Thursday, January 16, 2025

18th January Winnie the Pooh Day


 
It is Winnie the Pooh Day! It is held on this day because it is the creator of the stories, A.A.Milne's birthday. Milne created these stories for his son Christopher Robin who had a teddy bear, bought from Harrods that he named Winnie-the-Pooh after the bear, Winnie that he visited at the London Zoo.

Winnie-the-Pooh (or Pooh) and Christopher Robin had adventures in Hundred Acre Wood, which was inspired by Five Hundred Acre Wood in Ashwood Forest in East Sussex—situated 48kms  south of London—where the Londoner Milne's country home was located. Joining them on these adventures were other animal characters that were also based on toys of Christopher Milne – Piglet, Eyesore, Kanga, Roo and Tigger. 

The stories first appeared in1924. In 1961,The Walt Disney Company bought a license to use Pooh as a cartoon/movie character and they removed the hyphens in his name and dressed him in the clothes seen on the Disney Pooh. The original toys are in a glass case at the New York Library and they look like the E.H Shepherd illustrations.

I love reading Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick to my Year 2 classes. They are amazed to learn that a bear went from Winnipeg in Canada to England with a vet during World War Iand that the bear was gifted to the London Zoo. I also read the picture book biography of A.A Milne  by Charlotte Guillain to the students so that they can compare Milne's World War I endeavours with that of the army vet, Harry Colebourn.



When it comes to the actual Pooh stories, I much prefer the original E.H.Shepherd illustrations. but I know that the young children I teach prefer coloured illustrations and are so exposed to Disney that they want Pooh to look like the one they see.











Several well known English authors have written prequels and sequels to the stories, most notably Jane Riordan and Jeanne Willis. Jeanne Willis' picture book story episodes work well for my young audience. So far she has done four. They are illustrated by Mark Burgess. (Notice she has reinstated the hyphens).

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

17th January K.I.D. Kid Inventor's Day


Kid Inventor's Day is celebrated a
nnually on 17th January, the birthday of Benjamin Franklin, who invented the first swim flippers, almost 300 years ago at age 12! 

Did you know that the snowmobile, flippers, popsicles, and braille were all invented by children?

These picture book biographies are about child inventors:








Ben Franklin's Big Splash  by Barb Rosenstock










Six Dots  by Jen Bryant







The Boy Who Invented TV  by Kathleen Kroll








Marvellous Mattie  by Emily Arnold McCully






The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind  by William Kwamkwamba









Lily the Inventor  by Claire Thompson








Here are three reasons for sharing picture books about inventors with classes.

  • Creativity and Imagination: Inventors often think outside the box and imagine new possibilities. Sharing these books nurtures creativity and imagination in children, encouraging them to explore unconventional ideas and embrace their imagination.
  • Problem-Solving Skills: Inventors face challenges and solve problems; picture books about inventors can teach children valuable problem-solving skills. They showcase the process of identifying problems, thinking critically, and coming up with inventive solutions.
  • Persistence and Resilience: Inventions often involve trial and error, setbacks, and perseverance. Picture books about inventors teach kids the value of persistence, resilience, and the importance of not giving up in the face of challenges.
There are many picture books, not about specific inventions that also encourage students to 'have a go at' making things. 

Rosie Revere Engineer  by Andrea Beaty
If I Build a Car  by Chris Van Dusen
• Awesome Dawson by Chris Gall
Violet the Pilot  by Steve Green
Doll-E 1.0  by Shanda McCloskey
The Magnificent Thing  by Ashley Spires
Dotty Inventions  by Roger McGough
Made by Maxine  by Ruth Spiro
Melia and Jo  by Billy Aronson
• Ara the Star Engineer  by Komal Singh
Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket  by Sue Fliess
Bonnie's Rocket  by Emeline Lee
and a series of short chapter books about Izzy the Inventor by Zanna Davidson









Tuesday, January 14, 2025

15th January Bagel Day



It's Bagel Day and I have written about this before. I haven't purchased any new bagel books for the library since then, so what I said then still stands.

