Library Adventures Live!
Library Adventures Live! is a magnificent online programme of events for children aged 4 – 11 to reengage them with reading. Children can watch and join in with their families at home, teachers can use the sessions with children in school or may even use the sessions to support home schooling. The fun adventures are designed to encourage reading for pleasure and stimulate creativity. From storytelling, draw alongs, poetry and creative activities to do at home, there’s something for everyone. The diverse programme will include sessions designed to engage reluctant readers, playful activities for younger children and updates on what’s trending in children’s fiction.
Watch the regular monthly Tuesday sessions live at 11am on the Kirklees Libraries YouTube, Facebook or Twitter channels, or watch them later on catch up. You can get involved by sending in your questions live via social media whilst the sessions are on, or e-mailing questions to us in advance at lal@kirklees.gov.uk.
Don’t forget to keep checking this page and our social media for details of extra special LAL!+ events on different days and times.
Watch our LAL! trailer here
New adventures – coming soon |
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Sue Cheung |
Tuesday 17th May 2022 |
Maddie Yip’s Guide to Life A madcap new story from Sue Cheung, winner of the Diverse Book Award, filled with belly-laughs and packed with drawings! Age 8+
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Caryl Hart |
Tuesday 24th May 2022 |
Caryl Hart sharing her delightful picture book Thank You for the Little Things with themes of well-being, mindfulness and family. Age 4-7. |
Peter Bently & Claire Powell |
Friday 3rd June 2022 |
Family Jubilee fun with The Royal Leapfrog and The King’s Birthday Suit |
Annemarie Anang |
Tuesday 7th June 2022 |
Annemarie Anang will be discussing her musical extravaganza of a book: I Am Nefertiti. This heartwarming, joyous, empowering story of identity and belonging is perfect for children aged 4-7. |
Yurong |
Thursday 9th June 2022 |
We’ve an extra special LAL! event to celebrate Empathy Day. The acclaimed British-Chinese children’s picture book illustrator Yu Rong will be sharing her Greenaway shortlisted picture book Shu Lin’s Grandpa and guiding the audience through a creative artistic challenge. Age 7+. |
Tarah L. Gear |
Tuesday 14th June 2022 |
Tarah L Gear will be appearing on Library Adventues Live! fresh from the launch of her engaging new picture book. Just Like Grandpa Jazz explores themes of intergenerational relationships, race and dual heritage. Age 4-7. |
Phil Earle |
Thursday 23rd June 2022 |
The heroic Phil Earle, one of the most talented and unique voices in children’s literature will be introducing his eagerly anticipated new novel While the Storm Rages. “A truly brilliant story of courage and resilience and exceptional animals. This wartime Incredible Journey (only far, far better) is definitely Phil Earle’s best yet” — Emma Carroll This follows on from the phenomenal success of When the Sky Falls which was named the Times’ Best Children’s Book of 2021 and is shortlisted for the Carnegie medal. Age 8+
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Catch up on past adventures:
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Adam Murphy |
Tuesday 5 April 2022 |
Corpse Talk: Ground-Breaking Explorers. Award-winning graphic novel non-fiction co-created with Lisa Murphy. Age 9+ |
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Jake Hope/Genevieve Aspinall |
Tuesday 22 March 2022 |
Cheesed Off! It’s time for a P-A-R-T-Y with this playful and interactive picture book suitable for early years children.
