Wā Kōrero: Storytimes

Wā Kōrero programmes include stories, music, movement and rhymes for children aged 2 and over.

Kōrero pukapuka, pūoru, korikori.
Wā Pēpi: Babytimes is for babies and under-2s.

Wā Kōrero: Storytimes

Some sessions are only on during term-time, but others take place in the holidays. Check our events calendar for details.

Fendalton Library Tuesday 10.30am and Bedtime Stories on the first Friday of the month
The Library at Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre Thursday 11am
Linwood Library Thursday 10am
Lyttelton Library Tuesday 11am
Matatiki Hornby Centre Wednesday 10.15am.
Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre Wednesday 10.30am
New Brighton Library Tuesday 10.30am
Ōrauwhata: Bishopdale Library and Community Centre Wednesday 10.30am
Papanui Library Thursday 11am
Parklands Library Thursday 10.30am
Redwood Library Friday 10.30am
Shirley Library
- Wednesday 10.30am
- Saturday storytimes, first Saturday of the month 10.30am to 11.30am
South Library Tuesday 11am
Spreydon Library Friday 10.30am.
Storytimes at Barrington Mall 2^nd Monday of the month 10.30am to 11.30am
Tūranga Wednesday 10.30am
- Whānau Storytimes Sunday 10.30am to 11am
- Regular Ngā Pakiwaitara: Bilingual Storytimes (in English and te reo Māori) take place at Tūranga every Tuesday, 10.30am.
- Bilingual English and Mandarin Storytimes are on at Tūranga on the second Saturday of the month at 11am.
- Tūranga librarians will do a Storytimes at the monthly Art Safari at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū on the first Thursday of the month, 10.30am.
Upper Riccarton Library Monday 10am

More for preschoolers

Find more about our Preschoolers' events and programmes.
Discover music sessions for preschoolers as listed on CINCH.

DIY Wā Kōrero: Storytimes

Use library resources to make a storytime at your place!

DIY Wā Kōrero: Storytimes

LOTE4Kids

Storytime in your language! Kids can enjoy a digital collection of books in Languages Other Than English, including NZSL and te reo Māori.

DIY Wā Kōrero: Storytimes - Guess What?

Do a Wā Kōrero: Storytimes at your place! We recommend eBooks and eResources for home about Guessing.

DIY Wā Kōrero: Storytimes - Kindness

Do a Wā Kōrero: Storytimes at your place! We recommend eBooks and eResources for home about Kindness.

DIY Wā Kōrero: Storytimes - Aotearoa New Zealand

Do a Wā Kōrero: Storytimes at your place! Use library eResources to create your own Aotearoa Storytime at home.

LOTE4Kids

Storytime in your language! Kids can enjoy a digital collection of books in Languages Other Than English, including NZSL and te reo Māori.

DIY Wā Kōrero: Storytimes - Guess What?

Do a Wā Kōrero: Storytimes at your place! We recommend eBooks and eResources for home about Guessing.

DIY Wā Kōrero: Storytimes - Kindness

Do a Wā Kōrero: Storytimes at your place! We recommend eBooks and eResources for home about Kindness.

DIY Wā Kōrero: Storytimes - Aotearoa New Zealand

Do a Wā Kōrero: Storytimes at your place! Use library eResources to create your own Aotearoa Storytime at home.

Wā Kōrero: Online Storytimes

Listen in! Librarians and authors want to tell you a story.

Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant, written and read by Gavin Bishop

Hear Gavin Bishop read his legendary Christchurch book Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant in the Edmonds Factory Gardens.
Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant, written and illustrated by Gavin Bishop. Published by Oxford University Press, New Zealand 1981. Reprinted as a NZ Classic by Random House NZ Ltd 2007.

Your browser does not support inline iframes. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xR3IXCwsFBE" class="c-link--secondary" data-analytics='[{"event":"bc.outboundLinkClick","payload":{"gtmCategory":"v2-page-interactions","gtmAction":"v2-outbound-link-click","gtmLabel":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xR3IXCwsFBE","gtmValue":1,"gtmContentType":"","gtmContainerName":"","gtmContentCreator":"","gtmCreatorType":"","gtmCardTitle":""}}]'>Visit Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant, written and read by Gavin Bishop.</a>

Everyone Counts by Kathryn Otoshi, read by Elisabeth

Elisabeth reads One by Kathryn Otoshi, a story with a focus on anti-bullying and being an Upstander, with an introduction by the author.

Your browser does not support inline iframes. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O4iqDTSM0kQ" class="c-link--secondary" data-analytics='[{"event":"bc.outboundLinkClick","payload":{"gtmCategory":"v2-page-interactions","gtmAction":"v2-outbound-link-click","gtmLabel":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/O4iqDTSM0kQ","gtmValue":1,"gtmContentType":"","gtmContainerName":"","gtmContentCreator":"","gtmCreatorType":"","gtmCardTitle":""}}]'>Visit One by Kathryn Otoshi.</a>

Faitauga Tusi: Samoan Storytimes in Samoan and English, with Tiresa

Learn the Samoan alphabet and sing a favourite song!

