Friday, 20 November, is Germany’s nationwide Vorlesetag, or reading-aloud day. The Stiftung Lesen motto this year is “Ich lese vor – du auch?” (“I’m reading aloud – will you?”). Parents, nurseries, schools, clubs, libraries and companies can all take part. For Ukrainian families in Munich it is a good excuse to bring their own language into the nursery, the playgroup or the library.
Anyone organising a reading registers it at vorlesetag.de/anmelden. Institutions looking for readers can post a request on the foundation’s volunteering portal, where volunteers can find nurseries and schools. For parents the simplest step is to ask your child’s group whether you can read a picture book – a few pages in Ukrainian, then the German. There is no guarantee every setting will agree, so ask early.
The easiest source of books in both languages is the Münchner Stadtbibliothek. Children and teenagers under 18 pay no card fee. For adults a card costs €20 a year, or €10 reduced – for example with a München-Pass or if you receive Bürgergeld or social assistance; eligibility is checked when you collect the card. Bring ID or a passport plus your registration confirmation (Meldebestätigung). For minors you also need a registration form signed by a guardian, the guardian’s ID and proof of address. Books are lent for 28 days and can be renewed twice by 14 days.
Ukrainian literature is available at the HP8 library (Hans-Preißinger-Straße 6): in March the Ukrainian Consulate General opened a shelf there under the “Ukrainian Bookshelf” project launched by Olena Zelenska, including children’s books. As far as we can tell there is no regular Ukrainian-language story hour.
The “Weltkinder” series reads picture books in German and other languages, open to children with or without prior knowledge. Ukrainian is not on the current programme. Next up are Turkish (17 November, 3 pm, Fürstenried) and Japanese (18 November, 4.30 pm, Giesing). On Vorlesetag itself, according to the events listing, Armenian is read at the Moosach library (Hanauer Straße 61a, 5 pm, ages 3+). If you would like Ukrainian added, you can suggest it to the libraries. We think the odds are decent given that the series already covers several languages, but that is our judgement, not a promise.
The plan for 20 November is simple: borrow a book, ask at nursery, read aloud at home in the evening.
Sources: Stiftung Lesen, Münchner Stadtbibliothek – Anmelden & Ausleihen, Münchner Stadtbibliothek – Weltkinder, The Public
