Lexile Book Prize Winners 2010

Congratulations to these students for gaining book prizes this year for reading lots of books and passing quizzes on them. To win a book prize students must gain a silver or gold award by achieving 250 or 500 points. We are very grateful to Whitcoulls, Timaru who sponsor the book prizes and have done so for five years. Thank you Rachel and Whitcoulls for your support. Well done Cody, Richard, Jacob (who was just out of the frame), Jordan, Jordyn, Yi Ran, Kate, Analiese, Courtney, Emma, Samantha and Jessica.

Hanan Kindy Visit

On Wednesday 17 November, Kate Haley, Olivia Black and Hannah Leonard accompanied Mrs Ross to Hanan Kindergarten to read to the four year olds. Kate and Olivia did a great job reading and Hannah was the official photographer. After reading their books aloud to the group of very good listeners, the girls were given a most important job presenting each child with two Duffy Books. The three girls then helped the children stick in their book labels and spent time with them at various fun activities. Everyone enjoyed the visit which is a neat way to ease the transition to school for the kindy kids and an opportunity for our students to share their love of reading and books.

Lexile Reading Star

Yi Ran Ong is a quintuple word millionaire. She has read over five million words by reading 128 books and passing the quizzes on them to gain 885 points in Lexile reading. This is a fantastic achievement and as Yi Ran still has another year at Bluestone we can only wonder at what her final count will be. A very keen reader, Yi Ran has also just gained her Silver Librarian's Award. Yi Ran loves books by Kate Constable, Kate Forsyth, Malinda Lo and has recently discovered Tamora Pierce. Yi Ran is really great at adding book suggestions for the library to buy and displaying the books she has enjoyed for others to see. Well done Yi Ran.

Exciting new Harry Potter website

Harry Potter and JK Rowling fans will love this new website launched by Bloomsbury Publishers. Lots of fun stuff to do, videos to watch and author information too. Visit the site here

Interview with author Andy Griffiths

If you missed the recent interview on Breakfast with author Andy Griffiths, you can watch it here. His books are very popular at Bluestone and yes, we have bought The Very Bad Book. Visit his website too, it's fun.

Book Quiz winners

On Thursday 16 September the Aoraki Reading Association hosted its inaugural Book Quiz for Years 5-8 students at Pleasant Point. Bluestone entered two teams and they did really well. The Year 5/6 team The Brainy Bookworms got second and the Year 7/8 team Mockingjays got third in their respective categories. Miss Gardiner and Mrs Ross were also winners of the quiz for the adults in the audience. It was great fun and the questions really tested our book loving readers' knowledge of books, authors, illustrators, book characters, award winners, NZ books, classics and parts of a book. Well done everyone...look out next year, we'll be well prepared.

Library "Read in"

To celebrate World Literacy Day we held a read in at the library during lunchtime. For 10 minutes from 1-1.10pm everyone in the library stopped and read. It was wonderful and most seemed to enjoy the opportunity for a quiet read. During the afternoon all classes spent at least 10 minutes doing the same.

Hanan Kindergarten Visiting readers

Wednesday 8 September was World Literacy Day. To celebrate and acknowledge how lucky we are to have access to books and be able to read, we visited the children at Hanan Kindy and Corin and Hamish read to them. The children loved the stories Dewey, there's a cat in the library and Bears on Chairs. Hamish and Corin were kept busy afterwards playing with the children.

Book report

Title: Mummy Madness

Author Tracey West.

Illustrator Duendes Del Sur.


A cat and a bird go to Egypt on holiday together in a plane. The cat tries to eat the bird all the time, and the cat gets caught by guards who guard the queen’s house. On the plane the cat runs around a lot.

It’s a comedy and fiction book.

Why might someone want to read this book?
because its a really good book and its funny because the cat always falls over.

My recommendation
Great you would enjoy reading this book girls and boys around the age of 5 or 6 would like to read this book.

Reviewed by Kimberley Brown. Room 10

Book review by Tim Lindbom.

Tim Lindbom
Bluestone School Timaru
Room 10

Title: The Barbarous Brigands of Frostbite Pass.
Author: Charlie Small.
Illustrator: Charlie Small.

This book is about a boy called Charlie who has been away on a mystery island, for 400 years. There are lots of funny monsters as well.

