Welcome to stories online!

Now you can view and listen to stories from New Zealand and around the world on your computer in the comfort of your own home! We will be adding to our collection regularly, so come back and visit often.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of Huia Publishers and Gecko Press in providing these stories online.

FREE Alphabet Colouring Book

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Kanopy and Beamafilm

Streaming film for children

If you love movies, then you'll love Kanopy and Beamafilm - Wellington City Libraries' movie streaming service.

Kanopy is a streaming platform with a focus on quality entertainment and international films. There are 30'000 movies to chose from, including a special Kanopy Kids collection. A library membership allows you to watch up to 6 movies per month from the main collection, or unlimited movies from the Kanopy Kids collection.

Beamafilm is similar to Kanopy but with a focus on movies from Australia and New Zealand, along with lots of international movies. There are 500 movies to choose from, with more being added all the time. A library membership allows you to watch up to 10 movies per month.

To access Kanopy and Beamafilm you will need to use a Wellington City Libraries Adult membership card. You can find them both on our eLibrary page, along with instructions on how to log in and click through. So make some popcorn, settle in, and get watching!

Overdrive Reading Room for kids

eBooks for children

Love eBooks? We do too! Now it's been made even easier to find the eBooks you want through the Overdrive Kids' Reading Room.

The Kids' Reading Room collects together all the Children's eBooks in the library Overdrive Collection into one place. If you're an advanced reader, why not check out the Teen Reading Room?

Inside the Kids' Reading Room you can search for titles, series or authors, select from a list of subjects, find the newest or most popular books, and find books that a perfect for your reading level.

Te Huihui o Matariki / The Seven Stars of Matariki

By Toni Rolleston-Cummins, translated into te reo Māori by Hone Morris

When he sees his brothers bewitched by seven beautiful women, the adventurous Mītai must step in. The Seven Stars of Matariki is a contemporary myth of love, magic and adventure that celebrates Matariki and tells how the star cluster came into being.

Click a book cover to listen, or one of these links: Te Huihui o Matariki read in te reo Māori, by Te Kahumatamomoe Taumata or The Seven Stars of Matariki read by the author, Toni Rolleston-Cummins.

If you would like to read along with the stories, click a link to find the book in our libraries: Te Huihui o Matariki, Seven Stars of Matariki

(Video produced by Belinda Davis of Wellington City Libraries in association with Huia Publishers. Illustration © Nikki Slade-Robinson

Mrs Mo's Monster

By Paul Beavis

A monster with a one-track mind meets his match in an elderly lady called Mrs. Mo. With Mrs. Mo's help, the monster is surprised to discover that he can do more than he ever thought, but that's not the only surprise Mrs. Mo has in store.

(Click to play, or if you can't see the link on the left, click here.)

If you would like to read along with the story, click here to find the book in our libraries.

(Read by Paul Beavis. Video produced by Françoise Padellec & Rachel Lynch of Wellington City Libraries in association with Gecko Press. Illustration © Paul Beavis.)

Selma

By Jutta Bauer

Let Selma the sheep show you what's truly important in life!

(Click to play, or if you can't see the link on the left, click here.)

(Read by Thomas La Hood. Video produced by Rebecca Pilcher of Wellington City Libraries in association with Gecko Press. Illustration © Jutta Bauer.)

Donkeys

By Adelheid Dahimene, translated from German by Catherine Chidgey

Two donkeys who have loved each other for many years have a silly argument. They each storm off to find someone new, but it's not easy.

(Click to play, or if you can't see the link on the left, click here.)

If you would like to read along with the story, click here to find the book in our libraries.

(Read by Thomas La Hood. Video produced by Rebecca Pilcher of Wellington City Libraries in association with Gecko Press. Illustration © Heide Stoellinger.)

Snake and Lizard

By Joy Cowley, illustrated by Gavin Bishop

A collection of stories about the friendship between Snake and Lizard, this book was named 2008 NZ Post Book of the Year. Listen to selected chapters from Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley and Gavin Bishop, read by Thomas La Hood:
The Bad Mood
Secrets
Money
In the Garden
Taking Down Walls
The Picnic
Down by the River
Heads and Tails

Note: these are MP3 files.

(Audio produced by Wellington City Libraries in association with Gecko Press. Illustration © Gavin Bishop. Recording funded by the committee of New Zealand Post Book Awards Region with sponsorship from WCC Cultural Grants.)

I am the king

By Leo Timmers

One morning Tortoise suddenly finds himself wearing a crown. 'I am the King!' he says. His friends can't stop laughing. Goat, Flamingo, Snake, Pig, Crocodile, Elephant and Ape each think they would make a perfect king. But who really is the King of the animals?

(Click to play, or if you can't see the link on the left, click here.)

If you would like to read along with the story, click here to find the book in our libraries.

(Read by Thomas La Hood. Video produced by Rebecca Pilcher of Wellington City Libraries in association with Gecko Press. Illustration © Leo Timmers.)

I am so handsome

By Mario Ramos, translated by Jean Anderson

The big bad wolf thinks he is the most handsomest creature in the woods, so he goes for a stroll to get everyone to admire him...

(Click to play, or if you can't see the link on the left, click here.)

If you would like to read along with the story, click here to find the book in our libraries.

(Read by Thomas La Hood. Video produced by Rebecca Pilcher of Wellington City Libraries in association with Gecko Press. Illustration © Mario Ramos.)

I am so strong

By Mario Ramos, translated by Jean Anderson

The big bad wolf goes for a stroll through the woods to find out what everyone thinks of him.

(Click to play, or if you can't see the link on the left, click here.)

If you would like to read along with the story, click here to find the book in our libraries.

(Read by Thomas La Hood. Video produced by Rebecca Pilcher of Wellington City Libraries in association with Gecko Press. Illustration © Mario Ramos.)

Stories on the Web

There are some great websites where you can read or listen to stories, and some even have fun games and activities to do too! Here are some of our favourites:

• The StoryPlace: interactive stories with printable activity sheets and booklists,
• Magic Keys: great short stories, some have audio so you can read and listen to it,
• StoryNory have been publishing a new online story every week since 2005 including loads of classics like Cinderella and Snow White, and
• International Children's Digital Library: read some classic children's books from all over the world. You can serach by country, language, book cover colour, age group, genre, award winners, book length - so many to choose from!