On my processing trolley…

The end of the school hear heralds the closure of budgets - Tania shares some last minute picture book gems she has picked up from her local bookshop.

At this time of the year when school libraries are frantically trying to make sure they spend all their budgets, I thought I might share some of my recent acquisitions from the local bookshops with you.

Why dogs circle to Lie Down by Greg Ray, illustrated by Jenny Miller

Written by Tasmanian author Greg Ray, illustrated by Jenny Miller, this is one of a series of ‘Why dogs do various things’. Its rhyming text explains various suggested reasons for this behaviour, depending on the dog breed and its own personal requirements. As we have a well-established Story Dogs program, this book will really resonate with the children.

Kimonos by Annelore Parot

This is a delightful book, full of surprises and interactions! Annelore Parot has crafted a sensory exploration of Japanese culture in a fun and imaginative way. With fold out pages, cut out peek-a-boos, and incremented sections this is an adventure into the wonderfully precise nature of Japanese culture. Sure to become a favourite, I predict this one will be extremely well loved. If there’s a little girl in your life and you’re looking for a Christmas present, you couldn’t go far wrong with this one.

The Princess in Black and the Mysterious Playdate by Shannon and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham.

A beautifully presented easy read story featuring a strong female character! This book is a delightful read with engaging pictures and a strong female lead character.  Its easy reading level will ensure it appeals to reluctant readers and the short chapters will give a sense of achievement. With the popularity of superheros at the moment, this is a fun and quirky way for girls to delve into the saving the world genre!

Quick Quack Quentin by Kes Gray, illustrated by Jim Field.

Another fantastic book from Kes Gray, author of Oi Frog!, which is easily one of our most used picture books by teaching staff to support phonic awareness and the teaching of the “og” sound. In his new adventure, Gray brings us a duck who’s lost the “a” from his quack and his subsequent journey to fix the problem and his discovery that not all vowels are created equal. A very funny read; but I suspect a challenge to read aloud; but well worth the effort as children will be delighted with the results, if for no other reason than to hear the readers struggling with the vowelless words!

This is another title guaranteed to become a favourite with teaching staff to support literacy.

Friendship is Like a Seesaw by Shona Innes, illustrated by Irisz Ag΄ocs

One of the Big Hug series of books with gentle illustrations and an accessible message. I really like the use of words like bossy and sooky which are terms kids can relate to. Books dealing with emotions seems o be topical at the moment and this one is an example that is done well. The story is simple, engaging but easily accessible, and the underlying idea is immediately understandable and digestible. It notes beaut strategies for dealing with the problems that occur in friendships, with all suggestions school friendly.

No matter what your choices are for using up that end of year budget, might I suggest it’s a great idea to peruse the shelves of your local bookshop? It’s great for your library shelves, good business for them and soothing for your soul!

Tania Cooper
Library Technician, Ulverstone Primary School