Looking for fun and educational places to visit with your toddler? Well you’ve come to the right place. Boston and it’s surrounding areas feature some of the best storytimes for you and your child to attend — and they’re happening all the time! Storytimes in Boston are a great way for your child to learn as well as interact with other kids, and a great chance for parents to meet and interact with other local parents.
Below, we’ve compiled the best Boston storytimes listed by day.
Monday
Museum of Science Live Animal Presentation – 1 Museum of Science Driveway, Boston, MA 02114, Daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Kicking off our list of the best storytimes in Boston is the Museum of Science’s daily live animal presentation. While it’s not a conventional storytime, the museum’s Live Animal Care Center has experts let your kids get up close and personal to small, safe animals and learn more about their behaviors and the environments they live in. Tickets can be purchased on the museum’s website. Admission is $21 for kids and $26 for adults. Seating is first come, first serve. The event takes place at the Shapiro Family Science Live! Stage.
Great Wolf Lodge – 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg, MA 01420, Nightly (times subject to change)
Taking your kids to Great Wolf? Be sure not to miss the complimentary storytime to end the night. Perfect for toddlers, the park has one of their “Ambassadors of Fun” read bedtime stories to the children. And afterwards, your kids have the chance for a photo-op with one of the Great Wolf characters to create lasting memories! Be sure to check the website or ask a park attendant what time the reading will start.
Museum of Fine Arts – 465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, first Monday and third Saturday of every month, 10:15 a.m.
Another great Boston storytime takes place at the Sharf Visitor Center in the Museum of Fine Arts. If you have a little creative on your hands, they’ll love browsing the art gallery and participating in some art making after the storytime. This event is included with admission to the museum and requires no registration. The program is recommended for children four or younger. Note this event takes place on the first Monday and third Saturday of every month with a run time of over an hour.
Tuesday
MSPCA Adoption Center – 350 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, every Tuesday at 10 a.m.
What kid doesn’t love dogs? Little Bookworms Story Time at the MSPCA Adoption Center holds a weekly, hour-long storytime that is completely animal-related. Your child will sing songs, hear stories, and play games while being visited by one of the adoption center’s furry friends. Taking place in the Education Center, the price of admission is $5 per child with 100% of the money going towards the animals in the shelter. Make sure to bring cash as that is the only acceptable form of payment.
The COOP – 1400 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, Tuesdays and Saturdays at 11 a.m.
The Harvard bookstore isn’t just for college students. Every Tuesday and Saturday, The COOP holds two of the best storytimes in Boston. On Tuesday, the storytime gears more towards preschoolers where children sit in a circle and listen to the moderator read exclusively selected children’s stories. Saturdays are for kids seven and under to enjoy stories and arts and crafts. Both of these weekly events are free for kids and parents!
Boston Athenaeum – 10.5 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.
If you’re a member of the Boston Athenaeum, then entry to the three times a week family story time is free. The reading will focus on comprehension, rhymes, and circle games. Heavily based on education, this story time promotes language skills and social development for your kiddo. There are also visitor story times every Saturday at noon if you are not a member.
Museum of Science Live Animal Presentation – 1 Museum of Science Driveway, Boston, MA 02114, Daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Great Wolf Lodge – 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg, MA 01420, Nightly (times subject to change)
Wednesday
Porter Square Books – 25 White St, Cambridge, MA 02140, Wednesdays at 11 a.m.
Doria Hughes is one of the most prolific child storytellers in the country. Therefore, it should come as no surprise as to why her weekly storytime at Porter Square Books is one of the best Boston storytimes on this list. Doria amuses her crowd by doing hilarious over-the-top sound effects during her readings. Pricing info is unclear on the website, so be sure to contact the bookstore to clear that up beforehand.
Museum of Science Live Animal Presentation – 1 Museum of Science Driveway, Boston, MA 02114, Daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Great Wolf Lodge – 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg, MA 01420, Nightly (times subject to change)
Thursday
Cambridge Public Library – 449 Broadway St, Cambridge, MA 02138, Thursdays all day
Perhaps the most comprehensive storytime on this list is offered by the Cambridge Public Library. It’s more like a story day! Their calendar is filled with storytimes from morning until night. These events spread throughout the three branches of the library though, so make sure you confirm which branch your desired event is taking place beforehand. Tickets are sold on a first come first serve basis the day of the event.
Boston Athenaeum – 10.5 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.
Museum of Science Live Animal Presentation – 1 Museum of Science Driveway, Boston, MA 02114, Daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Great Wolf Lodge – 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg, MA 01420, Nightly (times subject to change)
Friday
Museum of Science Live Animal Presentation – 1 Museum of Science Driveway, Boston, MA 02114, Daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Great Wolf Lodge – 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg, MA 01420, Nightly (times subject to change)
Saturday
Newtonville Books – 10 Langley Rd, Newton, MA 02459, Saturdays at 11 a.m.
Weekdays are hard for a working parent to take their kid to storytimes. Luckily, Newtonville Books has you covered! The store hosts a weekly book reading every Saturday morning (but not too early, so you can sleep in!). Because of their peaceful and quiet location, Newtonville is the perfect way to start your Saturday. All ages are welcome.
Museum of Fine Arts – 465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, first Monday and third Saturday of every month, 10:15 a.m.
The COOP – 1400 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, Tuesdays and Saturdays at 11 a.m.
Boston Athenaeum – 10.5 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.
Museum of Science Live Animal Presentation – 1 Museum of Science Driveway, Boston, MA 02114, Daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Great Wolf Lodge – 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg, MA 01420, Nightly (times subject to change)
Sunday
Brookline Booksmith – 279 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446, Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
Brookline Booksmith is an established independent bookstore that has a comprehensive schedule online to show you what books the moderators will be reading during storytime. Additionally, the store often has the acclaimed authors of these books drop in for a guest reading. If your child enjoys a certain book, several copies are made available at the time of reading for you to purchase and take home with you.
Museum of Science Live Animal Presentation – 1 Museum of Science Driveway, Boston, MA 02114, Daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Great Wolf Lodge – 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg, MA 01420, Nightly (times subject to change)
Those are all of the storytimes in Boston we know about right now. If you know of others, leave a comment below!
Looking for other things to do with your kids in Boston? Check out our guide to the best things to do with kids and toddlers in Boston.
