LIBRARY NEWSLETTER No. 6
6th February, 2015.
Dear Reader,
Welcome to the sixth library newsletter! This week saw the library attendants in full helping mode, with the original
class schedules changed in order to accommodate the large numbers wishing to join the club. The response has been
fantastic and the attitudes of the students helping out, very encouraging. Many students have expressed that they
really enjoy being part of the club and love coming to the library, as they feel really happy here. Also, their
dedication in maintaining the library stock and repairing books is very professional and proficient. I have to say it is
an absolute pleasure working with such good-natured, well-mannered, and very helpful young children, they are a
credit to themselves.
The library competition has been very successful also, with many students participating in both competitions. I have
had an amazing response with very imaginative characters being invented by the junior students. The senior students
are writers and illustrators in the making, many of their book covers could be potential best-sellers if developed
further into a full book! Keep-up the fantastic ideas and creativity. WELL DONE EVERYONE! Remember, the
closing date is Monday, 9th February at 10am.
The response to the new books has been overwhelming too, with practically every book being nabbed within two
hours of being placed on the shelves! It has really spurred on the demand for books in the library and has given the
students a voice in the school outside the established curriculum, which is a fantastic boost to self-confidence and
independence. They are very vocal about what they would like to read, asking when requested books will arrive, and
also feel very comfortable in approaching me and asking for help when choosing books. The difference in the
students and constant buzz in the library when they are there is amazing and I am very happy and privileged to be a
part of this change.
The first student book reviews have been allocated this week, with two students from each class (2 nd class upwards)
assigned a two-week period to read a book of their choice, write a review, and grade the book from a
recommendation point-of-view. The finished reviews will take pride of place in the library, on the school library
notice board and in the library newsletters for all students to read and be inspired by.
As you can see, a lot has been happening in our library and long may it continue. Once again, donations of books,
comics, and audio books are always very appreciated and welcomed, with a special thank you to all those who have
contributed to date.
Good reading to you all, Deirdre, Librarian.
AUTHOR OF THE FORTNIGHT
Each fortnight an established author is celebrated by displaying a brief biography and their work on the library
interest table. The author presented this fortnight is Julia Donaldson.
Julia Donaldson
Grew up in London
Studied Drama and French
Busked for a long time – led to a career in singing and song writing for children’s
television (the BBC).
A Squash and a Squeeze was originally a television song and made into a book in 1993.
First breakthrough was The Gruffalo.
2011-2013 Children’s Laureate winner.
Developed www.picturebookplays.co.uk – a website with lots of ideas to help teachers
to dramatise picture books with their classes.
Developed “Plays to Read” with Pearson Publishers – 60 fun short plays, each have
parts for six characters, graded for primary school children.
Promoter of libraries – wrote lots of articles and spoke with politicians about the
damaging effects on children when libraries are closed and librarians’ posts cut.
The Giants and the Joneses is a novel for 7-11 year olds.
Princess Mirror-Belle – 3 books about Belle who appears from a mirror and disrupts
the life of an otherwise ordinary eight year old.
Running on the Cracks – a novel for teenagers.
LIBRARIES
Everyone is welcome to walk through the door.
It really doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor.
There are books in boxes and books on shelves.
They’re free for you to borrow, so help yourselves.
Come and meet your heroes, old and new,
From William the Conqueror to Winnie the Pooh.
You can look into the Mirror or read The Times,
Or bring along a toddler to chant some rhymes.
The librarian’s a friend who loves to lend,
So see if there’s a book that she can recommend.
Read that book, and if you’re bitten
You can borrow all the other ones the author’s written.
Are you into battles or biography?
Are you keen on gerbils or geography?
Gardening or ghosts? Sharks or science fiction?
There’s something here for everyone, whatever your addiction.
There are students revising, deep in concentration,
And schoolkids doing projects, finding inspiration.
Over in the corner there’s a table with seating,
So come along and join in the Book Club meeting.
Yes, come to the library! Browse and borrow, and help make sure
it’ll be here tomorrow!
By Julia Donaldson
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q Where do you get your
ideas?
A Anywhere and everywhere:
things that happen to my
children; memories of my own
childhood; things people say;
places I go to; old folk tales and
fairy stories. The hard part for me
is not getting the idea, it is turning
it into a story with a beginning, a
middle and an end.
Q Do you like being an author?
A I find the actual writing quite hard
work. I often get stuck, or feel that
I’m plodding along in an uninspired
way. But when I realise that a story
is working after all it’s a very
exciting feeling – and I love doing
all the polishing touches at the end
(or “tweaking” as publishers call it).
It’s lovely when the first rough
illustrations arrive and I see how
my characters are going to look.
www.juliadonaldson.co.uk
www.gruffalo.com to join
the Gruffalo Gang.
Q Where did the inspiration
for the Gruffalo come
from?
A The book was going to be
about a tiger but I couldn’t
get anything to rhyme with
“tiger”. Then I thought up the
lines: “Silly old Fox, doesn’t
he know/There’s no such
thing as a
_________________ ” and
somehow the word “gruffalo”
came to mind to fill the gap.
The gruffalo looks the way he
does because various things
that just happened to rhyme
(like toes and nose, and
black and back)
Q How many books have
you written?
A I have written 193 books.
(92 of them can be bought
in shops, and the other 101
are for schools.)
SONGBIRDS – EARLY READERS
"Songbirds Phonics is a pedigree scheme
worth every penny for helping children get to
grips with words, sounds and spelling
patterns, and to inspire a love of reading.
