Tag: kids

BIG Summer Read

Big Summer Read logo and banner. Vibrant coloured circles against a blue sky.

Keep the kids reading BIG this summer!

The BIG Summer Read is a statewide summer reading campaign for children and young people, open to anyone ages 0-18. It aims to encourage kids to read for pleasure and beat the ‘summer slide’ – the loss of literacy development over the long summer break when kids aren’t exposed to books or reading at school.

Track reading and complete challenges

Visit Beanstack to register now! Download the Beanstack app to collect your registration badge and meet this year’s cast of quirky characters.

Register now
BIG Summer Read character Red the book
BIG Summer Read character Connie the Ice-Cream Cone

Open from 1 December – 31 January

Keep reading in whatever format you choose! Book or audiobook – physical or digital – novel or comic book – it’s completely up to you.

Statewide prize winner announced 12 February

Winners will receive book packs donated by James Bennett.

  • Ages 0-4 – Board books
  • Ages 5-8 – Picture books
  • Ages 8-12 – Junior fiction/graphic novels
  • Ages 12-18 – YA fiction/graphic novels

Winners will be notified via email.

Pick up a Reading Log

You can also choose to grab a printed Reading Log from your local library. Completing a printed Reading Log doesn’t automatically enter you into the statewide prize draw – but it does enter you into the Your Library prize draw!

Win a Prize Pack from Your Library!

Submit your completed printed Reading Log to your local library by 31 January to go in the draw. The lucky winner will be announced on 12 February.

Big Summer Read character Bob the Apple

Start your BIG Summer Read journey with these red hot kids titles!

Keep reading... by listening! Check out these great eAudiobooks on BorrowBox.

BIG Summer Read slogan in bold yellow font: JOIN BORROW READ WIN

Brought to you by

BIG Summer Read creator logo for Public Libraries Victoria
BIG Summer Read sponsor logo Bolinda BorrowBox
BIG Summer Read sponsor logo James Bennett
BIG Summer Read sponsor logo Story Box Library
BIG Summer Read sponsor logo School Library Association of Victoria

Subscribe to our Children's Newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest children’s news with this seasonal newsletter. Events, resources, announcements, competitions and much more – sign up now!

1000 Books Before School

Join the challenge and read 1000 books before the first day of school!

Reading together is the best way to encourage a love of books in your child. Reading daily helps children develop their vocabulary, understanding of themselves and others, and the skills they will need to be successful readers when they start school.

Your Library’s 1000 Books Before School program is all about encouraging reading in whatever way works best for your family. Whether it’s a book you’ve read together at home, a story from kinder, a library Storytime session, or your child’s dog-eared old favourite, log them all in your 1000 Books Before School reading record pack. You’ll also earn rewards at every step of your journey.

There is no fee to join. Simply complete the form below, collect your starter-pack, and start reading!

Why read 1000 books before school?

Early literacy skills are essential an building block for lifelong learning beyond primary and high school.

Research shows that reading with a child several times a week develops their literacy skills up to a year beyond their peers.

It’s easier than you might think to read 1000 books.

If you read three books a day, you can read more than 1000 books in a year. If you read just one book a day, you will finish in less than 3 years.

Repetition is great for developing early literacy skills, so if you read the same book more than once, you can count it each time you read.

Grandparent reading to young girl
Parent reading to baby

Every book counts

Every book that your child completes, or actively listens to, counts. This includes stories read at Storytime sessions, day-care and kindergarten, even the same book over and over again.

Reading or listening? Print or digital?

Borrowing physical books from your local library isn’t the only way Your Library can help you achieve 1000 books before school.

Audiobooks are a fantastic way to keep reading to kids. You can access more than 1,200 children’s audiobooks through our library catalogue.

On top of that, there are thousands and thousands of popular kids’ audiobooks available for free download at any time on the Libby app or BorrowBox app.

You can also watch hundreds of Australia’s favourite children’s book read just for you at Story Box Library. The stories are read by some of Australia’s favourite storytellers, including Justine Clarke, Nick Cave, Missy Higgins, Peter Hitchener, Andy Griffiths, Sally Rippin and many more.

How does it work?

Step 1: Join Online

Step 1: Fill out the form below.

Step 2: Collect Your Reading Pack

Step 2: Collect your reading record pack from your local library.

Step 3: Start reading

Step 3: Start reading! Any level, any format, any number of repeat reads.

Step 4: track progress

Step 4: Track your progress, achieve milestones, and collect rewards!

Fill out this form to start your 1000 Books journey!

