Myah and Lavara are back with another concert during these school holidays.
Samantha Tibbs is the library’s children’s learning librarian
OPINION
Who doesn’t love a musical? While some of us grown-ups might call them cheesy, for children, they are storytelling magic.
Music and storytelling are so intertwined, evoking emotions and creating connections to stories and characters long after the show is over.
Dorothy’s sense of yearning in Somewhere Over the Rainbow or Ariel’s Part of Your World were both hugely evocative for me as a young child dealing with a big move away from my extended family from the South Island to the North.
As kids, I think we could all relate to a young Simba wanting to grow up and make his own rules, singing I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.
Children’s musicals have been wildly successful in more recent years, with Elsa’s Let It Go an anthem of relinquishing expectations, or Moana finding her place in the world with How Far I’ll Go.
Of course, there are always a couple of comedic characters and catchy tunes to relieve some of the tension, while vibrant colours and captivating stories create an enchanting world that ignites the imagination.
We’re celebrating musicals and their contribution to storytelling during these school holidays. Myah and Lavara are back with another concert, and this time we are excited to present their musical magic at all three library locations.
It’s a tale as old as time ... so twirl into the library and let it go for an enchanting show that will have you singing along! There are also plenty of musicals to be found in our children’s DVD collection, and there is an excellent selection of musical albums to listen to for free with your library card on the Hoopla app.
Coming up in October, we are also very excited to present Loopy Tunes. This dynamic and talented duo from Christchurch loves creating great music for the tamariki of Aotearoa that not only supports the use of te reo Māori and other Pacific languages but is also great to dance to.
Leah and Siu have not only released a Rainbow Book Collection of bilingual Māori children’s picture books, but they are also the creators of Pasifika Beatz - 10 albums in 10 different Pacific Island languages, sponsored by the Ministry of Pacific Peoples. Most recently, they collaborated with Suzy Cato on Kōwhai: Kōrero Mai - a bilingual EP for young tamariki, with songs we love to use at Story Time. We can’t wait to share their tunes and energetic show at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō.
Top 10 books
What’s new in Young Adult Non-Fiction:
The 21: the true story of the youth who sued the US government over climate change by Elizabeth Rusch
The woman in the moon: how Margaret Hamilton helped fly the first astronauts to the moon by Richard Maurer
Better than we found it: Conversations to help save the world by Frederick Joseph
Not Here to Make You Comfortable by Penguin Random House Australia
The philosophy book by Dorling Kindersley Limited
Punching bag by Rex Ogle
See it, dream it, do it: How 25 people just like you found their dream jobs by Colleen Nelson
Great minds by Joan Haig
Why the world isn’t fair by Yuval Harari
100 things to know about architecture by Louise O’Brien
Exhibitions:
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō Gallery Presents: From Struggle to Strength – Portraits & Stories of Refugee Students – September 4 to October 30 2024.
From Struggle to Strength highlights the journeys of six former-refugee college students from Colombia now living in Levin, New Zealand. Curated by Mariana Waculicz with the Ministry of Education, this exhibition features powerful photography and personal stories of resilience and growth. Discover how education has shaped their paths and gain insight into the challenges faced by refugee students. Special thanks to The Big Picture for their support in printing this exhibition. Learn more about the curator at eyelandphotography.com.
Te Awahou Nuiewe Stroom Māpuna Kabinet Gallery: Te Kuranui a Matariki Matariki exhibition – October 1 to October 31 2024.
Te Taitoa Māori o Te Awahou Trust invites you to Te Kuranui a Matariki at Māpuna Kabinet Gallery. This exhibition features stunning carved artworks from stone, pounamu, whalebone, and native woods, celebrating Matariki and her six children. Curated by Master Carver Heemi Te Peeti, it showcases the talents of his students. Join us Thursdays for a live workshop as artists carve new taonga. Free entry until the end of October.
What’s On
Heritage room:
Volunteers staff the Heritage rooms at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō Tuesday to Friday at the following times:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 10am-12.30pm
Thursday, 12.30pm-3pm
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom Heritage Room has the Research librarian available all day every Friday.
Friday, October 4:
Spring School Holiday Programme: Whanau Film, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10.30am-12pm,
Lego Masters, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 10.30am-12pm
Big Kids Quiz, Shannon Library, 1.30pm-3.30pm
Friday Live Concert, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 12pm-1pm
Jim Redmond Crib Club, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 1pm-3pm
SeniorNet, Get help with your tablets, phones and laptops
Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 10am-12pm
Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 2pm-3pm
Saturday, October 5:
WOW Bus Trip, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō to Wellington, 9.30am
Shannon Library, Open 10am – 12pm
Monday, October 7:
Meet Street, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10am-11am
Spring School Holiday Programme: Outdoor Chalk, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10.30am-12pm,
Outdoor Chalk, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 10.30am-12pm
Lego Masters, Shannon Library, 1.30pm-3.30pm Volunteer Central, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10am-12pm
H.U.G Horowhenua Ukulele Group, Main Space, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 11am-12pm
Simply Meditation, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 12pm-1pm, koha
Tuesday, October 8:
Children’s Art Workshop, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 10am-12pm, free
Spring School Holiday Programme: Robot Battle, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10.30am-12pm
Myah & Lavara Concert, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 10.30am
Myah & Lavara Concert, Shannon Library, 2pm
Justice of the Peace, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 11.30am-1.30pm
Really Alive Poets, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 12pm-1pm
500 Card Group, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 1pm-3pm, $2
Wednesday, October 9:
Children’s Art Workshop, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 10am – 12pm, free
Spring School Holiday Programme: Watercolour, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10.30am-12pm
Watercolour, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 10.30am-12pm
Clay, Lego, Watercolour, Shannon Library, 1.30pm-3.30pm
Volunteer Central, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10am-12pm
Crochet & Coffee Club, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10.30am
Better Digital Futures: Social Networking, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 1pm-3pm
Pop Up Eats Horowhenua, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō Carpark, 5pm-8pm
Quiz Night, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 7pm-9pm, $5
Thursday, October 10:
Digital Drop In Session, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 10am-12pm
Children’s Art Workshop, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 10am-12pm, free
Spring School Holiday Programme: Myah & Lavara Concert, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 10.30am
Windmill Crafts, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 10.30am-12pm
Clay, Lego, Watercolour, Shannon Library, 1.30pm-3.30pm
500 Card Group, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 1pm-3pm, $2
Digital Learning: Staying Safe Online, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, 1.30pm-3.30pm