Welcome to the blog of the Tasmanian branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia!

Saturday 16 March 2024

Reading Role Models

With Tasmania Reads week starting today, this timely post from Anna Davidson explores the importance of creating a reading culture in the school and the critical role adults have in modelling, and supporting students to model, engaged reading practices. Full of practical ideas for schools, as well as food for thought for home reading.


Many readers of this blog will be familiar with the wonderful work of Margaret Merga, school library research champion who does so much to advocate for the work of school libraries.

Margaret’s latest offering, Creating a Reading Culture in Primary and Secondary Schools: A Practical Guide, is an absolute treasure. As I read it over the summer, I found it to be a very affirming read; it contains many great ideas that lots of us are already implementing in our library spaces. However, one of the best elements of Merga’s book is the bite-size gems of research that can be used to introduce staff and students to new initiatives.


Inspired by Merga’s latest offering, in 2024 our library will be focusing on the theme, ‘Reading Role Models’. The library team met at the start of the year to brainstorm ideas, big and small, for engaging the whole community in reading. Throughout the year, we will choose a couple of ‘big ticket’ ideas as well as trying out as many low effort-high impact ideas as possible. For this post, I will share two of our focus points and the associated actions.


Leaders are Readers

One initiative we have launched, but is yet to be in full swing, is working with the Year 5 students using the catchphrase, ‘Leaders are Readers’. 


Across the year, Year 5 leaders will be involved in leadership roles such as:

  • Promoting books during morning assemblies (currently, Year 5 students are engaged in writing 30s elevator pitches for their favourite books)
  • Acting as Book Chat Mentors for Year 3 students, sharing Book Chat tips and tricks as well as leading discussions
  • Running Story Time in the Bush sessions for our upcoming Tasmania Reads celebrations
  • Leading younger students through the fabulous Story Walks at Margate and Snug.

Over time, we also hope to engage the Year 12 leaders and staff leaders in this initiative.


Engaging Staff in Reading

Merga emphasises the importance of teacher engagement in developing a positive reading culture, sharing this research gem …

Before teachers can intrinsically motivate their students to become avid readers, they need to, themselves, experience reading enjoyment’ (Tovey, 2022, p. 286, in Merga, 2023, p. 45)

However, we all know how stretched classroom teachers are with an overcrowded curriculum and increased individual learning needs in their classrooms. A key role of school library staff is to support classroom teachers to engage in reading, both with their students and on a more personal level. 


Class Read Alouds

A goal for us this year was to have every class reading a class novel. The Merga gem we used to introduce this was this mind-blowing statistic …

Research in the UK involved 20 English teachers reading ‘two whole challenging novels at a faster pace than usual in 12 weeks with their average and poorer readers ages 12-13.’ Students ‘made 8.5 months mean progress on standardised tests of reading comprehension, but poorer readers made a surprising 16 months progress’, leading the authors to conclude that ‘simply reading challenging, complex novels aloud and at a fast pace in each lesson repositioned “poorer readers” as “good” readers, giving them a more engaged uninterrupted reading experience over a sustained period.’ (Westbrook et al., 2019, p. 60, in Merga, 2023, p. 61).

The library staff provided ideas for great (contemporary, not a classic that children may have already been exposed to) class read alouds, created an ‘Our Class is Reading …’ poster, stuck them up outside each classroom and waited to see what happened. This is what you now see as you walk around the school hallways.

Encouraging Staff to Read for their own Pleasure – Book Clubs, Silent Reading Parties and Staffroom Libraries

We also encourage staff to make time to read. Ron Ritchhart says that if we want schools to be cultures of thinking for students, they must also be cultures of thinking for staff. The same is true for reading. If we want staff to engage in reading, therefore being positive reading role models for students, we need to make reading easy, accessible and celebrated. You may have seen this fabulous article over the summer holidays, Reading fiction may have more benefits than you realise, particularly in the workplace, which helps progress our cause.


