Hello,

It is so lovely to be back in the library! I have loved catching up with students and watching them reunite with Tilly, who trotted immediately to her favourite spot in front of the door so she could greet everyone coming inside (and cadge belly rubs).

I hope the transition back to in-person school is going well for your whānau. I sent some of the following resources out to students earlier this week, but I wanted to share them with our wider community as well.

Some students might be feeling a bit anxious about emerging from their bubbles, adjusting to this new Level 2, and preparing for exams. Books can be a helpful resource during stressful times. Sometimes, reading a familiar book can be comforting: it makes us feel better to return to a fictional world that we know and understand. Readers might enjoy revisiting some childhood favourites or rereading titles that they have dipped into many times before.

Non-fiction books can help as well. Here are a few on the eBook and Audiobook platform that might be worth checking out:

Open Your Mind: Learn to Deal With the Big Stuff in Life by Gemma Cairney

Mindfulness for Teen Worry by Jeffrey Bernstein

The Mindful Teen: Powerful Skills to Help You Handle Stress One Moment at a Time

The Grit Guide for Teens by Caren baruch-Feldman

Mindfulness for Student Athletes by Gina M. Biegel

Laughter is also a wonderful way to give ourselves a boost. If a good giggle would make your reader feel better then they could try one of these titles:

Squirm and/or Chomp by Carl Hiaasen (I recommend just about anything by Carl Hiaasen if humorous books are what you like!)

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

Try something funny AND familiar and go back to a Roald Dahl classic! We have many on the platform.

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison (She is a laugh-so-hard-you-scare-the-dog author for me!)

All of these titles are available on our Wheelers platform. Students can sign in on our homepage.

User name: 5 digit student number

Password: SHCS1

If you would like to explore more titles I recommend you go to the Books On Prescription site. They have a variety of resources, including books lists for young people who are experiencing anxiety and stress.

Happy reading, Carrie Bouffard