What is storytime?
Storytime is a group activity that involves a mixture of components for children and their parents and/or caregivers. Each session is geared toward a certain age group and can contain a mixture of reading picture books out loud, telling stories using puppets or felt pieces, listening to music, and singing songs with finger and whole body actions. Each storytime is created by a Children’s Librarian, and each librarian has a different style. Here is a searchable database of many of the songs and fingerplays that we use during storytime sessions.
Why is it important to attend?
- Teaches children about books and the library
- Develops pre-reading and listening skills
- Provides group interaction with children of similar ages
- Teaches parents and caregivers how to foster literacy at home, too
How do I make the most out of my storytime experience?
Participate, participate, participate – Be an active participant and model what you want your child to learn. Is the librarian clapping along? Clap, too, and encourage your child to clap. Point out pictures in the book. Sing along with the librarian.
Attend the storytime for the right age group – The Children’s Librarians design each storytime so that you and your child will benefit the most when you attend the one best suited for the child’s age. If you’re not sure which group is best, please ask a Children’s Librarian.
Practice good storytime etiquette – Please help us create a great storytime environment. Please switch your cell phones to vibrate before the program starts, wait until the end of the program to chat with other adults, and quiet unhappy children away from the storytime area.
Leave strollers, car seats and other large items outside – In order to have space for all of the children and parents to move freely, without blocking exits, please bring in only those items you absolutely need during storytime.
Please give us feedback – Let us know if you have any requested books or songs you would like us to read or sing. Also, feel free to ask us for book recommendations appropriate for your child’s reading level.
Storytime Central was adapted with permission from Los Gatos Public Library.