You can only read your kid the same chewed-up copy of Goodnight, Moon so many times before you crave something new (and wonder why there’s a bowl full of mush just sitting out at bedtime). Here’s where you can take your wild things to Storytime in and around Austin
Book People
603 N. Lamar, Austin, TX
Book People has a regular storytime event at the BookKids amphitheater on the second floor every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday morning at 10:30 AM. Events are free and updated on the storytime page frequently. Special storytime events during the month of September include a Rosh Hashanah celebration, Hispanic Heritage Month bilingual readings, Talk Like a Pirate Day, and a Tiny Tails petting zoo storytime.
Lark & Owl Booksellers
205 6th St Suite 101, Georgetown, TX
The kids’ book nook and play loft at Lark & Owl is the place to be on Thursdays and Saturdays at 10:30 AM, and the in-house Alouette Bistro is the perfect place to score a storytime snack… or cocktail (we don’t judge – it’s 5:00 somewhere). A little bird told me kids’ storytime events are not listed on the store’s events site, but the Instagram page has a frequently updated calendar of storytimes and other author events.
First Light Café & Book Shop
4300 Speedway, Austin, TX
Austin’s newest bookstore in the old Hyde Park post office, First Light Café and Book Shop hosts Tiny Tales every Wednesday at 10:00 AM. Storytime takes place under the mobile in the children’s area of the store (where the wild things are), and parents can grab coffee and pastries from the café.
Umlauf Sculpture Garden
605 Azie Morton Rd, Austin, TX
Sculpture Garden Storytime tours are given the third Saturday of every month at 12:30 PM. Tours meet at the base of the waterfall, outside the front entrance, then Docent Frances reads a storybook, followed by a related exploration activity in the garden. Geared towards ages 7 and under, though all are welcome. No RSVP required.
Toybrary
2001 Justin Ln, Austin, TX
Storytimes at Toybrary aren’t offered on a regular cadence, but pop up periodically along with finger painting and children’s workshops. Check their calendar for storytimes and other family friendly events.
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX
Little Sprouts is a bi-weekly program for children aged 3-5 at 10:00 AM. Each week includes themed storytime, sensory activities, and a nature walk. The program is free with LBJ Wildflower Center admission (free for Wildflower Center members) and advanced registration is not required, but capacity is limited and spaces fill quickly, so sprouts are encouraged to show up early. Fall dates are 9/27, 10/11, 10/25, and 11/8.
Austin Public Library
All Branches
Kids’ storytime and other youth literacy events are offered at all APL branches, with the exception of the Old Quarry branch, currently closed for maintenance. Storytime events for young kids include Books and Babies, Toddler Storytime, Preschool Storytime, and All Ages Storytime as well as dual language storytimes in Spanish and English. Whole-family friendly evening Pajama Storytime is offered semi-regularly at various locations. Kids too old for storytime can take advantage of workshops and age-appropriate book club events.
Books and Babies Locations
Ruiz Branch – 1600 Grove Blvd.
Mondays at 12:30 PM
Menchaca Road Branch – 5500 Menchaca Rd.
Mondays at 2:00 PM
Spicewood Springs Branch – 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd.
Mondays at 2:00 PM
Willie Mae Kirk Branch – 3101 Oak Springs Dr.
Tuesdays at 11:00 AM
North Village Branch – 2505 Steck Ave.
Tuesdays at 11:00 AM
Milwood Branch – 12500 Amherst Dr.
Wednesdays at 12:30 PM
Hampton Branch at Oak Hill – 5125 Convict Hill Rd.
Wednesdays at 12:30
Yarborough Branch – 2200 Hancock Dr.
Thursdays at 12:30 PM
Howson Branch – 2500 Exposition Blvd.
Thursdays at 1:30 PM
Central Library – 710 W. César Chávez St. (3rd floor children’s area)
Thursdays at 2:00 PM
Toddler Storytime Locations
Hampton Branch at Oak Hill – 5125 Convict Hill Rd.
