Rights Respecting Schools E qualities: This month we worked with the BGE E qualities group to look at ways the School Library can support out Rights Respecting Schools journey. Pupils suggested created themed book lists relating to some of the 54 articles in the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and will also be spearheading a reading suggestions wall of rights themed books.
Glasgow 850 Challenge: 2025 marks Glasgow’s 850th birthday and to celebrate we’ve launched our Glasgow 850 Challenge, packed with Glasgow themed literacy activities including word jumbles, quizzes, match games, and fill-ins. Completion of each ‘mini-challenge’ earns an entry into a prize draw at the end of the school year. Our Glasgow -themed BGE and Senior book list is also available on the School Library Teams.
What’s Your Power Art Competition: Glasgow School Libraries are running an art competition for a chance to win the Hedgewitch trilogy by Skye McKenna. Participants are to draw their magical power and include a brief description of the power and why they’ve chosen it. Each entry will be featured in the Spring issue of Swatch, the Glasgow School Libraries eMagazine. Deadline Friday 14th February.
Read Your Way Creative Writing Competition: As part of our upcoming World Book Day festivities, we’ll be hosting our next seasonal creative writing competition on the theme ‘Read Your Way’. Participants have the freedom to write whatever inspires them in any creative format they enjoy. Maximum 1800 words, deadline 6th March.
New Book Highlights:
Hedgewitch by Skye McKenna
The Fight That Makes Us by Sarah Hagger-Holt
Rivet Boy by Barbara Henderson
Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu
Goddess Crown by Shade Lapite
Book of the Day:
06.01: Last Gate of the Emperor by Kwame Mbalia
08.01: Iron Widow by Xiran jay Zhao
10.01: Eagle Warrior by Gill Lewis
13.01: Dear Martin by Nic Stone
15.01: Illustrated Encyclopedia of Animals: An Incredible Journey Through the Animal Kingdom by Claudia Martin, illustrated by Marc Pattenden
17.01: All About Religion by Aled James
20.01: Stride Towards Freedom by Martin Luther King Jr
21.01: Robert Burns And All That by Allan Burnett, illustrated by Scoular Anderson
27.01: The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
29.01: All About Lunar New Year: Things to Make and Do by Kevin Tsang, Illustrated by Linh Nguyen
Author of the Week
06.01.25: Hanna Alkaf
13.01.25: Alastair Chrisholm
20.01.25: William Sutcliffe
27.01.25: Vashti Hardy
Series of the Week
06.01.25: School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
13.01.25: Front Desk by Kelly Yang
20.01.25: Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo
27.01.25: Supernatural Investigators by BB Alston
Literary and Cultural Celebrations for December
Science Fiction Day (2nd January): National Science Fiction Day is unofficially celebrated by many science fiction fans on January 2, which corresponds with the official birthdate of famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov.
Martin Luther King Jr Day (20th January): Martin Luther King Jr. Day (officially Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., and often referred to shorthand as MLK Day) is observed on the third Monday of January each year. King was the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law and civil society.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day (27th January) The International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, which resulted in the genocide of one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities by Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945. It also commemorates recent genocides recognised by the UK government, and the genocide in Darfur. 27 January was chosen to commemorate the date when the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army in 1945.
World Religions Day (19th January): World Religion Day is an observance that was initiated in 1950 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of the United States, which is celebrated worldwide on the third Sunday in January each year. Though initiated in the United States, World Religion Day has come to be celebrated internationally by followers of the Baháʼí Faith.
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch (24th-26th January): Big Garden Birdwatch is the UK’s biggest citizen science wildlife survey. By taking part, you can help the RSPB understand how garden birds are doing right now.
Burns Night (25th January): A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns the author of many Scots poems. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet’s birthday, 25 January, known as Burns Night.
Chinese Lunar New Year (29th January): Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring, this festival takes place from Chinese New Year’s Eve (the evening preceding the first day of the year) to the Lantern Festival, held on the 15th day of the year. The first day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February.
Trending Book Lists
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
Book Awards
Winners: Nero Book Awards
Longlists: Branford Boase Award
