There is something magical about picture books, and this list is an extra-special one.

These are the Picture Books (0 to 18 age group) shortlisted for Children Books Council of Australia 2020, please note that some picture books may be only suitable for older readers.

Please click on the image to place a hold.

 Please click here ⇓ to find out the winners of the 2020 CBCA Book of the Year Awards

This week we are taking time to celebrate fantastic children’s literature published in Australia and the wonderful authors and illustrators who create the books.

Children aged 2 to 5 and their caregivers are invited to join us at Margaret River Library on Tuesday 20th October at 10.30am for a special Children’s Book Week dress up storytime. We will read one of the shortlisted Children’s Book of the Year titles and kids can dress up as a character from their favourite book. Call the library on 9780 5600 if you have any queries, no bookings required.

Visit your library to check out the display of notable and winning titles for Children’s Book of the Year and collect a curious creature book mark and colouring in sheet, to get crafty at home.

Happy Children’s Book Week everyone!

Children’s Book Week is almost upon us, let us use this opportunity to get familiar with some of Australia’s best writers for young readers, and understand why they have been shortlisted by the Children’s Book Council of Australia.

Today we are featuring the shortlisted titles for Early Childhood (0 to 6 years of age).

Please click on the image to place a hold on the item.

Winners will be revealed at 12 noon AEDT on Friday 16 October. 

The shortlisted titles for young readers for this years Children’s Book of the year 2020 award is suitable for children 7 to 12.

The stories range from fantastic worlds accessible from paintings on the wall and dystopian landscapes, to sensitive topics like family struggles and disabilities.

This week’s selection deserve your attention !

Snake safety and reptile myth busting presentation

Join us at the local Margaret River Library to hear Becca Bolton from Discover Deadly – our local Reptile Centre, speak about her work and give participants the chance to interact with reptiles that live at Discover Deadly.

Becca is also a qualified snake catcher and she will give advice on staying safe around snakes, along with some interesting facts about these fascinating creatures.

This activity is best suited to children over 5 years old and bookings are essential as there are limited spaces.

Margaret River Library Tuesday 29 September

• First session 10 -10.45am
• Second session 11.15-12 noon

Phone 9780 5600 for bookings

Lego Club at Augusta Library

Join our hour long Lego club session to take on new challenges with all the Lego provided. Best suited to children over 5 years and bookings are essential.

Phone the library now to reserve your child’s place.

 Augusta Library

• Thursday 1 October | 10.30-11.30am

Phone 9780 5600 for bookings

Undalup Storytime – Songlines of Boodja

Join Tamara from the Undalup Association on the yarning mat for a special storytime; Songlines of Boodja (country) with activities and craft.

Suitable for ages 4-12 years old and bookings are essential to reserve your child’s place.

Margaret River Library

• Tuesday 6 October | 10-11am

Phone 9780 5600 for bookings

Fuelling Creativity workbooks available at your library

Grab your FREE Scribblers Festival Fuelling Creativity Workbook brimming with inspiration and tips on how a healthy body can support your most creative mind! Hear from a line up of creative stars that take you behind the scenes of their creative process in the corresponding Fuelling Creativity Video Series found on the  Scribblers Festival Fuelling Creativity website.

All school holiday activities are FREE at the Shire Libraries, however bookings are essential and children must be accompanied by an adult for each session.

Regular Baby Rhyme Time, Storytime and Toddler Tales sessions take a break over school holidays. Sessions resume during school term commencing Monday 12 October.

Toddler Tales starts again this Thursday 10th September, 10.30am at Augusta Library and continues on the second Thursday of each month during school term.

Toddler Tales is aimed at children 18 to 36 months old and involves a story, rhymes, songs, craft and morning tea.

Bookings are appreciated, phone 9780 5602 to reserve your child’s place.

Held on the last Monday of each month, Book Chat Club is a place for ten to fourteen year olds to chat about their favourite books and reading.

Bookings are required, please contact Rachael on 9780 5602 or email rdrummond@amrshire.wa.gov.au as spaces are limited.

Happy Reading!