Tuesdays at 10:00 AM
North Village Branch – 2505 Steck Ave.
Wednesdays at 10:15 AM
Spicewood Springs Branch – 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd.
Wednesdays at 10:15 AM
Cepeda Branch – 651 N. Pleasant Valley Rd.
Thursdays at 10:30 AM
Ruiz Branch – 1600 Grove Blvd.
Fridays at 10:15 AM
Preschool Storytime Locations
North Village Branch – 2505 Steck Ave.
Wednesdays at 11:00 AM
Spicewood Springs Branch – 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd.
Wednesdays at 11:00 AM
Hampton Branch at Oak Hill – 5125 Convict Hill Rd.
Thursdays at 10:00 AM
Ruiz Branch – 1600 Grove Blvd.
Fridays at 11:00 AM
All Ages Storytime Locations
Howson Branch – 2500 Exposition Blvd.
Mondays at 11:00 AM
University Hills Branch – 4721 Loyola Ln.
Mondays at 11:00 AM
Yarbrough Branch – 2200 Hancock Dr.
Tuesdays at 9:30 AM
Central Library – 710 W. César Chávez St. (3rd floor children’s area)
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 10:00 AM
Pleasant Hill Branch – 211 E. William Cannon Dr.
Tuesdays at 10:00 AM
Windsor Park Branch – 5833 Westminster Dr.
Tuesdays at 10:30 AM
Menchaca Road Branch – 5500 Menchaca Rd.
Wednesdays at 10:00 AM
Little Walnut Creek Branch – 835 W. Rundberg Ln.
Wednesdays at 10:30 AM
Milwood Branch – 12500 Amherst Dr.
Thursdays at 10:30 AM
Willie Mae Kirk Branch – 3101 Oak Springs Dr.
Thursdays at 10:30 AM
Dual Language Storytime Locations
Ruiz Branch – 1600 Grove Blvd.
Tuesdays at 3:30 PM
Southeast Branch – 5803 Nuckols Crossing Rd.
Wednesdays at 11:00 AM
Pleasant Hill Branch – 211 E. William Cannon Dr.
Thursdays at 11:00 AM
Round Rock Library
200 E. Liberty Ave, Round Rock, TX
The gorgeous new Round Rock Library has an impressive calendar of family storytime events for young children, as well as book clubs for tweens and teens. Older teens can take free “Adulting 101” classes to prepare for life outside the parents’ house.
Family Storytime
Every other Monday at 6:30 PM, Fridays at 11:00 AM
Spanish Bilingual Storytime
Monthly on the 1st Tuesday at 10:30 AM
Babytime
0-12 months: Thursdays at 9:30 AM and 2:00 PM
12-18 months: Wednesdays at 9:30 AM and 2:00 PM
Toddlertime
Tuesdays at 9:30 AM, Wednesdays at 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM
Preschool Storytime
Wednesdays at 10:30 AM and 11:45 AM
Outdoor Family Storytime
Thursdays at 9:30 AM
Bee Cave Library
4000 Galleria Pkwy, Bee Cave, TX
Located inside Bee Cave City Hall, the Bee Cave Library hosts storytime every Tuesday and Friday at 10:30 AM. The event is free, but advance registration is required. Baby Bumblebees storytimes are each Thursday at 10:30 AM, with no registration required. Saturday storytimes are announced seasonally, so check the calendar for information. Patrons do not need to be residents of the city of Bee Cave to become cardholders at the Bee Cave Library.
Cedar Park Library
550 Discovery Blvd, Cedar Park, TX
The Cedar Park Library hosts storytime events for lap babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Check the library calendar for storytime schedules.
Lapsit Storytime
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 9:45 AM
Toddler Storytime
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 AM
Preschool Storytime
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:15 AM
Family Storytime
Saturdays at 10:30 AM