Read my previous entry here.

Monday, January 13, 2025

14th January International Kite Day




The 14th of January
 is International Kite Day. A kite is a toy consisting of a light frame flying in the wind that a person holds by the end of a long string. Kites are very popular! That's why there are so many kite festivals worldwide: in India, Bali, China, Guatemala, Australia, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and more. Kites were probably invented about 3,000 years ago in China, and they are part of the traditional culture in several countries. In Bali, from June to August it is the kite season as the wind picks up and blows consistently at that time of the year. Traditionally, the Balinese used to fly kites over the rice fields to ask the gods for an abundant harvest.

International Kite Day originated in India, in the state of Gujarat. The kite festival, called Uttarayan in Hindi, commemorates the transition from winter to summer, as well as the upcoming harvest season. In addition, the kites are meant to symbolize the spirits of the gods that are awaking from their deep winter sleep.

The Aussie Childcare Network has provided a very useful page to help celebrate this day. It includes activities, a book list and some amazing posters which you could use to start discussion. I have written about kites before, but not recently and there are so many fun books on this topic worth exploring, starting with a favourite:

The Sea-Breeze Hotel by Marcia Vaughan and Patricia Mullins

and then

Kite Flying by Grace Lin

Kites by Simon Mole and Oamul Lu

The Warlord's Kites  by Virginia Pilegard and Nicolas Debon

Kite Day  by Will Hillenbrand

Un Barrilette by Elisa Armando and Toya Hairs

King for a Day  by Christiane Kramer and Rukhsana Khan

The Best Winds  by Laura Williams and Eujin Kim

The Dream Kite  by Grace Hallworth and Sophie Bass

Chinese Kite Festival by Richard Lo

What the Kite Saw  by Anne Laurel Carter and Akin Duzakin

Daniel's Good Day by Micha Archer






















Friday, January 10, 2025

2025 International Year of Glaciers' Preservation




The United Nations declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation, accompanied by the proclamation of the 
21st March of each year as the World Day for Glaciers starting in 2025. This is an opportunity to raise global awareness about the critical role of glaciers, snow and ice in the climate system and the hydrological cycle, and the economic, social and environmental impacts of the impending changes in the Earth’s cryosphere.

We do not have any active glaciers in Australia, but plenty of evidence that there once were glaciers here. Many other places are at risk of losing theirs, so this is the year to focus on them and their role in the world environment.

Look for these books in your library to learn more about glaciers.


Ancient Ice  by Golriz Golkar 
Glaciers have been around for a long time. Many formed at the end of the 
last ice age, about 20,000 years ago. Since then, they have shaped Earth's landscape, helped cool the planet, and provided living things with fresh water--all while weathering changes in Earth's climate. Studying glaciers can tell us a lot about how Earth's climate has shifted over time, how human activities are impacting the climate, and what might occur in the future. Packed with information, vibrant photos, and hands-on activities, this book helps students learn about glaciers, how they're changing, and what that might mean for the planet's future.


Meltdown by Anita Sanchez and Lily Padula
This is a kids' guide to the glorious but endangered world of glaciers. Glaciers may not be as well-known as rain forests or coral reefs, but they are just as vital to the health of the planet, and just as threatened by climate change. Packed with information, grounded in the latest science, with lively writing and illustrations throughout (including graphs, charts, infographics, photographs, and full-page art), Meltdown gives readers an eye-opening overview of glaciers and how important they are: There are over 100,000 glaciers covering 10% of earth s landmass, that hold almost three-quarters of the planet's fresh water, and act as protective shields to cool the atmosphere and combat climate change. 


Icebergs and Glaciers  by Seymour Simon
An in-depth look at how icebergs and glaciers have shaped our rivers, mountains, and earth, as well as the effect climate change is having on them and our planet.






