Children and Young Adults

Summer Reading Club

Summer Reading Club registrations for 2019/2020 are now open! Visit the Summer Reading Club page for more information.

Join the Challenge this summer and check out our jam-packed program full of fun and free activities for all ages by visiting What’s On Townsville.

Read and be Rewarded

• Read books, magazines, graphic novels, comics or listen to audio books to get rewards this school holidays.
• Collect a prize for every 5 books read, up to 20 books.
• The first prize is a FREE book for your own personal library at home and your invitation to an exclusive Summer Reading Club party.
• Read 25 or more books and be awarded your final prize at the Summer Reading Club Finale where there will be a major prize draw for each age group.

Kid’s History Hunt

The Kid’s History Hunt is a Townsville City Council initiative to encourage kids to enjoy spending time in Townsville’s local museums.

Collect a booklet and go on the history hunt to receive a prize!

Participating museums

• Army Museum North QLD
• Maritime Museum of Townsville
• Townsville Museum
• Magnetic Island History and Craft Centre and Magnetic Museum

First 5 Forever

Did you know that up to 90% of a child’s brain development happens in the first five years of their life?

The experiences of those first five years stay with them forever and the more you read and talk with your child, the more connections you help them make in their brain.

First 5 Forever is a family literacy program aimed at supporting stronger language and literacy environments for children aged 0–5 years, and to help their families create this environment. First 5 Forever directly supports parents and primary caregivers with increased access to resources that helps them be confident as the child’s first and most important teacher.

CityLibraries Townsville has free First 5 Forever resources for you to use at home to help you support your child's brain development. It doesn’t cost anything to join. There are also lots of activities to try, including Baby Rhyme Time and Story Time sessions. The CityLibraries Townsville First 5 Forever team is also available for community outreach. Contact the library to find out more.

First 5 Forever in Townsville

First 5 Forever will connect with families through public libraries and community agencies. The program is generously supported by the State Government with the participation of Local Government Councils.

Townsville City Council is one of 320 public libraries that have received additional resources to deliver First 5 Forever. The First 5 Forever program includes:

• More opportunities for families to participate in public programs such as Baby Time, Story Time and Parent Information sessions,
• Information toolkits for parents and caregivers of young children (library Bag with picture book, bath puppet, nursery rhyme book and CD, and information and tips on how to support their child’s early language and literacy development),
• Partnerships between CityLibraries Townsville and local early childhood organisations to deliver First 5 Forever key messages and programs in the community.

First 5 Forever is focused on improving the outcomes for all Queensland children 0-5 years by supporting confidence around communication and learning through everyday experiences.

You can find more information about First 5 Forever on the following websites:

• Visit the First 5 Forever webpage
• Visit the State Library of Queensland's First 5 Forever webpage

Why is First 5 Forever important to Queensland?

The Australian Early Development Census data for 2012 shows that 26.2% of Queensland children are developmentally vulnerable or at risk on one or more developmental domains – including language and cognitive skills. Queensland ranks sixth behind the other states.

In Queensland approximately 36% of parents of 0–2-year-olds, and 52% of parents of 3–8-year-olds do not regularly read to their children, and current evidence suggests this role is not well understood by parents and caregivers of children.

Fast Facts

• The Australian Early Development Census data for 2012 shows that 26.2% of Queensland children are developmentally vulnerable or at risk on one or more developmental domains – including language and cognitive skills. Queensland ranks sixth behind the other states.
• Approximately 62,000 children were born in Queensland last year.
• 36% of Queensland parents of 0–2-year-olds do not regularly read to their children or participate in informal learning.
• 52% of Queensland parents of 3–8-year-olds do not regularly read to their children or participate in informal learning.
• Current research shows that the parents and caregivers’ role in supporting their child’s literacy and language development in their very early years is not well understood in Queensland.
• Vocabulary at age 4 is highly correlated to reading comprehension in year 4.
• Research shows that children surrounded by daily activities such as reading, storytelling, singing and sharing rhymes will experience more comprehensive vocabulary, language and cognitive development before they start formal kindergarten and school programs.
• The critical development window for early literacy development is 0-3 years.
• Queensland children need to start kindy and school stronger in their language and comprehension development and with more confidence in reading.
• $20 million in resources has been committed by the Queensland Government over 4 years to First 5 Forever.
• 72 local government regions will benefit.

