The third floor of Buder Library is devoted almost entirely to children and teens. The renovated look and feel includes a cool, graffiti-inspired St. Louis Public Library–themed mural, toy and coloring stations, light fixtures that look like planets (we want them for our house), and even Nintendo Switch games available to check out. If you’re trying to give your kiddo a break from screens, feel free to conceal that last piece of info. 4401 Hampton.
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The Discovery Zone is the big draw at this Fenton branch of the county library system. Built in 2019, it still has the shiny aura of a brand-new building. Your child can play make-believe in a huge set of pastel playhouses, send scarves flying through a pneumatic tube, and race cars on a wavy track. Outside, there’s a reading deck, if being in the sunshine is more your kid’s thing. 1501 San Simeon.
Other Discovery Zones to check out:
This branch nestled in Ladue just celebrated its 1-year anniversary. It’s known for having a full slate of impressive adult-reader events every month–but it’s also a kids’ dream. The second level features a vibrant, stroller-friendly children’s area with interactive play elements like a fire engine, grocery store, vet’s office, light tables, and cozy reading nooks designed to spark learning and joy. Older kids and teens can explore a high-tech creative lab with a 3D printer, recording studio, green screen, and video game room—spaces intentionally designed to foster literacy and a love of reading. 1640 S. Lindbergh.
Barr, Central, and Julia Davis libraries
At these three branches of the St. Louis Public Library system, teens can experiment for free with 3D printing, animation, game development, and even virtual reality through a program called Creative Experience. Barr: 1701 S. Jefferson. Central: 1301 Olive. Julia Davis: 4415 Natural Bridge.
This branch in North County has a renovated small kids’ area for tots to push trains, dig with construction vehicles, shop in a make-believe market, and experiment with gears on a magnetic board. 4153 N. Hwy 67.
If the great, totally overblown rivalry between Webster Groves and Kirkwood were to be settled based on which neighborhood has the best kids’ section in its library…we’d have to give it to Kirkwood. It has a giant wooden train where you can pretend to be a passenger, four computers for playing word games, a scavenger hunt, and a Lego wall. 140 E. Jefferson.
For more summer family fun, read our story here.
