Kinderpalooza 2026 | OC Public Libraries

An event for children and families preparing to enter kindergarten.

Performers and Activity Stations!

We're excited to partner with incredible local organizations committed to early learning, family support, and sparking curiosity in young minds, including BrightLife Kids, First 5 Orange County, Children's Home Society, PBS SoCal, Discovery Cube, and more!

Kinderpalooza Flyers

Foothill Ranch Library
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 4-6 pm
Performer: Adventures in Living Science
Costume Character: Pancake Pig

Laguna Niguel Library
Thursday, March 12, 2026 4-6 pm
Performer: Wild Wonders
Costume Character: Pancake Pig

Stanton Library
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 4-6 pm
Performer: Wild Wonders
Costume Character: Llama Llama

Dana Point Library
Thursday, March 19, 2026 4-6 pm
Performer: Wild Wonders
Costume Character: Llama Llama

Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 4-6 pm
Performer: Wild Wonders
Costume Character: Pete the Cat

Westminster Library
Thursday, March 26, 2026 4-6 pm
Performer: Adventures in Living Science
Costume Character: Pete the Cat

Programs

Wednesday, March 4 at 11:00am
Fountain Valley Library
Ina the Sunshine Storyteller
Shake your tale feathers! Practice your reading readiness skills with rhythm and movement with Ina the Sunshine Storyteller.

Thursday, March 5 at 4:00pm
San Clemente Library
Get Ready for Kindergarten!
Let’s get ready for kindergarten! Join us for a fun-filled program that will help your preschooler build the skills they need to succeed at kindergarten!

Wednesday, March 11 at 11:00am
Rancho Santa Margarita Library
KinderCamp!
Join us for a special event featuring crafts, games, and a variety of activities that will help soon-to-be kindergartners build the skills they need to succeed.

Wednesday, March 11 at 3:30pm
Laguna Beach Library
Get Ready for Kindergarten!
Get kindergarten ready by visiting activity stations that will strengthen fine motor and social skills! Activities will include scissor work, letter formation with Play-Doh, sensory play, and matching.

Wednesday, March 11 at 4:00pm
Tustin Library
Tiny Tot Bingo
Join us for a fun-filled game of bingo designed just for preschoolers. For ages 3 and up!

Friday, March 13 at 10:00am
Laguna Woods Library
Animal Sticker Art
Create sticker art while practicing early kindergarten readiness skills like shape and color recognition and eye-hand coordination.

Wednesday, March 18 at 11:30am
Brea Library
Motor Time: Block Party
Practice your problem solving, sharing, fine motor skills, and more at this special Kindergarten Readiness Month edition of Motor Time! Stay after Toddler Tales Storytime to build with all of our different types of blocks and make your own building out of shapes to take home.

Thursday, March 19 at 4:00pm
Tustin Library
Christopher T. Magician
Practice your kindergarten readiness skills as Christopher T. Magician hosts this rollicking game show filled with magic, participation, and laughter. Each game is based on a popular children's book, and when books are involved... everybody wins!

Monday, March 23 at 11:00am and 3:00pm
Library of the Canyons
Ojo De Dios Craft
Use yarn and popsicle sticks to create a colorful piece of art. This traditional Mexican craft delights with wonderful possibilities for color and variety! Celebrate Kindergarten Readiness by developing motor skills. For ages 3 and up.

Tuesday, March 24 at 3:30pm
Garden Grove Tibor Rubin Library
Get Ready for Kindergarten!
Practice kindergarten readiness skills with “things that go!” Enjoy vehicle-themed crafts, activities, and snacks! This program is designed for children 3-6 but all ages are welcome.

Wednesday, March 25 at 3:30pm
Westminster Library
Dino Spa Day
Bring your own water-friendly dinosaur or borrow one of ours! Treat your prehistoric pet to a mud bath, a fizzy scale treatment, an ice dip, a bubble bath, and a luxurious blow dry! Just because they’re extinct doesn’t mean they can’t be pampered! May get messy, so feel free to bring a change of clothes!

