Xplore! Science Wrexham - Gadgeteers Workshop
Do you know a child who is passionate about building? Dress them up as a construction worker, build walls together, and see how tall you can make a tower without it falling! Use our 3D shapes to design new buildings and bridges and make a gadget using our snap circuits - will it light up, buzz or power a motor?
Mold Library
Tuesday 26th July 2-3pm
Flint Library
Tuesday 26th July 11am-12pm
Holywell Library
Friday 29th July 11am-12pm
Connah's Quay Library
Friday 29th July 2-3pm
Broughton Library
Thursday 11th August 2.30pm-3.30pm
Buckley Library
Thursday 11th August 11.30am-12.30pm
Deeside Library
Thursday 25th August 2pm-3pm
Fit Fed & Read- Mostyn Maes Pennant Playing Field
Thursday 25th August 11am-12pm
Tredegar Library - Fabulous Physics Workshop
Fun experiments for all - come and find out how it feels to be a real scientist!
Thursday 4 August 2022 2pm
Tredegar Library - Diffusion Art
When Science Meets Art
Saturday 30 July 10.30am
Micro:bit Workshop delivered by STEM Cymru
Join us for a Coding with Micro:bit workshop delivered by STEM Cymru. This workshop is suitable for children aged 7-11 years old.
Bargoed Library
Tuesday 30th August 10.30-12.00
Risca Library
Tuesday 30th August 2.30-4.00
Lego Discover Workshop delivered by STEM Cymru
Join us for a Lego Discover workshop delivered by STEM Cymru. This workshop is suitable for children aged 4-6 years old.
Rhymney Library
Monday 22nd August 2.30-3.30
Cardiff Central Library
Motion Animation Workshop and VR Headset session
Tuesday 26 July 2pm
Power Your Own Disco!
Ynni Da will be providing children with the own static bikes to power their own disco music and lights in an "Understanding Electricity" science workshop. There will also be an opportunity to build a model wind turbine.
Carmarthen Library
Wednesday, August 10th at 10:30am
Llanelli Library
Wednesday, August 17th at 10:30am
Xplore workshops
Drop-in interactive sessions to build and design building, towers, and bridges, and use snap circuits (with Xplore! Science Discovery Centre) for 4-12 year olds.
Lego workshops
Fun activities based on free play LEGO building (with G2G Communities CIC) for 4-15 year olds. Booking required.
Eureka! Workshop with Mad Science
As part of the Gadgeteers Summer Reading Challenge, children are encouraged to create their own inventions, exploring forces and getting stuck in to plenty of hands-on science discovery! The workshops are suitable for children aged 5-11 years old. This is a free event but there are limited spaces so please contact the library directly to book your place.
Blackwood Library
Tuesday 26th July at 2.30pm
Caerphilly Library
Tuesday 26th July at 11am
Newbridge Library
Thursday 25th August at 11am
Abertridwr Library
Thursday 25th August 3-4pm
Ystrad Mynach Library
Wednesday 31st August 11am-12noon
New Tredegar Library
Wednesday 31st August at 2.30pm
Fabulous tales with Louby Lou
Mad scientist tales from Louby Lou's Storytelling. For 4 - 7 year olds. Tickets will be available from Eventbrite.
Usk Library
14:00 – 15:00 Thursday 28th July
Caldicot Library
10.00 -11.00 Friday 29th July
Chepstow Library
13:00 – 14:00 Friday 29th July
Monmouth Library
16:00 – 17:00 Friday 29th July
Gilwern Library
15:00 – 16:00 Monday 1st August
Abergavenny Library
10.30 -11.30 Saturday 13th August
Sublime Slime with Fizz Pop Science
An interactive science show followed by slime making. For 7 - 10 year olds. Tickets will be available through Eventbrite.
Chepstow Library
10:30 – 11:30 Monday 1st August
Caldicot Library
13:30 - 14.30 Monday 1st August
Usk Library
16:00 – 17:00 Monday 1st August
Abergavenny Library
10:30 – 11:30 Friday 5th August
Gilwern Library
13.30 – 14.30 Friday 5th August
Monmouth Hub
16.00 – 17.00 Friday 5th August
Painting and Potting
Decorate a pot and plant some herbs to grow at home. Suitable for 5 years plus. Places limited, booking essential. To book your place email [email protected].
Children under 8 years must be accompanied by a parent/carer
Pontyclun Library
11:00-12:00 Wednesday 27th July
Aberdare Library
11:00 – 12:00 Friday 12 August
MAD Science STEM workshops
Calling all tinkerers, engineers, inventors, and Mad Scientists! Come join us at your local library this summer for our Eureka! workshop. As part of the Gadgeteers Summer Reading Challenge, children are encouraged to create their own inventions, exploring forces and getting stuck in to plenty of hands-on Science discovery! Booking Essential
Brynhyfryd Library
15:00 – 16:00 Wednesday 27th July
Killay Library
09:30 – 10:30 Thursday 28th July
Oystermouth Library
15:00 – 16:00 Thursday 28th July
Cricieth Library
Walk with Betsan Brysur – Wednesday 27 July 13:30 – 15:30
Meet at Cricieth Library (weather permitting) - 10 family places - please book beforehand suitable up to 7 years old.
“Gadget” Workshops presented by PopFizz
“Gadget” Workshops presented by PopFizz
Get involved at:
Llanelli Library – 10am
Ammanford Library – 1:15pm
Carmarthen Library – 3:30pm
Wednesday August 24
Torfaen Libraries
Fun Summer of Fun Launch Morning - 30 July - Cwmbran Library
Story and Craft Sessions - Throughout August
Suitable for 5-10 year olds.
Cwmbran Library - Every Tuesday - 10:30 - 11:30
Blaenavon Library - Every Thursday - 14:30 - 15:30
Slime Workshop from The Slime Factory
Blaenavon library - Wednesday 10 August 10.30-11.30
Cwmbran library - Friday 19 August 10:30-11:30
Cwmbran library - Monday 22 August 10:30-11:30
Mad Science Workshop from Mad Science
Cwmbran library - Thursday 11 August 10.30-11.30, 13:30-14:30
Lego Robots from Dynamic Play
Pontypool library - Saturday 20 August 10:30-12:00
Cwmbran library - Monday 3 September 10:30-11:30
Library Fun Morning
Pontypool Library - Saturday 10 September 09:30-12:30
Tywyn Library
Create a Puppet workshop with ElenCelf
10 child places – please book before hand suitable for 8 – 12 year
Wednesday 03/08/22 14:00 – 15:30
Creative Lego session using LegoBricQ (bilingual session)
24 child places - please book beforehand 8 - 12 years
Tuesday 9/8/22 14:00 – 15:30
Story and Summer Crafts
10 child places - please book beforehand. Suitable up to 5 years old
Tuesday 16/08/22 14:00 – 15:00
Barmouth Library
Felting workshop with Crefftau Sioned Hywel Tuesday 26 July 10am – 11:30
8 child places - please book beforehand 4 - 7 years.
Create a Pupper workshop with Elen Celf - Wednesday 3 August 10:30-12pm
20 child places - please book beforehand. Suitable for 8-12 years.
Fun activities with Wild Elements - Wednesday 10 August 11am - 12:30
20 child places - please book beforehand. 8 - 12 years.
Creative Lego session using LegoBricQ (bilingual session) - Thursday 11August 10am – 11:30
24 child places - please book beforehand 8 - 12 years
Movement & Story Session for young children - Wednesday 17 August 1pm – 2pm
8 child places - please book beforehand. 7 and under.
Sea Creatures craft - Tuesday 23 August 10:30-11:30
10 child places - please book beforehand 4-7 year.
Anglesey Libraries - Author Events
Awen Schiavone - 11 August - Morning
Awen’s book – Pedro y Pengwin – is about a penguin who gets lost while migrating and in this special workshop children will be able to explore what migration is (why, when and how long it takes) and what today might cause birds to lose their way (including climate change and plastic in the seas). Children will have chance to plot a giant migration map, make a penguin out of recyclable materials (younger children) and enjoy creative writing with Awen (composing messages Pedro might send to his family) which they can perform in the library.
Casia Wiliam - 16 August - Morning
Animal conservation adventure with Casia and Sw Sara Mai. Hear Casia read from this lovely book before choosing an animal to be the star of your own story. Join Casia in a special research session and use books from the library to learn about your chosen animal’s habitats, eating habits and need for protection. Then write the first chapter of your own story!
For more information please contact Anglesey Libraries
Bridgend/Awen Libraries Author Events
James Carter - 15 August - Afternoon
Once upon a big idea! Have your visitors ever met a mad scientist? James Carter’s the next best thing. Poet, musician and bringing zany science stuff galore to your library for an interactive, creative, live version of his new book Once Upon a Big Idea – the story of inventions. It looks at how all inventing is actually recycling, children’s favourite inventions and offers a chance to create robot poems.
Huw Davies - 17 August - Afternoon
The machine that matters! In Scrambled, a motorbike proved a turning point for Davidde, and in this special workshop author Huw Davies invites the audience to explore the machines that matter to them (think phones, computers, sewing machines, cars, trains) and to develop a new character and story to capture both. New ideas, new friends, new ways to think about the machines in your life and why they matter…
For more information contact Bridgend/Awen libraries.
Blaenau Gwent/Aneurin Libraries Author Events
Malachy Doyle - 04 August - Afternoon
Across the seas! How do we communicate with those we don’t know (and why is this a skill crucial to everything we learn about the world and in each other)? Malachy Doyle shares one of his wonderful Molly series (Molly and the Shipwreck) where our hero saves a family of strangers whose boat is in danger of capsizing off her island. She offers them a home and has to find a language to communicate with them. Can you do the same in this fun, interactive workshop….
Huw Davies - 17 August - Morning
The machine that matters! In Scrambled, a motorbike proved a turning point for Davidde, and in this special workshop author Huw Davies invites the audience to explore the machines that matter to them (think phones, computers, sewing machines, cars, trains) and to develop a new character and story to capture both. New ideas, new friends, new ways to think about the machines in your life and why they matter…
Karen Owen - 25 August - Afternoon
Author of the fantastic new book Major and Mynah. It is the first in a series of adventures with SPUD (Super Perceptive Undercover Detectives) involving Callie who discovers her new hearing aids give her the unique ability to communicate with Bo the mynah bird. In this lovely workshop called Codes and Secrets Karen looks at how we communicate language without using speech. It’s informative (they’ll look at lighthouses, for example), interactive (children have a go at Morse code) and creative (children make coded messages using letters, numbers and symbols). Partially deaf with bilateral hearing aids (just like Callie in Major and Mynah), Karen also teaches some BSL (British Sign Language) and children can learn how to sign their name etc. Depending on numbers it might also use an art-based activity such as making bookmarks with a secret code written on it.
For more information please contact Blaenau Gwent/Aneurin Libraries
Caerphilly Libraries Author Events
Camilla Chester - 17 August - Morning
Communication skills are key to STEM learning and in this special workshop author Camilla Chester will call on her newest book - Call Me Lion – to explore our communication skills in a myriad of wonderful ways. Call Me Lion is a story about a friendship between Leo who has a phobia of talking but dreams of performing in The Lion King and Richa, the girl next door. The workshop will explore clues to how people around us are thinking and feeling, the way stories help us understand others, the power of words (eg when letter writing) and dancing (disco and some interesting dancing that explores the science of moving).
Carys Glyn - 25 August - Afternoon
Carys’ book is a story of how ‘the oldest animals in the world' (as named in the Mabinogi) help animals of today with their problems. Via it’s rap and rhyme, this workshop will be all about bees, why they’re disappearing and what we can do to help. After sharing the book, children sign, dance, learn the waggle dance that bees perform when they are trying to show other bees where to find flowers) and there’s a chance to draw the characters or turn them into puppets (so suitable for target groups).
For more information contact Caerphilly libraries.
Cardiff Libraries Author Events
James Carter - 16 August - Morning
Once upon a big idea! Have your visitors ever met a mad scientist? James Carter’s the next best thing. Poet, musician and bringing zany science stuff galore to your library for an interactive, creative, live version of his new book Once Upon a Big Idea – the story of inventions. It looks at how all inventing is actually recycling, children’s favourite inventions and offers a chance to create robot poems.
Jon Blake - 16 August - Morning
Award-winning author Jon Blake will read his story Chocolate Planet, talk about how chocolate is made and lead a group songwriting session. The result will be a recording which everyone can take home!"
Tracy Hammett - 18 August - Morning
CBeebies Scriptwriter and poet as well as children’s author. Can you create a new ice cream? Malicious, magical or just weird, it’s up to you. Join Bob the Dog in his perfect summer job working on an ice-cream van with challenges of his own, and then explore taste, texture, flavours and more and why they matter for the perfect mix…
Holly Rivers - 30 August - Morning
Post, pigeons and more! Author of the fabulous Boy in the Post, Holly Rivers, shares the inspiration behind her latest story, the children sent by parcel post in the early 1900 (when parcel post was cheaper than a train ticket) and the animals of her mailbox menagerie (furry and feathered posties known as animals!) including the coolest carrier pigeons who worked magic in wartime. In this special workshop children can explore maps, stamps and new animals to add to the storybook mix.
Writing Roy, Rocky Race and Robots: Creating Comic book stories with Rob Williams - 30 August - Morning
In this fabulous workshop for children (ideal for 7 - 11s) the audience will learn how to share their sci-fi stories and more in comic or graphic novel book format and discover that you don't need to be an artist to write comic stories (Rob isn't - he's the wordsmith), just have great ideas and imagination. Rob Williams grew up in the Rhonnda and is returning to Wales for the Summer of Fun to deliver this fab workshop. He is, of course, well known for his comic works (including Amazing Spider-Man, Doctor Who for Titan Comics, Star Wars and more). He'll explain how and why and help you have a go!
Alex Wharton: Observe, reflect, and rhyme! - 1 Sept - Morning
In this special workshop the wonderful poet Alex Wharton brings out your scientific observation skills and invites you to use them in poetry. Hear what inspires Alex, join in with his poetry readings (from the glorious Daydreams and Jellybeans) and then work with him to take your own ideas into new works.
For more information contact Cardiff libraries.
