Storytimes at YPRL
Yarra Plenty Regional Library offers a range of children's services and programs in the Cities of Banyule, Whittlesea, and the Shire of Nillumbik.
Our sessions focus on the different developmental stages of your child to help them develop those crucial language skills and social connections.
There are over 40 Storytimes every week. Regular sessions include: Baby, Toddler, Preschool, Family, Relaxed and Family sessions in community languages (Chinese, Italian, First Nations, German, Greek, and Spanish).
Find information about our regular sessions below and easily download and save the image for future reference. NOTE: Storytimes run in school terms only.
We also have sessions with an Auslan interpreter and occasionally specially themed additional sessions. You will find the full details for these and our community language sessions here.
- Explore some tips and information to support your child's early literacy development at home.
Baby Storytime
Ages 0 to 18 months
Simple rhymes, songs, and fingerplay. You are never too young for storytime!
Parents and carers can pick up some tips and tricks to kick-start your child’s development and meet other local families.
A love for learning and reading will help your child as they grow and benefit them for the rest of their life. Beginner skills start here.
Toddler Storytime
Ages 1 to 3 years
Stories, rhymes, simple dances and activities developed for your toddler. A lively, interactive session to help build your child’s pre-reading skills.
Storytimes may be fun but your toddler is getting so much more out of it than half an hour of entertainment. They are secretly learning lots! It is improving their vocabulary, memory and listening skills plus developing their thinking and imagination too.
Preschool Storytime
Ages 3 to 5 years
Books and action songs followed by a simple craft activity.
Help your child prepare for school. Storytime is a fantastic opportunity for your child to practise skills like sitting still, listening and using inside voices. They watch adults model behaviours and learn reading concepts like following words from left to right and associating spoken word with written word. Pre-reading skills helps them to become independent readers.
Family Storytime
0 to 5 years
A storytime made for children of different ages and development levels.
This open session will feature songs, rhymes and stories but the expert storyteller will adjust the session depending on the abilities of those who attend on the day.
Do you have multiple children and can’t attend multiple storytime sessions? Do you want to make sure they are all getting the most out of storytime for their skills? Or did you just miss your usual storytime and not want to wait till next week? Then this session is for you.
Relaxed Storytime
This Storytime is designed for children of all abilities, who may have additional sensory, learning or communication needs.
This calm and welcoming space is open to all children and families but bookings are required to ensure that the group size is kept small.
Along with curated books and songs, during Relaxed Storytime library staff use tools like a visual schedule, props and sensory items to encourage children to connect with and enjoy stories.
We aim to create a reassuring and comfortable experience while supporting children to develop their vocabulary, memory and pre-reading skills.
Relaxed Storytime is on Thursdays at 2.00pm at Mill Park Library. Bookings are required.