Porter Ranch Small Group Storytime, October 21

The Porter Ranch Branch Library has another Small Group Storytime on the calendar for Wednesday, October 21. It's the fourth Wednesday in a row the branch has listed one, which tells you something: the regulars keep coming back. If you need things to do with kids LA can offer on a plain weekday, a half hour of picture books in a quiet library corner is hard to beat.

The session shows up on the L.A. Parent events calendar. Porter Ranch is a Los Angeles Public Library branch tucked into the northwest edge of the San Fernando Valley, close to the hills above Northridge and Granada Hills.

What a Small Group Feels Like

Picture six or eight kids instead of thirty. The reader can hold a book low enough that everyone sees the pictures. A toddler who wants to point at the dog on page four gets to do it, and somebody actually answers. That's the whole appeal.

Kids who freeze up in a crowd usually do better here. Parents get a break too, because there's less chasing and less shushing.

A Late October Session

By October 21, Halloween is ten days out. Expect costumes in the air even if nobody wears one. The branch hasn't published a book list, so we can't promise pumpkins or friendly monsters, but it would be a surprise if the season didn't sneak in somewhere.

For families who've come every Wednesday since late September, this one is a good checkpoint. Little ones who spent the first week on a parent's lap are often sitting on the floor with the group by now.

What the Listing Doesn't Say

The calendar entry gives the date and the branch, and that's about it. No start time, no age range, no price and no sign-up details. Plenty of library storytimes are free, but we couldn't confirm it for this one, so check the L.A. Parent listing or call the branch before you go. Small groups have limited room, so showing up a little early is a good idea.

A few tips:

• Bring your library card and grab a couple of books on the way out.
• Save snacks for after the last song.
• Sit near the edge if your kid is a wanderer.

Getting There

Driving is the easy option for most Valley families. The lot gets busier when a kids' program is running, so leave a few extra minutes. Going by bus? Look the branch up on the LAPL site and map a Metro route from there.

Keep the Week Going

Our family events page rounds up more family events Los Angeles parents can plan around, from puppet shows to museum days. For kids activities LA has closer to your part of town, browse the Los Angeles page. And if October 21 is booked solid, this storytime has been a Wednesday habit at Porter Ranch all fall.