Library

Chess

"Chess has been proven to increase your IQ, improve memory function, help develop higher levels of creativity, simultaneously exercise both sides of the brain, help prevent Alzheimer's and dementia, and increase a child's problem solving skills"

Chess Wizards: Strategies for Life

Chess is massively popular here in the library and some of our students are cutting some pretty mean moves.  It would be great to have a dedicated small table for chess for our students as the two wobbly stools pushed together we currently use add an even higher level of difficulty to the game!

A few students have floated the idea of a chess competition - if anyone in the community has any experience in running these I'd love to hear from you.

Out on display this week in the library we have a few books on chess such as: Lasker's how to play chess, How to play chess by jackie andrews and Better chess for young players.

We've had a student request for buying this book for our library: "Caruana's Ruy Lopez: A White Repertoire for Club Players" by Fabiano Caruana and we have added it to our School Book wish list  if anyone is in a position to purchase the book for our library.  

"The Ruy Lopez is arguably the most classic of chess openings. White immediately starts the battle for the centre, fighting for the initiative. This strategic clarity has made the Ruy Lopez, or Spanish Opening, an eternal favourite with chess players at all levels. Inevitably, this popularity has also led to a wealth of opening theory. In this book, Fabiano Caruana takes you by the hand and lays out a complete and practical White repertoire for club players. He avoids complicated chaotic lines, but doesnt shy away from sharp battles. Caruana loves to find and use the tactics to punish Black for risky choices. This one-volume and crystal-clear repertoire covers fifteen main variations, from the classical lines to the anti-Marshall (8.a4), and from the Schliemann (3f5) to the Modern Steinitz. In an easy-to-grasp manner Caruana explains general characteristics, such as permanent weaknesses long-term goals, and is always looking for an advantage for White. The insights of the World #2 in this classic opening, will not only greatly improve your results in the Ruy Lopez, but also sharpen your general chess knowledge. Inspired by Caruanas ChessBase Series Navigating the Ruy Lopez"  Booktopia

Graphic Novels

A bunch of year 8/9 students came into the library recently to beg me to add the "Wings of Fire" Graphic novels to our collection.  It is so great to hear from enthusiastic readers!

"Dazzling; a must-read for any dragon fan." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Fans of the series will be drawn to this visual representation of their favorite characters, as will those who enjoy epic, animal-based fantasies." -- School Library Journal

Our wonderful maths coordinator Jarrah Brennan has since donated to our school the 2nd book in the graphic novel Wings of Fire series: "The lost heir".  This is available now for borrowing.  We have also added the other books in the graphic series to our book wish list.  

"The lost heir to the SeaWing throne is going home at last. She can't believe it's finally happening. Tsunami and her fellow dragonets of destiny are journeying under the water to the great SeaWing Kingdom. Stolen as an egg from the royal hatchery, Tsunami is eager to meet her future subjects and reunite with her mother, Queen Coral. But Tsunami's triumphant return doesn't go quite the way she'd imagined. Queen Coral welcomes her with open wings, but a mysterious assassin has been killing off the queen's heirs for years, and Tsunami may be the next target. The dragonets came to the SeaWings for protection, but this ocean hides secrets, betrayal and perhaps even death"