Winter 2019 Storytimes for Des Moines Kids

Winter 2019 Storytimes for Des Moines Kids

Find a list of winter 2020 story times here.

Storytimes are great FREE—or super low-cost—kid activities that can often provide the incentive families need to get out of the house on those rainy, cold, or snowy days when cabin fever is likely to set in. Hosted throughout the Des Moines Metro at libraries, bookstores, museums, and other fun places, most of these baby and kid reading sessions don’t require reservations, making it easy to just drop in. Plus, many of these storytimes incorporate arts and crafts projects, so story hour can easily turn into a full morning or afternoon of fun.

Find even more winter events and activities in our Winter Fun Guide and take a look at our calendar to find a story time happening each day of the week!

Please verify information before heading to a story time, since information may change. 

2019 Winter Story Times in Des Moines:

Storytimes at Des Moines Public Libraries

Altoona Public Library

The Altoona Public Library offers multiple story times each week.

Toddler Time: Mondays at 10:30 am and Thursdays at 10:00 am
Storytime: Wednesdays at 10:00 and 10:30 am
Babies and Books: Thursdays at 11:00 am
Pipsqueak Playdate: Fridays at 11:00 am

Ankeny Public Library

During the month of January, the Ankeny Public Library is offering several story time options.

Toddler Story Time: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 am
Preschool Story Time: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 am
Movers & Shakers: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:45 am
Babies and Books: Fridays at 9:30 am

Clive Public Library

Clive Public library offers several drop-in story times, as well as, story times that require advanced registration.

Baby Bear Laptime: Mondays (January 14 – February 25, 2019) at 11:00 am
Teddy Toddler Storytime: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays  (January 15 – February 26, 2019) at 9:30 and 10:00 am
Big Bear Storytime: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays  (January 15 – February 26, 2019) at 10:30 am
Saturday Stories: Saturdays, December 29, January 26, February 23 at 10:30 am

Des Moines Public Library

Story times and reading adventures abound at Des Moines’ six branch libraries.

Central Library

Evening Family Storytime: Tuesdays at 6:30 pm
Mother Goose on the Loose: Wednesdays at 9:30 am
Baby Rhyme Time: Wednesdays at 10:15 am
Preschool Storytime: Thursdays at 10:15 am
Toddler Storytime: Fridays at 10:15 am

East Side Library

Mother Goose on the Loose: Tuesdays at 10:30 am
Bilingual Storytime: Los juevos (Thursdays), a las 6:30 pm and sabados (Saturdays) a las 10:15 am
Preschool Storytime: Thursdays at 10:30 am
Play, Grow, Learn!: Fridays at 10:30 am
Saturday Storytime: 3rd Saturday of the month at 11:00 am

Forest Avenue Library

Play, Grow, Learn!: Mondays and Thursdays at 10:15 am
Storytime: Wednesdays at 10:15 am
Bilingual Storytime: Los martes (Tuesdays), a las 6:00 pm

Franklin Avenue

Preschool Storytime: Mondays at 10:15 am
Baby Rhyme Time: Tuesdays at 10:15 am
Evening Family Storytime: Tuesdays at 6:15 pm
Creative Readers: Tuesdays at 4:00 pm
Toddler Storytime: Wednesdays at 10:15 am and 10:50 am
Saturday Storytime: 2nd Saturday of the month at 10:30 am

North Side

Mother Goose on the Loose: Tuesdays at 10:30 am
Evening Family Storytime: Wednesdays at 6:30 pm
Storytime: Thursdays at 10:30 am

South Side

Evening Family Storytime: Mondays at 6:30 pm
Toddler Storytime: Wednesdays at 10:00 am
Preschool Storytime: Thursdays at 10:00 am

Grimes Public Library

Storytimes are offered Tuesday through Friday for little ones ages 0 to 5 at the Grimes Public Library.

Toddler Time: Tuesdays at 9:30 and 10:00 am
Preschool Storytime: Wednesdays at 9:30 and 10:00 am
Storytime: Thursdays at 6:30 pm and Fridays at 10:00 am
Baby Lapsit: Fridays at 11:00 am

Indianola Public Library

Toddlers and Preschoolers can enjoy story time at the Indianola Public Library.

