Let Them Fall in Love With the Library Before They can Even Read!
Do you realize how much our local libraries have to offer children these days?
Many local libraries house kid-friendly spaces filled with learning activities, toys, games, and of course, books. With so many different library branches in our city and surrounding communities, there is never a lack of options for fun and learning at the library.
GRPL – Main
Be sure to ask your local library staff about children’s programming like story time or play groups! Most libraries offer additional educational resources aside from entertaining play areas and great books.
GRPL – Main
Grand Rapids Public Libraries Children’s Areas
Main Branch
This branch offers a separate area for babies with board books, puzzles, blocks and other items to help babies grow and develop. There is also a large play area for toddlers and older kids, including a play kitchen, dress-up clothes, a puppet theatre, a train table, blocks and LEGO bricks, things that go, and an art station. Parents can check out the Parenting section right next to the play area. 111 Library Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Seymour Branch
This branch offers children early literacy computer stations, blocks and other building materials, books, puzzles and more. 2350 Eastern SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Van Belkum Branch
This branch gives children several options for creative play including a kitchen, puppet theatre, an art area, books and puzzles. 1563 Plainfield NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
West Leonard Branch
This branch has a play area for kids that includes a train table, a creative play area, things that go, books, puzzles and much more. 1017 Leonard NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
West Side Branch
This branch has a space for creative play, puzzles, books, and other activities related to early literacy. 713 Bridge NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Yankee Clipper Branch
This branch features cozy reading nooks, puzzles, blocks and a play kitchen, as well as early literacy play stations. 2025 Leonard NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
Ottawa Hills Branch
This branch features toys, early literacy activities, puzzles and books. 1150 Giddings SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Kent District Libraries Children’s Areas
Kids will often find something new at KDL branches since they frequently rotate their toys. Because of this, you may not find these exact stations at each branch on your visit. But you can be sure you will find something fun! Plus keep your eyes peeled for the NEW KDL branch opening in 2020 in Ada.
Alpine Township Branch
This branch features a dramatic play area for pretend play, tablets, and a shelf of toys which includes puzzles, blocks and toy trucks. Plus a KDL lab for the older kids! 5255 Alpine Ave NW, Comstock Park, MI 49321
Alto Branch
This branch offers many educational table activities, an imagination station, and a magnet wall. 6071 Linfield Ave, Alto, MI 49302
Byron Township Branch
This branch features a play kitchen, toy bins and magnet board, a play grocery store stocked with pretend produce, a LEGO wall, and a dress-up station. 8191 Byron Center Ave SW, Byron Center, MI 49315
Caledonia Township Branch
This branch offers an iPad and writing center, a large magnet wall, a play counter for puzzles and other educational activities, fine motor toy bins, and a play kitchen. There are also great outdoor play opportunities on their deck and lawn. 6260 92nd St. SE, Caledonia, MI 49316
Cascade Township Branch
This branch offers a spinning dress-up island, several activity bins, a playhouse known as the ‘Space Lab,’ and activity tables to keep your little ones busy. 2870 Jacksmith Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Comstock Park Branch
This branch features a train table, a large activity cube with several options for play, and shelves filled with toys. 3943 W. River Dr NE, Comstock Park, MI 49321
East Grand Rapids Branch
This branch offers a child-sized pirate ship, a magnet wall, a bean bag toss game, a light table, and a shadow puppet screen, as well as many rotating activity centers. 746 Lakeside Dr SE, East Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Englehardt (Lowell) Branch
This branch features a child-sized log cabin and pretend fire, a fishing hole game, farm toys, an art activity table, and activity bins and magnet wall. 200 N. Monroe St, Lowell, MI 49331
Gaines Township Branch
This branch offers a space tent, doll tree house, an imagination station, an art cart, a toy barn, and a cozy cube for reading and playing. 421 68th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49548
Grandville Branch
This branch offers a LEGO table, a technology table, a play tool bench, a car rug, and a shelf stocked with toys. 4055 Maple St SW, Grandville, MI 49418
Kentwood (Richard R Root) Branch
This branch offers children a train table, giant Connect 4, mounted tablets, large magnetic wall, light table, toy bins, a play area filled with toys, and an imagination station for limitless pretend play. 4950 Breton SE, Kentwood, MI 49508