Our staff book club is going strong after its initial inception during the 2023 Tasmania Reads celebrations. We meet twice a term, with no set book, just a theme that people can choose to stick to or not. A lovely and unexpected outcome of this initiative is the conversations it has led to; students now see staff chatting about what they are reading and swapping books in the hallway, which further adds to the creation of a positive reading community.


Our upcoming Tasmania Reads celebrations will also see the implementation of two new initiatives to get staff reading; an after school staff silent reading party in the library (drinks and nibbles provided!) and the installation of a ‘little library’ in the staffroom, making reading more accessible for time-poor teachers.


What ideas do you have for engaging school staff in reading?


Anna Davidson
Teacher Librarian - Junior School
The Hutchins School


Friday 8 March 2024

Celebrate Tasmania Reads Week, 17 – 23 March 2024

Have you got a pile of ‘to read’ or ‘to read aloud’ books in your home or classroom?  Get ready to tackle them as part of Tasmania Reads Week and get involved via Libraries Tasmania. Let’s celebrate reading!


Try something new this Tasmania Reads Week,
from 17 to 23 March.
 


Tasmania Reads Week is a celebration of all things reading, curated by Libraries Tasmania, and supported by local partners, including booksellers, the Tasmania JackJumpers, Metro Tasmania and the University of Tasmania. 

During Tasmania Reads Week, Libraries Tasmania are helping all Tasmanians to be excited about reading. With over fifty events around the state, there is something for everyone. You can explore the full program, featuring Book Chats, author talks, and readings, by visiting our Tasmania Reads website.


Why celebrate reading? 

  • Reading for pleasure offers a range of benefits, including better education outcomes, improved quality of life, and better health and wellbeing.

  • Currently, only fifty percent of Tasmanian adults have functional literacy. We want to see that number increase by supporting children’s literacy and celebrating reading for all ages.

  • Reading can be social! People are more likely to read, and to experience the benefits associated with reading, if they read socially, choose their own reading material, and read for fun. Join a Book Chat through your local library and share book recommendations, favourite stories, and other bookish business.

Get involved

To get involved in Tasmania Reads Week 2024 you can: 

  • attend a Tasmania Reads event 
  • visit your local library
  • read something new 
  • gather some friends for a Book Chat and talk about your favourite books
  • share a social media post about your favourite reading place using the hashtags #TasmaniaReads and #WhereDoYouRead.

If you are a teacher, we have special activity resources just for you – email us at tasmania.reads@libraries.tas.gov.au for more information!


Keep an eye out for Tasmania Reads celebrations happening in your community and Try something new with reading this March!

 

Lily Fletcher Stojcevski
Reporting and Policy Officer, Libraries Tasmania

W: https://libraries.tas.gov.au/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/LibrariesTasmania/ 


Editor’s note:
What a wonderful prompt to get reading! I plan to get immersed in some of the titles on 2024 CBCA Notable list and to attend at least one of the events on offer. 


Saturday 2 March 2024

Reading is Magic - CBCA Book of the Year Awards: Notables 2024

The announcement of the CBCA Notables kicks off the excitement generated each year in the build up towards Book Week and the awards announcements later in the year. Maureen Mann shares some insights into the awards and the importance of the work of the Judges in celebrating quality titles drawn from their extensive reading and deliberations. Maureen has identified some personal favourites – can you suggest others?

Did you watch the announcement of the CBCA Book of the Year Awards: Notables on Tuesday evening? 

The Notables list each year brings together the best children’s books published in Australia, according to the judges of that year. Each of the judges has read all the titles submitted to the CBCA Book of the Year Awards in their specific category. This gives them a wonderful overview of the year’s creations, an overview that no one else has. 

 

There are 5 categories announced in the CBCA Notable Books list. 

1. Book of the Year Older Readers. 

2. Book of the Year Younger Readers. 

3. Book of the Year Early Childhood. 

4. Book of the Year Picture Book. 

5. Book of the Year Eve Pownall (information books).  

The sixth category, CBCA Award for New Illustrator features in the Book of the Year Awards Shortlist announcement.

 

Why is it so important to see these lists? Notable Australian Children’s Books gives prominence and recognition to those entries for the Book of the Year Awards which display commendable standards in the criteria set down for the Awards. The list has been published every year since 1992. 

