Dig Where You Stand Events, July - August 2024

Dig Where You Stand is a project which unearths untold stories of people of colour living, working and putting down roots in South Yorkshire over hundreds of years. Last year we commissioned 14 artists of colour to respond to the stories they found in the archives.  During July/August 2024 we will be showcasing their work at exhibitions and events across the city.

Dig Where You Stand - launch event

📆Friday 19 July 2024, 6-8pm (doors open from 5:30pm)

📍Persistence Works, Yorkshire Artspace, 21 Brown Street, S1 2BS

Over the last year, 14 artists have been commissioned to dig through local archives and respond to the untold stories of people of colour in South Yorkshire. Their artworks will be on display in various venues across Sheffield City Centre, from 20 July to 18 August 2024. We would love for you to join us at our inaugural event and enjoy a ceremonial blessing, private viewing and party, including a live DJ.  No limit on numbers but RSVP if you can: digwhereyoustand.sy@gmail.com

 

Dig Where You Stand presents ‘We Gather’ with Sheffield Cathedral

📆Monday 22 July 2024, 7-9pm (doors open from 6:45pm)

📍Sheffield Cathedral, Church Street, S1 1HA

Join us for a special evening of live performances to celebrate Dig Where You Stand's new and groundbreaking summer exhibition. Featuring commissioned artists Otis Mensah, CJ Simon, Rosa Cisneros and Désirée Reynolds. Through live poetry, dance and music our artists will re-imagine the encounter between two West African sailors and a Sheffield-born missionary in 1820, the psychodrama of a son settling in the steel city as he wrestles with the fame of his African American father in the late 19th century, and the female strength of the so-called 'Gypsy Queen' buried in Beighton, Sheffield in the 1940s.

https://www.dwys.co.uk/events/we-gather-with-sheffield-cathedral

Open Studio with our Artists

📆Saturday 27 July 2024, 11am-2pm (drop in, watch the artists at work, ask questions!)

📍Soft Ground, The Moor (opposite Debenhams), S1 4PF

Drop into the Dig Where You Stand open studio and watch how three of our artists made their work through shadow puppets, textiles and poetry. Cole Morris will show how he created shadow puppets to tell the story of serial dreamer Joe Phillips, who having tried and failed to produce his own Sheffield westerns attempted to build his own boat and sail back to Jamaica from the shallow depths of a Sheffield canal. Witness how Jacqui Hilson uses fabric to sew together the seemingly distant stories of West Africa and South Yorkshire, honouring the names and contributions of the unknown Africans who have settled here over the centuries. Observe how Dal Kular binds together her own journals and makes zines, as the first step to a poetic exploration of the 1939 Register, which appears to name the first non-elite Sikh woman in Sheffield but obscures her full identity.

https://www.dwys.co.uk/events/open-studio

Dig Where You Stand: An Evening in the Archives

📆Thursday 8 August 2024, 6-7:30pm

📍Sheffield City Archives, 52 Shoreham Street, S1 4SP

Most of the historical material used by the artists was found in Sheffield City Archives. We gather there now to hear from visual artists Kedisha Coakley, Seiko Kinoshita and Patricia Bugembe, alongside Senior Archivist, Cheryl Bailey. Together they discuss their experience working in the archives, discovering new stories and producing creative responses in the form of portraiture, wallpaper and installation. This will also be a unique opportunity to see some of the original archive material that inspired the artists’ work.

https://www.dwys.co.uk/events/dwys-presents-we-gather-with-sheffield-city-archives

Creative Workshop with Sile Sibanda (for ages 14 - 17)

📆Wednesday 31 July 2024, 11am-1pm

📍Sheffield Cathedral, Church Street, S1 1HA

Come and join us for a workshop filled with inspiration and creativity at Sheffield Cathedral!

In this workshop, you'll have the chance to learn from the talented Sile Sibanda and unleash your artistic potential. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, this event is perfect for anyone looking to explore their creative side. You will also discover some fascinating hidden history about South Yorkshire along the way.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-creative-workshop-with-dig-where-you-stand-sile-sibanda-tickets-941073344707?aff=oddtdtcreator

Ancestral Futures - Public Procession and Street Performance

📆Saturday 17 August 2024, 2-3pm

📍Meet outside The Crucible, Tudor Square at 2pm

A Chinese baby is born and dies in Sheffield in 1855. At just 5 weeks old he’s buried at St Paul’s, now the site of the Peace Gardens. His dad, Teh Kwei 德貴  aka ‘Tuck Guy’, a magician known for his knife throwing act, was performing in Sheffield at the time. His signature appears on the death certificate of his infant son. We think of them when we walk past the Peace Gardens. Join us for live procession through Sheffield City Centre to honour Teh Kwei  德貴, his baby, and the other numerous ancestors from East and South-East Asian communities who passed through or settled in South Yorkshire.

https://www.dwys.co.uk/events/dwys-procession

Marvellous Makers Summer Reading Challenge 2024

Launches Saturday, 6 July in Sheffield Libraries

Join Sheffield Libraries this Summer for the "Marvellous Makers" Summer Reading Challenge with free activities for families from 6 July 2024.

