Rochdale libraries love a fairy tale ending

Child reading

Once upon a time… children and their parents were invited to a special teddy bears’ picnic.

In celebration of National Bookstart Week taking place 23 -30 June 2013, the borough’s tots and their favourite teddies will be treated to a storytime full of magical fairy tales.

Families are encouraged to bring their own picnics and enjoy the story and rhyme times, creative activities and games on offer. Ride the model railway and board the Playbus. And this year, thanks to the support of publisher, Child's Play, copies of the classic Ugly Duckling story, beautifully illustrated by Masumi Furukawa, will be given away.

Peter Williams, cabinet member for economic development and customer services (including libraries) said: “Listening to and reading fairy tales to your child is very important in developing and stimulating their imagination and creativity.

“Our libraries offer a wide variety of regular interactive storytime sessions where experienced and passionate staff bring books to life. In National Bookstart Week we hope to encourage more parents and children to appreciate the benefits of reading and the pleasure of a good book.

“In the words of Albert Einstein, if you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”

If you go down to the woods, or Springfield Park on Thursday 27 June between 12pm-2.30pm , you’re sure to be in for a surprise. An action packed fun day has been prepared by the Rochdale Borough Council’s library services and Sure Start children’s centres.