SLAV Online Book Club – October 12th, 2023 – Promotional Tactics.

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Thursday October 12th, 2023, to discuss the topic: Promotional Tactics. We asked members to consider promotional ideas or tactics – the way they talk about a book to students, the display they create, the activity they have created for an English class or book club, the tantalising review they have shared. We asked members to come along prepared to share quick and easy tactics for promoting a particular title, author or a genre that your students just cannot resist!

This was a HUGE success, and we have a fabulous resource of ideas from our chat space below and a padlet full of ideas and images as a result. All our members had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, it is greatly appreciated! Join us again on November 16th to discuss the topic – Short Books and Short Stories.

This was our seventh book club meeting for 2023, and we want to say a very special thank you to all who have attended and contributed to these informal and informative meetings. We cannot wait to see you at our next meeting, your generosity is greatly appreciated.

You can see our full list of planned topics for 2023 HERE.

We absolutely encourage you to reach out to the wonderful Jenny at The Younger Sun as an invaluable resource, for further information and recommendations. The staff at The Younger Sun are incredibly knowledgeable!

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Ideas for Promotional tactics shared by Book Club Members

Padlet with Jenny’s list and other ideas too –

https://padlet.com/slavconnects/jenny-s-list-new-books-october-23-dvxcazitbl4w4q65

https://padlet.com/slavconnects/cornerstone-collection-slav-online-book-club-7m4pi39ziamyy07n

  • Banned Book Week – I do banned book week. and do a survey to see who reads banned books.
  • I follow @greatlibrarydisplays on Instagram. They recently showcased a library display that suggested titles according to a reader’s perception of their concentration span. I thought that validated those who only want to engage with quick reads, right beside those who love a tome.
  • Mainly compiling Reading Lists in ePlatform collection to engage staff and students with ebooks and audiobooks. Range of themes, including the current and topical – First Nations; Harmony Week; ANZAC Day; International Women’s Day etc. – https://vsv.eplatform.co/
  • What could be the story you’d like to write or read about? What’s your outline for a story or novel:
  • Identity:Could it be that you seek Identity and wanting to find your place in the world in young adult literature? Readers as seeking to find themselves in stories. Readers want to relate to a story. Writers continue to create relatable stories. What are some of the stories or novels which relate to you? The following are a list of Lebanese Australian authors and some of the books they have written for young people: Bro by Helen Chebatte, The Cult of Romance, Hate is Such a Strong Word by Sarah Ayoub, The F Team by Rawa Arja, Half My Luck by Kamaleddine, Samera, Huda and Me by Hayek, H, The Last Migration by Jad El Hage, 10 Things I Hate About Me by Abdel-Fattah, Randa, Huda and Me by H. Hayek
  • We have just had a display – You’ve seen the movie… now read the book!
  • I have also done a couple of different shelf displays for genre (pictures shared on padlet)
  • Our students love browsing non-fiction.
  • Yes, our English class also agreed to come in once a fortnight, English team very supportive. We read aloud a few minutes to them as well. For our (English) reading classes, we have split the 29 students into 2 (or sometimes 3) groups, so they are with their English teacher for one activity, and with library tls/staff for the other time – rotate every 15 or 20 mins.
  • It seems to cut down behavioural problems and enable more personal interaction, though it is very fast paced. I agree – the boys will read if they think it’s the right book for them. We have flexible learning spaces where the groups can be.
  • I have also done a genre vote each other vote. I use forms, then select two most borrowed books in that genre here is a link. https://forms.gle/F3jftrcwwJhYrvtL9
  • We also used short stories to read aloud to our boys’ secondary students, and the VATE (English site) has short story competition winners. Some picture books/poems work well.
  • https://www.vate.org.au/story-miniature-2023-writing-competition
  • https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsqH2f94jPThlTtNT2ej1R8Wp8-pbLjiGjIRcF9FuMRQBQ7w/viewform?usp=sf_link
  • We use Beanstack Yr 7 & 8 – we call it reading detectives
  • I use forms for a lot of surveys and quizzes as well as paper based within the library
  • I ran an “escape room” set of puzzles during book week.
  • I work in an early childhood school, I use book taster circles to expose students to range of books.
  • For creating a buzz about literacy and books, for secondary students and for staff – lots of ideas on https://janeaustenlf.org/ Founded by Caroline Jane Knight, Jane Austen’s fifth great-niece, the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation is a Melbourne-based, not-for-profit organisation – includes a great writing competition
  • CBCA Shadow Judging, they can become published reviewers as well.
  • I used the FYI / synergy book (building a reading culture) to write a proposal for the executive as to different ways that we can get our students reading. I used data to say our student weren’t reading and that we needed to dramatically change our student’s mindset about reading. I now have all Year 7 come to the library once a fortnight to try and encourage them to read. I always do something promotional at the beginning to get their interest – book trailers, reading the blurb. We do a book tasting (Teachers pay teachers have all the sheets to print) once a term. Have been buying books that will suit the students. Change displays regularly to promote books. Have a competition between English classes to see who can borrow the most books for pizza party.
  • The Printz Award in America is also a possibility if you want to take them beyond Australian shores.
  • We challenge our students with the Premiers Reading Challenge while they attend once a week Library Class and at the end of Year we have an Awards and invite local MP .
  • Do a PowerPoint presentation during lunches. I did one where used emojis to help explain the mood of the book.
  • Poem Forest by Red Room Poetry gets them reading student poem compositions and is a way of encouraging published writing from students.
  • Author talks have helped.
  • Peer reviews on school library website/catalogue to engage students with books. We run “Biscuits and Books”once a week.
  • Shelftalkers if they would like peer reviews, and/ or become published reviewers themselves https://www.shelftalkers.slav.vic.edu.au/
  • ‘Speed dating’ is great around Library Lovers’ Day. ‘Speed tasting’ when MasterChef kicks off. 2 minutes per book then circle the ‘matching emoji’ for their reaction/feel. e.g. smiley face with love heart eyes = My new favourite, and so on. Or, delicious, is there more in the pot? etc… Simple but effective.
  • I start with a class challenge for PRC first student submitting the required form and adding online from their class receive a block of chocolate and everyone after that chocolates are always give out. Chocolate is the attraction.
  • Bookmarks printed with a pic of the teacher at the top of the bookmark – we then ask them to put the bookmark in a book they have read / would like to recommend – the kids enjoy searching out the teachers faces and seeing what they like.
  • We have a list of staff’s favourites on a web page. The bookmarks take it to the next level.
  • For Primary schools – YABBA Virtual Author Events – https://www.yabba.org.au/
  • SLAV Question Generator – https://slav.org.au/Question-Generator can be used to create question stems for book discussion in book clubs or classes.
  • Author talks. We had Steven Herrick and Sophie Masson visit us this year.
  • Flip cards – we have a set for a topic of interest – kids like them.
  • We do an emoji treasure hunt for year 7s at the beginning of the year. This gives them a chance to look around library and get to know what is where.
  • A couple of our library staff have a trolley of popular and easy read books ready for each reading session, so that students who are overwhelmed by too much choice, simply pick from the trolley. We also have a customized trolley of books for our Gifted class.
  • Lucky dip titles – if you don’t know what to read take a slip with the title of book for student to look for and read.
  • Photos of students holding their favourite book as a kid and the one they’re currently reading, to promote reading progression and embracing a reading culture across one’s lifetime.
  • Laminated book suggestion cards
  • During the Covid years we used our school portal as a place for students in years 7 and 8 to record their reading, their reflections on their reading some reviews of books they’d read and to read the reviews of others. This was a great way to give students voice and to encourage peer recommendations.
  • Kids lit quiz – website link on padlet

