Book Character Day

We had a book character day on Wednesday 12 Aug, the first time the school has had one in a long time. The kids and teachers got right behind it and really made a great effort. We had a parade in the morning and the junior and senior teachers swapped classes to read stories. I went and visited the junior classes as "Willy Wonka" and read Hairy Maclary stories to them. In all, a fun day.

On another note, I volunteered to be a driver for a day as part of the Storylines Tour this week. (I now know Manurewa intimately!) I had Elizabeth Pulford, Phillip Webb, Dawn McMillian and Darryl Torckler in the van and it was a pleasure to meet and talk with these talented people. They shared their stories with me and were just lovely. I highly recommend taking the time to volunteer if you are able.

Book Week has begun

Hi Everyone. Have had two days of book week - it is buzzing. Was Charlotte on Monday (courtesy of Pauline) and Little Red Riding Hood today. Carried my little basket around all day trying to hide from the wolf. Children are loving it and am guessing what I will be tomorrow. Had Brian Falkner at school today, he was fab. Was lovely to have Jane from Kohia Tce join us for one of the sessions.

Cathy

Picture Book Review Herbert by Robyn Belton

Well known as a fabulous award winning illustrator, Robyn Belton has now written her first book, Herbert, The Brave Sea Dog. Last week Lianza announced her the winner of The Russell Clark Award for her contribution to illustrated children's books.
Herbert is based on a true event that occured almost 20 years ago. Tim was a 12 year old boy living in Nelson with his family at the time. Heading to the Marlborough Sounds, Herbert accompanied Tim's Dad on a boat while Tim and his mother travelled by car to their holiday cottage. During bad weather through the French Pass, Herbert went missing. The story tells of his lonely struggle to survive the next 30 hours in the water and of Tim's anguish waiting to find his much loved dog. His undying conviction that Tim was still alive gives us much hope and the lovely ending touches us all.
The end pages are full of factual information and the illustrations support the text beautifully although they stand alone as well. There was a double page spread of Herbert in the water with a dolphin. The text did not suggest anything but the children decided that the dolphin would have helped Tim to survive his long ordeal. I have read this book to each of my classes accompanied with a video clip from Close Up last week when Robyn was interviewed after her success. The children werre fascinated to see Tim grown up as a 31 year old now and to hear Robyn speak of her writing.
A delightful picture book enjoyed as much by my Year 6 children as my Year 1 class.
Cathy M

Book Review Iqbal by Francesco D'Adamo

This powerful novel is based on a true story. Set in Pakistan it depicts the story of the real Iqbal Masih who arrives at Hussain Khan's carpet factory. He becomes a sign of hope for the other children in the factory who have been sold into slavery. He is the one who tells them their family's debt will never be paid but gives them hope to dream about a future where they can be freed of the tyranny and injustices of their young lives. In 1994 Iqbal won an international award for his work raising awareness of child slavery and helping to free numerous children from their workplace prisons in Pakistan. Tragically he was murdered in 1995 aged about 13. The carpet mafia were suspected.
A sobering read, just a short book but one with strong messages that could be linked to study on child abuse and child labour laws. At the back of the book there are websites and book lists to further your reading. Admittedly this book is aimed at older children but I am sure our year 6's would be touched by the plight of these children.
I took this recommendation from a schoollib serve list of books of children from different cultures .
Cathy M

"FRIGHTFULLY" GOOD READ

On a "frivolous/scary" note I decided to do a display which would appeal to the boys! Although the "Goosebumps" series needs no introduction
or promotion it was an easy theme for my first display!!

Tasks for Day Four !

Task One
With your buddy you are to visit a well run library selected by the advisers for you to visit. You will be given the contact details to organise a time. Take the checklist provided to complete while you are there. Bring to the next session to share or put photos up on Blog

Task Two
Plan an activity or a strategy for supporting information literacy in the classroom or library
OR
•Describe an activity or a strategy that you have used to support information literacy in the school/ library

Task Three
Plan a Reading Promotion for your school library. Bring your activity with you for Day 4.

Task Four
Select a picture book & novel to take away to read. Review the books and comment on suitability of books for your library on blog

Task Five
Professional reading
Click onto the EPIC databases using the link on the right of the blog page or going to http://www.tki.org.nz/r/epic/
Click on “log into databases”
Enter your school’s username and password
Scroll down the databases til you get to MasterFILE Premier
Type into the find box “ ross todd rescue”
Click on the title and this will bring up the full article of
Ross Todd to the Rescue by Brian Kenny in School Library Journal, Vol 52, no 4, April 2006.
Print out the article or read online and fill in the response sheet given out at the end of Day 2.

Task Six
Bring notes to feed into a draft action plan and a Procedures manual if you have a procedure manuals bring it in