Tag Archives: new books

May the books be with you !

Wow, what a lot to fit in to one month.

At Lochend, May is such a busy month. We have lots going on, so sometimes you may think it’s hard to fit reading into your day or you don’t have time. Don’t worry, the library has the answer.  Why don’t you grab one of our Quick Reads?

Quick Reads cover all sorts of different subjects and genres, so there is something to suit everyone.  From wanting a quick story to read before bed, to not enjoying longer books, Quick Reads aren’t restricted to a single group of pupils.  I use some Quick Reads stories to tell to pupils as well, I think they are great.  And many of the books are also on dyslexia friendly paper too – so if you have dyslexia, the background printing of the stories should make them easier to read.  Check them out the next time you are in the library !

Senior Fiction.  Our seniors section has had some new books too, both for non fiction fun and reading for pleasure.  Some are enough to make you hungry. Check out this beautiful book with great, easy to follow instructions.  It might even inspire you to start your own business. However if you do make one of the cakes – save a piece for the librarian !

A local author next – from Glasgow – who has made it big in the international art world and even modelled for Manfred Thierry Mugler.  This senior title is a true story of resilience from Juano Diaz, telling of his upbringing with his mother, who had substance abuse challenges and loses her partner in a terrible accident.  Afterwards, Juano was taken into care in a children’s home and describes the difficulty fitting in, worrying about his mum and wondering what would happen to him next.

Juano was adopted by a Romany Catholic family from Glasgow and the main narrative of the book describes how he recognises his sexuality and how this isn’t something compatible with his adopted family’s beliefs or way of life.  As a young teenager he leaves home, ending up homeless and sharing bedsits / flats with addicts.  However, Juano fights his way away from the lifestyle.  To find out what happens next, you just have to read the book.  So much packed into one novel.  It’s available in the library, but be quick, this is such a great biography it won’t be on the shelves for long.

 

And of course, it’s exam season in all schools just now, so the library is very quiet with everyone studying for their upcoming exams.  Good luck Lochend – we know you can do it !  And remember, taking a break from studying to read a book helps relax your mind and can aid in getting to sleep.  So build reading into that daily routine, and before you know it, you won’t be able to go a day without it 😊

 

April @ St. Andrew’s

We had loads on this month, including our final author visit as part of the Library Young Team – SLIF project (funded by the Scottish Government). We also have a new club, the rebirth of an old one plus the establishment of a School Library Council.

Graeme Armstrong at St. Andrew’s!

This month we were delighted to welcome Graeme Armstrong, author of the highly acclaimed The Young Team, to the school as our final LYT author.

Hes poke about his book and the ‘story behind the story’ which included some emotional and also inspiring aspects of his life growing up as a gang member and how he found his way out.

 Our S3s were absolutely captivated and our only five copies of his book went just moments after the talk concluded.

Games Club!

Our pupil helpers have established a new board and card games club! This will be on every Wednesday lunchtime and pupils have the chance to play any of our board and card games available in the library. We are hoping to add more

Other news

Thanks to our librarian colleagues who selected some bonus books from Waterstones for our schools. The selection at St. Andrew’s has gone down a storm already and provides the pupils with plenty of new books to keep them going until the summer holidays!

The Manga Club is also back! Due to popular demand, the club will take place in Ms. Glass’ room right across the corridor from us. I will be working with the pupils who organise the club to provide new reading material, games and activities!

On Tuesday (30th), we had our inaugural Library Council meeting. Unfortunately due to being off on study leave, our senior members couldn’t make it but our younger contingency came up with some excellent suggestions. Some exciting changes coming soon!

 

Not scared of dolls? These books could help you with that…

Among the latest delivery of books to arrive at St Margaret Mary’s and St Oswald’s Library were several titles from the Red Eye horror series published by Little Tiger. Alex Bell’s two books Frozen Charlotte and Charlotte Says have proven very popular with pupils who are always asking for more horror. The two stories are built around a collection of dolls known as Frozen Charlottes and their decidedly creepy presence at Dunvegan House on the Isle of Skye, in the present day (in Frozen Charlotte) and in Victorian times (in the prequel Charlotte Says).

Now Charlotte says to me that I should write this post recommending further books about scary dolls.  Have a look at the titles below; they’re all available to borrow from the school library and/or from the Libby app (available on your iPad and on smartphones). Come and see me for help in setting up the app if you don’t already have it installed.

If you’ve read these, which doll is the scariest? Or do you know one even more terrifying?

 

Lochend Loves Books Even More in 2024

Here at Lochend we love reading.   Library visits happen on a Monday and Friday when Mrs Marshall, our School Librarian, is here.  But that means on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we can’t visit the library to take books home.  However, we’ve got a brand new system of Book Boxes in January in every English Classroom.  This means we can enjoy reading in the classroom on the days Mrs Marshall isn’t here.  Here they are, looking great.

Also in the spirit of the New Year, Lochend’s comics and graphic novels section were badly in need of a re-arrangement and a general tidy up.  Now they’re looking so much better, with the graphic novels on our right hand bookcase and the comics on the left.  This will make choosing our favourite reads so much easier.

And we’ve had such a great start to our new year of reading with some fabulous new deliveries which are in stock in the library now.  Just look at this pile of amazing books below !  These and more can be borrowed from the library and if you’re not sure what to pick, Mrs Marshall will be happy to help you.  (But I think she’d pick Finding Bear herself !)