Children & Young People

Orbit Newsletter

Our Orbit Newsletter contains a full list of school holiday activities. You can download the newest issue here Orbit Newsletter - Summer 2019 For more information contact Barjinder on 4732 7891 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For regular information about school holiday activities please subscribe to the Orbit Newsletter by completing the form below.

Holiday Activities

TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY 9 DECEMBER 2019 – BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL!

Book tickets online at EventBrite

ORBIT READING CHALLENGE

Visit any library branch from Monday 9 December to collect your Orbit Reading Challenge log sheet or download a log sheet here. Read and record 10 books on the log and return it to any library branch for your chance to win a prize. Complete as many reading logs as you can for a greater chance to win. Winners will be announced in the next edition of Orbit.

JOIN US FOR ORBIT READING CHALLENGE PRIZE DRAW 

WHEN:         Wednesday 12 February, 10.15am
WHERE:       Penrith City Library
TICKETS:     FREE 
GUEST:        Rooby Roo will attend and draw our prize winners!

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

MR BAMBOOZLE AND THE MAGICIAN’S EXAM with Mr Bamboozle

Imagine you have a difficult exam. Imagine it's a magic exam and you're just not confident about it. Mr Bamboozle invents some sneaky ways around it. Will it work? Will he find his self-confidence in time? What’s possible when we believe in ourselves? Clever scripting, amazing magic and hilarious physical comedy is sure to delight and enchant 5 to 12 year olds in this interactive show.

WHO:         For the whole family
WHEN:       Wednesday 15 January, 10.30am-11.30am
TICKETS:  $7 per person (children under 2 free). Book tickets for Mr Bamboozle and The Magicians Exam on EventBrite

YOUNG PEOPLE

GREAT PLOTS, GREAT GENRES WRITING WORKSHOP with Penny Reeve

Whether you prefer historical or fantasy, action, romance or mystery, every genre needs a strong plot to hold its story together. Learn how to build exciting plot lines with published author, Penny Reeve.

WHO:         11-15 years old
WHEN:       Thursday 16 January, 1.30pm-3pm
TICKETS:  $20 per student Book tickets for Great Plots, Great Genres Writing Workshop on EventBrite

DRAW MANGA with Madison Martin

From Adventure Time to Astro Boy, explore the art of manga, anime, cartoons and comics in this drawing and design workshop. Learn the techniques used to draw well-known anime and cartoon characters and then create your own manga-inspired characters.

WHO:         9-15 years old
WHEN:       Tuesday 21 January, 1.30pm-3pm
TICKETS:  $14 per student Book tickets for Draw Manga

CHILDREN

THE GINGERBREAD RUN LIBRARY TRAIL at Penrith, St Marys and St Clair library branches

Run, run as fast as you can! Chase the gingerbread man through the library as he tries to find a fun summer activity to enjoy! Pick up a trail sheet at the desk and collect all the gingerbread letter crumbs along the way to receive a special gift.*
WHO:          7+ years old
WHEN:       Saturday 14 December - Saturday 25 January, during library opening hours
TICKETS:   Free - collect a trail sheet at the desk to get started.
*Gifts available only while stocks last.

COLLAGE PUPPETS with Na’ama Atzmon-Simon

Using colourful, fun mixed-media materials, children create a collaged backdrop for their own stick puppet creations. Puppets come to life as they move through their unique, collaged story landscape.
WHO:        6-12 year olds
WHEN:      Tuesday 14 January, 10.30am-12pm
TICKETS:  $15 per child. Book tickets for Collage Puppets on EventBrite

MAKE YOUR MUSIC with Irene Nicola  

Explore rhythms with musical games, experiment with different percussion instruments and discover lots of funny ways to work with music using your body and voice. Irene uses her keyboard to guide the melody and children work together to create fun rhythms and a musical performance piece.
WHO:         7-12 year olds
WHEN:      Thursday 16 January, 10.30am-11.30am 
TICKETS:  $12 per child. Book tickets for Make Your Music on EventBrite

INDIAN JUNGLE DANCE SAFARI with Shyamla Eswaran  

Through story-telling and fun facts, explore the Indian jungle and learn how to move and dance like wild elephants, tigers, cheeky macaques, peacocks and deadly king cobras on a movement adventure. Packed with puppets, props and music, it promises to be great fun for boys and girls alike!
WHO:          6-12 year olds
WHEN:       Tuesday 21 January, 10.30am-11.30am
TICKETS:   $12 per child. Book tickets for Indian Jungle Dance Safari on EventBrite

UNDER THE SEA WILDLIFE with Rangers on the Run  

Learn about the incredible animals who call the ocean their home. Hold live sea animals, examine specimen samples, and discover a large variety of marine artefacts and shells. A totally interactive show allowing every participant to hold and touch a large range of marine animals.
WHO:          6-12 year olds
WHEN:       Wednesday 22 January, 10.30am-11.30am
TICKETS:   $12 per child. Book tickets for Under The Sea Wildlife on EventBrite

Term 1 Activities

TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY 9 DECEMBER 2019 – BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL!

