Poetry, fancy dress and illustrations – literary adventures with Kirklees Libraries
Kirklees Libraries will be launching an exciting online reading development programme for children in Kirklees next week.
What’s it all about?
Library Adventures Live! will be the start of a fantastic programme aimed at encouraging more children to read for pleasure which will help with their long term literacy skills. There will be authors reading from their work; illustrators running draw-alongs and sketching people’s suggestions, and an amazing variety of inspiring and creative activities to take part in. The programme will be streamed live on Facebook and will be available on YouTube later on.
Who is it for?
The online programme of events is for children aged 4 – 11 years old. Children can watch and join in with their families at home and teachers can use the sessions with children in school. Parents can also use the sessions to support homeschooling.
Councillor Carole Pattison, Cabinet Member for Learning, Aspiration and Communities said:
“This is a fantastic opportunity for children in Kirklees to reach new literary heights through reading for fun and creative activities. The programme will support young children to take an interest in reading from an early age, improve literacy, early language development and attainment for all ages. It will also help parents give their children the start they need to aspire and achieve academic ambitions now and in the future.”
How will it help children?
The fun adventures are designed to encourage reading for pleasure and stimulate creativity. The diverse programme will include sessions designed to engage reluctant readers, offer playful activities for younger children and give updates on what’s trending in children’s fiction.
Kirstie Wilson, Development Librarian at Kirklees Libraries and Winner of the Best Local Authority Arts Champion in the Hearts for the Arts Awards said:
“Taking the children’s activity programme online enables us to bring inspiring authors and illustrators from all over the country into homes and schools in Kirklees. There are no restrictions on how many children can join in or when they can access these marvellous opportunities. Library Adventures Live! is not just for lockdown, it’s for the long term.”
How can children get involved?
Children will be set a challenge at the end of each session which must be submitted to Kirklees Libraries who will create an online display of all the work received.
The adventures begin on 14 July with children’s author and poet, Joseph Coelho.
If your child is taking part in the weekly challenges, please email their work to LAL@kirklees.gov.uk along with their name, age, and your permission to display their work on the Kirklees Libraries website. Or you can upload to Twitter with the tag @kirkleeslibrary #MyLibraryAndMe.
The first challenge, is to write a funny poem, we can’t wait to see your creations!
Schedule of events
All our adventures are listed below.
| Guest(s) | Date and Time | Adventure |
| Joseph Coelho | Tues 14 July, 11am | Performance poetry Zombierella: Fairy Tales Gone Bad |
| Rebecca Patterson | Tues 21 July, 11am | Activity with a dressing up robot theme A Robot Girl Ruined My Sleepover (2012 winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize) |
| Matt Oldfield and Tom Palmer | Tues 28 July, 11am | Football and reading Johnny Ball: Accidental Football Genius |
| Emma Rea | Tues 04 Aug, 11am | Environmental concerns and reading My Name is River |
| Josh Lacey | Tues 11 Aug, 11am | Encouraging a love of reading and writing Hope Jones Saves the World |
| Rappaman: Donavan Christopher | Tues 18 Aug, 11am | Local poet and rap artist |
| Jack Noel | Tues 25 Aug, 11am | Draw-along My Headteacher is an Evil Genius |
| Simon James Green and Gerry Parson | Thurs 27 Aug, 11am | **Special Adventure** Llama Glamarama festival event and draw-along A celebration of summer in the absence of regional festivals |
| Ross Montgomery | Tues 01 Sep, 11am | Imagination, fascinating facts and plenty of jokes The Midnight Guardians |
| Tasneem Kausar | Tues 08 Sep, 11am | Draw-along Local artist and Manga illustrator |
| Derek Keilty | Tues 15 Sep, 11am | Pirate-themed storytelling and creative writing NI author of Flyntock Bones: The Sceptre of the Pharaohs. One of the Times Top 20 Summer Reads |
| Anthea Simmons | Tues 22 Sep, 11am | Lighting Mary – fictionalised biography of Mary Anning (paleontology, fossil hunting, dinosaurs) Winner of the 2020 UCLAN STEAM Children’s Book Prize – Middle Grade Category |
| Dom Conlon and Conrad Burdekin | Tues 29 Sep, 11am | Space-themed poetry workshop This Rock, That Rock; Space Cafe |
| Testament | Tues 06 Oct, 11am | Rap performance and poetry workshop Playwright, performer, hip-hop artist. 2019 Channel 4 Writer in Residence at Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester |
| Nadine Kaadan | Tues 13 Oct, 11am | Isolation, friendship and family Tomorrow – 2019 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal nominated picture book about children living with wartime conditions, inspired by the Syrian conflict. |
| Ross MacKenzie | Tues 20 Oct, 11am | Fantasy adventure Evernight |
| Catherine Fisher | Tues 27 Oct, 11am | The Clockwork Crow, The Velvet Fox, The Midnight Swan Author of the Incarceron series; also steampunk fantasy series. |
| Jenni Jennings | Thurs 30 Oct, 11am | **Special Adventure** Halloween themed adventure Malice in Underland – gothic debut |
| Sarah Morrell | Tues 03 Nov, 11am | Reading adventure Molly’s Magic Brolly |
| Maz Evans | Tues 10 Nov, 11am | Myths/Legends – writing activity Who Let the Gods Out? series |
| Nikki Young | Tues 17 Nov, 11am | Time School series First World War, post Second World war refugee experience |
| Katie and Kevin Tsang | Tues 08 Dec, 11am | Building empathy, emotional resilience, promoting cultural diversity Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Space |
| David Litchfield | Tues 15 Dec, 11am | Themes of music and empathy The Bear, the Piano and the Little Bear’s ConcertThe Bear and the Piano series of picture books |
| Jo Loring-Fisher | Tues 12 Jan, 11am | Nature and mindfulness – draw-along Taking Time; Maisie’s Scrapbook |
| Jon Mayhew | Tues 19 Jan, 11am | The Spybrarian
New MG fiction |
| Jennie Poh | Tues 26 Jan, 11am | Storytelling and textile activity The Pirate Tree – diverse picture book |
| Hannah Lee | Tues 02 Feb, 11am | Identity and empowerment My Hair |
| Kim Hillyard | Tues 09 Feb, 11am | Identity and self-belief Mabel and the Mountain, picture book debut |
| Ashok Banker and Sandhya Prabhat | Tues 16 Feb, 11am | Cultural diversity and identity I Am Brown – storytelling and draw-along |
| Katherine Orton | Tues 23 Feb, 11am | MG Historical fantasy – part of the WoMentoring project Author of Nevertell and Glassheart |
| Onjali Q.Rauf | Tues 02 Mar, 11am | Inclusion, bullying and homelessness The Night Bus Hero2019 Carnegie Medal longlisted author; founder of the NGO Making Herstory, a women’t rights organisation tackling the abuse and trafficking of women and girls in the UK and beyond |
Hi Rebecca, here is the booking link to the first session https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/kirkleeslibraries/ ^CP
How do we access these events?