Genre Feature Shelf, Fantasy, Term 4

Each term we feature a different genre on the Genre Feature Shelf. Our lunchtime librarians help to curate the collection.

Here is our Fantasy Genre Shelf for T4 2018.

Mapping Inquiry

 

A lunchtime team effort, putting together a puzzle of the map of New Zealand, Aotearoa. Our inquiry this term is around Mapping. "Where in the world is New Zealand?"

Bookmark competition with Dorothy Butler Children's Bookshop

At lunchtimes, the children created a wonderful collection of bookmarks. We submitted them to the Dorothy Butler Children's Bookshop bookmark competition. Many schools entered. 

Our very own Naomi won first prize for her age group. Ka Pai!

Thank-you Helen for visiting our school and presenting Naomi with her prize.

Fifi Colston author visit

Fifi Colston wowed us all day long, with stories about her creative childhood, in-depth presentations on illustrating, on researching Torti, on writing, and an interactive session on wearable arts. The day finished with a writing workshop that was top notch! Thank-you Fifi!

History Club

Well done to Daniel and Amy for running a fun History Club on Fridays at lunchtimes. These pics are from the session on famous people in history. Daniel talked about Amelia Earheart. I told the children about Jean Batten. They researched historical characters, drew pictures and shared their findings. We finished with a paper plane flying contest. 

Book Fair

Thank you to everyone who helped at the book fair, and to all the families who supported us. We raised enough money for a spacious new stand-alone shelf! Terrific!

We made this Matariki themed korowai at lunchtimes in the library

"Matariki is a cluster of stars in the constellation of Taurus. There are about a thousand stars in Matariki, but only seven can be seen with the naked eye.

Why is it important?

For some iwi (tribes), Matariki resets the Maori lunar calendar.

Calendars use the Moon to set the months and the Sun to mark the seasons

The Maori New Year is traditionally celebrated at the first crescent Moon after the first appearance of Matariki in the morning sky. This occurs between early and late June and this year it is on the 15th June."

Stardome Observatory Planetarium

Alice in Wonderland Book Trailer

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The 13 Storey Treehouse book

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Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets Book Trailer

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Wonder book trailer

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"When faced with the choice of being right or being kind, choose kind"

Book Review: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl - by Shannon Hale

Squirrel Girl is a very good book. There are some dramas and sad parts. There are also happy and funny moments too. I like how Squirrel Girl can understand squirrels. My favourite character is Tippy-Toe because she is funny and smart. She's also very serious when it comes to fighting evil villains.

In this book, there is a big fight. Squirrel girl and squirrels vs the Micromanager and his robot creations. There's also a not so big fight - it's Squirrel Girl vs Micromanager's robots.

I recommend this book to girls who like cute animals, but it could also be for some boys who are superhero fans too.

By Helena

Making Matariki feathers & Ocean colouring at lunch

Book Review: 20,000 Leagues under the sea: Jules Verne

A brilliant book with cannibals, submarines, and war all layered on a perfect science fiction book. A brief synopsis includes that a huge sea monster (which is a submarine)  attacks ships then Prof. Aronnax joins a mission to kill the monster then he nearly drowns and finds himself inside Nautilis a secret submarine owned by Captain Nemo. A mysterious tale. 

Adam - Year 6

New Read Aloud Sessions

If I think about the books that made an impact on me as I was growing up, so many were read aloud. My Dad read us "Danny the Champion of the World" and "Winnie-The-Pooh". Teachers read books like "Charlotte's Web" and as I got older they read more challenging books like "To Kill a Mockingbird". They all taught me about different personalities and perspectives and helped to develop empathy. 

As an adult I read books to my children at home, like "The Enchanted Wood", "James & the Giant Peach" and"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and we had some wonderful moments together sharing books. 

Many of our first favourite stories are often from books that were read aloud to us. 

Our teachers at WPS do a wonderful job of reading aloud to classes. "Wonder", "Holes", "A Wrinkle in Time" and other carefully selected books are enjoyed by our students.

Inspired by Colby Sharp's post* about Read Aloud books I am going to start a designated time to read carefully picked chapter books aloud. I have read many picture books over the years, but need a special time to read chapter books. I'll start out with Mondays at 12h45 (15 minutes before the library opens for lunch) and see how that works out. Next Monday is the Queen's Birthday, so we will start on Monday 11th June. I will start reading "Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. Looking forward to it!

*Colby Sharp: (https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2018/05/24/poll-last-read-aloud-of-the-school-year/)

Our Super Sausage Sizzlers dressed up too

Mad Hatter, Cat in the Hat, Pippi Longstocking & Mrs Wishy-Washy

You look amazing!

Book Character Dress Up Day

What fun we had this morning! We danced and paraded our costumes in the hall, as book characters or book readers. Thank-you to everyone for dressing up or for enjoying the costumes and the day. I was amazed at how we could dance and laugh and have some fun and then quieten down,  no sooner had Liz asked. Here are some pics of the happy occasion that celebrates books, reading and the wonderful diversity of characters in stories. Thank-you to the parents who created amazing costumes (see Leaf Man down below for example). Also a big thanks to Liz and Marijke for being the MCs, and to all the teachers and sound engineers.

"Billie" from Trainsurfer

Check out this awesome bespoke costume - "Leaf Man"

Can you spot Fly Guy?

I wonder if Harry put a spell on the library monitor? 

Get Caught Reading in May

May is Get Caught Reading month. I've been snapping away. See who I spotted ...

Keep an eye on the blog to see if you got "caught reading" this month!

James Russell's visit

James Russell visited our school last week. He had the children and teachers in stitches of laughter with entertaining stories about his childhood. We were also captivated by his readings from the Dragon Brothers Trilogy (his picture books) and the new Dragon Defenders chapter books series. I can't wait to read Book 1 of the Dragon Defenders, but I may have to get in a waiting list of reserves at school.

James also demonstrated the augmented reality app. He was the first author in New Zealand to introduce augmented reality to his books, through an application called AR Reads. There was a buzz in the library at lunch time with children asking to borrow my phone to look at the maps through the app. We will be uploading the app the library iPads soon. Ultimately the end goal is to create excitement and enthusiasm around books and reading!

Thank-you James and all the best at the Auckland Writer's Festival.

Lunchtime in the Library

 The library is a popular place at lunchtime. Lego club on Tuesdays and Thursdays is open to all WPS children. The rule is "Play & Pack Away". Sometimes it helps to know that one's creation is being photographed and put on the blog before dismantling it and packing it away :)

Children love to come in to read books, listen to CD books, play Lego and the librarians help out at the issue desk, shelve books and help visitors to find books, make reserves, etc. We're all very grateful for our lovely library!