Book Review-An Apple a Day

An Apple a Day is a book all about proverbs and explaining them. It has a long list of proverbs and then goes into detail explaining each of them.

For example, have you ever thought about the proverb "You've got to eat a peck of dirt before you die"? Caroline Taggart explains how the unit measure, a peck is about 9 litres - basically an awful lot of dirt to eat!And take "when in Rome, do as the Romans do". Caroline Taggart explains how really, this is just basic courtesy!

And did you know that the Japanese version for "once bitten, twice shy" is "One year bitten by a snake, for three years afraid of a grass rope"? I would really recommend this book. A good read, really interesting, with some good humour in it too!

By JK 10C

Please send the Library your book reviews. You can also upload them via the Library Portal.

Book Review-Easy Peasy Chinese

Book Review: Easy Peasy Chinese

This book written by Elinor Greenwood is a very easy to read introduction to Mandarin Chinese. The bright and interesting pages reveal lots about Chinese culture and language.

Both characters and pinyin are shown clearly with memory aids, pictures and vocabulary lists.This is an interesting book for not only those beginning in Mandarin but anyone interested in foreign culture.

The book comes with a CD which is very useful for listening and learning pronounciation.

Review by RH 8E. Thanks to RH for trying to teach and explain to a few of the Pupil Library Assistants. Very interesting!

National Short Story Week

This week (7^th November-13^th November 2011) is National Short Story Week. Have a look at the website(http://www.nationalshortstoryweek.org.uk/) , which gives lots of information about the week and the aims of the week. You can also listen to a few short stories on the website. The recommended reading list for teenagers and adults is:

From Herabout Hill by Michael Morpurgo

Whodunnit by Philip Pullman

The Kissing Game by Aidan Chambers

Skin and other stories by Roald Dahl

Tales of terror for the tunnel’s mouth by Chris Priestley

Voices for the Libraries

Voices for the Libraries is a website and group where people are talking and protecting public libraries. At present, public Libraries are under threat from closure, so many people have started campaigning against this. Their website is superb. There's areas about Librarians and the work they do, thoughts about Library news and loads more. Have a look-

http://www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk/wordpress/

Back to school

Is everyone ready to go back to school?

Our Library...

Read...

Knockout Challenge

Good Luck to everyone taking part in the Knockout Challenge!

Guardian Books

Have a look at the Guardian Book website. Their is a children section and one of our Library Assistants is a member.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site

Radio Station-

Which Radio station do you listen to?

• Lincs FM
• Radio Lincolnshire
• BBC Radio 2
• BBC Radio 1
• BBC Radio 3
• BBC Radio Humberside
  
• BBC Nottingham
• Capital FM
• Gravity FM
  

Or is your Radio station not listed there?

Bank Holiday....

Have a lovely bank holiday-even though the weather is'nt the best in Grantham :(

Harlaxton Manor

Harlaxton Manor is where Mrs Dawes is going, so here's a bit of background information. 

Harlaxton Manor was originally in the actual village, as a Elizabethan Manor House. However, in the 1830's, Anthony Salvin was commisoned to design the new Manor. With it's one mile drive, a halfway house and splendid gardens, it really is a spectacular place. Over the many years, it's had many owners and uses, including being a RAF Base, a family-home and currently an American University Campus. It is not only used by the American Students, but also by Brides & Grooms who choose it as their wedding venue. Over the years, it's also been used as a filming location.
J K

May Half-Term

The Library team wish you all a very happy May Half-Term, when you can read lots of books, so you can write reviews for the blog.

Goodbye Mrs Dawes...

Today, the Library Team said goodbye to a great friend, Mrs Dawes. We have had some happy times, funny times(a lot of these!) and we can say that we have all enjoyed having her as our Librarian, and more importantly as a friend. So we hope you'll join us in wishing her the best of luck in her new job at Harlaxton Manor, as the College Librarian there and hope she will come back and see us one day! And let's hope she keeps in touch with the Library blog!

