Winter warmer stories for your library community
20 May 2022
As the months get colder in the southern hemisphere, many are looking to home-based stories and activities, promoting quality family time and assisting little ones with understanding their worlds better. While the seasonal colds come around and isolation is still a reality for many, passing the time with engaging and delightful stories is a breeze with Story Box Library. Support library patrons and families throughout the winter months ahead, with suggested titles and activities on topics of change, the environment, inclusion, science and more.
In Jane Godwin's gentle tale of rhythm, routine and inevitable change, each month is represented throughout the story, as a family work their way through a year of their lives together.
Stories for June events
Supporting World Environment Day on June 5 and World Oceans Day on June 8, Benny Bungara’s Big Bush Clean-up is an environmental tale from Sally Morgan that shows how animals are affected by rubbish left in their habitat by humans, and Moira Court brings the diversity of Antarctica to life in this gorgeous story, combining clever counting with lyrical prose and stunning artwork.
Explore more stories about the Environment here or by using our theme search filter.
In alignment with Refugee Week (19-25 June), My Two Blankets is an important story of immigration and belonging to share with Australian children, created by Irena Kobald and Freya Blackwood. Find translations of My Two Blankets read in Dari (read by Zakia Hassan), Farsi (read by Ensie Anjedani) and Arabic (read by Mohammed Sharabah), to integrate into your public library storytime events.
Stories for July events
Respected Elder Aunty Joy Murphy welcomes us to Country with a Wurundjeri Wominjeka (welcome) and beautifully, yet simply, explains the concept of welcoming ceremonies and their significance to Aboriginal communities across Australia.
Encourage kids to read this story as part of Story Box Library’s Reading Challenge for NAIDOC Week (3-10 July), following the Activity Time instructions, borrowing the book from your public library and leaving a review for someone else to find.
Nobody Owns the Moon is a story of friendship, perfect for International Friendship Day (30 July). This modern classic story is a perfect marriage of text and image, and timeless in its message of belonging and community from creator Tohby Riddle.
Explore more stories about Friendships and Social Relationships here or by using our theme search filter.
Stories and activities for the school holidays
Encourage children and families to keep being active (and reading) over school holidays with selected stories and Activity Time instructions for indoor and outdoor fun.
Ever had one of those teachers who love playing on the slide as much as you do? Meet Mrs Gonsha. But what starts out as a bit of fun soon turns into playground mayhem. Reader Danny Katz does a fantastic job at bringing his story to life. Mitch Vane's illustrations add to the craziness.
After the story read, create an outdoor obstacle course using Activity Time instructions, found via the Activities tab on the story page.
Little Cat and the Big Red Bus
Anna Walker's reading is gentle and reasurring as we follow Little Cat's journey, both literally from school to home, and emotionally through the terror and fear of falling asleep on the bus, to the warmth and safety of help and home.
After the story read, create an indoor obstacle course using these Activity Time instructions.
When Mae has to move house from the country to the city, she feels lonely and sad - until she discovers a beautiful place full of green in the centre of Paris. What she finds there sparks something special and beautiful that will make her feel much more at home.
After the story read, make your own little indoor treasure terrarium for winter with our Activity Time instructions.
Archie and the Bear is a wonderfully quirky story about friendship, being yourself and acceptance, from author Zanni Louise. After the story read, encourage patrons to use our Activity Time instructions to create a pretend campfire, inside the comfort of their home.
