14th July Emmeline Pankhurst Day

Emmeline Pankhurst Day honours the trailblazing British suffragette leader every 14th July which was her birthday. She lived from 1858 to 1928.This day commemorates her relentless fight for women’s right to vote, a struggle that reshaped political landscapes and empowered generations. She became involved in women's suffrage in 1880 and formed the Women's Social & Political Union (WSPU) when her local branch of the Independent Labour Party refused to admit women members. She believed winning the vote would never be achieved by constitutional means. She was imprisoned on a number of occasions for militant action, and went on hunger strike protests.

This week I was in Melbourne and I visited the State Library to view an exhibition titled World of the Book, State Library Victoria's largest ever tribute to women writers, alongside hundreds of extraordinary Australian and international works from the State Collection. The exhibition brings together more than 400 rare, remarkable and historically significant items from c. 2000 BCE to today and while there I saw books written by Emmeline and her daughters, Christabel and Sylvia. I found it fascinating that Christabel was her mother's ally, helping her to mobilise women for the war effort, believing this was the best way for women to prove they deserved the vote, whereas daughter, Sylvia opposed the war and worked to relieve suffering of working women in the East End instead. 

There are picture books to tell you more. Start with these about the English suffragettes who were successful initially in 1918 and then for all women in1928.

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America also had suffragettes and they were granted voting rights in 1920.

And you can read about Australian women winning the vote here. Australia was first! 1902!

18th July Nelson Mandela International Day

On Nelson Mandela International Day  the UN and the Nelson Mandela Foundation call on people across the world to devote 67 minutes of their time to helping people - one minute for each year Nelson Mandela devoted his life to serving humanity. Mandela devoted his life to the service of humanity — as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and the first democratically elected president of a free South Africa.

The day is celebrated this year under the official theme: “It's Still in Our Hands to Combat Poverty and Inequity.” 

 It is easy to break down and destroy.
The heroes are those who make peace and build.  - Nelson Mandela

The library has several picture book biographies to help students to a deeper understanding of Mandela's life and why he became so revered.

• Nelson Mandela  by Maria Isabel Sanchez

• Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom by Chris Van Wick

• Nelson Mandela  by Barbara Kramer

• Mandela  by Floyd Cooper

• Nelson Mandela from Prisoner to President by Suzy Capozzi

• Nelson Mandela  by Kadir Nelson

• Nelson Mandela  by Isabel Thomas

• Grandad Mandela by Zindzi Mandela & Sean Qualls

3rd July World Seabird Day

World Seabird Day is held on 3rd July, marking when the extinct Great Auk Pinguinis impennis was last seen in 1844. Seabirds refer to a group of birds that adapted to the marine environment. Most species are currently threatened by human activities, like oil spills, getting trapped in fishing nets, climate change, and severe weather. Seabird scientists and enthusiasts commemorate this date to raise awareness of the ongoing conservation threats to seabird populations. Regarding solutions, there is a current focus on adjusting fishing techniques and establishing wildlife refugees. 

The Great Auk was a penguin that was native to the Northern Hemisphere. A flightless North Atlantic seabird, the Great Auk was a powerful swimmer whose extinction became a lasting warning about human impact on wildlife. They were native to the Arctic and sub-Arctic, and became extinct in 1844.

Here in the Southern Hemisphere the children I teach know a lot about penguins and the various types that are native to Australia and Antarctica. Some also ask for books about albatross and skuas, but there are many other seabirds. Looking at seabird identification charts such as these shows just how many there are.

A favourite picture book about Australian seabirds is The Best Beak in Boonaroo Bay  by Narelle Oliver. This beautiful book was published over thirty years ago but it is still available to purchase and it is a fun read and discussion starter when students start competing. It is also a good way to talk about comparisons and whether it is an equal playing field. 

Another Australian book about seabirds is The Beach Birds  by Bridget Farmer.

South with the Seabirds  by Jess McGeachin tells the story of four female scientists who went to Antarctica in 1959 to research birds.

Your library might also have this , Sea Birds  by Julie Murphy.

Although I have only highlighted four books that specifically are about seabirds of the Southern hemisphere, you will find lots of other more general bird books read, and information books that deal with just one specific bird. eg. albatrosses, pelicans, seagulls, penguins, shearwaters etc.

1st July International Tartan Day

1st July has been International Tartan Day in Australia since 1996, whereas it is celebrated in April in the United States and Canada. It falls on the anniversary of the repeal of the 1747 Act of Proscription, which had made wearing tartan an offense punishable by law. The earliest known tartan in Scotland can be dated to the 3rd century AD, but it only acquired cultural significance in Scottish Highland culture around the 17th century. Millions of Australians descend from Scottish ancestors, so one aim of Tartan Day is to help them reconnect with their roots. The observance features wearing tartan, parades of pipe bands, Highland dancing, and other Scottish-themed events.

It would be fun to do this using picture books!

This is a perfect first introduction to Scotland for all young children. When Katie meets the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland, fun and adventure soon follow. Katie and Nessie discover how beautiful and stunning the country is as they take in the sights, from the Highlands to the Edinburgh Festival. Features: Loch Ness, Glasgow's Kelvingrove Park and Museum, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood, The Royal Mile, The National Gallery and Portrait Gallery and Greyfriar's Bobby. And if you can't find this one, try:

Maggie really doesn't like wearing her mittens. Perhaps on her trip around Scotland she'll find a way to get rid of them without Mum noticing. She throws, flings, and catapults the mittens towards a number of potential new owners on their way to Granny's house. But mittens are made to be worn by a child, not a lobster, or the Loch Ness Monster! As the weather turns, Maggie realises that her mittens are useful after all. But is it too late?