And Mrs D, here's a link to wish you well...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmdPQp6Jcdk(the library song)

Au Revoir Mrs D!! :-)

The Library Team...

We made sure we gave Mrs Dawes a very good send-off!

Philip Pullman

This is a bit old now, but here's a speech that Philip Pullman made in February this year about Library closures and how they will affect everyone.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/28/market-fanatics-kill-libraries

Top 10 unsuitable books for teenagers...

So, alright! We are always looking for the best books to read. We ask friends, search the internet and most of all, pop into our School Library. So, when someone writes the top 10 most unsuitable books for teenagers, it gets us thinking! Have a look at the link below to see what you should'nt be reading!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2011/apr/08/patrick-ness-top-10-unsuitable-books-teenagers

And why not go into the Library, and tell the Libraians which books you think are not your unsuitable top ten, but your favourite top ten. We might even be able to make a display!

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!

Librarians...

"They (Librarians) are subversive. You think they're just sitting there at the desk, all quiet and everything. They're like plotting the revolution, man. I wouldn't mess with them." - Michael Moore

So, it's not just about shelving books!

Bishop Grosseteste Library Magazine

Some of the older Library users may find this magazine produced 3 times a year by the Sibthorpe Library interesting. The link is below:

http://www.bishopg.ac.uk/?_id=10203

Turtle Day

It's a bit random, but did you know that today is Turtle Day!

A little quote...

A library book, I imagine, is a happy book.

• So that that means that our Library is full of happiness!
  

Cornelia Funke

Remember....

National Short story week....

It's quite a way off still, but the 7th November to 13th November 2011 is National Short Story Week. Have a look at their website(below), where the guest editor of the website for May is Jon Mayhew, who came to our Library not long ago...

http://www.nationalshortstoryweek.org.uk/

The Royal Society Judging panel...

The Royal society are looking for groups of young people to judge the winner of the Royal Society Young People Book Prize. Children up to 14 years old may apply and judge the best book written for young people up to 14 years old about science topics. You must apply by Wednesday 1st June 2011. There is a link placed below which has all the details:

http://royalsociety.org/sciencebooks/young-people/judges/

Library@Kings

A new logo!

Google search tips...

Here's another link with lots of information about how to use Google Search.
Why not have a look, the link is below:

http://www.mapelli.info/ultimate-google-search-tips-guide

Michael Morpurgo

I find this website that some of you may be interested in. The link is below :)


http://www.michaelmorpurgo.com/

Walk to school week

Did you know that this week is walk to school week? The aim is to get school pupils to walk to school at least once a week. Take a look at their website below-

http://www.walktoschool.org.uk/

Etiquette...

Would'nt Hyacinth be pleased?

Here's a website all about etiquette in our country and in others. Have a look-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A354782

Hyacinth Bucket's Book of Etiquette

Review for Hyacinth Bucket's Book of Etiquette:

This book is great! Its based around the 1990's TV series, Keeping Up Appearances, which is also great! It's based around 7 characters, Hyacinth, Rose, Richard, Daisy, Onslow, Elizabeth and Emmett. The TV Series and book follow the day to day life Hyacinth who wants to be the best in her neighbourhood. Both the book and the TV series are great. 5 Star. :)

J.K Year 9

Library Blog Intro

Hello everyone,
Welcome to the Library Blog! You've find us! Please send us your book reviews, Library comments(compliments or complaints) or anything else which you think may be interesting to other blog users or useful to the Library Staff. Either pop into the Library and ask for me or e-mail me using my school e-mail address(ask at the Library Desk). If you have a Google account, you can comment on posts. So please contribute to the blog, it's for you!
Thank-You

James K
Pupil Library Assistant

Grantham Library

How many of you use Grantham Library?

How often do you borrow books from there?

(You can leave comments below)

Here's the opening hours:

• 
  Monday 09:00 – 18:00
• Tuesday09:00 – 18:00
• Wednesday09:00 – 19:00
• Thursday09:00 – 19:00
• Friday09:00 – 19:00
• Saturday09:00 – 16:00
• SundayClosed

Children's Book Website-

Have a look at the following website. It has lots of good books and information on each one!

http://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/

Speech tips....

