October 2018 – Bookmonitor – news from around the world

Joanna Grochowicz – Autumn tour in UK with BGW

Joanna, awaiting visitors with the SPRI team...image — Joanna, awaiting visitors with the SPRI team…read more below.

An outstanding visit from New Zealand author Joanna Grochowicz to U.K. schools and organisations in September.

Joanna’s visits were planned with Books Go Walkabout.

We were delighted that over 1,000 children, have been inspired to be writers of the future. They have learnt so much about Antarctic exploration and history of the early 1900’s.

Joanna is a born storyteller and can captivate any audience from a class of 30 to a theatre auditorium packed to over 400 people, with such tales to tell! Her knowledge of this incredible voyage, which ended in disappointment and disaster, is based on real stories from the expedition, bringing the book alive.

Joanna engages a full audience of readers...image — Joanna engages a full audience of readers…

Books Go Walkabout planned the visits over the last 6 months, from timings, specifics and curriculum links for each school, making sure it would work best for the students and bringing added value for the teachers.

Joanna visited some outstanding schools, including Christ’s Hospital in Sussex, Bournemouth School, Copthorne Preparatory School, William Tyndale Primary and Cheltenham College. She had a rapturous welcome throughout, with many return visits planned.

The adventures of Captain Scott are full of meaningful tales. Herbert Ponting, the photographer, for instance was about to take a photo of killer whales, only to find they were looking at him with other thoughts. They swam under the ice and turned the ice pack that he was standing on upside down. He was rescued by colleagues as he hung on to his tripod and escaped being eaten by Orcinus Orca.

At the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, Joanna met with visitors and parents who avidly bought copies of Into the White. Scott Polar Research Institute is the home of Arctic and Antarctic exploration and research. The museum is full of artefacts and information and a delightful visit is guaranteed.

Joanna returns in the Spring to continue her research for the third book on Antarctic exploration.

Into the White - cover image and web link... — Buy ths great book here…i

In May 2019 Joanna’s second book will be published by Allen and Unwin, based on the treks of Roald Amundsen, the Norwegian polar explorer.

We are delighted to be working with Joanna over the next few years and if you would like a visit, contact suemartin@booksgowalkabout.com.

Copies of Into the White, Scott’s Antarctic Odyssey, can be purchased here.

Sue Martin

Bookmonitor is our news source for reviews and project information.

Books go Walkabout is our international books and literacy project - connecting authors and illustrators with children and young people around the globe.

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Leigh Hobbs and Mr Chicken Land in London with BGW

Leigh Hobbs at William Tynedale image — Leigh encourages a whole class to ‘get creative’…

Leigh Hobbs came to the UK in October 2018, visiting schools in London and Norfolk, and students of the MA in Children’s Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art.

Books Go Walkabout are really pleased to be working with Leigh to plan and arrange visits in the UK. He is a real inspiration and his characters are incredible.

Mr Chicken, Old Tom, Horrible Harriet – are full of adventure and fun in the midst of the city. Leigh related how the characters were formed, and showed the children just how to create their own characters in their drawings.

Leigh Hobbs in the studion - image and web link — Leigh in his studio. See and buy Leigh’s books here…

Books Go Walkabout are now planning ahead for Spring 2019. Leigh loves London, the people, the architecture, the history and best of all plotting adventures for his characters during his visits.

As well as working in schools, Leigh gave the first ‘visiting lecture’ to over two hundred M.A. students of Children’s Illustration, in the Cambridge School of Art, at Anglia Ruskin University . Leigh explained to his audience that all he had ever wanted to be was be an artist and to visit England.

Leigh develops a character - live...image — Leigh develops a character – live…

At William Tyndale Primary School in Islington, Leigh worked with classes of years 12,3 & 4. The atmosphere was electric. Mr Chicken was drawn by the children in many varied ways, a different farmyard fowl springing from the mind of each child. They learnt all about creating characters through their drawings.

A great visit and Books Go Walkabout team are delighted to continue working with Leigh on UK visits in 2019.

Sue Martin

Books, writers and illustrators – across the globe…

Winner of SLA School Librarian of the Year Award 2016

The SLA School Librarian of the Year Award is the School Library Association’s prestigious honour recognizing the excellent work carried out in school libraries every day, highlighting outstanding work.

This year Emma Suffield at Saint Wilfrid’s C of E Academy has been awarded the honour of the School Librarian of the Year 2018.

Although her official title is Learning Resources Centre Manager, Emma Suffield is seen more as a member of the family by many of the 1400 students at Saint Wilfrid’s C of E Academy in a diverse area of Blackburn, thanks to her personalised, thoughtful and supportive approach to engaging all readers across the school.

Innovative, imaginative practice, frequently going the extra mile, has led to a whopping 450% increase in book borrowing rates since Emma became responsible for the library in 2014.

Read more about Emma through her picture & @emmasuffield and SLA website.

Lesley Martin, Chair of the SLA School Librarian of the Year Selection Committee, said:

‘‘It is exciting for the profession to have someone as forward thinking, creative, passionate and professional about school libraries and no doubt with a great career ahead of her. Emma makes a real difference in her school and her community and her contribution to the wider library profession is already making an impact.’’

Alison Tarrant, Chief Executive of the School Library Association, said:

“The School Librarian of the Year Award is a brilliant opportunity to showcase the impact that school libraries can make, not just on pupils, but on staff and school culture.

Our Honour List this year were all strong contenders and demonstrate the nuance needed when talking about school libraries – no two are the same; they are all reflective of the school around them, and it’s aims and priorities.

Last month the launch of the Great School Libraries campaign – a three year campaign spearheaded by SLA, CILIP SLG and CILIP. The campaign has three aims: to secure school library funding; to produce a national framework for school libraries and recognition of school libraries within the Ofsted framework. Our Honour List support this aim and prove that supported school libraries can make a difference.”

The three other school librarians on the Honour List are:
Nicki Cleveland at Cannon Park Primary School , Dr. Chhavi Jain at Manav Rachna International School, Gurugram and Alison Kennedy at St George’s Ascot .

Emma Suffield and each librarian on the honour list have made a huge difference to the lives of all they work with, igniting a passion for reading.

To read the profiles of all the librarians on the Honour List visit the SLA website.

The work of all librarians on the Honour List, was celebrated at a ceremony on Tuesday 9th October 2018, at The Judge’s Court, in St Martins Lane, London.

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Many congratulations from Books Go Walkabout working with librarians across the world.

Sue Martin