Children's Author of the Month

David McKee is the creator of well-known characters including King Rollo, Mr Benn and Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, which is now published in more than 60 languages and has its own successful global merchandise programme. David was born in Devon and went to Plymouth Art College, where he had a traditional training. On leaving college he drew regularly for Punch, Reader's Digest, and The Times Educational Supplement. His drawings were influenced especially by Saul Steinberg and Andre Francois. In 2020 David won the British Book Awards Illustrator of the Year Award and Book Trust's Lifetime Achievement Award. Sadly David McKee passed away earlier this year, but he leaves a tremendous legacy of books we've all loved and grown up with.

Elmer Day

Brynteg Library is getting ready for the most colourful day of the year! For this year's Elmer Day on May 28, we are celebrating the themes of inclusivity and friendship that run throughout the Elmer books and honouring the life and legacy of Elmer's creator David McKee. His was a singular voice and a shining light in children's books. His creations, including Elmer, Mr Benn and Not Now, Bernard, have touched the lives of many generations of children around the world.

Free books for Reading Groups

Do you run a reading group and sometimes struggle to find something to read? The Reading Agency have a section on their website dedicated to helping you establish and run a reading group, information on how to host a reading group online plus they work in partnership with many publishers and are able to secure free sets of books for reading groups. They shadow all of the major literary prizes, provide books reviews for adult and children's books and have a great noticeboard for just about everything to do with reading groups. For more information visit https://readinggroups.org/ Alternatively, you can call into any library and ask staff to help you choose, we have collection with multiple copies available just for reading groups.

Learn to read with Fred the Frog

Fred and his 'Special Friends' have arrived at Wrexham Library. We are pleased to announce that Wrexham Library now holds the 'Book Bag' range of reading books from Read Write Inc. A Phonics based literacy programme developed by Ruth Miskin published by Oxford University Press. Read Write Inc. is taught in over 5000 schools in the UK, making it the country's most popular way for children to learn to read using phonics. The 'Book Bag' range is a bright, colourful collection of engaging texts to help support children with additional reading practice outside of the classroom, in a range of appropriate levels to help them to enjoy their early reading journey and reinforce their classroom learning. Why not visit the library today to meet Fred the Frog?

Free Audio Books

Are you planning any long journeys, or do you like whiling away the time whilst walking the dog? Whatever your preference your local library will have a wide variety of audio books to keep you occupied. You can borrow audio books to play on your CD player or you can download them to your device for free using our special Borrowbox app which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store for Android. For more details visit www.wrexham.gov.uk/libraries

Book review

A Normal Family by Henry Normal and Angela Pell

A Normal Family by Henry Normal and Angela Pell

A Normal Family by Henry Normal and Angela Pell

Comedy writer, producer and poet Henry Normal and his wife Angela Pell share their life affirming, funny, and emotional celebration of life with their precious autistic son, Johnny. They candidly share the highs and lows of life before and after Johnny's diagnosis of ASD, their struggles and triumphs. A Normal Family is a moving, honest and poignant account of living in a family touched by autism. Although they know Johnny may not be able to live without help in a neurotypical world, their story confirms the fulfilling life and potential beyond ASD diagnosis. For anyone whose lives have been touched by autism, or parents who are beginning the journey with a child of any age, it is a 'must read'. As someone who's life has recently been touched by autism, it was a huge comfort, being able to freely acknowledge the myriad of sometimes conflicting emotions, and to embrace and welcome life in a neurodiverse world.