Kids

Summer Reading Challenge

Do you know your creepers from your endermen, or your piglins from your zombies? Looking for a way to keep the kids entertained over the summer break? The Taupō District Libraries Summer Reading Challenge is the perfect way to keep kids entertained over the holidays! The challenge involves reading books and some easy games and puzzles.

Locations: Taupō, Turangi and Mangakino libraries
When: Monday 9 December 2024 to Friday 17 January 2025
Age: 5 to 12 years
Cost: Free, but numbers are limited and registration is required.
Registration: Drop into your nearest library and collect a free booklet which contains everything you need to know.

Entry and prizes

The programme is free but numbers are limited. To register, simply collect a free booklet from any of the Taupō District Libraries and it contains everything you need to know. Ask any of our friendly staff for more information.

There are lots of prizes to be won.

Free stickers to collect and fun puzzles to complete.
Explore new worlds with activities and crafty challenges with friends or on your own.
Heaps of cool prizes to win like go karting, vouchers, and Sky Waka passes!

How it works

To complete the challenge you need to read some awesome books and tell us all about them over four check-ins with your local library. You can check-in in person or send us an email. Participants who complete the challenge by collecting all four Pixel Planet check-in stickers will automatically go into a draw to win one of our awesome prizes.

Every child who completes the summer reading programme will receive a dragon egg with a $15 voucher from Paper Plus AND are invited to our Pixel Planet extravaganza party!

Thanks to our sponsors

A huge thank you to our generous sponsors for providing the prizes and supporting our Summer Reading Challenge:

Toddler Time

Stories, rhymes, crafts, songs and fun! Come along and share a story, get crafty and move those happy feet - it's free to attend.

Taupō Library

Location: Story Place, Taupō
When: Every Wednesday at 10.30am (during school terms)
Cost: Free

Tūrangi Library

Location: 3 Tūrangi Town Centre, Tūrangi
When: Every Friday at 10am - 11am (during school terms)
Cost: Free

Mangakino Library

Location: 69 Rangatira Drive, Mangakino
When: Every second Tuesday at 10.30am between Tuesday 22 October and Tuesday 17 December
Cost: Free

Afternoon activities - Taupō Library

Looking to keep the kids entertained? Check out Taupō Library’s free Afternoon Activities!

Every Wednesday from 3.30pm during term time there will be games and crafts to occupy kids aged 5 and over.

🧩 Ice breaker games like Simon Says.

🎨 Get creative with arts and crafts.

🤩 Lots of cool games, jigsaws and books available.

Each child’s parent/guardian must be present in the building while they have fun.

With free entry, free Wifi, and free parking right outside, it’s the perfect time to check out your local library.

Weekly Activities - Tūrangi Library

From toddlers to teens, movie buffs to crafters - there is an activity to suit every age and every stage at Tūrangi Library during term times. Download a timetable here.

Brick Club - Taupō Library

Hey kids! Come and get creative at Brick Club at the Taupō Library.

It's on the first Wednesday of every month from 3.30pm to 5pm (outside of the summer school holidays) and is suitable for children between 5 and 12 years of age. It’s free and all the bricks are supplied. Please don’t bring your own or they will get mixed up!

Parents/caregivers must stay with their child or children and your wonderful brick creations will stay in the library after the session.

Venue: Taupō Library, Story Place, Taupō
When: The first Wednesday of every month, 3.30pm to 5pm (outside of the summer school holidays).
Age: 5 to 12 years
Cost: Free
Registration: Please email your child’s name, age and caregiver’s details with the subject Brick club to taupolibrary@taupo.govt.nz

eBooks and eAudioBooks for kids

Wheelers ePlatform have thousands of eBooks and hundreds of eAudiobooks for kids. Check them out on your computer or device and read and listen for free!

Visit our eBooks and eAudio page for more information.

Fun and games

There are some great e-resources for kids online. Have a look at some of the favourites below.

Friv - Games, games, games! So many to choose from and they are all free.

Poptropica - Interactive learning games, online books and comics.

Dr Seuss - Jam packed with books, videos, games and activities Dr Seuss online is a fantastic resource for parents and children alike. Re-read your favourite stories learn more about the author or create your own Who!

Sesame Street - Fantastic list of activities and fun for kids from literacy and reading to numbers, thinking skills and science. Learn while having fun with your favourite Sesame Street characters.

Lego online - Who didn't grow up with Lego? Now you can play online, build and share your creations with others online, learn and explore creations made by other people.

Geronimo Stilton World - Explore New Mouse City and take part in an adventure with Geronimo, Thea, Trap and Benjamin.

BBC for Children - Create, watch or play, lots to do on the BBC page with a changing and dynamic focus each week. Learn about different animals or share your favourites. BBC Children's pages offer lots to keep kids learning.

ABC Ya! - ABC Ya! is a site that mixes education fun and technology part of a new movement towards making learning fun. With all sorts of fun games from making your own word search to typing games and treasure hunts.

Dyslexia-friendly books

Taupo Library has a collection of dyslexia-friendly books!

For those who struggle with words, reading is not always fun, and it's easy to lose heart and stop trying. These books are designed to appeal to young people who have dyslexia or are reluctant to read and help them develop a love of reading.

We encourage all kids to explore the collection and suggest dyslexia-friendly books for us to buy!

To find out more about the books see this information booklet from publisher Barrington-Stoke.

Kids Crazy Good Reads

We have counted the votes of hundreds of local children and created a list of the most popular and loved books across our district.

Taupo District Libraries presents to you the Top 50 Kids' Crazy Good Reads!

Thanks to everyone who voted for their favourite books. From cheese loving mice to smart sheep to wimpy kids there is something for everyone.

Homework help

Homework help websites

Any Questions - Any Questions is a site where you can ask a librarian any questions using online chat.

Te Ara - Encyclopedia of New Zealand - A comprehensive look at New Zealand people, history, cultures and environment.