Toddlers Wiggle: Tuesdays at 10:30 am
Preschoolers Jump: Thursdays at 10:30 am

Johnston Public Library

The Johnston Public Library offers story times for kids starting as young as newborns.

Storytime Together: Mondays at 9:30 and 10:00 am and Wednesdays at 10:00 am
Press Play!: Tuesdays at 9:30 am
Bouncing Babies: Thursdays at 9:15 am

Pleasant Hill

The Pleasant Hill public library offers story times to toddlers and preschoolers.

Toddler Time: Tuesdays at 10:00 am
Preschool Storytime: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 am

Urbandale Public Library

The Urbandale Public Library has plenty of regularly scheduled story time options.

Book Babies: Mondays and Tuesdays at 9:00 am and 1st & 3rd Saturdays at 9:30 am
Toddler Time: Mondays and Tuesdays at 10:00 am
Family Story Time: Tuesdays at 7:00 pm; Wednesdays at 9:30 and 10:15 am; 1st & 3rd Saturdays at 10:30 am
Rise and Shine: Fridays at 10:00 am

Waukee Public Library

The Waukee Public Library has a number of story times scheduled for young kids.

Books and Babies: Mondays at 10:00 am and Tuesdays at 11:00 am
Toddler Time: Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00 am and Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11:00 am
Preschool Storytime: Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00 am; Tuesdays at 1:30 pm and Wednesdays at 11:00 am

West Des Moines Public Library

In addition to the story times listed below, the West Des Moines Library has several story times that you can register for. Visit their website for times and to sign-up.

Drop-In Family Storytime: Mondays at 6:45 pm; Wednesdays at 9:30 and 10:30 am
Drop-In Oliver’s Puppy Tales: Thursdays and Fridays at 10:30 am

Winter 2019 Storytimes for Des Moines Kids – dsm4kids.com

Storytimes at Des Moines area Book Stores

Barnes & Noble Booksellers

Barnes & Noble hosts storytime + activities and crafts at it’s two West Des Moines locations.

The Shoppes at Three Fountains

Storytime: Saturdays at 11:00 am

Jordan Creek

Storytime: Saturdays at 11:00 am

Plot Twist Bookstore

All ages are welcome at Plot Twist Bookstore’s weekly storytime.

Wednesday Storytime: Wednesdays at 10:30 am

Storytimes at Des Moines Attractions, Museums & Other Spots

ARL

ARL hosts a monthly story time followed by a craft and special time with an animal. Visit their website to RSVP.

Tales with Tails: 1st Tuesday of every month at 11:00 am (January’s Tales with Tails will be held on January 8, 2019.)

Des Moines Art Center

Gaze into a painting and listen to child-friendly stories during the Des Moines Art Center’s storytime.

Books + Blankets: 1st Thursday of each month at 11:00 am

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

Join the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden this winter February 1 thru March 29, 2019 for storytime under the dome.

Story Sprouts: Fridays at 10:30 am

Jester Park Nature Center 

Let your imagination run wild with this fun, nature-themed story time hosted by Polk County Conservation.

Toddler Tales: 1st Thursday of the month at 10:00 am

State Historical Museum of Iowa

Look, listen and have fun while enjoying a short story at the Museum. Following storytime, there is a brief program exploring exhibits or objects.  You must join Goldie’s Kids Club to attend storytime.

Goldie’s Kids Club: Storytime: 3rd Wednesday of the month at 9:30 am

Reiman Gardens

Reiman Gardens hosts a weekly nature-based storytime along with creative activities.

Caterpillar Club: Thursdays at 10:00 am.

Valley Community Center

Join West Des Moines Parks and Recreation at the Valley Community Center for a little story time fun January 8 – February 26, 2019.

Fun Time Story Time: Tuesdays at 10:30 am

 

 

Did we miss one of your favorite winter story times? Tell us in the comments below!

2 Comments

  1. Don’t forget about Norwalk’s story times!
    Monday: Baby Time @10:30am
    Tuesday: Story Time @10:30am
    Thursday: Rhyme Time @10:30am & Pajama Time @7:00pm

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