Skip to the content
Essex Library Service Home
  • Home
  • Libraries
  • Events
  • News
    • Contact Us
    • Join
    • Login

Loading

Page is loading, please wait.

Join Essex Library Service

Join
Can't find an item you are looking for?

 

If the item you want to reserve is not available, you can fill in a library request form

 

Lost something in one of our libraries?

 

Think you may have left something at a library? Please fill out our lost property form. The library will contact you within 5 working days. 

 

Our terms and policies

 

Accessibility

Privacy and data protection

Terms and conditions

Site Privacy Policy

Connect with us

 

  X Logo  

 

 

  Newsletter Icon

Receive library news and updates straight to your inbox

 

Sign up for Essex Library Service e-newsletters

 

 

Download our App
  Download on the Apple App Store

Get it on the Play Store

 
Contact us

Livechat

 

Web chat

Staff monitor Livechat between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

 

 

 

Enquiry form

 

You can complete the library enquiry form if you have any questions, or if you want to pass on comments or suggestions about the library service. We aim to respond to your enquiries within 5 business days.   

 

Phone

 

 

You can call our Contact Centre on

0345 603 7628 

Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, to speak to an advisor, or use the 24-hour automated service (option 1) to renew your items (also at weekends).

 

 

 

© 2025 LUCi by SOLUS - v 1.6.1

Loading

    A-Z of Library Services

    Our library locations and opening times

    Join the library

    Reserve, renew or return an item

    Our Online Library

    Using our libraries

    Our mobile and home library services

    Our services for children and young adults

    Health and wellbeing

    Volunteer at your local library

    Book of the Month

    Our Reading Suggestions

    Join a book group

    Our strategies, policies and terms

    Help pages

    Winter Reading Challenge

    Beach Reads-Summer 2024

    Reading Well for Dementia

    Women's History Month

    Story of the Month

    Holocaust Memorial Day

    Autism and Neurodiversity

    Library Service of Sanctuary Booklists

    South Asian Heritage Month

    Death Positive

    School Readiness

    Reading Well

    VOX Books

    Help with the cost of living

    South Asian Heritage Month

    LGBT+ History Month 2024

    Windrush Day 22 June Booklist

    Empathy Day 2024

    December 2023

    November 2023

    October 2023

    September 2023

    August 2023

    July 2023

    June 2023

    May 2023

    March 2023

    February 2023

    January 2023

    December 2022

    November 2022

    August 2022

    September 2022

    July 2022

    June 2022

    May 2022

    April 2022

    March 2022

Story of the Month – October

 </p>

To help families develop a love of reading every month we will be sharing a fabulous story video for families to share along with some activity ideas.

 

This month’s story is from  BookTrust and is One Banana, Two Bananas by Charlotte and Adam Guillain illustrated by Sam Lloyd

Watch the video here

You can borrow some more books about bananas from your local library

Why not try one of these activity ideas:

  • Draw a picture of the Bananas’ garden or the park full of sleeping fruit.
  • How many types of fruit you can name?
  • The Bananas were going to have a party and dance and make loads of noise, dance like you are a banana.
  • When the Llamas arrive they have a race, go outside and race like you are on the back of a Llama.
  • Bananas nine and ten are super bananas if you were a superhero what would your superpower be?
  • The Bananas get into trouble and are scared because of Monkey but their friends the Llamas rescue them. When your friends are scared or nervous what do you do to make them feel better?

Banana Crafts

 

Read One banana, two bananas story to children, then ask the children to make their own banana, you could also encourage the children to make pyjamas for their bananas to wear! Get creative and even make a fast banana boat from the story. See link below for instructions:

https://www.simpleeverydaymom.com/printable-banana-craft/

 

Sugar Free Banana Muffins

 

Children love cooking, why not try these delicious sugar free banana muffins. A wonderful way to teach children mathematic skills when measuring and weighing ingredients. 

https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/so-good-sugar-free-banana-muffins/

 

For more great ideas of activities to try with your young children check out the Talk Listen Cuddle website

For more fun with numbers check out the Essex Year of Numbers website