22nd October International Stuttering Awareness Day

International Stuttering Awareness Day provides hope to people who stutter by showing them they're not alone and by providing them with resources to improve their speech. It connects individuals with research and speech pathologists.

Stuttering is a disruption in speech pattern involving disruptions, or dysfluencies, in a person’s speech, but there are nearly as many ways to stutter as there are people who stutter. 

• People who stutter may experience repetitions (D-d-d-dog), prolongations (Mmmmmmilk), or blocks (an absence of sound), or can experience some combination of these sounds.
• The severity of stuttering varies widely among individuals.
• It affects one percent of the world's population.
• Stuttering is about three or four times more common in males than females.
• There is no reliable, research-backed “cure” that works consistently, over time, and for all people who stutter.
• Although there is no simple cure for stuttering, people who stutter can learn to speak more easily, feel better about themselves and their speaking ability, and communicate more effectively.

There are several famous people who stuttered as a child or adult. Read about them here or in their biography from the Little People Big Dreams series.

• Rowan Atkinson

• Nicole Kidman

• Marilyn Monroe  (LPBD)

• Sam  Neill

• Elvis Presley (LPBD)

• Shaquille O'Neal

• Lewis Carroll

• Charles Darwin (LPBD)

• Alan Turing (LPBD)

• Alan Rabinowitz

• Tiger Woods

• Ed Sheeran

There are two books in the library that also highlight 'stuttering' in a sensitive but beautiful way.

Both won the Schneider Family Book Award which is an award given by the American Library Association (ALA) recognising authors and illustrators for the excellence of portrayal of the disability experience in literature for youth.

See

• A Boy and a Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz and Catia Chien

Speaking for the animals he loves gives one boy's life hope, purpose, and truth in this gorgeous picture book autobiography. 

Alan loves animals, but the great cat house at the Bronx Zoo makes him sad. Why are they all alone in empty cages? Are they being punished? More than anything, he wants to be their champion--their voice--but he stutters uncontrollably. 

Except when he talks to animals...then he is fluent. 

• I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith

When a boy who stutters feels isolated, alone, and incapable of communicating in the way he'd like, it takes a kindly father and a walk by the river to help him find his voice. Compassionate parents everywhere will instantly recognise a father's ability to reconnect a child with the world around him. 

Poet Jordan Scott writes movingly in this powerful and ultimately uplifting book, based on his own experience, 

You might also be able to find When Oliver Speaks  by Kimberly Garvin and Saadiq Wicks

A heartfelt story about a young boy who struggles to overcome his stutter while finding the courage to accept it. 

When Oliver Speaks, is the story of an underdog who learns to rise. The story comes from a place of personal experience in that co-author Saadiq is a person who stutters and has done so for as long as he could speak. 

Something to say about Stuttering  by Eden Moline and Nathalie Beauvoir

Alex loves dirt biking, soccer, and helping his mom with his little sister. He also happens to stutter. Alex shares what it is like for him when he stutters, as well as ways to help make communication a little easier. 

15th October National Pug Day

This Saturday (tomorrow) be ready to celebrate PUGS! Yes, the breed of dog that has become quite popular as a book character. What is special about them?

• They are an ancient breed that originated in China hundreds of years ago. 

• Queen Victoria bred pugs.

• Pugs were bred to be companion animals. This means they love a good snuggle on the couch.

• Pugs are brachycephalic, which means they have a smushed in face. This can lead to snoring and breathing problems.

• Pugs can spend up to fourteen hours a day sleeping.

• Pugs don’t bark much, but are known to be vocal and “talk” to their pet parents.

• A “perfect” pug tail is believed to have between two to four curls.

• A group of pugs is called a grumble.

So many series of books feature them. Of course, every Australian child knows Pig the Pug by Aaron Blabey, but there are many others. Look for these.

• Pig the Pug  by Aaron Blabey (now has 10 titles)

 • Chick and Pug  by Jennifer Sattler (4 titles)

• Pug and Pig by Sue Lowell Gallion and Joyce Wan (3 titles)

• Diary of a Pug by Kyla May (this series is in a short chapter book format for beginning readers. There are  6 books about a pug called Baron von Bubbles, or Bub.)

• Pugley by Pamela Butchart (there are 3 in this chapter book series Bakes a Cake, On Ice and Solves a Crime)

• The Adventures of Pug series by Laura James (there are 4 titles Cowboy Pug, Captain Pug, Safari Pug and Pirate Pug)

• The Pug Who Wanted to Be a... by Bella Swift (currently there are 8 titles Unicorn, Mermaid, Elf, Star, Reindeer, Pumpkin, Bunny  and Fairy)

And of course there's lots of fun stand alone titles such as:

• Pig and Pug  by Lynne Berry and Gemma Correll

• Pugs Don't Wear Pyjamas  by Michelle Worthington and Cecilia Johansson

• Pug by Ethan Long

• Pug Hug  by Zehra Hicks

• Don't Hug the Pug by Robin Jacobs and Matt Hodson

• Pig and Pug  by Laura Marchesani and Jarvis

Your library might even have this spoof by Becky Davis.

