21st Century
Learning Space
Library News
CHILDREN’S BOOK COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA (CBCA)
Every year the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) announce a list of books that are drawn from entries put forward by Australian publishers for the annual Children’s Books of the Year Awards. Hundreds of books are nominated and the judges then choose six titles for each category of the awards. The CBCA Books of the Year are regarded as Australia’s most prestigious children’s literature awards. The awards started in 1946 to promote Australian children’s books, by Australian authors and illustrators for Australian children, something that I am also passionate about promoting.
At Rowville Primary School we take a look at the six titles nominated in five of the six categories of Children’s books: The Younger Readers section, The Early Childhood section, The Picture Book of the Year, The Eve Pownall Award for Information Books and the Award for a New Illustrator.
The winners of the awards will be announced during Book Week in August. I look forward to sharing these books with you as the year progresses. Further information is available at https://cbca.org.au
The CBCA 2024 Shortlisted books can be found at https://cbca.org.au/shortlist-2024
Reading is Magic!
STUDENT OVERDUE BOOKS
A list of students who have overdue library books were distributed to teachers this week. Please have a look on Oliver v5 – our school library cataloguing system – to check your loans. Students who have overdue books need to return them to school as soon as possible. If anyone has any questions about their loans please contact me.Thank you.
ANZAC DAY
We have lots of very interesting ANZAC Day resources suitable for primary school aged children. Some topics and themes are difficult for children to comprehend, and some picture books can be confronting if children don’t understand the issues. As well as the more challenging picture books aimed at older students, we also have picture books that can engage a younger audience but still open up lots of questions for them. The picture book Anzac Biscuits by Phil Cummings is one such book.
Anzac Biscuits were sent to soldiers during World War 1. The ingredients did not spoil easily and if packed in tins they kept well during transportation. The biscuits were also made at home to raise money for the war effort.
This moving story is set in two places. Rachel is in the kitchen at home, she is warm and safe. Her father is in the trenches, cold and afraid. When Rachel makes biscuits for her father, she adds the love and hope that he needs.
My Grandad Marches on ANZAC Day by Catriona Hoy is another picture book suitable for younger children. It explains the significance of ANZAC Day as seen through the eyes of a young girl. The girl attends the pre-dawn service with her father, and they watch her grandfather march in the parade. She comes to realise that they are there to remember those who gave their lives for their country.
Jackie Hicks
21st Century Learning Space Manager