This fall, we invite all South Dakota libraries to participate in a month of storytime events across the state! In celebration of November's National Picture Book month and to highlight the importance of reading aloud, participating libraries will plan a special storytime to share this year's Prairie Bud winner The Wrong Book by Drew Daywalt.

Each library's storytime event can take place anytime in November and can take whatever form they choose. Special guest readers are a great addition to this event and are highly encouraged, specifically (but not limited to) local legislators or other local government officials. This is a great way to connect them with your community!

Benefits

  • Celebrate the value and benefits of reading aloud!
  • Special events often draw in community members that have not previously been to the library.
  • Highlight the Prairie book awards (this year's title is the current Prairie Bud winner!) and encourage voting in your community.
  • Connect community members to local legislators and local government.

How to Participate

  1. Register your library to participate.

  2. Once registered, review the digital toolkit and start making plans for your Storytime SD event.

  3. Make sure you have a copy of this year's selected title - The Wrong Book by Drew Daywalt. This title was the 2025-26 Prairie Bud winner so you hopefully already have this title in your collection!

  4. Determine the date and time of your Storytime SD event in November.

  5. Reach out to possible special guest readers.

  6. Once you have a date, time, and other basic details, share event details with SDSL.

  7. Hold your event and have fun! Take photos and collect comments to share with SDSL. Post on your library social media account with #StorytimeSD. SDSL will then share and celebrate the all the Storytime SD events that took place throughout November.


Participating Libraries

List includes participating libraries coming soon.

The following list includes participating libraries. Dates listed below are subject to change.

Date Start Time Library Guest Reader
Tues., Nov. 10, 2026 10:15 a.m. (CT) Harrisburg Community Library Mayor Derick Wenck
Tues., Nov. 10, 2026 10:30 a.m. (CT) Beresford Public Library TBD
Tues., Nov. 10, 2026 10:30 a.m. (MT) Belle Fourche Public Library Police Chief Ryan Cherveny
Tues., Nov. 10, 2026 3 p.m. (CT) Marcus P Beebe Memorial Library
Ipswich, SD
Cindy Percy, Library Director
Tues., Nov. 10, 2026 3:45 p.m. (CT) Hyde County Library TBD
Thurs., Nov. 12, 2026 10:00 a.m. (MT) Piedmont Valley Library Mr. Dschaak, Piedmont Valley Elementary Principal
Thurs., Nov. 12, 2026 10:30 a.m. (CT) Beresford Public Library TBD
Thurs., Nov. 12, 2026 3 p.m. (CT) Marcus P Beebe Memorial Library
Ipswich, SD
Cindy Percy, Library Director
Thurs., Nov. 12, 2026 5:15 p.m. (MT) Belle Fourche Public Library Library Board Trustee Marcus Bevier
Fri., Nov. 13, 2026 9:30 a.m. (MT) Hill City Public Library Grandma Pat Forrer
Fri., Nov. 13, 2026 10:00 a.m. (MT) Webster Public Library Susan Brazda
Fri., Nov. 13, 2026 2:30 p.m. (MT) Bennett County Library Mayor Gary Rayhill
Sat., Nov. 14, 2026 9:00 a.m. (CT) Gregory Public Library Mayor Laura Petersen
Sat., Nov. 14, 2026 10:00 a.m. (CT) White Lake Community Library TBD
Sat., Nov. 14, 2026 10:30 a.m. (CT) North Sioux City Community Library Kristi Maloney, Elementary School Principal
Sat., Nov. 14, 2026 11:15 a.m. (CT) Hand County Library Taylor Droz, School Board Member
Mon., Nov. 16, 2026 2 p.m. (CT) Webster Public Library Connor Handrahan
Mon., Nov. 16, 2026 4 p.m. (CT) Lake Andes Public Library Brenda DeHaan,
Retired Andes Central School Librarian
Mon., Nov. 16, 2026 5:30 p.m. (CT) Madison Public Library Casey Crabtree,
District 8 Legislator
Tues., Nov. 17, 2026 10:30 a.m. (CT) Watertown Regional Library TBD
Wed., Nov. 18, 2026 10:00 a.m. (CT) Yankton Community Library Mayor Mike Villanueva
Wed., Nov. 18, 2026 10:30 a.m. (CT) Platte Public Library Library Director, Jan Van Vuuren
Wed., Nov. 18, 2026 10:30 a.m. (CT) Canton Public Library TBD
Wed., Nov. 18, 2026 11:00 a.m. (CT) Cozard Memorial Library Surprise Guest Reader!
Thurs., Nov. 19, 2026 10:00 a.m. (CT) Yankton Community Library Mayor Mike Villanueva
Thurs., Nov. 19, 2026 1:00 p.m. (MT) Deadwood Public Library Charles Eagleson, City Commissioner
Thurs., Nov. 19, 2026 2:30 p.m. (CT) Selby Area School Library Sheriff Josh Boll
Thurs., Nov. 19, 2026 3:45 p.m. (CT) Cozard Memorial Library Surprise Guest Reader!
Fri., Nov. 20, 2026 10:00 a.m. (CT) Parker Public Library TBD
Fri., Nov. 20, 2026 1:00 p.m. (CT) Webster Public Library Jocelyn Rumpca
Fri., Nov. 20, 2026 2:00 p.m. (CT) Webster Public Library Patricia Proctor, Head Librarian
Sat., Nov. 21, 2026 10 a.m. (CT) Moody County Resource Center Tony Firman, Library Advocate & Former County Commissioner
Sat., Nov. 21, 2026 12 p.m. (CT) Elk Point Community Library Firefighter or Policeman
Tues., Nov. 24, 2026 2:00 p.m. (CT) Doland Community Library George Seamon, SD State Librarian
Tues., Nov. 24, 2026 6:30 p.m. (CT) Harrisburg Community Library Kevin Maxwell, Harrisburg City Council Member
Wed., Nov. 25, 2026 10:00 a.m. (MT) Lemmon Public Library City Council Rep. Dacia Hilkemeier




Funding for this program is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the South Dakota State Library.

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Youth Services Coordinator