Storytime with Erika and CoCo Flash

Pride week celebrated at the Library

Westland District Library hosted their first-ever children’s Rainbow Storytime, part of our Pride Month celebration this June. The fabulous drag queens, Erika and CoCo Flash, entertained an audience of over 75 children and adults. They read children’s picture books on themes of acceptance, inclusion and being kind and raised the roof singing favourite children’s songs, including the infamous Baby Shark!

“Brilliant event Westland District Library, thank you for bringing sparkle to Hokitika and for Pride Week.” Patron Feedback.

Events like Rainbow Storytime promote reading for pleasure. Reading for pleasure supports cognitive development and helps build social and emotional skills, including empathy. Children and adults that can empathise with others are kinder, less likely to bully, and more understanding and tolerant of differences in others. This positively impacts our individual and community health and well-being. If that doesn’t convince you, OECD research shows that reading for pleasure is the single most important indicator of a child’s future success. It’s even a more powerful factor in life achievement than socio-economic background.

So if you haven’t already, come and visit the library, it’s free to join, free to borrow and we have something for everyone!

Text and images from Westland District Library