Libraries for children

In Calderdale, under-16s benefit from no fines and easy instant joining. This is because accidents happen. We do not charge for damage to board and picture books issued on an under-5s' ticket.

• Computer use and Internet access is free.
• All our PCs have USB ports, so you can save your work or bring files you have already made. You can book ahead, just ask at the library, also see: Internet and computing.
• For homework, where there is no loanable source, you can have up to four copies or computer printouts, free.
• We often have authors and artists visit us. Entry to these events is usually free, but there can be a small charge.

For under 5s

Bookstart

BookTrust offers a free Bookstart Baby Pack to every baby aged 0 to 12 months.

Your health visitor or another health professional should give you this. It will help you share stories, rhymes and songs together.

Bookstart Baby Pack

Every baby gets a free Bookstart Baby Pack, which has:

• An engaging book chosen by experts, such as health visitors and librarians.
• A colourful finger puppet.
• A fun leaflet for parents and carers about the benefits of sharing rhymes and stories with babies.

Bookstart Family Hub

Here you will find:

• Hints and tips on how you can have fun sharing stories with your child.
• Details about BookTrust's Early Years offers.
• More things to do and books they recommend to continue your reading adventure.

For more about BookTrust, visit: BookTrust.

BookTrust Storytime

Book Trust Storytime is ready to roll out in Libraries across Calderdale from January! Help the library staff choose a winner. Also take part in the judging panel for the Book Trust Story Time Prize!

The following five books will be read at libraries throughout January and February. This is your chance to help choose a winner and collect some lovely incentive booklets and stickers along the way.

The five books are:

• Look Out! Hungry Snake written and illustrated by Paul Delaney (Kumusha Books).
• Ten Little Ducklings written by Lucy Rowland and illustrated by Aki (Bloomsbury).
• Whisper, Shout: Let it Out! written by Madhvi Ramani and illustrated by Anuska Allepuz (Two Hoots).
• Into the Wild written and illustrated by Thomas Docherty (Oxford).
• Roarr! written by Sam Taplin and illustrated by Ailie Busby (Usborne).

An expert panel chose the shortlisted books with insights from librarians and families. The nominees will face a public vote from children, families and librarians for the £5,000 prize.

Look out for Booktrust Storytimes in your local library branch in January and February 2025.

For more information visit: BookTrust Storytime for families.

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Count Me In 1, 2, 3

This inspires learning about numbers through picture books. There are three packs and each has a book, games and things to do that are fun.

Families can borrow these packs from all our libraries.

For more details, contact our Early Years librarian:

• Email: fran.rushworth@calderdale.gov.uk
• Phone: (01422) 392619.

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Storytots

Free storytelling sessions for children aged 2 - 4 years (during term time)

Stories, songs and crafts suitable for pre-school children. Weekly sessions run at:

• Akroyd Library on Thursdays at 11am.
• Elland Library on Fridays at 11.15am.
• King Cross Library on Mondays at 11.15am.
• Hebden Bridge Library on Mondays at 10.30am.
• Sowerby Bridge Library on Fridays at 10.30am.
• Brighouse Library on Tuesdays at 11am.
• Northowram Library on Tuesdays at 2pm.

For more details, email: kelly.hopkins@calderdale.gov.uk or reading@calderdale.gov.uk.

To book your place, visit: Calderdale Libraries (TicketSource).

Baby Bounce and Rhyme

Songs and rhymes are the best way to introduce the magical world of language and literature.

Come along to our free Baby Bounce and Rhymes for 30 minutes of songs and rhymes.

You and your baby will explore traditional songs and rhymes and add new ones to your repertoire.

• King Cross Library on Mondays at 10.30am.
• Brighouse Library on Tuesdays at 10.10am.
• Hebden Bridge Library on Wednesdays at 10.30am.
• Halifax Central Library on Thursdays at 11.15am.
• Elland Library on Fridays at 10.30am.

Toddler Bounce and Rhyme

Fun with songs and rhymes for toddlers and their grown ups.

• Hebden Bridge Library on Wednesdays at 11.15am.
• Halifax Central Library on Thursdays at 10.15am.

These are free drop in sessions, no need to book.

For more about events at our libraries, see: Library events.

For primary age children

Winter Mini Challenge

The Reading Agency will run this from 1st December 2024 to 20th February 2025.

It will once again be an extension of the Summer Reading Challenge 2024 theme, Marvellous Makers. Join the seven characters as they have winter fun. They help to spark a love of reading, even in the most reluctant of readers.

What the challenge is

This is a free online challenge. It encourages children to keep up their reading habits over the winter months including the Christmas holidays. Sign up from 1st December through The Reading Agency's website. This features rewards for reading and when you review books.

To take part, children simply read three or more books of their own choice. They then add them to their Challenge website profile. When they reach their reading goal, a limited edition virtual badge will unlock. It also unlocks a special certificate to print off and keep. There are also lots of videos, fun games and activities children can play when they join the online Challenge.

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Reading Sparks

Fun things to do to get children excited about science. You can borrow an activity bag and explore the experiments inside.

Reading Sparks brings together science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) themes with creative arts and reading.

LOTE4Kids

For more about this, please see: eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines and eComics.

Comics Plus

This offers thousands of comics, graphic novels and manga titles to readers online.

• You can access it with a smartphone, tablet or web browser.
• You can download comics to more than one devices.
• There is never a wait to read any titles.

For access, log in to: Library Pass

Useful web links

• Tiny Happy People (BBC).
• HomeTime (BookTrust).
• Bitesize (BBC).
• Cbeebies stories (BBC).
• Teachers, schools and early years (National Literacy Trust).
• 50 Things to Do Before You're Five in Calderdale.
• I CAN.
• Tate Kids.
• Today on HomeTime (BookTrust).
• Learn and play (Words for Life).
• NewsWise (National Literacy Trust).

Tonie Boxes

Tonie boxes are a great way of sharing audio stories with children of all ages. A child friendly and robust device. Simply add the story character onto the box and it will read aloud.

We have a number of Tonie Box Bundles available to borrow. The bundle includes a story character and 2 Creative Tonies with recorded stories to listen to.

In addition to the boxes, we also have a wide range of Tonie characters to borrow.

To reserve a Tonie Box, visit: Calderdale Libraries or contact your local branch for more information.

For schools

Class visits

Arrange a class visit to any of our libraries. These can be regular events or one-off sessions.

We have a range of options to promote reading for pleasure amongst your pupils, such as:

• story times;
• library activities;
• and the chance to borrow books.

Author events

We have a number of author events over the year. Please contact the team for more information on how your school can participate.

Other events

For more about coming events, please contact us.

Contact us

The Reading and Development Team:

• Email: reading@calderdale.gov.uk.
• Phone: (01422) 392619.