Our library is now closed for borrowing so that we can complete our annual stock-take.
If you have school library books at home, can you please finish reading them now, and return them to the library as soon as possible.
Thank you!
Book trailer: The Doll People by Ann M. Martin
Caitlin visited the library a while ago, needing some help with a challenge. She had to make a book trailer for a book that she wouldn’t normally choose to read. I suggested she try The doll people by Ann M. Martin, and she took it away to read. Now she has published her book trailer on Room 12′s class blog (Dozen Fresh Eggs), and has very kindly allowed me to embed it here as well. Thanks Caitlin!
And yes, in case you’re wondering – it turns out that Caitlin did enjoy the book, and she even went on to read the next one in the series: The meanest doll in the world, which you can also find in our library.
The beautiful illustrations in these stories are done by Brian Selznick, whose book The invention of Hugo Cabret has been made into a 3D feature film (opening in Palmerston North on 12 January 2012). You can see the trailer here.
Scholastic Book Fair
Hi everyone, we are getting excited about our Scholastic Book Fair, which will be held in the school library next week!
On Monday, children will have a chance to visit the library with their class, to look at all the books and to make a wish-list to take home. From Monday afternoon, we will be open for business! Families are welcome to come in to the library to browse and buy books on Monday after school, and before and after school for the rest of that week (8:30-9:00am, and 3:00 to 3:30pm). We’ll also be here after the Camp meeting on Tuesday evening, from 6:30-7:00pm.
We look forward to seeing you!
iPad reading
Some of our lucky students in Room 12 have been part of a trial of borrowing an iPad to take home each night for reading chapter books. The titles we chose were:
- 11 Birthdays (by Wendy Mass)
- The 39 Clues Series 2, Book 1: The Medusa Plot (by Gordon Korman)
- Invisible Fiends Book 1: Mr Mumbles (by Barry Hutchison)
If you are one of those students, can you please take this survey to help us evaluate this trial.
Bookapedia quizzes – now with house points!
Hi everyone. The kids in Bookapedia have been putting together some fun bookish quizzes you can do. If you answer all the questions correctly you will earn points for your house, so have a go!
If you have a phone, iPod or iPad that can read QR codes, you can scan the code outside the library door to take you to the quiz page (you will need an app like Scan to do this).
We have 3 quizzes ready to go now, and will be adding more most weeks so check back soon 
A Fishy Day by Jake
Here is a story written by Jake.
Click the picture to read the story.
New games: Doodle Dice, jigsaws and Cadoo
Jean and I have noticed that some of the games in our library are looking a little bit tired and worn, they have been well used over the years, and it’s time for some fresh fun.
So this week we have quite a few new things to play.
First up, a new set of Cranium Cadoo.
We also have 3 new 100 piece jigsaws – once you’ve finished them, you can play a game of I Spy!
And finally, a brand new game for our library: Doodle Dice! This is so much fun! I’ve played it with Jen and Helen to test it out and we can confirm that it is great fun I reckon we could even add some hilarious new cards of our own!
Review: Children make terrible pets
Written and illustrated by Peter Brown, the author of the award-winning picture book “The curious garden”, this is the story of a young bear who finds a new pet in the woods.
When Lucy brings home her pet “Squeaker”, her mother is less than impressed! Lucy’s mother has a bad feeling about Squeaker right from the start, and sure enough Squeaker gets up to all sorts of mischief. If you have ever brought home a new kitten or puppy, or tried to tame a creature from your garden (pet hedgehog, anyone?) you can probably imagine all the *worst* things a new pet might do.
Will the new pet stay, or will it have to go? Check out this beautiful new book to find out what happens!
Other books in our library by Peter Brown:
Puffin Short Story Awards
Entries in the Puffin Short Story Awards are open now.
If you are in years 4-6, and you like to write, please think about entering the juniors section! Stories can be about anything you like, and can be up to 500 words long.
The winner will receive an iPad and 50 books for their school library, wow!
For more info, and to download an entry form, click the picture.
New Zealand Book Month
Hi everyone! March is New Zealand Book Month, and I have a couple of things to share with you.
First up, you will have received your $5 book voucher already – has anyone used theirs yet? If you have, we’d love to hear about what you bought!
Here’s a cool video that TVNZ made to help celebrate Book Month:
Which reminds me, we have a new shelf in the library with some special books on it. They include some fantastic lift-the-flaps books like The Rabbit Problem by Emily Gravett, and a wonderful paper sculpture alphabet book called ABC3D, here’s a video of the book in action:
