Lucky Book Club is open. Yes. That’s right. You can view the catalogue, make your choices and get the books delivered right to your door. This is a good opportunity to purchase books for reading while shops are still shut. Click on the link and then at the top you can browse the catalogue. If you are in the catalogue just click on any page and it will take you back to the order page. For those who already have an account, just log in as normal. If you are new, just create an account for your child and order. Happy reading. https://mybookclub.scholastic.co.nz/Parent/Login.aspx
We subscribe to Upstart Magazine in our school library but just because we are not at school does not mean you have to miss out on your chance to read it. Upstart have very kindly given us permission to share this wonderful magazine online.
There is heaps to read and lots of competitions too. To enjoy this popular magazine just follow the link.
If you are in to writing stories, then this might be for you. A competition for keen writers under 13 years old.
It is called the Fabo Story where some of New Zealand’s top children’s book authors give you the start of the story and you have to complete it. There are deadlines so get in quick, check the prompts and start writing.
While the world may feel a little strange at the moment there are still lots of good things happening. One of them is listening to the very funny author David Walliams. I know most of you like his books because they are always out on issue from the library.
If you click here you will be taken to the David Walliams website where you can listen to him read his stories. He will be reading a new story every week day.
After you’ve had a listen you can click on some of his other links and do some of the fun activities.
Welcome back everyone. I hope you’ve all had lots of fun in the summer sunshine. I also hope you managed to read a book or two over the holidays. With the extra hot weather we’ve been having, the air-conditioned library has been the perfect place to cool off in and relax. Lots of books have issued, lots of reading taking place and plenty of conversations going on.
When we sold off some old library books last year we used the money to buy LEGO and it has been a huge success.
Three children, three objects, three places that results in to a thrilling story of mysteries and magic. This story has made my imagination fly because of its characters creative thoughts. It’s the most mesmerising book I have ever read because it’s full of surprises. It has taken top place of my Chris Riddell list because it’s a different structure to his other books and I prefer this type of structure. As soon as I opened this book my eyes fell in love with it. You have to read this book.
This is one of our favourite times of year when the cherry blossoms along our entrance path look spectacular. The weather is about to turn a bit nasty with wind and rain for the next few days, so just have to get in with a photo or two before the blossoms fall.
If you are going to be buying something from Scorpio Books on Bookshop Day, please remember to mention our school name. Some fun activities to enjoy on the day.
This week is New Zealand Chinese Language Week. If you click here, you can watch a message from our very own prime minister Jacinda Ardern as she wishes everyone the best for this special week
I hope you all enjoy this special week. Do check out our library display and see some of our wonderful Chinese and bilingual books. Picture books, chapter books and books about China too, all just waiting for you to read.
Come and see our latest library display. The 13th September marks Roald Dahl’s birthday and while he died in 1990, it marks 103 years since he was born. We love celebrating author and illustrator birthdays in the library. There are plenty of his books to get out. Very funny, sometimes a bit scary, but all incredibly popular.
We had lots of poets in the library today. Children shared their own poems, or favourites they had learned in class. I love how supportive the children are of each other, as it is not easy standing up in a crowd. This is an annual event and I continue to love how keen children are to read and write poetry. Many of our children have extension writing lessons and have had their own poems published in different formats. Check out some of the photos below. As a fun thing to do after our readings, children eat popcorn and are given a bookmark to take away. Always a fun day to celebrate New Zealand National Poetry Day.
Yesterday we were so lucky to have author James Russell visit us at school. He spoke to the year one to three children first and they loved him. Many children in fits of giggles over his story telling. He read, or rather recited, his picture books and told funny jokes. James shared images on a screen from his Dragon Hunters picture books.
Next were the year four to six children who were equally entertained and also in fits of giggles, even when he told gory stories with lots of blood, pain and a hospital visit. His Dragon Defenders books are perfect for this age group. Great for readers who love a good story, a bit of fantasy, and a quest or two.
The highlight for most children was seeing his books come to life with the aid of an App (AR Reads) which can be used on his books. Dragons appear out of nowhere as well as volcanic eruptions and clouds floating by. Augmented reality is an amazing feature and hooks readers in, no matter what age. Teachers were just as enthralled and entertained. It is no wonder he in is the Whitcoulls Top 50 kids books. In fact he has two books on this list and his book at number ten, makes him the first New Zealander on that list. This is a wonderful achievement, so congratulations James.
If you want to know more about James and his books you can check out his website right here.
James in front of our Fantsy display in the library.
Great to see so many stories and maps coming through the library doors. We will display these on the wall. Come and read the stories and check out the maps. You still have plenty of time to enter.
So excited to share the news that our library blog has been listed as one of the top 10 Educational Blogs in New Zealand by Twinkl UK. We even have this lovely rosette to add to our blog.
Over the next month we have three cool competitions with some great book prizes.
You can draw your own Fantasy Island and create your own magical world. You might want to write your own fantasy story. Maybe there are dragons in your world. Maybe there are trolls and monsters. There are lots of magical items on display which might have been enchanted. Maybe there is something hidden inside some of them and opening it up might release something wicked, or free something that has been trapped for years. Give your characters good names, maybe you could make them up. Use your imagination, it’s all yours.
The third competition is to match the maps with the books. Lots of books have maps and they are very cool with some exciting names and plenty of adventure.
Next week we have author James Russell coming to school. His Dragon defenders books definitely feature dragons. Come and have a look at his books in the library, check out the display and see if you can come up with a story or map of your own. Make sure you use lots of detail on your map.
When it’s cold outside, the library is always a warm and fun place to be. The smiles on these children’s faces shows the enjoyment they had putting together a monster puzzle. Other children were reading, drawing, playing card games and others were just hanging out and chatting with each other. So rather than be out in the cold, pop in and have some fun in a nice relaxing, warm place.
Today the year one children celebrated the Very Hungry Caterpillar’s 50th birthday. A little late because we are always so busy here at school but we couldn’t let such an important birthday go by without doing something special ourselves.
We began with the story of Very Hungry Caterpillar which is such a favourite with everyone. Afterwards, there was lots of things to make; like butterfly and caterpillar cards, bookmarks, pom pom caterpillars, activity sheets to follow and play with and so much more. We love Mrs Brown’s birthday quilt, especially as it has fabric with pictures by Eric Carle who is the writer and illustrator of the Very Hungry Caterpillar book. Did you know the author has just had his own big birthday celebration as he just turned 90 years old. That is a lot of celebrating to do.
Mrs Brown’s most beautiful birthday quilt.
You can’t have a birthday without a present so we now have a beautiful new 50th birthday special edition of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
And of course it isn’t a party unless there is cake. Huge thanks to Holly and her boys for the decorating.
A big thank you to all the year one teachers and our wonderful children. We had almost 80 children happily engaged with the activities. A big thank you to Holly and her boys for the lovely, and yummy cake. And a massive thank you to Mrs Brown for all her hard mahi and support on this very special occasion.
