Regular Events

Regular weekly events in the children's library that run throughout the year.

2 Rs reading group meets once a month on the 3rd Thursday.

2 Rs writing group meets once a month on the 1st Friday.

Special Events

4TH CRYSTAL PALACE PARK & READ

Back by popular demand, our fourth annual community reading festival will be taking place from 1st October to 10th December. We are arranging lots of activities including a pyjama party for the children and competitions to mark this year's challenge. Our aim is to help the whole Crystal Palace community to re-discover the thrill of reading. We are putting the spotlight on one gripping story for our featured book and turning Upper Norwood into one gigantic reading group with three other titles.
You can be a part of it!

PARK & READ FEATURED NON-FICTION TITLE & AUTHOR VISIT FOR ADULTS

MR BRIGGS' HAT by Kate Colquhoun
The true story of a Victorian railway murder, published by Little, Brown
In July 1864, Thomas Briggs was travelling home after visiting his niece and her husband for dinner. He entered a First Class carriage on the 9.45pm Hackney service of the North London railway. At Hackney, two bank clerks entered the carriage and discovered blood in the seat cushions, on the floor, on the windows and also on the sides of the carriage. A bloodstained hat was found on the seat along with a broken link from a watch chain. The race to unravel the mystery, identify the killer and catch him as he flees on a boat to America was eagerly followed by citizens both sides of the Atlantic. Kate Colquhoun tells a gripping tale of a crime that shocked the nation.

PARK AND READ AUTHOR VISIT FOR ADULTS
Kate Colquhoun Thursday 10th November at 7.30pm
Kate will be here at the library to talk about and sign copies of her fascinating Victorian mystery murder Mr Briggs' Hat. She will also take questions from the audience.

PARK & READ LOCAL AUTHOR TITLE

THE RED HOUSE by Christopher Bowden, published by Langton and Wood
The third book of the trio, The Yellow Room, The Blue Book and The Red House.
When Colin Mallory sees a sketch of a young actress he once knew on display in the local market, memories of their past together are brought back sharply to the surface. Alarmed by her distressed appearance, Colin is propelled on a search that draws him into the nightmare world of 'the group' and the sinister influence that threatens to control him too. This is an engrossing story of artifice and hidden secrets, rich with theatrical detail and a cast of compelling characters.

PARK & READ NOVEL FOR ADULTS

SOLAR by Ian McEwan, published by Vintage/Jonathan Cape
Solar is an engrossing and satirical novel which focuses on climate change. It is a stylish new work by one of the world’s greatest living writers about one man’s ambitions and self-deceptions.
Dan Franklin, Publisher, comments: ‘Solar is a novel about one of the most serious threats to our world – global warming – but is also very, very funny. It shows a fresh side to Ian McEwan’s work, that he’s a comic writer of genius.’

PARK & READ QUICK READ TITLE

FOLLOW ME by Sheila O’Flanagan, published by Healine
A fabulously warm, witty and romantic novella from the much-loved bestselling author Sheila O’Flanagan, published as part of the Quick Reads series.
Pippa Jones is twenty-something and single. She likes chips, country music and her cat. She also loves her career as number one sales rep for a computer firm. The only thing she hasn’t got time for is men. Broken-hearted last time round, Pippa is sticking to girlfriends – a winning a dream trip to New York.
However, life isn’t that simple. A rival firm is stealing her clients and a tall, fair stranger is following her everywhere. He’s in the bar, at dinner, even at her meetings. Is he a stalker?
Whoever he is, he’s about to turn Pippa’s world upside-down.

THE PARK & READ BOOK AND QUIZ FOR TEENAGERS

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd, published by David Fickling Books.

Brother and sister, Ted and Kat, take their cousin Salim to see the London Eye. When Salim mysteriously vanishes the siblings put aside their sibling rivalry and set out in a race against time to find him. Ted's brain "runs on a different operating system" from other people's and in his own very unique way he finds the key to the mystery. Narrated in Ted's voice, this is a page-turning, spine-tingling thriller that brings London to life and takes readers inside a powerfully rational mind. The London Eye Mystery highlights that our difference can be our strength.
Read the book to find out if they succeed!

THE LONDON EYE MYSTERY PARK & READ QUIZ
This quiz is based on the book The London Eye Mystery. A fabulous prize is up for grabs, so get reading! The competition ends on 3rd December and the prize will be awarded on Saturday 10th December. Enter the competition for a chance to win a great prize.
WHITE SPACE

THE PARK & READ BOOKS, COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS FOR CHILDREN

For younger readers we have chosen two exciting books. Each one has a competition running alongside it. When you've read the book you can enter the competition. We are planning some special events for some of the books, too, so you'll have lots of fun throughout the whole 10 weeks!

