It's Story Time! Book Stores & Museums with Storytime for Kids in LA & OC

5/17/13 - By Martha Hall

Sometimes, when the mood is crumbling and the toys are flying, when the tears and tantrums have about done you in, all you need is a book. Barely has "Once upon a time..." left your lips, and they're gone, those, ahem, precious little ones - their previously agitated minds soothed and calmed in an imaginary world far, far away. Of course, sofas and beds and laps are great places to share a story, but so, too, are museums, bookstores and local libraries. Check out our list of story times in and around LA, and consider letting someone else do the reading. There are moments when we all deserve a little happily ever after.

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An obvious first place to check out is your local library. We're truly surrounded here with library systems and branches throughout the counties, beaches and valleys, and with many of them come free story times. Whether you're in Orange County, LA County, LA City, Santa Monica, or Beverly Hills, story times abound.

Of course select area bookstores and museums also offer story time gatherings. Sometimes museums require an admission fee, and we have noted that below. Though not free per se, these story times can be a nice addition to a museum outing, a chance to rest your legs after perusing an exhibit or gallery.

Lastly, during Children's Book Week in May select area libraries and bookstores celebrate with extra storytelling events. Check the website for details.

Museums

Bowers Kidseum
1802 N. Main St.
Santa Ana, CA 92706
714.480.1520
$6/person age 3+; free for kids under 3
Fri. 10am-noon
Ages 2-6
Come on by the Friday Mornings Storytelling, Music and Art to listen, learn, create, and play in the museum.

LACMA
Boone Children's Gallery
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323.857.6000
Mon/Fri. 2pm
Museum admission: $15/adults; Children under 18 free. Members admitted free.
If you're visiting the LACMA on a Monday or Friday, check out the 2pm storytime in the art galleries.

Pacific Asia Museum
46 North Los Robles Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101
626.449.2742
Silk Road Story Time
10:30am, first Sat. of each month
Free
Listen to a great tale, and then delight in a craft activity, an Asian snack, and a free balloon.

Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
1600 Ocean Front Walk
Santa Monica CA 90401
310.393.6149
Sat. 3:30pm
Free with Aquarium admission (Adults $3-$5; Kids free)
The Aquarium's storyteller/educator uses puppets, costumes, and stories to weave tales of marine life, then follows it up with a maritime craft project.

Skirball Cultural Center
Toddler Time
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA  90049
310.440.4500
$95-$110 for 6 week class. Includes admission to Noah's Ark immediately after class
Ages 30-47 months; must be accompanied by an adult
Read, explore, create. The 6-week class offers a little of everything for the under-4s. In addition storytelling, toddlers also have opportunity to see the museum and create picture books of their own.

Zimmer Children's Museum
Bubbie's Bookstore
6505 Wilshire Bvd., #100
Los Angeles, CA  90048
323.761.8984
Story Time Tue. 11am
Museum admission: Adults $8; Children (1-17) $5, (under 1) free
Take a break from exploring this fabulous museum and participate in an interactive storytime.

Bookstores

Apostrophe Books
Belmont Shore
2712 E. 2nd St.
Long Beach, CA 90803
562.438.7950
Occasional Saturdays, call store for details
Free
Join the Story Book Fairy for the reading of a favorite tale, and often a craft and snack.

Children's Book World
10580 1/2 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
310-559-BOOK (2665)
Sat. 10:30am
Free
Have you been? You really must go if you haven't. A whole bookstore dedicated to children's books is hard to find these days, but lucky for us Angelenos, there's West LA's Children's Book World. Friendly, helpful staff and shelves and shelves of stories are sure to delight the younger set. Check out their Saturday Morning Stories and More.

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904 Manhattan Ave.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310.318.0900
Mon. 10:30am
Free
Have a listen, then have a browse so you can take some more delightful reads home with you for later. {pages} sells books for readers of all ages.

Storyopolis
16740 Ventura Blvd.
Encino, CA 91436
818.990.7600
Tue/Thur. 10:30am
$5/child; free with book or toy purchase
Settle into this unique art gallery and bookstore and listen to a magical tale or two. Framed book illustrations and editorial art line the walls to dazzle your visual fancy as well.

Other Options

Lollipop Dream
Westfield Fashion Square Mall
14006 Riverside Dr., Ste. 122
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
818.981.7446
$5/child; sibling discounts available
Lollipop Dream offers themed birthday parties galore (Crazy Hair Salon Party, anyone?). But it also offers some great story times. Grab a pillow, close your eyes and have a listen. A little face painting rounds out the magical experience. Check out the schedule for weekly events.

Play
5814 W. 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Stories & Art
Th, 10-11:30am
$7.50-$10 per visit
Drop in, listen to a story, then roll up your sleeves and get messy making art inspired by the book. A good time for wee ones 5 and under.





 

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