A timely post as the end of the school year draws close that highlights the varied and engaging experiences that school libraries and rich library programs afford our children. Input from students is an important component of these inspirational ideas shared by Anna Davidson, a teacher librarian at Hutchins School.
This week, Tasmanian author, Claire van Ryn shares the joy and freedom she has found in writing fiction and the open invitation the form offers to play with ideas and language.
CBCA Tasmania, in partnership with Toast for Kids Charity launched a new campaign, “Read Aloud to Your Child Every Day”, in Hobart on the weekend at Mathers House, during the Sunday Farm Gate Market. Families that joined us had the opportunity to receive a copy of the recent Toast 4 Kids Tassie Rhymes for Little Tigers (Joy, 2022) or a different complimentary book to start their own Read Aloud to your Child Every Day commitment.
The Northern Secondary Schools’ Readers’ Cup also celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, with this special report from Jess Marston sharing her first experience in judging this competition. Jessica enjoyed this different secondary perspective rather than organising and participating in the Primary event.
Can stories save the world? Dr Sarah Pye thinks they can!
This week’s blog introduces a series of literary non fiction texts focusing on endangered animals in South East Asia, the conservation work of Dr Wong and the many projects of the author, Dr Sarah Pye in sharing her knowledge and experiences with young readers and students in schools.
This week Lyndon considers the power of sharing our reading experiences and how book clubs can add richness and deeper connections to the books we have engaged with.
Booksellers play an important role in connecting children to great literature and I am always amazed at how widely read they are and their depth of knowledge on new and classic publications. This week, Holly Cooper, from Petrach’s Book Shop, shares her experience in matching books to readers and suggests some personal and popular favourites.
A previous post reviewed the exciting new database Picture Books for Older Readers produced by the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature. This week, Dr Belle Alderman AM, a Director at the Centre, hones in on the contribution of endpapers and how they contribute to the literary engagement and interpretation of sophisticated picture books. Read on to discover how endpapers play an integral role in the storytelling process and also witness the breadth of search possibilities in the database.
Hutchins School engaged in a range of exciting activities in the lead up to, and then ongoing throughout Book Week. It is wonderful to see such a strong reading culture celebrated across the school.
And the winders are…. Did your favourite(s) receive an award? With a number of readers already familiar with the shortlisted titles, Felicity shares her personal experiences gained through reading books and reviews and from her senior students involved in the Shadow Judging (announced next Friday, 25 August).