I would like to christen this year – the year of the authors. Already John DeLaney and Sophie McKenzie are set up for ER schools in the next 3 weeks- not to mention the wee sneaky trip to the International Book Festival in Edinburgh next week. Graphic artists Metaphrog will be popping in some time in Sept and a wee hush hush rumour hazzit that a certain Children’s Laureate might – just might- be heading in our direction. And this is just for starters – stay close to the library or at lest our web site to learn more. And remember you heard it here first…
Author Archives: Mrs Baird
What does she actually do?
Everyone can be a librarian can’t they?
I would love to do your job I hear cry when I tell people what I do.
Then I ask them … so, what is it you think I do?
Um don’t you just stamp books all day?
The short answer to that is NO… the longer answer is explained in this lovely poster developed under creative commons ( you don’t know what that is – go ask a librarian!)
So, why not pop ito the library to see what I can help you with after all?
Great web site
Are you on information overload?
Too much for your tiny little head to handle?
I recommend you take a few minutes to look at LiveBinder
This is a great site where you can keep all your online information in the same place – web sites, youtube videos, pdfs you name it if it’s online you can collate it here.
It is so simple to set up and incredibly useful once you get going.
need any help?
Come and see me and if you create a great page on one of your school topics let me know so that I can share it with others….
Who’s a pretty library then?
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes the library is once more open to pupils. After a week of prepping and painting and blood sweat and tears a beautiful vision of loveliness awaits you in the library (other than me!).
Freshly painted walls, beautifully crafted signage (thanks to Mr Thorburn) and elegant and eye catching furniture are the flavour of the day. If you have not sampled the delights of a raspberry chair or snuggled on a tennis ball yellow comfy seat…. Where have you been?
Not only had the make-over resulted in an enhanced environment but we can also offer a little bit more room for studying with an extra 10 reading/ study spaces.
Carnegie 2013 – the short list is here
After months of agonising over the longest long list ever – the new short list has arrived.
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The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan
Armed with a suitcase and an old laundry bag filled with clothes, Kasienka and her mother head for England. Life is lonely for Kasienka. At home her mother’s heart is breaking and, at school friends are scarce. But when someone special swims into her life, Kasienka learns that there might be more than one way for her to stay afloat.
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A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle
Twelve-year-old Mary O’Hara is the youngest of four generations of strong Irish women. Mary’s mother Scarlett is more than a match for her and her grandmother Emer would be, if she weren’t dying in hospital. Her great-grandmother Tansey is the feistiest of them all – and she’s dead. But then Tansey’s ghost arrives on Mary’s doorstep with a very special mission, to take a midnight road trip back to the past…
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Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
A ruthless regime is determined to beat its enemies in a race to the moon. But when his best friend Hector is suddenly taken away, it is up to unlikely hero Standish, his grandfather, and a small band of rebels, to confront and defeat the ever-present oppressive forces of the Motherland.
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In Darkness by Nick Lake
In the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake, Shorty, a teenage boy, is trapped beneath the rubble of a ruined hospital, thirsty, terrified and alone. He has been drawn into the gangster world but he harbours a secret: a flame of revenge and a burning wish to find the twin sister he lost seven years ago. Shorty’s fires burn so bright he forges a link with Toussaint l’Ouverture, the Haitian rebel who led the slave revolt two centuries ago. Together they must face their own darkness and find the strength to survive.
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Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Born with a terrible facial abnormality, shy, bright ten-year-old Auggie Pullman has had countless operations and has been home-schooled by his parents for his whole life. Now, for the first time, Auggie is being sent to a real school, exposing him to the stares and cruelty of the outside world – and he’s dreading it. Through the voices of Auggie, his big sister Via, and his new friends Jack and Summer, Wonder follows Auggie’s journey through his first year at Beecher Prep.
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Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgewick
A story that spans hundreds of years, Midwinterblood tells the story of Eric and Merle who have loved and lost one another and who have been searching for each other ever since. In the seven different interweaving stories, the two appear as lovers, mother and son, brother and sister, artist and child, as they come close to finding each other before facing the ultimate sacrifice.
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A Boy and a Bear in a Boat by Dave Shelton
A boy and a bear go to sea, equipped only with a suitcase, a comic book and a ukulele. They are only travelling a short distance and it really shouldn’t take long. But then their boat encounters ‘unforeseeable anomalies’… Faced with turbulent stormy seas, a terrifying sea monster and the rank remains of The Very Last Sandwich, the odds soon become pitted against our unlikely heroes in the story of a truly memorable friendship.
