Mythical Creatures Challenges for Teens

Mythical Creatures Summer Challenges logo with an illustration of a blue surrounded by flames and blue smoke. Jinn

Complete any (or all!) of the challenges below. Most challenges are super fun and just need a photo of you in action.
Once you’ve nailed a challenge, head to any Whangārei District Library branch and show your proof: photos, artwork or whatever you created.
Collect cards. Show off your skills. Complete the set.

These challenges are designed for tweens and teens aged 10+.

Download and print the challenges for tweens and teens(PDF, 752KB)

A Siren, a mythical creature with a woman's body, a bird's wings and a fish's lower body and tail, sitting on a rocky reef surrounded by waves.

Challenge 21: Siren

Create Blackout Poetry

Flip old pages into fresh art!
Grab a page from a book or magazine and turn it into something epic. Use a black marker to block out words until there are only the ones you want remaining.
The result? A striking poem hidden in plain sight.
Check out examples and grab pages to work on in the Teens area at Whangārei Central Library.
Want to share your masterpiece? Add your blackout poem to our Teen Anthology and collect the Siren card.

A Kraken, a mythical sea monster depicted as a colossal squid cooking in a kitchen.

Challenge 22: Kraken

Cook a Recipe from a Teen Book

Bring fiction to the kitchen! Pick a recipe from your favourite teen novel - or whip up something inspired by a character’s favourite food.
Follow the recipe and bring the story to life on your plate.
Perfect for book lovers and future foodies.
Take a photo and show us to collect the Kraken card.

A Sphinx, a mythical creature with a woman's head and bird's wings combined with a lions body, sitting on a stack of books.

Challenge 23: Sphinx

Bookmark Review

Design a bookmark or use one from the library that doubles as a book review!
Include the title, author, your rating and a short review. Add illustrations or quotes to make it eye-catching.
It’s a great way to share recommendations with other readers. 
Show us your bookmark to collect the Sphinx card.

A Dryad, a mythical tree spirit that is shown as a woman that is part of an oak tree in a forest.

Challenge 24: Dryad

Make Art from Natural Materials

Head outdoors and gather leaves, twigs, stones and flowers. Use these natural treasures to create unique art pieces - collages, sculptures or even nature-inspired prints. Bring your artwork or a photo of it into one of our libraries to collect the Dryad card.

A Kitsune, a mythical fox-like creature with multiple tails.

Challenge 25: Kitsune

Bookface

Choose a book cover that features a face or body part and line it up with your own face or pose, so the image continues seamlessly.
Snap a photo of your clever creation and share the illusion with us at the library to collect the Kitsune card.
It’s a fun way to mix art, photography and books!

A Kelpie, a mythical shape-shifting water spirit horse rising from a Scottish loch.

Challenge 26: Kelpie

Make a Zine

Express yourself in a mini-magazine! A zine is a small, handmade publication filled with your drawings, stories, poems or opinions.
Fold, cut, and decorate your pages to share your voice in a fun, DIY format.
Show your Zine to our librarians to collect your Kelpie card.

A Selkie, a mythic shapeshifting spirit depicted a a human woman's head and shoulders emerging from a seal's body, sitting on a rocky seashore.

Challenge 27: Selkie

Book Spine Poetry

Stack books so that their titles form a poem or funny phrase!
Arrange them in a way that tells a story or expresses an idea.
Take a photo of your poetic stack and share your masterpiece with us to collect the Selkie card.
It’s a fun way to play with words and explore the library shelves.

A Jinn, a supernatural being depicted as a blue male's head and shoulders surrounded by flames and blue smoke in a library.

Challenge 8: Jinn

Visit a Lilliput Library

Explore your community’s tiny libraries!
These little book boxes are full of surprises — borrow a book, leave a book or just enjoy discovering hidden reading spots.

Lilliput library locations in Whangārei:

  • 44 Fairway Drive, Te Kamo
  • 16 Finlayson Street, Central Whangārei - outside French Originals Antiques
  • 1 Kensington Avenue, Kensington - outside Smart Beauty
  • 6 Three Mile Bush Road, Te Kamo - outside Kamo Primary School
  • 153A Bank Street, Regent - outside Stepping Stones Preschool.

Snap a photo of yourself exploring a Lilliput Library and show us to collect the Jinn card.

A Taniwha, a mythical giant lizard-like creature in a river in the bush.

Challenge 29: Taniwha

Upcycle Craft

Transform old or unused items into something new and useful!
Whether it’s turning a jar into a lantern or a T-shirt into a tote bag, upcycling is all about creativity and sustainability.
Show us how everyday objects can have a second life and collect the Taniwha card.

Three Patupaiarehe, mythical fairy-like beings with fair and reddish hair and pale skin and glowing skirts walking in the bush.

Challenge 10: Patupaiarehe

Craft Day

Join us at the Whangārei Central Library for a craft day with Creative Northland.
Everyone attending will get the Patupaiarehe card.
Dates and times to be announced.

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