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Pooja Puri |
World Book Day Thursday 3 March, 11am |
Meet the author of the laugh out loud A Dinosaur Ate My Sister (the first book selected for the Marcus Rashford book club) and find out more about her latest book, A Robot Squashed My Sister . Age 7+ | ||
Clare Helen Welsh and Laura Barrett |
Tuesday 1st February |
Scissorella A sumptuous picture book based on the life of German artist and pioneer of silhouette animation, Lotte Reiniger. Early years, infants and up. |
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Melvin Burgess |
Tuesday 25th Jan |
Count A surreal, anarchic story that explores modern attitudes towards fame, fortune and education. One of the best writers in contemporary children’s literature. Age 7+ |
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Julia Sarda
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Tuesday 18th Jan, 11am |
The Queen In The Cave Julia will be discussing her illustration techniques and how after illustrating many books for other authors, she has now written and illustrated a book solo. |
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| Konnie Huq | Tuesday 30th November, 11am | Get ready to meet Cookie – funny, science-obsessed and ready to take on the world! With live draw-alongs, brainbusting quizzes and games galore – prepare for non-stop comedy fun. | ||
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11am, 16 November 2021 | The Chime Seekers – immersive middle grade adventure fantasy | ||
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3pm, 26 October 2021 |
LAL+ Hallowe’en event The Bewitching of Aveline Jones – book two in the Aveline Jones series. |
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1pm, 5 October 2021
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LAL!+ Libraries Week event. Roar Like a Lion – non-fiction by the author of My Life as a Cat and I, Cosmo. Animals, the environment and empowering children
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11am, 5th October 2021
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Join Laura Dockrill sharing her amazing book The Dream House. | ||
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Ross Montgomery & Sarah Warburton
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11am, 21 September 2021 |
Back-to-School fun – Ten Delicious Teachers |
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Philip Ardagh |
11am, 17th August 2021 |
Join our BIGGEST LAL! favourite, the awesome Philip Ardagh for a hilarious event featuring his picture book Bunnies on the Bus. Remember your pencil and paper for a bunny draw a long too! | ||
Darren Simpson |
11am, 10th August 2021 |
What you don’t remember can’t hurt you… The immersive thriller, The Memory Thieves
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Laura Mucha and Hannah Peck |
11am, 3rd August 2021 |
Rita’s Rabbit – themes of identity and friendship | ||
Helen and Thomas Docherty |
11am, 27th July 2021 |
The Screen Thief picture book launch | ||
Clare Weze |
11am, 20th July 2021 |
The Lightning Catcher Climate change and the environment with themes of friendship and family. |
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Ewa Jozefkowicz |
11am 13th July 2021 |
The Cooking Club Detectives The fourth middle-grade book from Waterstones-shortlisted author Ewa Jozefkowicz about family, friendship and self-discovery, touching on themes of food poverty and online bullying. 9 years and up. |
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AM Howell |
11am 6th July 2021 |
The Mystery of the Night Watchers From the award-winning author of The Garden of Lost Secrets and The House of One Hundred Clocks, A.M. Howell, comes a gripping new adventure filled with buried secrets and dark lies, set against the evocative backdrop of the Edwardian era. 9 – 12 years |
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Happy 1st Birthday LAL! |
11am, 14th July 2021 |
Join in the Birthday Celebrations for LAL’s 1st Birthday with super special guests ace space poet Dom Conlon and guest Librarian Alison plus silly hats and Conrad Burdekin’s ‘Caitlin Cakey Pants’ poem! |
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Rashmi Sirdeshpande |
11am, 29 June 2021 |
Good News
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Alex Wharton |
11am, 22 June 2021 |
Daydreams and Jellybeans. A celebration of life, love and diversity Performance poetry and creative writing |
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Jo Loring Fisher |
11am, 15 June 2021 |
Just Like You: Jo’s beautiful picture book uses simple language and imagery to remind us that we are all inherently the same and to promote empathy towards others…a perfect book for Refugee Week. |
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M.G. Leonard |
11am, 8 June 2021 |
Twitch – publishes 3 June. Regional setting (Calder Valley), with themes of friendship and the environment. Combines a love of birding with an engaging crime/mystery element. |
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Caryl Hart and Bethan Woollvin |
11am, 1st June 2021 |
Meet the Oceans Conservation and protecting our oceans |
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Natasha Farrant |
11am, 25th May 2021 |
Voyage of the Sparrowhawk event- winner of the 2021 Costa Children’s Book Award |
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LAL+ Greenaway Shadowing with Sharon King-Chai |
10am, Wednesday 19th May 2021 |
Greenaway award shortlisted illustrator Sharon King-Chai talks about her beautiful, innovative picture book Starbird and treats us to a reading of it. Discover her artistic style and inspirations before being guided through a creative artistic challenge. |
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John Agard and Piet Grobler |
11am, 18th May 2021 |
Coyote’s Soundbite: A Poem for Our Planet Join us for a special perfomance from one of Britain’s foremost cross-cultural voices, John Agard. We are delighted that inventive illustrator Piet Grobler will also be with us, live from Portugal.
