Programs - Children
Summer Reading Challenge
Book a Summer Adventure!
Who: 0 –16-year-old library members
When: 1 December to 31 January
How: Pick up a log sheet at any Penrith City Libraries branch, borrow and record the books you read, return your completed log sheet to go in the prize draw.
Book A Summer Adventure with Penrith City Libraries Summer Reading Challenge. Read great titles from Penrith City Libraries this summer to win great prizes. The more you read, the more chances you have to win. *T&C’s apply
Don't have a library card? Drop into any branch to sign up.
Terms and conditions
Summer Reading Challenge is open to Penrith City Libraries members aged 0-16 years old.
Every ten books read and recorded on the log sheet is equivalent to one entry into the Summer Reading Challenge major prize draw.
Entrants who read twenty or more books and submit one or more log sheets will receive a $5 book voucher, limited to one per entrant.
Log sheets must be completed with all contact details, a library membership, and ten titles listed to be valid.
Competition closes and all entries must be submitted to a Penrith City Libraries branch by 5pm, Wednesday 31 January 2024.
Entrants who share a household with a Penrith City Libraries staff member are ineligible for the major prize draw.
Story Time in the Garden
When: Saturdays 9 December, 13 January and 3 February | 10-11am
Where: Penrith Regional Gallery, 86 River Road Emu Plains
Who: Preschoolers and their families
Tickets: Free. Bookings not required.
Preschoolers and their families will enjoy stories, songs, and art outdoors in the tranquil heritage garden setting of the Penrith Regional Gallery grounds.
For more information please email Children's Team, or call 02 4732 7891.
Bungarribee Wildlife Workshop with Sydney Zoo
Who: 5-12 year-olds
When: Tuesday 16 January 10.30-11.30am or 12-1pm
Where: Penrith City Library
Tickets: $12 per child. Please purchase a ticket for every child attending. Bookings essential.
Explore Australia’s wildlife through First Nations perspectives with Sydney Zoo’s Bungarribee Wildlife Workshop. You will be introduced to a range of native animals and learn about how to care for Country through an interactive, hands-on experience.
Book now: https://sydneyzoo_bungarribeeworkshop.eventbrite.com.au
Calendar Craft
Who: 5-12 year olds
When: Wednesday 17 January | 10.30-11.30am
Where: William Garner Room, St Marys Library
Tickets: Free. Bookings essential for every child attending.
Get ready for 2024 with a personalised calendar! Use your imagination to create your own design or use our templates to make a magical garden themed calendar.
Kids Crafternoon
Who: 5-12 year olds
When: Thursday 18 January | 2.30-4pm
Where: Peter Goodfellow Theatrette, Penrith City Library
Tickets: Free. Bookings essential for every child attending.
Join us for a fun afternoon of crafting! We will supply all your crafty bits and bobs; you just bring your creativity and imagination!
Book now: https://Kids_crafternoon-Jan2024.eventbrite.com.au
Author Event 'Anchored' with Debra Tidball
Who: 3-8 year-olds
When: Friday 19 January | 10-11am
Where: Penrith City Library
Tickets: Free. Please book a ticket for every child attending. Bookings essential.
"Ship heads out to sea leaving Tug behind in port. But despite being oceans apart, they remain connected by love. This warm hug of a story will offer comfort to anyone who's ever felt a little lonely or uncertain. For even if we can't see the ones we love, they're always in our hearts."
Debra Tidball is an award-winning author of picture books, short stories, poems and plays for children. Her latest picture book, Anchored, has its roots in her childhood lived in Penrith, where her mother worked at the Library and her father was with the air force. Anchored is about the love that binds hearts, despite distance. Debra will have copies of Anchored for sale at this event.
Book now: https://Author Event with Debra Tidball.eventbrite.com.au
Story Box Library
Members of Penrith City Libraries can now access Story Box Library for free!
Story Box Library offers a range of free content directly to library members on any device with internet connection for pre-school to upper primary students. Have story time any time with a range of actors, comedians, sportspeople, musicians, authors, illustrators, TV presenters, performers, students, grandparents, activists and educators – each sharing their unique voice.
Story Box Library also offers at-home-activities and short films featuring authors and illustrators to inspire young minds.
Download the app today or start exploring here: https://storyboxlibrary.com.au/login?library_id=19268
Chess Club with Sydney Academy of Chess
Who: 8-14 year-olds
When: Thursdays 19 October - 7 December | 4.15-5.15pm
Where: Penrith City Library
Tickets: $100 for the 8-week series. Bookings essential.
Join us for Chess Club in Term 4. Great for beginners wanting to learn, pros looking for an opponent, and everyone in between. Sydney Academy of Chess will lead this 8-week series.
Penrith Mega Kids
Who: 6-11 year-olds
When: Wednesdays 15, 22, 29 November and 6 December | 4-5pm
Where: Peter Goodfellow Theatrette, Penrith City Library
Tickets: Free. Bookings essential.
