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Storytimes
Participating in storytime with your child helps lay the groundwork for school readiness and a love of reading.
Long Beach Public Library offers a range of storytimes to target different ages, languages, and abilities. Learn more about our storytime offerings below and check out our Special Events calendar for library locations and times. View our current storytime brochure.
BabyTime is an hour-long program where babies and caregivers engage in a 20-30 minute storytime, followed by playtime with peers.
Baby and caregiver enjoy songs and rhymes, bounces, tickles, finger plays, instruments, and short picture books that will create a strong foundation for reading success in the future.
After storytime, everyone will enjoy social playtime where they are able to play with safe educational toys and manipulatives that focus on both fine and gross motor skills.
ToddlerTime is a fun-filled hour where toddlers and caregivers engage in a 30-minute storytime that offers great early reading skills and tips that can be practiced at home to encourage little one’s love for books.
Caregivers and toddlers have fun bonding through songs and rhymes, fingerplays, instruments, and stories that focus on early literacy skills and language development.
After storytime, we play with age-appropriate toys that encourage imagination, cognitive and emotional growth, and just plain fun!
Preschool Storytime is designed especially for children ages 3-5 years old to give them access to opportunities that promote school success and build early literacy skills—what children know about reading and writing before they can actually read and write.
Preschoolers are encouraged to see themselves as readers through focused interactions with Library staff who present imaginative stories to demonstrate pre-reading skills. Story sessions typically last 30-40 mins and include stories, flannel boards, finger plays, and big body movement activities.
Come spark your child’s love of reading: Talk, Sing, Read, Write, and Play with us!
Bilingual storytime is an hour long program where children and caregivers are offered the opportunity to read, sing, talk, and play in two languages! In bilingual storytime participants are able to practice early literacy skills and socialize in both English and another language.
Storytime sessions typically last 30 minutes and include books, songs, fingerplays, and movement activities led by library staff and are followed by time for free play with developmentally appropriate toys. Bilingual storytime is great for children and their caregivers to engage and connect with another language and culture through stories and songs, and it both reflects and supports the diversity in our communities.
Cuentos y Cantos Bilingual Storytime
Our Spanish Bilingual Storytime for all ages. Together we explore books, songs, rhymes, and play in both English and Spanish. Each session we have a new theme, followed by playtime. Children must be with their caregivers. Held at various LBPL locations, check Event Calendar for details.
Khmer Storytime
A storytime in Khmer featuring traditional children's stories and songs from Cambodia! Held at Mark Twain Neighborhood Library, check Event Calendar for details.
B.A.R.K. Reading Dogs
Children of all ages are welcome to read to B.A.R.K.'s dogs! BARK is an all-volunteer program that encourages children to increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. Students find it intimidating to read in front of classmates, but love to read to the non-judgmental, calming dogs.
Sensory Storytime
Our SENSEsational Storytime is a small group gathering designed to be fun and inclusive for children of all abilities. We incorporate a visual schedule, which is a simple pictorial representation of what will take place in during our time together, allowing attendees to anticipate the transitions. We feature interactive stories, music, stretches, and simple crafts, each designed to involve all of the senses. Each Sensory Storytime ends with roughly 20 minutes of free play. For free play, we pull out some therapeutic play materials to facilitate sensory and interactive play.
Storytime at the Rancho
A free weekly drop-in storytime for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers performed by the staff of Rancho Los Cerritos. There is a different theme each week! Currently held on Tuesdays from 9:30-10AM in the Rancho library. Check their event calendar or contact the Rancho for more info.