Songs and Stories with Kate

15/07/2024

I'm back babies!! With some "big, big love" for y'all!

Starting THIS WEDNESDAY, July 17, at The Keys 11am and then Friday at Artiga Specialty Coffee 11.30am.

Be there rain or shine and we'll share some songs and stories together again ❤️ Xx

17/06/2024

A LITTLE BREAK...

It's very unusual for me to miss a week of storytime 😮 But...My family and I are heading away for a few weeks in search of some 🌞!!

THIS will be the last week, last session at Artiga Specialty Coffee Friday, 21 June.

I WILL BE BACK (of course!!😁) with more songs and stories the first week of school, Wednesday, JULY 17 at The Keys.
...and ongoing Wednesday's and Friday's rain hail or shine!! 🌧⚡️🌈

The lovely folks at Artiga have put together a few activities (see pic) for the wee ones entertainment in my absence on Friday's, so enjoy my friends!

Hopefully see lots of you this week before I head off!

*Other wee pic by my 6yr old - spread the looove 😍💖XX

25/03/2024

Hey Sunshines!
Want to let you know that Songs and Stories with yours truly WILL CONTINUE during these school Holidays!!

EXCEPT for Good Friday when everything's closed and we all have a nice chocolate eating break 😋

So yeah, apart from good Friday, business as usual, hopefully lots of you are sticking around and I'll see you there!

Also! The lovely folks at Artiga Specialty Coffee that host our Friday session are putting on an egg hunt this Wednesday so feel free to join in on that!
❤️❤️

28/02/2024

It's been a beautiful start to this year!
Thanks everyone for attending 💖

Wishing I had time to post all the awesome books I share each week (tried and failed on that front 😆)
BUT sometimes a really touching little treasure makes its way into my library mountain and this was one!
Buy it, or borrow it and share with your little ones! Or just pop along to storytime and I shall read it again 😉

Interconnectivity people! 💚🤱🐣🌳🌻

06/02/2024

First session at THE KEYS this morning!
All ready for ya 😁!
And what a beautiful Melbourne morn it is! 💚

30/01/2024

STARTING BACK THIS FRIDAY!!

Artiga Specialty Coffee 11.30am, February 2nd will be the first session for the new year!

Then EVERY Wednesday 11am @ The Keys in Preston (doors open 10.30am for coffee 😉)

And EVERY Friday 11.30am, Artiga Cafe, Thornbury.

30 mins of singing and stories for the wee ones and as long as ya like (can!) for coffee n chatssss - can't wait to catch up! 😀

❤️💛💚💙 see ya there!!
Xx Kate

08/01/2024

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!
Can't really believe we are already a week in!
So best get into it! (Shortly.... 😉)

First Storytime this year will be Artiga Cafe, Friday Feb 2nd, 11.30am.

Wednesday's at The Keys starts back Wednesday, Feb 7th, 11am for that one.

Look forward to seeing all your shining faces then!
All the love ❤️
Kate xx

03/12/2023

4 STORYTIME'S LEFT THIS YEAR!!!
This week and next! Come on down!

Last sessions for 2023 will be Wednesday 13th at The Keys and Friday 15th at Artiga Cafe and they will be.... XMAS STORYTIME'S!!

Xmas books, Xmas nursery rhymes and Xmas dress up if you wanna join me!?
AND bring BELLS, if you have them, for a noisy round of Jingle bells!!

LETS GET MERRY!!! ❤️💚❤️💚❤️💚

06/11/2023

NO STORYTIME WEDNESDAY 15TH!

I HATE to ever cancel a session, its really important to me that you can turn up weekly OR once in a blue moon and we'll be there to greet you but unfortunately my poor Dad isn't well and I'll be travelling back to NZ for a few days next week...

I will be back Friday 17th for Artiga Cafe 11.30am!

Annnnd at THE KEYS tomorrow morning, so see ya there! Rain or shine!

Til then, keep it cool baby cats! 😎✌️💙

25/10/2023

NO TICKETS REQUIRED!!!
FREEEEEEE!! FREE! FREE! 🤩

A few peeps have been messaging me as tickets for the 86 Festival have sold out, so says the website, BUT at The Keys, live music 11am-midnight....NO TICKETS NEEDED!!

And first up,
in case you missed it,
Yours truly....

Songs and Stories with Kate!!

Bring the bubs! Let's party 🥳!!
❤️❤️❤️

21/10/2023

LOOK AT MEEEE MUM!!
Finally I've become the rock star of my dreams!
Well.......... I'm on a music poster, same, same 😜

NEXT SATURDAY, 28th October, loads of venues along the wonderful 86 tram line will be putting on free music for the masses!
AND
AT THE KEYS IN PRESTON
AT 11AM.......

Songs and Stories with MEEEE!!! 🎉🎉🎉

I've put a wee playlist together to have a boogie with y'all afterwards too (while the real bands set up!)

Come and join me rockstars!!!
💖X

17/10/2023

Hey Fam!
The sun is back! 🌞🌞

That's us there last Wednesday morning @ The Keys in Preston, taking over the beer garden 😉just a cosy wee crew under some big umbrella's ⛱️.... and we'll be doing the same tomorrow!!

Come on down if your free, coffee's from 10.30, songs n stories 11am 💚 XX

13/09/2023

Just a reminder that my free storytime's DO CONTINUE during school holidays!!

