Library News

Author Visit – Sami Bayly 

Recently we had an amazing visit from author and illustrator, Sami Bayly.  It was very exciting to have a visit from a non-fiction author, and it was incredible to see how excited the students were to engage with Sami and listen so intently to what she had to say. 

Sami spoke to all our students, K – 6, and she was inspirational. From a very young age Sami knew that she wanted to be an illustrator, but she didn’t know what career path she would pursue.  After completing university, she entered, and won, a drawing competition at the Australian museum.  Her drawing was of a bin chicken.  This led to an invitation from a publishing company to illustrate and write a non-fiction book about animals and this is what she has been doing ever since.  She has now published seven books, all of which we have in our library.  

Sami spoke about each book taking a year to produce, as just one drawing alone takes 2 days to complete. She then meticulously researches all the facts about each animal writing and presenting these facts in an interesting way, designed to keep young and older readers equally engaged. 

Sami had all the students listening to amazing and interesting facts, drawing unusual animals and playing fun games.  The students’ knowledge of unusual, ugly, extinct or dangerous animals had vastly improved within an hour, as had the teachers’ knowledge.  Fun fact: the students know so many more animal facts than the teachers do.   

Sami is quite young to be such an accomplished author and illustrator, but she demonstrated to the students that when you love your craft and take chances it can lead to exciting opportunities.   

What the student’s had to say. 

I really enjoyed this year’s author visit because it wasn’t just talking.  We played fun games and Sami gave us a chance to talk too.  She shared her story. 

Diya T – 5/6Y 

Sami was a fun person to talk to.  We played lots of fun games and we even drew pictures.  We drew a Tardigrade.  Angela W – 3J  

Something that I really enjoyed was how Sami talked about her career and taught us how to draw, step by step – Alice 3J 

Sami is awesome and smart – Kaea 3 

I enjoyed the drawing lesson – Anna 5/6S 

I really enjoyed Sami explaining interesting facts.  – Andrew 2W 

I really like your paintings.  I enjoy painting too – Lexi 2W 

It was an awesome visit. Maybe you can come again.  Thank you for showing us how to draw a sunfish – Hailey 1J 

I was able to share my knowledge of animals with Sami also.  She was interested to hear.  Sami’s stories were so fascinating too.  This author visit was tops! – Ray P 5/6S 

I always love author visits, but this one was extremely great fun – Ethan P 5/6L  

Sami’s paintings are stupendous! – Svojas 5/6L 

Holiday Borrowing 

We are fast approaching the end of the term.  Please don’t forget that children can borrow extra books in the holidays. A great book can keep children occupied for many hours.   

Please ensure that your children have returned all their books this week so they will be able to borrow for the holidays. 

If children forget their books on Monday, they can still bring them back any day of the week and come to the library at lunchtime to return and borrow. 

Premier’s Reading Challenge

We are also fast approaching the final date to enter books online for the PRC 2026.  I enter all books for our K – 2 children, so there is no need for parents of children in these grades to worry.  Children in 3 – 6 enter their own lists online.  We try to allow time for this at school but if your child has not finished their list yet, please ensure they read during the holiday so they will be able to add the books to their list as soon as possible.   

I will be following up with all children in the first couple of weeks of term 3 to ensure they have completed their reading. 

If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact me in the library on Monday or Tuesday.   

Thank you  

Happy Reading!