World Literacy Day Monday September 8, 2014

Robertson Road School celebrated World Literacy day on Monday September 8. We have four authors visit - Tim Tipene, David Riley, Maria Gill and John Carr. Most classes were lucky to hear 3 authors. We have their books in the library.

Tim Tipene has written Warrior Kids, Haere Ra, Taming the Taniwha amongst others. David Riley, who is a teacher at Tangaroa College, is known for his biographies on Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall, as well as a book on Niuean role-models called We are the Rock.  Maria Gill has written a lot of non-fiction books including Eruption, New Zealand Hall of Fame, Running the Country, Rangitoto, New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, Save our Seas. 

All the authors were hugely inspirational and I promise that I will buy more copies of David Riley's books next year. Come to the library and borrow their books.           

An adventure in a "52 Storey Treehouse"

Look what has arrived. Andy Griffith's new treehouse adventure. We have five copies in the library (the extra one was for my own family). You will need to add your name to the wait list for the book. Please try to read it as fast as you can (and enjoy it on the way - each page is a work of art with so much detail), so your school mates can receive a copy quicker. This will be popular for months.

We have many other books by Andy, so come and have a look (under "G" along the fiction wall).

Head over to Andy's website too -  there is a lot of cool stuff here. I do need to buy another copy or two of his "Bad Book" and "The Very Bad Book".

Vi and Siale in Room 29 were the first two lucky students to get a copy - Vi has been waiting for months and months for this book. And he has another year to go to wait for the next one - The 63 Storey Treehouse (due September 2015).

So many lucky children in Australia are meeting Andy as he travels around Australia signing copies for them of this new book.

Poetry by Room 28

Room 28 have written some wonderful poems, which I have e-mailed into the Upstart magazine to see if they will publish them.

YOU can bring poems, stories, letters into the library and we can e-mail the items into Upstart - the magazine comes out bi-monthly.  They have very cool prizes for items published. Come and see the magazine in the library.

Stars
They light up the way
And help me sleep
They go away in the day
But it's night time they seek
They shine all the time.                                                                     (by Tayla)

Matariki
She gives a great new year
And shines very bright
She gives a shining morning
And keeps me up early
She goes places where she is not seen.                                             (by Kaia)

Moon
He helps the tides change
he helps cast mystical light
And helps make our night
he swipes everyone away with his lonely face.                                 (by Corrin)

The Moon
He gives me light during the night
And sometimes it's bright
He watches over me
The moon is like a rock
And makes me fall asleep.                                                                  (by Ingatu)

Earth
She helps me live
And keeps me clean
She's like my mother
And is very keen
She makes me happy.                                                                         (by Tusipepa)

Stars
They look over me
And also look nice
They are like friends
And also light the sky
They sometimes fade away.                                                               (by John)

Rugby League Reads

The library has a few new rugby league books -

Footy Fables - 16 fun Rugby league fables, tales and legends to tackle. A story for every one of your favourite league team - Warriors, Rabbitohs, Panthers, broncos, Bulldogs etc.
Good short stories. We have two copies of this and it is very popular, so ask Mrs Atkinson to put your name down on the reserve list if you want to read it.

There is an amazing new Legends of League series of 5 books - Stories of Community, Stories of Cultural Diversity, Stories of Health and Wellbeing, Stories of Family and Stories of Education.
Meet 3 rugby league players in each book who have overcome various challenges in education; have had support and encouragement from their family to get where they are today ; who value the importance of a healthy lifestyle and have faced physical and mental challenges; who have diverse cultural backgrounds and share their experiences of growing up in their communities.

Your teachers are able to issue class sets of Rugby League magazines - there are 2013 and 2014 issues. These magazines are literacy based with an emphasis on kicking off your reading via league players and their stories. Presented in a high glossy format, with each club represented in each issue, these are a fun way to get you engaged in your classwork. Each article covers such genres as procedural (recipes), responses (interviews with players and book reviews), recounts (players talking about hobbies), information reports (what does a physiotherapist do?), narratives etc.
There are multiple issues of these, so get together with your mates to discuss your reading, players, games, league game rules... a fabulous magazine.

