The Literature Base

I've just received the October 2009 issue of The Literature Base - what a great journal for inspiring ways to use literature in the classroom and library...

The focus on of this issue is "around the world in 80 books" - travelling the world through literature, with suggestions for extension work, displays and lists of books - it would make a great book week theme... classics, multiculturalism, passports, hot air balloons, continents, mapping...

This issue also has a great article on "fractured fairytales in the classroom" - traditional literature re-interpreted - with activities for middle and upper primary classes - analysis, character autobiography, reward poster for folktale villain, poetry, plays, picture books, diorama, trial by jury...

A good item to include in your library budget for 2010 :
Literature Base ($46 - 4 issues pa) Magpies ($53 - 5 issues pa)
http://www.magpies.net.au/magpies/public/?MIval=m_pages&pagename=SAOI

Around the Bookshops ($36.50 - 4 issues pa)
http://www.marigold.co.nz/publications.html

List of celebration days

This message was posted on the school library list serve :

I have been on the lookout for a list of National / International days too, so I can get a 'heads up " for displays etc This is one link that has several sites that may behelpful : http://tiny.cc/celebrationdays
Joanna Broadbent, Librarian, St Mary's School, Blenheim.

The link takes you to the Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector, part of the Ministry of Social Development. Also the NZ review journal Around the bookshops publishes a good list each year called Happenings - another good reason to subscribe to this useful little resource - go to http://www.marigold.co.nz/

Library professional reading journals

Do you subscribe to library professional reading journals at your school library ?
These valuable resources keep you up to date with new authors, titles, series, award winners... inspire you with interviews and articles... provide booklists, reports on events, and suggest ways to promote reading etc. They are a valuable tool for helping teachers increase their knowledge of children's literature, as well as obviously informing your book buying / collection development for the school library.
I'd recommend Magpies and Around the Bookshops especially, and also The Literature Base for for suggested classroom activities based on themes / genres / individual titles...
Magpies and The Literature Base http://www.magpies.net.au/magpies/public/?MIval=m_pages&pagename=SAOI
Around the Bookshops http://www.marigold.co.nz/subscription.html