The Book Project encourages all WA children aged 0-12 years to collaborate and connect with other children from across the state. This is an opportunity for participants of all backgrounds and abilities to be represented in a book made for children, by children. The Book Project investigates the Rights of Children and what this looks like to them. With the added opportunity of becoming a published Author/Illustrator, it’s a perfect rainy day activity!

Supported by WA Children’s Book Author & Illustrator, Briony Stewart, elements selected from multiple children’s entries from each region will be crafted together into one cohesive story. Then compiled into three books representing the age groups 0-4, 5-8 & 9-12 years, to be published, printed and distributed throughout the state.

To enter:

1. Head to the Children’s Week WA Book Project Page
2. Download the Story Pack for your Region and Age Group
3. Complete the Entry Form and submit your work by Midnight, 31^st August 2020
4. Join us on Facebook Live on Wednesday 28^th October, from 10am to see if you have been featured in the books!

Entries open 13 July – 31 August 2020. All selected entries will be listed as co-author/illustrators and sent a FREE copy of their Children’s Book! 🤩

The 2020 Children’s Week Book Project is proudly supported by LotteryWest and Healthway promoting the Go for 2 & 5 message.

Yes! Baby Rhyme Time, Storytime, Toddler Tales and Book Chat Club will be resuming at our libraries soon!

Some programs could look a little different and may now need bookings as we are required to abide by our Covid Safety Plan.

Please read the information below to find out what is happening for kids at the library:

Baby Rhyme Time: Every Monday starting 24th August at 2.00pm (except public and school holidays) at Margaret River Library

• For babies up to two years of age and their caregivers, Baby Rhyme Time is a fun place to learn new rhymes and songs to share with your little one.
• Please email Librarian: Youth and Children, Rachael on rdrummond@amrshire.wa.gov.au or call 9780 5602 to express your interest in coming to this session

Storytime: Every Tuesday starting 25th August at 10.15am for 10.30am start (except school holidays) at Margaret River Library

• For children aged two to five years old and their caregivers, Storytime encourages children to discover a love of books, stories, reading and rhymes and promotes family literacy skills.
• Please email Rachael on rdrummond@amrshire.wa.gov.au or call 9780 5602 to express your interest in coming to this session

Book Chat Club: Monday 31st August at 4.15pm – please note new time – at Margaret River Library

• A group for those aged between ten and fourteen years old who are enthusiastic about books. Each meeting we chat about what we have read and give reviews for other members of the club. There is no ‘set’ book – we agree on a genre or theme, and you pick a book that appeals to you.
• Please email Rachael on rdrummond@amrshire.wa.gov.au or call 9780 5602 to book a place as spaces are limited

Toddler Tales: Thursday 10th September 10.30am at Augusta Library

• Aimed at Toddlers aged from one and a half to three years old, Toddler Tales incorporates books, rhymes, songs and a take away craft at Augusta Library
•  Please email Rachael on rdrummond@amrshire.wa.gov.au or call 9780 5602 to book your child’s place as spaces are limited

We hope to see you soon 🙂

The library received such a fantastic response to our virtual Lego challenge of building a dream park!

We thought you might like to see what our talented local kids have created…

Noah’s Lego creation is a police station, which he designed with help from dad.

In Erica’s park, many of the Harry Potter characters are enjoying the experience of a “muggle afternoon at the park” with ‘pop up’ cafe, pet rescue stall and water bubbler. It’s got a neutral carbon footprint because the windmill statue produces all the necessary electricity. Filch is standing guard at the drawbridge to make sure no real muggles stray in.

Sophia and Ella designed a park with slides, a shop where you get food from, a bathroom (because every park needs a bathroom), some benches for if you get tired, and climbing wall.

Kacey made a WW2 park:

Jordan, Riley and Berrick have made a park including a skate ramp, a seesaw, a spaceship ride, a treehouse with a swing, ice cream and burger food trucks, a binocular viewing platform and even public toilets!

This is a spooky haunted fun theme park designed by Leo. Lots of scary details, with spiders and critters galore. Follow the pebbles or you’ll end up lost. Includes the rollercoaster of doom. Watch out for the swamp monsters!

Penny has made a cubby house in a park with a swimming pool, TV room, Kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and a gym.

Mona made a safari park with some fun activities for beautiful animals.

Thank you to all who have sent in their photos and there is a prize for each of you at the Library 🙂