15 + Amazing Kids Library Spots in West Michigan

KDL Wyoming library play area Rudd

Kids Library – Help Kids Fall in Love with Reading Before They Even Know their ABC’s

Do you realize how much our local libraries have to offer children these days? They are the perfect place to go if you’re looking for things to do with toddlers.

They aren’t just for toddlers, though. Many local libraries house kid-friendly spaces filled with learning activities, toys, games, and of course, books for kids of all ages.

Some libraries even have dedicated tween or teen spaces.

With so many different library branches in our city and surrounding communities, there is never a lack of options for fun and learning in the kids library areas.

Be sure to ask your local library staff about children’s programming like story time or play groups!

Most libraries offer additional educational resources aside from entertaining play areas and great books.

Boy checkout out stack of books from Grand Rapids kids library.

Kids Library Areas at Grand Rapids Public Library Branches

Grand Rapids Public Library branches have been a longtime anchor in many area neighborhoods.

They have incredible, free programming for everyone, and always have an eye on the younger crowd.

Each location has a dedicated kids library area, where children can interact with toys and crafts and develop an early love of reading.

Look for free craft or activity kits, and now through early 2023, get a free storytime kit!

FREE Storytime Kits from GRPL

Storytime Kits include a book and age-appropriate activities for toddlers and kids.

They also include helpful resources in English and Spanish which support early literacy skills like reading, singing, talking, playing, and writing.

Pick up your free Storytime Kit from November 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023 at any GRPL location while supplies last.

Main Branch (GRPL)

111 Library Street NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

This branch offers a separate area for babies with board books, puzzles, blocks and other items to help babies grow and develop.

There is also a large library play area for toddlers and older kids, including a play kitchen, dress-up clothes, a puppet theatre, a train table, blocks and LEGO bricks, things that go, and an art station.

Parents can check out the Parenting section right next to the library play area.

GRPL main dad and kid legos

Seymour Branch (GRPL)

12350 Eastern SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507

This branch offers children early literacy computer stations, blocks and other building materials, books, puzzles and more in their kids library area. 

GRPL Seymour Branch 2022

Van Belkum Branch (GRPL)

1563 Plainfield NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505

This branch gives children several options for creative play including a kitchen, puppet theatre, an art area, books and puzzles.

GRPL Van Belkum kids area 2022

West Leonard Branch (GRPL)

1017 Leonard NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

This branch has a library play area for kids that includes a train table, a creative play area, things that go, books, puzzles and much more.

GRPL West Leonard play area wide 2022

West Side Branch (GRPL)

713 Bridge NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504

This branch has a space for creative play, puzzles, books, and other activities related to early literacy.

West Side Grand Rapids Public Library GRPL

Yankee Clipper Branch (GRPL)

2025 Leonard NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505

This branch features cozy reading nooks, puzzles, blocks and a play kitchen, as well as early literacy play stations in their library play area.

GRPL Yankee Clipper kids area 2022

Ottawa Hills Branch (GRPL)

1150 Giddings SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

This branch features toys, early literacy activities, puzzles and books in their library play area.

GRPL Ottawa Hills kids area 2022

Kids Library Areas at Kent District Library (KDL) Branches

Kids will often find something new at KDL branches since they frequently rotate their toys.

Because of this, you may not find these exact stations at each branch on your visit, but you can be sure to find something fun!

Introducing WonderKnook!

New and improved library play areas are on their way this winter!

Explore a treehouse at Caledonia, barter for goods at the trading post at Englehardt and slide like a fish at Krause Memorial.

There’s so much to explore with these exciting Montessori-inspired play pieces, and every branch will be unique.‌‌‌

Alpine Township Branch (KDL)

5255 Alpine Ave NW, Comstock Park, MI 49321

This branch features a dramatic play area for pretend play, tablets, and a shelf of toys which includes puzzles, blocks and toy trucks.

