Book Week

Wow.. what a week Book Week was!

It started with a great competition in the Library.  Children had to try and work out which fairy tale / classic tale was represented by some very cool minimalist posters

They, of course, didn't have the luxury of the answers along the bottom!

To see the other minimalist posters, check out this website:

http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/minimalist-fairy-tale-posters

On Tuesday, the gorgeous Tracy Duncan came and spoke to all the children.  She was an inspiration to all, telling the children about how she carries a notebook around with her at all times so she can jot down ideas when she gets them. 

Check out her amazing book, Kei te Pehea Koe? in the Library.

On Wednesday, we welcomed six authors into the school, as well as a number of children from other schools in the Waikato, for Speed Date an Author. 

What a shame that more Southwell children couldn't have been involved in this inspirational morning. 

The children had 20 minutes with each author, who shared ideas about how to go about writing and illustrating. 

Alison Robertson sharing some valuable ideas. 

Bruce Potter whipped up an amazing dragon in 10 minutes flat!  Look out for his new book coming out in conjunction with Craig Smith (The Wonky Donkey) nearer to Christmas.

Feana Tu'akoi was amazing.  She was down to earth and she told the children all about how she makes stores up from simple things that have happened to her and her family. 

Gretchen Brassington... "change things to suit yourself." 

Sharon Holt is working on some Maori Language books for younger children. 

Tracy Duncan came back for another day of being inspirational! 

Thursday saw the Juniors have their Lit. Quiz, which was beautifully run by the Senior Lit. Club.

It was a close competition, but in the end York came out on top. 

Markers...

The winning Junior Lit. Quiz team... York

Book Character Day was the culmination of a frantic, but fun, week.  This is a huge event and all the children get into the spirit of the day by dressing up as their favourite character!  We saw Badjelly the Witches, Cats in the Hat, Katniss Everdeen, Harry Potters, Hermione Grangers and Dumbledores, Luke Skywalkers and various other Jedi knights, princesses, pirates... and God even put in an appearance. 

The Seniors then had their turn to shine in the Lit. Quiz... and this one was taken out by Durham.

What a week!

Thank goodness it is holidays... time to settle down with a good book!

Week 9 in the Library - Pot Luck

This week we have a mish-mash of books for you to enjoy.  Most of them have been requested by you through the Book-a-Book-Book.

Here are just a few:

The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone (Senior Fiction)

“A story about a wounded girl and the boy who won't give up on her.

7th grader Louise should be the captain of her school's gymnastics team - but she isn't. She's fun and cute and should have lots of friends - but she doesn't. And there's a dreamy boy who has a crush on her - but somehow they never connect. Louise has everything going for her - so what is it that's holding her back?

Phoebe Stone tells the winning story of the spring when 7th grader Louise Terrace wakes up, finds the courage to confront the painful family secret she's hiding from - and finally get the boy.”

(Barnes and Noble review)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Roderick Rules by Jeff Kinney (General Fiction)

Another copy of this popular book, so that we can reduce the reserve list on this title!

Jake’s Balloon Blast and Jake’s Great Game by Ken Spillman (Fun Reads)

Jake is a boy with BIG dreams, and this new series of books tells us how he goes about making his dreams a reality.

Watch out for more in this series coming into the Library.

Totally Twins: Musical Mayhem by Aleesah Darlison (General Fiction)

Totally Twins: Model Mania by Aleesah Darlison (General Fiction)

This is another new series to the library.  We have so many twins at Southwell, we thought they might be popular!

Persephone Pinchgut has started writing a secret diary as she wants to start trying things on her own, without twin sister Portia. 

Read Persephone’s most secret thoughts as she takes you on a journey through her world.

Bruiser by Gavin Bishop (Picture Book, NZ Author)

“Bruiser is a machine on a mission – ploughing up hillsides, trampling down paddocks and crushing rocks. Until, one day, a little chick and a nest fall right in front of him.  What will Bruiser do?”s

Week 8 in the Library... Fairy Tales

After the Once Upon the Time there is the Happily Ever After... but what comes after that?  

Well - there is the After Happily Ever After.

Tony Bradman has written a series of funky fractured fairy tales for younger readers which tells us what happens AFTER the Happily Ever After.

Cinderella isn't too fond of her new Mother-in-Law and has to find a way to win her over!

Rapunzel is fed up of her long hair and wants a change in lifestyle!

The Fairy Godmother has had enough of being nice, Goldilocks wants some friends who are 'just right' and the Frog Prince misses life in the pond.

And then there are the extremely excellent fractured fairy tales by David Roberts which have been retold by Lynn Roberts.  Cinderella, an Art Deco Love Story is set in the swinging 1920s and Rapunzel, a Groovy Fairy Tale is set in the equally swinging 1970s (complete with flared trousers and platform shoes).  They are fairy tales with attitude and great fun to read!

We are also featuring some traditional fairy tales…one put together by Berlie Doherty and another of Hans Christian Anderson tales put together by Joel Stewart.  Both are beautifully illustrated and between them feature a whole host of favourite tales.

Year 4s may be particularly interested in The Little Mermaid in the Hans Christian Anderson book.