Research Tools

Discover great books for children from kindergarten through grade 8. Browse lists of award-winning titles, or search for books by grade level or Lexile score.

Looking for your next great read? Find series information, reading lists, award winners, book discussion guides, read-alikes and more. Includes both fiction and non-fiction titles. 

Explore Peoria history through local news, events and people with the Peoria Journal Star Collection. Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and content only published online.

Search and browse image editions of the Prairie Flame, a newspaper that reported "news of interest to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered people of downstate Illinois and those who support them in their quest for equality."

Digital newspaper archive of various editions of the Chicago Defender and Chicago Daily Defender, with coverage from 1909 to 2010. Offers full page and article images with searchable full text back to the first issue.

Download printable lesson plans, reading passages, games and puzzles, clip art, bulletin board ideas, and skills sheets for kids from kindergarten through grade 8.

Explore St. Louis history through local news, events and people with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Collection. Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and content only published online.

Full-text local news in The State Journal-Register, with coverage from 1831 to the present.

A collection of animated talking picture books, chapter books, videos, non-fiction titles, and graphic novels as well as learning activities for literacy and reading comprehension such as puzzles and games.