Good Reading for $5? Bargain!

This month Good Reading Magazine is celebrating the launch of the National Year of Reading with a bumper edition. Get your copy of this special magazine from the Library for just $5 (normally $8.95) to read their interview with Marion von Adlerstein about the role of women in advertising, browse the books that define Australian life and meet Australia’s first Children’s Laureates. Plus, read about how books are changing the lives of prison inmates, find out how you can help to improve Indigenous literacy and discover why reading for an hour a day will strengthen your bond with your family.

Only 2 days left to vote on Our Story

Australian libraries and library associations are getting behind The National Year of Reading 2012 campaign, linking together all the great things that are happening around books, reading and literacy.

One of the big promotions is the ‘Our Story’ campaign where the nation decides eight books (one from each state) which encapsulate what it means for us to be Australian.

Cast your vote for the book that best represents South Australia at the Library by checking out our display and filling in the voting slip or you can vote online. But hurry, as voting closes on 6 Jan!

Top books of 2011

Now the year is coming to a close, its a good time to look at the books published in 2011 and see what has been popular, what have you read and what have you missed?

There are a few Top 10 lists around though: The Neilsen ratings , New York Times best books for 2011, or The Book Depository’s (UK) Trends list is a quirky one. They can tell you the most popular Zombie books, Lego books, or what time of year more people buy cupcake books. Love it!

Readings bookstore also have some Australian lists for Best of 2011, including Best SciFi and Fantasy, Best Art and Design, and Best Graphic Novels.

What was your favourite new release this year?

Inheritance is here!

The first copies of Inhertance, or, the Vault of Souls, the fourth volume in Christopher Paolini’s saga of dragon rider Eragon and his blue dragon Saphira have arrived at your library!

Be among the first to place a hold and lose yourself in the fantasy and adventure!

Reading to man’s best friend

For children who have reading or learning difficulties, the idea of reading aloud to an adult can be intimidating, which I think is fair enough. What if you get the words wrong, or you miss a page?

 So as a promoter of literacy skills, and a big fan of dogs, I love the idea of the programs in Australia and overseas, where school children read aloud to dogs, to help them gain confidence and a love of books. 

Ask your child to read to their pet, and let us know how they go!

The Wiggles love Libraries too!

Children’s favourites The Wiggles are teaming up with The Australian Library and Information Association to “Make Australia a Reading Nation”. Your kids may love this…….

A STORY A DAY OR I JUST CAN’T PLAY!

Have you shared a book today...

Now as a father of two children under 4, I have been exposed to all manner of children’s programming of late, some good, some…disturbing…

On the better side of things is BOOKABOO, the story of a Rock Dog drummer who simply cannot go out on stage without first having a story.

Produced by ITV in the UK, each episode sees Bookaboo leave the stage, retreating to his ‘Booka-Bus’ and demanding a story before he will return. Enter this week’s celebrity guest with the ‘Booka-bag’ containing this week’s story, which Bookaboo and the guest then read together.

Once he has had his story, Bookaboo feels his ‘mojo coming back’ and rushes to the stage to re-join the band for the closing credits song.

I think this is a fantastic little show with a positive message, encouraging parents and children to share time reading together.

Some of the celebrity readers have included Meat Loaf, Mel C (of the Spice Girls), comedian Johnny Vegas, and Julian Clary.

Books read in the show, held by the Tea Tree Gully Library include The Lamb Who Came for Dinner, The Cow That Laid An Egg, More Pants, Splat the Cat, Class Two at the Zoo, The Night Pirates and The Wolf’s Story – What Really Happened To Little Red Riding Hood.

Also, why not take advantage of the Library’s Story Time sessions, held at 10:15am on Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

 Have YOU shared a book today?

What are library staff reading?

Megan recently read a book in the Phryne Fisher series called Ruddy Gore, written by Kerry Greenwood. She says, “technically I didn’t read Ruddy Gore, rather I listened to the book read on CD. I enjoyed listening to Phryne, an elegant and sassy sleuth, investigate a murder mystery in racy 1920s Melbourne.”

Sonya says, “I am reading Homer’s Odyssey by Gwen Cooper – not the Greek epic but the tale of a cat that was adopted as a kitten, and had both eyes removed and stitched up at 3 weeks old. He was going to be put down but a kind lady adopted him.”

David recently re-read Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock, just in time for a new film adaption. “Genius! Greene is one of my favourite authors and this is my favourite of his books. The book’s heroine, Ida, is in my opinion one of the strongest and most admirable female characters in twentieth century literature. Nail–biting in its suspense, I won’t ruin it by saying anything more about it.”

Suzanne has just finished reading Ash Rain by Corrie Hosking. “My book group were reading stories set in Australia, and I found Ash Rain quite by chance and it was set in the Adelaide Hills. It tells the story of a family made up of a single mother with her little girl and her female friend whose house they live in. All of the characters need to find out what is important to them and learn to speak their truth. Ash Rain is an engaging story, which although quite short (just over 200 pages) had me enthralled right until the last page.”

What are you reading at the moment? Tell us by leaving a comment!

Practical Workshop on Reading Aloud to Children with Ruth Carson

Does your child or grandchild love having you read stories to them? Do you want to learn how to help your child or grandchild develop important language skills? Would you like to bond with your child or grandchild through an interactive and engaging experience at the City of Tea Tree Gully Library?

Then bring your little ones and their favourite book along to the City of Tea Tree Gully’s Practical Workshop Event; ‘Reading Aloud to Children,’ featuring guest speaker, Ruth Carson. This special event will be held in part of the Reader’s Festival on Saturday, 7^th of August, 2010 from 11:00am to 12:00noon in the Children’s Area of the Library.

Ruth Carson is a foundation member of the Storytelling Guild of South Australia, as well as a member of the National Storytelling Network in the United States and the Australian Network of Storytellers. Ruth has worked in public libraries for 40 years and believes the love of reading and storytelling is the greatest gift we can give children.

There is fun for the whole family at the City of Tea Tree Gully Reader’s Festival!

Keen to find great books to read?

If you’re a keen reader who would like to find out what’s new in the world of books and how to find great reads via the Library catalogue, then come along to our Discover great reads online @ your Library session on Wednesday 21 July from 10:30am – 12:30pm. 

Library staff  will introduce you to our online resource Good Reading Online and to Library Thing for Libraries, an enhancement to our catalogue designed to make finding great reads easier.

 

 
Book in next time you’re in the Library or give us a ring on 8397 7333. Bookings open Friday 2 July.
If you’re interested in finding out what other training sessions the Library offers, visit our Internet Training webpage.