“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” Dr Seuss
Welcome parents, caregivers and educators!
Reading and sharing stories together with children is a wonderful bonding experience and the best way to encourage a love of books, to establish early literacy skills and to prepare children for reading.
Here you will find information and tips to enjoy sharing stories with children at home and online.
Story Time Fun
Enjoy Story Time anytime! Explore information and links for storytelling tips, story time videos and craft activities inspired by children’s books.
Online Story Times
Missing story time at the library? Check out these links to online story times read by librarians, authors and celebrities.
Library Online Story Times
You can find our Library Online Story Times on Youtube!
Online Story Times
Check out these links to online story times presented by authors and celebrities.
Amy Leask | Bruce Hale | Chris Haughton | Diane Alber | J.V.Novak | James Dean | Julia Donaldson | Kate Messner | Mac Barnett | Melinda Long | Mem Fox | Molly Idle | Monique Gray-Smith | Oliver Jeffers | Peter Reynolds | Roda Ahmed | Sarah McIntyre
A huge selection of Disney story books read by a variety of well known authors and actors.
Harper Collins Children's Books
Hundreds of books read by a variety of authors, some picture books and lots of fiction titles.
Penguin Read Together be Together
A mix of popular picture books read by authors.
Over 20 popular picture books and kids fiction read by authors, with many more to come.
Snack together and read online with multiple popular authors like Laurie Berkner
Dolly Parton and friends read picture books via her Imagination Library.
Julie and her daughter will read a selection of stories each week starting April 29 2020.
Read along with PBS Kids, lots of videos added weekly with many being read by Michelle Obama.
Over 20 videos of your favourite picture books read by famous Australian and Play School presenters, including Benita Collings!
Watch engaging storytelling videos for kids aged 3 to 12. Featuring Australian stories told in Australian voices, plus free printable activity ideas. Use your library card to login. Not a library member? Join now for FREE.
More than 50 picture books read by a variety of celebrated actors.
While in space, astronauts are videotaping themselves reading books to the children of Earth.
A dozen famous actors and authors read their favourite stories in this online storytime.
Online Auslan Story Times
Auslan (Australian Sign Language) is the language of the deaf community in Australia. Experience Auslan storytelling of some popular Australian stories in these videos.
To watch the videos, simply click on the link below each book cover.
Visit the Auslan Signbank if you would like to learn Auslan signs to use with your child.
Visit the Library Catalogue to discover Auslan books and DVDs.
The City of Sydney Library runs a regular Auslan and English storytime online as well; you can see all their videos on Youtube.
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Picture Book Activities
Explore these links for a variety of craft ideas and activity sheets inspired by picture books.
Drawing templates and live drawing classes with author and illustrator Ben Clanton.
Bloomsbury - Early Years Resources
Publishing house is offering free access to its Early Years Resources, which are fun and educational. An account made with valid email address is needed to access the resources.
A variety of games, stories, craft, quizzes and activities for all ages.
Dozens of free activities based on popular picture books. The list is alphabetised by title. The site also has an associated Pinterest board.
Carly Hart Books – Activity List
A compilation list of a variety of book activity resources. Activities for children of all ages from a variety of picture book and fiction authors.
Colouring sheets and craft activities based on Chris’s picture books including Oh No George!
Picture book printables, colouring and craft from author and illustrator Debbie Ohi.
A variety of Math activities inspired by popular children’s picture books.
Hachette - Home Learning Activities
A variety of activity packs based on Hatchett’s most popular picture books, including Giraffes Can’t Dance.
Colour and craft based on the James’ popular picture book series Pete the Cat.
What can we do with paper and glue? A variety of craft ideas and inspiration based on Julia Donaldson’s picture books.
General themed art and craft ideas, including book specific pages like The Gruffalo.
Lauren Child will host a variety of kids challenges on her Instagram for you to take part in. Look out for the post about School of Bob.
A variety of activities and colouring pages based on the illustrations of Lucinda Gifford from a variety of books.
Colouring sheets and craft activities based on Matt’s picture book characters including Macca the Aplaca and Celeste the Giraffe.
A variety of craft and games based on Michelle Robinson books.
Mo Willems official website offers a wide variety of activities for young children. All of Mo Willems favourite characters in craft form, from colouring to finger puppets.
Penguin Publishing - Young Readers Activity Packs
A variety of packs to download and use based on your favourite Penguin picture books. Scroll halfway down the page for the pack slider to appear.
Draw along with Rob to create one of his much-loved picture book characters.
