Children's library services

 

We provide the following services in our children's libraries: 

 

• Rhyme Time for under 5 year olds

• Storytimes for under 5 year olds

• Storytimes for 4 - 7 year olds

• Chatterbooks reading groups for  8 -12 year olds

• Summer reading challenge every year - a fun way to read your way through the holidays

• Events during school holidays

• Books for homework, for fun, and free web resources

• Audio recordings and dual language books

• DVDs and videos

• Picture books and easy reading books

• Magazines

 

Children's events for January to March 2026

 

 

National Year of Reading 2026

 

The National Year of Reading 2026 is the biggest campaign in a generation designed to help more people (re)discover the joy of reading and make it part of their everyday lives.

 

We will be running a range of activities for children throughout the year to promote and celebrate the joy of reading for pleasure. 

 

Check our National Year of Reading events for January to March then come back to see what we plan for the rest of the year.

 

 

 

 

Storytime and Rhymetime

 

Join the National Year of Reading fun and have a hoot with special stories for under 5s from @booktrust during Rhyme Times at Harrow Libraries.

Meet other local parents, enjoy classic nursery rhymes, and discover new picture books. All sessions are free.

Our adventures start during National Storytelling Week (2-8 Feb) as we blast into space with Suki Cat Astronaut, published by @NosyCrow!

 

 

Other storytime sessions: 

 

 

Rhyme time

 

Rhyme time is a free service for under fives. It is a popular session for a fun and stimulating half hour of classic nursery rhymes, little stories and finger rhymes.

 

A great opportunity to meet other local parents and learn new songs that your children will love. To check availability and find out more, please contact your local library.

 

The service is provided at all our libraries at the following times:

 

Story time

Story time for under fives is available at the following libraries:

 

• Greenhill library:       Saturday 11:00 - 11:30
  
• Pinner library:           Friday 10:15 - 10:45
• Roxeth Library:         Tuesday 11:00 - 11:30
• Stanmore Library:     Saturday 11:00 - 11:30

 

Places are limited for the service and will be filled on a first come, first served basis. During the school holidays, the service may be replaced with another children's event.

 

 

Chatterbooks reading groups

 

The chatterbooks reading group is designed to help children build a relationship with books. Children can talk about what they are reading, take part in fun activities inspired by the best children's books and choose new books to take home and read.

 

Chatterooks runs at:

• Greenhill Library on the third Thursday of the month 4:30 - 5:30
• Pinner Library on the first Thursday of the month: 4:15 - 5:15
• Roxeth Library on the third Thursday of the month 4:45 - 5:45