See Mrs Atkinson if you wish to borrow any of these - they are proving to be very, very popular.

New Zealand Book Month - March 2013

March every year is New Zealand Book Month.
Mrs Atkinson is handing out $5 book vouchers to every student.
These can be used at shops like Whitcoulls, Take Note, Paper Plus,The Warehouse on a book that costs $10 or more. You then get $5 off the price of one book.

We have a NZ book display down the back of the library too - read a NZ author for a change!
Mrs Atkinson has also made up some NZ author cards with biographical information and these are popped into a few books written by a particular author.

Another new display is on our term topic "Healthy Living". These books are flying out of the library fast! We have lots too. Ask your classroom teacher if they have ordered a box of books from the National Library too - they will send out topic boxes to also help you read on the term topic in your classroom.

Don't forget I will order particular books for you too (within reason!)
Vi of Room 3 is waiting for new "Dragon Breath" books to arrive and Olaloa and Losaline of Room 28 are waiting for new "Frankly Frannie" titles to come.
Charlotte and Simran are always waiting for the latest Geronimo/Thea Stilton titles!

happy reading! Mrs Atkinson

Zayphoir, Cleo and Javan of Room 29 get their poems published!

Zayphoir, Cleo and Javan have had their ANZAC Day poems published in the June/July 2012 issue of the Upstart magazine!

What fantastic work. They received prizes in the post too.

You can give your school work, stories, poems , letters, jokes to Mrs Atkinson and she can e-mail them into Upstart. Upstart is a NZ children's magazine with contributions from children just like you all around NZ. It comes out every 2 months (so bi-monthly). It has competitions, games, book reviews, articles, recipes, the latest toys and movies - all sorts of fun things. We have 3 copies of every issue in the library. Come and haev a read today!

Book Review - Disgusting Dave and the Bucketful of Vomit

Book Review by Nawaz, Shaeez, Tayla, Minna and Frankie of Room 2

Title - Disgusting Dave and the Bucketful of Vomit
Author - Jim Eldridge

Dave went to school. Banger Batts is a bully who annoys Dave. On this day, Banger Batts tried to play a prank which involved the whole school. He vomits and blames the school dinner (lunch) for it. His dad is a lawyer who then decides to sue the school. Detective Kevin (a cousin of Dave) comes to investigate. The mystery is solved with the  help of  Dave's farting dog and Kevin.

Read this book! Room 2 loved it and they laughed and laughed! They are now reading "Disgusting Dave and the Farting Dog."

Goosebumps Horrorland - Welcome to Horrorland : A Survival Guide - Review by Daniel, year 7, Room 24

Reviewed by Daniel, Year 7, Room 24

Author = R.L Stine

Goosebumps Horrorland tells you how to survive in Horrorland. There are questions you can answer in the book. Horrorland includes places like Stagger Inn (see if you can stay a night here!), Black Lagoon Water Park (caution! Species lurking in the water!), Zombie Plaza (bring your mummy - I mean your money!),Vampire Village (try not to make a sound!)\ and Rides and Entertainment (try to stay OFF these rides!).
If you want to find out what the scary rides are, then read this book! We have lots of R.L Stine books in the library.

Kensuke's Kingdom - Reviewed by Rhonda, Year 7, Room 24

The book is interesting and it was a sad story. It is about a boy named Michael who floated to an island after falling from his parent's boat. And he went to sleep with his dog and when he woke up there was food there for him. He wanted to thank whoever gave him the food, so he wrote a message on the rocks to thank that person.
When he lit a fire, he saw an orangatan throwing sand on his fire and when the orangatan came close, it was actually an old man. And the old man told him to not light a fire anymore. Michael was afraid of the old man.  Michael liked the red bananas from the old man. Afterwards they became friends and the old man taught him how to paint and how to fish and one day the old man told him he he got onto the island. He told Michael he is Japanese and when he got to the island he learned how to survive by copying the orangatan and at the end the old man promised the boy that he'd go with him when a rescue ship comes. And when Michael's parents found him, the old man didn't want to go anywhere. He wanted to stay with the orangatans.
By Rhonda of Room 24 .

