Left Bank Books

Author Nick Bruel Brings “Bad Kitty” to St. Louis for a Special Reading

When I told my seven-year-old I was going to be talking with children’s author Nick Bruel, she squealed like Shawn Mendes just walked in the room with a giant bag of Twizzlers. As a child who struggles with reading issues, my little one was taken in by Bruel’s slightly sarcastic, always funny Bad Kitty books.

Storytime with Miss Jonesey

Kids of all ages are welcome to Storytime with Miss Jonesey. These free storytimes are held on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Kids' Room at Left Bank Books in the Central West End.

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Celebrity Storytime: The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake

Author Deborah Zemke will read from her new book, The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake during this free story time at Left Bank Books. In the story, when food goes missing on Ed's farm, Detectives Wilcox and Griswold do what it take to track down the thieves. In this case, Miss Rabbit's carrot cake has disappeared. Has it been stolen? Eaten? Or both? And who did it?

10:30 a.m. at Left Bank Books in the Central West End. Free.

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The List, Some Nerds, and An Awesome Giveaway

Like most married couples I know, my husband and I have a celebrity “list.”

You know, that special list of celebrities where, if the opportunity arises, we can totally blow off dinner plans and dump the kids on the other to go to a book signing. No questions asked.

5 Questions For the Bloggess

A pet raccoon with a hand-washing obsession. A giant metal chicken with a filthy mouth. A homicidal monkey with mange. If you have a crush on any of these characters, you might just be a fan of writer and mom Jenny Lawson, known to the world as The Bloggess.

Teen Author & YouTube Sensation Headed to St. Louis for Book Signing

Just a little over a year ago, Zach Wahls stood before the Iowa House Judiciary Committee, introducing legislators to his family, which includes his two moms, Terry and Jackie. Through his three-minute, heartfelt testimony against a proposed amendment which would reverse the right of gay couples to marry in Iowa, the 19-year-old honored his parents’ commitment, became an icon in the fight for equality, and changed how people define the word “family.”

Wahls' testimony quickly became an Internet sensation, with more than 16 million views on YouTube. While his speech touched millions, it particularly resonated with children of same-sex parents whose message of tolerance was now broadcast worldwide.

7 Ways to Celebrate Children's Book Week in St. Louis

This week marks the beginning of our country’s longest-running literacy program, Children’s Book Week. It is an annual celebration with a simple and powerful message: Books change lives, so let’s share them with our kids. Started in 1919 by the librarian of the Boy Scouts, who sought to improve the standards of children’s books, Children's Book Week is now administered by Every Child a Reader.

Children’s books hold a particularly special place in our culture. In fact, I probably enjoy them more than most of the adult books I read. They are deceptively simple, and the memorable ones tickle our imagination. They are full of the play and discovery characteristic not just of being a child but, well, of being human. And the element of illustration adds a whole other dimension to storytelling.

Here are some activities you can do with your child to celebrate this week.

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Things to Do

Owl Prowl at the World Bird Sanctuary

Friday, February 7, 2025

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Come over to the dark side and meet the amazing birds that exist by moonlight. Owl Prowls are an opportunity for families to learn about owls from the naturalists at the World Bird Sanctuary.

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Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym in Creve Coeur

Friday, February 7, 2025

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Kids can work on existing gym skills, learn new skills or just play around during Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym in Creve Coeur.

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Preschool Science: Science Tots at the Saint Louis Science Center

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Science Tots is designed for children ages 18 to 36 months. The class provides opportunities to support brain development and learning. Toddlers and their grown-ups will explore STEM topics through songs, stories, hands-on exploration and play.

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Science Storytime at the Saint Louis Science Center

Young visitors and their families are invited to the Life Science Lab Classroom at the Saint Louis Science Center to enjoy interactive read-alouds of science-themed picture books. Story times are followed by a short demonstration or discussion connected to the book's main concepts.

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Valentine Workshops at Yucandu Art Studio

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Valentine's Day workshops at Yucandu Art Studio allow kids to express their creativity and bring home amazing Valentine's Day projects! Workshops are for kids in kindergarten through grade 5.

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Welcome 2025 at one of these New Year's Eve Celebrations for Families in St. Louis

Who says you have to stay up late to ring in the new year? Kids can make some noise and welcome 2025 at these daytime and early evening celebrations designed just for young partygoers.

Want Your Kids to Learn? Teach Them It’s Okay to Make Mistakes

It’s normal for parents to want to protect their children from failure. It’s also normal to want them to achieve, win, and do their best. But here’s the truth: We don’t learn anything new without making mistakes. I’ll say it again. Making mistakes is a crucial step in learning. If we’re fearful of making mistakes, learning comes to a screeching halt.

Spring Break Camps Offer a Variety of Activities for Kids and Teens in St. Louis

Excitement is building for summer and the wide variety of summer camp experiences available for kids in the St. Louis metro area. But first! Spring break is around the corner, and there are plenty of Spring Break camps enrolling now.

Winter Break Camps Offer School Break Fun for Your Kids

Winter Break Camps offer your kids a fun way to spend their break from school! They'll participate in engaging activities that will make their school break memorable. We rounded up some fantastic options for Winter Break Camps for kids of all ages. Sign up soon! Many camps fill fast.

7 Signs Your Kids Are Ready For Their First Sleepaway Camp

It’s time to decide whether to send your kids to sleepaway camp, but how do you know that's the right thing to do? How can you tell whether your kids are ready for their first extended stay away from home? Here are 7 important signs that experts say should inform your decision.

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Bring your family to Cardinals Nation Restaurant on select Wednesday nights for Family Night with Fredbird! Meet Fredbird from 6:30-7:30 p.m., play games and win prizes! Kids eat FREE per adult meal purchased from 5 to 9 p.m. (Dine-in only, for kids 12 and under) Meet Fredbird from 6:30-7:30 p.m., play games and win prizes!

For more information and reservations: cardinalsnation.com

Plan your child's summer at the biggest Summer Camp Expo in the St. Louis area, featuring 70+ local and regional summer camps offering day- and sleep-away camp experiences all across the St. Louis region and beyond. Bring your kids to Summer Expo 2025 and learn about a wide variety of summer learning and summer camp opportunities for kids of all ages. The Summer Expo is presented by Parkway-Rockwood Community Ed, sponsored by STL Parent and STL Camps, and is open to all families from any school district across the St. Louis metro area. Admission is free! 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at Marquette High School in Chesterfield. Stop by the STL Camps booth at the entrance and enter to win a free week of camp!

Learn more at summerexpostl,com

Play, learn, and create on Community School's beautiful 18-acre campus this summer. Camps are available for children age 3 through eighth grade and include full- and half-day options. Choose from dozens of activities led by our experienced faculty and partners including Mad Science of St. Louis, STAGES, The Fencing Academy, The Recreation Academy, and more. Programming also includes Community's signature FUNdamentals Camp, designed to help children fight the summer slump in August. Camps have limited enrollment, so register today at communityschoool.com/camp

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