World Book Day 2024
This year’s World Book Day takes place on Thursday 7th March, and I thought I would detail our plans for this year, including a visit from author Jennifer Claessen. I have also featured the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration as Mrs Bridgman is looking for student volunteers to help judge a selection of picture books. I have also given an update regarding some book award news. I would also like to thank our guest reviewer for this month, Ian Larkham, the Vice-Chair of Governors
Author Event:
We are delighted to announce that the children’s author Jennifer Claessen will be visiting Hazelwick on World Book Day. Jennifer will be providing reading inspiration for Mrs Gray’s Reading lessons on the day and there will be a Q&A session for students at lunchtime. Jennifer will sign books for students who have their own copies. The Q&A session will be available to students from all year groups and free tickets will be available from the library. I have included the link to Jennifer’s official website:
https://www.jenniferclaessen.com/
World Book Day Tokens and Free Books:
Tokens for Year 7 and Year 8 students will be handed out by Mrs Gray during Reading lessons in the Library. Tokens for students in Years 9 to Year 11 will be sent to Form teachers to hand out to any students that would like one. Sixth Form students are invited to collect their tokens from the Library on the day on a first come, first served basis.
The tokens can be used in the following ways:
- Swapped for one of the World Book Day books at no charge
- You can use the token to get £1 off any book or audio worth £2.99 plus
The tokens are valid in participating stores from the Thursday 15th February – Sunday 31st March 2024.
The full list of books with reviews can be found on the official World Book Day website.
https://www.worldbookday.com/books-and-tokens/books/
Free Books:
Subject to availability, I have also ordered a range of the books to be given out to Year 7 and Year 8 students during Mrs Gray’s Reading lessons. I have selected titles from both the ‘Fluent’ and ‘Independent’ categories. From past experience, we know that our students prefer to have the actual book selection to choose from.
Book Swap, Quizzes and Activities:
Our Reading Ambassadors have been busy planning different events and quizzes, and this includes the ‘Book Swap’ stall in the library, so that students can swap books from home for different titles. This will run from Thursday 29th February to Friday 8th March. Reading Ambassadors Isabelle Emmans and Freya Wheatley have also designed a quote quiz and I have heard that there will be a Sixth Form literary basketball competition. #
Mrs Gray’s students will be taking part in a book character competition created by Year 8 student Isabelle Emmans and various other quizzes will be sent to Form teachers.
Mrs Gray will be challenging students to her ‘Reading Heroes’ competition, where students have to guess the name of the teacher hiding behind a book. Students can also take part in my name the book series from the character names.
Free Audio Books
The World Book Day charity also offer a selection of free audio books. The majority of titles are aimed at younger children, but I know that many of you have younger children, who might like them.
https://www.worldbookday.com/world-of-stories/
Mrs Bridgman is ‘recruiting’ students from all year groups to take part in this year’s shadowing of the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration. Young people across the country, known as ‘Shadowers’ will get to judge a selection of picture books, shadowing the adult judging process. Once they have reviewed and discussed the books, they will get to vote for their favourite. All the votes will then be totalled, and the Shadowers’ Choice Awards will be announced. The shortlist announcement will be made on the 13th March 2024, with the voting closing on the 5th June. The winners of both the Medal and Shadowers’ Choice Award on the 20th June.
Students who are interested in participating can pop in to see Mrs Bridgman at break or lunch time. The longlist of titles can be found by clicking the link below:
https://yotocarnegies.co.uk/illustration-nominated-titles-2024/
Book Award Round-Up
Branford Boase Award 2024
The longlisted titles for the Branford Boase Award have been released, with a range of genres, including crime and fantasy. The shortlist will be announced on the 25th March and I have included the link for the longlist.
Nero Book Awards 2023
‘The Swifts’ by Beth Lincoln has won the Children’s Fiction category of the Nero Book Awards. I am sure this story, a murder mystery packed with humour, will make other book award shortlists. Please click on link below for all the category winners. Clicking on the title links will take you to a review of each book and give a brief biography about the authors.
https://nerobookawards.com/category-winners/
Keep Reading & Happy World Book Day!
Mrs Thornton BA (Hons) MCLIP
School Librarian