Glaciers are Alive  by Debbie S. Miller and Jon Von Zyle
This environmental picture book introduces young science and nature lovers to the wonders of glaciers, the wildlife that call them home, and how important they are to the health of our planet. A glacier may look forbidding and empty, but it supports abundant life. Follow a glacier as it flows from mountain to ocean, providing a home for ice worms, birds, bears, and more.


Are Glaciers the Key to Climate Change?  by Olivia Watson and Daniel Limon
Glaciers are incredible, as are the glaciologists who study them! As these giant ice sheets melt rapidly, their study could be vital to understanding our changing planet. Discover how ice preserves ancient plants and animals, how glaciers change the shape of the Earth, the surprising things they reveal about our planet’s past, present, and future climate, and much more! 



How Glaciers Shaped Earth  by Jane P. Gardner
Readers will learn about the features of glaciers, how they have shaped Earth's surface in the past, and how they could change Earth in the future. Vibrant, full-colour photos and carefully leveled text will engage young readers as they learn more about glaciers and their impact on our planet.





Glacier on the Move  by Elizabeth Rusch and Alice Brereton 
Tells the story of a glacier named Flo and her slow-motion race to the sea, from the edge of an ice field and down steep cliffs, to muscling her way around mountains, and stretching into a valley. With the help of some iceworms in the margins, Flo reveals how glaciers move, change shape, and provide for the surrounding world and animals. It introduces young readers to glacial history and science in a captivating and unique way.


Angela's Glacier  by Jordan Scott and Diana Sudyka
As soon as she's born, Angela's father introduces her to her glacier. He carries her on his back up the icy expanse as the wind makes music of the snow and the water underneath. Over time, Angela gets big enough to walk beside him, and then, to go alone. She tells her glacier everything, and it answers. 

An afterword from the real Angela highlights the tragic threat climate change poses to our planet's frozen marvels.

The Bear Report  by Thyra Heder
A polar bear named Olafur swoops Sophie away to the Arctic, where  she soon learns all about the playful bear's habits and habitat - from glacier mice to the northern lights - and, despite her first reservations, she finds herself not just interested but excited about the Arctic. When the two are swept out to sea on an iceberg, Sophie's new knowledge and knack for creative thinking pay off in a big way: she calls a whale to their aid!







Saturday, January 4, 2025

6th January Apple Tree Day

Every year, the world celebrates Apple Tree Day on 6th January. Present all around the globe, the apple tree has a long history with humanity! People have been collecting wild apples across Europe and West Asia for 10,000 years. The apple also appears in the Bible, representing the fall of man and the possibility of redemption. Besides that, the famous proverb “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” underlines the nutritional benefits of the fruit! Apples are rich in fibre, manganese, copper, antioxidants, potassium, vitamins A, E, B1, B2, B6, C and K. They also contain pectin, which acts as a prebiotic and promotes good bacteria in your gut.

The apple tree is a deciduous tree from the rose family, and is cultivated around the world as a fruit tree. It originated in Central Asia. Apple trees grew for thousands of years in Asia and Europe, before being brought to North America by European colonists in the seventeenth century, and they are possibly the oldest tree to have been cultivated.

On a trip to Cornwall we stayed in a barn on an apple orchard. There were apple trees everywhere, so such good views and places to amble, but they weren't eating apples (see photo above). They were used to make cider. Having grown up among apple trees I was surprised not to recognise any of the apple varieties, so there must be so many different types of apples.

This doesn't matter when you are a young child. Apples are apples, so what books could you read? 

My favourite to read to preschool and Kindergarten classes is Mr Brown's Magnificent Apple Tree by Yvonne Winer and Maya Winters. The students love that they know who is eating the apples even though Mr Brown does not. This book is out of print but readings of it are available online.

Another favourite is The Terrible Plop  by Ursula Dubosarsky and Andrew Joyner because the apple tree in the illustrations is important and the readers know what is going on, but the bear seems to be oblivious to its existence.



