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Your Guide to Monterey County Library Storytimes

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Nothing beats a good story — especially when it comes with songs, rhymes, and a room full of other little ones to wiggle along with. Monterey County is lucky to have five different library systems, each running its own storytime programs for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Here’s what’s currently on the calendar, branch by branch, so you can plan your week around books instead of the other way around.

A quick note before you go: library storytimes shift with staffing, seasons, and summer reading programs, so we recommend a quick check of the library’s own calendar link (included below for each) before you head out.

Salinas Public Library

Salinas has three branches, each with its own storytime personality.

  • El Gabilan Library — “Learn and Play” Storytime
    Tuesdays, 12:00–12:45pm · Ages 0–4
    Stories, songs, and rhymes for the youngest readers.
  • El Gabilan Library — “Spotlight Storytime”
    First Saturday of the month, 11:00am–12:00pm · Ages 0–6
    A themed craft every month alongside the stories.
  • John Steinbeck Library — “Storytime Jamboree”
    Thursdays, 4:00–4:30pm · All ages (family-style)
    Stories, music, and dancing.
  • Cesar Chavez Library — “Toddler Tales”
    Wednesdays, 12:00–1:00pm · Ages 0–3
    Bilingual storytime with stories, songs, and rhymes.

MORE INFO

Pacific Grove Public Library

  • Music With Mary Lee
    Second Wednesday of the month, 11:00–11:30am · Babies and young children with caregivers
  • Preschool Stories
    Tuesdays, 11:00–11:30am · All ages are welcome. However, the content will specifically be developmentally appropriate for preschoolers.
  • Baby Rhyme Time Storytime
    Thursdays, 11:00–11:30am · Songs, rhymes, stories and play tailored for children under 2 years.

MORE INFO

City of Carmel-by-the-Sea — Harrison Memorial Library / Park Branch

  • Story Time (Park Branch Children’s Library)
    10:15–11:00am · Ages 2–5 · “Stories, Songs, Rhymes and Play.” Check online calendar for specific dates.
  • Babytime with Marylee (Park Branch)
    11:00–11:30am · Caregivers with babies under 9 months
    Check online calendar for specific dates.

MORE INFO

City of Monterey Public Library

  • Storytime
    Fridays, 10:15am · Ages 2–5 (all welcome) · Community Room
    No registration required.

MORE INFO

Monterey County Free Libraries (MCFL)

MCFL runs 17 branches across the county, from Aromas to Soledad. To get a full list of story times and events, check the link below.

  • Marina Branch — Preschool Storytime ⭐ confirmed live
    Thursdays, 10:15am
    Also: Dads Read, a monthly Saturday event (~10:00am) featuring storytimes led by local dads.
    📍 Friends of the Marina Library calendar: friendsofthemarinalibrary.org — updates in real time
  • Seaside Branch — “Stay and Play with Story Time”
    Tuesdays, 11:00am–1:00pm (please confirm — 2024 source)
  • Carmel Valley Branch — Preschool Storytime
    Wednesdays, 10:30am · Ages up to 4 
  • Aromas Branch — Storytime
    Thursdays, 1:00pm

MORE INFO

Books with Balance: Kids Yoga

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Yoga isn’t just for grown-ups! Young children can reap amazing benefits from a playful yoga practice. It’s more than stretching – it’s a fun way to build strength, balance, and focus. Yoga can also help them manage stress and even sleep better, making them happy and healthy from the inside out!

Discover your zen with Books For Balance: Kids Yoga

Stories, Songs, and Movement

In partnership with Balance4kids Yoga

Free with museum admission

Appropriate for Ages 3-5

Storytime Fun for the Family

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You can only read “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” so many times! When you need a break from reading yet another toddler favorite, check out one of these story times for free fun. Your child will love it and you’ll give your voice a break.

To get the most up-to-date info, look through our online calendar at MontereyBayParent.com by entering storytime in the search bar.

LIBRARIES:

Carmel-by-the-Sea Public Library has weekly storytime for children ages 3-6. Located in downtown Carmel, you can find event details at ci.carmel.ca.us.

City of Monterey Public Library Preschool Story time is a Thursday morning staple throughout the year at the downtown library located on Pacific Street.

City of Pacific Grove Public Library offers baby, toddler, and preschool storytimes weekly. Check the website at pacificgrovelibrary.org for details.

Monterey County Free Libraries offer a variety of story times at their branches located in Carmel Valley, King City, Marina, Prunedale, and Seaside. You can check their website for specifics on theme and age group.  

Salinas Public Library Learn and Play Storytime is for ages 0-4. Young children enjoy books, songs and rhymes and special activities at the end. Spotlight Storytime is for ages 0-6 with stories, songs, and a themed craft. Storytime Jamboree is open to all ages so the entire family can enjoy stories and songs together. Toddler Tales is for ages 0-3 and is a bilingual storytime for the little ones.

Storytimes are held at John Steinbeck Main Library, Cesar Chavez Branch Library, and El Gabilan Branch Library.

The Farm is located on Hwy 68 in Salinas at the Spreckles Blvd. exit. In addition to fresh organic produce for sale, farm tours, and special events, storytime is held on Wednesdays at 10:00 am from spring through fall. Check their website at thefarm-salinasvalley.com for specifics.

Nestled in Carmel Valley, Earthbound Farm’s Farm Stand is a popular destination for organic food and gardens. On Fridays from 10:30-11:30 am, they offer a storytime for all ages. Special crafts and activities usually accompany the storytime.

Virtual Creativity: Storytime and Drawing Lessons Online

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Authors, celebrities, and illustrators offer fun for the kids and a break for mom and dad.

Have you reached your limit after reading “Dragons Love Tacos” a few dozen times and it’s only 10 am? Here are six of our favorite virtual storytimes and art activities:

1. #Savewithstories. A collaboration between actors Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams, Save with Stories is a dedicated Instagram account where your children can watch celebrities read favorite children’s books. The duo are trying to raise money for the organizations Save the Children and No Kid Hungry. As of press time, there were about 25 recorded stories on the account so you can spend some time catching up.

2. HarperKids from Home.  The team at HarperKids holds a storytime with read-alouds and activities noon EST. You can tune in on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube. The Harper Kids YouTube channel also has dozens of fun videos with authors reading their books and illustrators demonstrating their skills.

3. Mo Willems’s “LUNCH DOODLES.” The first-ever Education artist-in-residence at the Kennedy Center, Mo Willems is holding this fun art lesson daily at 1 pm EST. Learners can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day for the next few weeks. Grab some paper and pencils, pens, or crayons and join Mo to explore ways of writing and making together. Kids can post their art to social media and use the hashtag it with #MoLunchDoodles. Lessons are archived on YouTube. Log onto www.kennedy-center.org for the daily lesson.

4. Storyline Online. This incredible resource from the SAG-AFTRA Foundation is an archive of hundreds of children’s books read by some of the greatest actors of our time, including Viola Davis, Chris Pine, Lily Tomlin, Rami Malek, Annette Bening, and James Earl Jones. Don’t miss Betty White reading Harry the Dirty Dog. Log onto www.storylineonline.net.

5. Operation Storytime. Use the hashtag #operationstorytime to find stories on Facebook and Youtube. You’ll find dozens of celebrated children’s authors reading their books.

6. World Book Day. Watch a wide range of famous authors and stars reading children’s books and short stories for kids of all ages at www.worldbookday.com.

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