News from the Library
Welcome back to Term 3 in the Library. This fortnight we are promoting Books that Became Musicals (in honour of the school production of Matilda) and Reading Slump Reads.
The musical Six is coming to Melbourne at the end of July, so this is a great time to brush up on your Tudor history and get to know the wives of King Henry VIII. And to get out of a reading slump, check out our displayed books for quick and engaging reads! The suggestions include:
It’s Jeff! Jeff-verse: At last - the ingenious, the extraordinary, the unbearably innocent Jeff the land shark embarks on his own adventures across the Marvel Universe! You thought it was safe doing laundry or going for a leisurely swim in the pool, but no activity can protect against Jeff's cuteness! Whether he's orchestrating a pet-shop takeover or solving a high-stakes mystery. Jeff steals hearts and cookies with equal impunity!
Heartstopper: the runaway success story that follows the blossoming romance of Nick and Charlie. The story has only just concluded with the release of volume 6, and a successful Netflix series is available to watch.
The Spellshop: Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people, and as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn't had to. She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant, have spent most of the last eleven years sequestered among the empire's precious spellbooks, protecting the magic for the city's elite. But a revolution is brewing and when the library goes up in flames, Kiela and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up.
Reading Aloud to Others
When was the last time you read a book to someone else? Reading to others is a powerful tool for jumpstarting brain development at any age, helping both the reader and listener grow their vocabulary, increase attention spans, and develop empathy as characters lives and actions are explored.
Reading aloud to, and with, teens also creates a shared experience, providing an important bonding opportunity at a time when teens are transitioning from child to adult and navigating an often unpredictable world.
It is a wonderful way to grow strong family connections. Why not set some time aside as a family and share a favourite book, or revisit some cherished childhood picture books?
For those who aren’t confident readers, family listening to an audiobook is also a great way to share in a story. Audiobooks are available through the library catalogue (access via Compass), the ABC Listen App, or your local council library.
If you need more persuasion, you could read Meghan Cox Gurdon’s take on the topic in her article “Why I read aloud to my teenagers”. She is the author of The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power Of Reading Aloud In The Age Of Distraction.
CBCA Shadow Judging
Book Week is fast approaching, and our Shadow Judges have been busy finalising their choice of book they think should win from the shortlist. During term 1 and 2 our student judges read the six finalist books in the category of Older Reader, then evaluated them using the same criteria as the official Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) judges. It has given the students an insight into assessing, writing, and building their critical thinking skills. We are looking forward to the CBCA book winner announcements, and to see if other students around Australia agree with our decision.
Term 3 Resident Writers
Term 3 Resident Writers is open for submissions! Send us the short written pieces you are proud of - essays, stories, poems, lyrics, etc.
For the sake of the judges please limit your entry to a maximum of three pages! Please email entries by Fri 4 Sept to library@wantirnacollege.vic.edu.au with the subject line including the words 'Resident Writers'.
Entries close Friday 4th September.
By submitting you agree to be published to the school community (on Teams, in the College Yearbook, etc) - please contact us if you want to submit but prefer to keep your work anonymous. When submitting, please state in the email "I declare that this entry is all my own work"
Joanne Montgomery & Sarah van Doorn
Library Staff