Welcome to #BookTok: Social Media and Cultures of Reading

The final offering to readers for 2023 is a compelling and thought-provoking post from Lyndon Riggall. Are you a BookTok user? 

Share a magic discovery or memorable find in the comments. 

 

Whether you love it, hate it (or perhaps have never even heard of it), it seems that the online community of BookTok is here to stay. For the uninitiated, BookTok is a subcategory of videos on the popular social media platform TikTok, a service where users upload short clips that their audiences scroll through in quick succession... a mix of elements of other social media and content platforms like Instagram and YouTube. If you have been into a library or bookshop recently, you will indefinitely see the influence of these influencers. In my own visits to local retailers in the past few weeks I have seen many stands of “BookTok Recommends” in the doorway, while Libraries Tasmania’s Libby App features an entire section titled “BookTok Made Me Read It!”

In general, most would argue that the existence of BookTok is a win for reading communities, representing what is ultimately a short form online book club that encourages people to read and discuss their reading with insight, depth and complexity. That said, the community is also inarguably powerful (and some would say too powerful). Videos tagged #BookTok have a total of more than 205 billion views, while in the recent Goodreads Choice Awards, the voraciously adored TikTok darling and New Adult Romantasy (two genre terms that BookTok has also been instrumental in adding to the industry’s lexicon) Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, beat second-place-getter Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer ten-fold (397,565 votes to 33,665). Even the very serious literary event of the 2023 Booker Prize livestream was hosted by 25 year-old BookTok star Jack Edwards. It seems that there is clear recognition that even the most highbrow reading events still need a real audience, and the organisers know very well where that audience is.

On a personal level, I find the BookTok community’s tastes to be fairly in-synch with my own reading. They like a book that challenges as well as entertains… championing such stories to devour in one delicious sitting and then re-read as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, and R.F. Kuang’s spectacularly  = complex yet gripping Babel. While Penguin Books Australia has a strong—and at times hilarious—presence on the app, one danger is that Australian authors and their work feel a little like they fall into the background. The BookTok community are fans of Aussie writers Lynette Noni, Trent Dalton, Pip Williams and Nagi Maehashi from RecipeTin Eats,

but more often than not their most popular reads are consistently authors of the same ilk as a majority of their audience, and they will trend towards American writers even on this side of the pond. BookTok has been accused of toxic cultures of attacking writers (a recent reversal of publication by Elizabeth Gilbert, who announced a new novel which was considered by many responders to be culturally inappropriate due to having Russian protagonists, springs to mind), vapid reading habits, glossing over problematic story elements, and even elitism (“Oh, you’ve only read one book this month? Sorry, but you’re not a reader.”) One thing’s for sure: this phenomenon is not benign. It is impacting reading cultures, and doing so right around the world.

I think most of us have come to accept that social media—for all its distractions—is here to stay, and it is likely to remain a huge part of our own lives and the lives of our children. I very rarely accept that people “don’t have time” to read, but in a world in which the demands on our attention are myriad and aggressive, if BookTok sends someone to reading as a result of its existence, it’s hard not to see that as a win. I feel hopeful. While some of the criticisms of it are more than fair, the reading community that is emerging online proves that books are far from dead… BookTok recommends are a very respectable gateway to creating a reading wheelhouse of one’s own, and if you were stuck for what to buy someone this Christmas, a quick check of their age and what is getting buzz on BookTok certainly isn’t a bad place to start.

 

What a beautiful thought, that in an ever-growing corner of the internet there are still those who not only love books, but also share their enthusiasm for them with glee. I just hope that in all the excitement and noise online we can still remember that the heart of a reader’s joy is the same and as simple as it always was: those quiet moments of forging a one-on-one relationship between a reader and a writer, with words, stories and the imagination in the middle.

 

Lyndon Riggall is a writer, reader, and English teacher from Launceston, Tasmania. You can find him on social media @lyndonriggall and online at www.lyndonriggall.com. 

Editor's note: What a great post to round off the year! I trust that the offerings this year have inspired your reading choices, encouraged you to cogitate, helped you appreciate the creativity and brilliance of our author and illustrator contributors and engaged your passion for children's literature.

Seasons greetings to you all! We will be back in 2024!

 

Christmas Down Under

This week Loretta shares some delightful stories for young readers that explore Christmas themes from an Australian perspective.

Well, I can’t believe we are in December already and the count down to Christmas is on! Of course, my blog is about Christmas and this year I have shared my favourite Australian Christmas stories with you. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy safe new year. 

