Outdoor Storytime Never Felt So Great

Toddlers will stomp along the nature trails by the river. They will giggle when they experience the softness of a real beaver fur. They will awe at the magical words read from classic books.

This is not like any storytime kids have ever sat through before. Starting Tuesday, little ones ages 3 to 5 can do all those fun things, and crafts, too. The Will County Forest Preserve District's Isle a la Cache Museum, 501 E. Romeo Road in Romeoville, is hosting  Storytime on the River Tuesday. 

Adults must register the children by Monday for the free program by calling 815-886-1467.  The event is held the last Tuesday of the month from June through August, according to the forest preserve website. 

“Join us for the ‘Storytime Series,’ where you and your child will have a bundle of fun together while listening to stories, making a craft, and taking a short guided walk if weather permits,” the site explained. 

Tuesday’s story will be “Are You My Mother?,” by P.D. Eastman. It is a classic tale of a baby bird that meets many animals looking for its own mother. The museum is situated on an island in the Des Plaines River. The name means “island of the hiding place.”

Legend tells that a 1600s French trader cached his goods nearby. He used the island as a marker to later find them. The museum offers the experience of what the island was like 250 years ago, including Native American life. The area was inhabited by the Potawatami tribe. There is also a replica 18the century longhouse. 

The museum is located at 501 E. Romeo Road (135th Street). It is a half east of Route 53 in Romeoville. For more information about the museum, click here.