone to come together for Birds of a Feather (Track 8). Stream songs anytime and download up to 5 songs per week with Freegal.

Kidloland Bird Songs In these educational songs, Kidloland tweets about favorite birds and feathered facts!

The Little Duck (Robbert Bobbert and the Bubble Machine, Track 6) Follow a little lost duck as he cries "Quack, quack, quack!" until he gets his Momma back. Stream songs anytime and download up to 5 songs per week with Freegal.

Loon (Animal Songs For Kids Of All Ages, Track 4) Learn about a loon's life on the lake with a soothing song from Chris Albertson. More avian odes await in Owl (Track 8), Eagle (Track 10), and Ducks (Track 16).

Mr. Blackbird (Mr. Blackbird, Track 1) Blackbirds may not have a song, but Ricky Fitzpatrick's strumming melody is sure to catch your ear! Stream songs anytime and download up to 5 songs per week with Freegal.

Old Man Emu (Great Songs to Sing for Kids, Vol. 3, Track 18) Celebrate everyone's unique talents with Emu, a flightless bird who can run the pants off a kangaroo! When you need a rest, try Kookaburra Sits (Track 17).

Pee Wee, The Kiwi Bird (Songs About "A"nimals "B"irds for "C"hildren, Track 3) Dorothy Olsen's silly song follows the misadventures of a little Kiwi named Pee Wee!

Robbie Rooster (Just Kiddin' Around, Track 7) Make some time for Robbie, a rooster who's out in the farmyard looking for a new friend! Stream songs anytime and download up to 5 songs per week with Freegal.

Rockin' Robin (Kids' Animal Rhymes, Track 11) Shake your tail feathers to this classic bird boogie!

Birds Find information about fowl, fearsome, and flightless birds! On the Britannica page, choose the Birds of Prey, Flightless Birds, Songbirds, Water Birds, or Other Birds button to see an A to Z list of each bird type.

Chicken Little / What Is Gravity? (Earth and Sky) Chicken Little has all the birds buzzing in Steven Kellogg's adaptation of the classic folktale, while Rookie Read-About Science has down-to-earth facts about gravity! Watch our pathfinder video for BookFlix first, then click on the book cover.

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! / Car Safety (Family and Community) Once Mo Willems' video storybook makes it clear why birds should fly rather than drive, Rookie Read-About Safety teaches beginning readers about car travel. Watch our pathfinder video for BookFlix first, then click on the book cover.

Giggle, Giggle, Quack / Living on Farms (Animals and Nature) Get the giggles as Duck takes matters into his own wings when Farmer Brown goes on vacation, then learn about life on a real farm! Watch our pathfinder video for BookFlix first, then click on the book cover.

The Red Hen / This Is the Way We Help at Home (Family and Community) Show early readers the importance of lending a hand with Rebecca Emberley's video storybook and a Scholastic News ebook that describes how kids around the world help out at home! Watch our pathfinder video for BookFlix first, then click on the book cover.

Rosie's Walk / A Chick Grows Up (Animals and Nature) Spend a day on the farm with Pat Hutchins' clever chicken and cute chicks from the Scholastic News non-fiction series. Watch our pathfinder video for BookFlix first, then click on the book cover.

Coriander the Contrary Hen (Story Books: Animal Friends) Why did the chicken block the road? When a stubborn hen decides to plant herself on the double line, Farmer Bucket, Mrs. Bucket, and Little Fanny Bucket have to think fast to fix the ever-growing traffic jam! Watch our pathfinder video for TumbleBook Library first, then click on the book cover.

Great Blue Heron (Videos: Animals and Nature) National Geographic turns its binoculars to the long-legged great blue heron, the largest and most common heron in North America. If you prefer tiny to tall, zoom over to the Hummingbirds video also located in the Animals and Nature group. Watch our pathfinder video for TumbleBook Library first, then click on the TumbleBook Library icon.

Little Hoot (Story Books: Early Readers) Don't miss Amy Krouse Rosenthal's fun twist on the classic "Time for bed!" struggle. When Little Owl wants to go to bed, Mama and Papa say little owls have to stay up late and play. So Little Owl stays awake all night, even though he's hooting mad about it! Watch our pathfinder video for TumbleBook Library first, then click on the book cover.

