Here are just a few of the different people, places and things I’ve been loving this week:
“The Film and Literature board of review has placed a temporary ban on Into The River, by Auckland author Ted Dawe, after a complaint by the Christian group Family First. The board’s interim restriction order means it cannot be sold, lent or displayed by anyone, and the board will decide whether to restrict the book permanently next month.” – The recent book banning of a Young Adult novel has New Zealand libraries on edge – read the Library and Information Association of New Zealand’s response to the YA rating controversy.
Speaking of controversial literature – can you tell which quotes come from Ted Dawe’s banned Into the River (which won Book of the Year at the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards) and which come from other works of literature (including the Bible)? Try your hand at the Guardian’s quiz.
Middle years programs are all about the crafts – kids this age love making things with their hands, and educators love activities that get those creative juices flowing. Crafty Morning has crafts ideas perfect for just about any age group, occasion or theme, and many of them use low-budget and re-purposed items – perfect for school and library programs.
One of my colleagues is a talented illustrator – check her super-cute illustrations (she also does children’s book illustrating!).
September is back to school time for students, teachers and librarians alike. A classroom library can be the heart and soul of your classroom – let a Vancouver teacher show you how to set up a classroom library that will inspire and excite your students.
The Giller Prize longlist has been released – gotta read ’em all!
Celebrate reading with your kids with Fraser Valley Regional Libraries’ 1000 Stories Before Kindergarten program. It’s never too early so start raising a reader!
What people, places or things have been catching your eye this week?
i have to admit some of the quotes from Dawe’s book are more than a bit much but to restrict access to it that severely? I don’t think I agree with that. It starts a slippery slope that endangers literature in all genres by all authors.
I think it’s the severity of the response that really shocked everyone – book challenges are nothing new, but they don’t typically result in such severe and widespread action, so it’s really caught a lot of people by surprise. Definitely a case worth following.
Thank you Jane for including my post about classroom libraries here! I am honoured!
It was an awesome post, I just had to share it!