Children's Programs

Take a 360° virtual tour of the Paul Jennings: UNREAL! Exhibition. (Re)discover the magical, imaginary, immersive world expressed through Paul’s writing, characters and themes. This online exhibition also includes original works from illustrators he has collaborated with over the years, a family activity booklet and school resources for stages 1 - 3.

Introduce your baby to the wonderful world of books. Using stories, songs, rhymes, dancing and music this fun series of four workshops runs over four weeks. Baby Book Time will provide you with the tools and resources to nurture your child's love of reading. This program is limited to 12 babies with an accompanying Carer.

Newcastle (City) Library:

May: Wednesdays 5, 12, 19, 26 May -11:00-11:30am. Book tickets

June: Wednesdays 2, 9, 16, 23 June -11:00-11:30am. Book tickets

Wallsend Library:

May: Thursdays 6, 13, 20, 27 May -11:00-11:30am. Book tickets

June: Thursdays 3, 10, 17, 24 June -11:00-11:30am. Book tickets

Ages: For babies aged 0-12 months and their carers.

Cost: Free

Bookings essential. Tickets are released 1 month before each session.

Baby Book Time - Online Sessions

Our 4 week program designed especially for babies aged 0-12 months available online! Introduce your baby to a love of reading, rhymes and music and learn all about how to stimulate your baby's development in this fun 20 minute session. Enjoy nurturing your child's love of reading anywhere, anytime!

Ni Hao! Join us for fun, stories, rhymes, songs and music in Chinese.

For Chinese speaking families and those who would like to experience Chinese language and culture.

Wallsend Library Sessions:

Friday 7 May 10:00 – 10:30am

Friday 4 June 10:00-10:30am

Ages: For children age 0-5 and their Carers

Cost: Free

Bookings essential

Book tickets to Chinese Rock n Rhyme sessions

You can't make it into the branches for Crafternoon these days, but don't worry we will bring Crafternoons to you! Check out our virtual sessions with Sally.  Crafternoons are where you can show off your creativity with weekly art and craft fun, including STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Maths) activities. Suitable for ages 5 - 12.

Instructions: session 1 (PDF); session 2 (PDF); session 3 (PDF); session 4 (PDF); session 5 (PDF); session 6 (PDF); session 7 (PDF)

Join award winning illustrator Liz Anelli as she reads from her picture books, shares secret art tips and then demonstrates a creative art challenge that you can try at home.

Desert Lake Workshop Instructions (PDF);  One Photo Workshop Instructions (PDF); Howzat Workshop Instructions (PDF); Grace and Katie Workshop Instructions (PDF); Ten Pound Pom Workshop (PDF); Maddie's First Day Workshop (PDF)

Share your skills, master cool builds and make new friends. We have buckets loads of LEGO® and a different challenge each week. Fun guaranteed!

This is family based activity and parents/carers are required to stay with their children.

Newcastle (City) Library Sessions:

Wednesdays, 4:00 - 4.45pm (during school term)

Cost: Free

Suitable for ages 5-12

No bookings necessary, just drop in!

LEGO® Club Online

Enjoy our collection of LEGO® challenge videos, fun for all ages and a great project for the kids to do with adults. Grab a bucket load of LEGO®, select your challenge below and get building!

A hugely popular, fun-filled 4-session science program hosted by Newcastle Libraries is now available online! Young children are already great scientists without even knowing it. This hands-on program combines everyday objects and experiences with genuine scientific enquiry methods that children and their accompanying adults will thoroughly enjoy. A different program is presented in each of the sessions. A parent or carer is required to participate with the children in these sessions. Ages 4 – 8.

Join Jess Black and Ed Wright from Black and Wright, as they dare your imagination with wild and crazy creative writing challenges.

A special glitter filled Storytime extravaganza with Newcastle's own Timberlina.

Families are invited to join us for an all singing, dancing and storytelling celebrating our city’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. This program will be simultaneously live streamed on Newcastle Libraries Facebook page. By attending this session you consent to being filmed as part of our Livestream event.

Newcastle (City) Library sessions:

Saturday 8 May, 10 - 10:30am

Saturday 12 June, 10 - 10:30am

Ages: For children and their carers. 

Cost: Free

No bookings necessary, just drop in!

Rainbow Families Storytime - Online sessions

Replacing our popular in-person sessions, we now have an online glitter-filled Storytime extravaganza with Newcastle's own Timberlina! Families are invited to join in the all singing, dancing, and storytelling fun, celebrating our city’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Enjoy songs, nursery rhymes, dancing, music, stories and lots of fun! These action- packed sessions are perfect for developing the early literacy skills of children age 0-3. This program is limited to 30 attendees per session.

Newcastle (City) Library:

Wednesdays: 21 April - 23 June 2021

Session 1 – 9:40-10am

Session 2 – 10:20-10:40am

Fridays: 22 April - 25 June 2021

Session 1 – 9:40-10am

Session 2 – 10:20-10:40am

Wallsend Library:

Wednesdays: 21 April - 23 June 2021

Session 1 – 9:40-10am

Session 2 – 10:20-10:40am

Thursdays: 22 April - 24 June 2021

Session 1 – 9:40-10am

Session 2 – 10:20-10:40am

Ages: For children age 0-3 and their carer.

