S1 Inductions: We had a great time meeting all of our S1 pupils during Library inductions throughout the month and managed to cover the majority of our S1 English classes which mean we can get back into our regular scheduled book borrowing periods. Throughout August, our S1s have borrowed 70+ books for class and personal reading. Great effort by all!
Reading Challenges: We’re launching three reading challenges this year. Bookopoly encourages pupils to read out with their comfort zone, challenging them to select books on different themes and genres they wouldn’t normally choose. Pupils have a chance for their names to be enter into a quarterly prize draw when the book is read and returned. Our 4 Word Book Review slips are a super easy way to get pupils to review and recommend books using only four words to describe the book. Each completed slip earns and entry into the quarterly prize draw. We’ve brought back Ask Me What I’m Reading challenge to encourage discussion around books and reading for leisure. Each completed form earns an entry into the prize draw.
Bookmark Design Competition: We’re hosting our inaugural bookmark design competition. Participants can submit their designs which will be posted on our School Library Teams to be voted on by pupils. The winning design will become this year’s official School Library bookmark. Winner announced during Book Week Scotland in November.
Monthly Newsletter: We’ve relaunched our monthly newsletters this year, featuring new book and eBook highlights, current book award information, short books lists, genre spotlight, librarian recommendations, monthly booklists, and author and book birthday calendar. The interactive newsletter is in PDF format on the Library Channel in Teams.
New Book Highlights:
Pizza Face by Rex Ogle
Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel by Anthony Horowitz and Anthony Johnston, illustrate by Kanako & Yuzuru Tuzuru
Skylar and the K-Pop Headteacher by Luan Goldie
Football’s Champions of Change by Damian Johnson, illustrated by Damian Greenan
Amazing Muslim Who Changed the World by Burhana Islam, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali, Reya Ahmed, Saffa Khan, Aaliya Jaleel, Deema Alawa, and Aghnia Mardiyah
Book of the Day:
20.08: They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
22.08: Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell
27.08: Good Girls Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
29.08: Barda by Ngozi Ukazu
Author of the Week:
WB 19th: Stewart Foster
WB 26th: Leigh Bardugo
Series of the Week:
WB 19th: How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
WB 26th: School for Good and Evil by Somain Chainai
Literary and Cultural Celebration Booklists for August:
South Asian Heritage Month: South Asian Heritage Month (July 17th-August 17th) celebrates the heritage of people with roots in South Asian countries. This year’s theme is ‘Free to be me’.
Trending Booklists:
Epic Reads New Releases | The Guardian Children’s Book Roundup | LoveReading4Kids Books of the Month | Scholastic Books of the Month | Scottish Book Trust Book Lists |Toppsta Monthly Highlights | Waterstones Books of the Month
Recent Awards: UK book award winners, shortlists, and longlists
Winners: Arthur C Clarke Award for Science Fiction | CWA Daggers Awards | James Tait Black Memorial Prize | UKLA Book Awards | Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize, YA Book Prize | Young Quills Award for Historical Fiction
Shortlists: Forward Prize for Poetry | Little Rebels Award | Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing
Longlists: Booker Prize | Diverse Book Awards
Book Buzz: Latest book news from major media outlets and websites
BBC | Book Riot | Buzzfeed | Epic Reads | The Guardian | Huffpost