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I found this book looking for something new for my book club Around Words that runs on the first Wednesday of the month at Yarra Junction Library. Allegra is eleven and has three important people in her life. She lives with one grandmother, Matilde, who is from Hungary and with her own story to tell. Next door is Joy, her other grandmother. They both love Allegra but can't stand each other. Rick, her Dad lives at the end of Matilde's garden and is Joy's son. As Allegra says, Matilde's 'got a blind spot when it comes to Rick'. He is trying to be a good dad to 'Al Pal' but has his own issues and the absence of her mother affects all four of them. These relationships cause a great deal of tension in the child's life and culminate in a very dramatic conclusion. A gripping book with many life lessons for all of us. I loved the rich, full blooded characters of the grandmothers but also the secondary characters, the people Allegra comes in contact with, her friends and neighbors. What an exciting new novelist.
Milkman is the type of book that you want to give your full attention to, to get the most out of it. You’ll want to spend hours at time reading on the couch absorbing each poetic sentence.
What I loved most about the Milkman is the lack of names and the ambiguity. The story follows ‘middle sister’ as she struggles to live her life on ‘this side of the road’ hiding her ‘maybe-boyfriend’ from her family, and her encounter with the Milkman from a town full of gossip and rumours.
I have never read anything like this book, and I doubt I ever will again. The writing is unique and beautiful. If you’re looking to mix up your summer reading list, I highly recommend it.
This is a book of beautiful description and imagery, fierce battles and more than interesting characters. Orario Celavini, an ex soldier now law enforcer in 16th Century Florence needs to confront his troubled and traumatic past when he must solve two murders in Florence. A past feud between two wealth families in the area, which ended in the massacre of one of the families, is linked to the murders and Onorio's past. He must solve the murders, save a friend and confront his own past to find peace and harmony in his future.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading In the Footsteps of Zen, written by local author Dr Lim Meng Sing (Peter). He explains what “Zen” is and how it can be used to create a more happy and peaceful life in our modern, chaotic world. He speaks about silence, mindfulness, having purpose and using Zen as therapy through difficult times.
The beauty of this book is in its simplicity. Written by someone who has for many years travelled the Zen path, it is clear and uncluttered. It includes poetry and quotations from authors, teachers, philosophers and scientists.
Peter’s own 150 brief reflections (which make up the second half of the book) are also simple, but very thoughtful.
This book is small in size, but big in content.
This is Holly Ringland’s debut novel, she grew up barefoot and wild in her mother’s tropical garden on the East coast of Australia. Her interest in cultures and stories was sparked by a two-year journey her family took in North America when she was nine years old, living in a camper van and travelling from one national park to another. In her twenties, Holly worked for four years in a remote Indigenous community in the central Australian desert.
In the novel Alice suffers a tragedy at 9 years old when a fire destroys her home and she loses her parents. She is taken in by her estranged grandmother, a flower farmer who raises Alice on the language of flowers, but Alice also learns that there are secrets about her past that her grandmother is reluctant to speak about. An unexpected betrayal sees Alice leave the farm and she ends up in the central Australian desert where she learns the culture of the people and their relation to their plants.
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Fun boredom busting activities you can make at home!
Unfortunately, storytime sessions have been suspended due to library closures.
Select either your preferred location or day to discover what Storytime sessions are available.
Please note: Regular Storytimes run during school terms only.
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Tuesday 10.30 am
Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Friday 10.30am
Preschoolers (3-6 Years)
Wednesday 11.00am
Chinese Storytime (0-6 Years)
Monday 10.30am 2nd March, 16th March
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Monday 2.00pm
Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Monday 11.00am
Preschoolers (3-6 Years)
Tuesday 11.00am
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Thursday 2.00pm
Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Tuesday 11.00am
Preschoolers (3-6 Years)
Monday 10.00am
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Tuesday 1.00pm
Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Friday 11.00am
Preschoolers (3-6 Years)
Tuesday 11.00am
Saturday Storytime (0-6 Years)
Saturday 10.30am
Auslan Storytime (1-3 Years)
1st Friday of the month 11.00am (Feb-Nov)
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Friday 11.00am
Preschoolers (3-6 Years)
Tuesday 11.00am
Family (1-6 Years)
Wednesday 11.00am
Thursday 11.00am
Tinytots (0-12 Months)
Tuesday 10.00am
Family (1-6 Years)
Tuesday 11.30am
Wednesday 10.00am
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Monday 1.00pm
Wednesday 10.00am
Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Wednesday 11.00am
Preschoolers (3-6 Years)
Tuesday 11.00am
Saturday Storytime (0-6 Years)
Saturday 10.30am
Chinese Storytimes (0-6 Years)
Friday 10.30am 13th March, 27th March
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Wednesday 2.00pm
Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Friday 10.00am
Family (1-6 Years)
Friday 11.30am
Saturday Storytime (0-6 Years)
Saturday 10.30am
Family (1-6 Years)
Last Thursday of the month 2.00pm
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Thursday 11.00am
Family (1-6 Years)
Thursday 9.15am
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Wednesday 11.00am
Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Friday 10.00am
Preschoolers (3-6 Years)
Monday 10.00am
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Tuesday 11.00am
Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Wednesday 11.00am
Preschoolers (3-6 Years)
Thursday 11.00am
Family (1-6 Years)
Wednesday 2.00pm
Saturday Storytime (0-6 Years)
Saturday 10.30am
Chinese Storytime (0-6 Years)
Friday 10.30am 6th March, 20th March
Chinese Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Friday 1.00pm 6th March, 20th March
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Tuesday 2.00pm
Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Wednesday 10.30am
Preschoolers (3-6 Years)
Monday 10.30am
Family (1-6 Years)
Tuesday 10.30am
Saturday Storytime (0-6 Years)
Saturday 10.30am
Chinese Storytime (0-6 Years)
Friday 10.30am 6th March, 20th March
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Monday 12.30pm
Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Wednesday 2.00pm
Family (1-6 Years)
Monday 10.00am
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Belgrave 2:00pm
Knox 1.00pm
Yarra Junction 12.30pm
Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Belgrave 11.00am
Preschoolers (3-6 Years)
Boronia 10.00am
Mooroolbark 10.00am
Rowville 10.30am
Family (1-6 Years)
Yarra Junction 10.00am
Chinese Storytimes 10.30am (0-6 Years)
Bayswater Monday 2nd March, 16th March
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Bayswater 10.30am
Croydon 1.00pm
Healesville 10.00am
Realm 11.00am
Rowville 2.00pm
Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Boronia 11.00am
Preschoolers (3-6 Years)
Belgrave 11.00am
Croydon 11.00am
Ferntree Gully 11.00am
Knox 11.00am
Family (1-6 Years)
Healesville 11.30am
Rowville 10.30am
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Knox 10.00am
Lilydale 2.00pm
Mooroolbark 11.00am
Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Knox 11.00am
Realm 11.00am
Rowville 10.30am
Yarra Juntion 2.00pm
Preschoolers (3-6 Years)
Bayswater 11.00am
Family (1-6 Years)
Ferntree Gully 11.00am
Healesville 10.00am
Realm 2.00pm
Tinytots (0-12 Months)
Boronia 2.00pm
Montrose 11.00am
Preschoolers (3-6 Years)
Realm 11.00am
Family (1-6 Years)
Ferntree Gully 11.00am
Montrose 9.15am
Monbulk Reading Room (Last Thursday of the month) 2.00pm
Tiny Tots (0-12 Months)
Ferntree Gully 11.00am
Toddlers (1-3 Years)
Bayswater 10.30am
Croydon 11.00am
Lilydale 10.00am
Mooroolbark 10.00am
Family (1-6 Years)
Lilydale 11.30am
Auslan Storytime (1-3 Years)
Croydon 1st Friday of the month 11.00am (Feb-Nov)
Chinese Storytime 10.30am (0-6 Years)
Knox Friday 13th March, 27th March
Realm Friday 6th March, 20th March
Rowville Friday 6th March, 20th March
Chinese Tiny Tots 1.00pm (0-12 Months)
Realm Friday 6th March, 20th March
All Storytime Ages (0-6 Years)
Croydon 10.30am
Knox 10.30am
Lilydale 10.30am
Realm 10.30am
Rowville 10.30am
Your local library offers designated children’s areas, programs, and services for children.
Together, we can provide a fun and positive experience. We hope you will help by assisting in the selection of books and materials, attending programs and following our tips for a positive experience.
We encourage you to read to your children from birth.
Reading to your child and then teaching them to read promotes healthy brain development that lasts a lifetime.
To help you in the early stages of your child’s development your local library provides storytimes for your Tiny Tots, Toddler or Pre-schooler. Storytime can be a very special sharing time with your child.
We encourage you to do the following:
Tiny Tots is a special sharing time for you and your baby.
Tips
To enjoy the experience you should:
Storytimes for your older children:
Tips:
To enjoy the experience you should:
Eastern Regional Libraries is proud to host monthly AUSLAN storytimes at Croydon Library. These storytimes are especially geared towards deaf children and take place at 11am on the 1st Friday of month from February to November.
Held at Croydon, Knox, Realm and Rowville at 10.30am, our Saturday storytime sessions are a great way to get to a storytime for families who are busy during the week.
Children aged between 0-6 are welcome, with readings, songs and craft activities to participate in.
Your library hosts fortnightly Mandarin Chinese storytimes at Bayswater, Knox, Realm and Rowville libraries. They run from 10.30am-11.15am, and are suitable for children aged between 0-6 years old.
Chinese storytimes are expected to start back in March.
Join us for stories and rhymes in a calm storytime. Perfect for children who may find regular storytimes a little busy, noisy or overwhelming. Quiet storytimes are held occasionally at some branches. They’re part of a new program being rolled out around Eastern Regional Libraries. Please visit your local branch to find out when the next session takes place.
