It’s exam time for our senior phase pupils which means that our school library will be used throughout the exam period. However, the School Librarian has taken this opportunity to reach out to our S1-3 classes to deliver a list of books out on loan. It’s fantastic to see that over 950 books are issued to our BGE pupils alone!
In lieu of the library being closed for exams week beginning 22nd April, we’ve uploaded some fun quizzes and activities to our Library Channel in each year group Teams. For Talk Like Shakespeare Day, we shared our ‘Shakespeare Dictionary’ and Shakespeare Phrases’ information sheets for pupils to learn more about the common words the Bard invented that are still in use today. Our quizzes include National Pet Month, World Art Day, and International Guitar Month. Pupils were encouraged to complete one or all three quizzes for a chance to be entered into our monthly prize draw.
What’s Trending: Popular and recently borrowed books this month
Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli – ‘This is the best book I’ve ever read’.
Book of the Day: Featured pupil recommendations
15th: A Different Kind of Freedom: A Romani Story by Richard O’Neill
18th: Lil’ Muffin Drops the Mic by Romesh Ranganathan, illust. James Lancett
19th: The Marvels by Brian Selznick
Author of the Week: Chosen by pupils
WB 15th: Chris Priestly
WB 22nd: Robin Talley
WB 25th: Jenny McLachlan
Series of the Week: Chosen by pupils
WB 15th: Onyeka by Tola Okogwu
WB 22nd: Summoner Trilogy by Taran Matharu
WB 25th: Burn for Burn by Jenny Han
Recent Arrivals: New Book Highlights
Awful Animals by John Wood, Illust. Jasmine Pointer
Barb and the Shadow Army by Daniel Raj Abdo, illust. Jason Linwood Patterson
The Impossible City: Vol 1 by Jed MacKay, illust. Carlos Villa
Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian
Pandora Perfect by Roger Langridge, illust. Brett Parson
Literary and Cultural Celebration Booklists for April: Booklists to tie into various literary and cultural celebrations.
Planet Vs Plastics Book List: The theme for this year’s Earth Day is Planet vs Plastics to raise awareness of the health and environmental risks of plastics.
Stress Booklist: Stress Awareness Month calls for a greater awareness of the negative impact of stress. Our booklist features some nonfiction titles to help young people manage their stress.
Autism Book List: World Autism Month and Autism Awareness Day (April 2nd) aims to celebrate Autism awareness and acceptance. Our Juniorl, Young Adult, and Senior + Staff book list feature nonfiction and fiction titles.
Trending Booklists: Monthly highlights and new releases
Epic Reads – New Releases
The Guardian – Children’s Book Roundup
Love Reading for Kids – Books of the Month
Scholastic – Books of the Month
Scottish Book Trust – Book Lists
Toppsta – Our Favourite New Children’s Books This Month
Waterstones – Books of the Month
Recent Awards: UK book award winners, shortlists, and longlists
British Science Fiction Awards – Winners
Branford Boase Award – Shortlist
CWA Daggers Awards – Longlists
Granta Best of Young British Novelists – Winners
Jhalak Prize – Shortlists
Women’s Prize for Fiction – Shortlist
Competitions: Writing competitions for young people
Foyles Young Poets of the Year Award
Henrietta Branford Writing Competition
Book Buzz: Latest book news from major media outlets and book websites
What’s On in May
Shawlands Academy School Library Quills Prize for Creative Writing Contest: Our final seasonal creative writing contest of the school year in time for National Share a Story Month. Any form of creative writing is permitted, 500 words or less. Deadline May 31st.
International Museums Day: Take a virtual tour and explore some artefacts held by some of the world’s famous museums and galleries using our interactive documents available on the Library Channel on each year group Teams. Visit the Glasgow Life Museums page for information on local museums and galleries or try one of these highlights from our international list:
Anne Frank House – Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Louvre – Paris, France
The Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York City, USA
Natural History Museum – London, England
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History – Washington, USA
Sistine Chapel – Vatican City
National Walking Month: National Walking Month is a campaign launched by Living Streets. This year, Living Streets invites people to discover the #MagicOf Walking to celebrate the many health and happiness benefits of walking and wheeling. To celebrate, the School Library has created an interactive guide to local Glasgow Life Community Libraries all within walking distance to Shawlands Academy which will be available in the Library Channel on each year group Teams. Community Libraries nearby the school include:
Langside Library, 2 Sinclair Drive (0.8 miles, 19 mins walking time)
Pollokshaws Library, 60 Shawbridge Street (0.8 miles, 19 mins walking time)
Pollokshields Library, 30 Leslie Street (0.9 miles, 21 mins walking time)
Govanhill Library, 170 Langside Road (1.1 miles, 25 mins walking time)
Couper Library, 84-86 Clarkston Road (1.8 miles, 40 mins walking time)
Gorbals Library, 180 Crown Street (2.0 miles, 45 mins walking time)
Ibrox Library, 1-5 Midlock Street (2.0 miles, 45 mins walking time)
Pollok Library, Pollock Civic Realm, 2EN Cowglen Road (3.0 miles, 1 hour walking time)
Teams Quizzes:
World Goth Day – Poe or Young Adult quiz: World Goth Day is observed annually on May 22nd. We’re hosting a quiz on Teams featuring none other than the father of gothic literature, Edgar Allan Poe. Pupils are invited to guess whether the quotes are from Young Adult Gothic novels or from one of Poe’s works.
Booklists for May:
Gothic Book List-compressed: Featuring Junior, Young Adult, and Senior + Staff gothic fiction to tie in with World Goth Day festivities.
Shelf Help Book List-compressed: Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from 13th-19th May on the theme of “Movement: Moving more for our mental health”. Our book list features some helpful titles on mental health for Young People that are available in the School Library.
Mental Health websites:
Children’s Mental Health Scotland