Image description - children playing and being creative outdoors. Some are dancing, some are making music, one is orienteering and one is taking photos. They are joined by a little dog and a squirrel.

It’s FREE to take part in The Summer Reading Challenge! Just ask at your local Sheffield library (visit the website: "Sheffield Libraries"). It is aimed at children from birth to 11 years of age. They have to read or share six books of their choice over the summer holidays, collecting stickers for each book that they read along the way. All children who complete the challenge in libraries will receive a medal and certificate.

It runs throughout the Summer holidays from 6 July until mid September.

The Challenge is all about reading for fun, so children can read anything they like!  Audio books, e-books, fiction, non-fiction, comics, joke books, poetry books, graphic novels…it all counts!  Library staff and volunteers are more than happy to help children discover new reads which suit their interests and reading level.

The Reading Agency has worked in partnership with Create, a leading arts charity, and public libraries, this year's Challenge celebrates kids' creativity and storytelling abilities. Children will be encouraged to explore new books and stories while taking part in free activities, from arts and crafts to music, dance, and more.

Children can also take part in the Summer Reading Challenge online by visiting the Summer Reading Challenge website.

For all enquiries, please contact: 

Sheffield Libraries 

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Mental Health Awareness Week 13 - 19 May 2024

Mental Health Awareness Week is happening from 13 to 19 May 2024. 

This year’s focus is on moving more for your mental health.

We have created a list of books for children and young people to support your health and well-being. All of these books are available in Sheffield Libraries.

Children

What's Going On Inside my Head? by Molly Potter, illustrated by Sarah Jennings and published by Featherstone.

Healthy for Life: Self-Esteem and Mental Health by Anna Claybourne, illustrated by Dan Bramall and published by Franklin Watts.

Ruby's Worry by Tom Percival published by Bloomsbury Children's Books.

Me and My Fear by Francesca Sanna and published by Flying Eye Books.

All Birds Have Anxiety by Kathy Hoopmann and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Worry Angels by Sita Brahmachari, illustrated by Jane Ray and published by Barrington Stoke.

Outsmarting Worry by Dawn Huebner, illustrated by Kara McHale and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Mindful Me: Exploring Emotions by Paul Christelis, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli and published by Franklin Watts

Sometimes I Feel Sad by Tom Alexander and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

How Are You Feeling Today? by Molly Potter, illustrated by Sarah Jennings and published by Featherstone.

Feeling Angry! by Katie Douglass, illustrated by Mike Gordon and published by Wayland.

Ella on the Outside by Cath Howe and published by Nosy Crow.

Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian and published by Nasaya Mafaridik.

Up and Down Mum by Child's Play, illustrated by Summer Macon and published by Child's Play.

The Colour Thief: A Family's Story of Depression by Andrew Fusek Peters and Polly Peters, illustrated by Karin Littlewood and published by Wayland.

The Boy Who Built a Wall Around himself by Ali Redford, illustrated by Ali Redford and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

If All the World Were by Joseph Coelo, illustrated by Allison Colpoys and published by Lincoln Children's Books.

Mum's Jumper by Jayde Perkin and published by Book Island.

Teens and Young Adults

Be Resilient: How to Build a Strong Teenage Brain for Tough Times by Nicola Morgan and published by Walker Books.

Be Happy Be You: The Teenage Guide to Boost Happiness and Resilience by Penny Alexander and Beck Goddard-Hill and published by Collins.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Workout for Teens by Paula Nagel, illustrated by Gary Bainbridge and published by Jessica Kinglsley Publishers.

My Intense Emotions Handbook by Bridie Gallagher, Sue Knowles and Hannah Bromley, illustrated by Emmeline Pidgen and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

My Anxiety Handbook by Bridie Gallagher, Sue Knowles and Sue McEwan, illustrated by Emmeline Pidgen and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Anxiety is Really Strange by Steve Haines, illustrated by Sophie Standing and published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

A Book About Depression by Holly Duhig, illustrated by Sophie Standing and published by Booklife Publishing.

The Body Image Book for Girls: Love Yourself and Grow up Fearless by Charlotte Markey, published by Cambridge University Press.

Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys by Charlotte Markey, Daniel Hart and Douglas Zacher, published by Cambridge University Press.

You Will be Okay: Find Strength, Stay Hopeful and Get to Grips with grief by Julie Stokes, published by Hachette.

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Trace Your Family Tree

New family history course starting on Mon 3 June 2024 at Sheffield Local Studies Library run by our friends FACES (lifelonglearningandskills.org) and Suzanne Bingham. Email faces@sheffield.gov.uk  or ring 0114 229 6144 to book a place, but hurry these courses fill up fast!