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LAL+ Eid Special with Sarah Shaffi
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11am, Thursday 13th May 2021
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All About Eid – a celebratory event of Eid ul Fitr (12 – 13 May), with activity fun galore! | ||
Eve Ainsworth |
11am, 11 May 2021 |
Acclaimed author Eve Ainsworth will be talking about Lost and Magpie and how to write about the issues that matter to you. Most suitable for 9+.
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Suzanna Hubbard |
11am, 4 May 2021 |
The Problem with Pierre – draw-along, themes of friendship, family, belonging, home and alternative lifestyles. Draw-along and character development.
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Lesley Parr |
11am, 27 April 2021 |
The Valley of Lost Secrets, Lesley Parr’s first novel, was released in January 2021. It was immediately picked as Waterstones’ Children’s Book of the Month and has received rave reviews ever since. Aimed at the 9-12 age range, this debut children’s novel centres on a lonely evacuee and a spooky discovery in a Welsh village in September 1939.
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Jo Loring-Fisher |
11am, 20th April 2021 |
Wolf Girl Picture book with a magical, environmental theme to compliment Earth Day. Jo shares the book, shows how to draw one of the characters and answers your questions. | ||
Jenny Pearson |
11am, 13 April 2021 |
The Incredible Record Smashers : Friendship and action in this brand new funny, pacy novel along with a brilliant record breaking quiz. |
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Reading for Pleasure with Venessa Taylor |
11am, 6 April 2021 |
Venessa Taylor is the author behind new junior reader series, All Cultures United: Baller Boys. Aimed at encouraging young boys to find pleasure in reading, the football-themed stories are written with young readers in mind. |
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Draw along with DanielGray-Barnett |
11am, 30 March 2021 |
Draw along with the award-winning illustrator of the heart-warming picture book, The Pocket Chaotic. |
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Friendship and Families with Sarah Hagger-Holt |
11am, 23 March 2021 |
Join Sarah Hagger-Holt, author of Nothing Ever Happens Here and Proud of Me as she discusses family dramas both on the page and off. |
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Runaway Food with Stephen Waterhouse |
11am, 16 March 2021
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Stephen Waterhouse talks about life as an author/illustrator, reads his fun picture book The Runaway Chapati and shows us how to draw our own characters. |
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Laughter and Well-Being with Simon James Green and Helen Rutter |
11am, 9 March 2021 |
Funny fiction with Simon James Green and Helen Rutter, a World Book Day tie-in event (4 March 2021) |
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LAL! + Rappaman |
2pm, 4th March 2021 |
Celebrating World Book Day with local poet and Rap artist Rappaman aka Donavan Christopher with poems and fun. |
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Onjali Q. Rauf |
11am, 2 March 2021 |
The Night Bus Hero – themes of inclusion, bullying, homelessness – World Book Day tie-in event (4th March) |
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Jack Meggitt-Phillips
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11am, 23 February 2021
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Exciting new talent Jack Meggitt-Phillips hosts a “beastly” quiz and reads exerpts from his hilarious illustrated historical fantasy fiction novel, The Beast and The Bethany. |
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| LAL+ Paul Harfleet | 10am, Wednesday 24th February 2021 |
Paul Harfleet introduces us to his book Pansy Boy and explains the project behind it. He also does a draw along…of bird song! |
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| Sandhya Prabhat | 3pm, 16 February 2021 |
I Am Brown – storytelling and draw-along with themes of cultural diversity and identity |
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Kim Hillyard |
11am, 9 February 2021
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A story of kindness with the author and illustrator of the picture books Mabel and the Mountain and Ned and the Great Garden Hamster. |
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Hannah Lee |
11am, 2 February 2021 | Hannah Lee reads her delightful picture book My Hair. Boost your mood in this fun, fantastic, inspirational session with themes of identity and empowerment. | ||
Sophie Anderson |
11am, 26 January 2021 | Sophie Anderson takes us through a magic portal to explore her latest fairy-tale adventure, The Castle of Tangled Magic. | ||
Jon Mayhew |
11am, 19 January 2021 | Meet brilliant author Jon Mayhew and find out more about his brand new book, The Spybrarian. | ||
Jo Loring-Fisher |
11am, 12 January 2021 | Taking Time with author/illustrator Jo Loring-Fisher. Storytime and draw along. | ||
Salma Zaman |
11am, 5 January 2021 |
Bollywood Read and Dance with Salma Zaman. Salma reads her picture book Bollywood Princess followed by dancing and chapati making.
