Read & Play - The Good Egg: Storytime, Crafts & Imaginative Play in Bedford, PA

Read & Play - The Good Egg invites families to a two-hour themed story and play session in the Altoona area, meeting at 142 E. Pitt Street Bedford, PA 15522. Designed for preschoolers and early elementary kids, this Book Fair event blends an enthusiastic read-aloud with hands-on imaginative play, a cheerful treat, a craft to take home, and a special prize pick. The centerpiece is the Imaginative Play area: a low-shelf story nook with cushions, a craft table set with washable materials, a dramatic-play corner, and a quiet sensory corner for kids who need a softer pace. The session structure is flexible and sensory-friendly. A warm group reading introduces themes of kindness and self-care from The Good Egg; small-group craft time encourages fine-motor skills; free play lets children choose from costumes, blocks, and role-play props; and a snack pause ties into the book with a themed treat. Parents can add Book Fair Bucks to reservations so kids can practice decision-making and money skills at the on-site book collection. Cafe refreshments are available for purchase, and staff strive to keep activities accessible to children with different attention spans and sensory needs. What makes this offering feel like a local highlight is how it adapts literary programming to a family-centered community space near the Allegheny foothills. The venue translates a picture book into tactile learning—reading becomes singing, crafting becomes a keepsake, and play becomes practice for empathy. For visitors staying in Altoona or exploring Bedford’s small-town streets, this is an easy, weatherproof morning or afternoon activity that introduces kids to intentional play and early literacy in a crowd-friendly format. Practical details: each event runs two hours; arrive on time to experience the full program. Sessions are schedule-driven but allow children to participate at their own pace; the ticket includes entry to the Imaginative Play area for the session, the themed snack, and the craft. While not a drop-off program, staff support independent play choices and parent involvement is welcomed. The space is family-focused rather than structured classroom instruction. Whether you’re passing through for a weekend or live nearby, Read & Play - The Good Egg is a gentle way to give young travelers a meaningful indoor adventure: storytime that sparks conversation, crafts that travel home in a backpack, and small victories—like choosing a prize—that turn ordinary days into memorable learning moments. Parents should pack a spare change of clothes and a small bag for finished crafts and snacks, especially for younger children who may get messy. If your child uses sensory tools—noise-cancelling headphones or a comfort toy—bring them along; staff accommodate varying needs. Reservations are encouraged because sessions fill, and adding Book Fair Bucks ahead of time streamlines shopping after the program.