CHILDREN'S LIBRARY PROGRAMS
In addition to our extensive children's collection, we run programs and events aimed at developing literacy, creativity, and enhancing community engagement.
If you can't find the children's program you are looking for or have a suggestion, please contact us at library.gallery@carnarvon.wa.gov.au
For details about Teens' Library Programs click here
Baby Rhyme Time
Held at 10am on Thursday mornings during school terms, Baby Rhyme time is your opportunity to meet other parents, and bounce and sing along with your baby to some fun tunes while introducing your child to the world of reading.
Sessions are free and are about half an hour in length. There is no need to book - just turn up on the day.
Baby Rhyme Time is followed by Snuggles - a free educational parenting group for expectant mums and parents with infants up to 8 months old, who would like to learn information on their child's development and be part of a supportive network of new parents. Organized in partnership with Centacare and other local family support organizations, Snuggles is completely free and normally runs for an additional hour to an hour and a half after Baby Rhyme Time.
Storytime
Held at 10am on Tuesday mornings during school term, Storytime is a great way to encourage your toddler to continue along the path of reading! A fun combination of songs, rhymes, and a craft activity each week, Storytime is a great way for your child to socialise with others and experience the library.
Sessions are free and normally last half an hour or a little longer on craft days. There is no need to book - just turn up on the day.
Better Beginnings Program
Better Beginnings is a Western Australian family literacy program that connects families with books through free reading packs. The goal of Better Beginnings is to inspire a love of literacy and learning for all Western Australian children by encouraging families to read, talk, sing, write and play with their child every day.
The program has been developed by The State Library of Western Australia and is funded by the State Government of Western Australia, Royalties for Regions, Rio Tinto and Western Australian Local Governments.
The program delivers free reading packs to young children and consists of three stages;
Yellow Better Beginnings Reading Pack - ages 0-2 and are delivered through child health nurses and available from the Library.
Orange 'Sing to Me' Better Beginnings Reading Pack - ages 2-3 years are delivered through child health nurses and available from the Library.
Green Better Beginnings Kindy Reading Pack - ages 3-4 years and delivered through local schools.
These packs contain a quality Australian picture book and information and resources for parents and carers.
If your child has not yet received their appropriate reading pack please contact the library on 9941 3727 or library@carnarvon.wa.gov.au
LEGO Club
Are you aged 6-12 years and hope to become a LEGO master? Held on a Wednesday afternoon during school terms from 3-4pm, children sign up for an 8-week program of solo and group build challenges that will put their imagination to the test!
Places are limited, so contact the library team to register.
School Holiday Activities
Every school holidays, the Shire of Carnarvon, including the library, and in partnership with other agencies, puts together the School Holiday Program to keep kids entertained over the break! Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates during the lead-up to each school holidays.
CBCA BOOK WEEK - Back in 2023
For one week in August each year, Children's Book Week celebrates books and Australian children's authors and illustrators. With themed displays in the kids areas of the public library, dress-up competitions, author visits, and much more, Book Week should be marked on your calendar well in advance!
Saturday 19 August to Friday 25 August 2023
READ, GROW, INSPIRE
Feature Artist: Matt Ottley
SUMMER READING ADVENTURE
Are you 6+ years and feel like going on an adventure? Every year over the December/January school holidays, keep track of how much you read each day to go into the draw to win great prizes! With bonus challenges to complete to increase your chance to win, this is a fun way to encourage kids aged 6-17 to engage with reading.
We also hold craft activities and other events over the summer as part of the School Holiday program, so keep an eye on our Events page and follow us on Facebook.
NATIONAL SIMULTANEOUS STORYTIME - Back in 2023
National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually in May. Every year, a picture book that is both written and illustrated by an Australian is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, and many more places all around the country!
Keep an eye on our Facebook page for details of our NSS event when we'll be reading the following book.
About the author
Rebecca Young is an award-winning author from Sydney. Her first book, Button Boy, illustrated by Sue deGennaro, was a Notable Book for the 2012 CBCA Awards and has been published internationally. In 2016, Teacup, illustrated by Matt Ottley, won the Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature in the NSW Premier’s Literacy Awards.
About the illustrator
Heath McKenzie is an award-winning children’s book illustrator who has written and illustrated countless books for children. Heath lives in Melbourne with his wife, two kids, dog, and a fish that he considers more of a lodger than a family member.