What We Are Reading – Adult Titles.

Yellowface by RF Kuang

The Passage of Love by Alex Miller

A Man’s Place by Annie Ernaux

A Study in drowning by Ava Reid & The Thursday Murder Club #4

Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood

The Scholar by Dervla McTiernan – book 2 in the Cormac Reilly series

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Milkwood Permaculture Living Handbook: Habits for Hope in a Changing World

The Coast by Dr Eleanor Sweetapple story of a 10yr old placed in quarantine for leprosy in Sydney

I’ve just started Wifedom: Mrs Orwell’s Invisible Life by Anna Funder.

The Unbelieved by Vikki Petraitis – really incredible strong female protagonist, crime fiction.

Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

A People’s tragedy the Russian revolution by Orlando Figes

Kate Atkinson – Normal Rules don’t apply (Short stories)

 

 

 

 

SLAV Online Book Club – August 8th, 2023 – Fantasy.

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Wednesday August 8th, 2023, to discuss the topic: Fantasy.

We absolutely encourage you to reach out to the wonderful Jenny at The Younger Sun as an invaluable resource in this area, for further information and recommendations. The staff at The Younger Sun are incredibly knowledgeable!

As always, so many of you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, and it is very appreciated. Join us again on September 7th, 2023, to discuss the topic ‘New Adult’.

This was our fifth book club meeting for 2023, and we want to say a very special thank you to all who have attended and contributed to these informal and informative meetings. We cannot wait to see you at our next meeting, your generosity is greatly appreciated.

 

You can see our full list of planned topics for 2023 HERE.

Download Jenny’s List HERE 

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Books Discussed:

A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T Kingfisher

The Prison Healer Series by Lynette Noni

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

The Rook by Daniel O’Malley

Uprooted, and Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

The House by the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune Wayward Children series – starts with Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

Dreadnought duology – trans rep – by April Daniels

Belgariad by David Eddings

Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Dark Heir by CS Pacat

Kaldoras by Lynette Noni

Lightlark by Alex Aster

Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz by Garth Nix

We Who Hunt the Hollow Series by Kate Murray

Archives of Despair by Caleb Finn

Crook Haven – The Forgotten Maze by J.J. Arcanjo

Mermedusa by Thomas Taylor

Percy Jackson – The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan

Murtagh by Christopher Paolini

City of Dragons by Garth Nix

Which Way Round the Galaxy by Cressida Cowell

The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston Fright by Reece Carter

The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown

Deadlands Series – Trapped by Skye Melki-Wegner

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J Maas

The Fragile Threads of power by VE Schwab

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

The Near Witch by VE Schwab

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Tithe by Holly Black

Alan Garner – Weirdstone of Brisingamen; Moon of Gomrath; Owl Service; Red Shift

Susan Cooper – Dark is Rising Series

Diana Wynne-Jones – All of her books!

