Are you looking for something fun to do with your children this autumn? Two fun global celebration days fall in March: World Storytelling Day on 20 March 2025 and World Puppetry Day on 21 March 2025.
Let's celebrate and revitalise the long-standing oral storytelling and puppetry traditions with engaging library resources and programmes.
Oral storytelling is important for both societies and individuals. In prehistorical times, it helped transmit knowledge and cultural values across generations. Nowadays, it enables individuals to communicate meanings and emotions and make connections with each other.
It is beneficial for children to develop storytelling skills during their formative years as these skills can be valuable in their studies and future careers. The list of books below offers some ideas on how to help your children build these skills.
This list contains books on how to manage storytelling and make it engaging for children.
Puppets in different forms have existed in nearly every culture and have been used for diverse purposes throughout human history. Their use in storytelling is one of the most loved areas, particularly appealing to children. If you would like to appreciate the art form and make puppets yourself, the list below will provide you with useful guidelines.
This list includes books on puppetry and guidance on the creation and manipulation of puppets in various forms.
What stories should we select for storytelling? Children's classics, fairy tales, legends, and fables are excellent resources. Reading and retelling classics is entertaining and helpful for children to develop literacy, gain cultural values, and deepen their understanding of various human experiences. The library has children's classics from around the world.
Puppet shows and events at libraries
Saturday 22 March, 10.30am to 11.30am (Tūranga), Japanese Cultural Celebration - Saturday Storytimes
こんにちは! Come and join us for a special Storytimes with traditional Japanese folktales performed by Japanese Shadow Puppet Group OHiSAMA.
Sunday 13 April, 2pm to 3pm (Papanui Library), Sensational Seabirds
Hear Alison Chick bring stories alive to celebrate our amazing seabirds. Alison is a volunteer educator at the South Island Wildlife Hospital. The event will also feature songs, a puppet show and a craft activity.
Tuesday 15 April, 10.30am to 1pm (Shirley Library), From Page to Stage: Puppet Storytelling Workshop
If you and your children would like to see how puppets, storytelling, and children's classics come together in a fun and educational way, book in for our workshop for children aged 8 to 12 years old to retell classics in a professional puppet theatre using self-made puppets.
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