Children & Families Libraries Newsletter - festivals, events and much more.

Virtual Chorlton Book Festival - 19th - 25th September

Reading has been bigger than ever in 2020, so we couldn't postpone the sixteenth Chorlton Book Festival. We’ve something for everyone, with a particularly strong line-up for children and young adults, including Nathan Byron (Author of the Waterstones Book of the Year 'Look Up'!), Anna Mainwaring who has written 2  novels for teenagers,  Marie Basting who writes funny fiction for children aged 7 and Louisa Reid, the author of four novels for young adults. All events are free to watch on Facebook Live or Live Webinar, check out all the details here. 

National Poetry Day - 1st October 

It’s National Poetry Day on 1st October! Celebrate all things poetry, find some fabulous poems and 40 recommended poetry books here:

Watch out for a Spooktastic video reading of Zombierella: Fairytales Gone Bad,by Joseph Coelho  the first in a funny, deliciously dark, three-part series of twisted classics, written in verse by award-winning poet Joseph Coelho and illustrated by Freya Hartas, playing on our Facebook page on 1st October.

Tiny Fun Palaces 2020 - Saturday 3rd October 

Tiny Fun Palace family afternoon at Central Library - (advance booking required) 

Join Angela and Siobhan at Central Library on Saturday 3rd October to help you make your Tiny Fun Palace in a Bag, but places are limited!  Booking is essential via Eventbrite.

See our blog for more details.

STEM Club Online

Inspirational Black innovators in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) that we should all know about.  For Black History Month, we are highlighting some of the individuals, past and present, who should be routinely recognised for their achievements.

We hope this sparks your interest so you will actively find out more about the amazing people below and other black pioneers in STEM. See our calendar of events here.

The STEM Club Online weekly videos are posted on Facebook page each Saturday at 11am.

Reading is Magic Festival- 27th September - 2nd October

An all-star line-up of authors and illustrators have signed up to take part in this year's digital Reading is Magic Festival. Headed by Waterstones Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell with LOADS of top authors and illustrators taking part, including Kristina Stephenson, Joseph Coelho and Nathan Bryon. Take a look here to find out more information and you can search and filter the events by age guideline here.  

Children’s e-books and audio books

Download your eBooks and eAudiobooks for free from BorrowBox with your library card! If you don't have a Manchester Libraries card all you need to do is register here then use the temporary library number you are given.  

Let Sleeping Dragons Lie by Garth Nix & Sean Williams (Suitable for children aged 8+) 

Odo and Eleanor are now officially knights, helped (and sometimes hindered) by their magical but rather difficult to control magical swords. But if they thought life as a knight was going to be easy, they are wrong! Before they know it, their first task is to tackle some ferocious bile wolves! A funny fantasy triumph from Garth Nix and Sean Williams, the perfect sequel to Have Sword, Will Travel.

Manchester Libraries Storytimes

Pop along to our Facebook page every Tuesday at 11am to join our weekly Storytimes for the under 5’s session.

We have lots of fantastic books to share with you!

At Home with our Artists

All six of our fabulous sessions are now available to watch and work along with on our Youtube channel. You can learn how to do everything from weaving a wall hanging to making a mini den for small creatures, from drawing with scissors to sewing your own sensational sock pigs or even printing with styrofoam to making dip dyed bunting using household ingredients.

Each session was filmed at home by a Manchester artist using easy to source materials and are suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities.

Lego Club is back- join us online

Our online Lego Club will be back on Saturday 10 October! Join us on Facebook or Twitter at 1pm to see what the monthly theme is and then take part from the comfort of your own home.

Don't forget to send us photos of your creations!

Summer Reading Challenge videos

Catch all of our fabulous Summer Reading Challenge Silly Squad videos here before many of them expire on 30th September.

Videos include fun crafts, 10 draw alongs with Nick Sharratt, storytimes with Steve Smallman, Kristina Stephenson, Robin Simpson and Tom Palmer, poetry with Rappaman Donavan Christopher, Dom Berry and much much more!

Children's Digital Magazines

No need to go out to pick up your favourite magazine. Read full digital copies for free from your computer, smartphone or tablet via the app. Magazines include Horrible Histories, 3D World, Match of the Day and many more. Borrow an unlimited number of magazines to keep forever or delete when you want.

Register here with your library card or if you don't have one, get a temporary one here which you can use.