Reading a speech? This website has lots of great tips which may be helpful. Have a look-

http://www.rogerdarlington.co.uk/Speech.html

Chris Evans Short Story Competition

The BBC have published some of the top stories sent in to BBC 2 for the Short Story Competition. Have a look-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/chris-evans/500-words/top-50/

New blogger!

As some of you are aware, I am leaving The King's School at half term so I am handing over the management and running of the Library Blog to my fantastic Library Assistant, James K. As you can see he has been busy already, keeping you up-to-date with activities in the Library and anything else of library and book related interest. Please give James your support by writing book or film reviews. James can be contacted via the Library Desk or by his school email address.

Thank you James ;-)

Mrs D

Summer weather forecast.....

Have a look what weather we have in store for summer with this forecast....

http://www.netweather.tv/index.cgi?action=longrange;sess=

A Little Quote...

The man who reads is the man who leads-

It's even in your school planners!

Amazon's must read teenage books

Have a look at this website and see if you have read any of the 'must read teenage books' on Amazon's page.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Must-read-teenage-books/lm/RJZR4MTJSLICQ

Film Club: Rush Hour

East meets West in this culture-clash action comedy. Martial-arts star Jackie Chan plays Hong Kong detective Inspector Lee. When the young daughter of an old friend is kidnapped, Lee is asked to come to America to find her, against the advice of the FBI. Unhappy at having their wishes ignored, the FBI assign loudmouth Los Angeles cop James Carter (Chris Tucker) to keep Lee away from the real investigation. The two have nothing in common - except a desire to find the girl and solve the case. Can the martial-arts expert and the fast-talker put their differences aside and work together?



Source: http://www.filmclub.org/film/4103/rush-hour

Film Club in the Library
Thursday 7/Friday 8 April
12.40-13.30

Keeping up-to-date with fees charged by universities

For 6th form students, The Guardian is running a regularly updated blog which records all the fees being charged by universities.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/mar/25/higher-education-universityfunding?&EMCEDUEML1658

Guardian Childrens Books website

Don't know the latest book in a series? Wondering who wrote a certain book and when?



Why not ask the book doctor on the Guardian Children Books Website?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/series/the-book-doctor

James :)

Armadillo Newsletter

For teenage book news and reviews, the latest Armadillo newsletter is available here: http://sites.google.com/site/armadillomagazine/teenage1

The Classical Education of a Great Scientist, Sir Isaac Newton

The King's School is hosting an event on its most famous former pupil, Isaac Newton. Expert Helen Martin will give  a talk entitled "The Classical Education of a Great Scientist, Sir Isaac Newton". The event will take place in the Old School building, currently housing the Library, on Tuesday 29 March at 7.00pm.

Sir Isaac Newton, one of the world’s greatest scientists, received a classical education. Helen examines the history of this great man, his education and considers what we can learn from this today.

Enjoy the unique experience of hearing and seeing more about his life, contributions and formal education, whilst sitting in the Grade I listed building in which he was actually taught, and where you can see his engraved signature on one of the windowsills.

You are invited to stay and enjoy some refreshments where you will have the opportunity to meet Helen, whilst listening to some music of his time.

Tickets are on sale from The King's School at £7.50 (£6.00) including wine, cheese and biscuits. Tel: 01476 563180.

Photograph: The Old School building by Helen Martin

247tales

247tales is an online writing competition run by Bloomsbury publishers that challenges young people to write short stories using 247 words or fewer.

The prize for the winning story is £75 worth of Bloomsbury Children’s books plus a framed copy of your winning story. The winning story will appear on the home page of the 247tales website at http://247tales.wordpress.com/  and ten runners-up will receive signed copies of the guest author’s latest book and their stories will appear on the website as well. For full details on the closing date and how to enter visit the rules section of the website.
You can read the prologue of the guest author’s latest book in the downloads section as well as finding out the themes and authors for all the stories this year.