Carmarthenshire Libraries Author Events
Huw Davies - 25 August - Afternoon
The machine that matters! In Scrambled, a motorbike proved a turning point for Davidde, and in this special workshop author Huw Davies invites the audience to explore the machines that matter to them (think phones, computers, sewing machines, cars, trains) and to develop a new character and story to capture both. New ideas, new friends, new ways to think about the machines in your life and why they matter…
Eloise Williams - 02 September
Map skills made magical. Author of Elen’s Island revisits one of her magical stories and invites the audience to make their own island map, learning how to plot a course and uncover secrets only they know their island holds (treasure, dragons, diamonds, dinosaurs…) Where will their map and story take them…?
For more information contact Carmarthenshire libraries.
Ceredigion Libraries Author Events
Sharon Marie Jones - 16 August - Morning
A special take on the magic of mixtures with young witch Grace Ella and her cat Mr Whiskers. A very magical sort of science, your young visitors will be invited to make their own potions and wands and think about what they’d like to do with them! All will be revealed!
Caryl Lewis - 23 August - Morning
Caryl Lewis’ new book Seed is, she says “about the world’s infinite possibilities, and the practical and magical power of imagination. I hope it will gently encourage children and remind them that the world, despite recent events, is still a joyful and wondrous place to be.” Caryl is, of course, a multi-award-winning Welsh novelist, children’s writer, playwright and screenwriter.
In this workshop Caryl will take a brief look at the inspiration behind her latest book, the science of seeds – what they need to nourish them and make them grow – and encourage children to share their own ideas (including what they’ve learned in the Summer of Fun) and how they might also grow into something special (a story even!).
For more information contact Ceredigion libraries.
Conwy Libraries Author Events
Awen Schiavone - 11 August - Afternoon
Awen’s book – Pedro y Pengwin – is about a penguin who gets lost while migrating and in this special workshop children will be able to explore what migration is (why, when and how long it takes) and what today might cause birds to lose their way (including climate change and plastic in the seas). Children will have chance to plot a giant migration map, make a penguin out of recyclable materials (younger children) and enjoy creative writing with Awen (composing messages Pedro might send to his family) which they can perform in the library.
Casia Wiliam - 17 August - Morning
Animal conservation adventure with Casia and Sw Sara Mai. Hear Casia read from this lovely book before choosing an animal to be the star of your own story. Join Casia in a special research session and use books from the library to learn about your chosen animal’s habitats, eating habits and need for protection. Then write the first chapter of your own story!
Casi Wyn - 23 August - Morning
Who says music isn’t maths! The secrets and science behind the melodies of music and poetry. A fun, fabulous workshop with our bard-plant-Cymru who’ll show you the science of her craft….
For more information contact Conwy libraries.
Denbighshire Libraries Author Events
James Carter - 8 & 9 August - Afternoon
Once upon a big idea! Have your visitors ever met a mad scientist? James Carter’s the next best thing. Poet, musician and bringing zany science stuff galore to your library for an interactive, creative, live version of his new book Once Upon a Big Idea – the story of inventions. It looks at how all inventing is actually recycling, children’s favourite inventions and offers a chance to create robot poems.
For more information contact Denbighshire libraries.
Gwynedd Libraries Author Events
Casia Wiliam - 17 August - Morning
Animal conservation adventure with Casia and Sw Sara Mai. Hear Casia read from this lovely book before choosing an animal to be the star of your own story. Join Casia in a special research session and use books from the library to learn about your chosen animal’s habitats, eating habits and need for protection. Then write the first chapter of your own story!
Casi Wyn - 23 August - Afternoon
Casi is working on a secrets and science behind the melodies of music and poetry workshop. This will be fun, fabulous meet with our bard-plant-Cymru who’ll show children the science of her craft….we will send more specifics later this week.
For more information contact Gwynedd libaries.
Methyr Libraries Author Events
Sara Kilbride - 12 August - Morning
Ever wondered how feathers work. This workshop will invite children to join Sara to learn about their magical qualifies (their role, properties, which float, how to keep them in the air) and, via a reading of The World Bird, learn about birds and their environment, the physics of flight, their individual superpowers and be invited to create their own… And with Sara make a quill from a feather (like the one she used to write her book Cuddle and a Cwtch) to write their own story or create their own pattern or poem.
Catherine Barr - 12 August - Afternoon
Author of wonderful non-fiction nature books, Catherine Barr brings her latest, WATER – Protect freshwater to save life on earth, to your library. Catherine studied ecology before working with Greenpeace for many years on wildlife issues, and now writes to engage children to get involved in protecting the natural world.
In this workshop they can dive in to discover why we must protect freshwater to save life on Earth. Children will find out why their jeans have a water footprint, how fish leap up ladders, who lives in washing-up bowl ponds and draw rare pink river dolphins and other freshwater life with illustrator Christiane Engel in an online drawing tutorial. They will pick up tips on how to save water, and have a go at the range of activities created to accompany this global story.