In The Apple Orchard Riddle by Margaret McNamara and Brian Karas, the teacher Mr Tiffin takes his class on an excursion to an apple orchard where they learn a lot about apples and apple orchards-including how apples are harvested, how cider is made, and what the different varieties of apples are-while trying to solve a riddle. 


In The Apple Tree by Lynley Dodd, Beth and Michael plant an apple tree. The tree leafs, buds, and grows apples, but a wily thief upsets their plans for the apples.



Secrets of the Apple Tree  by Carron Brown and Alyssa Nassner is an interactive book, requiring students to hold a torch behind the pages to see what creatures make their home in an apple tree.





Apples Grow on Trees by Mari Schuh  is an early reader that describes and illustrates how apples grow on trees. 

Apple Trees by Vivian French and Charlotte Voake is one of the Read and Wonder (or Nature Storybook) series that combines a story with factual text.




You may be able to find this old book, Morris in the Apple Tree by Vivian French. It is one of three very funny early readers about a cat called Morris. Morris gets stuck up an apple tree and is too scared to come down. What happens next?



This book North South book, Hubert and the Apple Tree by Bruno Hachler and Albrecht Rissler is also long out of print, but highly fitting when talking about fruit trees. They do not last for ever. Hubert grew up with the tree, climbing into its leafy branches to hide when he was a child, enjoying its luscious fruit for many years, and now they have grown old together. Then one night the tree is struck by lightning. Hubert is heartbroken to see his apple tree looking so crooked and miserable. 

Of course, there are lots of other books, I could have included about apples, but here the focus is on trees that produce apples. There are other picture books about apples here.


Friday, January 3, 2025

2025 The Year of the Snake (Part 3)




Reading about snakes does not need to be connected to the Year of the Snake, Lunar New Year or the Chinese Zodiac. It could focus on Australian resources and in particular those of Indigenous authors and illustrators. Snakes first appeared in Aboriginal rock art as far back as 6,000 years. The Rainbow serpent is still commonly featured in Aboriginal art.




Our new English syllabus in NSW asks teachers to ensure that students engage with literature from Australia, including the rich voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, so in this blog, I want to highlight resources in the library that may be shared with students so as to see what part snakes play in their literature.

Snakes are indigenous to all parts of Australia and feature strongly in the Creation stories held by Aboriginal people and in their paintings and carvings. The snake has been used as a symbol of strength, creativity and continuity since ancient times across many societies.

The Rainbow Serpent  is one of the most important stories within Indigenous culture. The Rainbow Serpent is a creator god and the most important figure in Aboriginal Mythology. There are many different stories told of the Rainbow Serpent, which are passed down from generation to generation. These stories tell of how the Rainbow Serpent shaped the earth through its movements. According to myth, the Serpent was responsible for giving life and blessing nature, but also for judging wrongdoing and issuing punishment.

This Dreamtime creature  held great powers and gave shape to the Earth. It emerged from under the ground to awaken different groups of animals. The movement of its body formed physical features like hills, gorges, creeks and rivers into the once-featureless terrain. 

Aboriginal people believe that when you see a rainbow in the sky this is actually the Rainbow Serpent making its way from one waterhole to another.

There are many picture book versions of this story, not all of which were authored and /or illustrated by Aboriginal people. The library has:


The Rainbow Serpent  by Dick Roughest and Percy Trezise  (reissued 2024)

Super Snake  by Gregg Driese

Yeye Apne Kwerlaye-Iperre The Rainbow Serpent  by Jennifer Inkamala 

Warnayarra the Rainbow Snake by School Lajamanu

The Mark of the Wagarl   by Lorna Little and Janice Lyndon

The Rainbow Serpent of the Hopkins River by Patricia Clarke

The Rainbow Serpent  by Oodgeroo Noonuccal

Wunambi: the Water Snake  by Sue Wyatt and May L O'Brien




  
These two are not rainbow serpent stories, but they are Aboriginal stories, set in the Kimberly and they do feature a snake:

When the Snake Bites the Sun by David Mowaljarlai and children of the Kimberly

The Snake and the Boy by Azmen Sebastian