This month’s theme is THE MONEY and the closing date is 28th March. The guest author this month is Jim Carrington.

Have a go!

Jon Mayhew visits The King's School

Author, Jon Mayhew visited our school today and ran sessions with Year 7 and 8 pupils. Jon started by introducing us to his first book, Mortlock, which is set in Victorian London in 1854. 

"Josie lives with a stage magician. A man with a dark past. A past that seeks him out in the form of three hideous witch-like women who can turn into giant eyeball-pecking crows called ghuls! They invade Josie’s house and send her on a quest for The Amarant, the immortal flower of life. Pursued by the ghuls, Josie meets her twinbrother, Alfie ..."

Jon's latest book, published on 7 March 2011, is The Demon Collector, which is related to but can stand alone from Mortlock. "In The Demon Collector Edgy Taylor is a Prime Collector (if you don't know what this is, look it up!) and his life is miserable! On top of that, he sees demons when others can’t!"

If you like dark gothic historical adventure, then you'll love Jon's books. 

Today's visit was kindly arranged by the lovely ladies from Barrowby and Grantham Childrens' Book Group who enthusiastically and tirelessly share their love of reading and books.

 

The Demon Collector

Edgy Taylor sees demons when nobody else can. Edgy thinks he is insane and expects to be carried off any minute. He is a prime collector, wandering the streets of London collecting dog muck for the tannery. The only thing Edgy is good at is setting and solving riddles, and evading his brutal and abusive master. One night, when his master seems genuinely intent on killing Edgy, Professor Envry Janus intervenes. Envry takes him to the Royal Society of Daemonologie where Edgy will now live. It is here, though, that Edgy discovers chance had nothing to do with their meeting, and that instead he holds the key to a deadly demon prophecy.

From: Bloomsbury website http://www.bloomsbury.com/Demon-Collector/Jon-Mayhew/books/details/9781408803943

Author, Jon Mayhew will be visiting King's on Tuesday 8 March when he will be running sessions with Year 7 forms and 8A. You will be able to buy his latest book The Demon Collector to be signed on the day for £8.00.

Have a look at Jon's website: http://www.jonmayhew.co.uk.

Film Club: Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is the third installment in the blockbuster series. Following on from the shocking revelations of Dead Man's Chest, Jack is back, but in for more trouble as Davy Jones and the tyrannic Lord Cutler Beckett aim to control the seas. With no time for parties, Jack, Will and Elizabeth are once again forced to save the day, but they have to work with an old enemy... This film was fully enjoyable and I can't wait to see the next one: On Stranger Tides!" Hariharan, Year 7

Showing in the Library, lunchtimes 16-18/02/2011

Chris Evans Short Story Competition

Are you 13 years old or under? Then enter the Chris Evans short story 500 Word competition today!

Further details: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/chris-evans/500-words/

William Hussey visits King's

Author William Hussey visited the Library at King's again for an informal session organised in conjunction with the Barrowby and Grantham Children's Book Group. William read an extract from his latest book Gallows at Twilight, the second in his Witchfinder triology. He then answered many questions from the audience such as where does he get his inspiration from? How does he go about writing his books? How long does he spend researching the background? William gave us a taster of ideas for his future novels which sound excellent.

Save Our Libraries Day - Saturday 5 February

Save Our Libraries Day
Saturday 5 February

A day of action to bring greater attention to the cuts and closures facing many public libraries.

We want everyone who cares about reading, literacy and libraries to use their public library on the 5th February and tell as many people as they can to do the same.

Further information: Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)

http://www.cilip.org.uk/get-involved/advocacy/public-libraries/Pages/savelibrariesday.aspx

Film Club: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (PG)

"In case you've never read one of the popular books that feature him, Percy Jackson is a modern American with plenty of things wrong with his life. What Percy (Logan Lerman) discovers not far into this film is that he is also the son of Poseidon, the ancient Greek god of the sea. Not only that, but his uncle Zeus, king of the gods, wrongly thinks that Percy has nicked his lightning bolt. Big trouble. Not a million miles from an American version of Harry Potter, this is a fast, fun adventure with gods, serpents, and centaurs - not to mention plenty of big stars popping in to help out." www.filmclub.org

Showing in the Library during lunchtimes, 3/4 February 2011.

