Reading, activities and more!
No matter where you are this summer you can take Summer Reading Families (January 4 - 31) with you wherever you go, every single day. We would love to help inspire you and your family to explore a range of activities, ideas, books and stories so you can all enjoy every aspect reading has to offer.
Our librarians have designed a range of online activities, reading lists and bonus programs for a range of age groups each week as we explore themes of Food, Nature, Flight, and History.
Each week you will find downloadable activity sheets and fun facts for PRESCHOOL and PRIMARY School aged children. For young people, we have designed SECONDARY school virtual Makerspace activities including making laser cut airplanes, Hapa zome, and kawaii felt doughnut . For upper primary and secondary students our librarians will also present virtual scratch coding sessions, virtual sessions exploring online games ‘Voyage’ designed by National Maritime Museum. We also have access to SBS beautiful digital adaptation of Nam Le’s The Boat with an accompanying book list that is perfect for young people and adults.
If you’re really stuck for reading ideas and activities you can play the Summer Reading Families Book Bingo or try our Book Valet service, designed for everyone in the family.
Win prizes by reading!
By participating in Summer Reading Families, you will go into the draw to win one of these fantastic prizes the whole family can enjoy:
- An escape room experience (suitable for children).
- A board Games bundle.
- Aboriginal Heritage Guided Walking Tour at the Royal Botanical Gardens.
- A tour of the Old Melbourne Goal.
Sign up and log your reading with Beanstack
We're using Beanstack to help families track their progress through the Summer Reading Families program. Register with your library card and start logging your family's reading.
Get the Beanstack App (Android or Apple)
Beanstack allows you to track your reading by registering in seconds as an individual or family. Earn virtual badges, tickets for drawings, and real-world prizes by keeping track of your reading. You can also post book reviews and keep track of activities you complete along the way.
You can also register for Summer Reading Families by heading in to your nearest branch and talking to our friendly staff.
Makerspace Activities
If you’re a Secondary student we have Makerspace activities galore just for you throughout Summer Reading Families. Best of all? You can do it from the comfort of your own bedroom or backyard if you really wanted to! Join us for virtual sessions to make laser cut airplanes, Hapa zome, and kawaii felt doughnut . For upper primary and secondary students our librarians will also present virtual scratch coding sessions, virtual sessions exploring online games ‘Voyage’ designed by National Maritime Museum.
To join in our Makerspace activities in your own home we have click and collect kits available so that you can log on and join one of our librarians as they guide you through the session. These sessions are suited to Secondary students. Please note to collect a kit you will need to register for the event. We have a limited amount of kits per week.
More info to come!
Maker Space Activities
Homegrown Summer and Summer Reading Families: The Giant Feast
For the month of January we want to encourage children, families and young people in Yarra Plenty communities to connect with each other and immerse themselves in the joys of music and food at a local level. We will be inviting families to take up cooking challenges, eat fresh and local, and upload their efforts to social media. To stimulate their interest in food, we will run workshops, present challenges, and encourage participation. We will also invite young people to share their musical talent by uploading songs and musical pieces throughout the month. There will be an online performance by a local musician who will also judge and provide positive feedback to participants, with music related prizes given at the end of the month. For more information about Homegrown Summer checkout our dedicated program page
The Giant Feast is part of our Homegrown Summer program this year and it’s going to be meal like none other! Everyone is invited to the giant feast that will keep growing every week full of imaginative, sometimes strange cakes created by kids and their adults. Your cake will be inspired by your favourite book, book series or characters. All you need to do is create and bake a cake (the weirder the better!), take a photo of it and we will put it on our blog for everyone to see and taste! Simply:
- Send us a photo of your cake to ypmail@yprl.vic.gov.au with the subject heading ‘The giant feast’
- Write a few details about your amazing creation including your name, the type of cake you’ve made and what inspired you. We would also love to know the ingredients too!
- Keep your eye out for our Giant Feast blog post…and you’ll see your creation there.
Book Valet: Family edition
Want some reading inspiration? Stuck in a reading rut? Want to inspire the youngest of your readers to love reading? We can help! Book Valet is our very popular bespoke reading recommendation service. Our librarians match YOU up with books and films we know you’ll love based on the survey you fill out. Book Valet: Family Edition goes one step further: Simply fill out the survey at the link below and one of our amazing librarians can recommend books and more for everyone in the family and a book you can read together. Sounds lovely, right? We think so!