Winter 2 Storytime Registration is currently closed. 

Storytimes are for babies, toddlers, and children up to age 6.  The Children's Library offers a variety of  Drop-In programs for children up to age 12.

Register: Monday, March 1 - Monday, March 15

Session 2: Monday, March 22 - Friday, April 30

Registered Storytimes are for children whose parents are Darien residents, employed in Darien full-time, or contributors to the Darien Library Annual Campaign at the $300 level.

How to Register

Register infants and 1-year-olds based on their ability to walk.  For two-year-olds and up, please register children based on their age at the start of the storytime session.  The programs are developmentally appropriate for the stated ages, though there is a two-week grace period for soon-to-be birthdays.

Registration is a lottery and you will be contacted by Saturday, March 20, 2010 for Winter 2 placement.

Click on the name of the storytime for which you'd like to register

Giggles and Rhymes:  pre-walking babies and a parent/caregiver

• Mondays 11 - 11:30 a.m.
• Tuesdays 9:30 - 10 a.m.

Born to Read: walkers up to 24 months and a parent/caregiver

• Tuesdays 10:30 - 11 a.m.
• Wednesdays 10:30 - 11 a.m.
• Thursdays 10:30 - 11 a.m.

Side by Side: 2-year-olds and a parent/caregiver

• Tuesdays 11:30 - Noon
• Wednesdays 3:15 -3:45 p.m.
• Thursdays 9:30 - 10 a.m.

Totally Preschool: 3 and 4-year-olds

• Tuesdays 1:30 - 2 p.m.
• Fridays 9:30 - 10 a.m.
• Fridays 10:30 - 11 a.m.

Bookworms: 5 and 6-year-olds

• Wednesdays 4:15 -4:45 p.m.

Spending time with grandparents and seniors is a great way to enjoy a chilly afternoon during the winter break.

The Children's Library co-sponsors a monthly Grandparents' Storytime at the Darien Senior Activities Center. If you have never been to the Senior Center, stop by and pay us a visit tomorrow, Wednesday February 17 at 1:30pm.

It is super easy to get to the Darien Senior Activities Center! Click here for directions.

Intergenerational relationships are valuable for both children and seniors, as well as for the community at large. If you are interested in taking a look at some of the benefits of these connections, please review the US EPA's listing.

If you haven't spent time with seniors recently, participating in an intergenerational storytime is a perfect way to start!

photo courtesy of Flickr user Fleagleman

Our monthly Stories on the Spectrum program, a sensory-based storytime for children on the autistic spectrum between the ages of 3 and 8, will continue throughout this winter. 

Children with autism or other sensory-integration disorders, and their families, are invited to join us this Saturday, January 23rd at 11:00am in the Children's Library for some songs, a story, and a sensory activity. 

Please pre-register by phone or email: you can call the Children's Library at (203)669-5243 or email Kiera Parrott at kparrott@darienlibrary.org.

Winter Dates (program begins at 11:00am):

Saturday, January 23rd

Saturday, February 27th

Saturday, March 20th

Saturday, April 10th

If you are looking for some seriously funny, highly imaginative books to read with your preschool or kindergartener, check out these two brand new picks:

  Here Comes the Big, Mean Dust Bunny! by Jan Thomas

  The long-awaited sequel to the runaway hit, The Rhyming Dust Bunnies, is finally here!  Play a silly rhyming game with    Ed, Ned, Ted (and Bob). 

   My Elephant by Petr Horacek

   When grandpa and grandma are too busy to play, a little boy and his mischevious elephant wind up making a bit of a mess.  The wonderful child-centric viewpoint and collage-style artwork make this intergenerational tale a nice read-aloud.