Subscribe to our Children's Newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest children’s news with this monthly newsletter. Events, resources, announcements, competitions and much more – sign up now!

Check out these latest kids' reads!

Beyond Sparkles and Superheroes

Beyond Sparkles & Superheroes
Children receive messages about gender everyday through behaviours, images, written and spoken words at home, at school and in other settings. 
These picture books present child characters in a way that challenges gender stereotypes. They are just a sample of books available on the theme of gender equality or gender equity and have been chosen because they are both enjoyable stories to read with your child and because they represent a range of approaches to the topic of gender equity.
We hope you enjoy them.
Some Girls

Some Girls

Written by Nelly Thomas
Illustrated by Sarah Dunk

One Busy Day

One Busy Day

Written by Lola M Schafer
Illustrated by Jessica Meserve

Some Boys

Some Boys

Written by Nelly Thomas
Illustrated by Sarah Dunk

Be Who You Are

Be Who You Are

Written and illustrated by
Todd Parr

ABC What Can He Be?

Written by Snap Studio
Illustrated by Jessie Ford

Tough Guys

Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too)

Written and illustrated by
Keith Negley

Rosie Revere

Rosie Revere, Engineer

Written by Andrea Beaty
Illustrated by David Roberts

Two Mates

Two Mates

Written and illustrated by Maggie Prewett

ABC What Can She Be?

Written by Snap Studio
Illustrated by Jessie Ford

Made By Raffi

Made By Raffi

Written by Craig Pomranz
Illustrated by Margaret Chamberlain

Pearl Fairweather

Pearl Fairweather, Pirate Captain

Written by Jayneen Sanders
Illustrated by Lesley Danson

Bold Australian Girl

Bold Australian Girl

Written by Jess Black
Illustrated by Fern Martins

Sadie Sprocket Builds A Rocket

Written by Sue Fliess
Illustrated by Annabel Tempest

Ada Twist

Ada Twist, Scientist

Written by Andrea Beaty
Illustrated by David Roberts

No Difference Between Us

No Difference Between Us

Written by Jayneen Sanders
Illustrated by Amanda Gulliver

I Could Be

I Could Be, You Could Be

Written by Karen Owen
Illustrated by Barroux

Aaron Slater, Illustratore

Written by Andrea Beaty
Illustrated by David Roberts

Who Am I

Who Am I? I Am Me!

Written by Jayneen Sanders
Illustrated by Diane Ewen

How To Be A Lion

How To Be A Lion

Written and illustrated by
Ed Vere

Girls Can Do Anything

Girls Can Do Anything

Written by Caryl Hart
Illustrated by Ali Pye

Pink Is For Boys

Pink Is For Boys

Written by Robb Pearlman
Illustrated by Eda Kaban

Tricky's Bad Day

Tricky's Bad Day

Written and illustrated by
Alison Lester

Boys Will Be

Boys Will Be...

Written and illustrated by Susann Hoffmann

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez

Written by Andrea Beaty
Illustrated by David Roberts

Girls Are Pretty

Girls Are Pretty...

Written and illustrated by Susann Hoffmann

Download the Beyond Sparkles And Superheroes Poster here

Maroondah
Knox City Council
Yarra Ranges Council
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Subscribe to our Children's Newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest children’s news with this monthly newsletter. Events, resources, announcements, competitions and much more – sign up now!

Storytimes

Regular storytimes will resume on Monday 15 April.

During school holidays, we run a range of other events for kids of all ages. Subscribe to our Children’s Newsletter to find out about upcoming kids’ events as soon as they’re announced.

Watch Storytime online!

You can always enjoy Storytime at home.

Catch up on heaps of great Storytime sessions and holiday craft activities on our YouTube Channel.

Watch stories come to life at home with Story Box Library. Enjoy books by Australia’s favourite authors read to you by Australian actors, authors, illustrators and comedians. There are hundreds of stories available (including many in Auslan), with new stories added every week.

More YouTube videos
Story Box Library

Subscribe to our Children's Newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest children’s news with this monthly newsletter. Events, resources, announcements, competitions and much more – sign up now!

Kids

Featured For Kids

Busy Code by Busythings
storytime calendar image

Online Storytimes
Be sure to follow our Facebook page here to access live storytimes! Times will be posted to let you know exactly when we will be live.

storybox
Kanopy-Kids
Kanopy Kids
Kanopy Kids highlights films and TV series that inspire and inform, helping children develop empathy, mindfulness, and self-esteem through entertaining and educational videos. Stream now!