Library News and Activities
Check out what we have going on, as well as some useful links to some fun activities for you and your young ones.
- Winter Mini Challenge
- Libraries online
- Activities and Rhyme Time for children
- Featured adult authors
- Speaking Stones
- See also
- Follow us on Twitter and Facebook
Winter Mini Challenge
The Winter Mini Challange is here!
The reading challange encourages children to keep up their reading habits over the winter holidays, with free access to the Reading Agency's website, which features rewards and incentives for reading and reviewing books.
To take part, children simply read three or more books, from 1 December to 15 January 2021. These books can be any books of their choice. We have included some suggested winter reads below as a starting point.
Every time they finish a book, they add it to their challenge profile and leave a short book review. Reaching their online reading goal will unlock a virtual badge and a special Everyone is a Hero Certificate to print off and keep!
Winter Mini Challenge - Join here!(external link)
Drawing Competition
In our libraries, and in conjunction with the Winter Mini Challange, we are running a drawing competition to help children develop their creative skills. The theme for the competition is:
Oh Deer!
Santa’s reindeers have been partying a little too hard all year and have gone off for a well-deserved rest! But who will help Santa pull his sleigh?
Why not design an extra-special sleigh for Santa so he can make his rounds safely over Christmas.
The competition is open to children age 5 to 11 and entries should be scanned and emailed to HaringeySRC@Haringey.gov.uk - please note that this email address is not for general correspondence and it will not be monitored for other queries.
If you are unable to scan and email your child(ren)'s submission, you can drop off the drawings at Wood Green, Hornsey or Marcus Garvey Libraries by the closing date - Friday 22 January 2021.
The winner will be announced on Monday 1 February 2021 and will receive a lovely copy of Chris Ridell's new book 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'. The first runner up will receive a signed print of Mild Thing by Chris Riddell and the second runner up will receive a signed print by Michael Morpugo and Polly Dunbar.
Please note: all prizes will need to be collected in person, from the winner's local library.
Christmas story videos
Simon Lee reads ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens
Retold by Leslie Sims, illustrated by Alan Marks.
A Christmas Carol - a classic Christmas story by Charles Dickens. Ebeneezer Scrooge, a stingy, misanthropic old man learns the true meaning of Christmas after three ghosts visit him on Christmas Eve.
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
Sean Levett reads ‘Norman, The Slug Who Saved Christmas
By Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet.
A humble slug saves the day, delivering all the presents that have fallen off Santa’s sleigh to the neighbouring town.
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
Suggested Reading
Picture Books:
- The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland - Carys Bexington and Kate Hindley
- Alfie’s Christmas - Shirley Hughes
- Will You Be My Friend? - Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram
- The Night Before Christmas - Clement C Moore
- The Last Stop On The Reindeer Express - Maudie Powell-Tuck and Karl James Mountford
- Dasher - Matt Tavares
Children’s Fiction:
- The Miracle On Ebenezer Street - Catherine Doyle
- A Boy Called Christmas - Matt Haigh
- The Night I Met Father Christmas - Ben Miller
- Tinsel : The Girls Who Saved Christmas - Sibeal Pounder
- How Winston Delivered Christmas - Alex T. Smith
- The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey - Susan Wojciechowski and P.J. Lynch
E-audiobook: The Girl Who Saved Christmas - Matt Haigh (external link).
Libraries Online
You can access e-books, audiobooks, newspapers and resources from the comfort of your home. We are also operating our home delivery service for vulnerable residents.
Activities and Rhyme Time for children
Rhyme Time favourites
Has a little person you know been missing Rhyme Time recently? Andrew will be posting many of our favourites here - as well as on our Haringey Libraries Twitter and Facebook pages - over the next few weeks. Enjoy!
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
If You're Happy and You Know It
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
The Wheels on the Bus
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
Wind the Bobbin Up
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
How Much is that Doggy in the Window?
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
1,2,3,4,5… Once I Caught a Fish Alive
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
The Grand Old Duke of York
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
Activities
- Book Trust home time (external link) has some great book related fun things to do like story videos, how to draw book characters, interactive stories, quizzes and games
- How to make a rocket bookmark (PDF, 282KB)
- How to make a Caterpillar Fan (PDF, 1MB) - Inspired by Eric Carle’s picture book 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'
- How to make an Elephant Mask (PDF, 1MB)
- How to make a Crocodile hat (PDF, 2MB)
- How to make a Giraffe Model (PDF, 1124KB)
- How to make a Penguin model (PDF, 822KB)
- How to make a Unicorn Mask (PDF, 773)
- How to make a Tambourine (PDF, 1MB)
- Key Workers Paper Dolls Project (external link)
- Winnie and Wilburn Stay at Home (external link) - read the eBook for free
See also the Children's Libraries page.
Featured Adult Authors
Check out this month's featured adult authors, Hilary Mantel and Zadie Smith. Hilary was the first woman to be awarded the Man Booker Prize, not once, but twice. Zadie's first novel won a Whitbread First Novel Award. You can read all about Hilary's and Zadie's exploits, and even borrow featured books via our digital catalogue.
Speaking Stones
A librarian, called Andrew Bence, whom users of Stroud Green library and our other libraries may know, perhaps even like, channels the character of proud Victorian do-gooder Councillor Henry Burt to recall the story of how, over more than a century, our much-loved Stroud Green and Harringay Library has steadfastly served its community.
Speaking Stones is online project consisting of a series of videos celebrating cultural buildings, objects and street art in ‘Harringay and Beyond’. Take a look at a video on the history of Stroud Green Library by Speaking Stones:
Note for iPhone users and Youtube. There is a known bug with iOS and Youtube, Two buttons are read before the player but provide no functionality. We advise that you skip these to access the content.
See also
- Bruce Castle Online Gallery - delve into the archives and submit your drawing of Bruce Castle
- Haringey Adult Learning Service (HALS) - free online courses currently available
- Stay positive and creative - more ideas for looking after your mental wellbeing during lockdown
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