Thursday, March 26 at 3:30pm
Villa Park Library
LEGO Challenge!
Build creative structures while practicing hand-eye coordination, motor skills, reading, picture recognition, and creative problem solving!

Saturday, March 28 at 10:00am
Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library
Kinder-Ready Crew
Join us in the Children’s area for this drop-in program designed to help children build confidence for kindergarten! Children can work on their kindergarten readiness skills by moving through self-guided stations that support early literacy.

Saturday, March 28 at 3:00pm
El Toro Library
Kindergarten Readiness Crafternoon
Join us for an afternoon of crafting fun! All crafts are designed to help toddlers and preschoolers build the skills they’ll need for kindergarten.

Storytimes

Mondays, March 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 at 10:30am
Seal Beach Mary Wilson Library
Kindergarten Readiness Storytime
Throughout the month of March, we will be getting kindergarten ready! We will focus on core concepts, motor and social skills, plus extra activities during Stay & Play that will make your child a kindergarten superstar!

Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 at 10:30am
Seal Beach Mary Wilson Library
Kindergarten Readiness Storytime
Throughout the month of March, we will be getting kindergarten ready! We will focus on core concepts, motor and social skills, plus extra activities during Stay & Play that will make your child a kindergarten superstar!

Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 at 10:30am
Cypress Library
Kindergarten Readiness Storytime
Get kindergarten ready this month by attending a weekly storytime specially designed for children ages 3-5. Through books and activities, children will boost basic reading, math, and social skills in preparation for school.

Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 at 10:30am
San Juan Capistrano Library
Kindergarten Readiness Storytime & Craft
Join us for a special storytime every Tuesday in March. These storytimes are designed to help your child be ready for kindergarten! Each storytime will focus on a different kindergarten readiness skill/theme: ABCs, counting, colors, shapes, and school. Storytime will be followed by a craft at 11:00am. Suggested ages: 2-5.

Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18 & 25 at 10:30am
Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library
Kindergarten Readiness Storytime
Children ages 3-5 will work on their basic reading, math, and social skills in preparation for school with this storytime! Books will be read with songs, rhymes, and activities to continue the path to Early Literacy.

Thursday, March 5 at 10:30am
Laguna Hills Library
Kindergarten Readiness Storytime
Join the Laguna Hills Library and Laguna Hills Community Center for a special Kindergarten Readiness Storytime Adventure! Practice those Kindergarten Readiness skills by listening to stories, singing songs, moving your body, creating a craft, and having fun!

Thursdays, March 5, 12, 19 & 26 at 10:30am
Westminster Library
Kindergarten Readiness Storytime & Craft
This interactive story time focuses on the skills children ages 3 to 5 need to be ready to succeed in school! Stories, songs, and rhymes followed by a special craft every week!

Thursdays, March 5, 12, 19 & 26 at 11:00am
Ladera Ranch Library
Kindergarten Readiness Storytime
Join us for 30 minutes of stories, songs, and all-around silliness. Storytime themes introduce early literacy skills and basic concepts. For ages 3 to 5, though all ages are welcome to attend with a guardian.

Tuesday, March 10 at 11:00am
Garden Grove Chapman Library
Kindergarten Readiness Storytime
Get your child ready for kindergarten with a visit to the library! Enjoy a music and movement storytime followed by an activity to learn letters and numbers.

Thursday, March 19 at 11:00am
Costa Mesa-Mesa Verde Library
Celebrating Colors & Shapes
Come and enjoy a storytime about colors & shapes and then go on a scavenger hunt for colored shapes in the library.

Tuesday, March 24 at 11:00am
La Palma Library
Kindergarten Readiness Storytime
Get excited about learning with a special storytime tailored for children getting ready for kindergarten! Storytime will be followed by learning stations to practice kindergarten readiness skills.