Scholastic Publishing – Printable Activities
A variety of activities and printable craft and worksheets.
Free activity ideas for great Australian stories.
Use your library card to login. Not a library member? Join now for FREE
Free activity and learning sheets focused on a range of great picture books.
Dozens of official activities based on the collected works of author and illustrator Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
Usborne - Play and Learn at Home
A huge variety of activities for all ages 0-12. Activities include colouring, stories, craft and educational worksheets.
Sleep Tight, Platypup by Renee Treml - Activity Pack
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle - Activity Pack
Where is the Green Sheep by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek - Activity Pack
Story Time at Home
Story Time is a fun and special sharing time where children and caregivers can share books and tell stories together. You can have your own story time any time of day!
Sharing books
Sharing books establishes a love of books and reading, sparks imagination and creativity, develops language and literacy skills.
Choose a book together with your child, get comfortable and start exploring one page at a time. Be playful, curious and follow your child’s interest.
When sharing a book you can:
- Read the story word for word or tell the story from the pictures.
- Use different voices, make sound effects and actions.
- Look at the pictures, name and count the things you see.
- Ask your child what they think will happen next or let them make up the story.
- Speak in whatever language you and your child feel most comfortable speaking.
Check out adored Australian author Mem Fox’s Ten Read-aloud commandments
Storytelling
Storytelling promotes literacy, language, imagination and gets children ready to start reading.
Telling stories about family and culture gives children a sense of their place in the world.
You can tell imaginary stories or stories based on the everyday activities and special occasions from your family life. Be playful, curious and follow your child’s interest.
When telling a story you can:
- Use actions, sound effects and rhymes
- Use toys, photos and objects
- Share your favourite childhood stories
- Include your child as a character in the story
- Speak in whatever language you and your child feel most comfortable speaking.
Check out storyteller Anne E. Stewart’s video on Telling stories with children
Reading with Children
Discover information about the benefits of reading with children and tips about how you can share books together.
Reading with babies
Reading with your baby is all about sharing special time together, having fun and modelling a love of books.
Sharing stories, talking and singing helps your baby learn about sounds, words and language. This supports your baby’s development, builds early literacy skills, sparks imagination and helps them learn about the world around them.
Watch our Baby Time Online sessions for reading tips. Find them on the Library YouTube channel where you can continue to enjoy them at a time that suits you.
Explore these links for information and tips.
Department of Education and Early Childhood
Let’s Read
Raising Children
- Reading with babies: birth to 12 months
- Reading with babies: 12-18 months
- Reading with your baby in pictures: birth to 17 months
The Little Big Book Club
Reading with toddlers
Reading with your toddler is all about sharing special time together, having fun and modelling a love of books.
Sharing stories, talking and singing helps your child’s development, builds literacy skills, sparks imagination and helps them learn about the world around them.
Explore these links for information and tips.
Department of Education and Early Childhood
Let’s Read
- Reading Tip Sheet from 12 months
- Reading Tip Sheet from 18 months
- Reading Tip Sheets in community languages
Raising Children
- Reading with toddlers
- Reading with your toddler in pictures
- Reading activities: children aged 2-4
- eBooks and children: 2-8 years
The Little Big Book Club
Reading with preschoolers
Reading with your child is all about sharing special time together, having fun and modelling a love of books.
Sharing stories, talking and singing helps your child’s development, builds early literacy skills, sparks imagination and helps them learn about the world around them.
Explore these links for information and tips.
Department of Education and Early Childhood
Let’s Read
Raising Children
The Little Big Book Club
Reading Challenges
Engage with your child and establish their love of books and reading by participating in these challenges.
1000 Books Before School
This state-wide program encourages families to read together with their children to develop a love of books and the literacy skills essential for school.
The program is a great way to track your child's reading progress. You can join the program at any time and participate until your child starts school.
For more information and to register visit our 1000 Books Before School page
Little Reader Photo Share competition
Each year you can participate in the Little Reader Photo Share competition if you are registered for the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge. For your chance to win a book prize, simply share a photo of you and your child reading together.
Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge
The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge runs every year. Children in Early Childhood are encouraged to read 40 books during the year, to establish a love of reading from a young age.
Our libraries have hundreds of books for the Early Childhood level.
eBooks count towards the challenge, so you can explore and enjoy our Early Years eBooks. You can also enjoy a range of VPRC picture books available on Story Box Library.
Use your library card and Pin/Password to login and borrow.
If you are new to Wyndham City Libraries, join here for free.
For further information on the challenge, including how to register, visit Department of Education and Training Victoria