Half Term Holiday Children's Activities

Looking for something to keep your little ones busy over a (probably rainy) half term holiday? We have lots of fantastic free activities across our libraries!

Read on to find out more...

Central Children's Library

Tales and Tunes
Monday 16 February and Friday 20 February, 11am-midday. Age 5 and under
No need to book, just drop in!

Parent Club - songs, rhymes, and a chance to meet other parents
Wednesday 18 February, 3pm-3.45pm. Age 18 months and under
No need to book, just drop in!

Springtime Crafts
Drop in any time during library opening hours. Any age
No need to book, just drop in!

Chapeltown Library

Storytime
Monday 16 February, 10.30am-11.15am. Age 5 and under
No need to book, just drop in!

Babytime
Tuesday 17 February, 10.30am-11.15am. Age 2 and under

No need to book, just drop in!

Finger Knitting Bracelets workshop

Wednesday 18 February, 2.30pm-3.30pm. Age 6+
Booking required - please contact the library on 0114 203 7000 or chapeltown.library@sheffield.gov.uk

Crystal Peaks Library

Storytime
Monday 16 February, 10.15am-11am. Age 5 and under

No need to book, just drop in!

Babytime
Wednesday 18 February, 10.15am-11am. Age 2 and under

No need to book, just drop in!

Darnall Library

Babytime
Monday 16 February, 2.15pm-3.15pm. Age 2 and under

No need to book, just drop in!

Storytime

Tuesday 17 February, 10.30am-11.30am. Age 5 and under
No need to book, just drop in!

Ecclesall Library

Storytime
Monday 16 February, 2pm-3pm. Age 5 and under

No need to book, just drop in!

Chinese New Year colouring and craft activity
Tuesday 17 February, 10.30am-11.30am. Age 5-10
No need to book, just drop in!

Babytime
Wednesday 18 February, 2pm-3pm. Age 2 and under

No need to book, just drop in!

Chatterbooks children's reading group

Friday 20 February, 4pm-5pm. Age 7-11

Please contact the library for more details on 0114 2037222 or ecclesall.library@sheffield.gov.uk

Firth Park Library

Byte Buddies coding club

Saturday 14 February, 2pm-3pm. Age 7-12

No need to book, just drop in!

Babytime

Monday 16 February, 10.30am-11.30am. Age 0-3

No need to book, just drop in!

Family Hub children's activities

Monday 16 February, 1pm-2.15pm. Any age

No need to book, just drop in!

Holiday Crafternoon
Monday 16 February, 2.30pm-3.30pm. Age 3+

No need to book, just drop in!

Storytime PLUS: songs, stories and sticking

Wednesday 18 February, 11am-midday. Age 2-7 plus siblings

No need to book, just drop in!

Bookaroo children's reading group
Saturday 20 February, 2pm-3pm. Age 5-7

No need to book, just drop in!

Highfield Library

Mini Canvas Painting craft activity
Tuesday 17 February, 10.30am-11.30am. Any age
No need to book, just drop in!

Babytime

Friday 20 February, 11.15am-midday. Age 2 and under

No need to book, just drop in!

Chatterbooks children's reading group

Saturday 21 February, 10.30am-11.30am. Age 7-11
Please contact the library for more details on 0114 293 0018 or highfield.library@sheffield.gov.uk

Hillsborough Library

Storytime

Tuesday 17 February, 11am-11.45am. Age 5 and under
No need to book, just drop in!

Babytime

Friday 20 February, 10.30am-11am. Age 2 and under
No need to book, just drop in!

Manor Library

Talking With Your Toddler stay and play session
Monday 16 February, 10.30am-11.30am. Babies and toddlers
No need to book, just drop in!

Springtime Craft Session
Wednesday 18 February 11am-11.30am. Age 3-11
No need to book, just drop in!

Parson Cross Library

Babytime
Friday 20 February, 10.30am-11.30am. Age 2 and under

No need to book, just drop in!

Storytime
Saturday 21 February, 11am-11.45am. Age 5 and under

No need to book, just drop in!

Stocksbridge Library

Storytime

Tuesday 17 February, 10.30am-11.30am. Age 5 and under

No need to book, just drop in!

Babytime

Wednesday 18 February, 10am-11am. Age 2 and under

No need to book, just drop in!

Chatterbooks children's reading group

Saturday 21 February, 11am-12.30pm

Please contact the library for more details on 0114 2734205 or stocksbridge.library@sheffield.gov.uk

Woodseats Library

Babytime
Monday 16 February, 2pm-2.45pm

No need to book, just drop in!