I’m ready for Christmas by Jedda Robbard, Penguin

Beautiful simple and short story about Christmas in a board book format. What I really love about this story is the strong focus on celebrating with family and reflecting on the year that has been. The story also describes an Australian Christmas experience. This is an adorable book for younger children at Christmas. 

The Australian Twelve Days of Christmas by Heath McKenzie, Walker Books

I think what makes this book so good are the bright and funny illustrations that really tell the story of an adorable Australian version of the traditional song of “Twelve days of Christmas.” Children will love reading and seeing iconic Australian animals throughout this book – from wombats, Tassie Devils and flies!

An Aussie Night Before Christmas by Yvonne Morrison & Kilmeny Niland (illustrator), Scholastic

I absolutely love this story and I just love how Aussie Santa is in this tale! Sunburnt cheeks, broad rim hat, red shorts and thongs! Delivering his parcels in an old rusty Ute being pulled by kangaroos! Children will love this story and parents will get such joy from reading this out loud! I really feel this should be a Christmas staple in every Aussie house!   

All I Want for Christmas is Rain by Cori Brooke & Megan Forward (illustrator), New Frontier

Beautiful Christmas tale of a little girl living in a drought-stricken area of Australia. The illustrations are wonderful and the colours used have really be able to represent the climate and the lack of hope that is experienced with droughts. The story is a great way to share with children about the Australian outback.   

 

Loretta Brazendale

Secretary, CBCA Tasmania

End of Year Celebrations, Reflections and Forward Planning

A timely post as the end of the school year draws close that highlights the varied and engaging experiences that school libraries and rich library programs afford our children. Input from students is an important component of these inspirational ideas shared by Anna Davidson, a teacher librarian at Hutchins School.

 

The end of the year is a time of celebration, reflection and forward planning.  The final library lessons of the year are no exception, with multiple opportunities for all three for both students and staff.

Celebration

Each year, students are invited to present themselves with a Reading Award for the year. This idea was adapted from the work of the magnificent Pernille Ripp, and is such a rewarding experience for all involved.  The premise is simple; students reflect on their growth as a reader throughout the year, nominate an award for themselves and provide evidence for their choice.  The beauty of this experience is that the reading award is incredibly personal and caters for all readers.  Common reading awards include:

• This year, I learnt to like reading more.
• I found a new series that I’m really into.
• I developed a regular reading routine at home.
• I tried a new genre this year.
• I finished all my Book Chat books this year.

Feel free to adapt our Reading Award template here.

As well as individual reading celebrations, students contribute to a collaborative Google Slides presentation, sharing their favourite reads of the year.  These are then displayed on the screens around the library, offering a great conversation starter about recommended reads and a launching pad for planning holiday reading.

As we all know, advocacy for school libraries is vital.  These celebratory opportunities help library staff to promote and advocate for the services we offer.  Another celebration tool used for advocacy is the end of year report.  Whilst library management systems can show all kinds of data, we use a simple poster to highlight the most popular titles, authors and series as well as celebrate the top borrowers and overall number of books borrowed in the year.

Reflection and Forward Planning

Alongside the end of year reading celebrations, students are invited to reflect on their library experience in 2023.  Questions include:

• What do you like best about the library?
• What do you wish we did more of in library lessons?
• What do you wish we did less of in library lessons?
• How can Miss Davidson be a better teacher for you?
• What is one word you would use to describe your time in the library in 2023?

Student responses are then used to plan for the following year, building on the strengths and reflecting on areas to improve so that the student experience in the library can be enhanced.

Whilst it can be daunting to display your vulnerability as a teacher by asking students to provide feedback on the library, the program and your teaching, the results are often humbling and incredibly informative.  Students generally respond to this invitation in a very honest, yet respectful manner. Each year, it is particularly heartening to see that students value the variety of books in the library and want the opportunity for more reading time.

The end of a school year is always a chaotic time and it can be easy to lose sight of the big picture in amongst the rush of end-of-year concerts, chasing up overdue books and managing of tired students and teachers.  Despite all this busyness, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on what went well throughout the year, celebrate the successes and consider goals for 2024. 

