Storytime Captivates Kids at the Austin Library

Remember when no day was complete without story time? Storytime may have come while at school with a box of juice in hand, at night before going to sleep, or any time spent curled up cross-legged with a good book. The Austin Public Library is keeping storytime alive and thriving and can be enjoyed by both little people and their parents or guardians at one of the many branches throughout Austin.

The children’s librarians of the Austin Public Library work to connect children and their caretakers with books through programs designed for youngsters. The catalog of storytime options for the youngest readers-to-be in the Austin community starts at the very beginning, for babies, and extends to programs for children who are around five years old. The librarians who host storytime strive to instill a love of reading in children, knowing that the joy found in reading is a gift that will last a lifetime.

A complete calendar of storytime events is found on the Austin Public Library website. The following storytime programs are held weekly at libraries throughout the city, with days of the week and times varied dependent on the library branch:

·       Books & Babies: a lap-sit storytime program especially for babies and their parents or guardians.  Very short stories are interspersed with songs, rhymes, and finger plays for babies and adults.  A brief playtime follows. This program is recommended for children ages 0-18 months.

·       Toddler Storytime: Stories read aloud for children aged 18 months to 3 years.

·       Storytime: A traditional storytime hour for children ages 0-5 years.

·       Preschool Storytime: Featuring books for children at a higher cognitive level, ideal for children 3-5 years old.

·      Pajama Storytime: A fun storytime mimicking the joy of stories at bedtime.  Recommended for children ages 0-5 years.

·      Spanish Storytime: An hour of stories told in Spanish, ideal for children 0-5 years old.

·      Story Sign: Stories read in sign language, held the first Monday of the month at 10:15am at the Twin Oaks Branch, located in South Austin.

The flagship branch of the Austin Public Library, the Faulk Library, is located in downtown Austin, but other branches are peppered throughout the city, like the Spicewood Springs Branch close to the Great Hills neighborhood, or the Old Quarry Branch close to the River Place subdivision.

The Austin Public Library takes storytime to the next level of fun with their Literature LIVE! series for young children. In this special hour of storytelling, a performance troupe communicates the importance of literature in shaping the lives of youth by inspiring the imagination through live theater and puppetry. Currently, the Literature LIVE! troupe is showcasing the tale of Beauty and the Beast, a puppet show that opens a world of enchantment for children as they watch Beauty learn the true nature of love. These events are recommended for children ages five and up alongside their parent or guardian.

Reading and exploring the imagination are fundamental components of growing up healthy and happy. Brian Talley of the Regent Property Group strongly supports youth literacy and literacy advocacy programs like those found at the Austin Public Library. To find out more about the Austin community, or Austin homes for sale, contact an Austin Realtor today.