Book tickets online at EventBrite

YOUNG PEOPLE

TEEN BOOK CLUB at Penrith City Library

Share your love for reading at our monthly teen book club. Books are based on a different theme chosen by book club members each month. Limited numbers and bookings are essential. For more information contact Children’s Team on 4732 7891 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WHO:           12-16 year olds
WHEN:         Last Tuesdays of the month - 28 January, 25 February, 4.30-5.30pm
TICKETS:     FREE – but bookings essential! Call 4732 7891 to register interest

CHILDREN

YOGA FUN FOR KIDS with Kids Yoga Education

Jump into a fun yoga adventure with kids yoga specialist, Suzanne Ellis. Get moving, learn how to stretch, flex, and shape your body with great yoga poses like Lion, Mountain, Eagle, Tree, Boat and Dragon. Active and physical fun for boys and girls. Great for beginners or kids with some yoga experience!

WHO: 7-13 year olds
WHEN: Thursdays, 4.15pm-5.15pm (13 February - 2 April 2020)
TICKETS: $85 per student for an 8 week term. Book tickets for Yoga Fun For Kids on EventBrite

Story Time

Story Time for preschoolers is the ideal way to nurture young children's love of stories and reading skills. It runs during school terms at Penrith, St Marys and St Clair Libraries. Sessions consist of theme-based, social activities including singing, listening to stories and doing art and craft.

Penrith: Wednesdays 10.30 - 11.30am 
St Marys: Tuesdays 10.30 - 11.30am 
St Clair: Thursdays 10.30 - 11.30am 

Storytime Term 1 themes

Don’t miss Rooby Roo visiting Story Time in term 1 on 11, 12, 13 February 2020  Arrive at 10.20am to take your own photo with Rooby Roo!

Last sessions for 2019 – 3, 4, 5 December 2019
First sessions for 2020 – 11, 12, 13 February 2020

Specialised Story Time: Little Seekers Session

New - Specialised Story Time!
Suitable for children aged 2-5 years old with social/sensory issues.
For more information, contact Michelle. Ph: 4732 7426
PENRITH      First Friday of every month, 10.30am-11.30am
First session for 2020 – 7 February 2020
TICKETS:      FREE – Limited places. Booking essential.

Baby Time

Baby Time sessions include songs, games and activities to share with your baby. Guest speakers talk on interesting topics once a month.

Penrith: Mondays 10.30 - 11.30am

Last session for 2019 – 2 December 2019
First session for 2020 – 10 February 2020

Toy Library

Our toy library includes study toys for under 8s and a range of family board games. There are baby toys, construction sets, puzzles, vehicles, food, animal and house play sets. 
Toy Library does not run during school holidays. 
Find a session at a branch near you:

• Penrith: Wednesday 10am-Noon and Saturday 10am-Noon
• St Marys: Tuesdays 10am - Noon and Saturday 10am - Noon  
• St Clair: Thursday 10am-Noon and Saturday 10am-Noon. 
• Apply to become a toy library volunteer.

Toy library conditions of use:

• If you bring a child to a toy library session be sure to supervise and accompany them at all times.
• Toys in the cupboards are for browsing and borrowing. Toys are made available for play during Toy Library sessions.
• Care for the toys and return them in a clean condition.
• Return damaged toys and parts as toys are repaired wherever possible.
• A replacement cost may be charged for lost toys when negligence results in damaged toys.
• The library is not liable for damage/injury resulting from borrowed toys.

Toy Library Outreach Service

We specialise in providing toys for children with disabilities and high support needs. Featuring switch-adapted, sensory and educational toys, children will delight in making them function through lighting up, playing sounds and movement. Through hands-on play, they can build valuable problem-solving, coordination, reasoning, numeracy, literacy and fine motor skills.

A specialised outreach service is available, with the Library Children’s Inclusion Officer providing home visits for families living in the Penrith area or one-on-one borrowing sessions by appointment and opportunities for extended loan periods. Referrals are required to access this service. 

For details on the referral process for the Toy Library Outreach Service This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 0418 664 879. 

Fox Tales

‘Fox Tales’ was developed by the DIG Creative Maker Space Program, a creative and professional development program for Greater Western Sydney digital artists/designers within their first 5 years of professional practice. Penrith Library sponsored the 2nd DiG project which was completed in late 2018, to encourage teens to visit our library and use our collections: visit penrith.city/foxtales

Studiosity

Studiosity is an online service providing live homework and study help for years 3-12.

Go to Studiosity and log on from home with your Penrith City Library card. Membership is free for all students living or going to school in the Penrith Local Government Area. Studiosity provides one-to-one academic support in English, Maths, Science, assignment research, and study skills.

Tutors are online Sunday to Friday between 3pm and 10pm.

View the Library Catalogue