Fur and feathers magnet for kids
Wild animal stories are synonymous with children's books. You can't get far in the children's section without coming across a furry or feathered friend.
Wild animals in stories stand for nature, adventure, surprise, and excitement about the world we live in.
Our love for animals often drives excitement for reading. Many of our favourite children's books often take place in the wild or feature animals.
Some of those books that caught my attention as a child were Charlotte’s Web, the many “girl and her horse” series and the Animorphs
books.
Into my teen years, Animal Farm and the His Dark Materials series told deeper stories and reeled me in by cleverly featuring animals.
Animals are exciting because they offer an element of surprise or chaos to a story. They are unpredictable in the ways they move, communicate, and interact.
They can move a story along in unexpected and imaginative ways.
Not only do they support kids' developing literacy through exciting and fun storylines, but they help develop our relationships with nature in general.
Studies show that having a positive relationship with nature and animals contributes significantly to our physical and mental wellbeing.
We know that pets even contribute to healthy aging and increased longevity, reduced stress and even increased resilience against cardiovascular disease!
Sadly, animals take on starring roles much less in books aimed at adults.
You need to browse a little bit further on the shelves to pick up a book featuring a wild or winged character.
When I do pick one up, I'm rarely disappointed.
Some of my favourite recent reads have featured animals in unique ways.
Remarkably Bright Creatures
by Shelby Van Pelt is an unexpectedly heartwarming tale of family starring a sometimes grumpy but wonderfully written octopus and The Animals in that Country by Laura Jean McKay is an unsettling but profound exploration of what it would be like to hear the thoughts of the animals that we share our world with.
The school holidays are just around the corner and this time around we are celebrating our furry, feathered, and scaly friends.
Wild Things will be a fun celebration of our inner wild child, with plenty planned to keep tamariki entertained.
Safari Kids are a brilliant new band of musical entertainers who love to get our youngest tamariki up and grooving.
Anna Bailey from String Bean Puppets will host a shadow puppet workshop teaching kids to fossick in their own back yards or further afield to find natural materials to create imaginative and creative shadow puppets.
Meanwhile, our regular crafts and activities will be on every day at your local library branch.
We can't wait to see you all.
What’s On Heritage room:
Volunteers staff the Heritage rooms at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ Tuesday to Saturday at the following times: Tuesday, 10am -12.30pm Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 10am-12.30pm and 1pm-3pm Saturday 10am-12.30pm Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom Heritage Room has the Research librarian available all day every Friday.
Friday March 31:
Friday Concert, Performance, Main Space, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ , noon-1pm Cribbage Group, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ , 1pm-3.30pm SeniorNet, Get help with your tablets, phones and laptops Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 10am- noon
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ , 2pm-4pm
Black Out Day, wear black to support the cyclone Gabrielle relief efforts, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ , Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, Shannon Library, All day
Saturday, April 1:
The Black Out Dinner + Auction, Fundraising dinner and auction event, Te Takeretanga o Kurahau-po¯ , 6pm - 11pm Sunday, April 2:
Wha¯ nau Fun Time, The Youth Space, Te Takeretanga o Kurahau-po¯ , 1pm – 4pm
Monday, April 3:
Storytime, Children’s Library, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ , 10am-10.30am
Meet Street, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ , 10am-11am H.U.G Horowhenua Ukulele Group, Main Space, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ , 11am-noon
Tuesday, April 4:
Sewing Workshop, Shannon Library, 10.30am-noon Justice of the Peace, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ , 11.30am-1.30pm
Wednesday, April 5:
Crochet & Coffee Club, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ , 10.30am
Sewing workshop, Shannon Library, 10.30am-noon Teen Book Club, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ , 4pm-5pm
Quiz Night, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ , 7pm-9pm, $5
Thursday, April 6:
Friends of the Library Morning Tea, Te Takeretanga o Kurahau-po¯ , 10.15am
Tea & Tales, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ , 10.30am-11.30am Lego Hour, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ , 3.30pm-4.30pm