Libraries, Bookstore Offer an Early Introduction to Joys of Reading

Experts say children who are read to at an early age are more likely to develop a love of reading.

One bookstore and many libraries in the San Fernando Valley regularly offer storytelling for children. Other libraries, not listed here, may offer occasional storytelling during the year or special programs during holiday and summer school breaks.

Pages, 18399 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, (818) 342-6657. At 11 a.m. every Saturday there is an in-store story hour for ages 3 to 8. Storyteller Janica Shuquem uses books that are available in the shop and often includes crafts projects in her sessions. Children sit on pillows and parents are requested to stay in the store during the readings.

On Jan. 31, Shuquem will read a group of winter stories for her “Brrr! It’s Cold” session. On Feb. 7, she has scheduled “Warm and Woolly Winter Tales”; on Feb. 14, “Color It Red and Lacy for Valentine’s Day”; on Feb. 21, “Happy Birthday, Mr. President”; on Feb. 28, “Knock, Knock, Can You Guess?”

Storytelling for children ages 2 and 3 is held at 10:30 a.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of every month and at 4 p.m. on the second Wednesday. These are shorter sessions, 20 to 30 minutes, and Shuquem uses songs rather than crafts with this younger audience. No reservations are needed.

Los Angeles City Library branches:

Canoga Park, 7260 Owensmouth Ave., (818) 887-0320. Children’s librarian Gail Furei plans to read several short stories to children ages 3 to 5 at the 10:30 a.m. story hour today. With her audience sitting around her on the carpet, Furei will show picture books during the 30- to 45-minute session. At 7 p.m. on Feb. 12, she plans a special hour of Valentine stories for ages 4 to 8. It will include a crafts time where listeners will make mobiles which will be ready to assemble. Pre-registration is required for this story hour. Although Furei tries to average one story hour a month, there is no set schedule.

Panorama City, 4345 Roscoe Blvd., (818) 894-4071. Children’s librarian Anne Landon will begin a series of Tuesday-morning readings on Feb. 10, running through March 7. These 10 a.m. sessions will be before the library is open so that preschoolers and their parents will have the library to themselves. Parents are free to browse. Landon reads several stories each time. “It’s storytelling with a book. I like the children to get the feeling of turning pages when they read,” she said. These classes are for ages 3 to 5. Advance registration is required. Landon plans to schedule some story hours for school-age children soon.

Sherman Oaks, 14245 Moorpark St., (818) 981-7852. Story time for preschoolers is held at 10:30 a.m. every Thursday. Children sit on the rug for the 45-minute session and the books are usually available to be checked out afterwards.

Studio City, 4400 Babcock Ave., (818) 769-5212. Two just-before-bedtime storybooks are scheduled for preschoolers, ages 3 to 5, next month. Children’s librarian Elizabeth Nelson will read at 6:45 p.m. on Feb. 10 and 24. Well-known storyteller Martha Stevens will visit the library at 4 p.m. on Feb. 12 for a special hour with youngsters ages 5 to 12. Stevens often uses musical accompaniment in her storytelling.

Sunland-Tujunga, 7771 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga, (818) 352-4481. Story hours for ages 3 to 5 will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 3 and 10. Call library for revised schedule after that time.

Sylmar, 13059 Glenoaks Blvd., (818) 367-0102. A monthly get-together for school-age children, which emphasizes storytelling rather than story reading, is held at 3 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month. The next will be on Feb. 25. Story hours for preschoolers are scheduled at 10:30 a.m. for one Wednesday a month. The next two sessions are Feb. 18 and March 25.

Woodland Hills, 22200 Ventura Blvd., (818) 887-0160. Although nothing specific is scheduled, this branch tries to offer one or two story hours a month, sometimes featuring professional storytellers. Parents should call at the beginning of the month for times.

Other libraries:

Agoura, 29130 N. Roadside Drive, (818) 889-2278. This branch’s twice-weekly story hours are so popular that the library staff asks that parents call to be put on waiting list.

Burbank Central Library, 110 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank. The Tuesday-morning story hours are open to children of any age. They begin at 10 a.m. with a half hour of storytelling followed by another half hour of films or crafts. Most sessions are tied together with a theme such as Valentine’s Day. Children sit on the floor. At Burbank’s Northwest branch, 3323 W. Victory Blvd., story hours are scheduled at 10 a.m. every Wednesday. These feature readings and films but no crafts. At the Buena Vista branch, 405 N. Buena Vista, story-and-film hours are at 10 a.m. on Thursdays. No advance registration is required.

Canyon Country, 18536 Soledad Canyon Road, (805) 251-2720. Preschool story hours are held at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. each Tuesday. The same stories are read at both sessions, with readings broken up by films or crafts.

Newhall Library, 22704 W. 9th St., (805) 259-0750. Held at 10 a.m. every Friday, story time for preschoolers includes singing, dancing, puppets, crafts and films. It lasts about 40 minutes.

Oxnard Public Library, 214 S. C St., (805) 984-4636. This library holds four regular story hours every week. At 7 p.m. on Tuesdays, preschoolers are invited to come in their pajamas. At 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, the stories are read in Spanish, with children picking out what they’d like to hear. At 2 p.m., on Fridays, there’s another preschooler session. Children’s librarian Wilbur Daniel does most of the readings, acting out the stories in an energetic fashion that holds the attention of children. At 10 a.m. on Saturdays, McDonald’s Restaurants sponsors a story hour for ages 6 to 10 that includes cookies.

San Fernando Library, 102 MacNeil St., (818) 365-6928. A half-hour preschool story time is held at 1 p.m. every Friday. The reading is augmented with games, some crafts and films.

Thousand Oaks, 1401 E. Janss Road., (805) 497-6282. This library has the most ambitious story hour in the area, with both themed series and one-shot readings. Next month the theme is “Splish, Splash: A Rainy Season Storytime” for ages 3 to 5. There are story hours at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily. Pre-registration is required.

Before Bedtime Session

Before Bedtime is a 7 p.m. story hour for ages 4 to 7. It is held each Thursday evening. No pre-registration is required. Each Friday morning there is “I’m Finally Big Enough,” which is strictly for 2-year-olds and their parents. This short introduction to storytelling is from 9:30 to 10 a.m. In February are two special hours for children ages 6 to 10. At 4 p.m. on Feb. 18, it’s “Cobblers’ Corner,” about different types of footwear in fairy tales, folk tales, poems and songs. On Feb. 25, it’s “Happy Birthday, Arthur,” based on the popular children’s book. Both sessions include crafts.

Valencia Library, 23743 W. Valencia Blvd. (805) 259-8942. There are three story hours a week for preschoolers: at 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesdays. Pre-registration is required. Registration is good for three months, after which interested parents must sign up again. The next sign-up is in the last week in March. The sessions involve mainly picture books and flannel boards and include listening activities, films and crafts. After each story, the children join in a rhythm band. These story hours are held in a “sealed-off meeting room.”