One Duck Stuck (Story Books: Award Winners and Best Sellers) One duck is stuck in the muck! As other animals try their luck getting that duck unstuck, the crowd and the laughs get bigger and bigger. Watch our pathfinder video for TumbleBook Library first, then click on the book cover.

Poultry Tales (Playlists: 30 - 40 Minutes) It's three cheers for chickens in an animated story playlist that includes Chicken Big, Chicken Scratches, and Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken. Watch our pathfinder video for TumbleBook Library first, then click on the activity icon.

The Ugly Duckling (Story Books: Fables and Fairy Tales) With beautiful and unique illustrations, this retelling gives a new look to the classic tale of a "duckling" who finds his place among the swans! Watch our pathfinder video for TumbleBook Library first, then click on the book cover.

Birds Figure out what the flap's about with DK Nature Explorers! Using fun facts and activities, this book introduces readers to a wide variety of birds from raptors to roadrunners. Click on the book cover, then click on the blue "View eBook" button to read this title in Gale eBooks.

Birds of Paradise With flashy feathers and sassy steps, these tropical beauties are always ready to put on a show (Ranger Rick, Dec 2019/Jan 2020 Issue, pgs. 30-35)! Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

The Black-Capped Chickadee Chickadee (June 2019 Issue, pgs. 6-7) tweets the facts about a bright little bird that gave the magazine its name. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

Crows Never Forget a Face You might fool these street-smart birds once, but nevermore! Highlights (April 2018 Issue, pgs. 32-33) and Dr. John Marzluff describe how crows remember human faces and react differently to friend or foe. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

Ducks, Geese & Swans Wondering about waterfowl? Zoobooks (July/Aug 2020) has an entire issue on the quacking, honking, and hissing birds! Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

Eagle & Birds of Prey DK Eyewitness Books has everything eagle and plenty of pages about birds of prey ranging from falcons to vultures! Click on the book cover, then click on the blue "View eBook" button to read this title in Gale eBooks.

Feathered Friends Meet some of the rarest birds in the U.S., and find out what's being done to save them from extinction (Boys' Life, April 2018 Issue, pgs. 24-27). Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

Fire Bird In the Southeast, scientists are using cameras, drills, and even flames to help red-cockaded woodpeckers and the pine trees where they nest (Ranger Rick, June 2020 Issue, pgs. 32-35). Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the Flipster icon.

Hooked on Hornbills It's got a helmet? It's got a hat? No, it's a hornbill! Ranger Rick (October 2019 Issue, pgs. 6-11) invites you to learn more about the bird species with an eye-catching casque. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

Hummingbirds Zoobooks (March/April 2017 Issue) takes a close-up look at the jewel-toned jets of the bird world. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

Lakeside with Loons Did you know these black and white birds can fly fast, dive deep, and even walk on water? Owl (Summer 2018 Issue, pgs. 36-39) explains how lovely loons are more than just a pretty face! Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

Meet Bob! Ranger Rick (Dec 2018/Jan 2019 Issue, pgs. 30-35) spends a day on the job with flamingo ambassador Bob and his vet pal, Odette Doest! Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the Flipster icon.

Meet the Perrys These penthouse peregrines are definitely living the high life (Ranger Rick, May 2020 Issue, pgs. 20-25)! Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act: A Safer World for the Birds Find out how this important law protects birds, why the law isn't enough, and what you can do to help (Faces, February 2019 Issue, pgs. 22-25). Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

Owls Whooo knows about owls? After reading Zoobooks' October 2018 issue, you will! Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

Shorebird SOS Discover how biologists at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory are helping their fellow Californians, the western snowy plovers, thrive at the beach (Ranger Rick, August 2018 Issue, pgs. 20-25).  Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the Flipster icon.

Slobs of the Sky Think your siblings' table manners are bad? These birds have them beat wings-down! Boys’ Life (October 2018 Issue, pgs. 34-35) has the gross details about filthy fliers! Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

Weird & Wacky Bird Nests Birds can get pretty creative about where they build their homes, so Ranger Rick (May 2019 Issue, pgs. 30-35) highlights the best in bizarre nests! Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the Flipster icon.