Carys Glyn - 16 August - Morning
Carys’ book is a story of how ‘the oldest animals in the world' (as named in the Mabinogi) help animals of today with their problems. Via it’s rap and rhyme, this workshop will be all about bees, why they’re disappearing and what we can do to help. After sharing the book, children sign, dance, learn the waggle dance that bees perform when they are trying to show other bees where to find flowers) and there’s a chance to draw the characters or turn them into puppets (so suitable for target groups).
Karen Owen - 25 August - Morning
Author of the fantastic new book Major and Mynah. It is the first in a series of adventures with SPUD (Super Perceptive Undercover Detectives) involving Callie who discovers her new hearing aids give her the unique ability to communicate with Bo the mynah bird. In this lovely workshop called Codes and Secrets Karen looks at how we communicate language without using speech. It’s informative (they’ll look at lighthouses, for example), interactive (children have a go at Morse code) and creative (children make coded messages using letters, numbers and symbols). Partially deaf with bilateral hearing aids (just like Callie in Major and Mynah), Karen also teaches some BSL (British Sign Language) and children can learn how to sign their name etc. Depending on numbers it might also use an art-based activity such as making bookmarks with a secret code written on it.
For more information contact Methyr libraries.
Monmouthshire Libraries Author Events
Malachy Doyle - 04 August - Morning
Across the seas! How do we communicate with those we don’t know (and why is this a skill crucial to everything we learn about the world and in each other)? Malachy Doyle shares one of his wonderful Molly series (Molly and the Shipwreck) where our hero saves a family of strangers whose boat is in danger of capsizing off her island. She offers them a home and has to find a language to communicate with them. Can you do the same in this fun, interactive workshop….
Mark Llewelyn Evans - 19 August - Afternoon
Sound, vibrations, instruments, voices…if you haven’t connected the joy of music (and musical stories) with science before you will after this wonderful workshop. Get ready to hear more, dress up, sing along, be surprised and explore the world in a new way…
Carys Glyn - 25 August - Morning
Carys’ book is a story of how ‘the oldest animals in the world' (as named in the Mabinogi) help animals of today with their problems. Via it’s rap and rhyme, this workshop will be all about bees, why they’re disappearing and what we can do to help. After sharing the book, children sign, dance, learn the waggle dance that bees perform when they are trying to show other bees where to find flowers) and there’s a chance to draw the characters or turn them into puppets (so suitable for target groups).
For more information contact Monmouthshire libaries.
Neath Port Talbot Libraries Author Events
Awen Schiavone - 04 August - Afternoon
Awen’s book – Pedro y Pengwin – is about a penguin who gets lost while migrating and, in this special workshop, children will be able to explore what migration is (why, when and how long it takes) and what today might cause birds to lose their way (including climate change and plastic in the seas). Children will have chance to plot a giant migration map, make a penguin out of recyclable materials (younger children) and enjoy creative writing with Awen (composing messages Pedro might send to his family) which they can perform in the library.
Karen Owen - 23 August - Afternoon
Karen Owen, author of the fantastic new book Major and Mynah. It is the first in a series of adventures with SPUD (Super Perceptive Undercover Detectives) involving Callie who discovers her new hearing aids give her the unique ability to communicate with Bo the mynah bird.
In this lovely workshop called Codes and Secrets Karen looks at how we communicate language without using speech. It’s informative (they’ll look at lighthouses, for example), interactive (children have a go at Morse code) and creative (children make coded messages using letters, numbers and symbols). Partially deaf with bilateral hearing aids (just like Callie in Major and Mynah), Karen also teaches some BSL (British Sign Language) and children can learn how to sign their name etc. Depending on numbers it might also use an art-based activity such as making bookmarks with a secret code written on it.
For more information contact Neath Port Talbot libraries.
Newport Libraries Author Events
James Carter - 16 August - Afternoon
Once upon a big idea! Have your visitors ever met a mad scientist? James Carter’s the next best thing. Poet, musician and bringing zany science stuff galore to your library for an interactive, creative, live version of his new book Once Upon a Big Idea – the story of inventions. It looks at how all inventing is actually recycling, children’s favourite inventions and offers a chance to create robot poems.
Mark Llewelyn Evans - 18 August - Morning
Sound, vibrations, instruments, voices…if you haven’t connected the joy of music (and musical stories) with science before you will after this wonderful workshop. Get ready to hear more, dress up, sing along, be surprised and explore the world in a new way…
Jon Blake - 25 August - Morning
Award-winning author Jon Blake will read his story Chocolate Planet, talk about how chocolate is made and lead a group songwriting session. The result will be a recording which everyone can take home!"
For more information contact Newport libraries.
Pembrokeshire Libraries Author Events
Eloise Williams - 17 August - Morning
Map skills made magical. Author of Elen’s Island revisits one of her magical stories and invites the audience to make their own island map, learning how to plot a course and uncover secrets only they know their island holds (treasure, dragons, diamonds, dinosaurs…) Where will their map and story take them…?
For more information contact Pembrokeshire libraries.
