State Library Victoria has a collection of more than 4000 children’s books in our browsing collection, all of which are available in the Pauline Gandel Children’s Quarter. The collection spans from durable board books for the youngest learners to engaging graphic novels and detailed non-fiction for older children. With so many books to view we have created a collection discovery page to help families find the right book for them.
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Left: Reading room browsing collections Right: Children’s browsing collection
The Children’s browsing collection consists of eight subcollections, including our board books, picture books and community language books. The subcollections also include two information book (non-fiction) collections and two reading book (fiction) collections divided by recommended age groups, and finally a graphic novels subcollection.
Board and picture books including community languages (ages 0-8)
Colours, counting, letters, and lessons. From baby’s first board book to the picture book they love enough to share with their own children, we open a whole new world when we share the written word with children.
Board books
State Library Victoria has more than 200 board books in its browsing collection. The cover and pages of these books are made of thick cardboard (hence the name!). These books are made to last in the hands of your curious little one, they often include special features such as textured material, holes, and moving parts to entice little fingers in the act of engaging with books.
The words and ideas presented in board books can range from super simple; fantastic for introducing your child to letters, numbers and colours; to more complex lessons on animals, feelings, and even quantum physics! Board books are fantastic for children aged 0-2 but are highly enjoyable as an easy read for anyone starting their solo reading journey. They can be an endless source of entertainment and nostalgia for parents as they introduce their children to literature for the first time.
Picture books
State Library Victoria has nearly 2000 picture books in its browsing collection. These books can come in hardcover or paperback. Picture books use artwork to illustrate the story and the text is often smaller or more artistically designed to fit with the content of the book. The stories presented in picture books are a step-up in length from most board books and can help develop preliminary context skills as children link the text and the pictures together to build understanding about what is happening in the story.
Picture books often include life lessons or emotional support for phases of growth and change in children’s lives. Common themes include friendship, family, conflict resolution, self-acceptance, love, the passage of time and how things often do not remain the same. Picture books are fantastic for children aged 2-8, but we welcome children of all ages to engage and delight in our picture book collection.
Community language books
State Library Victoria has close to 1500 community language books in its browsing collection. This collection includes board books and picture books spread across 23 languages. The collection features bi-lingual, braille and indigenous language texts. The amazing life lessons you can gain from single language books can be infinitely increased by reading a bilingual book with your child as they can learn to engage with, and value, multiple languages.
List of the 23 community languages available in the Pauline Gandel Children’s Quarter
| • Arabic | • Hindi | • Russian |
| • Australian Languages | • Indonesian | • Spanish |
| • Braille | • Italian | • Swedish |
| • Chinese | • Japanese | • Tamil |
| • Farsi | • Korean | • Thai |
| • French | • Macedonian | • Turkish |
| • German | • Māori | • Vietnamese |
| • Greek | • Polish |
Information and reading books including graphic novels (ages 3-12)
Facts, fiction, and formulas (be they magical or mathematical) that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Our fascination with the world around us, or the one in our own imagination, will never be sated or left wanting with books for friends.
Reading books (fiction)
State Library Victoria has more than 600 books in its Junior reading collection. These books are arranged by author and are located on the ground floor of the Children’s Quarter. This collection is aimed at children aged 5 to 8 and are your child’s first real steps into independent reading. The collection includes small novels and chapter books, many of which are part of larger series so that the multiple books can be read and enjoyed, encouraging an ongoing reading practice.
There are nearly 700 books in the Senior reading collection. These are arranged by author and are on the mezzanine level of the Pauline Gandel Children’s Quarter. This area of the Children’s Quarter has been affectionately termed ‘The Castle’ by the children’s advisory board that helped create the space. This collection is aimed at children aged 8 to 12 and includes a wider range of novels and chapter books, with slightly more complex themes and characters for readers to sink their teeth into.
Graphic novels are also part of the collection and with more than 300 titles on our shelves there is something for everyone. These are found in The Castle on the mezzanine level of the Pauline Gandel Children’s Quarter. This collection is aimed at the 8-12 age group and can be a fantastic transitional reading stage between picture and novel style books. They are also an excellent option for your young reader if they want to step back from reading without stepping away from books altogether.
Information books (non-fiction)
The Junior non-fiction collection is arranged by subject on the ground floor of the Pauline Gandel Children’s Quarter. This collection contains more than 1000 information books on subjects from computers, to history, science and the arts. The Senior non-fiction collection is arranged by subject on the mezzanine level of the Children’s Quarter. This collection has approximately 60 books in its holdings and is aimed at children aged 8 to 12.
State Library Victoria’s Pauline Gandel Children’s Quarter offers a rich and diverse browsing collection tailored to various age groups and interests, ensuring a wealth of literary resources for young readers and their families. You can browse what’s in the collection from home using our Collection Discovery page, or find the collection in the Pauline Gandel Children’s Quarter. Whether exploring the basics of colours and numbers in board books, delving into imaginative picture books, or venturing into non-fiction for deeper knowledge, the Children’s browsing collection provides the opportunity to discover your child’s next favourite book.
