Wilbur's Cosmic Cone - written by Alan D. Parr, illustrated by Anna Lee

Morena tamariki,

I'm so glad we managed to have Book Week this year. If you want to reflect on some of the fun we had, there are some lovely pics of the Book Character Parade on the WPS Facebook Page. I've also written a blog post about the Des Hunt visit.

We were also visited by Alan D. Parr, the author of Wilbur's Cosmic Cone. He is a school parent, author and TV cartoon scriptwriter. Alan delighted the Y0-2 children with a reading of Wilbur's Cosmic Cone. He also visited his daughter's Y3/4 class. 

While he read, Alan flicked through the lively illustrations on the class TVs. He brought along the crocheted versions of the characters from his book. 

Alan has a natural orator's voice, and a warm persona, which the children enjoyed. Teachers and children laughed at the funny bits and were drawn into the story. They asked interesting questions. He was really accommodating, visiting 5 classrooms. One of the teachers told me that the children did some inspired writing after he left, and they were trying out big words and vocabulary.

Write a story

Here's a fun challenge:

Would you like to write a story where you combine something interesting about your pet (or an animal at the Zoo), and something outlandish?

It's fun to write stories about something you know about in your own world, combined with something imaginary. In Wilbur's Cosmic Cone, Wilbur the dog is zoomed up to Mars. You could integrate anything that comes to your imagination with a real world character. It doesn't have to be an animal. It could be a story about how your sister developed superpowers. I don't know... it's your story, so have fun with it.

Activity sheets

Here are some "how to draw Wilbur" activity sheets.

I'll be back later with more resources.

Ka kite ano

Hairy Maclary and Donovan Bixley activities

Morena tamariki,

I hope you're taking a moment to do something nice today. I took my dogs for a little walk, with my mask on. They remind me of Hairy Maclary and Friends. 

Here's an activity pack of Hairy Maclary and Friends, and if you click on the link you'll also find a Slinky Malinki activity pack on the website:

Hairy Maclary and Slinky Malinky activities

https://www.penguin.co.nz/activities/2621-hairy-maclary-activity-pack?fbclid=IwAR0VwrkNAXzPNJyto2uYGRRQCbrq2xG1btFlCV7TWMYTlGj5bzY4u3CBoSo

There are some fun Donovan Bixley activities here:

https://www.hachette.co.nz/whats-on/welcome-to-the-world-of-donovan-bixley/?fbclid=IwAR1lEzKjF-W9dyFR30VJuoQv6uOuyfTfGu8VJ4wGKF8SsVrMaysN6un1bL8

Ka kite ano

Fabulous resources from NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults

Kia Ora Woodlands Park School whanau,

While we're in lockdown, I'll keep you posted with resources.

The New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults have some fabulous resources that I want to share here. There are excerpts from the list of finalists, author/illustrator Q&A sessions, writing workshops, drawing workshops, and a behind the scenes session with Kate Parker.

https://lianza.org.nz/events/books-alive-online-events-virtual-storytimes/books-alive-2021/

Kate Parker won the best picture book award and the best first book award at the NZCYA awards for Kowhai and the Giants. Parker is a WPS mum. We are so proud of her.

Click here for the virtual story times:

https://lianza.org.nz/events/books-alive-online-events-virtual-storytimes/virtual-storytimes-2021/

Thanks to LIANZA for curating these resources.

Des Hunt's visit

It's Book Week at Woodlands Park School. On Monday, Des Hunt visited whanau pohutukawa and whanau harakeke in the hall. He is a multi-award winning and much loved New Zealand author who writes "Kiwi Stories for Kiwi Kids". We have most of Des Hunt's fiction novels in the school library, and many teachers use his books for novel studies.

It was interesting to hear about the author's life and writing journey. The children and teachers were thoroughly engaged and thrilled!  He cleverly demonstrated the idea of plot structure through magnets, with a metaphorical reader (metal ball) shooting through the story. 

He showed us the build-up of tension through an inflating balloon that grew... and grew... and burst! Judging by the cheering children, they loved it too! 

We learnt a little about chemistry and physics and about how stories work. A story needs conflict to hook the reader in, but it also needs things to go right at the end (in children's fiction anyway). There needs to be dramatic tension - a climax (balloon popping) and a release of that tension. I'm sure the young aspiring writers and readers picked up some tips.

We organised Des Hunt through the Writers in Schools programme. Thank you to ReadNZ Te Pou Muramura! And thank you to Des and his lovely wife, Lynne, for your time and energy in sharing a love of reading and science with the children.

Swapna Haddow wowed Woodlands Park School on the Storylines National Story Tour

Swapna Haddow is the multi-awarding winner author of the Dave Pigeon series. She also writes the Ballet Bunnies series, picture books, middle-grade fiction and is currently working on non-fiction. Swapna visited our school as part of the Storylines National Story Tour. What outstanding work you are doing at Storylines Charitable Trust  - bringing authors to schools!

"The tour is funded by Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust as part of the Storylines Festival. Storylines has run their national festival since 1993 with the aim of bringing together children's writers, illustrators, poets and storytellers with their readers and audiences, to enjoy books and reading, and to encourage literacy." - Storylines

Swapna kept the year 0 - 6 children in our school captivated - with an interactive reading of My Dad is a Grizzly Bear, followed by a demonstration on how to draw a grizzly bear. Swapna gleaned tips from the illustrator, Dapo Adeola. Soon all of the children had drawn their own grizzly bear.

There was a question and answer time - and the children asked interesting questions - like "What inspires you to write your stories."

Then, Libby, the organiser whisked Swapna on to meet up with the van, ready for the next school. There were going to be two more schools that day! I take my hat off to you all.

I was also really proud of the children of Woodlands Park, who behaved beautifully.

Thank you so much!

Kate

 

NZCYA finalists, including Kate Parker

Kōwhai and the Giants - by Kate Parker

Congratulations to all of the wonderful authors and illustrators who are finalists in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

We are especially celebrating Kate Parker's book,  Kōwhai and the Giants, because Kate is a Woodlands Park School parent. 

Kate Parker, popped into the library last term, to donate a copy of her stunning picture book. This book is the end result of Kate’s splendid light box creations which have been on display at a number of venues including Smith & Caughey and the Arataki Visitor Centre and are currently on display at Titirangi Community Library.

They are sure to provide inspiration for dioramas. This is what Kate wrote in the donated book, 

“Poipoia te kānano Kia puawai. Nurture the seed and it will blossom – Arohanui from Kowhai’s whanau to Woodlands Park School.”

Here is a story about the light boxes: Stuff 

Kate’s books are available here: Wheelers 

Authors inspire readers and writers

I'm excited to share a few bits of news with you. We are in the process of organising three authors and an illustrator to visit this year!

Firstly, we won a Storylines Story Tour. Swapna Haddow is presenting to some of our children on 29 June from 9 - 9.45am. 

Book Week is scheduled for 2-6 August, and we have Des Hunt lined up for the Monday. 

We will also have a guest reader day, and Alan D. Parr and Anna Lee - author and illustrator of Wilbur's Cosmic Cone may be joining us! Speaking of this dynamic duo - they are running a free Book Reading, with art activities included at Blockhouse Bay Library on Sat 12 June.