A MAGICAL Firebird thrilled children attending Farnham library for a special reading and activity session.

Colourful oriental parasols, fans, streamers and swathes of orange and red fabric transformed the children’s section into an enchanted grotto, where the Firebird herself aka Gilly Stewart, a Friend of Farnham Library, read ‘Bird of Fire’.

After hearing the story of a prince and princess who fall in love and, after various misunderstandings and adventures, live happily ever after, the children enjoyed decorating Firebird card cutouts and masks with colourful streamers to look like flames, and then dancing to the music of Stravinsky, wearing their creations.

“The children spent a very happy morning,” Friends chairman Claire East said. “We have raised £3,500 from the sale of second-hand children’s books so are able to present these events entirely free.

“All the money raised goes back into buying items for the library, which Surrey County Council cannot supply. We are always most grateful for the donation of books in good condition. They are sold in the brightly decorated children’s corner of the library at very low cost to enable as many children as possible to buy them. There is a donation box and all books are most gratefully accepted.”