Storytime

Tuesday 17 February, 10.30am-11.15am

No need to book, just drop in!

Chinese New Year Hobby Horse Craft

Drop in any time during library opening hours. Any age

No need to book, just drop in!

The National Year of Reading at Sheffield Libraries

Sheffield Libraries are proud to join the National Year of Reading 2026, focused on reconnecting people with reading through the things they already enjoy - Whatever you’re into, read into it!

To receive regular updates on our events and activities in libraries
sign up to our newsletter

Sheffield National Year of Reading Launch – Saturday 31 January

We are starting things off with a launch on Saturday 31 January with fun activities for all ages in The Central Libraries and our hub libraries.

At The Central Library:

Matty Long - Younger Graphic Novel illustrator and author will be joining us sharing his books, with drawing fun. Books will be available to buy and have signed at this event.
Central Children’s Library
10.30 am 
Book your place on Eventbrite

Lisa Maltby – local illustrator and designer unveiling her new library card design, with a Q&A about life as an illustrator
The Carpenter Room, Central Library 
12.30 – 1.30 pm.
Book your place on Eventbrite

Otis Mensah – poet and sound artist, former Sheffield Poet Laureate and
Danaé Wellington – writer, producer, former Sheffield Poet Laureate
Books will be available to buy and have signed at the event.
The Carpenter Room
2.00 pm
Book your place on Eventbrite.

Lick of Paint printing workshop for all ages 
Central Library (Young Adult Area)
Drop-in anytime between 11.00 am -1.00 pm

Lick of Paint floor mural for all ages
Central Library (Young Adult Area)
Drop-in anytime between 11.00 am– 3.00 pm. 

Storytelling performance with Hatchlings
Central Children's Library
2.00 pm - 2.45 pm
Book your place on Eventbrite

Drop-in and Draw - a relaxed opportunity to sketch, draw and paint anything you like, or using objects provided to inspire.
Reading Room, Central Library
10.30 am - 12.00 noon

Hub Library Activities:

Creative Collage for all ages.
Chapeltown Library
Drop-in 11.00 am - 3.00 pm

Chatterbooks children's reading group for ages 8-12 years.
Firth Park Library
Drop-in 2.00 - 3.00 pm

Family Crafting afternoon. 
Hillsborough Library
Drop-in 2.00 - 3.30 pm

Julia Donaldson Crafting for ages 2-8 years.
Highfield Library
Drop-in 10.30 am - 12.00 noon

Drop-in and Draw Book Covers for all ages
Manor Library
Drop-in 11.00 am - 3.00 pm.

Bookmark Making Craft for children
Parson Cross Library and Woodseats Library
Drop-in 10.30 am - 12.30 pm

Bookmark Making Craft for children
Ecclesall Library
Drop-in 10.00 am - 12.30 pm

A Year of Reading Themes

To celebrate the many ways people enjoy reading, Sheffield Libraries will run four themed quarters across the year:

• Creativity (January - March): Celebrating the arts and the creative spark reading brings. Activities will include drawing, illustration workshops, and creative family sessions.
  
  
• Outdoors (April - June): Highlighting Sheffield’s green spaces and the joy of reading outside.
  
  
• Entertainment (July - September): Linking into the Summer Reading Challenge’s Read to the Beat, uniting stories with the power of music and pop culture.
  
  
• Mystery (October - December): Coinciding with the Agatha Christie Exhibition, we will celebrate with activities sharing the excitement and intrigue of mystery stories.

 

Go all in and be part of shaping Sheffield into a thriving reading city.

Please leave your comments (subject to moderation).

Disability History Month

This month is Disability History Month (20 November - 20 December). The month focuses on disabled people's struggle for equality and human rights.

To mark the occasion, we are showcasing a selection of our books by and about disabled people. Many are by disabled authors, although we have also included books by non-disabled authors that were recommended by disability activists.

From picture books to graphic novels to memoirs, we hope that the list below includes something for everyone!