 

Publishing this long list gives authors and illustrators, as well as publishers, recognition for achieving a high standard as recognised by the judges. Because the list contains all commendable books, it includes all those books which will be listed on the Short List which is to be published Tuesday 19th March, 2024. The Notables list gives us, the reading public, the opportunity to focus beyond the books which are shortlisted.  This year’s list has 118 titles on it. 

 

I was surprised by what has been included on the list, because there are so many which I hadn’t heard of. And that stresses the list’s importance of showcasing our wonderful Australian children’s books.    


Here are a few of my favourites.

 

Stay for Dinner by Michelle Pereira and Sandhya Parappukkaran. (Hardie Grant, Picture Book).

This is a wonderful celebration of Australia’s cultural diversity as we see what foods 4 families serve for their main meal and how its presented and served. Reshma is surprised when she visits her friends and is needlessly nervous of their reactions when they come to her place.  

 

Where Will the Sleepy Sheep Sleep? by David Metzenthen and Jonathan Bentley. (Allen & Unwin, Early Childhood).

It’s a book full of tongue-twisters and quirky illustrations as the reader decides whether the current location is a suitable place to sleep. Baaah! No-o-o. Not here. Little ones will enjoy sharing the refrain.

 


The Power of Being Odd
by Matt Stanton. (Harper Collins, Younger Readers). 

This graphic novel surprises me because I like it so much. We see Kip and her friends explore her Imaginatorium. Going in is easy. Getting out is more of a challenge. 

 


How We Came to Be: Creatures of Camouflage and Mimicry by Sami Bayly. (Hachette Australia, Eve Pownall). 

This is a great book for curious readers who love nature and animals. Bayly’s illustrations are detailed and accurate, reflecting her interest in the weird and wonderful plants and animals which co-habit our world. 

 

If you want more information you can read the judges’ comments for all books listed. You’ll find it here Notable Australian Children's Books 2024, critiques for all 2024 Notable titles

 

Here is a link for the total list. Book of the Year Award Notables, complete list. Individual lists, with covers, are available:  https://cbca.org.au/notables-2024   

 

Happy exploring of the Notables lists. 

 

Maureen Mann

Retired teacher librarian and avid reader

 

 

Editor’s note: There are some great choices above – at this point Where Will the Sleepy Sheep Sleep? is one of my favourites. If you are interested in young adult readers then three titles on the Notable list that I have really enjoyed in audiobook format are: 

Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman. (Allen & Unwin, Older Readers)

This Time it’s Real by Ann Liang. (Penguin, Older Readers)

Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer by Amy Doak. (Penguin, Older Readers)



Friday 16 February 2024

Have you read…? Books to get hooked on!

This week, Launceston bookseller, Andy, shares some recent favourite reads to excite both younger and older readers.


Children’s summer holiday reading is done and hopefully they have enjoyed all of the Christmas books and are looking to try something new.  So here are some suggestions for every age and stage;


All the World Says Goodnight by Jess Racklyeft. Affirm Press 2024

Join Australian author and illustrator Jess Racklyeft and share her beautiful goodnight story with your little one as all the different animals go to sleep.


Fast, Slow. Let’s Go! by Sally Sutton & Brian Lovelock. Walker Books 2024

This is the way we skate along, skate along, skate along,
This is the way we skate along
on a sunny, funny morning.
Borrowing from the childhood perennial and favourite song 'This is the way ...', a happy group of children scoot, bike, bus, swing, sail, run and ride their way across town to join a birthday surprise.


The Beehive by Megan Daley & Max Hamilton. Walker Books 2024

An amazing look into the native stingless bee, the dual text results in a charming story alongside an abundance of fascinating facts.


It's finally hive day! Willow has been waiting all year for groundskeeper Tom to split the school's native stingless beehive in two so she can take home her very own hive. Everything needs to be just right to help so that the bees forage and thrive in their new home.


