MELBOURNE - Some arrive with their children, others bring their grandchildren, while the occasional passer-by stops after recognising a song they haven’t heard in years.

At Italian Storytime, run by Whitehorse Manningham Libraries at Bulleen Library, Italian is both a language to discover and a thread connecting generations. Through books, rhymes and music, each session creates a space where young and old can come together.

The program was launched in 2024 with funding from the Victorian Government grant by the Multicultural Storytimes grants initiative. Choosing Italian was an obvious decision, according to Karina Bugeja, Coordinator of Children and Youth Services.

“We have a well-established Italian community in Bulleen, and we already had an Italian-language collection, including fiction and non-fiction books, magazines and a dedicated children’s section. So, when we were looking at what we would like to offer, it just seemed like a natural choice to put our Italian Storytimes at Bulleen Library”, she explained.

Italian Storytime runs twice a month and is primarily aimed at children aged one to five. The response has been overwhelmingly positive from the outset, with some families travelling from other parts of Melbourne to attend.

One of the program’s most appealing features is that the sessions are conducted almost entirely in Italian. Led by Lisa, a native Italian-speaking librarian, each session takes participants on a half-hour journey through stories, songs and nursery rhymes.

Occasionally, a few words are explained in English, particularly to help families learning Italian as a second language. However, “all the songs are in Italian, and all the stories are read in Italian”, Bugeja emphasised, explaining that the aim is to provide an immersive language experience.

Repeating familiar nursery rhymes from one session to the next helps young children become comfortable with the sounds and words of the language, gradually building their confidence. Each session also includes a craft activity linked to the day’s theme.

But it is not just the children who get involved, particularly during sessions held in the Bulleen Plaza shopping centre.

“Sometimes older people stop when they recognise a song and join in” Bugeja said.

Many grandparents also bring their grandchildren, finding in Storytime an opportunity to strengthen the linguistic and cultural heritage they are often already passing on at home.

“A lot of families are really enthusiastic because it genuinely is a Storytime in Italian,” she added. “They can hear the language, practise it, then borrow the books and continue reading at home.”

Behind the fun and playful atmosphere lies a clear focus on children’s development. Storytime programs at public libraries are designed to build early literacy, vocabulary, comprehension and listening skills, while also helping children learn to take turns and participate in group activities.

“Before that formal education happens, we want kids to fall in love with reading and with books and stories,” Bugeja said, highlighting the unique position libraries have in reaching families before their children start school.

Importantly, maintaining the language spoken at home does not hinder children’s ability to learn English. On the contrary, it can strengthen their overall language skills.

“We encourage families to keep speaking their own language. When you’re confident reading in the language you know best, you can give so much more to your children than when you’re trying to read in a language you’re less comfortable with. Reading together should be fun and enjoyable."

The language structures, rhymes and skills children develop in their home language, she explained, can also support their learning of English.

The library’s Italian-language children’s collection has expanded in recent years, partly thanks to government funding, and now includes a rich selection of books, ranging from works by Italian authors to translations of children’s classics.

Families are also welcome to suggest new titles for the library to purchase. If a particular library does not have books in a requested language, families can access them through the interlibrary loan system.

Storytime sessions cover a wide variety of themes, often touching on health and wellbeing, from healthy eating and physical activity to water safety and mental health.

There have also been sessions celebrating Italy’s Republic Day, exploring dental health and even teaching children about eye care through a story featuring dinosaurs who had trouble seeing clearly.

Current funding will allow Italian Storytime to continue until the end of June 2027. Beyond that, the library will explore opportunities to keep the program running, given its popularity and the enthusiastic response from local families.

“It’s really well attended and has become something very special in Bulleen,” Bugeja concluded.

Four sessions remain before the end of the year, all starting at 11am and running for 45 minutes: 27 October at Bulleen Plaza, 10 November at Bulleen Library, 24 November at Bulleen Plaza and, for the final session of the year, 8 December at Bulleen Library.