Literacy News
Book Week 2025
What an exciting week at SKiPPS!
All students at SKiPPS have been reading the CBCA shortlisted books and voting on the ones that they have enjoyed the most. As you can see from the images below, Clear leaders at this stage are Everything you Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy and The Truck Cat. We will announce the 'SKiPPS Picks' on Friday at our afternoon assembly.
What are you reading?
You’re never too old to celebrate Book Week! It’s the perfect time to spark conversations by asking, “What are you reading at the moment?” I’ll go first - I’ve just started Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors, a recommendation from the team at Great Escapes Bookshop in Aireys Inlet. I’ve always loved family narratives, so I’m excited to dive in. I’d love to hear what you’re reading too, come and share your latest book with me!
Book Reviews
The CBCA Book of the Year winners for 2025 have been announced! The Early Childhood category winner was The Truck Catby Deborah Frenkel. Some of you may remember Deborah’s visit to our F–2 classes at SKiPPS last year, when she generously gave her time free of charge. She was also shortlisted in 2024 for her illustrations in Naturopolis. We are so fortunate to welcome so many leading Australian authors who inspire our students with their love of reading and writing.
The Truck Cat is a gentle story of cats and humans, of migration, belonging, and the search for home. With warm illustrations by award-winning artist Danny Snell and tender words by debut author Deborah Frenkel, it encourages kindness and compassion in young readers. Tinka isn’t a house cat or an apartment cat—she’s a truck cat. Alongside her human, Yacoub, she travels the roads of a new country, both of them longing for home. When the two are suddenly separated, their journey to reunite leads them toward something deeper than they imagined.
The Early Childhood winning book is The Wobbly Bike by Darren McCallum. This delightful rhyming story, set in Darwin suburbia, captures the fun, wobbles, and triumphs of learning to ride a bike. Whether it’s on a shiny new model or Pop’s rusty old one, the joy, freedom, and pride are the same. With humour, vibrant illustrations, and plenty of nostalgia, this book celebrates resilience, friendship, and the timeless rite of passage of mastering two wheels.
Laughter is the Best Endingis the winning book in the Younger Readers category.
Zee would rather read Oscar Wilde than make friends, but when her parents send her to camp, she’s thrown into a mystery involving influencers, nerds, and a spooky game of “Murder in the Dark.” Funny, clever, and full of adventure, this story shows that even loners can stumble into friendship—and a little detective work!
All of these books are available in classroom libraries as well as the school library.
SKiPPS & Readings
A reminder to all that if you are purchasing any new books, please support our local Readings store. If you mention that you are a part of the St Kilda Park Primary School Community, they will put a % of your spend aside for our school to use.
Last year, we were able to send a class to Readings for an outing where they all selected a new book for their classroom library. The money from your purchases really helped make that an affordable way to put new books in the classrooms, books that the students selected and really want to read. It would be amazing to be able to send another class this year.
Jac Morphy
Assistant Principal