Powys Libraries Author Events
Catherine Barr -12 August - Morning
Author of wonderful non-fiction nature books, Catherine Barr brings her latest, WATER – Protect freshwater to save life on earth, to your library. Catherine studied ecology before working with Greenpeace for many years on wildlife issues, and now writes to engage children to get involved in protecting the natural world.
In this workshop they can dive in to discover why we must protect freshwater to save life on Earth. Children will find out why their jeans have a water footprint, how fish leap up ladders, who lives in washing-up bowl ponds and draw rare pink river dolphins and other freshwater life with illustrator Christiane Engel in an online drawing tutorial. They will pick up tips on how to save water, and have a go at the range of activities created to accompany this global story.
Huw Davies - 16 August - Afternoon
The machine that matters! In Scrambled, a motorbike proved a turning point for Davidde, and in this special workshop author Huw Davies invites the audience to explore the machines that matter to them (think phones, computers, sewing machines, cars, trains) and to develop a new character and story to capture both. New ideas, new friends, new ways to think about the machines in your life and why they matter…
Caryl Lewis - 23 August - Afternoon - Machynlleth Library
Caryl Lewis’ new book Seed is, she says “about the world’s infinite possibilities, and the practical and magical power of imagination. I hope it will gently encourage children and remind them that the world, despite recent events, is still a joyful and wondrous place to be.” Caryl is, of course, a multi-award-winning Welsh novelist, children’s writer, playwright and screenwriter.
In this workshop Caryl will take a brief look at the inspiration behind her latest book, the science of seeds – what they need to nourish them and make them grow – and encourage children to share their own ideas (including what they’ve learned in the Summer of Fun) and how they might also grow into something special (a story even!).
Rhondda Cynon Taff Libraries Author Events
Sara Kilbride - 12 August - Afternoon
Ever wondered how feathers work? This lovely workshop will invite children to join author Sarah to learn about a feather’s magical qualities (their role, properties, which float, how to keep them in the air) and with the help of The Word Bird, learn about birds and their environment, the physics of flight, their individual superpowers and be invited to design their own bird. Plus Sarah will show how to make a quill from a feather exactly like the one she used to write her book A Cuddle and a Cwtch, to create their own story picture or poem.
Carys Glyn - 16 August - Afternoon
Carys’ book is a story of how ‘the oldest animals in the world' (as named in the Mabinogi) help animals of today with their problems. Via it’s rap and rhyme, this workshop will be all about bees, why they’re disappearing and what we can do to help. After sharing the book, children sign, dance, learn the waggle dance that bees perform when they are trying to show other bees where to find flowers) and there’s a chance to draw the characters or turn them into puppets (so suitable for target groups).
Writing Roy, Rocky Race and Robots: Creating Comic book stories with Rob Williams - 30 August - Afternoon
In this fabulous workshop for children (ideal for 7 - 11s) the audience will learn how to share their sci-fi stories and more in comic or graphic novel book format and discover that you don't need to be an artist to write comic stories (Rob isn't - he's the wordsmith), just have great ideas and imagination. Rob Williams grew up in the Rhonnda and is returning to Wales for the Summer of Fun to deliver this fab workshop. He is, of course, well known for his comic works (including Amazing Spider-Man, Doctor Who for Titan Comics, Star Wars and more). He'll explain how and why and help you have a go!
For more information contact Rhondda Cynon Taff libraries.
Swansea Library Events
Awen Schiavone - 04 August - Morning
Awen’s book – Pedro y Pengwin – is about a penguin who gets lost while migrating and in this special workshop children will be able to explore what migration is (why, when and how long it takes) and what today might cause birds to lose their way (including climate change and plastic in the seas). Children will have chance to plot a giant migration map, make a penguin out of recyclable materials (younger children) and enjoy creative writing with Awen (composing messages Pedro might send to his family) which they can perform in the library.
Eloise Williams - 17 August - Afternoon
Map skills made magical. Author of Elen’s Island revisits one of her magical stories and invites the audience to make their own island map, learning how to plot a course and uncover secrets only they know their island holds (treasure, dragons, diamonds, dinosaurs…) Where will their map and story take them…?
Karen Owen - 23 August - Morning
Author of the fantastic new book Major and Mynah. It is the first in a series of adventures with SPUD (Super Perceptive Undercover Detectives) involving Callie who discovers her new hearing aids give her the unique ability to communicate with Bo the mynah bird. In this lovely workshop called Codes and Secrets Karen looks at how we communicate language without using speech. It’s informative (they’ll look at lighthouses, for example), interactive (children have a go at Morse code) and creative (children make coded messages using letters, numbers and symbols). Partially deaf with bilateral hearing aids (just like Callie in Major and Mynah), Karen also teaches some BSL (British Sign Language) and children can learn how to sign their name etc. Depending on numbers it might also use an art-based activity such as making bookmarks with a secret code written on it.
For more information contact Swansea libraries.
