Dive Into Reading is an early reading, activity and membership literacy program for newborns to five year olds and their parents and carers which aims to:

• Introduce the concept of books and reading to infants and toddlers
• Encourage parents and carers of young children to read regularly to their children
• Promote the value of library membership for parents and carers and their children
• Improve the capacity and confidence of parents and carers by helping them to enjoy parenting

Dive Into Reading activities include:

• Weekly story time sessions for newborns to five year olds and new monthly story and rhyme-time sessions for newborn to 18 months at the Frankston and Carrum Downs libraries
• Monthly story time sessions for newborns to four year olds and their parent/carers at selected Maternal and Child Health immunisation centres
• Access to other school holiday programs and activities;
• Fun activity groups involving parents and children including music, art and play
• Interactive reading and activity workshops for parents and carers of newborns to three year olds
• Regular informal support and information sessions for parents and carers of newborns to five year olds, on topics such as choosing age appropriate reading material, and skills to encourage children to join in reading
• Proposed picture book library and swap boxes to provide resources for parents and carers to read regularly to their children
• Visitation program to kindergartens, pre-schools, play groups, maternal and child health centres and mother's groups

    (See below for Calendar of Events)

Did you know that libraries play a very important role in the early development of children?

Research suggests that 75 per cent of a child's brain develops in the first five years of life

This is a free membership club for newborns to five year olds. Members receive:

• Little Fins Book Club library bag
• Babies board book (newborns to 12 months only)
• Little Fins Book Club membership and certificate
• Little Fins Book Club growth chart and book mark
• Recommended reading lists and reading tips
• Priority access to story time sessions and other activities
• Exclusive book group and reading workshops for mums, dads and carers

By reading regularly to your child, just a few minutes a day, you are:

Building a foundation for lifelong learning

Developing early literacy skills and reading readiness

Encouraging creativity and imagination

Supporting the natural love and intimacy between you and your child

How to join

To join, just come to one of the Library's locations with some identification that includes your name and address.

You can print and complete a  Dive Into Reading brochure  (Acrobat PDF file - 50 KB) and membership form and have it ready before you come in.

Calendar of events

Weekly pre-school story time and activity sessions for two to five year olds

Frankston Library
Playne Street, Frankston
(Melway Ref: 100A D8)
Thursdays at 11:00am

Carrum Downs Library
Lyrebird Drive, Carrum Downs
(Melway Ref: 100 H3)
Fridays at 11:15am

Karingal Neighbourhood Centre
Karingal Drive, Frankston
(Melway Ref: 103 B2)
Wednesdays at 1:30pm

Candlebark Child Care Centre 
Candlebark Crescent, Frankston North
(Melway Ref: 99 J8)
Wednesdays at 10.30am

Tiny tots story time for newborns to two year olds

Carrum Downs Library
Lyrebird Drive, Carrum Downs
(Melway Ref: 100 H3)
First and third Thursday of the month at 1.30pm

Karingal Neighbourhood Centre
Karingal Drive, Frankston
(Melway Ref: 103 B2)
Third Tuesday of the month at 11.00am

Pines Maternal and Child Health Centre at Mahogany Neighbourhood Centre
Mahogany Avenue, Frankston North
(Melway Ref: 99 J8)
First Friday of each month at 10:30am

Monthly immunisation session story times

East Karingal Maternal and Child Health Centre
Havana Crescent, Frankston 
(Melway Ref: 103 D2)
Second Tuesday of month at 11:30am

Lyrebird Community Centre
Lyrebird Drive, Carrum Downs
(Melway Ref: 100 H3)
First Wednesday of month at 11:30am

Pines Maternal and Child Health Centre at Mahogany Neighbourhood Centre
Mahogany Avenue, Frankston North (Melway Ref: 99 J8)
Third Tuesday of month at 11:30am

Coffee and chat sessions

Carrum Downs Library
Lyrebird Drive, Carrum Downs
(Melway Ref: 100 H3)
Last Friday of each month at 11:45am, following storytime

Library resources include:

Reading Magic by Mem Fox
Reading Bug by Paul Jennings

Web resources:

Best Start
Best Start at Frankston City Council 
Books Plus - childrens literature
Mem Fox reads from Reading Magic