Skip the screen time — Cullman has no shortage of places to fall in love with a good book this season.
It starts with a story. Long before kids master math facts or memorize state capitals, the foundation for school success often comes down to something simpler: a love of reading. With the new school year on the horizon, there’s no better time to build that habit at home — and Cullman makes it remarkably easy to find a child’s next favorite book without ever leaving town.
Start with the Cullman County Public Library System. The downtown main branch hosts Storytime every Tuesday morning at 10 a.m., where toddlers and preschoolers gather for songs, crafts, and read-alouds that make books feel like playtime. Come summer, the library’s Summer Reading Program keeps the momentum going with challenges, prizes, and guest readers that turn reading into a friendly competition. And because the system includes five branches plus bookmobile service stretching across the county, families in every corner of Cullman County have a library card — and a storytime — within easy reach, no matter how far they live from downtown.
For something more spontaneous, keep an eye out for Cullman’s growing network of Little Free Libraries. These small, charter-registered book boxes — many maintained by the Friends of Cullman Libraries — are tucked into front yards, school campuses, and community parks throughout the county. You’ll find them at Art Park and Sacred Heart School, in neighborhoods like Rosemont and Vinemont, and in towns from Bremen and Hanceville to Eva and Baileyton. The concept is simple: take a book, leave a book. No library card, no due dates — just a steady rotation of stories waiting to be discovered. Turn an evening walk or a Saturday car ride into a treasure hunt, and let your child pick the next read.
Even a coffee run can double as a book hunt at Karma’s Coffee House, where shelves of books for sale sit right alongside the espresso machine. The books are provided by local book collector, Josh Freeman and are available for purchase. Karma’s is the kind of cozy, locally owned spot where a child can curl up with a hot chocolate and a picture book while parents enjoy their own cup — proof that a love of reading and a love of good coffee go hand in hand.
And the newest stop on the list: Arboreadum Bookshop and Garden, which just opened in a charming historic home near downtown Cullman. Owner Shannen Cottingham has filled the space with new books across every genre, plus a cozy children’s reading corner designed to make young visitors feel right at home. Step out back, and the bookshop becomes a garden — plants, flowers, and quiet paths perfect for an audiobook stroll. Cottingham has plans to grow the space into a true community gathering spot, with book clubs and garden walks already in the works. It’s a reminder that stories and nature can live side by side.
Four stops, one mission: make reading part of the family routine this season. Pick just one this week — a library card, a free book box, a new bookshop — and watch a love of stories take root.