Reading aloud to your child is important for helping them develop early literacy and language skills, and a great way to spend time with your kids. But any parent can tell you that reading the same books to your kids over and over again can get tiring.
Fortunately, there are plenty of places in the Baltimore area that hold story times for children, using a wide variety of books and utilizing interesting readers. Here are some of our favorites.
Toddler Time at the B&O Railroad Museum
Every other Thursday, January through October
B&O Railroad Museum | 901 West Pratt St., Baltimore, MD 21223
Toddler-focused events incorporating a story time as well as a sing-a-long and a craft. Books are often train- or vehicle-based.
borail.org/explore-learn/for-kids-families/toddler-time/
Enoch Pratt Free Library
Every day (times and types of story times vary)
Locations around Baltimore City
Offers a wide variety of story times for different age groups, including babies and toddlers, preschoolers and families. Sometimes holds story times that incorporate music, movement and art.
Snug Books Weekly Storytime
Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.
Snug Books | 4717 Harford Road 1C, Baltimore, MD 21214
Story Time and Nature Play at The Maryland Zoo
Saturday, 11 a.m.-noon
One Safari Place, Baltimore, MD 21217
Weekly story time held in the Penguin Education Center or Naturalist Lodge at The Maryland Zoo. Stories often focus on nature.
marylandzoo.org/daily_event/story-time-and-nature-play/
IvyKids Saturday
Saturdays, 10 a.m.
Ivy Bookshop | 5928 Falls Road, Baltimore, MD 21209
Authors, illustrators and experts will often do live readings of their own books at this independent bookstore.
Saturday Morning Storytime at Barnes & Noble
Saturdays, 11 a.m.
Barnes & Noble – Long Gate Shopping Center | 4300 Montgomery Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Celebration
Nov. 7, 10-11 a.m.
Baltimore County Public Library – Cockeysville Branch | 9833 Greenside Dr., Cockeysville, MD 21030
Learn about the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program or celebrate your child’s progress on it at this community event for kids. Books read at this event will count towards the 1,000-book requirement. This event is best suited for kids ages 5 and younger.
Story & Craft Time at Prigel Family Creamery
Oct. 31, Nov. 20, 11:30 a.m.
4852 Long Green Road, Glen Arm, MD 21057
Story times best suited for kids ages 4 and younger. Participants can also make a themed craft, enjoy a homemade cookie and watch a story book character parade.
Grab Your Hat and Read with the Cat
Nov. 23, 8-11 a.m.
Y Preschool in Riverside | 1200 Creamery Lane, Belcamp, MD 21017
Meet the Cat in the Hat from Dr. Seuss’s beloved picture book and enjoy a live reading of the book! This event also features face painting, crafts and games, as well as refreshments and coffee for parents.
Music Box: Story Time Sing Along
March 7, 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall | 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore, MD 21201
A musical story time program that incorporates instrumentation from the BSO folk quartet into classic fairy tales.
Family and Friends Story Time
Dates and times vary
Baltimore County Public Library locations
Parents, siblings and other relatives are welcome to join their young children for a story time meant to develop children’s literacy skills.
Sensory Story Time
Dates and times vary
Baltimore County Public Library locations
Story times designed for children of all abilities, including children with sensory sensitivities who may become easily overwhelmed.
Other Local Libraries
The Baltimore County Public Library, Howard County Library System, Harford County Public Library and more regularly hold story times at their various locations. Be sure to check out your local library’s website to see if they have story times near you!
