The World According to Elaine and Moira

Wonderful to see so many people from Dundee and beyond at Waterstones for the launch!

The Dundee Literary festival has gone from strength to strength with Peggy Hughes at the helm. This year’s programme is packed with gems including Jacqueline Wilson’s one and only 2017 event in Scotland.  Peggy is moving on to pastures new and I hae ma doubts we will see her likes again, so don’t miss out on her swan song!

Moira and I had a brilliant time at Ardler Primary School this morning. The P7 class worked their socks off learning how to look after their Library.  We know it’s in safe hands,  and we’re looking forward to hearing how it develops over the coming months.

I received a call, an urgent call – Mrs Taylor’s class of keen readers were in need of book suggestions!

I dashed to my bookshelves, rushed to the school and spent an hour with the fabulous P6s talking all things books 😄 Hopefully, they will now be exploring the works of Lauren St John; Ali Sparkes; Robin Stevens; Tonke Dragt; Barry Hutchison; Lara Williamson; Ross Welford and many many more.  I will pop a list of the recommendations on the Blog asap. In the meantime, thank you Keen Readers, it was great to meet you and if another reading emergency arises Who You Gonna Call….(fingers crossed it’s me and/or Elaine 😃)

Thanks to Jenni Mackay for a tip top training session today. Maybe she will teach us how to take a decent photo next time!

The first of the 3 Young Readers’ Programme book distributions took place this week. The books are intended to be read for pleasure and over 200 pupils had a great time choosing a brand new book to keep.  Click here to see some very happy young people:-)

I had a great time last week training old and new staff to deliver Bookbug Sessions.

Sharing stories, songs and rhymes with children has many wonderful benefits – developing  children’s language skills, helping children to relax, boosting confidence, bonding, encouraging drawing and writing.  And to top it all, it’s great fun.

Wishing everyone lots of luck on their Bookbug adventure.

The National Literacy Trust’s Young Readers’ Programme funded by Barcapel Trust was introduced to pupils today.

The aim of the project is to  encourage reading for pleasure through the gifting of books. In addition to the pupils receiving books, there is a gift of 50 books to the school library of each of the 3 schools involved. You can see from the photo how happy this news has made the lovely mum who runs Rowantree’s library!

The first book distributions will be taking place next week and we will be posting pics; comments; and hopefully, some writing & art work over the length of the project which runs between now and the October break.

So in time honoured tradition, watch this space……

Had the absolute pleasure of meeting up with Anna, Ava and Mr Ferrier at Blackness Primary today. The girls want to start a book club to share their love of reading and provide other pupils with opportunities to catch the Reading Bug!  As you can see they had all the right ingredients to get off to a flying start – A plan; posters; and, yummy biscuits!

The amazing  IT whizz and all round good guy that is Jenni Mackay found an incredible Online Knitting Reference Library   where you can download 300 books on knitting published between 1849 – 2012.

If your Opera Hood will just not last another season, or you have always hankered after a Starsky & Hutch cardigan,  then get yourself to this site and rustle something up!