Torfaen Libraries Author Events
Camilla Chester - 17 August - Afternoon
Communication skills are key to STEM learning and in this special workshop author Camilla Chester will call on her newest book - Call Me Lion – to explore our communication skills in a myriad of wonderful ways. Call Me Lion is a story about a friendship between Leo who has a phobia of talking but dreams of performing in The Lion King and Richa, the girl next door. The workshop will explore clues to how people around us are thinking and feeling, the way stories help us understand others, the power of words (eg when letter writing) and dancing (disco and some interesting dancing that explores the science of moving).
Journey into space with Mark Blayney - 23 August - Afternoon
With performance poet and author Mark Blayney, children will create a story set between Jupiter and Saturn, looking back at earth.
Some of the Imagineers are the writers – they think of the story, what the challenges are, what’s exciting, what are the difficulties to be overcome. Some are the illustrators – drawing the voyage, or mapping the route, or drawing the highlights. What does our spacecraft look like, inside and out? How do we deal with no gravity? Some are the engineers – fixing the spaceship, looking up facts and figures, creating a databank. Some are event the actors (depending on the group size)
And this all adds up to an illustrated story to tell as a group and a wonderful learning journey around astronomy, planets and space and, of course, story telling.
For more information contact Torfaen libraries.
Vale of Glamorgan Author Events
Tracy Hammett - 16 August - Morning
Dream up your very own ice-cream creation! Will it taste scrumptiously sweet, zingy and sour or wonderfully wacky and weird? It’s up to you. Join Bob the Dog in her perfect summer job, working in an ice-cream van. Take a trip into the world of taste buds, texture and flavour and create your own fantastical ice-cream sundae recipe.
Journey into space with Mark Blayney - 23 August - Afternoon
With performance poet and author Mark Blayney, children will create a story set between Jupiter and Saturn, looking back at earth.
Some of the Imagineers are the writers – they think of the story, what the challenges are, what’s exciting, what are the difficulties to be overcome. Some are the illustrators – drawing the voyage, or mapping the route, or drawing the highlights. What does our spacecraft look like, inside and out? How do we deal with no gravity? Some are the engineers – fixing the spaceship, looking up facts and figures, creating a databank. Some are event the actors (depending on the group size)
And this all adds up to an illustrated story to tell as a group and a wonderful learning journey around astronomy, planets and space and, of course, story telling.
Holly Rivers - 30 August - Afternoon
Post, pigeons and more! Author of the fabulous Boy in the Post, Holly Rivers, shares the inspiration behind her latest story, the children sent by parcel post in the early 1900 (when parcel post was cheaper than a train ticket) and the animals of her mailbox menagerie (furry and feathered posties known as animails!) including the coolest carrier pigeons who worked magic in wartime. In this special workshop children can explore maps, stamps and new animals to add to the storybook mix.
For more information contact Vale of Glamorgan libraries.
Wrexham Libraries Author Events
James Carter - 09 August - Morning
Once upon a big idea! Have your visitors ever met a mad scientist? James Carter’s the next best thing. Poet, musician and bringing zany science stuff galore to your library for an interactive, creative, live version of his new book Once Upon a Big Idea – the story of inventions. It looks at how all inventing is actually recycling, children’s favourite inventions and offers a chance to create robot poems.
For more information contact Wrexham libraries.
Llyfrgell Pwllheli Library
Drop In Create Welsh Dragon Flag Session
No need to book a place. Suitable for 4 – 12 year.
01/08/22 – 06/08/22
Create a Puppet workshop with ElenCelf
10 child places – please book before hand suitable for 8 – 12 year
Tuesday 02/08/22 10:00 – 11:30
Movement & Story Session for young children.
8 child places - please book beforehand. 7 and under
Thursday 04/08/22 13:00 – 14:00
Creative Lego session using LegoBricQ (bilingual session)
24 child places - please book beforehand 8 - 12 years
Thursday 11/8/22 13:00 – 14:30
Musical Instruments tasting session with Sound Connections
10 child places - please book beforehand suitable up to 7 years old
Friday 12/08/22 10:00 – 11:30
Create Workshop with Sbarduno
20 child places - please book beforehand.
Thursday 18/08/22 11:00 – 12.00 - 4 - 7 years
Thursday 18/08/22 13:00 – 14:00 - 8 - 12 years
Drop In Bookmark Making Day
50 child places - please book beforehand 4 – 12 year
Monday 22/8/22 10:00 – 18:00
Dyffryn Ogwen Bethesda Community Library
Walk with Betsan Brysur
10 family places - please book beforehand suitable up to 7 years old.
Thursday 21/7/22 10:30 - 12:00 - Meet at Bethesda Rugby Club (weather permitting)
Fun activities with Wild Elements
20 child places - please book beforehand. 8 - 12 years
Thursday 04/08/22 10:30 – 12:00
Retro Computer Games taster session
10 child places – please book beforehand 8 – 12 years
Thursday 18/08/22 10:30 - 12:00
Nefyn Library
Walk with Betsan Brysur
Wednesday 20/7/22 10:30 - 12:00 - Meet adjacent to Porthdinllaen Café, Lon Golff, Morfa Nefyn (weather permitting)
10 family places - please book beforehand suitable up to 7 years old.
