Storytimes

Though indoor programming has not yet restarted, we're very excited to be having a variety of outdoor programs at our branches and at parks across the city, including storytimes! Take a look at our upcoming programs below, and check out our events page for more programs and events.

Outdoor program attendees must obey all signage and follow current mask mandates and social distancing guidelines from the City of Des Moines.

Upcoming In-Person Storytimes

Preschool Storytime
Monday, September 27 | 10:15 AM | Tower Park (4900 Hickman Road)

Sunshine Storytime
Tuesday, September 28 | 10:00 AM | East Side Library Lawn

Baby Rhyme Time in the Park
Tuesday, September 28 | 10:15 AM | Tower Park (4900 Hickman Road)

Toddler Bubble Party!
Wednesday, September 29 | 10:00 AM | South Side Library Lawn

Family Storytime
Wednesday, September 29 | 10:15 AM | Forest Avenue Library Lawn

Toddler Stories Songs, and Movement!
Wednesday, September 29 | 10:15 AM | Tower Park (4900 Hickman Road)

Family Storytime at the Heritage Carousel
Wednesday, September 29 | 6:00 PM | Union park (1801 Pennsylvania Avenue)

Preschool Storytime
Thursday, September 30 | 10:00 AM | South Side Library Lawn

Preschool Storytime
Thursday, September 30 | 10:30 AM | McHenry Park (1012 Oak Park Avenue)

Creative Readers
Thursday, September 30 | 4:00 PM | Tower Park (4900 Hickman Road)

Storytime To Go Bags
October 4-6 | Franklin Avenue Library

Preschool Storytime: Firefighter Edition!
Monday, October 4 | 10:15 AM | Franklin Avenue Library (outdoors)

Family Storytime: Firefighter Edition!
Monday, October 4 | 6:15 PM | South Side Library

Bilingual Fire Safety Storytime
Tuesday, October 5 | 6:15 PM | East Side Library

Fire Prevention Storytime
Wednesday, October 6 | 10:15 AM | Forest Avenue Library

Fire Safety Storytime
Thursday, October 7 | 10:00 AM

Preschool Storytime: Firefighter Edition!
Thursday, October 7 | 10:30 AM | North Side Library

Firefighter Storytime
Saturday, October 9 | 10:15 AM | Central Library

Storytime To-Go Bags
October 11-13 | Franklin Avenue Library

American Sign Language Virtual Storytime
Friday, October 15 | 10:15 AM | Facebook

Storytime To-Go Bags
October 18-20 | Franklin Avenue Library

Storytime To-Go Bags
October 25-27 | Franklin Avenue Library

Online Storytimes

Tumblebooks
Interactive Storytimes (requires library card to access)

Storyline Online
Members of the Screen Actors Guild read their favorite picture books!
(This site is slow on some computers.)
http://www.storylineonline.net/

StoryPlace
Animated short stories for preschool and elementary age kids! Activities
and booklists related to the stories are also offered.
http://www.storyplace.org/storyplace.asp

Upcoming Kids Events

Mini Haunted House Craft

All Day 10/18 - 10/23

Library Branch: Forest Avenue Library

Age Group: Children

Program Type: Arts & Crafts

Event Details:

Build your own mini haunted house with the provided supplies or branch out and use your own. As supplies last, best for ages 6+. ...

Goosebumps Scavenger Hunt

All Day 10/25 - 10/30

Forest Avenue Children’s Area

Library Branch: Forest Avenue Library

Room: Forest Avenue Children’s Area

Age Group: Children, Teens

Program Type: Gaming

Event Details:

Watch out for the things that go bump in the night. Monsters, ghosts, vampires and more are hiding around the library. Finish the scavenger hunt and win a gooey prize! ...

Day of the Dead with the Des Moines Art Center

All Day 10/25 - 10/31

All Locations

Library Branch: DMPL Virtual

Room: All Locations

Age Group: Birth-Preschool, Children

Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Heritage/History Month, Take & Make

Event Details:

Celebrate Day of the Dead with the Des Moines Art Center What is Day of the Dead? Day of the Dead is a holiday that is celebratory, yet respectful of death, and has been practiced in parts of Latin America for centuries. Families honor their ance...

Rosie's Halloween Scavenger Hunt

All Day 10/25 - 10/31

Central Library Children’s Area

Library Branch: Central Library

Room: Central Library Children’s Area

Age Group: Children

Program Type: Play & Learn

Event Details:

Rosie and her friends are ready to go trick or treating! Can you find everyone in their costumes? Finish the scavenger hunt and win a prize! ...

Teens and Tweens: Spooky Gingerbread Houses

4:00pm - 5:00pm

South Side Meeting Room

Registration

Library Branch: South Side Library

Room: South Side Meeting Room

Age Group: Children, Teens

Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Gaming

Registration Required

Seats Remaining: 5

Event Details:

Teens and Tweens! Can you make a haunted house out of gingerbread and other foods? Visit South and create your own Spooky Gingerbread House! Snack on some goodies while you use candy, frosting, and other fun foods to craft your own haunted ...

Disclaimer(s)

Indoor Program

This program is hosted indoors. Please observe social distancing and follow local COVID-19 safety mandates. Hand sanitizer will be provided and staff will do their best to ensure any shared materials are disinfected between use. This program is subject to COVID-19 safety protocol updates, including room capacity limits. Please check our website for updates.

Creative Readers To Go Bags

All Day

Franklin Avenue Children’s Area

Library Branch: Franklin Avenue Library

Room: Franklin Avenue Children’s Area

Age Group: Children

Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Take & Make

Event Details:

Stop by the Franklin Library and pick up a Creative Readers To Go Bag. The bags will contain an art project you can create at home that will let you explore your artistic side. These activities are recommended for ages five and up and sho...

Take and make DIY Calavera

All Day

Library Branch: Forest Avenue Library

Age Group: Children, Teens, Adults

Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Take & Make

Event Details:

Decorate your own ceramic calavera with acrylic paint. This program is intended for adults and children 4 years and older, as supplies last. Decora tu propia calavera de cerámica con pintura acrílica. Este programa está destinado para adulto...

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

All Day 10/28 - 10/30

South Side Children’s Area

Library Branch: South Side Library

Room: South Side Children’s Area

Age Group: Children

Program Type: Gaming

Event Details:

Kids! Can you find all of the Halloween book characters inside the library? Visit the Information Desk at South, pick up a Halloween Scavenger Hunt Card to find all of the Halloween book characters inside the library and win a small prize! ...