New reads, Spark Arts, Storytime and more

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Let's have some fun!

The sun is out and it's half term week.

Although our doors are closed, there is still plenty you can enjoy this half term with Stories from Home, new reads, a virtual day out to the museum, craft fun with the kids and much more - and best of all these activities are all free, just from a click of a button at Keeping the Kids busy.?

Here are some of our highlights for you to enjoy...

New Fun for Little Ones

Stories and Rhymes for Little Ones

Sing, laugh and read along with us?every?Wednesday at 11am?on?Facebook?as library staff entertain you and your little one with some of your favourite stories and nursery rhymes.

Enjoy readings of classic children's picture books such as?Room on the Broom?and sing along with your favourite nursery rhymes.

Don't worry if you miss one, you can?catch up on the?fun?on our main YouTube Channel and enjoy them again and again!

Spark at Home

Join our partners, The Spark Arts for Children for Spark at Home,?a collection of imaginative activities and creative adventures?to help you find the extra-ordinary in the ordinary,?created by storytellers and artists in their homes,?

Dip in to?Stories from Home,?enchanting tales to feed the imagination running weekly on a Wednesday throughout May and June.?

Grab your own 'instruments' as you play along with Jamming at Home with Stickman as he cooks up rhythm recipes of sounds, words and movement.

Transform your room into a Paper Palace with Sophie,?creating incredible and curious objects?using everyday newspaper and card.??

https://thesparkarts.co.uk/spark-athome

New Reads to Enjoy

Enjoy a selection of great new eRead books on BorrowBox. Here's just a few you might like...

Matilda, Roald Dahl. Matilda Wormwood is an extraordinary genius with really stupid parents and a truly horrid headmistress. Matilda will show these adults that she may be small but has some powerful tricks up her sleeve!

The Afterwards, A.F Harold.?A powerful story of friendship at it's most extraordinary. When Ember?s best friend Ness dies, she finds a way to the Afterwards determined to bring her back, because that?s what friends do, isn?t it? ?

Ella on the Outside, Cath Howe.?Ella is the new girl at school, and she has a terrible secret. A gripping story of lies, friendship and blackmail.

Eve in the Jungle, Matt Haig.12 year old Evie has a talent. She can hear what animals are thinking and she can talk to them with her mind.?

Have Sword Will Travel, Garth Nix.?A brilliantly funny adventure featuring magic, dragon and knights.?

Monstrously Good Fun!

Enjoy not one but two monster stories with Stacey here.

Blue Monster Wants it All! Blue monster just loves brand new things, but what will it take for him to realise there are some things that money can?t buy?

Harry and the Monster. Harry keeps dreaming about a scary monster. "Try and imagine him with a pair of pink pants on his head" his mum suggests. But no matter what he does the monster keeps coming back. Then dad has an idea so silly it just might work!

Your little monsters are going to love making these cute little monsters!?

Sarah from Nottingham City Libraries shows you how to make a fantastic blue monster to go with the story 'Blue Monster Wants it All' that Stacey read yesterday. Why not make the monster and take him on adventures just like in the book?

Full instructional video on our YouTube Channel.?

Empathy Day

It?s Empathy Day on 9 June. Take part in the Countdown Fortnight with a FREE Family Activities Pack - 14 activities for you to do in the build up to the day itself.

It's full of great ideas to get kids writing, drawing, crafting and reading, all whilst developing their empathy skills. All you need is a pen and paper!

Our Website of the Week: Discovering Children's Books by The British Library

Explore. Imagine. Create.

With so many magical activities for children, teachers and book lovers of all ages, just where do you begin to explore!

We particularly like Axel Scheffler as he shows you How to draw a Gruffalo, can you decide?What makes a hero super, and what would a story of?The Book of Me look like?

So get creative and discover how to make your own comic book character, star in your own fairy tale, write your own nonsense dictionary and much more.?

The British Library: Discovering Children's Books

Our Virtual Tour of the Week: The Natural History Museum

We love the Natural History Museum's?Virtual Museum?offering you 12 ways to explore and get up close to its many natural wonders.

Take a deep dive into the life of Hope, the blue whale suspended from the ceiling in the spectacular Hintze Hall, hang out with the scientists?online for interactive talks, get up close to a 3D model of Dippy's skull and let Sir David Attenborough guide you around Hintze Hall.

Explore the Natural History Museum.

Celebrating Everyone's True Colours

Elmer Day might be over but that doesn't mean you cant still enjoy all the fun!

Elmer Craft Fun:?Elmer makes the world a much brighter place and so can you with this super simple Elmer ears headband activity that our talented staff member created.?Go to our YouTube channel for the? instructional video.

Elmer Storytime:?Wear your impressive new headband and your brightest colours as you listen to our very special Elmer 'Storytime with Stacey' here.

Even more Elmer fun!?Head to the Elmer website for the Elmer Day 2020 Activity Pack, full of games, colouring sheets, crafts and lots more.?https://www.elmer.co.uk/elmer-day/?

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