Rampant Series by Diana Peterfreund

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Hayes

Stoneblind by Natalie Hayes

The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin

The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín

Burning Midnight by Will McIntosh

Mortal Engines by Phillip Reeve

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Stephanie Garber – Caraval

Blade Breaker by Kierstan White

Terry Pratchett – all of his books!

The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew

Sing Me To Sleep by Gabi Burton

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass

Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald

The Mirror Visitor Series by Christelle Dabos

Strike the Zither by Joan He

Fairy Tale by Stephen King

Gilded/Cursed by Marissa Meyer

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen. The second book in the series just released – Painted Devils

Big Magic by Sarah Armstrong

Keeper of the Lost Cities Series by Shannon Messenger

The Realm Breaker Victoria Aveyard

The Atlas Six Series by Olive Blake

The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Lightfall Graphic Novel Series by Tim Probert

Land of Stories by Chris Colfer

Disney Twisted Tales

Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle Katherine Webber

Hedgewitch/Woodwitch by Skye McKenna

The Sun & the Star by Rick Riordan

Skandar Series by A F Steadman

Elementals Series by Amie Kaufman

Spellstone by Ross Montgomery

Jane Doe Series by Jeremy Lachlan

Wylah Series by Jordan Gould

Dragon Masters by Tracey West

The Winterish Girl by Melanie La Brooy

Lore Olympus Graphic Novel series by Rachel Smythe

Spellstone by Ross Montgomery

Spellhound by Lian Tanner

Nick Blake and the Remarkables by Angie Thomas

The Witch Boy Graphic Novel Series by Molly Ostertag

The Girl From The Sea GN by Molly Knox Ostertag

The Left-handed Booksellers of London Series by Garth Nix

The Witch Hat Atelier Series by Kamome Shirahama

Amari and the Night Brothers series by B. B. Alston

The Wind on the Moon by Eric Linklater

Adult – What We are Reading

Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Bored Gay Werewolf by Tony Santorella

The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama

The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss

Gentleman Bastard by Scott Lynch

Kate Daniels / Ilona Andrews

The Unbelieved by Vikki Petraitis

Scattered Minds by Gabor Maté

 

 

 

 

SLAV Online Book Club – June 15th, 2023 – Fiction to Enrich Curriculum Areas.

Our thanks to those who were able to join us for our SLAV online Book Club on Thursday June 15th, 2023, to discuss the topic: Fiction that enriches a curriculum area. Fiction related to a curriculum area can enrich a student or a teacher’s understanding. What fiction explores, explains or develops the readers insight into an area – history, science, art – there are lots of possibilities. Both Tye and Jenny focussed on General Capabilities for this meeting, but if you need more suggestions, we absolutely encourage you to reach out to Jenny at The Younger Sun as an invaluable resource in this area.

As always, so many of you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, and it is very appreciated. We were also delighted to be joined, once again, by the fabulous and knowledgeable Jenny from The Younger Sun Bookshop in Yarraville. This was our fourth book club meeting for 2023, and we want to say a very special thank you to all who have attended and contributed to these informal and informative meetings. We cannot wait to see you at our next meeting, your generosity is greatly appreciated.

You can see our full list of planned topics for 2023 HERE.

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

 General Capabilities – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

Jenny’s List

Tye’s List

VSV Reading – First Nations: Language and story – https://vsv.eplatform.co/browse/compilation/20317

VSV Reading – First Nations: Language and story – Younger readers

Includes picture books –

https://vsv.eplatform.co/browse/compilation/20316

Beautiful books by Auntie Fay, Auntie Joy & Auntie Patsy with Sue Lawson

Magabala Books – Indigenous Publisher

Nadia Wheatley’s classic My place was updated to include pre-colonial history and 1967 referendum and has a ABC tv series to supplement.

Uncle Xbox by Jared Thomas has also been popular.

Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia

Amazing authors to read –

Oliver Phommavanh

Alice Pung

Gabrielle Wang

Dragon Keeper Series by Carole Wilkinson

Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim

Tokyo Ever After – Emiko Jean

The Magic Fish – Trung Le Nguyen

Six Crimson Cranes – Elizabeth Lin

To All the Boys I’ve Loved (series) Jenny Han

Iron Widow – Xiran Jay Zhao

Strike the Zither – Joan He

This Time It’s Real – Ann Liang

Only A Monster – Vanessa Len

Catfish Rolling – Clara Kumagai

The Ones We’re Meant To Find – Joan He

VSV Reading – Harmony Week (Younger readers) – https://vsv.eplatform.co/browse/compilation/22484

The Red Palace by June Hur- Historical mystery thriller.