Anna Davidson
Twitter - @davidsonteach
Junior School Teacher Librarian, avid reader (mad for Middle Grade Fiction), dog lover, yogi, nature lover, tea drinker

 

Pick a Book for Summer Reading

This week, we have the expertise of Bronwyn from Hobart Bookshop, to share an exciting and fascinating selection of new titles for all ages from the very young through to young adults, with some Tasmanian titles also in the mix. Don't forget to shop local for your Christmas purchases!

As we approach the end of the year, encompassing Christmas and summer holidays, it is an excellent opportunity for embarking on adventures and relishing the outdoors. Numerous new releases during this time foster imagination and social interaction with friends, animals, and nature, serving as ideal reading companions to spark inspiration throughout the holiday season. The curated books listed below each promote active involvement in seeking adventures and appreciating the natural world.

Have you Seen a Monotreme (Coates & Neyland, 2023, Forty South)
The beautifully written and illustrated picture book Have you Seen a Monotreme by Tasmanian author Hannah Coates and Illustrator Claire Neyland is a lovely book for anyone who has ever walked along a river or creek hoping to see a platypus.  With an underlying theme of belonging, it is a delightful story to share with younger readers.

Dragon Girls and Dragon Games series by Maddy Mara (Scholastic)
For younger readers there are two magical series written by Maddy Mara Dragon Girls and Dragon Games which provide an exciting and accessible introduction into chapter book reading, perfect for children who have the interest but are not yet ready for older series such as ‘Wings of Fire’.  These books have been very popular with the younger readers.  The Dragon Girls series releases book 12 this December with Sofie the Lagoon Dragon while Dragon Games saw the release of book 3, The Battle for Imperia in November.

Finding Wonder (St John, 2023, Allen & Unwin)
The much-loved author Lauren St John has a new middle fiction title Finding Wonder.  An uplifting and beautiful story combing adventure, mystery and horses which are favourite themes for many readers.  This new story will not disappoint any reader who has enjoyed previous Lauren St John titles or classic stories such as Black Beauty.

Keeper of the Lost Cities (Messenger, 2023, Simon & Schuster)
The very popular children’s book series Keeper of the Lost Cities #1 has been given another life in graphic novel format.  With engaging colourful graphic illustrations, the new version will allow children to reengage with the series and is also a way to introduce more reluctant readers to the stories.  The transition from graphic novel to chapter book sometimes being easier once interest in a book has already been established.

The Diemen Alexander (Heitz, 2023, Clan Destine Press)
Written by Tasmanian author Marie Heitz (also a Doctor, ultra marathon runner and Tuba player) for the YA age range, this selection can also be enjoyed by adults.  The story is in the sci-fi genre and is set in Hobart, it involves the rescue of a lizard on kunanyi which may turn out to be a lost Tasmanian dinosaur.  Featuring zoology, comparative anatomy and venture capitalism it has been expertly researched by Marie with assistance from TMAG and is a blend of science and ethics which combine to make a truly original story.  

The Trees (Steffensen, 2023, Hardie Grant)
For children with an interest in building their knowledge of Indigenous knowledge and practices The Trees by Victor Steffensen, is due to be released at the end of November.  The theme of the book is the understanding of the balance required between giving and taking from the land, and details how First Nations People have cared for the trees on Country and in return have been rewarded with the gifts that trees provide.

Against the Odds (Humphreys, 2023)
The holidays can be a time for adventure and Against the Odds; The Incredible Struggles of 20 Great Adventurers by Alastair Humphreys details how 20 different adventurers overcame adversity and failure to ultimately succeed in their extraordinary journeys in space, oceans, deserts and jungles.  The aim of the book is to inspire adventure and confidence that all people despite our many differences are capable of great things.

Bronwyn Chalke

The Hobart Bookshop

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Have you seen these?

This week Maureen Mann shares some of her recent reading delights to provide some inspiration for the summer reading ahead.

I have had a lovely time, since returning from a long overseas trip, catching up on some of the books I missed while away. Below, (but not all I have read), are some of the better ones which have come my way – dominantly picture books as that is my great love. I found many of the titles through CBCA’s Reading Time, book news and reviews. If you haven’t discovered this resource, check it out: https://readingtime.com.au. I get the digest version which appears intermittently in my inbox. 

Bush Tucker Counting by Maureen Glover and Gabrielle Fry. Magabala Books, 2023.

This is a lovely board book about bush fruits. The watercolour illustrations are clear, muted primary colours, but the fruits are usually found in northern Australia. There are concepts of number, adjectives and alliteration. 

In My Garden by Kate Mayes and Tamsin Ainslie. Harper Collins, 2023.