Your browser does not support inline iframes. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wzLb2AQrxNw" class="c-link--secondary" data-analytics='[{"event":"bc.outboundLinkClick","payload":{"gtmCategory":"v2-page-interactions","gtmAction":"v2-outbound-link-click","gtmLabel":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wzLb2AQrxNw","gtmValue":1,"gtmContentType":"","gtmContainerName":"","gtmContentCreator":"","gtmCreatorType":"","gtmCardTitle":""}}]'>Visit Faitauga Tusi with Tiresa.</a>

Hello World by Paul Beavis, read by Amy

Amy is reading Hello World, written and illustrated by Paul Beavis. Published by Gecko Press.

Your browser does not support inline iframes. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/stZH02twYJA" class="c-link--secondary" data-analytics='[{"event":"bc.outboundLinkClick","payload":{"gtmCategory":"v2-page-interactions","gtmAction":"v2-outbound-link-click","gtmLabel":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/stZH02twYJA","gtmValue":1,"gtmContentType":"","gtmContainerName":"","gtmContentCreator":"","gtmCreatorType":"","gtmCardTitle":""}}]'>Visit Hello World by Paul Beavis.</a>

Mrs Mo's Monster by Paul Beavis, read by Emily

Emily is reading Mrs Mo’s Monster, written and illustrated by Paul Beavis. Published by Gecko Press.

Your browser does not support inline iframes. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OL78oqjOT2A" class="c-link--secondary" data-analytics='[{"event":"bc.outboundLinkClick","payload":{"gtmCategory":"v2-page-interactions","gtmAction":"v2-outbound-link-click","gtmLabel":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OL78oqjOT2A","gtmValue":1,"gtmContentType":"","gtmContainerName":"","gtmContentCreator":"","gtmCreatorType":"","gtmCardTitle":""}}]'>Visit Mrs Mo's Monster by Paul Beavis.</a>

Niue Language Week story and song with Malo

Your browser does not support inline iframes. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W7RXX2g2F3g" class="c-link--secondary" data-analytics='[{"event":"bc.outboundLinkClick","payload":{"gtmCategory":"v2-page-interactions","gtmAction":"v2-outbound-link-click","gtmLabel":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/W7RXX2g2F3g","gtmValue":1,"gtmContentType":"","gtmContainerName":"","gtmContentCreator":"","gtmCreatorType":"","gtmCardTitle":""}}]'>Visit Niue Language Week with Malo.</a>

Super Felix by Phoebe Morris, read by Bronwen

Bronwen is reading Super Felix - written, illustrated and published by Phoebe Morris

Your browser does not support inline iframes. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t8Qo1NrmsjM" class="c-link--secondary" data-analytics='[{"event":"bc.outboundLinkClick","payload":{"gtmCategory":"v2-page-interactions","gtmAction":"v2-outbound-link-click","gtmLabel":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/t8Qo1NrmsjM","gtmValue":1,"gtmContentType":"","gtmContainerName":"","gtmContentCreator":"","gtmCreatorType":"","gtmCardTitle":""}}]'>Visit Bronwen is reading SuperFelix - written, illustrated and published by Phoebe Morris.</a>

eAudiobooks

Listen to stories read aloud with BorrowBox and Libby / Overdrive.

eAudiobooks

Crafts

Enjoy crafts with your tamariki.

Māori crafts

Make a Matariki paper globe

Download our make sheet and template so you can make a paper globe for Matariki.

Learn how to make a paper star box for Matariki

Watch Maatakiwi make a folded paper star box for Matariki in our how-to video, or download our make sheet for more instructions.

Matariki origami star

Learn about the stars of Matariki with this downloadable folded paper star sheet (1MB PDF).

Making a putiputi

Step by step instructions on how to make a simple putiputi harakeke (flax flower).

Make a Matariki paper globe

Download our make sheet and template so you can make a paper globe for Matariki.

Learn how to make a paper star box for Matariki

Watch Maatakiwi make a folded paper star box for Matariki in our how-to video, or download our make sheet for more instructions.

Matariki origami star

Learn about the stars of Matariki with this downloadable folded paper star sheet (1MB PDF).

Making a putiputi

Step by step instructions on how to make a simple putiputi harakeke (flax flower).

Multicultural Crafts

Ei katu colouring in

Download an ei katu (head garland) colouring craft and celebrate 'Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani - Cook Islands Language Week.

Diversity Awareness Month paper doll craft: Mexico

Learn about traditional clothing from Mexico and print and colour in your own paper dolls wearing Traje de Tehuana.

cclstaff

Diversity Awareness Month paper doll craft: China

Learn about traditional clothing from China and print and colour in your own paper dolls wearing hanfu.

hongwangccl

Diversity Awareness Month paper doll craft: Japan

Learn about traditional clothing from Japan and print and colour in your own paper dolls wearing kimono.

cclstaff

Ei katu colouring in

Download an ei katu (head garland) colouring craft and celebrate 'Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani - Cook Islands Language Week.

Diversity Awareness Month paper doll craft: Mexico

Learn about traditional clothing from Mexico and print and colour in your own paper dolls wearing Traje de Tehuana.

cclstaff

Diversity Awareness Month paper doll craft: China

Learn about traditional clothing from China and print and colour in your own paper dolls wearing hanfu.

hongwangccl

Diversity Awareness Month paper doll craft: Japan

Learn about traditional clothing from Japan and print and colour in your own paper dolls wearing kimono.

cclstaff