This Time it’s Real by Ann Liang- A fake romance turned real.

Front desk by Kelly Yang- Middle fiction- Realistic fiction- now a series.

Sustainability

Jenny’s List

Tye’s List

VSV Reading – Our world and environment – https://vsv.eplatform.co/browse/compilation/24919

The Sky So Heavy – Claire Zorn

The Callers – Kiah Thomas

The Last Wild – Piers Torday

The Dark Wild – Piers Torday

The Wild Before – Piers Torday

The Wild Beyond – Piers Torday

Wind Riders (series) – Jen Marlin

Polar Bear Patrol – Jess Butterworth

The Adventure Club – Jess Butterworth

The Orphan Orangutan – Jess Butterworth

Polly Pecorino – Emma Chichester Clark

The Wild Robot – Peter Brown

The One & Only Ruby – Katherine Applegate

The Letterbox Tree – Rebecca Lim/Kate Gordon

Dear Greta – Yvette Poshoglian

The Orchard Underground – Mat Larkin

Devils In Danger – Samantha Wheeler

The Good Times of Pelican Rise – Samone Amba

The Last Bear – Hannah Gold

The Lost Whale – Hannah Gold

Humanities and Social Sciences

Tye’s List

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SLAV Online Book Club May 17th, 2023 – Horror.

Our thanks to those of you able to join us for our Wednesday May 17th online book club meeting to discuss the topic: Horror. We asked – What constitutes horror? Why does it work? Is it just shock value (look at what I am reading!) or are these stories that truly resonate? When is it just too much for young readers?

As always, so many of you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, and it is very appreciated. We were also delighted to be joined, once again, by the fabulous and knowledgeable Jenny from The Younger Sun Bookshop in Yarraville.

This was our third book club meeting for 2023, and we want to say a very special thank you to all who have attended and contributed to these informal and informative meetings. We cannot wait to see you at our next meeting!

You can see our full list of planned topics for 2023 HERE.

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Classic Horror – recommended for secondary students

Cujo by Stephen King

Carrie by Stephen King

The Shining by Stephen King

It by Stephen King

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

The Rats by James Herbert

Lair by James Herbert

Domain by James Herbert

The Magic Cottage by James Herbert

The Fog by James Herbert

The Dark by James Herbert

The Secret of Crickley Hall by James Herbert

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Rawblood by Catriona Ward

Little Eve by Catriona Ward

Sundial by Catriona Ward

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

Sandman by Neil Gaiman (graphic novel fantasy horror)

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Brightly List – 13 Frightfully Good YA Horror Novels

Brightly List – Surefire YA Scares:

18 of the Best Teen Horror Books

What We All Saw by Mike Lucas

The Enemy Series by Charlie Higson

The Hazel Wood Book 1 by Melissa Albert

Horror Manga

Junji Ito

The Promised Neverland by Kaiu Shirai, Posuka Demizu (Illustrator)

Jenny from The Younger Sun recommends

Full list for download

Upper Primary

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Witching Hour Series by Jack Henseleit

Goosebumps by R.L Stine

Into the Pit – Five Nights at Freddy’s Fazbear Frights Book 1 by Scott Cawthon, Elley Cooper

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Adult Books – What We Are Reading

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah – Squid Game meets The Handmaid’s Tale in THE new dystopian novel of summer 2023

Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater – the instant Sunday Times bestseller. The debut suspense thriller of 2023 that you don’t want to miss!

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams

We Could Be Something by Will Kostakis

Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SLAV Online Book Club – March 22nd, 2023 – Graphic Novels.

Our thanks to those of you able to join us for our Wednesday March 22 online book club meeting to discuss the topic: Graphic Novels.

Graphic novels offer so much – award winning, artistic, meaningful they are a broad and inviting genre but they can also be confronting and culturally inappropriate.

We asked – What are the best and what are the worst to be avoided? Where do you source them?Where are they kept in your library?

As always, so many of you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, and it is very appreciated.

We were also delighted to be joined, once again, by the fabulous and knowledgeable, Jenny from The Younger Sun Bookshop in Yarraville.

This was our second book club meeting for 2023, and we want to say a very special thank you to all who have attended and contributed to these informal and informative meetings. We cannot wait to see you at our next meeting! You can see our full list of planned topics for 2023 HERE.

 Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Books Discussed

Seance Tea Party by Reimena Yee

Percy Jackson Series graphic novels by Rick Riordan

The Arrival by Shaun Tan (in small format)

Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau

Hoops by Matt Tavares

Leon the Extraordinary by Jamar Nicholas

Friendly Bee and Friends by Sean E Avery

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Katie the Catsitter by Colleen A.F. Venable

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Cat on the Run series by Aaron Blabey  (Coming September 2023)

In Waves by AJ Dungo

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka

Jarretts’ TED Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/jarrett_j_krosoczka_how_a_boy_became_an_artist?language=en

Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Underground by Mirranda Burton

Kent State by Derf Backderf (both treat Vietnam War themes).

