Book Week colour and magic on show for Lake Mac online storytimes

Timberlina getting ready to read Bertha and Bear

Drag queen diva Timberlina, maestro magician Joel Howlett and accomplished authors Paul Russell and Chrissy McYoung feature in a new online storytime series presented by Lake Mac Libraries as part of Children’s Book Week 2022.

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Lake Macquarie City Council Lifelong Learning Coordinator Kirrily Anderson said the online component of this year’s celebrations helped bring storytelling to families with young children missing out due to illness, or living too far away to visit their local library.

“They’re a way to keep connected with library communities and to participate in these fun, educational activities whenever it suits our online audience,” she said.

“We want the stories to engage children and their families, and to encourage reading as a fun activity that can be done together anywhere, anytime.”

Timberlina’s storytime videos include The Colour of Music, about a young girl who can see music, and Bertha and Bear, about friendship and finding your place in the world.

Joel Howlett and Carpenter the bunny reading Clancy the Quokka, at Charlestown Library

Howlett, accompanied by his magical bunny, Carpenter, reads Clancy the Quokka and Molly the Pirate, while local authors Chrissy McYoung and Paul Russell read their own colourful and thought-provoking children’s stories.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said reading helped foster imagination, knowledge and curiosity.

“Books provide an instant way to escape the everyday, or to learn more about it,” she said.

“I’m so proud that Lake Mac gets behind Children’s Book Week each year, and I encourage all parents and children to get involved and pick up a good book.”

Other Book Week celebrations, held 20-26 August across various Lake Mac Libraries branches, include a puppet show based on the acclaimed children’s book Stellarphant, and in-person storytime sessions.

Writer, illustrator and Australian Children’s Laureate Gabrielle Wang will run school workshops and host a talk at the Museum of Art and Culture, yapang, on Thursday 25 August.

The Australian Children’s Laureate is a role appointed to an author and/or illustrator “making a significant contribution to the children’s literature canon of this country”.

Go to library.lakemac.com.au to view the storytime videos, and for more information about Book Week activities.