This book is fiction,action/adventure and a fantasy.

You would love to read this book if you like monsters and slime.

This book is Great, you’d enjoy reading this.

book review by Harrison

Reviewed by;
Harrison Taylor
Bluestone school Timaru
Room 10

Tittle:Urgum the ax man
Author:Kjartan Poskitt
illustrator;Phillip Reeve


This is a book about Urgum
the fiercest savage in the lost
desert.There are lots of strange
creatures like spiny pant eaters;

This book is fiction/action/adventure/comedy
humour.

My favourite part was when Hunjas head got cut off!

You must read this book

Book Reviewer by Bailey Smith

Title: Magical stories.

Author: Helen Paiba.

Illustrator: Anthony Lewis.


It’s a great book. It’s got lots of magical stories. Like in Beach’s for example
a boy floats out to sea in a sand boat. There are 17 stories and they are short.

Name of reviewer: Bailey Smith.

It is a fiction and a fantasy,fairy tales,myths, and legends.

Why might someone want to read this book:

Because it's a great book but some stories you
might love. but some you might not.

My recommendation
great you'd enjoy reading this book. Boys and girls will like reading this book

Reviewed by Bailey Smith

Mikayla's book review

Hi my name is Mikayla Crozier i am 9 years old, and i love reading books so i am excited to review this book for you!!!

Title: Whizz-Bang Winnie

Author: Laura Owen

Illustrator: Korky Paul

This book has four stories. The first story is about when Winnie got a ice-cream machine for Wilbur. The second story is about Mrs Parmar’s Birthday. The third story is about when Winnie makes some storybook characters come to life. The last story is about Winnie and Wilbur in a race.

Someone might want to read this book because the stories are funny, interesting and quite short. It is easy to read, and it has cool pictures.

This book is fiction

My rating is 10/10

My recommendation: Amazing you must read this book!!!!!

Student Librarians host morning tea

Wow, the food was amazing and the atmosphere warm and friendly as all 19 student librarians hosted the staff to morning tea in the library today. This has become an annual event but every year the students seem to surpass themselves in the food and hospitality department. Well done Joshua, who bravely welcomed everyone. The food disappeared quickly so we can take it that everyone had plenty to eat. Thank you also to those at home who supported their children by helping them provide the lovely food.

Bob's visit

Library week at Bluestone got off to a great start when Bob Docherty visited Creative Creatures and Team Explorer to talk about books and read stories. He is an expert on children's and young adults books and has read nothing else for the last 15 years. Bob introduced some great stories that many children are keen to read or have read to them. His books, which he borrows from the National Library collection, are on display in the library for anyone to read.
Check out Bob's blog here

Library Week Competition

The first sentence in a book can really hook us in to the story? Post us a comment with the first sentence in the book you are currently reading. If we get enough entries, three will be drawn and will win tasty prizes.

Here's my entry as an example.
"To tell the truth, I don't think Lizzie would ever have told us her elephant story at all, if Karl had not been called Karl".
Posted by Mrs Ross, Librarian

Book review by Emily Peattie

Title:Anyone but me.

Author:Nancy Krulik.

Illustrator:John and Wendy.

This is a story about a girl called Katie Carew who wishes to be anyone but herself, but then she finds out that sometimes wishing is not the best way to fix things. There are more books for you to read if you are interested.

Genre: Fiction Action/Adventure.

My recommendation: Amazing you must read this book!

I would recommend this book to: 7-11 year olds.

Book review by Emma Kirkwood

Title: The High Hills

Author and illustrator: Jill Barklem

This is a book about two mice who set off on a adventure into The High Hills. Then they get lost.

It is an action/adventure, fiction book and would appeal to 8-10 years old, but little kids will love the illustrations.

My recommendation is: Amazing! You must read this book!!

Rating: 5/5 (my opinion)

Library Week Competitions

Love Your Library Video Competition. Vote here

Whakanuia Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

"Te Mahi Kai” - The Language of Food

Welcome to Māori Language Week 26 July - 01 August

Click here for 100 words New Zealander should know and for language quizzes

Hanan Kindergarten Visiting readers

This morning Joshua Glass and Braden Anderson visited the children at Hanan Kindergarten and read to them. Braden read a personal favourite called I'm Me and Joshua read two of Paul Jennings big books about Rascal the dragon. The boys read very well and the children listened attentively and interacted with the stories. It was a super visit and we've been invited back again next term.