Any graphic novel versions of classics such as 1984, Animal Farm, Jane Austen adaptations, Dracula, Frankenstein, Shakespeare.

Chippy Chasers by Sam Cotton

Sad Ghost Club series by Lize Meddings

Year 10s at my school study Long Way Down (we have it for 7/8s in our MS) – the verse novel version.

Muhammad Najeen War Reporter by Muhammad Najeen

Welcome to St Hell by Lewis Hancox

Holocaust by Dolan Hugh

This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews

Sheets and Delicates by Brenna Thummler

Wicked things by John Allison- a 19-year-old detective who is framed for murder.

Tiny Dancer by Siena Cherson Siegela story about a young dancer who struggles with body image and mental health.

Making Friends series by Kristen Gudsnuk- the secondary girls have been loving this series. The books are never on the shelves.

One Year at Ellesmere by Faith Erin Hicks- a story about a 13-year-old student struggling to fit in at a posh boarding school, when she wins a scholarship.

Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson (and friends) series- A solid middle grade read. Similar to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the drawings and text are mixed. It makes for a very easy read, but deals with issues which middle-grade students may start to have.

Go With The Flow by Karen Schneemann, Lily Williams

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

WARRIORS by Erin Hunter graphic novel series

ALL Raina Telgemeier graphic novels

Tokyo Ghoul series by Sui Ishida

Click, Camp, Act, Crunch  by Kayla Miller

Furball series by Adrian Beck

Secret Mole series by James Foley

Brobot series with Sally Tinker Inc.

Catwad by Jim Benton

Kate and Jol Temple – The Under Dogs series is great!

Wings Of Fire by Tui Sutherland – graphic novel series

Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi

Alex Rider series graphic novels by Anthony Horowitz

Babysitters Club by Ann M. Martin – graphic novel series

Adult books – What We Are Reading

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

Red Queen by Juan Gomex-Jurado

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

The Running Club by Ali Lowe

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix

Limberlost by Robbie Arnott

Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist

The Rise of Wolves by Kerr Thomson

Running Full Tilt by Michael Currinder

Chessboxer by Stephen Davies

Two Steps Forward by Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist

Helpful Links / Further Resources

ComicsPlus https://comicsplusapp.com/

Graphic Novel list by

Jenny Kiely – Schools Specialist at The Younger Sun Bookshop, Yarraville.

 

 

 

 

 

SLAV Online Book Club – February 16th, 2023 – Book to Film Adaptations

Our thanks to those of you able to join us for our February 16th, 2023 online book club meeting to discuss books that have been made into films. As always, so many of you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, and it is very appreciated.

We were also delighted to be joined by Jenny from The Younger Sun Bookshop in Yarraville. The Younger Sun have created a beautiful window (pictured above) to celebrate our first book club meeting!

Jenny’s List can be downloaded here. 

Reinas’ Lesson Plan can be downloaded here – Lesson 13- Books into Movies

This was our first book club meeting for 2023, and we want to say a very special thank you to all who have attended and contributed to these informal and informative meetings.

We cannot wait to see you at our next meeting! You can see our full list of planned topics for 2023 HERE.

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

TOPIC – Books that are Films

Book to film or film to book this is a popular genre that includes many tried and true titles.  Often an accessible option for reluctant readers the film tie can help readers visualise the action.  What titles have worked for you?  What move tie-ins have disappointed?  What books would you like to see made into a film?

Books Discussed

Blueback by Tim Winton

The Bad Guys by Aaaron Blabey

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula  Le Guin

Lockwood & Co. by Johnathan Stroud

Enola Holmes by Nancy Springer

His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman- great TV adaptation via Binge

A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snickett

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi

Clueless the Movie for Emma by Jane Austen

Holes by Louis Sachar

Dune by Frank Herbert

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Hogfather by Terry Pratchett

Dungeons & Dragons Series

Anne with An E television series for Anne of Green Gables by Montgomery

Little Women by Alcott

Charlottes Web by E.B White

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

Women Talking by Miriam Toews

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Barnes

The Amazing Maurice by Terry Pratchett

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendack

Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall Series

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis

The Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

NEW MOVIE ADAPTATIONS – Coming Soon

Wonka

Peter Pan and Wendy

The Magicians Elephant

Percy Jackson TV Series

Eragon – 2024

Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Goosebumps TV Series

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Wicked by Gregory McGuire

Heartstopper Season 2

Shadow and Bone season two

Ready Player Two

The Silo Series

Whitebird

The Messenger

One Piece is coming out as series on Netflix.

Nimona coming out as a movie, but might not be this year.

