The Ultimate List of Free Story Times in Wichita

Wichita has a plethora of free indoor story times to fuel your child’s imagination and keep you out of the ever changing Kansas weather. We have scoured the city and come up with the Ultimate List of Free Story Times in Wichita and the surrounding area!

(We also have a great big list of other free and cheap things for kids to do, as well as a whole page of free and inexpensive indoor places to play.)

Now if you’re like me, you probably already have lots and lots of children’s books at home or you’re thinking ‘Why do I need to go to a story time? I can just check them out at the library?’ While that may be true, story times are about so much more than just reading a book. There are the silly songs, the dancing, the excitement of having someone new read the stories and the interaction with the other kids. Story times are a great, inexpensive way to get out of the house. Most story times are 30 minutes to an hour long.

If you’ve never been to a story time, here is a brief breakdown of what happens. For the most part, children and parents sit together on the floor on reading mats or carpets. The storyteller starts off with interactive rhymes, silly songs or even a dance. Then he or she reads a main story and maybe one or two other books to get the kids excited about reading. Depending on the story time location, there may even be a small craft too. At the end of the story time, you will have the chance to browse other books to check out at the library or to purchase if it’s at a bookstore.

We’ve compiled a comprehensive day by day list of local story times to get your children interested in reading at an early age. Also, see below for links to the many public libraries that offer regular ongoing children’s story times and activities. We’ve also listed special story time events that are happening soon.

Don’t forget to share this list with your friends and family! Tell us in the comments below: What is your favorite story time location?

Weekly Story Times in Wichita

Monday

9:30 a.m. Goddard Public Library Story Time is offered throughout the year on Mondays. Children listen to stories, sing, dance, make crafts and have fun.

Tuesday

10 a.m. Fish Tales Story Time at the WATER Center (Second Tuesday of each month.) 101 E. Pawnee
10 a.m. Derby Public Library Preschool Storytime for ages 3-5.
10:30 a.m. MOXI Junction Story Time 319 S. Park Avenue in Maize, KS
10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Kansas Humane Society’s Tot Tuesday Story Time (First Tuesday of each month September through May. Suggested $4 donation/family.)
10:30 a.m. Haysville Community Library Story Time

Wednesday

10 a.m. Derby Public Library Preschool Storytime for ages 3-5
10:30 a.m. Barnes & Noble 1920 N Rock Road Wichita, KS
10:30 a.m. MOXI Junction Story Time 319 S. Park Avenue in Maize, KS
10:30 a.m. Hurt’s Donuts-West location (Dates vary throughout the year. Check the Facebook page for specific event dates.) 7010 W. 21st St N.
11 a.m. Great Plains Nature Center Story Time 6232 E. 29th Street North

Thursday

9:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Little Nature Lovers Story & Craft Time at Great Plains Nature Center (Starts mid-August through end of May. No summer dates available.) 6232 E. 29th Street North
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Chick-fil-A Central & Rock Preschool Story & Activity Time (3rd Thursday of the month.) 7990 E. Central
10:30 a.m. Botanica, The Wichita Gardens 701 N Amidon Wichita, KS (general admission applies)
10:30 a.m. Hurt’s Donuts-East location (only offered during the summer months) 3750 N. Woodlawn
10:30 a.m. Haysville Community Library Story Time

Saturday

10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Watermark Books & Cafe Children’s Story Time 4701 E. Douglas
11 a.m. Story Time at Barnes & Noble in Bradley Fair 1920 N. Rock Road

Public Library Story Times:

The local public libraries have numerous story times at each branch location-too many to list here! Check the event calendars on the public library websites for story times and locations.