Picture books

Can Bears Ski? by Raymond Antrobus, illustrated by Polly Dunbar

Come Over To My House by Eliza Hull and Sally Rippin, illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett
Four Bad Unicorns by Rebecca Patterson
Mama Car by Lucy Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George
Splash by Claire Cashmore, illustrated by Sharon Davey

Talking Is Not My Thing! by Rose Robbins
What Happened To You? by James Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George
You Can! by Alexandra Strick, illustrated by Steve Antony

Junior fiction

A Kind of Spark and Keedie by Elle McNicoll
Can You See Me? and sequels, by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
Cosima Unfortunate Steals a Star by Laura Noakes
Cyborg Cat series by Ade Adepitan
El Deafo by Cece Bell (graphic novel)
Frankie's World by Aoife Dooley (graphic novel)
Harriet Versus the Galaxy by Samantha Baines

The Amazing Edie Eckhart series by Rosie Jones
The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh by Helen Rutter
Wilder Than Midnight by Cerrie Burnell

Young Adult

A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard
Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett
Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen Callender
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
Sing If You Can't Dance by Alexia Casale
The First Move by Jenny Ireland
The State of Grace by Rachael Lucas
Wish You Were Her by Elle McNicol

Adult non-fiction

Blind Not Broken by Lucy Edwards

Completely Normal and Totally Fine: My Life With Bipolar Disorder by Rosie Viva
Disability Visibility, edited by Alice Wong

I'm Only In It For the Parking by Lee Ridley
Made Possible: Stories Of Success By People With Learning Disabilities, edited by Saba Salman

Ramping Up Rights: An Unfinished History of British Disability Activism by Rachel Charlton-Dailey
Sipping Dom Pérignon Through a Straw by Eddie Ndopu
Some Of Us Just Fall by Polly Atkin

The Quiet Ear by Raymond Antrobus

To Exist As I Am by Grace Spence Green
Unmasking Autism by Devon Price

We've Got This: Essays By Disabled Parents, edited by Eliza Hull

You can find more book recommendations for children and young adults via our listchallenge here, and recommendations for adults here. All the books are available to borrow from Sheffield Libraries!

If you have your own recommendations, please let us know in the comments!

The Sheffield Children's Book Award 2025

Celebrating the best of children's writing and illustration - The Sheffield Children;s Book Award.

Last Friday, 14th November 2025, the Lyceum and Crucible Theatres in Sheffield were buzzing with excitement as hundreds of schoolchildren gathered to celebrate the Sheffield Book Awards, an annual event that champions the joy of reading and the power of storytelling.

Warmed up by local Poet Craig Bradley, and hosted by CBeebies very own Joanna Adeyinka Burford, this year’s awards were particularly special, showcasing an incredible lineup of books that captured imaginations across the city. Voted for by Sheffield schoolchildren, the awards reflect what truly resonates with young readers today.

The main event was followed up with book signings and author sessions in numerous venues, allowing excited school children to have direct interaction with their favourite authors. 

You can watch our video of the day right here:

Category Winners

The categories were filled with vibrant and engaging titles, each bringing something unique to the table. Congratulations to our category winners below:

• Mixed-Up Farm Animals by Spencer Wilson, published by Boxer Books
• Smelly Peggy  by Helen Stephens, published by Walker Books
• Otto The Top Dog by Catherine Rayner, published by Macmillan
• Croaky: Search for the Sasquatch by Matty Long, published by Oxford
• The Letter with the Golden Stamp by Onjali Q. Raúf, published by Orion
• I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery, published by Walker Books
• Songlight by Moira Buffini, published by Faber

And the Overall Winner Is…

The biggest cheer of the day went to Otto The Top Dog, crowned the Overall Winner of the Sheffield Book Awards 2025! This book clearly struck a chord with young readers as chants rang throughout the theatre!

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A Fond Farewell

This year’s ceremony also marked a poignant moment: Schools and Young People's Library Manager Jayne Crawshaw celebrated her final Sheffield Book Awards as she retires after an incredible 45 years of dedicated service to the library community. Jayne’s passion for books and commitment to inspiring young readers has left a lasting legacy in Sheffield.

We wish Jayne all the best in her next chapter and thank her for everything she has done for libraries and literacy in our city.

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The Sheffield Book Awards are more than just a celebration of literature, they’re a testament to the importance of giving children a voice in the world of books. By voting for their favourites, young readers become active participants in recognising the talents of our great authors and illustrators. 

Congratulations to all the authors and illustrators who made this year’s shortlist and to the schools and libraries that continue to nurture a love of reading in Sheffield.

Get those books ready and we'll see you in 2026!!

Libraries Week: Changing Lives, One Visit at a Time

It’s Libraries Week - and we’re celebrating the incredible ways libraries transform lives every day, starting with Charlie’s story. What began as regular visits to the library turned into a passion for helping others. Today, Charlie is a proud member of the library team - proof that libraries don’t just open books, they open doors.

Charlie in Ecclesall Library

"Libraries have always held a special place in my heart.

From a young age, they were more than just buildings full of books - they were peaceful, welcoming spaces that offered calm when I often felt overwhelmed. 

