Bookstart - Tameside Story Makers

Story Makers Story Maker sessions are fun and interactive storytelling sessions aimed at children aged 0-4 years and their families.

This year the theme is ‘It’s Okay to be Me’ This year we will also be celebrating 10 years of Story Maker- WOW!!

Simon the storyteller delivers weekly sessions in libraries and online via Zoom. Families will have the opportunity to work with award winning children’s author Caryl Hart and illustrator Andrew Rowland to create a children’s picture book which will be printed and published. All families attending the sessions will receive a free signed copy at the celebratory event later in the year.

The It’s Okay to be Me sessions are funded by Tameside Community Safety.

How Much Are the Sessions? How do you Book a Place?

All the Story Makers sessions are free.

There is no booking required for the Story Maker sessions you can just turn up. If you would like to attend the online bookable session you will need to ask for the link by emailing book.start@tameside.gov.uk.

When they are Held

Story Makers 'Love Where You Live' sessions will start on Tuesday 6 October 2026 until the end of April 2027. Story Makers 9 Poster

Sessions will be held at the following libraries:

Tuesdays 10am-10.45am - Hattersley Library
Tuesdays 1.30pm-2.15pm - Droylsden Library
Wednesdays 10am-10.30am Online bookable session
Wednesdays - 1.30pm-2.15pm Dukinfield Library

For more information or to book a place email book.start@tameside.gov.uk or call 0161 342 3443.

Reward scheme

This year there will be a Story Makers reward scheme where children can collect five certificates. Children will receive a stamp card; they can collect stamps for taking a book out of the library and for attending a Story Makers session. Once a child has 6 stamps they will receive a certificate. There will be five certificates to collect in total.

Where You Can Access Last Year’s Books

Families who attended Story Makers last year helped create the book ‘Rosie’s Community Garden’. You can collect a FREE copy from any Tameside Library.

2026 - Rosie’s Community Garden
2025 Team Trotter Triumphs Again
2024 - 999 Emergency
2023 - Sunny Days and Rainy Days
2022 - My Community
2021 - How Kind
2020 - People Like Me
2019 - Zeke's Emergency
2018 - Joey's Space Adventure, The Magic Roundabout, Down the Plughole, Into the Jungle