Rhonda's dad has also read the book! He took the book from Rhonda, so he could read it himself!!

**** Mrs Atkinson has read this too and LOVED it! And cried!!!*****

We LOVE books!

It is Valentine's Day tomororow. While I don't celebrate it (and think it is a waste of money personally!), I LOVE books. Books and reading  should be celebrated every day of our lives!
I thought I would show you some of my favourite books ever!

 Allen and Unwin is one of my favourite publishers ever! Every month I received a FREE book from them and all I have to do is read it and review it. This review then goes up onto their website - http://www.allenandunwin.com/ .

Look up these titles and you will find my review...

Trouble Twisters
A Song for Lorkie
Grumpy Little King
Darius Bell and the Crystal bees
The Road To Goonong
Paradise Trap
Vinnie's War
That's Not a Daffodil
The Girl Savage
Odd and the Frost Giants
Shake a leg


Some of my favourite EVER books :

"The Playground" Compiled by Nadia Wheatley is one of my favourite books at the moment. This is a collection about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia combined from memoirs and oral histories. Oral histories are when you talk about your own life. "We use the bush as our school and as our playground" says one of the authors. The warmth of home and family and the strength of the community shines through in the stories by both adults and students.
I think it is very important to know about all minorities and the Aboriginal community has a wealth of knowledge. A fantastic insight into a culture close to NZ.

"Are We There Yet? " is an Australian classic picture books that I think should be read by everyone! My 8 year old received a copy when he was 4 and can nearly recite it off by heart now. It is a journey around Australia and you learn so much about the geography, famous landmarks etc - a fantastic introduction to an amazing country!

"Two Summers" is a book about the great cycles of nature  - it is set on a farm and relays the story about the same farm, same friend coming to visit but to a totally different landscape. The ravages of drought can be so terrible.

"Baa Baa Smart Sheep" is hilarious when read to classes. A New Zealand book written by Mark Sommerset, it tells the story of a smart sheep and apile of poo....

Roland Harvey is also an Australian author and he writes about the beach, in the city, in the bush etc. All of his titles are beautifully illustrated and a bit like the "Where's Wally" books, in that there is a lot to look at and find in the pictures. They always teach you about Australia and the land, animals etc - I love all of the series.
- "In the City" , "At the Beach", "In the Bush."

I think picture books are totally under -rated and we ALL need to read more of them - yes even year 7/8!!!
There are "Sophisticated Picture Books" written for older children too - but that is another post! (and a whole library lessons session!)

 "Are We There Yet?"

 Roland Harvey books

 "Two Summers"

Mark and Alex's Book Review

Mark (Year 4 ) and Alex (Year 3)  read this Gagana Samoa book in the holidays. They then wrote me this in the library - well done!

Mrs Atkinson's Summer Reading

What did you read these summer holidays? Come and show me the book and tell me about it and I can put a little book review on this blog!

What did I read? Lots and lots!!

My very very favourite author at the moment is Michael Morpurgo. He is English and has written many, many books! I am trying to buy everyone of his at home! I was lucky and got a small pile of his books for Christmas too.

You might know "War Horse" that is currently on at the movies? Have you seen it? Well it was book before it was a movie and it is written by Michael Morpurgo!!

