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The Most Magical Children's Sections in Libraries
Most libraries invite you to imagine: See those books over there? They look normal, but dragons lurk behind the spines, detectives creep around the pages, and pirates sail off into the covers. If you want any of that story magic to seep into reality, you have to visit the children's section. We've rounded up some of the most fantastic and immersive libraries for kids in the world. Which one do you want to visit?
Brentwood Library
Fairytales come alive in Brentwood Library's whimsical children's section. Children are greeted by a talking owl (operated by a motion sensor…or magic!), and the bookshelves are placed deep in an artificial forest. Stay alert when you visit this library wood! Live animals, magicians, and puppeteers frequently drop by.
What to read while you're there:
East Hampton Library
With ocean rugs below and "book-bird" seagulls above, the Children's Reading Room in the East Hampton Library is the perfect place to get swept up in stories. Kids can browse the shelves of a giant windmill display or chat with librarians at the boat desk before curling up with a new book.
What to read while you're there:
Cerritos Millennium Library
Go big or go home at the Millennium Library, recently named the Best Library for Children by Los Angeles Magazine. The adventure begins right at the start, through an entryway made up of massive books fit for a giant. Inside, readers will find a 15,000 gallon saltwater aquarium, a model space shuttle, a T-Rex skeleton replica...and lots and lots of books, of course!
What to read while you're there:
Raja Tun Uda Library
Oh, the weather outside is frightful? It never matters inside this sprawling outdoor-themed children's section. Complete with grassy hill, (fake) rays of sunshine, and a life-size "reading tree," this indoor library park is a young book lover's paradise.
What to read while you're there:
Laramie County Library
It's all about hands-on play at the Laramie County Library! Readers can pile into the child-size Bookmobile, or power up the behemoth "Book Factory." On top of that, the library has an after-hours program that gives pre-teens exclusive access to the entire building, which includes an oversized chess board and yummy Library Cafe.
What to read while you're there:
Which one is favorite? Tell us in the comments!
And for more fun, check out our home for Summer Reading for Kids here.
Brentwood Library
Fairytales come alive in Brentwood Library's whimsical children's section. Children are greeted by a talking owl (operated by a motion sensor…or magic!), and the bookshelves are placed deep in an artificial forest. Stay alert when you visit this library wood! Live animals, magicians, and puppeteers frequently drop by.
What to read while you're there:
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With ocean rugs below and "book-bird" seagulls above, the Children's Reading Room in the East Hampton Library is the perfect place to get swept up in stories. Kids can browse the shelves of a giant windmill display or chat with librarians at the boat desk before curling up with a new book.
What to read while you're there:
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Go big or go home at the Millennium Library, recently named the Best Library for Children by Los Angeles Magazine. The adventure begins right at the start, through an entryway made up of massive books fit for a giant. Inside, readers will find a 15,000 gallon saltwater aquarium, a model space shuttle, a T-Rex skeleton replica...and lots and lots of books, of course!
What to read while you're there:
 |
 |
 |
 |
Oh, the weather outside is frightful? It never matters inside this sprawling outdoor-themed children's section. Complete with grassy hill, (fake) rays of sunshine, and a life-size "reading tree," this indoor library park is a young book lover's paradise.
What to read while you're there:
 |
 |
 |
 |
It's all about hands-on play at the Laramie County Library! Readers can pile into the child-size Bookmobile, or power up the behemoth "Book Factory." On top of that, the library has an after-hours program that gives pre-teens exclusive access to the entire building, which includes an oversized chess board and yummy Library Cafe.
What to read while you're there:
 |
 |
 |
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Which one is favorite? Tell us in the comments!
And for more fun, check out our home for Summer Reading for Kids here.
Comments Showing 51-91 of 91 (91 new)
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This is what happens when you live in a school District and not a county. There is a big world and this county is 10-20 years behind the times. Upon graduation we are heading north of the mason dixon line.
These images make me wish I become a child again
I wish if I could get in to the either of these ever.
Really nice!!! Great help for me right now. :) Library design inspirations.
I want to go now to Cerritos, Brentwood and Raja Tun Uda. <3
heidi wrote: "I'm so happy that a library from Malaysia (Raja Tun Uda) is on this list!!! :D"Me too!!
Those libraries are wonderful, even as an adult I would want to sit under the tree reading...if I ever visit any of these towns I'll make sure to stop by there.Our local library's children section is huge, but it is very modern and reduced/practical like the whole building. OK, it puts the focus on the books, but a little colorful magic would have been nice.
Simply wow is the word! Loved all of them though Brentwood is the most enchanting one.
When you're not a small child anymore but you still kinda wish you could go there...