PARK & READ PETS PYJAMA PARTY
took place on Friday 28th October and we raised £25.67 for City Farms for Children
Fiona threw a party to which all pyjama-ed children aged 4-10 were invited with their soft toy pets. Children played party games and listened to shaggy dog stories for a £1 per child entry fee, profits of which went to City Farms for Children, a charity founded by Michael Morpurgo.

THE PARK & READ BOOK for 8-12 year old CHILDREN

Kasper, the Prince of Cats by Michael Morpurgo, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Johnny Trott first encounters Kaspar at the Savoy Hotel and didn’t expect to end up with Kaspar on his hands forever, neither did he count on making friends with Lizziebeth, a spirited American heiress. Pretty soon, events are set in motion that take Johnny – and Kaspar – all around the world, surviving theft, shipwreck and rooftop rescues along the way. Everything changes with a cat like Kaspar around. After all, he’s Prince Kaspar Kandinsky, Prince of Cats, a Muscovite, a Londoner and a New Yorker, and as far as anyone knows, the only cat to survive the sinking of the Titanic. Join them on their fantastic adventures.

If you wish to meet Michael Morpurgo he will be taking part in the Word Up! Festival on Saturday 22nd October at 7.30pm held at Alleyn's School, Dulwich, London SE22 8SU. To book, visit www.wayswithwords.co.uk/festivals/word-up-28 or phone 01803 867 373

Kaspar – Prince of Cats Art Competition
Open to children aged 6-12 years
Draw or paint an object or scene from this book which can then be used as a design to make a real cake. Pick up an entry form from the library. All entrants will receive a small reward just for entering and the art work will be displayed on the junior library walls. The competition ends on 3rd December and there will be three prizes awarded on Saturday 10th December.

THE PARK & READ BOOK for 4-8 year old CHILDREN

Courtney, by John Burningham - is a very special book.
Courtney was published in 1996 by Red Fox picture books and is one of his most endearing books, telling the story of a dog with a difference.
John Burningham is the author of many fantastic children's books, including The Magic Bed, Avocado Baby and Aldo. Courtney is just as amusing as Avocado Baby but more thoughtful. At the opening of the book, the children of the family want a dog. Their parents tell them to make sure they get a "pedigreed dog." The children then take the dog that nobody wants, Courtney. Their parents are really not pleased, however, Courtney shows them what a very special dog he is by doing some really incredible things.  Written with deep thought and humour, this book will undoubtedly touch your heart.

Dog Story Art Competition
Create a collage of a dog amongst your favourite books. Pick up your competition entry form from the library. All entrants will receive a small reward just for entering and their entries will be displayed. The competition ends on 3rd December and three prizes will be awarded on Saturday 10th December.

OCTOBER

PARK & READ EVENT

PARK & READ PETS PYJAMA PARTY
took place on Friday 28th October and we raised £25.67 for City Farms for Children
Fiona threw a party to which all pyjama-ed children aged 4-10 were invited with their soft toy pets. Children played party games and listened to shaggy dog stories for a £1 per child entry fee, profits of which went to City Farms for Children, a charity founded by Michael Morpurgo.

NOVEMBER

Saturday Waggle and Hum 26th November
We have started a regular Saturday session for dads (although mums and other relatives are also welcome)
This activity also takes during the week (click here for details) and will continue on Saturdays every 4 weeks.
Saturday date 26th November

Crystal Palace Themed Activity
26th November
Fun stories and activities with a Crystal Palace theme (the palace burned down on 30th November 1936 – 75 years ago!) If you like dressing up you can come in a Victorian costume to really get into the spirit of the day.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL - SATURDAY 10TH DECEMBER

Join in our special fun day to end the year with a blast!

Mother Christmas will be in Santa's Grotto from 11am to 12pm and from 1pm to 2pm. Cost - £2 per child.

Kate O'Sullivan will bring back her fantastic Usborne book stall from 10am to 5pm

We will be announcingthe winners
of our Crystal Palace PARK & READ competitions at our Prize-giving session at 3pm.

Then to round off the day, we have ...

Simply Smiley's fun filled family pantomime at 3.30pm

Simply Smiley perform exciting interactive theatre for children aged 2 to 102 and this year Christmas is a Circus is their new Christmas show.
Be enchanted by Renaldo the Ring Master, Tinsel the Top Twirler, Lenny the Lion and Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer.
What is Rudolf doing at the circus? Santa is looking for him. Let's hope he gets back to the North Pole in time to guide the sleigh on Christmas Eve.
Will he make it? Come and join in the fun!

We look forward to seeing you there.

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