This book is so far removed from my usual reading and I did find it a bit of a struggle. But am glad I persevered. I learnt a lot.
Elaine
Yes I liked the book although it did lose me at times. It felt like more of a report than a story in parts. Very enlightening and shows us what a sheltered life we do lead. Also how the media can and does filter what we know about the world, especially television. Or is it that we choose not to read the more comprehensive newspapers?
I was going to say ‘Dr Zhivago’ by Boris Pasternak is a good novel on the same lines set earlier and around a love story, of course. A good way to read history I think.
Brenda
It is as if you are transported there yourself, the moment she gets on the troop plane. The translation of the original writting, is difficult in some places for the flow of the story. A great contrast from our last book.
Wendy
Categories: book group · reviews
Behind the News is the featured web site this week. An ABC program specifically aimed at school children and teachers featuring top current news items of the week. This website is updated weekly with the new edition of BTN. Watch the full program online or the particular story that takes your interest. There are also lots of resources and fun things to do for both students and teachers. Program archives go back to 2005, so it’s a good place to search for information on topical issues. Not to mention links to BTN Specials. Check it out… http://www.abc.net.au/news/btn/index.html
Categories: current affairs · research info · web site of week
Having trouble locating what you want on the internet? Try using Boolify to help with your www searches. For the link look to the right side menu bar in A… SEARCH and click on Boolify. It’s really easy to use, refine your search strategy by using Boolean operators AND, OR, NOT. Did you know you can also use these in a normal Google search as well – but make sure they are in capital letters, the rest should be lower case.
How to use Boolify – Drag a green piece onto the board to begin. Drag a Boolean operator piece (AND, OR, NOT) to help expand or narrow your search. Continue adding a green piece followed by a Boolean piece until you are satisfied with your result. Messed it up and want to start again? Just click on the X in the orange box at the right of the board.
http://www.boolify.org/index.php
Categories: research info · web site of week
Author: James Roy 
Town is a compilation of stories following thirteen young adults living in a small unnamed Australian town. It was a fantastic book filled with sadness and humour. It was definitely better than I expected. Kara, Yr.10
Categories: reviews · teenage fiction
Use the links on the right to connect to current RSS online news feeds I have subscribed to for your convenience. Locate the most current and up to date news items from these links. Suggest your favourite RSS news links and I will consider adding them to the list.
Categories: current affairs · news
Come and join our craft group. We will meet once a week as a whole group every Friday in the library at lunchtime.
Guardian Angel Knitting Program
Several staff members will be knitting toy bears for World Vision to send to children around the world and we will need help with them. You can help by knitting one or sewing faces on the ones we have knitted.
Find out more about Guardian Angel… http://www.guardianpharmacies.com.au/new_angel.cfm
Other craft projects could include knitting, cross-stitch and quilting from materials you supply yourself. You may already have a project started that you are working on at home; you may like to bring it along. Students of any age primary or secondary are invited to come along. If you are interested please come along to the library and talk about your ideas.
Categories: lunchtime activites
It’s Education Week this week (May 19-23) and we’re having a busy week with lots of fun in the library. Our major event is the Carnival Book Fair which runs all week and is open from 9.00am to 4.00pm daily. There is a wonderful selection of books that include; Early Chapter books, Humour, Fantsay, True to Life, Adventure and Mystery, Non-Fiction, Activity and Picture Books. Wow! Definately hours of fun… On Tuesday afternoon from 1.30pm our network VCAL meeting will be held in the library. Wednesday we have a Grandparents Day. Prep, Year One, Two and Three classes have invited their Grandparents to visit their classrooms and join in some fun activities. On Wednesday night we also have our Year 7 2009 Open Night, 7.00-9.00pm, which begins with a presentation in the Library before breaking into tour groups as well as joining in some great activites planned and lead by our current year sevens. The evening will finish back in the library with supper, yum…
Join The Reading Jamboree
Categories: events
Multi talented author Mark Carthew visited our library this week and shared his books, stories and songs with children from the local kinergarten as well as students in Prep to year six.
Visit the following link to learn more about Mark and his work… http://www.bookedout.com.au/authors/Mark_Carthew/index.html
Categories: authors · events
This week Hawkesdale P12 students in years 4-6 voted for their YABBA shortlist nominations.
Year 6 results - Picture book : The waterhole by Graeme Base was the clear winner followed by Pocket Dogs by Margaret Wild. Fiction books : 1st. Give Peas a chance by Morris Gleitzman, 2nd. The cat on the mat is flat by Andy Griffiths, 3rd.Truck dogs by Graeme Base.
Year 4 and 5 results - Both year levels voted Just stupid by Andy Griffiths 1st palce and Specky Magee by Felice Arena & Gary Lyon 2nd place. Year 5s voted Bumface by Morris Gleitzman 3rd. We just couldn’t split a four way tie for 3rd place with the year 4s. Picture book nominations: Year 4 - Old Tom’s holiday by Leigh Hobbs and Year 5 voted Rascal the dragon by Paul Jennings as their favourite.
A fun exercise to undertake with each year level. It was really great to hear what the students thought about the books they were reading. The voting process was also an insight into democratically nominating and selecting the books in a political manner. Now, we can’t wait to see if our books make the Yabba Shortlist!
Categories: Yabba
Junior Fiction
The bad beginning ; Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone ; Nude ; Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban ; Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets ; Just stupid ; Crackle ; Just crazy ; Just discusting ; The big book of Tashi - and they are all on the PRC reading lists!
Picture Books
Minton goes home ; The very hungry caterpillar ; Minton goes driving ; Olga the brolga ; Max ; Boo to a goose ; Old Tom’s holiday ; DragonQuest ; Horrible Harriet ; The raqinbow fish - and they are all on the PRC reading lists too!
Categories: PRC · Top 10
