Summer Storytimes in Huntsville & North AL

families listening to stories sitting on a blanket outdoors at the library

We absolutely love the library’s annual Summer Reading Program, and if you’re not bringing your kids to participate you are really missing out! It’s a great way to keep them reading this summer and the quality of programs the Huntsville Madison County Public Library hosts just can’t be beat.

But keeping up with all the storytime schedules at all the branches can get tricky, plus there are some events happening at the bookstores and other local library systems. So we put together this at-a-glance list just for busy parents!

Please note this schedule is for SUMMER 2021 programs only, and if there’s one you are especially excited about attending we recommend calling that branch to double check the date and time has not changed before you head over.

Library Story Times During 2022 Summer

Huntsville, Madison County, and North Alabama Public Libraries

MONDAYS

TUESDAYS

Advertisement. Content Continues Below.

WEDNESDAYS

THURSDAYS

SATURDAYS

Weekend Family Storytime | Madison Library | 10:00 AM on the 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month

Saturday Sillies Storytime | Downtown Huntsville Library | 10:00 AM on the 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month

Family Storytime | Athens Library | 10:30 a.m. on Select Saturdays

Barnes & Noble Bookstores

Both the Bridge Street and the Jones Valley locations host virtual storytimes on Saturdays at 11:00 a.m.

Advertisement. Content Continues Below.

How to Make the Most Out of Storytime

1. Age Matters
If the storytime you are attending is targeting a specific age, please be sure it is the right one for your little listener. There are many to choose from – baby, toddler, preschool, lower elementary, and family storytimes are the most common. For instance, baby & toddler times aren’t so worried about sitting still and being quiet, but preschoolers and older kids are usually already familiar with the structure of storytime and more is expected. If you’re not sure which storytime is right for your family, just ask the librarian!

2. Be Ready to Move!
Be sure to dress comfortably and appropriately – you and your child will likely be moving and getting hands-on during storytime. Some libraries include a craft or activity after the stories, so be prepared to work with markers, glue, and sometimes even glitter and paint.

3. Participation is Key
Storytimes are led by the librarian, but many children will come out of their shell when they see YOU joining in! Don’t be surprised if you find yourself singing, clapping, and even hokey-pokeying! It’s a good idea to put away your cell phone and chat with other caretakers after storytime is over.

4. It’s Social & Supportive
Library story hour is the perfect opportunity to work on socialization skills – for you and your child. Good friends are often made at storytime, the kind that lead to afternoon playdates for kids, and mini support groups for moms. Storytime is a great place for your child to learn how to interact with other kids before they get to preschool or kindergarten.

Advertisement

Rocket City Mom

Rocket City Mom is a website about raising children in and around Huntsville, Alabama. Started in late 2010 by a local mom and newcomer to Huntsville, Rocket City Mom has grown into a thriving community of local parents and now boasts a staff of four, thirteen regular contributors, and tens of thousands of Tennessee Valley readers making it the #1 Parenting Resource in North Alabama.