Literacy for beginner readers

Joondalup Libraries’ Beginner Reader collection supports your child while they’re learning to read with books that are age and ability appropriate, as well as entertaining. Each level is designed to gradually increase your child’s reading ability and confidence. Being at ease with letters, sounds, and words is an important foundation for learning throughout life and reading with your child each day will help them to become great readers.

This specially chosen collection is found in your library’s junior reading area. Each reading level is given a coloured star, making it easy to browse and choose books to meet your child’s reading abilities.

Red Star

Starting to read – Simple repetitive words with lots of colourful illustrations.

Blue Star

Reading with help – Simple sentences with more complex words to increase your child’s vocabulary and confidence.

Yellow Star

Reading independently – Chapter books with small paragraphs and less illustrations.

Green Star

Reading proficiently – More challenging stories with longer chapters and engaging characters and plots to challenge your child’s growing interests.

Once your child has developed their reading abilities and confidence, there are thousands of fiction and nonfiction books, eBooks, audiobooks, comics and magazines for them to choose from in the dedicated junior area of their library or online through the kid friendly website for Overdrive and Borrowbox.

If you need help finding books suitable for your beginner reader or reluctant reader, don’t hesitate to ask the library staff for recommendations.

Toddler Time

Come along for stories, songs and rhymes with lots of action for your energetic toddler. Toddler Time is designed for children 18 to 30 months and their parents.

Benefits

  • Encourage the love of books and language
  • Allows your child to move about
  • Develop your child’s pre-literacy, communication and social skills
  • Learn to value the enjoyment of reading together
  • Develop creativity and dexterity through play.

Where and when

Sessions commence at 10.00am. No bookings required.

Toddler Time runs during school terms at Joondalup, Duncraig and Whitford Libraries. At Woodvale Library sessions run throughout the year.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Whitford Duncraig Woodvale Joondalup Woodvale
(Family Time)

A parent or guardian must accompany the child and participate in the Toddler Time session.

Family Time

Family Time is an action-packed program full of stories, songs, rhymes and making noise in the library. Aimed at children from 18 months to four years, the songs and actions will grab the attention of younger children, while the older children will be entertained by the fun-filled stories.

STEAMing into Stories

Saturday STEAMing into Story Time program combines encouraging a love of reading with STEAM activities. Sessions are suitable for children from two to seven years old.

Please check the events calendar.

Younger children aged 0-18 months may prefer Baby Rhyme Time, or Story Time for preschool kids aged two to four years.

To keep up to date with Library events:

Story Time

Story Time sessions are designed for children aged two to four years. Come and enjoy the stories, songs, and creative play.

Benefits

  • Encourages a love of reading
  • Stimulates the imagination
  • Develops literacy and social skills
  • Relaxed and fun environment
  • Develop creativity and dexterity through play.

Where and when

  • No bookings required
  • Free library activity
  • A parent or guardian must accompany the child and participate in the Story Time session.

Current sessions

All sessions are at 10am

 Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Duncraig Joondalup Duncraig
Joondalup
Woodvale Whitford Whitford
(STEAMing into Stories)

Check the Events Calendar for up-to-date information.

Check out the Social Story for Story Time that the Autism Association of Western Australia have created to help children increase preparedness and have the best possible experience at Story Time.

Stories in the Park

Stories in the Park occur on Tuesdays at 10am in March and November. Join City of Joondalup Libraries staff in one of your favourite parks.

STEAMing into Stories

STEAMing into Story Time program combines encouraging a love of reading with STEAM activities. Sessions are suitable for children from two to seven years old.

Family Time

Family Time is an action-packed program full of stories, songs, rhymes and making noise in the library. Aimed at children from 18 months to four years old, the songs and actions will grab the attention of younger children, while the older children will be entertained by the fun-filled stories.

Sensory Story Time

Sensory Story Time is aimed at children aged between two and four years old who may find regular Story Time too noisy or overwhelming.

National Simultaneous Storytime

ALIA National Simultaneous Storytime takes place on 22 May each year. Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker was this year’s selection.

Other options

Younger children aged up to 18 months old may prefer Baby Rhyme Time, or Toddler Time which is for 18-30 months old.

To keep up to date with Library events:

Parenting workshops

Tailored specifically for parents of babies and toddlers, these information sessions focus on learning, language and development. Topics include:

  • Baby signs
  • Water safe babies
  • Beyond babbling
  • Baby tastes
  • Baby sleep.

Sessions

Presentations run for one hour and refreshments are provided. The workshops are held once a month and babies up to 18 months are welcome.

Bookings

Bookings are essential through the events calendar. A cost of $5.00 is payable when booking online.

Please note: There will be no refunds if you are unable to attend an event. Refunds will only be issued if the City of Joondalup Libraries have to cancel.

To keep up to date with Library events:

Baby Rhyme Time

City of Joondalup libraries, in association with Better Beginnings, are pleased to offer Baby Rhyme Time for babies 0-18 months and their parents.

Connect with your baby while singing your favourite rhymes and songs.

Benefits of joining in Baby Rhyme Time

  • Learn new rhymes and songs
  • Develop your baby’s pre-literacy and social skills
  • Relaxed and fun environment
  • Learn the value of reading to your baby from birth
  • Supports parents as their child’s first teacher
  • Free library activity.

Sessions commence at 10am and run during school term. No bookings required.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Joondalup Duncraig Woodvale Whitford

Check the Events Calendar for up-to-date information.

Children aged 18-30 months may prefer Toddler Time or Story Time for preschool kids aged two to four years.

To keep up to date with Library events:

Events for children

The Joondalup libraries offer events for children all year round. These events are designed to be fun and educational.

Literacy events

Clubs

To keep up to date with Library events:

Online safety for schools

Schools can promote online and cyber safety through raising awareness and encouraging responsible internet use among students.

The eSafety Commissioner

The eSafety Commissioner was established as the national point of cyber safety leadership, working with industry, government and not-for-profit organisations to provide innovative, scalable and sustainable online safety resources to children, parents, teachers and the wider community. Digital Citizenship classroom resources are also available.

As a Commissioner in the national and international arena, the Office has legislative powers enabling them to have material removed as soon as possible if considered unsuitable.

ThinkUKnow

The ThinkUKnow program is driven by the Australian Federal Police and supported and promoted locally by WA Police and the City of Joondalup. Schools can arrange ThinkUKnow presentations from WA Police Officers from local policing teams by contacting WA Police Community Engagement.