Plus a KDL lab for the older kids!

some toys and board books at the Alpine Kent District Library Branch (KDL)

Alto Branch (KDL)

6071 Linfield Ave, Alto, MI 49302

This branch offers many educational table activities, an imagination station, and a magnet wall.

play area of Alto branch of Kent District Library (KDL)

Amy Van Andel Branch – Ada (KDL)

7215 Headley Street SE, Ada Michigan 49301

This branch has fun sensory toys for kids including squishy tiles, balance boards and stepping stones,

There’s also tables with vehicles, gears and other fun toys.

Plus a teen space for the older kids!

Balancing area in the Amy Van Andel Ada KDL branch

Byron Township Branch (KDL)

8191 Byron Center Ave SW, Byron Center, MI 49315

This branch features a play kitchen, toy bins and magnet board, a play grocery store stocked with pretend produce, a LEGO wall, and a dress-up station.

play area at Byron Center Kent District Library branch (KDL)

Caledonia Township Branch (KDL)

6260 92nd St. SE, Caledonia, MI 49316

This branch offers an iPad and writing center, a large magnet wall, a play counter for puzzles and other educational activities, fine motor toy bins, and a play kitchen.

There are also great outdoor play opportunities on their deck and lawn.

indoor play area of Caledonia Kent District Library (KDL)

Cascade Township Branch (KDL)

2870 Jacksmith Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546

This branch offers a dramatic play area, blocks, stuffed animals and books.

KDL Cascade library kids area

Comstock Park Branch (KDL)

3943 W. River Dr NE, Comstock Park, MI 49321

This branch offers a dramatic play area, blocks, stuffed animals and books.

play area at Comstock Park Kent District Library branch (KDL)

East Grand Rapids Branch (KDL)

746 Lakeside Dr SE, East Grand Rapids, MI 49506

This branch offers a magnet wall, a light table, and many rotating activity centers.

But the kids’ favorite part are the two the giant aquariums, where you can watch turtles and fish swimming around.

East Grand Rapids KDL kids library area

Englehardt Branch – Lowell (KDL)

7200 N. Monroe St, Lowell, MI 49331

This branch features a child-sized log cabin and pretend fire, a fishing hole game, farm toys, an art activity table, and activity bins and magnet wall. 

play area of the Lowell kent district library (kdl)

Gaines Township Branch (KDL)

421 68th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49548

This branch offers a space tent, doll tree house, an imagination station, an art cart, a toy barn, and a cozy cube for reading and playing.

reading nook with giant stuffed lion at the Gaines Kent District Library branch (KDL)

Grandville Branch (KDL)

4055 Maple St SW, Grandville, MI 49418

This branch offers a LEGO table, a technology table, a play tool bench, a car rug, and a shelf stocked with toys.

Grandville KDL

Kentwood (Richard R Root) Branch (KDL)

4950 Breton SE, Kentwood Michigan 49508

This branch offers children a train table, giant Connect 4, mounted tablets, large magnetic wall, light table, toy bins, a play area filled with toys, and an imagination station for limitless pretend play.

play area at the Kentwood Kent District Library branch KDL

Krause Memorial Branch – Rockford (KDL)

140 E. Bridge St, Rockford, MI 49341

This branch gives children many options for play with a LEGO table, puzzles, a light table, and an imagination station, as well as a chance to work on writing skills at the writing center.

duplo building block table in the play area at the Rockford kent district library KDL branch

Nelson Township / Sand Lake Branch (KDL)

 88 Eighth St, Sand Lake, MI 49343

This branch gives children the opportunity to participate in several outdoor play activities, but all while they are indoors! They can camp in a tent and play by the pretend fire, walk along the stepping stones or plant a pretend garden. 

garden game in the play area of the Sand Lake Kent District Library branch (KDL

Plainfield Township Branch (KDL)

 2650 5 Mile Rd NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525

This branch offers a children’s-sized play house, a puppet theatre, a light-up board with Magna-Tiles, an activity table, a colorful play rug and shelves full of activity bins. 

