Welcome to HPL Kids!
Check our Events Calendar for our youth and family programming.
You can search by age or under Event Type you can sort for “Story Time”, “Life Skills”, “Craft”, “Fine Motor Skills Prep” or “School Readiness” to find exactly what you and your little on are looking for.
Attention Teachers and Educators:
Looking to schedule a class visit? Head to our Educator’s Page!
Open Play in the 3rd Floor Story Time Room
When our Story Time Room is not in use for programs, story times, or class visits it is open for Open Play. Open Play is a great opportunity for your child to play and socialize with others in the community.
This is not a structured class. Please take care to supervise your child/children at all times.
Please note: Our Story Time Room is a multi-purpose space and may occasionally be closed for Open Play due to programs, class or camp visits. Timing is subject to change.
Join a Reading Challenge at the Hoboken Public Library!
Our seasonal reading challenges are a great way to incentivize your kids and teens to track their reading and participate in enriching programs at HPL such as community-led clubs, quiet study hours, scavenger hunts, and more!
Q: Where and how do we sign up?
Early Literacy at HPL
Early literacy refers to the foundational skills that our little ones learn about reading and writing before they formally learn to read and write. By focusing on these five aspects of early literacy – reading, writing, singing, talking, and playing – you can develop your little one’s early literacy skills at home and at the library.
Browse below to see our offerings including free story times, programs, books, and other resources.
Story Times
Our story times combine aspects of reading, singing, talking, playing, and dancing to promote early literacy and foster a love of books and stories. While all ages are welcome, our guide helps you select the best session for your child’s age and interests. Use our guide below to find the program that is right for you and join our story time community:
Baby Story Time
For little ones 0 to 18 months
Join us for a story time for our littlest learners! This story time will feature books made for babies, nursery rhymes, finger plays, and music. Our weekly Baby Story Times are a great place to meet other families and join our story time community. Together we will practice our ABCs, counting to 10, and try out our animal sounds!
Through reading, talking, and singing, Baby Story Time helps your little one develop pre-literacy skills, with a focus on phonological and letter awareness.
Toddler Story Time
18 months to 3 years
Toddler Story Time features longer picture books and more movement than Baby Story Time.
Attending story times regularly helps prep your toddler for the transition to preschool as they develop the necessary listening and social skills they’ll need in the classroom.
Through reading, talking, singing, and dancing, Toddler Story Time helps your little one develop their early literacy skills with a focus on phonological awareness, vocabulary expansion, and print awareness.
Yoga Story Time
2 to 5 years
Get moving with our favorite yoga teacher, Ms. Carolyn! Through one longer story and lots of yoga poses our Yoga Story Time focuses on developing early literacy skills through reading and play.
Movement in story time increases your little ones engagement, attention, and comprehension. Acting as animals and objects from our stories help our young readers begin to understand narrative structure.
Outdoor Story Time
All ages! 0-5 years
In the warmer months our story times head outside! Meet HPL in the park for a story time featuring picture books, singing, and dancing. Our Outdoor Story Times often draw larger crowds with a program that is geared for learners of all ages.
Music Story Time
All ages! 0-5 years
Meet us for a story time that focuses on singing, dancing, and play. While we may not be reading books, Music Story Time still helps promote your little ones early literacy skills with a focus on vocabulary expansion, memory development, and phonological awareness.
Singing and dancing with the crowd will help our little ones (and adults!) foster community through shared experience.
Bilingual Story Time
All ages! 0-5
During the school year we host a Spanish Bilingual Story Time with our Teen Advisory Board Members from HOLA Dual Language Charter School. Come hear stories and learn songs told in both English and Spanish! Bilingual Story Time helps your little one build foundational language skills in both English and Spanish while also promoting cultural awareness through stories and songs.
Big Kid Story Time
3 to 5 years
Meet us in the afternoon for a story time meant for our big kids! Our longer stories help continue the development of narrative understanding and expand your little one’s vocabulary. Continuing with story times helps spark imagination and continues to strengthen social skills.