On Tuesday at 11am, join Marg, Odette, Ellie and Monty for a children’s ukulele musical storytime!

They’ll be presenting some of New Zealand’s most well known songs and stories.  All dancers, singers and ukulele players welcome.

The Library is running a Waitangi Day quiz! Answer the questions and you could win an MP3 player. Enter it here, but be quick as it closes on Saturday.

If you’re wanting distraction for the younger ones in your family (or you want to be entertained yourself), why don’t you check out our new online stories? Donkeys and Selma, both read by Thomas La Hood, are now available to view (our grateful thanks to Gecko Press for allowing us to use these books).

These videos join the other online storytimes on our Kids Downloads page.

This new CD is a great Christmas gift for the young ones in your family, with its quality production of 33 songs to share with babies and children under 5. It includes traditional songs, nursery rhymes and waiata – all your favourites.  It was recorded and produced by Wellington City Libraries and features the musical talents of library staff along with some very special guest singers from Capital City Pre-school.

The CD is now available for sale for $15 at all our libraries. Stocks are limited so get in quick!

Join us tonight at Central Library for  Stories@7 on the 7th.  Tonight there’s a surprise theme – wonder what it will be?  So bring all your friends! Plus – get your thinking caps on – you get to choose the theme for next month.

Stories@7, a fun 45 minute story time for ages 7 and up, first Friday of every month, Central Library

Moving here from Thailand six years ago, this Book relishes the freedom to choose who and what she wants to be in New Zealand. Free from the cultural and social expectations of Thai culture, she enjoys being respected for who she is and the down to earth and ‘DIY’ approach we have to life. But along with connecting with her own inner strength she has also encountered depression and other challenges. Find out about her experiences and the different ways she is contributing to our community.

“I couldn’t believe that I could really do it – living here and making my own life!”

This post is part of Living Library 2008. ‘Living Library’ is an event organised during Library Week 2008 18-24 August. Follow the links for more information

“In this third electrifying title from Ursula Jones and Russell Ayto, the witch’s children’s friend, Gemma, is scared about her first day at school. So, the Little One turns her into an ogre to give her courage …but ogres don’t fit in at school. Never mind. The Little One has a solution – to turn the whole school into a storybook, which is a good place for an ogre. The trouble is, the witch’s children are very good at doing spells but not so good at undoing them…who can help?” — Amazon UK

In this month’s Picture Book Recent Picks you’ll find hungry crocodiles, Mrs Muffly’s monster, prickly porcupines and Fleabag the dog. Plus, the witch’s children go to school! Have a look.

We’re going Olympic for the July school holidays! Meet the Push Play team and have fun playing ‘olympic’ games and doing ‘olympic’ activities while learning about the Olympic Games. Our first session starts tomorrow at Cummings Park at 2pm… kids, come along for some fun!

‘We’re Going Olympic’ sessions will be on at all our Wellington library branches. Visit the Kids’ events page for dates and times and we’ll see you there!

Now you can view and listen to stories from New Zealand and around the world on your computer in the comfort of your own home! Snake and Lizard, by Joy Cowley and illustrated by Gavin Bishop – a finalist in the Junior Fiction category of the 2008 NZ Post Book Awards – is the latest addition to our Kids’ Downloads page. Head over to our Kids’ Downloads page to listen to selected chapters from Snake and Lizard, read by Thomas La Hood.

…which means it’s a good idea to check out the fun, free activities available in our libraries for kids over the next two weeks.  Jungles, robots, medieval activities, trucks and more!