A favorite outing of my children is the weekly storytime at Corrales Library.
Outdoor Storytime
In the summer, storytime is outside on the grass of the beautiful La Entrada Park just outside the library doors. Families throw picnic blankets onto the grass and listen while Megan, along with her sidekick, Charlie, who does a ventriloquist act with his dragon puppet Clive, tells a story. Charlie strums the guitar while Megan reads with the enthusiasm and excitement that keeps the attention of her little listeners. In between reads, Megan will sing a song to Charlie’s musical accompaniment to get the wiggles out of the energetic toddlers. It’s a small crowd of families that come every week, which allows Megan to know the children’s names. Storytimes used to be an occasional outing, but after finding this storytime, it is now a part of our weekly routine.
Storytime moves inside once the weather cools down. The first thing you’ll see upon entering the library is the fish pond. My daughter always stops to kneel down by the small, circular koi pond in the center of the foyer to say hello to her fishy friends.
Children’s Area
Once we’ve given our greetings to the koi, we walk around to the children’s area. Another reason why I love Corrales Library is its inside play area. There are no grumpy librarians whispering hush here. Rather, they welcome and encourage the children to gather among the books to listen to stories and play. My daughter always makes a beeline straight for the puzzles to take apart and solve on the bright blue rug.
When Margaret tires of the puzzle, there are toy trains, dinosaurs, and blocks to play with. Further in are special foamy chairs and tables set with coloring pages and crayons for the young patrons. While kids play, parents can browse the rows of children’s books around the play area. Of course, children can browse the books as well. Margaret has hunted for colorful books that catch her eye since words don’t yet.
Don’t Forget A Stamp
Storytime and play aren’t the only things Corrales Library offers, but before you walk outside for the next surprise, don’t forget to stop at the front desk for a stamp. There is a large collection of stamps for the kids to choose from. Some have asked for the librarian to stamp their entire arm! A stamp sleeve!
The Garden
Walk around to the back of the library, and you will find a garden of potatoes!
Actually, they are tomatoes, but Margaret calls them potatoes. Behind the library is a garden that won this year’s Corrales Garden Tour. Kids are welcome to go to the garden and eat the scrumptious, red treats. My daughter ate several one afternoon, so I decided to buy some fancy, organic tomatoes at the store hoping she would eat them. Nope! She only wanted the library garden tomatoes!
A little table and chairs made of tree stumps are ready for tomato eaters, and there are several painted rocks at the entrance that Margaret loves to examine every time we go. There are other plants as well. I’m not sure what they all are. I think one plant was radishes. How amazing is it to be able to enjoy the fruits of a garden at the library?
I’ve always been more inclined to small towns and communities, and Corrales Library offers just that. So many libraries have become more of a business and are impersonal, but at this library, you come into a community of librarians, parents, and kiddos enjoying the love of books and nature together.
For storytimes all around the Albuquerque area, check out our Guide to Storytime.
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