Writing this collection couldn’t have been
easy though, because virtually every word in
each book is phonically decidable.
Julia Donaldson has described Songbirds as
her ‘proudest achievement’ and it is easy to
see why.
Songbirds Phonics is a high quality, powerful
storytelling scheme written by one of the best.
MOST POPULAR BOOKS
WORD OF THE DAY
At least two to three times a week, a word will be displayed on the library notice boards and library window.
The definition of each word will be explained along with an example of its use in a sentence. The idea behind it
is to choose unusual words that allow the children an insight into a vocabulary that is normally found in old
poetry, prose or essays. Some words have origins dating back to the 1600s, nonetheless, it provides a
fascinating exposure to descriptive language which can lead to potential usage, especially among the senior
students.
“bibliopole”
“Being quite the established bibliopole, the librarian had an array of rare and curious books.”
Noun: A person who buys and sells books, especially rare ones.
Origin: late 18th century: via Latin from Greek bibliopōlēs, from biblion 'book' + pōlēs 'seller'.
“blatherskite”
“He’s a typical politician, he makes up figures, he makes up stories, and he is full of blatherskite.”
Noun: A person who talks at great length without making much sense (a person who blathers a
lot)
Origin: mid 17th century (1650): from blather + skite, a Scots derogatory term adopted into
American colloquial speech during the War of Independence from the Scottish song Maggie
Lauder, by F. Semphill, which was popular with American troops.
“doryphore”
“Did you see how obsessed my cousin got about the wrong turn I took?”
“Yeah, but we all know he’s a doryphore!”
Noun: A pedantic and annoyingly persistent critic. One who draws attention to minor errors
made by others, particularly in a pestering way.
Origin: 1950s (introduced by Sir Harold Nicolson): from French, literally 'Colorado beetle',
from Greek doruphoros 'spear carrier'. It is unknown how the word ‘doryphore’ was
established from the ‘Colorado beetle’!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Dr. Who from “Teeth and Claw” Season 2
PUZZLES
SECRET CODE CHALLENGE
There are three riddles below written in a secret code. Can you unravel them? Hint: each letter of the alphabet
has been replaced by a number. All the riddles use the same code. If you are stuck, use the Code Buster below.
PINWHEEL WORD CHANGE
2. Fog, low cloud
8. Write things in order, perhaps with numbers
3. It holds the sail on a ship
9. Old fashioned word meaning “for fear that, so
4. Not the future
5. Send a letter or parcel
6. You don’t know where you are
7. Coming after all the others
that”
10. Put your feet up, take a breather
11. Red crust on old metal
12. Fine powder
Pinwheel Solution
1.
Must
5.
Post
9.
Lest
2.
Mist
6.
Lost
10.
Rest
3.
Mast
7.
Last
11.
Rust
4.
Past
8.
List
12.
Dust
BOOK REVIEWS
Maggie Moore and the Secret School Diary by Firna Rex Shaw. ISBN: 9781484977828 Reading Age: 8 – 12 years.
Follow Maggie’s hilarious diary over one school year.
She gets the worst part in the school play, her world record
attempt goes disastrously wrong and as for her act in the
talent show, well, let's just say she didn't expect underpants to
fly out of her trumpet and land on the judge’s face!
Still, at least she has her three best friends, and her diary.
A story about friendship, family, and resilience.
The TOP SECRET Diary of Davina Dupree
(Aged 10) by S.K. Sheridan ISBN: 9781490575186
First in the Egmont School series: Davina Dupree's just arrived in a
luxury boarding school against her wishes, but that's the least of
her problems. Could it be that the two art teachers there are hiding
a shady secret? And why won't the school bullies Clarice and Cleo
leave her alone? Davina turns detective... If you enjoy reading
Malory Towers by Enid Blyton, you'll love this book. Davina is a
modern day Darrell Rivers and her school, Egmont Exclusive
School for Girls, is the ultimate, modern day boarding school, full
of thrilling adventure, mouth watering food and bags of mysterious
goings on... A perfect read for children who enjoy school fiction,
adventure, mystery or humorous stories.
NEW BOOK RELEASES 2015
The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black ISBN: 978-1780621739
Release Date: 05/02/2015
Near the little town of Fairfold, in the darkest part of the forest,
lies a glass casket. Inside the casket lies a sleeping fairy prince
that none can rouse. He's the most fascinating thing Hazel and
her brother Ben have ever seen. They dream of waking him - but
what happens when dreams come true? In the darkest part of the
forest, you must be careful what you wish for...NEW YORK
TIMES bestselling author Holly Black spins a dark, dangerous
and utterly beautiful fairy tale, guaranteed to steal your heart.
Holly Black is a NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author, cocreator of The Spiderwick Chronicles.
The Astounding Broccoli Boy! By Frank Cottrell Boyce
ISBN: 978-1405054676
Release Date: 25/03/2015
Rory Rooney likes to be prepared for all eventualities. His
favourite book is Don't Be Scared, Be Prepared, and he has
memorised every page of it. He could even survive a hippo
attack. He knows that just because something is unlikely doesn't
mean it won't ever happen ...But Rory isn't prepared when he
suddenly and inexplicably turns green. Stuck in an isolation
ward in a hospital far from home with two other remarkably
green children, Rory is as confused by his new condition as the
medics seem to be. But what if it's not in their genes, or a virus,
or something they ate? What if turning green actually means
you've turned into a superhero? Rory can't wait to make it past
hospital security and discover exactly what his superpower
might be ...