21st Century 

Learning Space

Library News

NATIONAL CHILDREN’S WEEK

This week, Australia celebrates National Children’s Week. It is held during the last week of October every year. The aim is to celebrate the right of children to enjoy childhood. It is also a time for children to demonstrate their talents, skills and abilities. 

The Children’s Week website states that “Each year, thousands of Victorian children take part in Children's Week festivities. During Children's Week, local councils, not-for-profit organisations, schools and early childhood services organise open days, displays, special events, virtual spaces and online-based activities. These celebrate childhood and showcase children's achievements.

All Children's Week events are free to families with children aged from birth to 12 years. Some of the events are held in libraries and engage children with reading, plays and story times. It's a great opportunity for Victorian families to enjoy fun, engaging and educational experiences.”

Further information and a calendar of free activities can be found by following the link https://www.vic.gov.au/childrens-week-events-2022. Enjoy your childhood!

HALLOWEEN

It’s nearly that time again – 31 October, where countries all around the world go trick or treating, dress up in Halloween costumes, carve pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, bob for apples, play harmless pranks and think of scary things! Halloween or all hallows eve has been an annual coming of seasons activity for hundreds of years. I often have students asking for scary books and ghost stories but not too scary please! 

The Goosebumps series written by R.L. Stine has been around since the early 1990’s and the books are still popular today. Who could forget Monster Blood or Say Cheese and Die! There are many other titles in the series and our students enjoy them.

Heath Mackenzie has a picture book where the title of the book asks an interesting question… What Do Werewolves Do When It’s Not Halloween?  I love the cover and humour of this book and most children turn the page so that they can find out the answer!

However my favourite Halloween picture book is Pig the Monster by Aaron Blabey. As always Pig needs to learn an important lesson about not being greedy. “Pig was a pug and I’m sorry to say, on Halloween night he’d get carried away… Pig the world’s greediest pug, is on the rampage for TREATS! TREATS! TREATS!”  Lots of fun and another lesson to learn for Pig the Pug! Enjoy Halloween.

Jackie Hicks

21st Century Learning Space Manager