Maidenhead & Windsor

There's a right Royal week on the cards at Maidenhead Royal Borough libraries in the run-up to the Queen's official 80th birthday on June 17.

Young readers are being urged to celebrate Her Majesty's milestone birthday with a week of literary fun for all ages from babies to teenagers at Maidenhead, Windsor, Cox Green and Cookham libraries.

The birthday story unfolds at Maidenhead Library on Tuesday June 20 at 10.30am with a half-hour Bookstart Plus session for 18-month to two-and-a-half-year-olds (and their parents!) who will be invited to collect their Bookstart Plus packs and enjoy stories and rhymes fit for a queen.

Then it's off to Bounce and Rhyme sessions for children aged up to 18 months for some royally-inspired nursery rhymes and a free Bookstart pack:
Wednesday June 21 2.30 – 3pm Cookham Library
Thursday June 22 10.30 – 11am – Maidenhead Library

Under-fives can listen to stories fit for a queen and become a prince or princess for the afternoon with a session of crown-making at storytime for the under-fives on:
Tuesday June 20 at Maidenhead Library from 2.15 to 3pm and Cox Green Library from 2.30 to 3pm.
Friday June 23 at Windsor Library from 10 – 10.30am.

It's also birthday time for the teenage reading group at Maidenhead library – formed in June 2003 - and members will be celebrating both their own and the Queen's birthdays with a garden party at the library on Tuesday June 20 from 5 – 6pm.

On the teenagers' literary "menu" are favourite childhood stories, a "Who's That Baby?" photo competition and a time capsule of modern-day objects to be displayed in Maidenhead library before being locked away for the next 80 years!

Two competitions will signal the run-up to the week of events – a colouring competition for the under-fives and a book review competition for readers aged 5 to 12. Entry forms can be collected from any library and the closing date is Wednesday June 14.

All Royal Week events are free of charge, there is no need to book and all children, parents and carers are welcome.

For further information contact Katie Farrell, Maidenhead young people's librarian, on 01628 796981.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead