Barnes & Noble Storytime Ideal for Busy Parents

As the parent of a small child, sometimes it feels impossible to fill the hours until dinner time and keep your child entertained while maintaining your sanity. It can be quite challenging to find activities that are, at the same time, enjoyable for both adult and child, low cost (or free) and educational; especially during the week.

Regardless of age, kids love stories and storytime is always a favorite. It's also an excellent way for kids to gain exposure to new themes and concepts and even to different cultures and experiences. And it's educational to boot.

at the offers free bi-weekly storytime sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays at 11 a.m. with ever-changing themes. Upcoming storytime themes include art, pets, changing seasons and the stories of Mo Willems, author of the popular Knuffle Bunny books. Beloved children's book characters, such as Peter Rabbit and Curious George, will soon be making visits as well.

Storytime is held in the children's section, located on the lower level of the store. The area boasts a Winnie the Pooh Hundred Acre Wood theme with child-sized benches clustered around the stage. Kids will enjoy pointing out their favorite Pooh characters nestled in the woods as they wait for the fun to begin.

The Barnes & Noble's children section alone can keep a child entertained for hours. Between the well-stocked bookshelves, stuffed animals and educational toys for sale, children can spend hours poking through the racks in a controlled environment. While you wait for story time to begin, take advantage of the selection by reading some new stories to your child.

Storytime itself lasts about a half-hour and consists of two stories read aloud by one of the store's staff members. On a recent visit, we were treated to Let's Count Goats by Mem Fox and Gregory, the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat to round out the day's goat theme.

If your child loves reading, or you would like to expose your kid to some new books, check out storytime at the Galleria Barnes & Noble. It's definitely a great free activity for kids and their caregivers in Edina!

Visit the bookseller's website or call 952-920-0633 for additional information on upcoming story times.