» Children’s Events

If you like mad professors, creepy castles, pirate adventures and dressing-up, then this is for you! This year’s Big Juice Read, part of the Juice festival for young people, is  ‘Stitch Head: The Pirates Eye’ by Guy Bass. 

Join Blue Peter award-winning author Guy Bass for fantastically hilarious, interactive events including readings from the Stitch Head trilogy. Then visit Mad Professor Erasmus in Castle Grotteskew to make your own fantastical creature, and stop by the ship of Captain Flashpowder to pop your very own message in a bottle.

Meet Guy Bass at City Library on Saturday 27 October, 2pm – 4pm.  Make your own Stitch Head character and enter our art and poetry competitions.  Fancy dress encouraged – best dressed pirate or mad professor also wins a prize!  

Suitable for ages 7 and above. Book your free place by phoning 0191 277 4100 or email information@newcastle.gov.uk.

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Newcastle Libraries is launching its brand new Manga collection. Featuring over 450 titles, the collection will officially be launched on Saturday 29 September at City Library. Read classics like Naruto, Death Note and Bleach, get the inside scoop on the Manga industry with Bakuman, and find paranormal beings with Haruhi Suzumiya. If you’re after something with a bit more ‘bite’, check out Vampire Knight and Pandora + Hearts. See a sneak preview of the  collection. Hundreds more titles to be added!

On the same day, Art Heroes are launching the third issue of their Halcyon & Tenderfoot comic. Daniel and Lee will be at City Library to deliver comic book workshops and signings. Come along and create your own comic book character, learn how to design your own comic book, take part in a comic books quiz, and pick up a signed copy of Halcyon and Tenderfoot, Volume 3.

All activities are free, but some must be booked in advance.

10am
Create a Character workshop (suitable for 6-13 years)
Daniel and Lee will give you the inside scoop on creating interesting comic book characters, before setting you loose to create your own! Workshop will last approximately one hour. Limited places available. Book your free place in advance by phoning 0191 2774100 or emailing information@newcastle.gov.uk.

Signing sessions
11am, 1pm, 4pm
Your chance to pick up a signed copy of Halcyon & Tenderfoot issues 1-3, commission a unique sketch from Lee and chat to the creators. Signing will last approximately 45 minutes.

11.45am
Comic Book Stories (suitable for 10-16 years)
Daniel and Lee guide you through creating your own comic book stories and translating your cool ideas into comic strips you can share with your friends. Workshop will last approximately one hour. Limited places available. Book you free place in advance by phoning 0191 2774100 or emailing information@newcastle.gov.uk.

2:30pm
Comic Book Quiz (suitable for 15 years and over)
Do you think you know more about comics, Manga, cartoons, films and videogames than anyone else? Well, now you can prove it! Compete as a team or as an individual for brilliant prizes. Quiz will last approximately one and a half hour. Limited places available. Book your free place in advance by phoning 0191 2774100 or emailing information@newcastle.gov.uk.

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The BFG is 30 years old! Raise a glass of frobscottle to him on Roald Dahl Day on 13 September and join in some of our upcoming celebratory activities!

Sunday art and craft club: James and the Giant Peach
2:30pm – 3:30pm, Sunday 9 September
Level 3, City Library
Help decorate a Giant Peach and make a Fantastic Mr Fox mask! Suitable for children over 8 (or under 8 if accompanied by an adult). No booking required but places may be limited on the day.

Story time: The Enormous Crocodile
2pm – 2:30pm, Wednesday 12 September
Level 3, City Library
Come and enjoy a yummy, yummy, story!  Why not come wearing one or more of your clothes inside out just for fun! Drop in event, no need to book.  Suitable for children 6 and under.

Roald Dahl Day: The BFG is 30!
2pm – 2:30pm, Saturday 15 September
Level 3, City Library
Help us celebrate the Big Friendly Giant’s (belated) birthday! Enjoy a gloriumptious story and discover other scrumdiddlyumptious ways to enjoy Roald Dahl’s world. Drop in event, no need to book.  Suitable for children aged 7 and above.

Find out more about Roald Dahl Day.

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Julia Donaldson, Children’s Laureate and author of ‘The Gruffalo’, is visiting City Library to meet her young fans.

3pm – 3.45pm
Friday 13 April 2012
City Library

This is a free event and there is no need to book in advance.

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Children, parents and even library assistants had fun at Newburn Library last Saturday morning when they did some colouring in and made Easter baskets and crowns! One imaginative girl even made a bracelet and brought her own jewel to decorate her basket.

