The Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library is organizing two new story-telling programs for toddlers and children to be held in Holland Hall beginning at the end of January.

The Baby and Me Story Time will be held each Tuesday at 10 a.m. from Jan. 30, until March 20. The 30-minute story time is for toddlers up to 3-years-old and their mothers or their caregivers.

Another program will provide an hour of story time for children aged 3 to 6. It will be held each Friday at 10 a.m. beginning Feb. 2 until March 23.

Megan Nix Miller, children’s library assistant and organizer of the program, said the idea to have story time for toddlers came to her when she observed many 2-year-olds attending other story events at the library for their older siblings.

“We realized these children needed their own story time. Our aim in those 30 minutes will be to introduce children to reading concepts suitable at their level,” Miller said.

Besides reading stories, children can participate in singing nursery rhymes and sing alongs. BoardBooks, story kits that may include a stuffed animal and coloring sheets will also be available during story time.

Miller said she typically organizes the reading sessions to go along with the season or holiday.

“We try and keep a theme of the day for every reading. At one of our readings when we had someone from the Arboretum come give a speech about plants, I made children read various books about plants,” Miller said.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to accompany children at the reading programs.

Miller said these programs could be a great way to introduce suitable books to children, especially for parents who are worried about how to build their child’s reading habits.

For more information about the program contact the library at 601-798-5081.