Tarzana : Story Time Caters to the Very Young Set

Story programs for children are common at libraries and schools, but a Tarzana bookstore serves an unusual clientele: 2- and 3-year-olds.

Darlene Daniel, the operating manager of Pages Books for Children and Young Adults, said she believes her store’s program is one of only two in Los Angeles to cater to children so young, and the only one in the Valley. Daniel should know--she is past president of the Southern California Children’s Booksellers Assn.

Started nine years ago, the program has drawn rave reviews from parents for providing an enjoyable and educational activity designed for the short attention spans of toddlers. The program is offered on the first and third Wednesday of every month.

“Hopefully, it will be a start for my daughter to read throughout her lifetime,” said Sharon Tesoriero of West Hills, who added that her 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Ashley, finds the story time exciting.

Felicia Carson, a Northridge preschool teacher, brought her 2-year-old daughter, Vanessa, to story time Aug. 2 and said they will return.

“I think it’s really good, because for a lot of children who are not in a preschool environment, it’s their first social environment,” Carson said.

Pages, which in 1986 was offering a story time program for children 3 through 8, added the “Now I Am Two” program at the request of parents who felt that their younger children needed something too.

“We were originally hesitant because we know the socialization of children under three isn’t very consistent with listening skills in a group,” said Daniel.

To keep the toddlers’ interest, storytellers sing songs, use puppets and felt boards, and read from popup books.

“Vanessa loves it,” said Carson. “There was a book that we read about bouncing. After we left, Vanessa said, ‘Mommy, book, bouncing.’ She was really excited about it.”