Storytime Break
We’re on a break from storytimes until the summer season begins. In the meantime, you can maintain your child’s routine by visiting the library for books and play each week. At home, sign up for Text and Learn for Kindergarten to get activity ideas that build early literacy skills or watch our online storytime archives.
We are planning for next season to make sure we’re bringing you high quality, engaging, educational storytimes when we resume the schedule below!
Summer Storytimes
JUNE 12 – AUGUST 4
Weekly Storytimes
Baby Time
PRE-WALKERS
- Tuesdays, 10:30am, YDL-Superior
Hear a book and learn fun songs during a short lapsit storytime, then chat with other caregivers while your little one plays.
Little Ones Storytime
BABIES TO WIGGLY TODDLERS
- Wednesdays, 10:30am, YDL-Michigan
Stories, movement, music, with time for play and for caregivers to make and take an activity for extended at-home learning.
Read Sing Play
1-3 YEARS
- Wednesdays, 10:30am, YDL-Superior
- Fridays, 10:30am, YDL-Whittaker
Learn colors, shapes, and numbers through music and movement. Each week we’ll read a book and sing lots of songs, then parents can stay and chat while kids play nearby.
Discovery Time
2-4 YEARS
- Tuesdays, 10:30am, YDL-Whittaker
- Thursdays, 10:30am, YDL-Michigan and YDL-Superior
Learn a variety of preschool readiness skills, from ABCs to kindness, at fast-paced storytimes filled with music, movement, fingerplays, and books paired with exploratory learning and play.
Jumpstart Kindergarten
4-6 YEARS
- Mondays, 10:30am, YDL-Whittaker
Jumpstart Kindergarten is an action packed experience that weaves early literacy fun with a sprinkling of math, science and art. Geared towards preschoolers who can sit for a longer story, and experience a variety of fun activities that help build skills for school success.
Other Storytimes
First Fridays Storytime
ALL AGES
Fridays, 6/2, 7/7, 8/4, 5pm, YDL-Michigan
Kick off your evening at First Fridays Ypsilanti with a family storytime. Stories, art, music and movement in the Library Plaza. Resgistration preferred.
Saturday Storytimes in the Community
ALL AGES
Drop in for stories, songs, and play!
- 6/24, 10am-noon, Depot Town Market
- 7/8, 11am-noon, Ford Heritage Park
- 7/15 11am-noon, Riverside Park
- 7/22, 10am-noon, Depot Town Market
- 8/5, 11am-noon, Riverside Park
- 8/12, 11am-noon, Ford Heritage Park
- 8/19, 10am-noon, Depot Town Market
Other Programs for Little Ones
We will have outdoor sensory stations on Thursdays, 10:30am at YDL-Whittaker and other Saturday events. Check our online events calendar for details!
More Ways to Get Ready for Kindergarten
ONLINE STORYTIMES
Choose from 150 archived storytimes recorded by YDL youth staff that range in length from 10-20 minutes. Storytimes include books, songs, and rhymes we use at in-person storytimes.
BUILD YOUR OWN STORYTIME
Find all the components of our storytimes–fingerplays, action rhymes, counting songs, book lists, and activity suggestions–available as short videos performed by YDL youth staff. Watch them with your child or on your own to learn the lyrics and tunes.
TALK
Sign up for TALK to receive fun activity ideas via text message that you can do at home to build school readiness skills, now available in English or Spanish!
Little Ones STEAM
If you’re looking for activity ideas you can do anytime with your little one, try our Online STEAM and Movement for Little Ones. Watch a short YouTube video, gather supplies (some of which you can pick up at the library), then let your little make process art, get the wiggles out, or have some sensory fun.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Don’t forget it’s important to read every day. Track the books you read as part of our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program to earn a t-shirt. Pick up a kit in the Youth Department that has everything you need to track the books you read at home–stamper, stickers, and logs.
OUR PRIMARY STORYTIME GOAL IS TO HAVE FUN!
PLAY ALONG!
Stay with your child and join in the activities.
THOSE HARD DAYS
If your child gets upset, step out of the room to regroup, then quietly return. If your child is sick, stay home and rest! Be patient if your child wants to observe instead of joining in. It may take a few visits to feel comfortable.
DISTRACTIONS
If you’re running late, please enter the room quietly. Put toys and food away. Turn phones off or set on vibrate. Enjoy the moment now instead of taking pictures for later!
AFTER STORYTIME
Stay and enjoy our play spaces! This is the time to visit with other parents. Check out books to read or share at home to extend your child’s learning.
GROUP VISITS
Our storytimes are designed with specific adult/child interactions in mind. For groups of 5 or more children, ask about scheduling a special visit. jodi@ypsilibrary.org
