My Little Library
To help children to navigate starting school, libraries have put together a bag of books just for them that can be collected at any library from Thursday the 8th of June 2023.
Find out more below and check out the videos to accompany the Irish language bags.
My Little Library Little Book at Bedtime
Free bedtime story books and library card wallets are available at the library for all children of 4 years and under, to pick up and keep. For more information, click here.
My Little Library Book Bags for all children starting school this year
To help children to navigate starting school, libraries have put together a bag of books just for them that can be collected at any library.
The ‘My Little Library Book Bag’ initiative is a collaboration between libraries, the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as part of the First 5 Strategy.
As part of the initiative, a ‘My Little Library Book Bag’ is available free for every child starting school in 2023 to help them to prepare for this big step. Children and their parents or guardians can collect the bags at any library throughout the country from Thursday the 8th of June 2023.
Each My Little Library Book Bag contains:
- Three books on starting school, making friends and being comfortable to be yourself
- A story card on going to the library
- A postcard the child can write or draw on and send to their new teacher, or bring to give to the teacher on their first day at school
- Their very own library card and special ‘My Little Library’ cardholder
Book bags are available in both Irish and English.
Libraries can’t wait to welcome all the 4 and 5 year old children in to collect their book bags and begin their library membership journey.
We hope that once they visit the library to pick up their book bag, our new library members and their families will come back regularly to keep their bag filled up with borrowed books and to take part in storytimes, classes and all the other events we have to offer at the library.
More supports to help the transition to primary school are available on the Let’s Get Ready page on Gov.ie.
You can find out more about library services to ELCs and childcare settings here
My Little Library Irish Language Stories
We hope you enjoy these videos, which are to support you reading the Irish language stories with your children
'Bí ag Spraoi Liom' á léamh ag Caoimhe Ní Chathail
Tá 'Bí ag Spraoi Liom' scríofa ag Sadhbh Devlin, maisithe ag Tarsila Kruse agus foilsithe ag Futa Fata.
'Beag Bídeach' á léamh ag John Sharpson
Tá 'Beag Bídeach' scríofa ag Sadhbh Devlin, maisithe ag Roisín Hahessy, agus foilsithe ag Futa Fata.
'Cócó an Colgán Cairdiúil' á léamh ag Caoimhe Ní Chathail
Tá 'Cócó an Colgán Cairdiúil' scríofa ag Ailbhe Nic Giolla Bhrighde, maisithe ag Brian Fitzgerald agus Foilsithe ag Futa Fata.
'Míp agus Blípín' á léamh ag Caoimhe Ní Chathail
Tá 'Míp agus Blípín' scríofa ag Máire Zepf, maisithe ag Paddy Donnelly agus foilsithe ag Futa Fata.
'Ó Chrann go Crann' á léamh ag John Sharpson
Tá 'Ó Chrann go Crann' scríofa ag Caitríona Hastings, maisithe ag Andrew Whitson agus foilsithe ag tSnáthaid Mhór.
'Percy Péacóg' á léamh ag John Sharpson
Tá 'Percy Péacóg' scríofa ag Gemma Breathnach, maisithe ag Tarsila Kruse agus foilsithe ag Futa Fata.