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Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Only in wartime could a stalwart lass from Manchester strike up a friendship with a Scottish aristocrat, one a pilot, the other a special operations executive, both serving during WWII. It’s not long before they become devoted to each other. But then a vital mission goes wrong, and one of the friends is captured by the Gestapo. Now a prisoner of war, the story begins in “Verity’s” own words, as she writes her account for her captors.
This year Mrs. McBrearty’s S3 class will be joining me in shadowing the awards. If you would like to take part as well just pop in to the library and let me know.
I wonder who will win?
Bookamania
So, why would 250 teenagers pay £12 to go to the Royal Concert Hall on a Friday night?
To see a great band? To ogle some teen heart throb in a bad hat with an odd haircut who autotunes their way through some else’s songs?… erm no actually to meet a nerdfighting author.
Yep, it was an evening of fun and frolick and face slapping ( Hank won this time so John got it in the kisser from his baby bro) with an author who is somethig of a teen phenomenon both on and off line.
This was an “awesome” ( if you know his boooks you know why I say that) evening with the one and only John Green and his brother Hank.
If you have not heard of John Green where have you been?
Check out his web site about his books.
Check out his youtube channel (though you might want to turn down the volume – it’s a noisy affair)
http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers
Try the Crash course yourtube channels for information on History, the world, politics and literature
http://www.youtube.com/user/crashcourse
Or even roll with his tumbl for his fishing boat proceeds
http://fishingboatproceeds.tumblr.com/
This man is the epitome of geek chic and his books are not bad either.
He was here to promote and chat about his book The Fault is in their Stars. It is a beautiful and emotional ( dare you not to blub) story of young teenage cancer sufferers. He said he tried to make it funny but from the comments from the audience I guess he failed.
This is the guy who makes it OK to be brainy, this is the guy who thinks there is something awesome in everyone and this is the guy who thinks it’s cool to read fiction and non-fiction and this is the guy who chats to the president of the USA and this is the guy you missed seeing on Friday night!
Out and about …
As librarians are wont to do, I wandered off to the Mitchell Library to meet with 4 yes 4 count em, teen fiction authors.
Heading the bill on equal status were * insert drum roll here* –
Tom Bowler
Sally Prue
Gillian Cross and
Geraldine McCaughrean.
All brought together by their publisher OUP on a roadshow to talk about teen novels and their new books.
The Jeffrey Library tucked in the attic of the beautiful Mitchell library was the perfect setting for us to get up close and personal with the authors, all of whom took time to read from their books, discuss their characters and inspirations and answers lots of rather good questions.
There was a real mix of genres on show – from prehistoric mammoth fighting to mystical visions to crumbling seaside town ghosts to the collapse of life in the Uk as we know it. A juicy melange of writing.
There was an opportunity for chatting and mingling after the formal procedures and I was lucky enough to ask Geraldine to sign a couple of books.
Look out for a library competition to win one!
Great evening, great books and great company.
Off to see John Green on Friday… will report back on that next week.
Fishing in the forum
Of all the strange things that go on at Saint Ninian’s the strangest might just be the fishing lesson in the forum!
Well done on Mr Knight on passing on his knowledge to our little tiddlers! (sorry, there are too many fishy puns to avoid)
Guinness World Record challenge
On Wed 6th Feb the library will be taking part in a Guinness World record attempt at having the most numbers of people writing the same story at the same time. Over 190 schools have signed up to this challenge and we want in that big book.
All you have to do is come along to the library at lunchtime and write the next 2 yes only 2 lines of a story that has been started off by the lovely author Matt Haig.
If you want to see a copy of the start of the story please come and see Mrs. Baird BEFORE the event so that you can get those creative juices flowing.
You do not have to be a budding Shakespeare to take part you only have to be enthusiastic and willing to support your school.
It should be great fun and a story to tell all your friends for years to come. There is also a rumour that some sweeties might be on hand to inspire!
So, there is no excuse not to come along – this includes staff as well as teachers can take part too.
See you there!
I will keep you all posted as to how well we have done…
New freens
Tae celibrate the bard’s day I bought a truckle o’ wee beasties for the library.
Dinnae get too close fur they may jis bite. An anyhoo the haggis.. is that no an endagered species?
The lovely wee mites are the creations of some bonny wee bairns in the Art department and aww monies raised go to help MacMillan Cancer Care.
I have half a mind tae call my wee haggis Rabbie after the bard himself but since I hear he wisnae called Rabbie by anyone whit knew him and since I much prefer Edwin Morgan I shall ca’ the wee laddie Eddie in his honour instead. An weel Nessie is always Nessie isn’t she?