I love Storyville. More importantly, so does my 3-3/4 year old son. We went to the one at the Woodlawn Library (there's another one at the Rosedale Library) on a whim, and boy did it pay off! (How can this place be FREE???)The first time we went, we spent about 2.5 hours playing and reading. It was a rainy Sunday afternoon, and there were probably about 30 other people. The second time we went, it was a sunny Sunday afternoon, and there were about 15 people. My son didn't want to leave.
Storyville is a museum-quality early literacy program of the Baltimore County Public Library system. It was started in Rosedale in 2007, and it has been wildly successful. I think they logged in 50,000 visitors in its first 8 months. It is a popular haunt for stay at home moms during the week, as it should be. This place is AMAZING.
It is designed for children 5 and under, with a max capacity of 60 people. It's approx. 3000 sq. feet total. In the Woodlawn library, you walk through the library, through the children's section and then enter Storyville. The staff is strict about not allowing older children in to play - children must be accompanied by an adult or child over 14. It is a great place to play WITH your child. At least at the Woodlawn Storyville, there is ample place to hang your jackets, park your strollers, a clean bathroom right by the Storyville entrance (as well as the one in the library proper), and a locking gate that ensures your child isn't running out of Storyville without you knowing. This is a great, safe toddler play place! Since they limit the ages of Storyville-goers, it is that much more comfortable for pre-schoolers to play free of intimidating, bigger kids.
It's not too big or too small. There are several areas within Storyville:
1. The woods: There is a 2 story "tree" kids can climb up and look out of with a cutout to sit inside of and read. There is a log to crawl through and little chirpy, plush birds.
2. Train table (self-explanatory)
3. Construction area (with legos, bristle blocks, dump trucks, etc.)Metal sheeting wall with magnetic ledges, pipes, and balls to arrange in a path that will send the ball from the top of the wall to the bottom without falling (not so easy).
Magnetic gears that you can arrange on the adjacent wall, turn, and spin.
4. A trolley car with seats mounted on springs, costumes, puzzles, magnetic letters, buttons to push, etc.
5. A 2-story house with a "grill" outside, a kitchen, living area, upstairs bedroom. A real "play" house.
6. A grocery store with cash registers, bins of fruits and vegetables, dry goods, baskets, etc.
7. A theater with costumes, scenery (a bridge and a storybook backdrop), and props (instruments). Now playing: The Three Billy Goats Gruff. There is a large version of the book set up on an easel in front so you can narrate while your kids act out the billy goats or the trolls.
There is also a puppet theater with the three little pigs puppets.
8. A children's library. Bookbags, books, and more.
This place is insanely wonderful and habit-forming. There are books, letters, and hands-on playing in each of the nooks. I read to my son in the "woods", let him act out the Three Billy Goats Gruff, had him grill me up some burgers, and he's still annoyed he hasn't yet played in the grocery store (he's been there twice, for a total of probably 4 hours).
The second time I went, I took my 10 month old and my husband. There is an infant area with balls, baby books, pillows, and toys set out in a "garden". My daughter loved the mirrors on the floor and pulling all the books and toys off the shelves.
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.Website: http://www.bcplstoryville.org/storyville_about.html
Locations:
Storyville @ Rosedale
6105 Kenwood Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21237-2097
410-887-0512
Storyville @ Woodlawn
1811 Woodlawn Drive
Woodlawn, Maryland 21207-4074
410-887-1336