The White Girl by Tony Birch

What We Are Reading – Adult Books

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Limberlost by Robbie Arnott

The Offing by Benjamin Myers

Cairo by Chris Wormersley

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge (YA)

Weywood by Emilia Hart

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr and Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down

A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman

Encyclopedia of  Fairies by Emily Wild

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

Philippa Gregory’s Dawnlands which is the third in the Tidelands about First Nations people in

The Seed Keeper by Diane Wison.

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

Burial Rites and The Good People by Hannah Kent

True North by Catherine Deveny

We Who Hunt the Hollow by Kate Murray (YA)

The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams

Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au

SLAV Online Book Club – October 13th, 2022 – Climate and Environment

Our thanks to those of you able to join us for our October 13th, 2022, online book club meeting to discuss fiction and non-fiction titles that address the topic Climate and Environment. We asked – either in fact or explored in fiction, the environment and climate are issues of significance. What texts are of interest to your young readers as they grapple with these issues? As always, so many of you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, and it is very appreciated.

This was our seventh book club meeting for 2022, and we look forward to chatting with you again at our next meeting on Thursday November 17th, 2022, to discuss the topic of Sports. Read more and register for SLAV Online Book Club HERE

 Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and student’s needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Padlet of Further Book Lists and Articles

Titles Discussed

Bindi by Kirli Saunders

If Not Us by Mark Smith

How to Spell Catastrophe by Fiona Wood

The Dry by Neal Shusterman

Green Valentine by Lili Wilkinson

Future Girl by Asphyxia

The Dog Runner by Bren MacDibble

Across the Risen Sea by Bren MacDibble

How to Bee by Bren MacDibble

The Road to Winter by Mark Smith

After the Lights Go Out by Lilli Wilkinson

The Raven’s Song by Zana Fraillon & Bren MacDibble

Zero O’clock by Christopher Fairly

Bailey Finch Takes a Stand by Ingrid Laguna

Ghost Species by James Bradley

Mammoth by Chris Flynn

The Declaration by Gemma Malley

Saving Seal by Diane Jackson Hill

Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy

The River and the Book by Alison Croggon

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

The Glad Shout by Alice Robinson

Wolfe Island by Lucy Treloar

 

What We Are Reading

Devotion by Hannah Kent

The Spy’s Wife by Fiona McIntosh

The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennet

Glory by No Violet Bulawayo

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

We Need New Names by No Violet Bulawayo

The Third Witch by Jackie French

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

Sugar Town Queens by Malla Nunn (YA)

 

 

 

The Question Generator App

SLAV is delighted to announce the launch of The Question Generator App!

The Question Generator is:

  • A vital addition to the school library professional’s toolkit
  • Supporting the development of critical and creative thinking skills

 From Mary Manning’s recent FYI article –

“Within the Victorian Curriculum, the Critical and Creative Thinking Capability focuses on the development of increasingly complex and sophisticated processes of thinking. The curriculum documents indicate that critical and creative thinking are fundamental to effective learning across the curriculum. School libraries play a vital role in helping students explore questions and possibilities and therefore to understand the role that questions and questioning play in enabling learning and developing a learning disposition. So, as always, the School Library Association of Victoria steps in with practical and engaging support for this vital role!

To encourage students to generate new ideas and possibilities as they explore a topic, the Question Generator enables students to develop their own questions using a range of question starters…

This valuable resource offers exciting possibilities for explicit teaching within the library and for opening up conversations and collaborative teaching and planning opportunities with teachers across all areas of the curriculum.”

From Questions and Possibilities: Introducing the Question Generator by Mary Manning

 The Question Generator App is available now as a free, digital resource on the SLAV website. Please use it and share it widely.

SLAV Online Book Club September 8th 2022 – LGBTQI Books

Our thanks to those of you able to join us for our book club meeting to discuss titles and strategies for displaying LGBTQI Books in school libraries. As always, so many of you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, and it is very appreciated.

This was our sixth book club meeting for 2022, and we look forward to chatting with you again at our next meeting on October 13th to discuss the topic – Climate / Environment Focus. Either in fact or explored in fiction, the environment and climate are issues of significance. What texts are of interest to your young readers as they grapple with these issues?

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and students needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

 Articles

Attwell, V. (2021). “In all areas, I cater to the majority”: An investigation of LGBT+ provision in school libraries from the librarian’s perspective. Synergy, 19(1). Retrieved from https://slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/492

Byrne, C. (2021). Mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors: LGBTIQA+ perspectives. Synergy, 19(2). Retrieved from https://slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/530

Day, N. (2019). Windows and mirrors: visibility and representation in Australian LGBTQIA+ YA fiction. Synergy, 17(1). Retrieved from https://slav.vic.edu.au/index.php/Synergy/article/view/v171196