The reader learns about gardens around the world, some of the plants which grow in them, as well as the environment in which they leave. Much of this learning is through the illustrations rather than the written text, giving the reader plenty to explore. Japan, Malawi, Iceland and Australia are some of the locations.  There is an affirmative sentence within each double page spread that the child is happy within their world. I really like that the front and back endpages are different and detailed, showing animals and plants from around the world.

Mr Clownfish, Miss Anemone and the Hermit Crab by Sean E Avery. Walker Books, 2023.

Avery, using cartoon-like graphics, shows the interdependent relationship between a clownfish and an anemone. The fish helps find food for the anemone as well as protecting it from predators and helping to keep tentacles clean while the anemone’s sting keeps the fish safe. There’s a third relationship which develops when the anemone fixes onto the back of a hermit crab and is therefore able to move around, something which is usually impossible. I am not a great fan of anthropomorphic animals, but they work in this book, with their expressive faces. Readers will absorb much information about life in the sea which having fun with the story. 

Timeless by Kelly Canby. Freemantle Press, 2023.

The back of the book says it all: It’s about time. Emit and his family never have enough of it, so Emit sets off to catch it, to find it, to buy it but he finally realises that you have to make. Canby’s unusual illustration style combined with wonderful word puns make this a book to be savoured by all readers, no matter their age. Don’t forget to spend time reading the end pages!

Mr Impoppable by Trent Jamieson and Brent Wilson. Larrikin House, 2023.

Gerald is not convinced that he can’t Mr Impoppable, and fun stems from all his attempts. From the expected pins, needles and lightning bolts to the improbable. The cartoon-style cartoons are full of action and humour and Gerald and Mr Impoppable form a strong bond and unexpected friendship. Lots of discussion about who is in control.

Meet Me at the Moon Tree by Shivaun Plozza. University of Queensland Press, 2023.

Carina and her family move house after the death of their father and husband, during the period when none of them is really coping with his absence, and at the same time adjusting to new friends and a new environment. Grandfather seems to be the one grounded person. Carina grasps onto past discussions with her father about moon seeds which had been taken into space and then sown around the world to see how they had mutated. Carina believes they are magic and that she will be able to communicate with her father that way. It’s a very sensitive look at the different impacts of grief, and how one family copes. A book for middle-school readers.

Godfather Death by Sally Nicholls and Julia Sarda. Walker Books, 2023.

Based on a Brothers Grimm story, we learn about the poor, desperate fisherman who has to find a godfather for his newborn son. He rejects God because he doesn’t treat all people fairly. He rejects the Devil because he tricks people. HE finally chooses Death who can’t be tricked or bargained with. But the fisherman doesn’t realise how he is duped. Sarda’s woodcut style illustrations, red, yellow, green, black and white, are beautiful and deserve to be studied rather than passed over quickly. Suited to middle school readers.

Eat My Dust by Neridah McMullin and Lucia Masciullo. Walker Books, 2023.

This is the fictionalised account of the 1928 drive made by Jean Robertson and Kathleen Howell, with Barney the dog, in their open-topped car from Perth to Adelaide, smashing the land speed record (only stopping for fuel and running repairs) and helping map Australia on the way. The story shows how the women broke stereotypes, despite the criticism that women shouldn’t do such things. Masciullo’s illustrations bring the journey to life and show modern readers a small but important achievement from “the olden days”. 

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell. Bloomsbury, 2023.

What a stunning fantasy story for middle school (and older) readers. When Christopher visits his grandfather, he is warned not to climb to the top of the hill, but Christopher does it anyway and “falls” into the Archipelago, a world populated by wonderful mythical (for us as readers) creatures who are introduced at the beginning of the book, in the Guardian’s Bestiary. He meets Mal with her pet griffin and her magical flying coat. Mal is fleeing from the man who wants to kill her (why?), and their adventure is fast-paced and perilous. Rundell is an excellent wordsmith, and she has created multi-dimensional characters in an excellent story. Themes of environment degradation and protection, friendship, love, loyalty.

Have a look for any of these which you haven’t seen before. All are available through Libraries Tasmania. 

Maureen Mann
Retired teacher librarian and avid reader

Editor’s note: What an interesting and varied selection. I have read a number of these too, but will look out for the remainder - Godfather Death has certainly peaked my curiosity. I am (not so) patiently waiting for my turn for the audio version of Impossible Creatures!