I cherish my position in libraries so dearly. Every day, I get to work in a place that once brought me comfort as a visitor and now gives me purpose as part of the team. For a long time, I didn't believe a future like this one was possible. I left school without any qualifications, struggling with my mental health and unsure of what I was capable of. I could barely leave the house alone. But everything changed when I was offered a place on an internship, and later an apprenticeship. Those opportunities led me into the world of libraries - a place I already loved, now becoming the foundation of my working life.

Working in libraries has completely transformed my confidence. What started as something I thought I couldn't manage has become something I now wake up excited to do every day. I now work full time, and through my apprenticeship I have achieved qualifications I never thought I'd be able to get, including my Maths and English - both of which I passed on my first try!

Charlie with colleagues at the
Apprentice Recruitment Fair 

I think the biggest reason I've come this far is because of the people around me. Library staff are some of the kindest, most encouraging people you could ever hope to work with. Every single person I've met has been supportive, understanding, and genuinely invested in helping me grow. I've gone from someone who couldn't answer a phone to someone who helps run events, supports customers every day, and plays an active role in shaping the library's services.

Libraries truly do change lives - not just for the people who visit them, but for the people who work in them too. I hope that by sharing my story, I can show just how powerful these spaces can be for someone who needs a place to grow, to feel safe, and to belong."

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From sparking a love of reading to supporting local entrepreneurs, libraries are more than just book-filled buildings. They’re welcoming spaces where people connect, learn, and grow.

📖 Reading for Wellbeing

Reading reduces stress, builds empathy, and boosts brainpower. Whether it’s fiction, fact, or fantasy, Sheffield libraries offer free access to physical, audio and digital books and magazines for everyone through our libraries, Libby App and the Home Library Service.

🤝 Tackling Isolation

Libraries are safe, inclusive spaces where everyone is welcome. Events, and community activities help people make connections and feel less alone.

💼 Boosting Business

Through the Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC), Sheffield helps small businesses and startups thrive with free access to expert advice, and the brilliant Cobra Database.

🎉 Get Involved

This Libraries Week:

• Visit your local library
• Join an event or workshop
• Share your story with #LibrariesWeek

Let’s celebrate the places that open doors, spark ideas, and bring people together.

 

The Sheffield Children's Book Award 2025

We're thrilled to announce the books that have been shortlisted for this year's Sheffield Children's Book Award! You can borrow them from your local library, read and vote for your favourite title.

Baby Books: 0-3 years

At the Park by Sam Lloyd, published by Ladybird

There There Little Puppy by Anna Milbourne and illustrated by Bruno Brogna, published by Usborne

Mixed Up Farm Animals by Spencer Wilson, published by Boxer Books.

Toddler Books: 3-5 years

Runaway Cone by Morag Hood, published by Two Hoots

Smelly Peggy by Helen Stephens, published by Walker Books

Lionel by Lo Cole, published by Rocket Bird Books

Picture Books: 5-7 years

Snail in Space by Rachel Bright and illustrated by Nadia Shireen, published by Simon & Schuster

The Girl at the Front of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf and illustrated by Pippa Curnick, published by Hodder Children’s Books

Otto the Top Dog by Catherine Rayner, published by Macmillan

Emerging Reads: 7-9 years

Croaky: Search for the Sasquatch by Matty Long, published by Oxford

Astrid and the Space Cadets! Attack of the Snailiens! by Alex T. Smith, published by Macmillan

Murray and Bun! Murray the Viking by Adam Stower, published by HarperCollins

Shorter Novels: 9-11 years

A History of my Weird by Chloё Heuch, published by Firefly Press

The Letter with the Golden Stamp by Onjali Q. Raúf, published by Orion

Reggie Houser Has the Power by Helen Rutter, cover illustration © Andrew Bannecker, published by Scholastic

Longer Novels: 11-14 years

I am Rebel by Ross Montgomery, published by Walker Books

The Wrong Shoes by Tom Percival, published by Simon & Schuster

The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie by Radhika Sanghani, published by Usborne

Young Adult Books: 14+ years

Songlight by Moira Buffini, published by Faber

Handle With Care by Louisa Reid, published by Guppy Books

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland, published by Hot Key Books

Does your child love the Summer Reading Challenge? You can now sign up for the FREE Winter Mini Challenge - an online reading challenge that runs from 1 December 2024 to 20 February 2025!

The challenge is online only and there are lots of games, puzzles and activities to do online! Children who read at least three books will be able to unlock a virtual badge and print off a certificate (you can do this for free in our libraries).

You can join the challenge by visiting wintermini.org.uk and creating a profile with your child - it's super easy to do!

Happy reading!