Krause Memorial (Rockford) Branch
This branch gives children many options for play with a LEGO table, puzzles, a light table, and an imagination station, as well as a chance to work on writing skills at the writing center. 140 E. Bridge St, Rockford, MI 49341
Nelson Township / Sand Lake Branch
This branch gives children the opportunity to participate in several outdoor play activities, but all while they are indoors! They can camp in a tent and play by the pretend fire, walk along the stepping stones or plant a pretend garden. 88 Eighth St, Sand Lake, MI 49343
Plainfield Township Branch
This branch offers a children’s-sized play house, a puppet theatre, a light-up board with Magna-Tiles, an activity table, a colorful play rug and shelves full of activity bins. 2650 5 Mile Rd NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Spencer Township Branch
This branch features a doll-sized tree house and a dress-up area for children to play make-believe, a car rug to race cars on, and a writing center for children to practice their writing skills. 14960 Meddler Ave, Gowen, MI 49326
Tyrone Township Branch
This branch offers a variety of educational toys for children, such as puzzles, puppets, dress-up clothes, shape sorting buckets and a pretend kitchen. Children can also practice their fine motor skills at the writing station or at the children’s tables stocked with paper and crayons. 43 S. Main St, Kent City, MI 49330
Walker Branch
This branch offers children the opportunity for play with a checkers game and a train table. 4293 Remembrance Rd NW, Walker, MI 49534
Wyoming Branch
This branch features a puppet theater, a reading cottage, a train table, and a canopy tent, all inside the ‘Toddler Tower’. 3350 Michael Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49509
Reader Recommended Library Children’s Areas
Gary Byker Memorial Library (Hudsonville)
“Great kids’ area with a train table and light table, plus lots of great programs.” 3338 Van Buren St., Hudsonville, MI 49426
Herrick District Library – Main Library (Holland)
“The Herrick Library in Holland has a wonderful children’s area. Lots of games, a merry-go-round, and story times all on their own floor.” 300 S. River, Holland, MI 49423.
Leighton Township Library (Moline)
“Leighton Township Library in Moline has a really great play area.” 4451 12th St, Moline, MI 49335.
Loutit District Library (Grand Haven)
“The Loutit District Library also has a great children’s area. Books, games, puzzles, a puppet stage and children’s computers.” 407 Columbus Ave, Grand Haven, MI 49417.
Sparta Carnegie Township Library (Sparta)
“They have a car rug with cars, blocks, kid size furniture, puzzles and games, coloring pages, and a few large motor activities (such as hula hoops).” 80 N Union St., Sparta, MI 49345
Did We Miss a Library?
If you know of a library with a children’s area that should be added to our list, please leave us a comment below. If you have a picture of the children’s area we can include, you can submit it here. Thanks for your help!
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Madison Square and Seymour branch
Both have play areas.
We like the Sparta library. They have a car rug with cars, blocks, kid size furniture, puzzles and games, coloring pages, and a few large motor activities (such as hula hoops)
Leighton Township Library in Moline has a really great play area. I dont have a pic but I have been there. Contact Karen McKinnon, the library director. Allegan county, just south of GR.
We love Leighton’s play area, and I like that it’s closed off from the rest of the library so you don’t have to worry about being too loud or your kids wandring off. They also have activities for older kids through out the library.
Jill, thanks so much for all your work on this! We are thrilled that you featured all the KDL branches. Our KDLville areas are always being updated, so some of the featured items may change, but we will always have fun, interactive activities for children at all of our branches. Thanks again!
Loutit District Library in Grand Haven also has a great children’s area. Books, games, puzzles, a puppet stage and children’s computers.
Thanks Sandie! We’ll get it added to our list.
The library in Wayland offers a wonderful children’s area that’s on a seperate floor from the rest of the library.
Thanks Kate! Is this the Henika District Library or the Leighton Township Library? Would love to include it in our list.
love this!! We love going to the library!! Way to do the research and take all thes great pictures!! Thanks!
The Herrick Library in Holland has a wonderful children’s area. Lots of games, a merry-go-round, and story times all on their own floor.
Thanks for the tip Erin! Is this for the branch on S River or Riley St?
I’ve only been to the one on S River. I’m not sure wha the children’s area is like at the Riley St location, although they do have story time there, too.
Thanks Erin! We’ll get it added to our list.