Westwood Public Library
Westwood, Massachusetts

Storytimes

What is Storytime?

Storytime is a group activity that involves a mixture of components for children and their parents and/or caregivers. Each session is geared toward a certain age group and can contain a mixture of reading picture books out loud, telling stories using puppets or felt pieces, listening to music, sharing rhymes, and singing songs with finger and whole body actions. Each storytime is created by a Children’s Librarian, and each librarian has a different style.

Why is it important?

  • Teaches children about books and the library
  • Develops pre-reading and listening skills
  • Provides group interaction with children of similar ages
  • Teaches parents and caregivers how to foster literacy at home

We have storytimes for every age:

Toddler and Pre-K Storytimes on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 10:30am. 

Move and Groove, a music-focused program for all ages, on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 am.

Baby Rhyme Time on Thursday mornings at 10:30. 

Check for dates on our calendar. Please note: Registration is required for all storytimes and space is limited. Register on the website for each date.

How do I make the most out of my storytime experience?

Participate, participate, participate – Be an active participant and model what you want your child to learn. Is the librarian clapping along? Clap, too, and encourage your child to clap. Point out pictures in the book. Sing along with the librarian.

Attend the storytime for the right age group – The Children’s Librarians design each storytime so that you and your child will benefit the most when you attend the one best suited for the child’s age. If you’re not sure which group is best, please don’t hesitate to ask a member of Children’s Department staff.

Practice good storytime etiquette – Please help us create a great storytime environment. Please switch your cell phones to vibrate before the program starts, wait until the end of the program to chat with other adults, and quiet unhappy children away from the storytime area.

Leave strollers, car seats, and other large items outside – In order to have space for all of the children and parents to move freely, without blocking exits, please bring in only those items you absolutely need during storytime.

Make time to pick out books to bring home and share - Ask us for book recommendations appropriate for your child’s reading and attention level. By continuing to read at home your child will continue to build pre-literacy skills outside of the library. It will also make your child enjoy storytime at the library that much more!

Get ready to wiggle and giggle at this fun Music and Movement program. Enjoy song, scarves, shakers, and lots of dancing. 

Tuesdays @ 10:30 - 11:00 AM, when in session.

Registration required. 

Have a blast at this fun interactive storytime featuring songs, stories with puppets and felt, scarves, shakers, and lots of dancing. Stories are geared at toddlers and preschoolers but all ages are welcome. 

Wednesdays @ 10:30 - 11:00 AM, when in session.

Registration required. 

Baby Rhyme Time is designed to offer a wonderful introduction to storytimes for the very young (ages 0-18 months). Parents and caregivers will get to listen to very short stories and participate in rhymes and songs with their little one during this quick, 20-minute storytime. Even the youngest babies will enjoy seeing new faces and listening to the group while crawlers and walkers will enjoy starting to do the simpler rhymes' actions on their own, moving along to the music, and listening to the stories.

Thursdays @ 10:30 - 10:50 AM, when in session, followed by a open play. 

Registration required.