Favourite Heroines and Villians

Who is your favourite literary hero or villian?

According to a World Book Day poll, many heroes are women! including Matilda, Hermoine and Katniss.


Find out if you agree by reading HERE.https://www.thereadingroom.com/article/majority-of-favorite-children-s-book-heroes-are-female/1404

National Simultaneous Storytime

National Simultaneous Storytime is an annual campaign that aims to encourage more young Australians to read and enjoy books. Now in its 16th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book.

This year's book is I Got This Hat by Jol and Kate Temple. 

Next Thursday, May 26, Mrs Leask, has kindly offered to read the book to OLF's Kindy classes, who will be coming to our library wearing their favourite hats... stay tuned for some cute pics! They will also be making I Got This Hat bookmarks to take home with them.

Here's a bit of Wednesday fun - The ladies at Mitcham Library service give their version of the book. Enjoy!

Meet the Author

Claire Zorn

Love Claire Zorn?

Recently she chattered to SpineOut magazine about her new book One Would Think the Deep. Here's a snippet!

What was the inspiration for the story of your new book?

I read a news story a couple of years ago about two brothers who got into a fight with each other at a pub... I was struck by the complexity of the situation... and wanted to flesh out and explore the grey area [of] violence.

What do you like most about writing?

Making up characters and writing dialogue. It sounds nuts but its like I can hear them talking. I eavesdrop of them.

Read more of Claire's interview here:

https://sites.google.com/a/syd.catholic.edu.au/english-st-ursula-s-college/

New Books!

The Special Ones by Em Bailey 

Find it on the fiction shelf - F BAI

A great read, suspenseful and a bit scary! Em Bailey wrote Shift, another stand alone terrific read. The special ones are four virtuous teenagers whose lives are followed by many. The problem is that they are kept in captivity by 'The Master' who tells them that he is saving them from the dangerous world outside. Esther understands what is happening, but how can she escape and will she endanger the other three if she does? The 'followers' have no idea that the three girls and one boy are being held captive.

Frankie by Shivaun Plozza

Find it on the fiction shelf - F PLO

Shivaun Plozza has written short stories, essays and poetry, but this is her first novel. It is extremely brave and Frankie is a feisty teenager with lots of problems. Set in Melbourne the story is about how Frankie is coping with her difficult life when someone turns up and says that he is her half-brother. The trouble is that he stirs memories that Frankie has pushed away. What is the truth and will she be able to deal with it when she finds it!

Special by Georgia Blain

Find it on the fiction shelf - F BLA

In this dystopian tale we meet Fern who has been wiped from all data and must survive by working to earn enough to stay alive. She used to be Halston, an exclusive school for those who have enough money to have been genetically designed. Who should she believe? The ones who rescued her and then left her? Her mobile that tells her she is not Fern? or her own beliefs?

Nginingawila Ngirramini: Our Story by Tiwi College Alalinguwi Jarrakarlinga

Find it on the biography shelf - BIO NGI

This is a collection of mini autobiographies of nine Tiwi girls. It is beautifully produced with the help of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and tells of their heroes, sacred places and some of the happy moments in their lives.

Protest in Australia: What Do We Want? by Sue Lawson

Find it on the non-fiction shelf - NF 303.48LAW

An interesting topic not often written about, Protest in Australia: What Do We Want? covers lots of past protests with many photos and illustrations. Sue Lawson has done extensive research in this accessible book.

The Simple Things by Bill Condon

Find it on the fiction shelf: F CON

The Simple Things centres on the relationship between Stephen, a fairly clueless ten-year-old boy, and his formidable great aunt, Lola. When Stephen’s family decide to visit Lola for three weeks, Stephen comes face-to-face with this seemingly fierce woman whom he has only ever known as a name on a birthday card. Reluctant to warm to her at first, Stephen soon learns that Lola isn’t just any old lady. He begins to see that despite their age gap, they really do have a lot in common, and it is through this unlikely friendship that Stephen does a lot of growing up and Lola does a lot of mending.

This is a cute, humorous book that won’t take you long to read, but will give you some food for thought. Especially about the simple things in life and the importance of family.

- Mrs Crisafulli

Boy Overboard by Morris Gleitzman

Find it on the fiction shelf: F GLE

Boy Overboard is the story of an Afghan family who love, but ultimately have to flee their homeland. For Jamal, and his sister Bibi, soccer is the solution with the two hatching a plan to lead Australia to World Cup glory in order to reverse all the horror they have endured under the Taliban regime.

Morris Gleitzman, uses humour and engaging characters to create an open, accessible dialogue on current global issues such as gender discrimination, human rights and cultural difference. But at the heart of this book is a simple narrative of one family’s plight to seek refuge in Australia and the harsh realities of this process.

Despite such heavy topics, this is actually an enjoyable read with lots of funny antics to lighten the mood and the resilience and determination of Jamal and Bibi to survive, is nothing short of inspiring.

- Mrs Crisafulli

The First Third by Will Kostakis

Find it on the fiction shelf: F KOS

Billy’s yia yia (Greek grandmother) will tell you…

“Life is made up of three parts: in the first third, you’re embarrassed by your family; in the second, you make a family of your own; and in the end, you just embarrass the family you’ve made”. Billy is used to being embarrassed by his family. But when his yia yia is taken ill, and asks him to complete her bucket list (things to complete before you die), it definitely ups the ante on the embarrassment scale!

Charged with finding his mother a husband, bringing his freedom-loving older brother back from Brisbane, and reconnecting with his troubled little brother, Billy sure needs a helping hand.

Luckily, he’s got his best mate, Sticks, along for the ride, which includes a spontaneous trip to Melbourne among other complicated ventures. All this… and Billy is still trying to sort out his own “First Third”. Including, how to get through school, ride a bike for the first time, eat enough food (Greek!), and kiss a girl without her running away.

Will Billy come out the other side with all the answers and some sense of who he is as well? You’ll just have to read and see!

- Mrs Crisafulli