Musical Story Time in the Park

Please join Berkeley Library’s Story Time Band at local parks for live music, movement activities, and read-aloud stories! These events will take place on the following Thursdays at 10:30 A.M. :

July 25th - Virginia-McGee Totland, 1644 Virginia St.

August 15th - Strawberry Creek Park, 1260 Allston Way

August 22nd and 29th - Live Oak Park, 1301 Shattuck Ave. 

They also lead FREE Musical Story Time sessions at Freight & Salvage (2020 Addison St.) on first Thursdays, and beginning in September, on third Thursdays at the Frances Albrier Community Center (2800 Park St.).

For ages 2-7
 

Band Bio:

In 2013, children’s librarian Michael Kwende, known to Berkeley youth as “Mr. Michael,” and retired librarian and guitarist Tim DeWolf, began offering Musical Story Time at the Berkeley Public Library’s Claremont Branch. Their events soon became so popular with children and their caregivers that it outgrew the library’s programming space, requiring them to secure a larger venue to accommodate their audiences. That place became Berkeley’s Bateman Mall Park, and soon after, musicians and library specialist Juan Castille and Donovan Russell joined the effort, and The Story Time Band was born. In 2024, the band welcomed a new member, keyboardist Tienne Lee!

They have since brought their Musical Story Time to numerous elementary school classrooms, libraries, and literacy events and have performed at public parks throughout the city where hundreds of children and caregivers regularly attend their weekly events. In 2023, they began an artist residency at Freight & Salvage and performed at the Berkeley Bay Festival, the Bay Area Book Festival (2023 & 2024), and Children’s Fairyland in Oakland.

Follow them on Instagram @thestorytimeband

The Story Time Band art was designed by @jromonkey