LIBRARY NEWS
After the recent busyness of Book Week, the conclusion of the Premier's Reading Challenge, and Matilda Jr. performances, this week in the library has been rather tranquil! We’re reading more great stories and students are busy completing some of the activities we’ve done this term.
This Week’s Reads
Kindergarten - This week sees students being introduced to the concept that books can be about real things (non-fiction) or not real things (fiction) and learning how to identify features of each book. We’ll be reading the wonderful ‘Zog’ by Julia Donaldson about flying dragons who go to school, definitely not real!
Stage 1 - Are enjoying two great but different books about a penguin in a red hat. First, we’ll read ‘Franks Red Hat’ by Sean E Avery, a CBCA shortlisted picture book, and then ‘Errol’ by Zanni Louise. Students will then compare and contrast between the two stories, choose a favourite, and design a new hat for Frank.
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Stage 2 - After being introduced to Canva last week, students have been begging me to continue designing a bookmark and this week they’ll get to finish it off. They’ll also read the CBCA winner, ‘Where the Lyrebird Lives’ by Vikki Conley.
Stage 3 - I recently went to a wonderful bookshop in West End, Brisbane, Where the Wild Things Are , and was lucky to catch a young readers book club in action. I asked them about books they had read and what had been their favourites. One of these was ‘The Ogress and the Orphans’, by Kelly Barnhill, a fantasy novel that had been enjoyed by everyone. So I couldn’t not buy it! This week, we’re going to read the first few chapters and then students will begin planning to create a digital book trailer about a story of their choice.
SORA Books of the Week
Did you know that SORA isn’t just about e-books and audiobooks? SORA has a wonderful collection of magazines too. This week, SORA has two great magazine suggestions for primary and secondary.
Inspired Readers Festival - Armidale
Dymocks Children’s Charities has announced an exciting opportunity for local students to meet and listen to four wonderful children’s authors in Armidale on the 13th and 14th of November. Jacqueline Harvey, Oliver Phommavanh, Nat Amoore, and Tristan Bancks will discuss their books and share tips on the writing process. If you’re interested in attending, you can find out more information on their website here.
Sydney Morning Herald Writing Competition
It’s a new week and a new writing competition! What is different though is that this is for secondary students interested in non-fiction writing.
The Sydney Morning Herald/Dymocks Essay Prize is for persuasive non-fiction writing on a choice of topics and is open for entry in two age groups, those aged 14-18 years and 19-24 years. There will be six winners decided by senior editors at The Sydney Morning Herald and special guest judge, award-winning author Tara June Winch.
The first prize in each age group will receive $1,000 and publication of their essay on their website and newspaper. Two runners-up in each age group will win $500. All winners will also receive a 12-month digital subscription to The Sydney Morning Herald. You can find out more information here.
Meet the Reader
Ask and you shall receive and that’s what Fred O’Brien did. He loves rugby league and especially player, James Tedesco so when we heard about his new books, we had to get them in. I’m sure these are going to be huge!
Last but Not Least
Brielle Cody was the excited winner of the Guess the Book Worms in a Jar competition- She guessed 169, just two off the 167 in the jar. Enjoy!
The first ‘Matilda Jr’ handball sold went to…. Zahara Kimmince!
Last week, students read ‘When I Grow Up’ by Tim Minchen and drew what they would like to be when they grow up too. I can’t wait to see what the kids from 2M and KD do.
Happy reading,
Mrs. Toni Fraser