William Hussey is back!

Highly acclaimed author William Hussey ... "the new king of horror" will be visiting King's again.

William be talking about his new book Gallows at Twilight the second part in the Witchfinder Trilogy,
at The King's School Library, 5.00 - 6.00pm
on Wednesday 9th February.

There will be copies of both parts one and two Dawn of the Demontide and Gallows at Twilight to buy and have signed.

This event is being organised by the Barrowby and Grantham Children's Book Group. Please let Mrs Dawes know if you would like to attend. 

" An ancient evil walks again . . .
Eight pale hands—some with fingers stripped down to the bone—rose out of the earth. Slimy with rain, the rat‐gnawed heads of four soldiers loomed into view. They moaned at the sky and their cry moulded itself into a word: ‘FLLLLLLEEESSSSSSHHHHHH!’" from  Gallows at Twilight

Witchfinder: Gallows at Twilight ∙ 978‐0‐19‐273191‐3 ∙ PB ∙ £6.99 ∙ January 2011 · Age 12+ 

e-books

For those of you who like e-books, I've just discovered this site.

Red House Book Reviews

The deadline for all red House Book Reviews is 1 February. 

Please bring any Red House books back to the Library together with your review slip before then. 

3 reviews = 1 merit; 5 review = a free book courtesy of Barrowby and Grantham Children's Book Group.

I'm Reading a Book

E-resources and audiobooks from your local public library

Did you know that you can now download audiobooks free with your Lincolnshire library membership?

Just go to https://virtuallibrary.lincolnshire.gov.uk/default.aspx and login using your library membership number (on your card) and PIN (available by contacting Lincolnshire Libraries online or Grantham Library). 

By selecting Online Resources on the left hand menu you can get access to a wide variety of e-resources direct from your computer at home, 24/7. 

For example, Britannica Online, Music Online and Naxos Music Library, News UK, Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford Art and Music Online, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford Reference Online, Time Digital Archive 1785-1985 and Who's Who.

You can also access a library of audiobooks that you can download free, direct to your MP3 player - enjoyable to listen to during your journey to and from school. Ebooks are coming soon ...

Similar e-resources are available from Nottinghamshire (http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/home/leisure/libraries/libraries-newlinc-gateway.htm#referencematerial) and Leicestershire Libraries (http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/leisure_tourism/libraries/information_technology/reference.htm). Public libraries are currently under threat from Government funding cuts so please make good use of your public library and their services before you loose them.

Visuwords

If you think visually then check this website out 

Visuwords http://www.visuwords.com/?word=library#. 

It's an online graphical dictionary and thesaurus.

7E starts Reading Challenge

Happy New Year from The King's School Library!

Today 7E started Reading Challenge. The challenge is to read 6 books in 6 weeks, one from each different genre on the set reading list. They have also been challenged by 7C - the current record holders for reading the most books between them. They read a total of 109 books!

Happy Christmas from The King's School Library!

Have a fantastic Christmas. I hope that Santa brings you all the books that you wished for and you come back refreshed in the New Year, ready to write reviews for the Library Blog!

Mrs :-D

The Library Christmas Party 2010

Diary of a Wimpy kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney

Unusually, for books I review, I have not yet finished this brilliant book but so far I’ve been captivated. Such is the magic of Jeff Kinney’s books that I read nearly half the book in WHSmith for an hour. This book does not disappoint any readers of the other books in the series documenting the life of Greg Heffley. In this particular book, Greg has had a fight with his best friend Rowley and has resulted in them not talking to each other for the beginning of the New School Year. Slowly, another problem arises. Greg realises the problems with growing up! I highly recommend this book as a book which will be enjoyed by all Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans. 5 Star

By Jack Shannon

Newton Book Launch

Tonight we held the launch of our book Isaac Newton of Woolsthorpe Manor and The King's School, Grantham, written by Year 7 boys from the school with John Haden. 