I take my grandchildren to the Cerritos Library for great adventure. There are lots of fountains and splash pads outside as well. They are mesmerized by the enormous sea life aquarium wall and love to play around the banyan tree with rain forest sounds. Only then can they settle down to read.
If I can only choose one, it would be Brentwood. But they all look amazing.
I love the reading tree area! How neat to be able to sit with "nature" on even the snowiest days!
It's kind of sad the lengths they have to go to in order to get kids interested in reading these days. The public library where I grew up was plain and boring looking, yet there were always a bunch of kids there and the summer reading program always had a huge number of participants.
Brentwood is my favorite by far. I can imagine being 5 or 6 years old and walking through that entrance.
I want to visit them all!!! They all look so cool. I practically lived in a library growing up because books were always an escape. I loved the fact that I could curl up in a corner with a great book and be undisturbed for hours.
A tiny little town in my neck of the woods (population approx. 1000) called Richards Landing, ON, Canada has its own Children's Library - an entirely library dedicated just to children - est. 1935 when the population was even less. Nothing modern or fancy about it. It's the original building - and still going strong more than eighty years later.
Jolie wrote: "It's kind of sad the lengths they have to go to in order to get kids interested in reading these days. The public library where I grew up was plain and boring looking, yet there were always a bunch..."I don't think that a library's environment will make kids read, that is mainly the responsibility of the parents. Little kids won't walk into a library on their own - someone has to take them there. Why then not create a magical atmosphere if it is possible? But I think that occupies a rather small percentage of the influence on a child's reading habits.
With the advent of seven year olds running around with their face glued to a tablet or phone playing games, they've not got a whole lot of interest in the library or books. That's what I mean. They have to go to that much effort in order to get the attention of the kids who would rather be online goofing off or playing games.
Jolie wrote: "With the advent of seven year olds running around with their face glued to a tablet or phone playing games, they've not got a whole lot of interest in the library or books. That's what I mean. They..."True, but where does that habit come from? I'd say from watching their parents/siblings/friends doing it. Children imitate the behavior of those around them, which is mostly their parents. And they can't use a tablet or phone without their parents giving them access to it. I think it does make a difference if they see their parents reading regularly or playing with their e-toys all the time.
Erin ☕ *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "These libraries are ridiculously cool. I've seen a few of those on Pinterest and featured them on my blog. They make me envious - wish I could visit them as an adult!"Joanna - Think we'd be allowed in? I love the creativity.
Now if they could be as clever for the grown up sections!
I think the East Hampton is my favorite from this list - very ingenious with the boat desk and book seagulls! The Brentwood library isn't far behind - I wouldn't mind going there as an adult! I love the inside "tree" of the Raja Tun Uda library too.
Raja Tun Uda Library is my favorite! But all are great! :D
It is really hard to pick a favorite, but the Brentwood Library appeals to the kid in me. What a fantastic children's library!
I need the adult sections to look like this!!!!
I wonder if any of our (British) libraries are like that?Something else for me to Google :-D
I'd quite like to see the teen and adult sections look exciting too
First time I entered a library, I was three years old, too many moons ago, there in front of me was the most beautiful box with drawers in it. My grandmother had been working with me on the alphabet so the small letters on each drawer were wonderful to look at, then grandmother opened the Letter Aa drawer...! She found a children's book wrote words down on a card and we went to the children's side of the library. There was the shelf and we found the book. Never loved a more wonderful visit, except the Lake Shore walks to scout morning creatures and birds... atk
Andrea wrote: "I wonder if any of our (British) libraries are like that?Something else for me to Google :-D
I'd quite like to see the teen and adult sections look exciting too"
Ms. Andrea, As we refer to individuals and people we are not acquainted with-in the American USA South. I was reviewing some the British Libraries and found them in smaller towns quite interesting. Almost look at our small library in a rural area of the USA, not to exciting and the young adult sections-looks like the adult section-non appealing. The public library building is possibly forty years old, and little room for growth in the new conception of a libraries-online, programs and most important (though not too many people in this area) BOOKS, AND REFERENCE INCLUDED. Have you looked online through the registry of Public Libraries in the UK? I have loved libraries since I was introduced to the idea as a three year old. Like reading the blog spot of yours. My husband and I were teachers in the South part of the USA. Best Wishes. Mrs. ALK
Some wonderful places for children to discover the joy of reading.
I love them all but the Laramie County Library looks wonderfully engaging - and The Phantom Tollbooth is one of my very favorite children's books ever!
Nicole wrote: "Now if they could be as clever for the grown up sections!"Hi Nicole, The Cerritos library has a very "British" style reading room paneled in dark wood with a fireplace and wing-back chairs. It's lovely for adults to curl up and read. The rest of the building is ultra modern.
I Know right I would LOVE that