What a year it has been! With over 450 diverse stories in our growing library, including new Auslan titles and additions to our First Nations’ Stories collection, Story Box Library is always expanding to provide you the best in children’s literature, on an accessible and trusted platform.

From brand-new resources including Units of Work, our very own StoryBox app, popular Professional Development webinars and much more, the Story Box Library team continues to provide educators, librarians, parents, carers and industry professionals with the tools they need to engage children in literacy, making learning fun and letting imaginations fly!

We look forward to reconnecting in the new year, with more stories and resources to support your school and library communities and families, inspiring the next generation of young ones with diverse stories and creativity. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up-to-date with all news Story Box Library.

Story Tools - Launching February 2023

In February 2023, we are launching something entirely new: Story Tools. Story Tools helps students master the mechanics of storytelling. Via easy-to-follow short video tutorials from Australia’s most visionary book creators, Story Tools inspires and creates confident storytellers.

Series 1 of 3 launches in February 2023, and features the storytelling mechanics, such as genre, character development, creative inspiration and more! Each series features 12 short video tutorials, delivered by some of Australia’s brightest and best children’s book creators. Find out more and sign up for updates.

StoryBox app

Free to download (with an active subscription) onto Apple and Android devices, a world of stories is now even easier to access. Download the StoryBox app now, featuring:

  • Over 400 diverse stories, with new stories added regularly

  • Quick and easy search filters and playlist functions

  • Language learning and audio-visual support, including closed-captioning

  • Individual profile settings for parents and children for Family subscribers

Gabrielle Wang, Australian Children’s Laureate 2022-23

Story Box Library worked closely with the Australian Children Laureate Foundation to announce the new Australian Children’s Laureate for 2022-23: Gabrielle Wang, children’s book author and illustrator! Gabrielle is an award-winning book creator and advocate, and over the next two years as Laureate, she will be traveling around Australia to libraries and galleries, exercising imaginations, on her ‘Follow the Dragon’ tour. Citing her Chinese heritage influencing all her creative works, Gabrielle’s wonderful tales combine Chinese philosophy and folktale. Meet Gabrielle Wang, Australian Children’s Laureate.

Librarian Storyteller of the Year 2022

Thank you to all who entered our award this year. We’ve been overwhelmed by entrants from across Australia and New Zealand, with a fantastic passion for literature and knack for creating wonder through storytelling! We loved watching your submissions and wish you all the best in continuing to inspire and engage your communities. Our judging panel had an extremely difficult time narrowing down the shortlist from wonderful submissions. Congratulations to this year’s winner, Lindsay Evergreen from Mandurah Libraries in Western Australia. Read more about this year’s winner and finalists.

Explore our brand-new Resources page

Only available to active subscribers, our Resources section showcases the best in Story Box Library’s additional educational offerings. Linked to stories in our growing digital collection and with easy-to-use search filters, the Resources page helps educators, library staff, and professionals find and access the tools they need. The new website section hosts all our educational resources including Classroom Ideas, Activity Time instructions, Units of Work and Story Response Templates, in a helpful new format. Professional Development events and promotional materials are also available. Visit our Resources section.

CBCA Book Week 2022 stories and activities

In collaboration with Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA), Story Box Library released popular and shortlisted story titles for CBCA Book Week 2022. Explore shortlisted stories from the Early Childhood, Picture Book, Eve Pownall and New Illustrator categories, or find CBCA Book Week 2022 stories in our digital collection here. In addition, our CBCA Book Week activities and resources included engaging activity tasks for lower, middle and upper primary students in a classroom setting, library or remotely. Find out more about our CBCA Book Week 2022 educational resources here.

Sharing First Nations’ stories in the classroom with Jasmine Seymour

Get knowledge about how educators can facilitate First Nations’ stories confidently in the classroom, and use children’s literature for greater awareness and understanding of First Nations’ heroes and histories. Special guest Chloe Lumsden shares how to build a meaningful Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for your school community. Download presentation slides and educator resources focused on First Nations’ stories, storytellers, histories and more. Links below or in the video description. Find out more and watch the recording.

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