Youth Department!

Table of Contents
Your Story Starts Early
Early access to library resources has an effect on literacy, health, and financial success later in life. Help your kids start their story today.
Our Programs
Features & Highlights
What's Going on at cfpl for YOUTH

STORYTIMES

We have storytime most Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. During storytime, we read fun stories, use fingerplays, rhyme, and sing songs to help your child begin the journey of becoming a lifelong reader and develop pre-literacy skills. Pre-literacy skills are the things children know about reading and words before they can read, such as letter shapes and sounds.  Storytimes also include a craft on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays! Following Baby Storytime on Mondays, we have a free play session, and following Music & Movement Storytime on Fridays, we have a dance party.

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Services for Educators

Are you an educator looking for resources? Look no further than our Youth Services for Educators page. Ask our librarians to select books for your classroom, book a field trip, invite us to your school's literacy night, or collaborate with us on a program! Educators who live or work in Black Hawk County have the opportunity to sign up for Educator Accounts, which allow you a six-week checkout (with no renewals) of books for your classroom.  

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Featured Events

STEMventurers! Green Energy Lab

Thursday, March 5 at 4:15 p.m. | Co-Lab

Meets the first Thursday of every month in the CoLab at the Cedar Falls Public Library. Join us for a hands-on science experience! Each session is packed full of fun games, exciting experiments and brain-teasing trivia that bring STEM concepts to life. This month's activity: Ready to harness the power of nature? Become an energy engineer as you build wind and water turbines and explore how nature can help generate electricity. Experiment with renewable energy and see science in action in this hands-on STEMventure!

Perfect for curious minds in 4th-6th Grade. Registration Required.

Toymakers

Friday, March 6 at 4:00 p.m. | Youth Department

Join us as we create easy-to-make toys from yesteryear. Make history come alive as classic oldies may become new favorites. Each child will be able to take their creations home to continue the fun.

Creation Stations

Tuesday, March 10 at 4:15 p.m. | Youth Department

Drop in and explore a variety of creative mediums to discover new and interesting ways to express yourself! For Ages 6-9



Sponsored by The Friends of The Cedar Falls Public Library

Book Bundles
Don’t know what to read next? We’ve got you covered.
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Step One

FILL OUR OUR “BOOK BUNDLE REQUEST” FORM BELOW.
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Step Two

We’ll let you know when your curated selection of books is ready to pick up.
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Step Three

Enjoy a selection of books chosen with you in mind.
Book Bundle Request Form
Youth Department
Programs & Events

Calendar of Events

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Kid Librarian!
Kid Librarian!
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  • Tween After Hours: Mario Kart & Pizza Party!

    Teen Room. Tweens are invited to a special after-hours program at the library! Come play Mario Kart and enjoy pizza with some friends! Registration is required. For kids ages 9-12. Our safe […]

  • Family Storytime

    Youth Department  Enjoy storytime with the whole family! Get ready to read, dance, and sing! Youth, Ages 0-5 Funded by the Friends of the Cedar Falls Public Library.

  • Popcorn & Pictures A Family Movie Matinee

    Youth, all ages, in the Meeting Room.Join us for monthly movie screenings that are fun for the whole family! We'll provide the popcorn, but feel free to bring your own […]

  • Baby Storytime

    Youth Department.    Join us for baby storytime as we sing, read, bounce, and rhyme! It's a great time to cuddle your baby close and have fun while introducing them to skills that will help them become future readers. After storytime, join us for a free play session. For babies 0-23 months  Youth.    Sponsored by the […]

  • Tween Book Club

    Youth Department (Storytime Corner)Tweens (kids ages 9-12) are invited to join us for a monthly book club! We'll enjoy a group activity and a discussion on this month's book. This month's book is Rescue by Jennifer Nielsen. To register and pick up a copy of the book, please email the youth desk at youth@cedarfallslibrary.org or call the youth desk […]

  • Preschool Storytime

    Youth Department.   Join us for Preschool Storytime as we read, sing, dance, and play. Parents are encouraged to embrace their inner child and dance and sing along with their child/ren.   For preschoolers, ages 3-5. Youth Funded by the Friends of the Cedar Falls Public Library.

  • Kids Book Club

    Youth DepartmentKids ages 7-9 are invited to join us for a monthly book club! We'll enjoy a group activity and a discussion on this month’s book.  To register and arrange […]

  • Toddler Storytime

    Youth Department.   Join us for Toddler Storytime as we read, sing, dance, rhyme, and get silly. Storytime is a great way to introduce your toddler to the joy of reading […]

  • Art Adventures: Beaded Plant

    Co-Lab.Youth. Ages 6-12. Join us monthly for a fun, relaxing, crafty day where you and your kiddo can create awesome art together. Ages 6-12. Registration Required. This month's craft: Beaded PlantCo-Lab.Youth. Ages […]

  • Music and Movement Storytime

    Youth Department.  Geared toward toddlers and preschoolers. Get ready to dance and be silly! We'll read books that encourage movement, sing songs, and shake our sillies out!  Ages 2+, Youth. […]

  • Family Storytime

    Youth Department  Enjoy storytime with the whole family! Get ready to read, dance, and sing! Youth, Ages 0-5 Funded by the Friends of the Cedar Falls Public Library.

  • Baby Storytime

    Youth Department.    Join us for baby storytime as we sing, read, bounce, and rhyme! It's a great time to cuddle your baby close and have fun while introducing them to […]

View ALl Events
Youth Department
Resources for Parents

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, quality books to children from birth until age five.

Kid Librarian

Have you ever wanted to be a librarian? Well, here is your chance! We are introducing Kid Librarian at CFPL, where one lucky kid will be drawn every month and picked to be a librarian for an afternoon! Read about our kid librarians here!

Books & Baby Bumps

Books & Baby Bumps is a pre-birth early literacy program designed to help families start a reading ritual before the baby arrives.

Kids Links

Fun, educational links for kids to enjoy!

Youth Book Recommendations

A list of CFPL librarian-curated youth book recommendations.

Resources for Parents/Guardians

A list of educational and library-related resources for parents and gaurdians.

Kids' Homework Help

Recommended websites and databases for homework help!

Our Music Garden

Visit our Music Garden behind the library! Colorful instruments now fill green space by State St., creating an area that fosters multi-generational entertainment, encourages creativity, and engages the senses. Create music, play together, and have fun!

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

This program is part of a national literacy initiative to encourage parents and caregivers to read often to their children before they begin school.

Big Woods Lake StoryWalk®

Spend time with family/friends, enjoy nature, and read the more recent storybook installation.

Spooky Story Contest Winners

Check out the annual spooky story contest winners along with links to their stories!

Adventure Pass

Have you heard of our Adventure Pass system? Check out passes to fun places, such as the Blank Park Zoo, The Science Center of Iowa, and the Grout Museum District.

Tumblebooks

TumbleBooks are animated, talking picture books which teach kids the joy of reading in a format they'll love.

The Importance of Early Childhood Literacy

A collection of stats in keys areas in child literacy to help prepare you to make a difference in the lives of your children.

All Resources
Teens & Tweens
Got a Teen or Tween at home? Send them to the link below so they can check out all the cool stuff going on the library that’s just for them.
Teens & Tweens
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