**Please note however, that Friday September 29th, is grand final weekend so there will be no session that day.

Here is a little pic of the set up for our first outdoor session at The Keys this morning, so lovely this warm weather!!

Look forward to seeing y'all soon!
💖 Kate xx

08/09/2023

Set up on the deck this morning. Sheltered (mostly!) heaters are ON, coffee is hot and with the added excitement of WINDY TREES!! 😄X

21/07/2023

Another stunning morning for some songs n stories!! So much luck we have with Friday morning weather 🤯😃
Come join me for a cuppa!
Storytime begins 11.30am, Artiga Cafe, Thornbury.
(As it does every Friday!) 💚

07/06/2023

"It was an ordinary day in the neighbourhood.
It was an extraordinary day in the neighbourhood."

I read "An ordinary day" that session for my sister and my new nephew Casper ❤️❤️

07/06/2023

07/06/2023

So hard for me not to say anything!! 😆😆

These. Are. Good. Books.

07/06/2023

Hellooooo!!!!
I have been veeeeery slack on keeping up with my fb posts - it's been nearly THREE MONTHS 😳😫!!

There have been so many super fun storytime sessions in that time!

Thank you so much everyone for bringing your beautiful bubs, yourselves, and all the ongoing support ❤️!! The two newish venues have been working wonderfully - lucky us!

I will now endeavour to catch up with myself!

(A series of quick fire posts containing my weekly story picks will follow... maybe bringing up a distant memory of a storytime you attended once 2 months ago....... 😅)

26/04/2023

EXCITING NEWSSSS.....
Wednesday is BACK ON babies!!!

With a new and fabulous Preston venue....
THE KEYS!

The lovely people there have agreed to open a little early on Wednesday just for us, with coffee (!!) available the doors open at 10.30am.
I'll be on at 11am.

THIS ALL STARTS NEXT WEEK!

First one - May 3rd!!
Please come and show your support and enjoy!

*Friday @ Artiga Cafe is ongoing weekly, 11.30am for that one

See ya soon ❤️
Kate xx

13/04/2023

I will be hosting tomorrow morning with a school holiday helper!

💛 New time of 11.30am! 💛

See ya there!
Kate Xx

25/03/2023

"Somebody's Land" is amazing to read in a group. The repetition is powerful, when kids join in on the line
"... they said that it was nobody's land but - IT WAS SOMEBODY'S LAND!"
I feel such a sense of hope = I've read it before and will be reading again!
❤💛🖤

"I Love Bugs" was a fun read, at the new Darebin Creek location particularly, lots of bug loving bubs there!

And lastly "Lets Go Strolling" is a sweet little poem that is perfectly encapsulates life from a pushchair, know your audience 😉

Xx Kate.

24/03/2023

Been sharing a few of last years FAVOURITES to get us rolling this year (there are so many!)

I LOVE "The Suitcase" so powerful in its simplicity, a personal fav. Inspired by the Syrian refugee crises, welcoming strangers, those that appear different to you, is the theme 🧡

"ALL GIRLS CAN LIKE WHATEVER THEY WANT!" Thanks Nelly Thomas, couldn't ask for a better book to share on International Women's day (or ANY day! Equality babiessss!!! ✊)

And finally "Guff". Short, sweet and always funny from the beloved Aaron Blabey of "Pig the Pug" fame, love his humour and illustration, can't go wrong.

💖X
Kate.

10/03/2023

Look at us all there beneath the trees! 😍😍😍
The new venue for Friday mornings, Artiga cafe. We are trialling the space for this, the month of March, and off to a great start!

10/03/2023

This was the story selection this time round...
I'm a big fan of the simple yet dramatic story "The Second Sky" the author is from Melbourne and one of his favourite ideas to live by is "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born... and the day you find out why" which is illustrated perfectly by Gilbert the penguin here.

I had to do the 1960 classic "Are you my Mother?" as my own near 2 yr old loves it so much at the moment!

Had great fun reading them all, as always!

Much love ❤
And see y'all next week!
(Wednesday @ Moon Rabbit and now Friday @ Artiga, both 10.30am)

03/03/2023

HAAAAAPPY NEEEEEW YEEEEEAR!!!!
I'm back babiessss 😁😁😁!!

So wonderful to see everyone! The growth of the little's from last year and some new face's fresh to this world = and experiencing their first Storytime 😍!!

These were the books I read at Moon Rabbits first session, Wed, Feb 22, and again today at the brand new venue for Friday morning- ARTIGA- by the beautiful Darebin Creek!

"A Child of Books" was a great book to start this new year, hopefully all our bubs will "come from a world of stories...."
❤❤❤

Also want to say a big thankyou to everyone that came along to support me and todays session at our new venue. It is am amazing community to be a part of and I truly look forward to seeing you all each week 💋!!!

14/02/2023

And now... the big news of the new year!

A FRIDAY MORNING VENUE!

Nestled amongst the trees by the lovely Darebin Creek is a Cafe called ARTIGA. You can access it via the Darebin Creek bike trail OR Creek end of Mansfield St in Thornbury where parking is available also.

First session will be MARCH 3RD.

PLEASE NOTE: This location is only booked for March so far so please come and support me next month if you'd like to see this Friday gig continue...

Exciting times!

**Preston Wednesday is 10.30am also, back hall space, at Moon Rabbit cafe**