Meet Katie Morag: Katie Morag McColl and her family live on the Isle of Struay. There are many adventures to be had on the Isle of Struay. There's her mum and dad's Shop and Post Office, Grannie Island's house across the bay, the dancing classes at the hall - and just wait till the mischevious Big Boy Cousins come to visit - they're lots of fun! There are single story books and windups with several stories.

The heart-warming tale of Greyfriars Bobby, the loyal Skye terrier, is well-known and loved throughout Scotland and the world and he features in many Scottish stories. 

There are several stories about highland cows.

There are stories which feature bagpipes.

You will find stories about puffins,  popular birds found on the coasts of Scotland. Lynne Richards has several.

Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn. The backdrop for Meg McLaren’s stunning picture book, The Wee Unicorn is the glorious Highlands! The region’s Highland Games tradition also serves as inspiration for the fun-filled The Great Highland Games Chase by Kate Abernethy and Laura Darling.

And it is a good day to read a biography about someone who is Scottish. This inspiring picture book tells the true story of world-famous deaf percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie. As a child, Evelyn Glennie's ears began to hurt. Voices became distant whispers. Ringing phones sounded like muffled crunches in her ears. But when she was told that she would need to wear hearing aids for the rest of her life, Evelyn was determined that this this would never stop her from playing music. Instead of giving up on her dreams, Evelyn found new ways to listen...

And of course it is a good day to practise putting 'wee' in every sentence you utter and 'bonny' occasionally!

July is National Bison Month

Who knew? National Bison Month takes place every July, dedicating an entire month to celebrating the majestic American bison. This observance highlights their historical significance, ecological importance, and ongoing conservation efforts.

It's probably not something we will celebrate here in Australia, despite the fact that there are bison in Australia, as we are on school holidays. Bison are not native to Australia, but there are estimated to be around 350 to 500 American Bison in total here. They exist exclusively in captivity on specialised private farms (raised for meat, dairy, and hides) and in a few select zoos.

In the last order of books, we received The Bison and the Butterfly by Alice Hemming.

This lovely book is a  touching ecosystem story about friends in nature and the nature of friendship. Produced in collaboration with Kent Wildlife Trust's bison rewilding project, this is the heartwarming story of Bison and her forest friends. Bison feels very sad and lonely. She's big and hairy, and sometimes a bit clumsy... and she doesn't know why anybody would want to be her friend. But wise woodpecker knows that everybody likes different things, and that the other animals probably feel a lot differently than she imagines. Soon enough, as Bison eats her breakfast, has her bath and does her - ahem - business, she meets many different creatures who love her exactly because of her big, shaggy ways. As well as celebrating these differences, this enchantingly illustrated book explains to children, in terms that they can relate to, how the different animals within an ecosystem work in harmony and benefit one another, and the power of rewilding to shape these relationships. The book includes a section explaining the science behind rewilding, and shows that, no matter who we are and what we like, we are all worthy of friendship and have a part to play... whether that's in our ecosystem or personal community!

While you're at the library look for Blue Bison Needs a Haircut  by Scott Rothman & Pete Oswald. It will make you smile. Blue Bison prides himself on always looking clean and neat. But he has a growing problem--his hair. With the barber shops and just about everywhere else closed, all Blue Bison can do is ram his ramming rock in frustration. Meanwhile, his hair keeps growing. His dad, Brown Bison, encourages him to be patient and wait, and his mom, Burgundy Bison, tries to explain that sometimes you want something that you really don't need. But all Blue Bison can do is whine and wallow. Could little sister Bubblegum Bison have the solution?

And coming later in the year, this poetry book,  Bison Rule, OK! by Sarah Ziman & Nia Havilliard

They might not really twinkle, 

They might not be on trend,

But you'll never be in trouble

With a bison as your friend!

  

25th June Mitch Lane Day

25th June is Mitch Lane Day. Mitchell Lane is a well-known YouTuber in the cubing (solvers or Rubik's cubes) community. He became famous when he broke a personal record of 6.25 seconds, and his video went literally viral. To honour his achievement, the cubing community unofficially created the holiday. So today, take on the challenge to achieve a personal best (PS) or start learning Rubik's cube!

The World Cube Association governs competitions for mechanical puzzles that are operated by twisting groups of pieces, commonly known as 'twisty puzzles'. The best known of these puzzles is the Rubik's cube.

The Rubik's Cube is a classic 3D combination puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian professor Erno Rubik. It features six coloured faces with nine squares on each. With over 43 quintillion possible combinations, the goal is to twist and turn the cube so that each face returns to a single solid colour.

There are two biographies about Erno Rubik:

and in this picture book is a story about children endeavouring to solve the Rubik's cube puzzle.

21st June World Music Day

World Music Day is an annual day of music celebration that takes place on 21st June on the summer solstice. The first occurrence happened in Paris in 1982, originated by Jack Lang, the former Minister of Culture of France. The celebration spread to other countries, where people are encouraged to play music in public, and free concerts are organised in most towns and cities for the benefit of all!

In Australia it will be the winter solstice, not really the weather for outdoor concerts. Even so my daughter is off to a concert on a boat this evening, so perhaps it is. 

I feel very prepared to celebrate this day as I have spent so much time looking at the library's music books in readiness for the Book Week celebrations of Symphony of Stories.

Just put Book Week, music or Symphony of Stories in my search and lots of books will come up.