Discussion in chat about display ideas in school libraries

  • Popular LGBTQI+ books in our high school library. They have a rainbow spine sticker and searchable subject codes.
  • any ideas on whether we should identify books by a genre sticker or in a reading list…seems to be mixed ideas. Is consulting our rainbow group at school enough?
  • I have purchased a rainbow sticker but I haven’t used them yet as I believe that some of the students at my school would feel victimised about reading LGBTQI+
  • I told my junior campus colleagues to read holden shepherd as I felt it was too graphic for yrs 7&8
  • We place the rainbow sticker inside the book on the date due slip or back cover of the book
  • Sorry I don’t have microphone or camera today… Our ‘Pride Group’ meet every Tuesday in our meeting room and I show them new books I have purchased and/or they suggest titles to me.  When I was generifying I also consulted them about where to place the rainbow stickers – inside back cover with another genre sticker on spine for second subject.  I also add LGBTQI+ as a subject/genre in the catalogue
  • We don’t use rainbow stickers – our student parliament didn’t like that idea when we asked their opinion. We do have reading lists and do lots of displays around the various LGBTQI+ events throughout the year.
  • I made a libguide 🙂 https://libguides.ecmelb.catholic.edu.au/c.php?g=942347&p=6823320 and we do displays of rainbow stories pretty regularly
  • Our books are interspersed within our generified collection (obviously with appropriate subject headings and tags) and we do displays to highlight titles as well. I bought stickers (which I was thinking I would put inside the back cover; I remember it was mentioned in a previous book club) but I have not got there yet…
  • Today we have just put up a ‘Diversity’ display which the students have put together – covering not only LGBTQI but also neurodiversity –
  • I’m making sure I have plenty of queer titles as eBooks – all boys’ school so some of the boys are more comfortable borrowing online rather than in person sadly.
  • Back to earlier discussion: We consulted with our LGBTQIA+ club as to how they wanted our books displayed and how they could best access them. We trialled several different ways of presenting the books, including stickers, displays for special days & a stand-alone collection as well as some multiple copies interspersed. We have lists on our OPAC as well.

Links to Lists and Resources

Hi Everyone, sorry joining late, here is a link to our Course Reserve of some books in our middle (secondary ) collection (am at K-12 scl may be of interest https://bialik.on.worldcat.org/courseReserves/course/id/17526105

thinking of ebooks /eAudio you may like to check out EPIC Books – teachers can sign up for free and can share books with students https://www.getepic.com/app/search

Readings https://www.readings.com.au/collection/lgbtqia-books-for-teens

Diverse Book Finder https://diversebookfinder.org/content/lgbtq/

New Yorker Article https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-education/lgbt-books-kids-ban

Buzzfeed List of upcoming 2022 books https://www.buzzfeed.com/dahliaadler/new-lgbtq-young-adult-books-summer-2022

Titles Discussed

Graphic novels:

Heartstopper Series (obviously 😊 )

Kiss Number 8 – Colleen AF Venable

Séance tea party – Reimena Yee

Bloom – Kevin Panetta

Mooncakes – Suzanne Walker

Snapdragon – Kat Leyh

Verse novels:

The Black Flamingo – Dean Atta

Other fiction we love:

Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire (#1 Every Heart a Doorway) – yr 9 and up

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell – Tobias Madden

The First Third by Will Kostakis

The Sidekicks by Will Kostakis

Dancing Barefoot by Alice Boyle

We Could Be Something – Will Kostakis COMING May 2023

The House by the Cerulean Sea – TJ Klune

Heatwave by TJ Klune

Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

Where You Left Us by Rhiannon Wilde

Aristotle & Dante. Film adaptation produced by Lin Manual coming out soon.

Lost Soul be at Peace by Maggie Thrash (senior graphic novel)

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson. A memoir manifesto about growing up black and queer

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

I Kissed Sarah Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

Cinderella is Dead by Kaylnn Bayron

This Poison Heart by Kaylynn Bayron

This Wicked Fate by Kaylynn Bayron

Highway Bodies by Alison Evans has Horror/ Zombies and LBTQI

Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland – zombies and lgbtqi

The Comediennes Guide to Pride by Haley Thompson

What We Are Reading

The Marriage Portrait – Maggie O’Farrell

Here Be Leviathans – Chris Flynn

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch

The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves

Indira Naidoo’s The Space Between the Stars

The Dictionary of Lost Words – Pip Williams

Legitimate Sexpectations – Katrin Marson

 Sources for Reliable Reviews

Goodreads lists

Novelist – I found a public library that subscribes to Novelist so I don’t have to pay

Readings Monthly and Website

Common Sense Media (although sometimes with a grain of salt)

Read Plus

Oz Print

Magpies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SLAV Online Book Club – August 10th 2022 – Reluctant Readers

Our thanks to those of you able to join us for our book club meeting to discuss titles and strategies for engaging Reluctant Readers. As always, so many of you had so many wonderful contributions to share with us, and it is very appreciated. This topic has been one of our most popular book club meetings and our third discussion on this subject. It was wonderful to engage with new recommendations, revisit old favourites and consider strategies that help school libraries support their reluctant readers.

This was our fifth book club meeting for 2022, and we look forward to chatting with you again at our next meeting on September 8th to discuss the topic LGBTQI+ titles. We will discuss across all age groups which texts are working well for those wishing to engage with LGBTQI+ experiences? How are these texts positioned in your school library to support and bolster inclusion?

