24 July 2014

Dear Parents and Students,

C.S. Lewis once wrote: We read to know we are not alone. The enduring attraction of story lies in
the bonds that we create with others and the story when we are reading. The existence of
ancient stories in all cultures is testimony to this. Therefore, it is important that we are all able to
experience these connections when we read.
Each year Book Week celebrates the latest Australian contributions to literature and the tradition
of storytelling. Book Week will be celebrated in Week 5 this term, Monday 18 August to
Friday 22 August. The theme is Connect to Reading, which explores the experiences and
bonds we create when we read. When children are learning to make these connections, we can
help them to develop skills and language to support their understanding. Making connections, as
a reading strategy, improves students motivation to read as they are able to deepen their
understanding and relate the text to their own life.
The Childrens Book Council of Australia is a not for profit organisation which promotes
enjoyment of literature for young Australians. Each year they select recent books of merit in a
range of categories. The Junior School will focus on two categories: Early Childhood and
Picture Book of the Year.
These are the shortlisted books in each category.
Early Childhood:

I'm a Dirty Dinosaur

Written by Janeen Brian &
illustrated by Ann James

Baby Bedtime
Written by Mem Fox & illustrated
by Emma Quay

Banjo and Ruby Red

Written by Libby Gleeson &
illustrated by Freya Blackwood

Kissed by the Moon

Written & illustrated by Alison
Lester

The Swap
Written by Jan Ormerod &
illustrated by Andrew Joyner

Granny Grommet and Me

Written by Dianne Wolfer &
Illustrated by Karen Blair

Picture Book of the Year:

The Treasure Box

Written and illustrated by Freya
Blackwood and text by Margaret
Wild

King Pig
Written and illustrated by Nick
Bland

Silver Buttons
Written and illustrated by Bob
Graham

Parachute
Written and illustrated by Matt
Ottley and text by Danny Parker

The Windy Farm

Written and illustrated by Craig
Smith and text by Doug MacLeod

Rules of Summer
Written and illustrated by Shaun
Tan

A copy of each title is available in the library for overnight loan and is labelled with the suitable
age range. Please come to the Library and enjoy these books with your child.
We have many exciting and challenging activities planned during Book Week. Each class will
enjoy a variety of fun team challenges in the Library, designed to connect students to the
Shortlisted Books and reading in general. There will be activities in class time as well as in the
Library Lunch Time programme. Each day teachers will swap classes, allowing students to
enjoy a variety of literacy based activities. On Monday 18 August, some year levels will enjoy a
Cook A Book performance presented by the Mitcham Library. On Thursday 21 August all
students will attend a Worlds Apart performance presented by Perform Australia at various
session times.
Book Week will culminate with the Book Week Assembly on Friday 22 August at 9:00am in the
Junior School Hall. Students are encouraged to dress up in costume for this assembly as a way to
celebrate Connect to Reading. We encourage students to create, construct or design their
costume using materials found at home and connect their costume to a book they have enjoyed
reading.
To launch Book Week celebrations, students are already participating in a bookmark design
competition and our Book Week Photo Competition. Every student will receive a bookmark to
celebrate the winning designs. The entries for both of these competitions are due on Friday of
Week 2.

How can parents/guardians support Book Week?

Talk to your child/ren about their reading: What connections are they making? Does the story
remind them about their prior knowledge?
Connect with your local library and try the wide range of resources available, including eBooks
and audio books: http://www.libraries.sa.gov.au/page.aspx
Listen to your child read and read to your child, modelling how you connect with the story
Encourage and support your child to complete the Premiers Reading Challenge (due 5
September)
We look forward to connecting with reading by celebrating an enjoyable and entertaining Book
Week. It is a lovely opportunity to reconnect with the pleasure of reading and the bonds we can
make with others.
Kind regards,

Lara Ebbs

JS Teacher Librarian
JS Key Science Teacher