Penygroes Library
Walk with Betsan Brysur
Thursday 28/07/22 10:30 - 12:00 - Meet at Pant Du, Penygroes (weather permitting)
10 family places - please book beforehand suitable up to 7 years old.
Musical Instruments tasting session with Sound Connections
Wednesday 03/08/22 13:30 - 15:00
10 child places - please book beforehand suitable up to 7 years old
Porthmadog Library
Felting workshop with Crefftau Sioned Hywel.
8 child places - please book beforehand 4 - 7 years
Tuesday 26/07/22 13:00 – 14:30
Musical Instruments tasting session with Sound Connections
10 child places - please book beforehand suitable up to 7 years old
Friday 12/08/22 13:30 – 15:00
Summer Crafts
10 child places - please book beforehand. 4 - 7 year
Monday 15/08/22 14.00 – 15:00
Create Workshop with Sbarduno
20 child places - please book beforehand.
Wednesday 17/08/22 11:00 – 12.00 - 4 - 7 years
Wednesday 17/08/22 13:00 – 14:00 - 8 - 12 years
Movement & Story Session for young children.
8 child places - please book beforehand. 7 and under
Wednesday 24/08/22 13:00 – 14:00
Bangor Library
Junior Creative Lego Session - Tuesday 26 July, 10:30-11:30am
8 child places - please book beforehand. Suitable for 4-7 years.
Musical Instruments tasting session with Sound Connections - Tuesday 2 August, 10:00-11:00am
10 child places - please book beforehand. Suitable for up to 7 years.
Create a Puppet workshop with Elen Celf - Tuesday 9 August, 10:00-11:30am
20 child places - please book beforehand. Suitable for 8-12 years.
Create Workshop with Sbarduno - Tuesday 16 August, 11:00-12:00 (4-7 years), 13:00-14:00 (8-12 years)
20 child places - please book beforehand.
Creative Lego session using LegoBricq (bilingual session) - Thursday 18 August, 10:00-11.30am
24 child places - please book beforhand. Suitable for 8-12 years.
Creative Comic Strip Session - Thursday 25 August, 14:00-16:00
8 child places - please book beforehand. Suitable for 8-12 years.
Bala Library
Felting workshop with Crefftau Sioned Hywel.
8 child places - please book beforehand 4 - 7 years
Wednesday 20/07/22 10:30 – 12:00
Creative Lego session using LegoBricQ (bilingual session)
24 child places - please book beforehand 8 - 12 years
Tuesday 09/08/22 10:00 – 11:30
Create Workshop with Sbarduno
20 child places - please book beforehand.
Wednesday 10/08/22 11:00 - 12:00 - 4 - 7 years
Wednesday 10/08/22 1:00 - 2:00 - 8 - 12 years
Fun activities with Wild Elements
20 child places - please book beforehand. 8 - 12 years
Wednesday 17/08/22 11:00 – 12:30
Caernarfon Library
Junior Craft session - Monday 01 August 2pm - 3pm
12 child places - Please book beforehand 4 - 7 years
Fun activities with Wild Elements - Thursday 04 August 2pm-3pm
20 child places - please book beforehand. 8 - 12 years
Create Workshop with Sbarduno - Thursday 11 August 11am -12pm & 1pm - 2pm
20 child places - please book beforehand. 11am session for 4 - 7 years. 1pm session for 8-12 years.
Junior Creative Lego session - Tuesday 16 August 10:30 – 11:30
8 child places - Please book beforehand 4 - 7 years
Creative Lego session using LegoBricQ (bilingual session) - Tuesday 16 August 1pm - 2:30pm
24 child places - please book beforehand 8 - 12 years
Create a Puppet workshop with ElenCelf - Thursday 18 August 10am – 11:30
20 child places – please book before hand suitable for 8 – 12 year
Dolgellau Library
Felting workshop with Crefftau Sioned Hywel
8 child places - please book beforehand 4 - 7 years
Wednesday 20/07/22 13:00 – 14:30
Story in the Garden with Betsan Brysur
20 child places - please book beforehand – suitable for children up to 7 years old
Wednesday 03/08/22 10:30 - 12:00
Create Workshop with Sbarduno
20 child places - please book beforehand.
Tuesday 09/08/22 11:00 – 12.00 - 4 - 7 years
Tuesday 09/08/22 13:00 – 14:00 8 - 12 years
Movement & Story Session for young children
8 child places - please book beforehand. 7 and under
Wednesday 10/08/22 13:00 – 14:00
Garden Crafts
10 child places - please book beforehand 4 - 7 years
Monday 15/08/22 14:00 - 15:00