Disclaimer: The lists generated as a result of Book Club discussions are not, by any means, an exhaustive list of all titles or authors for each genre/category discussed. Nor will all titles be suitable for all libraries. We advise staff discretion when referencing these lists, to properly confirm individual title suitability for individual libraries, school and students needs. These are suggested titles only, shared by our members and inclusion on, or exclusion from, a list does not suggest SLAV endorsement or rejection of a title.

Books that have been adapted for TV and Movies

Heartstopper Series by Alice Oseman (YA)

The Babysitters Club by Ann M. Martin (MG)

Sandman by Neil Gaiman (Mature Readers)

Enola Holmes by Nancy Springer (MG)

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (YA)

Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch (YA)

High Engagement Reads

School of Good and Evil by Soman Chainani (MG)

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

Fart Boy Series by Adam Wallace

Ninja Kid/Wolf Girl/ Weirdo Series by Anh Do

Anything by Colleen Hoover (Mature Readers)

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (the original verse book and the graphic novel version)

John Scalzi books suit those who want something a bit outside the box. We have Redshirts (sci fi) and Lock In (mystery/suspense)

Warcross by Marie Lu (YA great gamer tie in)

Football Superstar series (soccer) – easy on the eye layout, not much text. Super popular with boys not confident with reading

Making Friends by Kirsten Gudsnuk

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series by Jeff Kinney

A number of our Year 7-8s love ‘Electric State‘ by Simon Stålenhag – it’s a bit more expensive, but it’s beautiful and the illustrations are amazing!

Verse Novels

Verse novels by Sarah Crossan have worked will with students who wanted Colleen Hoover books

The Poet X is a fantastic YA verse novel, Other Words for Home for a slightly younger reader

Bindi by Kirli Saunders is a beautiful verse novel too

I sell the verse novels to reluctant readers by pointing out that they are a super quick read, but you’ve read a whole book!

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Steven Herrick verse novels are well used at our boys school, including as class texts Yr 9-12

When the Stars Wrote Back by Trista Mateer (mature readers) – poetry

NCACL verse novel database

Other titles that work well

The Other Side of the Sky Series by Amie Kaufman, Meagan Spooner

(Horror) Dark Hunter books by Benjamin Hulme-Cross

Flowers in The Attic by Virginia Andrews (YA)

Gordon Korman books have been popular with boys who reject other things e.g. Restart and The Unteachables Planning to buy War Stories, Linked, Notorious, and The Fort (His books cover many genres)

Stormbreaker Series by Anthony Horowitz (novels and graphic novels)

A Spoonful of Sadie by Lana Spasevski, Joanie Stone (Illustrator) (soccer)

The Fox Swift Series by Cyril Rioli (AFL)

I Can Be Series … Belinda Clarke (etc) Phil Kettle author (sport)

Ash Barty Junior Fiction Series – Little Ash (tennis)

The Life and Times of Gracie Faltrain by Cath Crowley (girls soccer story fiction)

More Than a Kick by Tayla Harris

Chessboxer by Stephen Davies is amazing – suitable for secondaries

Bulletcatcher is a well-written series (Barrington Stoke) by Chris Bradford

Virtual Kombat trilogy by Chris Bradford  www.barringtonstoke.co.uk

We recently bought the Investigators series, and the primary students love them

I’m pretty sure LMERC have audio books if you join them https://lmerc.softlinkhosting.com.au/oliver/libraryHome.do

I Survived graphic novels are great

Strategies Shared

Try matching books to video games https://screenrant.com/ten-best-video-games-based-books/

Making book lists on our catalogue e.g. Bring the Tissues, At Least One Explosion, Enemies to Lovers, etc

Getting them to talk with their peers about books they recommend

Flip Guides to assist them with choosing

Display or list of banned books – everyone wants read something that they are not allowed to!

Create a short / quick or easy book collection

Have students choose the book they will study for English and buy it or have them choose books from a bookshop for the library.

Invite students to choose from our Lamont book boxes to be added to our collection

Definitely do displays based on Booktok and Bookstagram trends. Latest is the “He’s a 10 but…” meme.

Our students recommend books – a tick is added on the cover and it’s displayed faced out

For the students who don’t know what they want to read we have top 30 lists for different year levels and top 6 lists for all of our different genres. They use them far more than I thought they would

Invite the author to speak

Promote the audio of the book

We have a ‘Bookflix’ window for trending books

I always ask them what they enjoy watching and go from there

Adding book promos to our library promotional trailer (runs over lunchtime) is very successful

What We Are Reading Adult Titles

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Salt and Skin by Eliza Henry Jones

Tanith Lee novels

In by Will McPhail is a great adult graphic novel.

Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey

Partway through ‘Wake’ by Shelley Burr

The Crimson Thread by Kate Forsyth

Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

Dinner with the Schnabel’s by Toni Jordan