New books for parents

Our parents library has expanded with the addition of many new books. We have created a space in the Reference shelves of the library for the books to be kept so they are easily browsed. Please feel free to visit the library between 9.00am and 2.45pm to look at the books. Parents wishing to borrow books will be assisted by library staff.
Search the library catalogue online to view titles by going to the school website and selecting Library Search from the left-hand menu. Use Advanced Search and in the Location field type Parents Library.

Scholastic Book Fair

Our book fair was a great success thanks to everyone who contributed by purchasing books, posters and other items. Many thanks to the Home and School Committee for helping with sales and setup. We sold just over $2000 worth of product and with 30% sales commission the librarians have selected 31 new books for the library and a set of Lexile quizzes for some of the Zac Power books. Of course it would not have been the same without the guest appearance of a certain big red dog. By the way - who was Clifford?

Brian Falkner Visit

Wednesday 28 April was a great day at school. Brian Falkner's visit was an outstanding success. He's a great author and a very entertaining presenter. Our Years 5-8 students LOVED the sessions including the very animated story sports competitions. Eleven students took home book prizes (signed by the author naturally) and The Bookworms (Room 13) and Salmon (Room 21) were victorious at story sports. Not only was this a fun day but everyone learned lots more about story writing too.
Many thanks to our guest judges, Mrs Wilsher, Ms Bennett and Henry and Bryn from TBHS. You were fantastic.

Scholastic Book Fair

Our annual Scholastic Book Fair will run from Monday 17 May until Thursday 20 May.
The venue is the school hall.
Opening times are 8.30 - 9.00am and 2.30 - 3.30pm daily.
Classes can also visit during the day.
Eftpos and credit card payments available.
Hope to see you at our fair,
Thank you to the Home and School Committee for helping us with sales.

New books for parents

We have two wonderful new books in the library that are especially good reads for parents.
Please come to the library and have a look at them and of course you are welcome to borrow them.
'Help Your Child to Read and Write" is a parent's guide from Usborne Publishers to make learning to read and write enjoyable and effective. "Why Love Matters" by Sue Gerhardt is recommended by the Brain Wave Trust educators as an important book to help us understand how affection shapes a baby's brain. We have other books in our parent's library too.

Story writing competitions

For keen writers here are some more good writing competitons to enter.

Puffin Short Story in partnership with Storylines NZ(closes 11 June)
Scholastic(closes 30 April)
NZ Book Council (once a month)
Upstart magazine (continuous)
Kids submit stories and poems
NZ Book Month ASB Word Bank (October)

NZ Post Book Awards Story writing Competition

If you are a keen writer who could manage to write no more than 300 words, then this is the competition for you. You could win a $50 book token and copies of each of the winning books. Entries can be found in the library or downloaded from the NZ Post Book Awards Website.
You can also enter online. Open to all Year 1-8 students. Check out the website for some great story ideas or come to the library.

Hanan Kindergarten Visit

Today, two librarians, Salaamah Shah and Katie Hooper visited Hanan Kindergarten with Mrs Ross and read stories to the children. They did an awesome job and enjoyed spending time with the children afterwards.

Anzac Day resources online

This year ANZAC Day falls during the school term on April 25. The following online resources provide excellent information.
New Zealand History online
The Returned Services Association Website
TKI Hot Topic Anzac Day
The New Zealand Government Guide to ANZAC Day
Printable Teaching Resources
In Flander's Fields UTube

Library Lay-a-bouts

Check out the gorgeous new outdoor beanbags that were well used at lunchtime yesterday. Even some older cushions from home got plenty of use on the deck outside the library.
The new furniture got the 'thumbs' up from these keen readers.

Story time with Mr Poulter

Room 8 students got a big surprise today when they came to the library for their story. Waiting for them was the principal, Mr Poulter, who read them a great story called 'The Gobbling Tree'.

Author visit 2010

This is NZ author Brian Falkner and he'll be visiting Bluestone on Wednesday 28 April.
He will be working with the Year 5 - 8 students. We hope to have some fun with his 'Story Sports' writing games too. Check out his excellent website (he designed it himself). We have his books in the library on display. You are welcome to borrow them as they are great reads.