Schools Pride Week

This week in the library we are celebrating Schools Pride Week. This is an annual event across the country that supports rainbow young people to have a sense of belonging in their schools and communities. The rainbow community includes 'people whose sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics are different from the majority norms.' Children are constantly trying to figure out who they are and where they belong. Some children know that they identify as a boy or as a girl, but others may be unsure where they fit. I aim to ensure that the books we have in our library collection represent our children, no matter how they identify. Check out our display in the library for some books with diverse characters. If there is anything that I can do to support our rainbow students please let me know - zac.mccallum@halswell.school.nz

New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Last week the finalists in the 2021 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults was announced. The 28 books chosen as finalists are the books that the judges believe are the best books in New Zealand for children and young adults. There are some brilliant books that have been chosen as finalists, and most of them we have in our school library. We will have a display of them in the library soon, and I will be reading and talking about them with classes that visit the library.

To find out more about the finalist books visit the book awards website - https://www.nzbookawards.nz/new-zealand-book-awards-for-children-and-young-adults/2021-awards/shortlist/

Family Night at the Library - Picture Book Magic with Ruth Paul

On Thursday 8 July, from 6:30-7:30pm (last week of Term 2) we have the wonderful Ruth Paul joining us for our Family Night at the Library. Ruth is an author and illustrator, whose books include I am Jellyfish, Bad Dog Flash, and the Mini Whinny series (with Stacy Gregg). Come along and hear Ruth talk about her writing and illustrating. RSVP to zac.mccallum@halswell.school.nz