Aura Libraries Flintshire: Home crafts to enjoy this Easter half-term

Great Family Days In by Claire Balkind.

Maz, library assistant at Mold Library, recommends Claire Balkind’s book, Great Family Days In. The book includes over 75 different activities and ideas for keeping the family busy and creative indoors, whether it be a rainy day or something to do over half-term.

Maz said: “I was in desperate need of something to lure my two daughters away from the television screen during half-term and subsequent lockdown weekends, and this book certainly did that.

"It is packed full of a variety of different activities with some taking more time than others - for example, the escape room needed some forward planning - others, like building a toothpick tower, were very simple. There were not a lot of marshmallows left in the end!

"With simple, easy to follow instructions, and lovely illustrations and ideas to enable quality time together, we had a lot of fun!”

Online Easter activities

Make sure you head over to our Facebook page over the Easter holiday, where we will be posting rhymetime, storytime and craft video sessions for you to enjoy with your little ones. You can find us on Facebook by searching: @LlyfrgelloeddAuraLibraries. We are also on Twitter at: @LibFlintshire and Instagram: @llyfrgelloeddauralibraries If you are planning on making crafts and reading stories this Easter half-term, share your creations with us by sending us a photo.

Weekly Book Corner

Titles by Kathryn Hughes, available at Aura Libraries.

This week’s recommendation comes from library assistant Sue at Mold Library, who said: “I would like to recommend the following books by Kathryn Hughes: The Letter, The Secret, The Key, and Her Last Promise.

"I'm waiting in excited anticipation for her next novel, The Memory Box, due to be published later this year. Kathryn's books are poignant and uplifting in equal measure: she makes you really feel for her characters.

"Her stories include echoes from past generations that impact on the lives of those in present times. Her stories are set in fictional locations but are well researched using actual events and places in North Wales as inspiration for her stories. I would give her books a 5/5 Aura book score!”

• Titles by Kathryn Hughes are available to borrow from your local Aura library (along with Great Family Days In by Claire Balkind). If these books sound right up your street, why not add them to your next Select and Collect order: search our online library catalogue and reserve titles, or email or telephone your local library. As a reminder, our libraries are currently open for Select and Collect orders only: to make an order please telephone us on 01352 703750, or email us at libraries@aura.wales . You can browse our catalogue at www.aura.wales/flintshire-library-catalogue/and place a hold on items to collect from the library counter. We will just need to know your library membership number, a contact telephone number and email address, your book requests/preferences, and your preferred collection point.

Monthly reading groups

Our next Reading Friends shared reading group sessions will be on Tuesday, April 13, from 11am-noon, and Wednesday, April 14, from 7pm-8pm.

Our next Ffrindiau Darllen Cymraeg session for advanced Welsh learners and fluent speakers will be on Tuesday, April 13, at 7pm-8pm, followed by our session for intermediate Welsh learners on Wednesday, April 14, 2pm-3pm.

Our monthly reading groups are fun, welcoming and a space for people to get together and socialise whilst sharing a love of reading! For more information or to join, please email susannah.hill@aura.wales

Census Support

Until May 4, 2021, Aura Libraries will be delivering a Census Support Service for the residents of Flintshire.

Until current restrictions are lifted we can only offer pre-booked telephone support. If you require help to complete your form please contact one of our three support centres with your basic contact details for one of our advisors to call you back at your convenience. All calls are confidential and will be carried out by fully trained advisors. Connah’s Quay Library - 01352 707730, Flint Library - 01352 703737 or Mold Library - 01352 703780.

From everyone here at Aura Libraries, thank you for reading, stay safe and we hope to hear from you or see you soon! Whilst we may be facing difficult times, remember: we are always united by books!

• Aura is a charitable, not-for-profit, organisation responsible for managing the majority of leisure, libraries and heritage services in Flintshire. Aura is owned by its employees and operates for the benefit of local communities.