All who attended had fun and made new friends.  And the baskets will make great Easter decorations filled with small eggs or jelly beans. The best thing of all is we’re going to do it all again this Saturday, so you haven’t missed out!  Why not come along and join us?

Free Easter crafts
Saturday 7 April, 2:30pm
Newburn Library

Under 8s must be accompanied by an adult.

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Comic book publishers and workshop facilitators, Art Heroes, will launch their superhero comic, Halcyon and Tenderfoot, at City Library on Saturday 31 March. Be one of the first readers to buy a copy of the new comic!

10:30am – 12:30pm: Quick Comics workshop
A fun workshop for young people who like comics, drawing, writing or just want something to do on a Saturday morning. No previous experience is needed. The workshop is aimed at 8 to 16 year olds and free to attend, but with places limited to just 30 young people, booking early is advised. Followed by the opportunity to purchase a signed copy of the comic. Book by phoning 0191 2774100 or email information@newcastle.gov.uk.

1:30pm – 3:00pm: signing and sketching
The main opportunity of the day to pick up a signed copy of Halcyon and Tenderfoot, meet the creators and buy a unique sketch by the artist of the comic book.

3:00pm – 4:00pm: talk – ‘How to Make Comics the Art Heroes Way‘
The Art Heroes team behind Halcyon and Tenderfoot reveal their process for creating the comic book – from initial idea, to drawing techniques, to printing and promotion – and everything in between! Perfect for people wanting to make their own comics, or anyone with an interest in comic books or artistic processes.

4:00pm – 4:30pm: Signing and sketching
The last chance to get your hands on a signed copy of Halcyon and Tenderfoot or a unique sketch.

Visit the Art Heroes website.

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The Gala Weekend festival finale will be held over two days for the first time ever! Children can get creative in the many arts and crafts sessions taking place and storytellers and other performers will be dropping in throughout the weekend.

This year’s Northern Children’s Book Festival is based around the theme ‘Dream a Little Dream’ which captures the creativity and imagination involved in reading. Everyone likes to read before bed and the dreams we have are heavily influenced by the stories we read in our favourite books. ‘Dream a Little Dream’ sums up the unicorns, magic carpets, castles and witches we’ve all discovered in the land of nod.

Gala Weekend
10am – 4pm
19 – 20 November
Benfield School, Newcastle upon Tyne

Find out more about the Gala Weekend.

The Northern Children’s Book Festival brings together 12 local authorities in the North East and is also partnership between all the library services in the region.

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It’s the Olympics next year (in case you hadn’t realised!) so there’s no better time to start getting fit and active. Drop in to City Library to try out something a bit different – there’s something for the whole family including dance mats, Zumba, inflatable football (weather dependant), Wii sports and rowing challenges. Plus use your pedal power to make a rewarding and delicious smoothie!

The Active Newcastle Roadshow
10am – 3pm
Friday 14 – Saturday 15 October 2011
City Library

No booking is necessary. Simply turn up on the day and get active!

Find out about regular activities such as archery, skateboarding, step aerobics and gymnastics. Visit the Active Newcastle website.

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Arts and crafts at City Library

Halloween themed crafts for the over 8s will take place at City Library at 2:30pm – 3:30pm on Saturday 15 October. No need to book, just come along.

Denton Dene glowing lantern walk

Join us for a bright and glowing lantern walk through Denton Dene on Friday 28 October 2011. Remember to dress warmly and wear comfortable walking shoes! We’ll begin the walk at 5:30pm at Denton Burn Library and get back at around 6:15pm for refreshments and fun activities in the library until 7:30pm. Suitable for all the family but children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book.

Lantern making crafts

Make your very own lantern for the walk above at one of our workshops:

West End Library
2pm – 5pm, Tuesday 25 October

Denton Burn Library
2pm – 5pm, Thursday 27 October

Booking details below.

Martin’s Halloween Magic Show

Don’t fancy a walk?  There will be scares and thrills galore courtesy of the magic spells of Martin the wizard. For children aged 7 to 12 years.

Newbiggin Hall Library
2:30pm, Tuesday 25 October

West End Library
2:30pm, Thursday 27 October

Children’s Halloween party

Get spooked at Fenham Library’s Halloween part on Monday 31 October from 5:30pm – 7:30pm. Events will include a story time and Halloween games. There’s a prize for the best Halloween costume. Suitable for children aged 5 to 11.

To book your place at any of the events phone 0191 2774100, email information@newcastle.gov.uk or ask at any library. Events are suitable for all the family but children under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

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