First 5 Forever, Babies & Toddlers
Come and meet our local authors: Jay Bird and Shelly Fussell
Join us for a special storytime with Shelly Fussell introducing her new book “Polly’s perilous journey”. Jay Bird will be sharing parts of her new book “Egg in your Pants” and offering writing workshops. Bookings essential.
School holiday fun sessions
Sessions being held at Howard and Tiaro Libraries and Urangan Pier Park Hervey Bay. No bookings required.
School Holiday Fun with Matt Shanks
Matt Shanks is an internationally – published and critically acclaimed author and illustrator of over twenty picture books. Matt is joining us over the school holidays for a range of different sessions including Storytimes, Author talks and drawing workshops. Bookings are essential for all attendees.
Rattle & Rhyme at Bunnings, Hervey Bay
Bring your bub to Bunnings for this family literacy activity for children under two years of age and their parents or carers. This is a free event in the area near the Playground and Café. This is a free event with no bookings required on the second Wednesday of the month at 10.30am
Pop-Ups at Bunnings Maryborough
Bring your little one to Bunnings in Maryborough for this family literacy activity for children under 5 and their parents or carers. This is a free event held in the DIY section. No bookings are required and will be held on the second Friday of the month. Storytime at 10.30am.
Pop Ups – Various locations:
Come and join us for stories, rhymes, music and movement for children under 5 years. Please bring you own blanket, hat and sunscreen. If weather conditions are unfavourable, sessions may be cancelled. These are free events with no bookings required.
Fraser Coast Playtime Passport
Get out and about with your children aged five and under and explore the Fraser Coast with our First 5 Forever Playtime Passport. Our Playtime Passport is filled with activities to inspire families to talk, read, sing and play around the region’s fantastic beaches, parks, gardens, galleries, attractions and library branches.
Download and print the entire passport or just the accompanying Activities Sheets to collect stickers, from your nearest Fraser Coast Libraries branch, when you complete an activity. After you have finished all of the activities, you can show your completed passport or Activities Sheets to a staff member and collect a free book!
The passport has been produced by Fraser Coast Libraries with the support of First 5 Forever, which is an initiative of the Queensland Government, coordinated by State Library of Queensland and delivered in partnership with local government.
Playtime Passport Activity Sheets
Rattle and Rhyme at the Pier
This is a family literacy activity for children under two years of age and their parents or carers. This is a free event in the fresh air so come along and join us for a fun, interactive, 20-minute session full of stories, rhymes and finger plays. Learn those old traditional songs and some new ones too. BYO own blanket. No bookings required.
Rattle & Rhyme
This is a family literacy activity for children under two years of age and their parents or carers. Join us for a fun, interactive, 20-minute session full of stories, rhymes and finger plays. Learn those old traditional songs and some new ones too. BYO own blanket.
DURING SCHOOL TERM ONLY
Please be mindful of others and cancel if unable to attend.
Under 5 Time
Join us for a fun-filled session including stories, rhymes, music and movement for children five years and under. Bookings essential through Eventbrite. One ticket will accommodate up to five attendees.
This is a fun way to encourage language and listening skills; promote attention and curiosity; and develop your child's manual ability and creativity.
The First 5 Forever program aims to provide strong early literacy foundations for all children up to five years by directly supporting parents and primary caregivers as their child’s most important educator.
Up to 90% of a child’s brain development happens in the first five years. The more you talk, read, sing and play with your child, the more their brain responds.
A great start in life
A great start in life starts with you. In the first years of life, your child’s brain develops faster than at any other stage. During this time, the simple things you do together each day can have an enormous impact.
Talk, read, sing and play
Sharing stories, rhymes, singing, talking and playing with your child from birth builds a foundation for your child’s future development that can last a lifetime.
For more ideas and resources visit First 5 Forever (slq.qld.gov.au) and First 5 Forever Facebook page.
First 5 forever at Fraser Coast Libraries
Fraser Coast Libraries offers a range of activities for under fives.
Stories for Little Queenslanders
Spark your child's love of reading with State Library of Queensland’s new series of picture books which are exclusive to First 5 Forever. Follow this link to download or listen to each book.
Escape Room Challenges
Why not try our escape room challenges based on the Little Queenslander Titles?
- Is this your egg? by Ella Kris
- In the Deep End by Charlie Thomson
- Hotel for Bees by Alison McLennan
- Shoosh! by Simon Howe
- The Cow that swam out to Sea by Pamela Rushby
- Koala’s like to… by Shae Millward
- The little Queenslanders’ alphabet book by Sally Scudamore
- Travel the World with Sam
- National Simultaneous Storytime - Give me some Space! by Philip Bunting
- One Remarkable Reef by Kellie Byrnes
- Up and Down on a Rainy Day by Kathryn Apel
- My People by Billie-Jean Taylor
- Once, I Munched a Mango by Samantha Wheeler
Engage with our videos on YouTube and visit one of Fraser Coast Libraries' branches to collect a free, take-home pack with loads of fun playtime and STEAM activities that you can do at home.
First 5 Forever, Under 5s Playlist