Whooping Cranes on the Comeback Whoopie! Owl (April 2020 Issue, pgs. 18-19) tells the story of a lost-and-found species and the decades-long effort to save the Whooping Crane. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

eBooks with a Bird's-Eye View Let your imagination take flight with feathered friends, bright birdsong, and winged wisdom! OverDrive titles are accessible from any computer and from any device using the Libby or OverDrive app.

Birds Reading List In a flock of bird books, these award-winning titles for ages 0-8 soar above the rest! In the list, click on "Check the Library Catalog" to see if the Library has a copy.

Birds (Animal Kingdom) Explore the trilling world of birds with TrueFlix! Discover the common characteristics of birds, how birds adapt to their habitats, and the ways humans hurt or help avian populations. Watch our pathfinder video for TrueFlix first, then click on the TrueFlix icon.

Craft - Birdhouse Mobile Brighten up your room with colorful birds circling by the ceiling (Highlights, June 2018 Issue, pg. 19)! Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

Craft - Bookmark Buddies Ranger Rick (September 2018 Issue, pgs. 22-23) has bluebird, cardinal, and goldfinch bookmarks that perch on the page to keep your place! Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the Flipster icon.

Craft - Ducklings Perfect for birthdays or holidays, these cute quackers from Crafty Creatures (pgs. 32-35) hide a sweet surprise! If you like this craft, try your hand at Spring Chickens (pgs. 50-53) and Pretty Birdies (pgs. 70-71). Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Click on the book cover to read this Gale eBooks title.

Craft - Bird Feeder This easy craft from Owl (May 2020 Issue, pg. 35) is a great way for little ones to start bird watching in their own backyard! For a sturdier feeder, migrate over to Highlights (February 2020 Issue, pg. 36) and the How To Feed Feathered Friends craft. Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity links.

Craft - Flying Cardinal Did you know the cardinal is so popular that it's the official bird in seven states? Since cardinals rarely appear in California, create your own with Highlights (March 2017 Issue, pg. 32). Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

Craft - Make a Mask: Cardinal Complete your cardinal celebration with a mask from Ranger Rick (October 2017 Issue, pgs. 20-21)! Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the Flipster icon.

Craft - Mobile Owls Crafty Creatures (pgs. 46-47) helps spin little ones to slumber with a mobile of hoots and hoops! Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Click on the book cover to read this Gale eBooks title.

Craft - Spring Note Center Make a note! This cheerful craft can turn any boring old desk or counter into a spring chicken (Highlights, March 2018 Issue, pg. 19). Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

Craft - Summertime Bird Card Send someone a bluebird for their birthday or a "Thinking of You" thrush using this card design suggested by a 6-year-old Colorado reader (Highlights, August 2017 Issue, pg. 31). Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the Flipster icon.

Craft - Swoopy Bird (Artzooka, Episode 9) Defeat summer boredom with Artzooka, a series that shows kids how fun DIY can be. In this episode, loose change better look out when host Jeremie Saunders makes a bird that can swoop down and pick up metal. Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. To watch the episode, click "Watch Now" to create a new Kanopy account with your library card or "Log In" if you already have a Kanopy account.

Craft / Game - Feed the Birds Design your trees and birds, then challenge friends and family to a daring dice game (Highlights, June 2017 Issue, pg. 30). Only the winner gets to see all five birds sitting in the tree! Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the Flipster icon.

Do the Worm! Whether you're attracting birds or getting the wiggles out, this silly dance from Chickadee (March 2020 Issue, pg. 20) will be a squirming success! Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the activity icon.

Kitchen Craft - Fruit Kebabs Think fruit is for the birds? Try these kebabs from Highlights (July 2017 Issue, pg. 50), and you'll be crowing for more! Parental supervision is recommended for all crafts. Watch our pathfinder video for Flipster first, then click on the Flipster icon.

Coloring Pages Design your own emu, hummingbird, owl, and parrot using classic or crazy colors.