Come along and enjoy a range of fun activities for 6-11 year olds. This term we have kite making, alien art, STEM challenges, and a very festive finale. Book for one week or book all four!
Week 1: Paper Bag Kite – Craft your own paper bag kite using an assortment of colourful and creative crafty supplies. Once your kite is looking great, you’ll be ready to take a test flight.
Week 2: Aliens in Space – Create a space scene using a variety of art supplies such as paper, paint, markers, and embellishments. This one could get messy – dress for mess!
Week 3: Brick Building Stem Challenge – Put your problem-solving skills to the test in this fun STEM activity where you’ll design and build a bridge using LEGO bricks. Work as a team or fly solo. Will your bridge pass the stress test?
Week 4: Festive Wreath Ornaments and Cards - Make your own festive wreath ornaments using colourful paper straws. Perfect for seasonal tree decorations or gift giving with your very own hand- made card to top it off!
Book now: https://penrith_mega_kids_T4.eventbrite.com.au
Baby Time
Who: 0-2 year-olds and their adult carer.
When: Every week during term time only.
Penrith: Mondays | 9.30-10am
St Marys: Tuesdays | 9.30-10am
St Clair: Thursdays | 9.30-10am
Tickets: Free. Bookings not required.
Our library children's team welcomes 0-2 year olds, their parents and carers to Baby Time every week during term time to sing, rhyme and play together.
For more information please email Children's Team, or call 02 4732 7891.
Toddler Time
Who: 1-3 year-olds and their adult carer.
When: Mondays during term time only | 10.30-11am
Where: Penrith City Library
Tickets: Free. Bookings not required.
Come along for an energetic half an hour of stories, music, play, and fun!
Toddler Time is designed for toddlers to engage in singing, stories, movement, language, and play and is a great introduction to the library. Perfect for children aged 1 – 3 years and their caregivers.
For more information please email Children's Team, or call 02 4732 7891.
Story Time
Who: 2-5 year-olds and their adult carer.
When & Where: Every week during term time only.
St Marys: Tuesdays | 10:30-11:15am
Penrith: Wednesdays | 10:30-11:15 am
St Clair: Thursdays | 10:30-11:15 am
Tickets: Free. Bookings not required.
Our library children's team welcomes 2-5 year olds, their parents and carers to Story Time where we enjoy fun stories, songs and crafts every week during term time. In 2023 we introduce a range of bilingual stories and languages to our regular sessions celebrating the diversity of our community.
For more information please email Children's Team, or call 02 4732 7891.
Bilingual Story Time
Who: 2-5 year-olds and their adult carer
When & Where:
St Marys Library - Tuesdays, 10.30-11.15am
Urdu-English: 13 June 2023
Auslan-English: 12 September 2023
Tagalog-English: 31 October 2023
Penrith Library - Wednesdays, 10.30-11.15am
Urdu-English: 14 June 2023
Mandarin-English: 20 September 2023
Auslan-English: 29 November 2023
St Clair Library - Thursdays, 10.30-11.15am
Auslan-English: 1 June 2023
Mandarin-English: 21 September 2023
Tickets: Free. Bookings not required.
In 2023 we're pleased to introduce bilingual stories and languages, including Auslan to our regular Story Time, celebrating the diversity of our community.
For more information please email Children's Team, or call 02 4732 7891.
Little Seekers Story Time
Who: 2-5 year-olds with social and sensory needs and their carers
When: Twice per term | Wednesdays 10-11am
29 March, 10 May, 21 June, 2 August, 13 September, 25 October, 6 December
Where: Penrith City Library
Tickets: Free. Email Children's Team, or call 02 4732 7891.
Bookings essential. A staff member will contact you to confirm your booking and discuss your child's needs prior to the session.
Little Seekers Story time is a sensitive story time session designed for preschoolers with disability and/or high support learning needs. Parents/carers and children 2-5 years old will enjoy songs, stories, and play activities.
Maximum of 10 children per session.
Toy Library
Who: 0-8 year-olds and their families
When: Available during library opening hours
Where: Penrith City Libraries.
The toy library collection includes sturdy toys for under 8 year-olds, plus a range of family board games including baby toys, construction sets, puzzles, vehicles, food, animal and house play sets. Browse and borrow at all library branches during library opening hours, and then play and enjoy the toys at home. Toys are cleaned thoroughly before and after use on return to the library.
Full terms and conditions available HERE (pdf).
For details on the Toy Library email Children's Team, or call 02 4732 7891.
Toy Library Outreach Service
We specialise in providing toys for children with disabilities and high support needs. Featuring switch-adapted, sensory and educational toys, children will delight in making them function through lighting up, playing sounds and movement. Through hands-on play, they can build valuable problem-solving, coordination, reasoning, numeracy, literacy and fine motor skills.
Inclusion support is available by an appointment either in person or online, with opportunities for extended loan periods. Referrals are required to access this service.
For details on inclusion support process email Children's Team, or call 02 4732 7891.