KDLville play area of the Plainfield Township Kent District Library branch KDL

Spencer Township Branch (KDL)

14960 Meddler Ave, Gowen, MI 49326

This branch features a doll-sized tree house and a dress-up area for children to play make-believe, a car rug to race cars on, and a writing center for children to practice their writing skills.

play area of the Spencer Township Kent District Library KDL

Tyrone Township Branch (KDL)

1443 S. Main St, Kent City, MI 49330

This branch offers a variety of educational toys for children, such as puzzles, puppets, dress-up clothes, shape sorting buckets and a pretend kitchen.

Children can also practice their fine motor skills at the writing station or at the children’s tables stocked with paper and crayons.

Walker Branch (KDL)

4293 Remembrance Rd NW, Walker, MI 49534

This branch offers children the opportunity for play with a checkers game a train table.

young boy at the train table at play area in the Walker Kent District Library branch KDL

Wyoming Branch (KDL)

3350 Michael Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49509

This branch features a dramatic play area, train table, caterpillar tunnel and more, all within “Toddler Town.”

KDL Wyoming girl peeking through caterpillar

Reader Recommended Kids Library Areas

We love when our readers give us intel! Here’s some reader recommendations for other kids library play areas.

Gary Byker Memorial Library (Hudsonville)

3338 Van Buren St., Hudsonville, MI 49426

This branch features a puppet theater, a reading cottage, a train table, a canopy tent, all inside the ‘Toddler Tower’ within their library play area.

play area of Gary Byker Library (Hudsonville)

Herrick District Library – Main Library (Holland)

3300 S. River, Holland, MI 49423 

“The Herrick Library in Holland has a wonderful library play area. Lots of games, a merry-go-round, and story times all on their own floor.”

Leighton Township Library (Moline)

4451 12th St, Moline, MI  49335

“Leighton Township Library in Moline has a really great library play area.”

Loutit District Library (Grand Haven)

407 Columbus Ave, Grand Haven, MI  49417

“The Loutit District Library also has a great library play area. Books, games, puzzles, a puppet stage and children’s computers.”

Sparta Carnegie Township Library (Sparta)

80 N Union St., Sparta, MI  49345

“They have a car rug with cars, blocks, kid size furniture, puzzles and games, coloring pages, and a few large motor activities (such as hula hoops).”

Did We Miss a Kids Library?

Do you know of a kids library play area that should be added to our list? Please leave us a comment below. If you have a picture of the children’s area we can include, you can submit it here. Thanks for your help!

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15 thoughts on “15 + Amazing Kids Library Spots in West Michigan”

  1. We like the Sparta library. They have a car rug with cars, blocks, kid size furniture, puzzles and games, coloring pages, and a few large motor activities (such as hula hoops)

  2. Sheryl VanderWagen

    Leighton Township Library in Moline has a really great play area. I dont have a pic but I have been there. Contact Karen McKinnon, the library director. Allegan county, just south of GR.

    1. We love Leighton’s play area, and I like that it’s closed off from the rest of the library so you don’t have to worry about being too loud or your kids wandring off. They also have activities for older kids through out the library.

  3. Jill, thanks so much for all your work on this! We are thrilled that you featured all the KDL branches. Our KDLville areas are always being updated, so some of the featured items may change, but we will always have fun, interactive activities for children at all of our branches. Thanks again!

  4. Loutit District Library in Grand Haven also has a great children’s area. Books, games, puzzles, a puppet stage and children’s computers.

    1. Avatar photo

      Thanks Kate! Is this the Henika District Library or the Leighton Township Library? Would love to include it in our list.

  5. The Herrick Library in Holland has a wonderful children’s area. Lots of games, a merry-go-round, and story times all on their own floor.

      1. I’ve only been to the one on S River. I’m not sure wha the children’s area is like at the Riley St location, although they do have story time there, too.

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