We launched into Term 2 with an exciting visit last week from Australian children’s author, Mark Carthew. Mark is an award-winning author, poet, musician and educator, well known for his books and series celebrating language, humour and wordplay.

Every year, we are privileged to host an Author-in-Residence through the May Gibbs Literature Children’s Trust. Mark’s visit was definitely worth the wait that 2020 enforced! Over two energetic days, Mark worked with the Reception to Year 4 students, sharing a range of his books, including his latest picture book, The Thing That Goes Ping! Mark gave the children an insight into life as an author, explaining the processes involved in writing a book and working with different illustrators. His work often includes features of language such as alliteration, onomatopeia and rhyme and this, along with music, was woven into his presentations to the students. 

A highlight was learning about Mark’s journey in writing his picture book, Dingle Dangle Jungle, and the research that goes into a book written about over one hundred Amazonian jungle animals! Mark commented on the wonderful participation and behaviour of our students. He was particularly impressed by their observational, questioning and thinking skills. We thoroughly enjoyed Mark Carthew’s visit and we hope he can return to Scotch in the near future. If you’d like to borrow any of Mark’s books, please visit our library. We are excited to see what Mark writes next!

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Students are continuing to read and record books for the 2021 Premier’s Reading Challenge. Many students have already completed the Challenge with Rec-Year 4 students working toward this in library lessons. The Challenge will finish on 3 September (Week 7, Term 3).

National Simultaneous Storytime

On 19 May, we will celebrate National Simultaneous Storytime during which children in pre-schools, schools and libraries all over Australia will read Philip Bunting’s new picture book Give Me Some Space! at the same time. We have a range of Philip Bunting’s books in our library and we will focus on his work in the coming weeks. 

Scholastic Book Club Issue 3

Thank you for your ongoing support in purchasing books through Scholastic Book Club. Issue 3 is out now and online orders are due on Monday 10 May. 

Happy Reading! 

The Gilchrist Library Team