Library · classes
Classes, camp and celebrations
The library stopped being only shelves fairly quickly. It turned out people needed a place to meet — where a child is understood without translation, and where an adult does not have to explain why they are there.
Classes for ages 3–6
Led by Elena Postnikova — a teacher with two degrees, medical and pedagogical, and more than ten years of experience. She has curated Reggio-inspired spaces and written educational programmes and sensory workshops for children and parents. She worked in Russia and Kazakhstan and now lives in Zagreb.
Classes run in Russian and follow the Reggio Emilia approach: the child is not an audience but a researcher and co-author. The emphasis is on free play, attention to the environment, expression through art, and a respectful partnership with the adult. We handle materials and logistics; Elena handles the substance.
What that looks like in practice
- The first session was about portraits: what a face is made of, what expressions are for, how colour carries mood. The children looked at the different ways Picasso drew himself, then made their own self-portraits as collages.
- An autumn session made paint from scratch — paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, cocoa, hibiscus and matcha. Pipettes, brushes, observing, mixing. All safe, all at an unhurried pace.
Groups are small and the pace is gentle. What matters is not the result on paper but how the child feels getting there.
Summer AzbookA — a city camp
A small Russian-language city camp in a bright space beside Maksimir park. It runs in summer; booking opens in spring.
Ages 6–9
Three strands: the world of sound and light, the world of stories and characters, the world of inventions. Within each, separate activities build towards one shared result.
Ages 9–12
Eras and the present day, invented worlds, money and value. Same format: not a set of clubs but an environment where you can try things and choose.
What happens
Workshops and art classes, active games and yoga, talks from guest speakers, walks and board games. Deliberately small, so that every child is seen.
Formats and prices
Half day (9:00–13:30), full day (9:00–16:00) or flexible by the hour. In 2026 a week cost €190 and €210, hourly was €8, siblings got 20% off and early booking 10%. Next season’s prices are announced when booking opens.
Family celebrations and birthdays
The winter party
Our winter format is "Three secrets of the New Year": a story, a small treasure hunt, a meeting with Ded Moroz, tea and presents. Through play and making, we assemble the smell, the look and the sound of the holiday together. Separate groups for ages 3–4.5 and 4.5–6.
Children’s birthdays
The whole party handled: venue, programme, host, cake and all the Croatian correspondence with suppliers. Details on its own page.
What else goes on around the library
- The book club — meetings around what has been read, which is much of why the library exists at all.
- The children’s events digest — a regular roundup of Zagreb events for children on our Telegram channel: theatres, festivals, workshops, museums. A shorter version lives in the calendar on this site.
- Reading lists — themed selections for a season, a holiday or an age.
- Russian language support — we have run courses for school-age children with a professional teacher of Russian language and literature. If that is relevant to you, ask and we will tell you what is currently running.
- Group book orders — we sometimes pool an order so nobody pays European single-copy prices.
Related
Book a place, or just ask
Tell us your child’s age and what interests you — classes, camp or a party. We will say what is running now and when the next booking opens.