About Children’s Services
The River Forest Public Library serves children birth through 4th grade and their caregivers. Explore resources for kids below, and be sure to check out our YouTube channel for virtual storytimes, crafts, and more!
Kids Events
Join library staff and PAWSitive and read to a dog! This exercise allows emerging readers to get comfortable practicing with the best listener around, a dog!
Pop in for hands-on stations involving letter and number recognition, sensory play, games, and fine motor skill practice! For grades PreK-2 and their grown-ups.
Disclaimer(s)
Accompanying Adults for Children's Programs
Children age 7 and younger must have a caregiver (age 12 or older) with them at all times while at the library, including during programs. Children may not be left unattended at the library unless they are age 8+.
Accompanying Adults for Early Childhood Programs
This program is designed for young children to attend with a caregiver. Please plan to be engaged with your child during this program. Children under age 5 must be in the immediate supervising vicinity of a caregiver at all times while at the library.
Join T-Rexplorers for a fun, interactive, engaging program with authentic dinosaur fossils, and learn about dinosaurs. Arrive 15 minutes before the start and meet Green Bean, a baby "Triceratops"! Registration required. For grades K-4.
Disclaimer(s)
Accompanying Adults for Children's Programs
Children age 7 and younger must have a caregiver (age 12 or older) with them at all times while at the library, including during programs. Children may not be left unattended at the library unless they are age 8+.
Pop in the children's room on the last Friday of the month and make a fun craft! For ages 0-6 with a caregiver.
Disclaimer(s)
Accompanying Adults for Early Childhood Programs
This program is designed for young children to attend with a caregiver. Please plan to be engaged with your child during this program. Children under age 5 must be in the immediate supervising vicinity of a caregiver at all times while at the library.
Messy Program Alert
This program involves getting messy. Please wear appropriate clothing.
Community Storytime at Wonder Works Children's Museum
Join your favorite librarians from the RFPL Children's Room at Wonder Works Children's Museum for a special storytime! Non-members, stop by the Children's desk for a free admission ticket, while supplies last. For families.
Disclaimer(s)
Accompanying Adults for Children's Programs
Children age 7 and younger must have a caregiver (age 12 or older) with them at all times while at the library, including during programs. Children may not be left unattended at the library unless they are age 8+.
Accompanying Adults for Early Childhood Programs
This program is designed for young children to attend with a caregiver. Please plan to be engaged with your child during this program. Children under age 5 must be in the immediate supervising vicinity of a caregiver at all times while at the library.
Join us for a story and bring your own toy car! We will create our own car track with cardboard and washi tape to use and take home. For families.
Disclaimer(s)
Accompanying Adults for Children's Programs
Children age 7 and younger must have a caregiver (age 12 or older) with them at all times while at the library, including during programs. Children may not be left unattended at the library unless they are age 8+.
Accompanying Adults for Early Childhood Programs
This program is designed for young children to attend with a caregiver. Please plan to be engaged with your child during this program. Children under age 5 must be in the immediate supervising vicinity of a caregiver at all times while at the library.
Messy Program Alert
This program involves getting messy. Please wear appropriate clothing.
Join us for stories, songs, and lots of movement in this fun and engaging, interactive story time! For ages 0-6, with caregiver.
Disclaimer(s)
Accompanying Adults for Children's Programs
Children age 7 and younger must have a caregiver (age 12 or older) with them at all times while at the library, including during programs. Children may not be left unattended at the library unless they are age 8+.
Accompanying Adults for Early Childhood Programs
This program is designed for young children to attend with a caregiver. Please plan to be engaged with your child during this program. Children under age 5 must be in the immediate supervising vicinity of a caregiver at all times while at the library.
Listen to a story and do creative extension activities like crafts, games, and storytelling. Registration is required. Grades K-4.
Disclaimer(s)
Accompanying Adults for Children's Programs
Children age 7 and younger must have a caregiver (age 12 or older) with them at all times while at the library, including during programs. Children may not be left unattended at the library unless they are age 8+.
Messy Program Alert
This program involves getting messy. Please wear appropriate clothing.
Join us for stories, music, and movement. For children ages 18 months-3 with a caregiver.
Disclaimer(s)
Accompanying Adults for Early Childhood Programs
This program is designed for young children to attend with a caregiver. Please plan to be engaged with your child during this program. Children under age 5 must be in the immediate supervising vicinity of a caregiver at all times while at the library.
TumbleBooks
Novelist K-8 Plus
Reading recommendations for kids’ fiction and nonfiction that you can search by Lexile, subject, and grade level.
Kits for Kids
Borrow an American Girl doll and accessories. One doll per household at a time. Two-week checkout, no renewals. River Forest Library cardholders only.
Check out a theme or skill-building kit which include hands-on activities, manipulatives, and books for young patrons to explore and learn about relevant topics.
Visit the Children’s Library
The River Forest Public Library’s Children’s Room offers a lively environment for kids from birth through 4th grade and their caregivers. Visit and browse a large, dynamic selection of books, movies, video games, American Girl dolls, Wonderbooks, Discovery Kits and more.
Our well loved play area features a kitchen set, a vet set, magnatiles, cars and trucks, puzzles, puppets, and other fun toys. Kids can write a letter to our Children’s Room mascots, S’more the Rottweiler, Gelato the Himalayan cat, and Cheesecake the baby seal. We also offer scavenger hunts, I Spy, passive crafts, coloring sheets, and a Guesstimation Jar. Check our calendar for our wide selection of monthly programming.
