Welcome the holidays!
At the end of this week we will be on holidays for two weeks. Some people will travel, myself included and some people will stay at home. Whichever position you are in these holidays, they allow us to slow down and take a break from the normal pace of life. Sport and other extracurricular activities have usually taken a break too.
My holidays usually involves a list of things I’d like to get done, including planning for next term. The list always includes my hobbies and a desire to minimise my reading pile. Sometimes I succeed with my reading pile and sometimes I just add to it because I have extra time to browse.
At the moment I am busily adding audiobooks and ebooks to my phone and iPad so that I have choice on my upcoming journey. I know that I will wander in and out of many book shops over the next few weeks and probably be dragged out of them by my family. I hope that you get the chance to read some books together or just browse through the bookshelves of your local bookshop.
CBCA 2018 Shortlist
In my last post I commented that I had been asked to come up with my six top books for a presentation for the ACT CBCA. I am happy to say that I managed to pick two books that are on the real shortlist. The full list is available on the CBCA web site, https://cbca.org.au/short-list-2018 .
The Younger Reader section books were:
THE ELEPHANT Carnavas, Peter (see the last blog)
THE SHOP AT HOOPERS BEND Rodda, Emily (see the last blog)
HOW TO BEE, Macdibble, Bren
HENRIETTA AND THE PERFECT NIGHT Murray, Martine
THE GRAND GENIUS SUMMER OF HENRY HOOBLER Shanahan, Lisa
MARSH AND ME Murray, Martine
A wrinkle in time
In anticipation of the movie and after having students ask if we had it on the library shelf, I went and downloaded an audio copy of this book. Mine included an introduction by the director, a forward by the author and an afterwards by Madeleine’s granddaughter. I admit that these were as interesting as the story itself.
It is amazing to think that this book is as old as it is. The premise holds up very well these days as it is about a quest to save a loved one. The children in the story have to go through a number of trials and strange encounters to save themselves and the father of two of them.
In the middle of a wild storm a strange visitor comes to the Murry house. She is aware of the location of their missing father and offers two of the children, Meg and her youngest brother, Charles Wallace, an opportunity to help him. Their friend, Calvin, comes with them on this dangerous and extraordinary adventure. They travel through time and space, encounter alien civilisations and overcome hardship.
At the time of publication (1962), science fiction written for children was virtually unheard of; Dr Who didn’t start until 1963. It was controversial when it came out and on many banned books lists - especially in the US. It is reasonably fast paced and easy for children to follow. Some of the work references and ‘modern’ ideas may have to be explained to children, but this could generate a great discussion on how we have changed over time.
This book does have a slightly nostalgic appeal. Reading it aloud to children would encourage discussion, much like Enid Blyton stories do. It begins with the all time classic line of, ...”It was a dark and stormy night.” The current movie, due out for the holidays, has been in the pipeline for a few years. The cast includes some well known personalities and would be worth comparing to the book.
ACT Library Services
If you want to know what's on at the public libraries over the holidays then follow this link.
https://www.library.act.gov.au/learning/whats_on
Enjoy your holidays!
At the end of this week we will be on holidays for two weeks. Some people will travel, myself included and some people will stay at home. Whichever position you are in these holidays, they allow us to slow down and take a break from the normal pace of life. Sport and other extracurricular activities have usually taken a break too.
My holidays usually involves a list of things I’d like to get done, including planning for next term. The list always includes my hobbies and a desire to minimise my reading pile. Sometimes I succeed with my reading pile and sometimes I just add to it because I have extra time to browse.
At the moment I am busily adding audiobooks and ebooks to my phone and iPad so that I have choice on my upcoming journey. I know that I will wander in and out of many book shops over the next few weeks and probably be dragged out of them by my family. I hope that you get the chance to read some books together or just browse through the bookshelves of your local bookshop.
CBCA 2018 Shortlist
In my last post I commented that I had been asked to come up with my six top books for a presentation for the ACT CBCA. I am happy to say that I managed to pick two books that are on the real shortlist. The full list is available on the CBCA web site, https://cbca.org.au/short-list-2018 .
The Younger Reader section books were:
THE ELEPHANT Carnavas, Peter (see the last blog)
THE SHOP AT HOOPERS BEND Rodda, Emily (see the last blog)
HOW TO BEE, Macdibble, Bren
HENRIETTA AND THE PERFECT NIGHT Murray, Martine
THE GRAND GENIUS SUMMER OF HENRY HOOBLER Shanahan, Lisa
MARSH AND ME Murray, Martine
A wrinkle in time
In anticipation of the movie and after having students ask if we had it on the library shelf, I went and downloaded an audio copy of this book. Mine included an introduction by the director, a forward by the author and an afterwards by Madeleine’s granddaughter. I admit that these were as interesting as the story itself.
It is amazing to think that this book is as old as it is. The premise holds up very well these days as it is about a quest to save a loved one. The children in the story have to go through a number of trials and strange encounters to save themselves and the father of two of them.
In the middle of a wild storm a strange visitor comes to the Murry house. She is aware of the location of their missing father and offers two of the children, Meg and her youngest brother, Charles Wallace, an opportunity to help him. Their friend, Calvin, comes with them on this dangerous and extraordinary adventure. They travel through time and space, encounter alien civilisations and overcome hardship.
At the time of publication (1962), science fiction written for children was virtually unheard of; Dr Who didn’t start until 1963. It was controversial when it came out and on many banned books lists - especially in the US. It is reasonably fast paced and easy for children to follow. Some of the work references and ‘modern’ ideas may have to be explained to children, but this could generate a great discussion on how we have changed over time.
This book does have a slightly nostalgic appeal. Reading it aloud to children would encourage discussion, much like Enid Blyton stories do. It begins with the all time classic line of, ...”It was a dark and stormy night.” The current movie, due out for the holidays, has been in the pipeline for a few years. The cast includes some well known personalities and would be worth comparing to the book.
ACT Library Services
If you want to know what's on at the public libraries over the holidays then follow this link.
https://www.library.act.gov.au/learning/whats_on
Enjoy your holidays!