 "War Horse" is written from the horse's point of view. His lovingly looked after by a young lad called Albert. Albert trains the horse Joey to be a working farmhorse and has a very close relationship with it. One day Albert's Dad sells the horse, leaving Albert totally distraught. Joey is sold to the army and goes off to fight in a horrible war. Albert meanwhile joins the army as soon as he is old enough and becomes a vet assistant. he never gives up on trying to find Joey, It is a powerful story of friendship and highly recommended

 A much quicker read of Michael Morpurgo's is "Not bad for a Bad Lad." This is written as a recount about a young boy remembering his life. He is seen as a bad lad, a trouble maker at school. He does discover that he is good at playing the drums. He leaves school and 14 and has a troubled life of stealing and is eventually sent to borstal ( a home for naughty children!). here he discovers the stable and starts looking after a horse called Dombey. This helps keep him out of trouble but the horse is sold to the army. The lad is let out of borstal for good behaviour and one day joins up to the army. he finds Dumbey again and the story end beautifully!

 Want to know all about bee pollination and how a class of students help re-pollinate plants for the dying bees? read about a horrilbe teacher who thinks she can blackmail her students to win a big competition and an even more nastier mayor? "Darius Bell and the Crystal Bees" is the book for you! Odo Hirsch was born in Australia and now lives in England. He is a master story teller and we have several of his books in the library as pictured below!

 All the "Wild West Gang" stories by Joy Cowley have been published into one book! Great for reading a shortish story all at once! One of my favourite New Zealand authors! Joy also writes picture books - we have many in the library too!

Another of Michael Morpurgo's books - we have a class set for years 7-8. This made me cry!! it is a MUST read!!! About a young boy who is swept overboard from his parent's yacht and how he is marooned on a desert island.

So that is just a few that I read. The teachers all read books over the holidays too, so hoepfull we will ahve some reviews from them on here soon too!

Charlie and Kiwi - a new picture book

  We have a lovely new picture book "Charlie and Kiwi", written by Eileen Campbell. Charlie has to write a report for school on a bird. He wanted something different and a little surprising. His parents bought him back a stuffed kiwi from a holiday in New Zealand.Charlie wanted to know why a kiwi was so different to other birds, so he asks his stuffed kiwi. Suddenly they are zooming through space, back in time to discover all about kiwis.

 Way back in time. They go on a journey through evolution to discover how the first birds evolve into thousands of kinds of birds.

 We find out birds evolved from dinosaurs! And learn all about kiwis along the way. It is full of great information.

The book is written in conjunction with the New York Hall of Science - New York City's hands-on science centre. They help to promote science and technology as important tools that help us understand ourselves and the world in which we live!

Come and have a look at this new book! It is fantastic that a book about kiwis has been published by a USA publisher!


Mrs. Atkinson

Native Flora and Fauna (Plants and Animals)

This term we will be studying native flora and fauna (plants and animals). These are plants and animals that are native to New Zealand and occur naturally - they havenot been bought into New Zealand.

In the library we have lots of non-fiction books on plants and animals of NZ.
We also have lots of amazing picture books on plants and animals of NZ that you can read. When you learn about a new topic, you can read both non-fiction and fiction books on the topic.
The photos below show just a few picture books that showcase NZ flora and fauna. These can be read by everyone all the way up to year 8.

Welcome to Robertson Road School Library Blog!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you found some good books to read over summer. I most certainly did!
We opened the library from January 16-25 and had a few fantastic readers visit us!

Moeata ; Maria H ; Peter-Ray ; Raymond ; Siu ; Patrick ; Reece ; Logan ; Kisione and Vincent.

Well done to you all - Mr Nicholls is very proud of you all for visiting the library in the holidays.

I have been busy sorting out and covering many, many, many new books! We have SO MANY new books, it is hard to find places to put them all! Everywhere you look, there are new books! YAY!

I haev also been making up new fiction series boxes. Each box is face out, so it is very visual for you all and has one or more series in the box. This makes it a lot easier for you to find your favourite series faster!

Happy reading!  See you all on January 31st.

Mrs. Atkinson