To celebrate the National Year of Reading, Alibi and St Thomas Library are joining forces to transform our space into a wonderland of stories and creativity this February half-term!
Come along to our drop-in story space for a week of free and low-cost activities for children of all ages. Emmanuel Hall will transform into a giant library, complete with cosy reading corners, creative play spaces and a café. Enjoy daily morning story times, arts and crafts sessions, an exciting treasure hunt and more! Relax with a coffee and your sweet treat of choice, as little ones explore our inviting library space.
Mon 16th – Sat 21st February
Open daily from 10am – 4pm
All activities FREE unless otherwise stated
Schedule
Daily
Café, play spaces, origami making, crafting and reading corners
10am – 4pm
Morning Storytime
11am
Monday 16th Feb
Storytelling and activities with Books from Herbie
Making Someone Feel Welcome: Inspired by My Name Is Not Refugee by Kate Milner
A gentle, story-led workshop for under-7s and their families, exploring kindness, welcome and what it means to belong.
Through storytime, simple discussion and creative play, children are encouraged to reflect on what helps us feel safe, valued and welcomed, especially when arriving somewhere new.
10am – 4pm
Manga Workshop with Keith Sparrow
10:30am – 12pm; 2pm – 3:30pm
Ages 8+
Join manga artist and writer Keith Sparrow for a fun, easy-to-follow manga workshop, and unleash your inner mangaka!
Tickets £7, available here
Tuesday 17th Feb
Drama Workshop: Agent Alibi The Book Detective
10:30am – 12pm
Pay What You Can (suggested price £7), ages 8+
Agent Alibi has been called in to Emmanuel Hall because all of the books in St Thomas Library have gone missing! As a book detective, Agent Alibi is an expert in all book-related problems but has never encountered a mystery on this scale before, so will need the help of some trainee book detectives.
Wednesday 18th Feb
On–the–spot poem writing with Harula Ladd
11am – 3:30pm
Have a free poem written just for you! Just give Harula a topic and in three minutes you’ll have a unique poem typed out for you to take away.
St Thomas Library presents: Woven in Nature workshop
10am –12:30pm
Tickets £2, available here, ages 4+
Join local artist Megan Dowsett to make string (or ‘cord’) from stinging nettles, draw with charcoal and weave your own hanging decorations
Thursday 19th Feb
Bookbag presents: Writing Poetry Workshop with Sirisha Damarla
10.30am
Pay What You Can (suggested price £7), ages 10+
Join poet Sirisha Damarla at a creative session for anyone who enjoys writing! Explore what makes a poem work, with tips and prompts to help you develop your own, and then create your own
Drop-in children’s gardening with Zero Mile Gardens
1:30pm – 4pm
Plant herbs and sow your first seeds of the season to take home! All materials, tools and gloves will be provided.
Bookbag presents: Drop-in Poetry Session
2pm, open to all ages
Join Sirisha for an informal, drop-in poetry session. Get feedback or guidance, try your hand at writing, or share a favourite poem with others.
Friday 20th feb
Big Dreams: interactive songs and storytelling with Laura Loft
11am – 11:45am, ages 6+
Saturday 21st Feb
Origami Workshop with CreArts Lab
10:30am – 12pm
Pay What You Can (suggested price £7), available here, ages 8+
Join us for a fun children’s origami workshop inspired by the magic of books! Participants will transform a single flat sheet of paper into three-dimensional origami forms, inspired by the main characters and themes of favourite stories.