State Library of Queensland. (2016). First 5 Forever: a family literacy initiative for Queensland. Retrieved from: http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on/programs/first-5-forever

Story Box Library

Story Box Library as an online ‘reading room’. It’s a place where the wonderful world of Australian Children’s Literature is on permanent exhibit and children can connect, engage and be inspired by a range of quality Australian stories read on film by some wonderfully engaging storytellers.

• View the full range on the StoryBox webpage or
• Read the StoryBox User Guide (PDF) or
• Search on the CityLibraries Townsville catalogue for titles

Storytime (during school terms only)

With a mix of stories, rhymes, and a craft activity, Storytime sessions are designed for children from three to five years of age. Storytime helps parents and carers encourage a lifelong interest in books and libraries, stimulates imagination, develops language skills, and provides an opportunity for children to socialise with each other. Children have fun and gain confidence when they act out stories in La Luna Youth Arts Storytime.

Look out for guest storyreaders from local community groups and services. Guests have included members of the Police, Ambulance and Surf Lifesaving Clubs.

If you would like to be involved in Multicultural Storytime as a storyreader, please contact library staff.

Baby Rhyme Time (during school terms only)

Stimulate your child's brain development, speech and senses with nursery rhymes and fingerplays that you can enjoy at home. You will also meet other parents and caregivers. For children up to two years of age and their parents and carers.

Toddler Time (during school terms only)

Ready to move on from Baby Rhyme Time?  Not quite ready for Storytime? Come and join Toddler Time! Develop your toddler's concentration and early literacy skills with fun songs, dance and a story.

Messy Play (during school terms only)

Unleash the mess! Increase your child's confidence and develop their fine and gross motor skills by exploring fun, sensory and creative Messy Play.

Held during school terms only.

Wednesday's 9:15 - 10am & 10:30 - 11:15am; CityLibraries Aitkenvale.

Bookings are required.

Messy Play in the Park

We take the activities outside on the last Wednesday of the month, 9:30am - 11am. Contact CityLibraries Townsville for park details.

Dads Read

Dads Read recognises the vital role Dads play in helping children develop reading skills. Each school holidays, CityLibraries hosts a Dads Read activity to encourage Dads and their children to read together. Activities have included lego and marble play.

Learn more about the valuable role Dads play in developing children's literacy skills.

• Visit the State Library of Queensland's Dads Read website
• Find the recommended Dads Read books in our collection here.

Children's Book Council of Australia - NQ Committee

Council is a contributing member of Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA). The North Queensland committee is dedicated to enhancing the cultural awareness of primary school children and hosts events to promote literacy to school aged children in the Townsville region, including the Townsville Regional Readers' Cup. The CBCA also gives regional children the opportunity to meet authors and illustrators and to participate in Queensland events.

Have you read the books on the CBCA's Book of the Year Awards shortlist? View them here.

Young Adults

Join your friends in the Loud Lounge at CityLibraries Aitkenvale or CityLibraries Thuringowa Central and enjoy console gaming, performances, workshops, music, retro games or just hang out with your friends.

What does the library have for young adults?

• a Youth Space in each library
• graphic novels, fiction, magazines, DVDs, CDs
• eBooks, eAudiobooks
• non-fiction books, including titles on job applications, sports, etc
• Your Tutor online and other online resources for school work
• gaming consoles with Playstation and XBox
• The Children's and Youth Services team: specialists in young people's programs and reading, and
• Loud Lounge!
• For more information, please ask your friendly staff at CityLibraries.