Rex: Dinosaur in Disguise by Elys Dolan. Walker Books 2022

Rex is king of the dinosaurs: carnivores want to be him and herbivores want to be eaten by him... That is, until a pesky Ice Age comes along and he winds up frozen solid in a glacier. When he wakes up, 65 million years later, human beings rule the roost – and if they get their hands on Rex, he'll wind up in a zoo. (Or, worse: a MUSEUM.)

Lucky for him, Rex isn't the only undercover creature in town. He's whisked out of danger by the one and only Bigfoot, who has been surviving among the humans undetected for years. Bigfoot and his friends show Rex how to get by in the humans' world, and soon there's only one thing left for him to do: GET A JOB.

But that's easier said than done ...


The Big Book of Little Lunch by Danny Katz & Mitch Vane. Walker Books 2024

Collecting all the original Little Lunch titles together - The Slide, The Bubblers, The Monkey Bars, The School Gate, The Off-Limits Fence and The Old Climbing Tree.  Discover these old favourites bound together with additional Bonus Stuff for hours of fun and laughter. 


Fifty Things to do with a Stick by Richard Skrein. Harper Collins 2023

Fifty Things to Do with a Stick will introduce you to the joy of making something out of almost nothing.  A must-read for anyone with an adventurous spirit, a yen to whittle and chop, and a desire to get out into nature and play with sticks! These 50 achievable ideas for making and playing with sticks – all with beautiful step-by-step illustrations.


The Observologist by Giselle Clarkson. Walker Books 2023

This is no everyday catalogue of creatures. It is an antidote to boredom, an encouragement to observe our environment, with care and curiosity, wherever we are.

An observologist is someone who makes scientific expeditions, albeit very small ones, every day. They notice interesting details in the world around them. They are expert at finding tiny creatures, plants and fungi. They know that water snails glide upside down on the undersurface of the water; not all flies have wings; earthworms have bristles; butterflies taste with their feet.

The Observologist puts over 100 small creatures and features of the natural world under the microscope, piquing our curiosity with only the most interesting facts. Subjects range from slugs, ants and seeds, fungi and flies through to bees and bird poop.


Legends of Norse Mythology by Tom Birkett. Quarto 2023

Legends of Norse Mythology is a fully illustrated encyclopaedia of Norse gods, giants, monsters and heroes featuring beautiful and otherworldly illustrations from Isabella Mazzanti and enchanting text from Old English scholar and Norse mythology expert Dr Thomas Birkett.


Countdown to Yesterday by Shirley Marr. Penguin 2024

When you mix-up time-travel with the Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book you get a retro-cool book about love, loss and family where being stuck in the past may not be such a bad thing…


Spy Academy #1 – The Peak by Jack Heath. Scholastic Australia 2024

After thwarting a robbery, Nolan Hawker is invited to the world’s most dangerous school. At The Peak, he learns to crack codes, fly planes and deceive enemies so he can someday infiltrate the deadly anarchist group known as Swarm. But someone at the Peak secretly works for Swarm, and they have a plan—the kind no one walks away from. Can Nolan find the traitor before it’s too late?


Look my in the Eye by Jane Godwin. Hachette Australia 2024

running late

drop it off without me

I type drop what off? I don't know what Mish is talking about.

While I'm typing, another message appears. don't tell bella

But I am Bella.

The pandemic lockdowns have lifted and the three teens are eager to explore their newfound independence. But with the world opening up, there has been a rise in surveillance, from apps that track their movements to voice recorders and hidden cameras. It feels like everyone is watching them. But when does 'watching' become 'watching over'?

Do we have a right to know everything about those we love?


The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Hachette Australia 2013/2023

Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it's not a skill that she's ever taken seriously until the FBI come knocking…

What Cassie doesn't realise is that there's more at risk than a few unsolved murders - especially when she's sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own. Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. 

And when a new killer strikes, danger looms close. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive . . .


Not sure what to read next or need something similar to what you’re currently reading come visit us at the bookshop, we love helping to find your next read.

 

Andy works at Petrach’s Bookshop in Launceston, Tasmania is a great source to help you locate the just the right book.

W: https://www.petrarchs.com.au/

FB: https://facebook.com/301377573362009

I: https://www.instagram.com/petrarchs/