National Storytelling Week

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National Storytelling Week
2-8 February 2026

Whether you enjoy reading or not, there are plenty of other ways to take pleasure in stories.

That’s why we’re bringing play-along storytelling experiences to families during February half-term. Listening to and acting out adventures can be a bridge to enjoying books in the future. It has other benefits, such as:

- strengthening language skills by exposing children to new words and sentence structures they don’t hear in day-to-day conversations, which will support future literacy success

- developing memory, sequencing, and inferential ability through following a plot: remembering characters, predicting what will happen next, and making sense of cause and effect

- activating the imagination, which is essential to creativity and problem-solving skills

- building empathy and social skills by introducing children to experiences beyond their own, and abstract concepts such as emotions and values

- reducing stress and supporting the processing complex feelings when introduced as a predictable, calming ritual in the day

As we enter the second month of the National Year of Reading, we want to reconnect families with the joy of storytelling. May it inspire you to take home a few books to share together.

Events
Discover What's On in February!

Make Your Own Storybook
Lydney Library | All month long during open hours, just drop in!

Newent Creation Station - Zine Making
Newent Library | All month long during open hours, just drop in!

Newent Story Time - Storytelling Session
Newent Library | Thursday, 5 February, 11:00

Enchanted Forest with The Last Baguette Theatre Company
Tewkesbury Library | Friday, 13 February, 10:30 am
Up Hatherley Library | Monday, 16 February, 2:30 pm

The Emperor and the Nightingale Interactive Story Time and Craft
Newent Library | Monday, 16 February, 2:30 pm
Dursley Library | Tuesday, 17 February, 11:00 am

Railway Creatures and Story Stones with Gloucestershire Archives
Cinderford Library | Wednesday, 18 February, 2:30 pm

Canal Creatures and Story Stones with Gloucestershire Archives
Nailsworth Library | Friday, 20 February, 10:30 am

Regular Story Groups and Activities

Dive into even more story fun with these groups that meet regularly at libraries near you!

Visit gloslibraries.uk/events or speak to staff at your local library to find out what’s on near you, or have a look at the groups listed below.

📖 Story Times 📖