FREE CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP - Blue Badge Bunch Gameshow for Kids at Sheffield Central Library and Hillsborough Library in May Half Term

Come and join children’s author and comedian Benny Shakes for a fun filled interactive workshop for all the family, including:

·       An animated performance/reading of Benny’s brand-new children’s book.

·       Join in with a “Taskmaster” style game from the show!

·       Writing and drawing activities

·       Q&A with Benny about writing and performing.

The perfect way to spend your afternoon, whatever your abilities!

Blue Badge Bunch is a hit children’s game show about to embark on its third UK tour. It’s creative, interactive and lots of fun.

Benny Shakes is an award-winning comedian, performer, and creator of the show, which tours in schools and has received critical acclaim across the country including at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Benny is coming to the Carpenter Room in Sheffield Central Library and Hillsborough Library.

The workshops are suitable for children aged 7 and upwards and their families! 

Details of each event and how to book are set out below.

Workshop at the Carpenter Room in Central Library on Tuesday 28^th May 11-12.  Places are limited so booking via Eventbrite is essential. Please click here to book Eventbrite Blue Badge Bunch Workshop in Sheffield If you cannot get on Eventbrite please speak to staff in the Central Children's Library. 

Workshop at Hillsborough Library on Tuesday 28^th May 2-3pm. Places are limited so booking via the library is essential.

Library contact details are available here: Sheffield Libraries

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Announcement of the Sheffield Children's Book Award Shortlist 2024

We are so excited to announce the 35th Sheffield Children's Book Award Shortlist!

Please watch this short video introducing all the shortlisted titles and explaining how you can borrow the books and vote for your favourites:

Sheffield Children's Book Award 2024 Shortlist Promotional Video

Baby Book Category

Don’t Mix Up My Puppy by Rosamund Lloyd and illustrated by Spencer Wilson.  Published by Little Tiger.

Happy Baby Hug, text by Pat A Cake and illustrated by Zoe Waring. Published by Pat-A-Cake.

Little Owl Where Are You!  Text by Nosy Crow and illustrated by Ekaterina Trukhan.  Published by Nosy Crow.

Toddler Book Category

The Rainbow Snail by Karin Åkesson, published by Boxer Books.

Someone Just Like You by Helen Docherty and illustrated by David Roberts. Published by Simon & Schuster.

Blue by Sarah Christou and published by Faber and Faber.

Picture Book Category

Heavy Metal Badger by Duncan Beedie, published by Little Tiger.

Gigantic by Rob Biddulph, published by Harper Collins.

Mavis the Bravest by Lu Fraser and illustrated by Sarah Warburton.  Published by Simon & Schuster.

 Emerging Reads Category

Indigo Wilde and the Giant Problem by Pippa Curnick, published by Hodder.

Lenny Lemmon and the Invincible Rat by Ben Davis and illustrated by James Lancett.  Published by Nosy Crow.

Blanksy The Street Cat by Gavin Puckett and illustrated by Allen Fatimaharan.  Published by Faber and Faber.

 

Shorter Novels

Lost on Gibbon Island by Jess Butterworth and illustrated by Rob Biddulph.  Published by Orion.

The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow and illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton.  Published by Otter-Barry Books.

The Ice Children by M G Leonard and illustrated by Penny Neville-Lee.  Published by Macmillan.

 

Longer Novels

The Monkey Who Fell From The Future by Ross Welford, published by Harper Collins.

The Boy In The Smoke by Rachel Faturoti, published by Hodder.

Just Like Everyone Else by Sarah Hagger-Holt, published by Usborne.

Young Adult Books

You Could Be So Pretty by Holly Bourne, published by Usborne.

Stand Up Ferran Burke by Steven Camden, published by Macmillan.

Happy Head by Josh Silver, published by Rock The Boat.

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British Science Week - 8 to 17 March 2024

It's British Science Week this week and we have lots of fantastic children's science books to inspire you. Here is a taste of just some of our brilliant books:

Kay's Anatomy: A Complete (and Completely Disgusting) Guide to the Human Body by Adam Kay and illustrated by Henry Paker (published by Puffin)

Somebody Swallowed Stanley by Sarah Robert and illustrated by Hannah Peck (published by Scholastic)

Red Alert! 15 Endangered Animals Fighting to Survive by Catherine Barr and illustrated by Anne Wilson (published by Otter-Barry Books)

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Animals: An Incredible Journey Through the Animal Kingdom by Claudia Martin and illustrated by Marc Pattenden (published by Arcturus)

Secret Science: The Amazing World Beyond Your Eyes by Dara Ó Briain and illustrated by Dan Bramall (published by Scholastic)

Computers and Coding (Info Buzz STEM) by Izzi Howell (published by Franklin Watts)

Explanatorium of Science by DK and Robert Winston (published by DK Children)

Unplugged by Steve Antony (published by Hachette)

There are free activity packs available at  https://www.britishscienceweek.org/

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