Copies are available to order from the school by emailing: admin@kings.lincs.sch.uk

Chocs away!

Boris models the latest Library Assistant uniform! (Courtesy of Will G)

Film Review: Invictus (12)

A truly brilliant film, not just a good watch for Rugby fans but for a much wider audience. It follows Nelson Mandela's first days in office and his growing like for Rugby and with the South African rugby team (the Springboks). It also shows the South African rugby captain's ( Brad Pitt) gradual increase in respect for Nelson Mandela, who he at first simply see's as a terrorist turn into a idol. A film I highly recommend.

Jack Shannon, 8A

Searching websites

Did you know that you can search for topic based websites using the school library catalogue? We have a vast number of weblinks added to the catalogue which are suitable for secondary school use. 

To access the catalogue just log on to a school computer and select favourites in Internet Explorer. Select Library Portal and click on Search. Type your search topic in the box, click the binoculars and hey presto! Hopefully, you will see details some relevant books (if we cover you topic in the school library) and websites. The websites are directly accessible for the catalogue listing. 

Remember you can always ask Mrs Dawes, Mrs Snee or one of the Library Assistants to help you.

Film Club: Sherlock (12)

We will be showing the BBC Sherlock series in Film Club during this term, with the first programme being shown on Tuesday 9/Wednesday 10 November at lunchtime in the Library.

"Co-created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, Sherlock stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the new Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as his loyal friend, Doctor John Watson. Rupert Graves plays Inspector Lestrade.

The iconic details from Conan Doyle's original books remain – they live at the same address of 221b Baker Street, have the same names and, somewhere out there, Moriarty is waiting for them.

Steven Moffat says: "Conan Doyle's stories were never about frock coats and gas light; they're about brilliant detection, dreadful villains and blood-curdling crimes – and frankly, to hell with the crinoline. Other detectives have cases, Sherlock Holmes has adventures, and that's what matters.""

From BBC website http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00t4pgh [accessed 8 November 2010]

Welcome to the Library Blog 7D!

During your PDC lesson in the Library on Tuesday 9 November, we would like you to complete a short questionnaire about your reading preferences and your experiences of the school library. You can access it here: Reader Profile 7D 2010-11.

Please feel free to have a look at the Library Blog while you are here. We also have Library webpages on the school website at: www.kings.lincs.sch.uk. The Library pages can be found under the School Information section. Direct link here.

Mrs Dawes

Celebrate National Non-Fiction Day

National Non-Fiction Day is an annual celebration, initiated by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups in partnership with Scholastic Children’s Books. It aims to celebrate all that is brilliant about non fiction and show that it’s not just fiction that can be read and enjoyed for pleasure.

The first National Non-Fiction Day will be celebrated on the 4th November 2010, and annually thereafter on the first Thursday in November.

For further details go to: http://nnfd.org/

King's Cool Readers

The Year 7 and 8 Book Group will meet this Wednesday, 3rd November, in the Library at lunchtime. 

Bring your sandwiches and your book, or just come along after your lunch, and be prepared to chat about your favourite books and authors.

New fiction books in the Library

Welcome back! Hope you had a relaxing Half Term.

We have lots of brand new fiction books in the Library on loan from Barrowby and Grantham Children's Book Group to review for the Red House Children's Book Award 2011. To take part all you have to do is to nominate any book or novel first published in the UK during 2010 by rating it using the following options:
*Brilliant! A winner.
*Very good indeed. I'd definitely recommend it.
*Pretty good, better than most.
*Nothing special.
*Rubbish! Bury it in the garden.

You can nominate as many different titles as you like and nomination forms are available in the Library. 

Review 3 books and receive a merit; review 5 books and receive a free book from a selection kindly provided by Barrowby and Grantham Children's Book Group.

For further information about the Red House Book Awards go to: www.redhousechildrensbookaward.co.uk