Bewitching in Readiness for Halloween

I am getting the library ready for Halloween. This is a time when my young students are quite excited about reading what is on display as they are busy planning their costumes and parties for Halloween. We saturate the library with witches, wizards, monsters, trolls, ghosts, goblins, ghouls, pumpkins, bats and spiders.

My Year 2 and some Year 1 students very quickly get hooked into a new series of novels that they haven't yet read. Even my Kindergarten students get very excited when they realise they can read Sally Rippin's School of Monsters books. 

I was reading a note from a teacher online about what series to recommend to this age group so here are my suggestions. Most have some pictures, some have colour, large font, are plot driven and the list is in roughly increasing reading difficulty and /or length. The number in brackets is how many titles there are currently in the series.

• Titchy Witch by Rose Impey and Katherine McEwen (12)

• Little Witch by Deborah Hautzig (6+)

• Witch in Training  by Maeve Friel (8)

• Woozy Wizard by Ella Woollard and Al Murphy (3)

• The Witch's Dog by Frank Rodgers (8)

• Heidi Hecklebeck by Wanda Coven and Priscilla Burris (witch) (30+)

• Isadora Moon by Harriet Muncaster (half vampire, half fairy) (14)

• Mirabelle by Harriet Muncaster (witch and fairy) (6+)

• Mona the Vampire  by Hiawyn Oram (5)

• Vampire School by Peter Bently (vampires) (6)

• The Haunted Library by Dori Hillestad Butler (ghosts) (10)

• Dorrie by Patricia Coombs (witch) (4+)

• Lottie Luna by Vivian French and Nathan Reed (werewolf) (4)

• The Goblin Princess by Jenny O'Connor (2)

• Wizzbag Wizard by Scoular Anderson (wizard) (3)

• Oliver Moon by Sue Mongredien (wizard) (12)

• Grunt and Grouch by Tracey Corderoy (monsters) (4)

• Undead Pets by Sam Hay (animal zombies) (8)

• Gargoylz by Janet Burchett and Sara Vogler (gargoyles, monsters) (16)

• Hubble Bubble by Tracey Corderoy (witch granny) (3pb 5cb)

• The Goblins  by David Melling (5)

• Winnie the Witch by Laura Owen (witch and her cat) (12+ and lots of picture books by Valerie Thomas)

• Rumblewick's Diary My Unwilling Witch by Hiawyn Oram (witch and her cat) (2pb 8cb)

• Araminta Spook by Angie Sage (haunted house and ghosts) (7)

• Witch Baby and Me by Debi Gliori (4)

• Polly and Buster  by Sally Rippin (witch and monster) (3)

• Amelia Fang by Laura Ellen Anderson (vampiress) (7)

• Bella Donna  by Ruth Symes (witch) (6)

• Fred Wizard by Simon Philip (3)

• An Awfully Beastly Business  by The Beastly Boys (werewolves, vampires, trolls etc)(6)

• Monstrous Maud by A.B. Saddlewick (witches and wizards)(6)

• The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy (witches, boarding school) (8)

• Diary of an Accidental Witch by Conor and Perdita Cargill(4)

• The Dragon in the Library by Luis Stowell (all the librarians are wizards) (3)

• Knitbone Pepper Ghost Dog  by Claire Barker and Ross Collins (ghost dog) (5)

• Goth Girl  by Chris Riddell (4) (spooky mysteries)

16th October World Food Day

 

World Food Day is celebrated annually on 16th October to promote global awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and to highlight the need to ensure healthy diets for all.

2022 finds us with an ongoing pandemic, conflict, a climate that won’t stop warming, rising prices and international tensions. This is affecting global food security. 

We need to build a sustainable world where everyone, everywhere has regular access to enough nutritious food.

The concept of hunger is not something that the children I teach have ever encountered. They are fussy eaters, used to eating only food they choose to eat, so choosing to read books about hunger and food are not high on their list of things to read. So what would I share with them?

I think I would start with a general discussion about food and if access to food is not a problem what it means to the students.

These two books are perfect for very young students to start a discussion about where their food comes from.

Then I might look at how food is similar, but different depending upon where you live. We all like different food, but everybody needs to eat! How are we alike and different? 

Should we be so fussy about what we eat? These two books encourage children to think differently about food.

And lastly, given the fact that the school recycles and sorts the garbage, has rubbish free Wednesdays and Crunch and Sip, this is appropriate.

15th October Global Handwashing Day

One of the most effective ways to stop the spread of germs and stay healthy is also one of the simplest — handwashing with soap and water. Keeping hands clean can prevent 1 in 3 diarrheal illnesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu.

Each year on October 15, Global Handwashing Day highlights the importance of handwashing with soap and water at home, in the community, and around the world.

This year, the Global Handwashing Day theme focuses on the links between handwashing and food including food hygiene and nutrition. Handwashing is an important part of keeping food safe, preventing diseases, and helping children grow strong. Our tagline, Clean hands a recipe for health, reminds us to make handwashing a part of every meal.

Collect all the books together about, hands, washing, soap to remind yourself and the students we should still be pursuing hand washing as a worthwhile endeavour in the fight against illness.

Find: (but there's more here)