Cost: Free

No bookings necessary, just drop in!

Rock n Rhyme - Online sessions:

Join all your favourite library friends for Rock n Rhyme Online! We'll be singing songs, dancing together and giving you some great activity ideas to keep the fun going at home. These action packed sessions are perfect for children age 0 - 3. So grab a scarf (or a tea towel!) to dance with and enjoy!

Family friendly fun at Newcastle (City) Library four weekends of the month!

Wayapa Storytime at the Olive Tree Market

Storytelling, movement and nature-based craft are used to introduce children to Wayapa Wuurrk an Aboriginal based earth mindfulness, story meditation with physical movements to promote sustainability, connection and community. 

Presented by Aboriginal Health Practitioner Sarah Corrigan of Rainbow Crow Cultural Collective and fun for kids of all ages. 

Where: Olive Tree Markets at Civic Park, King Street, Newcastle

Sessions:

Saturday 1 May - Multiple sessions between 10am and 12:00pm.

Saturday 5 June - Multiple sessions between 10am and 12:00pm.

Rainbow Families Storytime

A special glitter filled Storytime extravaganza with Newcastle's own Timberlina. 

Families are invited to join us for an all singing, dancing and storytelling celebrating our city’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. This program will be simultaneously live streamed on Newcastle Libraries Facebook page. By attending this session, you consent to being filmed as part of our Livestream event. 

Where: Newcastle (City) Library

Sessions:

Saturday 8 May, 10 - 10:30am

Saturday 12 June, 10 - 10:30am

Story Buzz Local Author Storytime

Join us at Story Buzz to discover the amazing talent of our local children’s authors and illustrators. With stories and fun for little ones, you’re bound to get a buzz out of it! 

Where: Newcastle (City) Library

Sessions:

Saturday 15 May, 10 - 10:30am with local illustrator Jenni Goodman

Saturday 19 June, 10 - 10:30am with local illustrator Kirrili Lonergan 

Saturday Story Stomp

Join us for a monthly celebration of the best new children’s books. Stomp, read, sing and play with us as our children’s librarians introduce you to a world of wonder. 

Where: Newcastle (City) Library

Sessions:

Saturday 22 May, 10 - 10:30am

Saturday 26 June, 10 - 10:30am

All Saturday Family Fun events are drop-in, no bookings necessary!

Ages: Suitable for children of all ages

Cost: Free

Hola!

Join us for fun, stories, rhymes, songs, and music in "Español"!

For Spanish speaking "familias" and those who would like to experience the "lenguaje". Los esperamos! Suitable for "niños" age 0-5.

Newcastle Library Sessions:

Tuesday 27 April 10:00 – 10:30am

Tuesday 11 May 10:00 – 10:30am

Tuesday 25 May 10:00 – 10:30am

Tuesday 8 June 10:00 – 10:30am

Tuesday 22 June 10:00 – 10:30am

Ages: For children age 0-5 and their carers. 

Cost: Free

Bookings essential. 

Book tickets for Spanish Rock n Rhyme Storytime Sessions

Access the wonderful world of Australian children's literature through film. Providing a vibrant, interactive experience through a range of everyday and extraordinary storytellers. Listen to Andy Griffith read you his The 39-Storey Treehouse or Nick Cave lend his voice to The Ghost of Annabel Spoon. Story Box Library is compatible with mobile devices, perfect for families 'on the go'.

Stomp your way through a weekly fun themed session of stories, songs, games and craft developed to stimulate, engage and grow the minds of 3-5 year olds. This program is limited to 30 attendees.  

Sessions will run during Term 2 from 21 April – 23 June 2021

Wallsend Library

Wednesdays 11:15-11:45am      

Ages: For children age 3-5 and their carer.

Cost: Free

No bookings necessary, just drop in!

Story Stomp - Online sessions

Watch our very special Story Stomp series, with books by wonderful Newcastle authors and illustrators. Stomp your way through a fun-filled session of stories, songs, and craft developed to stimulate and grow the minds of 3 - 5 year olds. A new story stomp will be added each week!

Wayapa Babytime is an opportunity for carers to slow down and connect inwards with themselves, with baby and with the environment. Wayapa is an earth mind body spirit practice which promotes wellbeing and is based on ancient Indigenous Australian knowledge about living in harmony with the environment and connection, the world's oldest living continuing culture for over 80,000 years.

Presented by Aboriginal Health Practitioner Sarah Corrigan, this four-week program promotes carer/baby attachment and is environmentally sustainable.

Wallsend Library:

Tuesday 4, 11, 18, 25 May, 10:00 – 10:40am

Book tickets to the Wayapa Babytime May program

Cost: Free

Ages: For babies and their carer.

Bookings essential. 

Storytelling, movement and nature-based craft are used to introduce children to Wayapa Wuurrk an Aboriginal based earth mindfulness, story meditation with physical movements to promote sustainability, connection and community, FOR EVERYONE!

Presented by Aboriginal Health Practitioner Sarah Corrigan, this four-week program is perfect for families with children aged 3-5.

Wallsend Library:

Tuesday 4, 11, 18, 25 May, 11:00 – 11:40am

Bookings tickets for the Wayapa Storytime May program

Cost: Free

Ages: For children age 3-5 and their families

Bookings essential.