Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in silicon valley, CA

The Great Indoors: Silicon Valley Storytimes

by bonggamom

March 17, 2009

It may go out like a lamb, but March, with its roaring winds and pelting rains, definitely came in like a lion.   That's bad for your clean floors and your sanity, but good for my Great Indoors series of posts -- because as long as this iffy weather keeps up, it makes sense to keep cranking out suggestions for places to take your little ones on a rainy day. 

Today we're all about storytimes.  Ahhh, storytimes.  I can't think of a better way to pass an hour on a rainy day -- your child gets to listen to new stories and sing new songs.   You, on the other hand, get to listen to someone else reading story after story to your child.  What a sweet combination.
 
I'm sure you know your local library's storytime schedule by heart.  But why stick to one branch?  Why not (pardon the pun) branch out a little and try a library from another city?  You might discover a super-talented storyteller, a storytime format your preschooler loves, or a less crowded crowd.  And why go to ten different websites when you can find links to Silicon Valley's major libraries and storytimes, all from this one post? 

Redwood City Libraries
Menlo Park Libraries
Palo Alto Libraries
Mountain View Libraries
Sunnyvale Libraries
San Jose Libraries
Santa Clara Libraries
Los Gatos Public Library
Santa Clara County Libraries
San Mateo Libraries
San Mateo County Libraries

Also, don't forget that your local bookstore or museum might also offer regular storytimes.   My favorite Silicon Valley children's bookstores all have occasional or regular storytimes.  Here are some other stores that have them:

1) Keplers Books hold storytimes most Sunday mornings, often with featuring authors reading their own books.
2) Borders - Check your local Borders for storytime schedules
3) Barnes and Noble - Check your local B&N for storytime schedules
4) Pottery Barn Kids has storytimes every Tuesday and singalong concerts every month or so.
5) It's Tuesday Tales at Coyote Point Museum every 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesday of the month.  Children ages 2-8 enjoy stories, animal presentations and activities, free with museum admission. 

As always, check their websites or call for schedules.  Happy reading!

List Day: Consumable Gifts

by Shawn Burns

December 16, 2008

Today on Savvy Source we're talking about "consumable" gifts. Not "gifts you can eat" but gifts that you use up, like gift certificates and memberships. My favorite gifts as a kid were always bookstore gift certificates, and I think my post-Christmas Certificate-Shopping-Spree kept the local bookstores in business through March. But not everyone is like the nerdy kid I was (am?), so  Read more...

Great children's bookstores

by Bonggamom

November 11, 2008

We're lucky to have a well-stocked children's library less than a mile away from home. There's no way we could afford to buy enough books to satisfy my family-of-five's literary appetite, so we always have a dozen or so books checked out at any point in time. That said, I think every child benefits from having a library of his or her very own, whether it be a shelf or a bookcase or a roomful  Read more...

Weekend Outlook: November 7th-9th

by Shawn Burns

November 05, 2008

This Election Week Weekend Outlook is brought to you by ME. You know. As usual. What is there to do with your little one this first weekend in November, the month winter begins to close its frosty grip? This Friday Hidden Villa begins its " Preschoolers on the Farm " series of "working the farm" afternoons. The workshop runs from 3-4pm, and is continued on November 14th and November 21st.  Read more...

The ABCs of Silicon Valley

by Shawn Burns

November 04, 2008

Today at Savvy Source we're doing the ABCs of Silicon Valley. Do you have the song in your head? Good. A is for Armadillo Willy's Barbecue . B is for the Baby Loves Disco . C is for the Cinco de Mayo Festival. D is for ducks . E is for environmentalism. F is for farmer's markets . G is for the Gilroy Garlic Festival . H is for Hobee's . I is for Ice Skating  Read more...

Weekend Outlook: September 26-28

by Shawn Burns

September 24, 2008

It's Weekend Outlook time, folks; that special day each week when I take a look at what is going on this weekend, tell you all to go do it, and then never show (actually, I've shown up at quite a few of these; where were you?). So let's see what's happening around the Valley this last September weekend. Friday: The Family Fun Festival is happening this Friday from 5pm-10pm in Cupertino. It's  Read more...

Weekend Head's Up: August 22-24

by Shawn Burns

August 20, 2008

Another new feature here at Being Savvy Silicon Valley is a look at the weekend ahead. Every Wednesday I'll post some fun activities for you and your pre-schooler to enjoy. This weekend... Friday: This friday Opal'z in Palo Alto is hosting a "Make your own lip balm" workshop for the kids. They'll learn about textures and fragrances, as well as a little elementary chemistry. E-mail  Read more...