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Robin Simpson |
11am, 29 December 2020 | Pantomime Special with Dame Dorothy Trott (Robin Simpson, the Lawrence Batley Theatre’s favourite dame). | ||
Katherine Orton |
11am, 22 December 2020 | An enchanting magical adventure with Katharine Orton, author of Nevertell and Glassheart. Discover the inspiration behind Glassheart, including her grandparents’ war stories and her tips for writing spooky stories. | ||
David Litchfield |
11am, 15 December 2020 | Musical storytelling with David Litchfield, author and illustrator of The Bear and the Piano series of picture books. | ||
Katie and Kevin Tsang |
11am, 8 December 2020 |
Sam Wu series (six-novel series) – latest is Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Space. Building empathy, emotional resilience; promotes cultural diversity
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Nick Sharratt and Katrina Charman |
11am, 1 December 2020 |
Go, Go, Pirate Boat! (shortlisted for the 2020 Booktrust Storytime Prize); also The Whales on the Bus, both authored with Katrina Charman. | ||
Sarah Morrell |
11am, 24 November 2020 |
Join children’s author Sarah Morrell who will take you on an exciting adventure with her latest book, ‘Molly’s Magic Brolly. | ||
Nikki Young |
11am, 17 November 2020 |
Time School series – First World War, post Second World war refugee experience (with time travel thrown in) | ||
Matt Goodfellow |
11am, 3 November 2020 |
Bright Bursts of Colour – a poetic adventure with Matt Goodfellow | ||
Jenni Jennings |
11am, 30 October 2020 | Malice in Underland – gothic debut; Hallowe’en theme | ||
Catherine Fisher |
11am, 27 October 2020 | Author of the Incarceron series; also steampunk fantasy series (The Clockwork Crow, The Velvet Fox, The Midnight Swan) | ||
Ross MacKenzie |
11am, 20 October 2020 | Evernight. Fantasy/adventure: | ||
Nadine Kaadan |
11am, 13 October 2020 |
Tomorrow – 2019 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal nominated picture book about children living with wartime conditions, inspired by the Syrian conflict. | ||
Testament |
11am, 6 October 2020 |
Rap- performance/workshop | ||
Dom Conlon & Conrad Burdekin |
11am, 29 September 2020 |
Space-themed poetry workshop (This Rock, That Rock; Space Café) | ||
Anthea Simmons |
11am, 22 September 2020 |
Lighting Mary – fictionalised biography of Mary Anning (paleontology, fossil hunting, dinosaurs) | ||
Derek Keilty |
11am, 15 September 2020 |
Pirate-themed storytelling and creative writing. | ||
Tasneem Kauser |
11am, 8 September 2020 | Draw Along with local artist and Manga illustrator | ||
Ross Montgomery |
11am, 1 September 2020 |
Imagination, fascinating facts and plenty of jokes | ||
Simon James Green & Garry Parsons |
11am, 27 August 2020 |
Special Llama Glamarama festival event and draw-along | ||
Jack Noel |
11am, 25 August 2020 |
Draw Along | ||
Rappaman: Donavan Christopher |
11am, 18 August 2020 |
Local poet and rap artist | ||
Josh Lacey |
11am, 11 August 2020 |
Encouraging a love of reading and writing | ||
Emma Rea |
11am, 4 August 2020 |
Environmental concerns and reading | ||
Matt Oldfield and Tom Palmer |
11am, 28 July 2020 |
Football and reading | ||
Rebecca Patterson |
11am, 21 July 2020 |
Activity with a dressing up robot theme | ||
Joseph Coelho |
11am, 14 July 2020 |
Performance poetry |