500 Word Story Competition

It's back! On Monday 30 January 2012 Chris Evans launched the second 500 WORDS short story competition, open to anyone in the UK aged 13 and under.

Last year the competition had around 30,000 entries and this year is going to be bigger and better than ever!

To enter, your story has to be no more than 500 words, and must be an original fictional work by the entrant. The writers of the 50 best stories will be invited to join Radio 2 when they broadcast the Chris Evans Breakfast Show live from the Hay Festival on Friday 1 June!

Just like last year, they are looking for grown-ups around the UK to get involved, too! They are asking teachers and librarians to volunteer and help judge this year's stories.

So what are you waiting for?

National Libraries Day

The 4^th February is National Libraries Day, a day devoted to all types of libraries, library users, library staff and supporters. National Libraries Day has been organised to bring attention to the importance of libraries and the problems with the library closures currently taking place. Now, libraries are much more than just aisles of books now taking the role of a guide to information. People use libraries for family history searching, learning to use computers and much more. So, why not support your local library by popping in to see them!

More Information at: http://www.voicesforthelibrary.org.uk and http://www.nationallibrariesday.org.uk/ .

Calling all budding scientists

The Google Science Fair has started a science fair and is calling anyone who loves sciences and finds it interesting. The idea is to come up with an exciting, interesting project. Make sure you are ready to submit your project by the 1^stApril. There is more information on the competition at the website:http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/index.html. Good Luck to anyone who takes part!

Author of the month: January

The author of the month for January is Darren Shan. Have a look at the display board in the library, by the desk. Why not send us a book review on one of his books?

Library Newsletter-Term 3

The latest Library newsletter is out! Please find copies in the Library, on the display boards or on the school website:

http://www.kings.lincs.sch.uk/page_viewer.asp?page=News+from+the+Library&pid=275

Lord of the Flies; Design a cover competition

A competition is open to design the new cover for Lord of the Flies. The competition is open to teenagers aged 13-16, and the deadline is the 20^th January 2012. Artists will need to have a read of the Illustrartion Brief but once they’ve had a read of that, pencils to the paper! The competition is being organised by Faber and Faber, an independent publishing house in London and The Guardian Children’s Books Website.

More information at: http://lordofthefliescover.com/

Merry Christmas

Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year, from all the Library Team!

Merry Christmas!!

Ready for Christmas? Count down with The Guardian's Children's Books Advent Calendar. I'm afraid to say, there is no chocolate though! Here is the link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/interactive/2011/dec/01/count-down-christmas-childrens-books-interactive

All The Library Team wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Best wishes for 2012!

Book Review- How to make Wargames Terrain

How to make Wargames Terrain, By Games Workshop.

This is a good book for starting to make a warhammer games board.

8/10

JP, 7E

Book Review-Takeshita Demons

Takeshita Demons, by Christy Burne

It had a good story to it but it was really hard to get into.

6/10

JP 7E

Book Review-Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney

When Greg Hefley is(sort of) falsely accused of a crime, he thinks his life cannot get any worse but it does when he is snowed in with his family! An incredibly funny book, I thoroughly enjoyed it! The drawings are charming as always, and the book is full of personality. The only thing is I think I might be a bit old for this!
9/10

NR 10F

Book Review-The One that Got Away

The One that got Away by Chris Ryan.

I like the action in it and how the author describes the setting and the battleplan (strategy) they are going to use. At times it can be gruesome when mentioning the killing of the hostages. But altogether I liked it! 8/10

TM 7B

Book Review-One dog and his boy

One dog and his boy-Eva Ibbotson

This has got to be the best book I have ever read! It is a book that hooks you in and it is hard to stop reading. Personally, I love this book. I would recommend it to anyone who loves reading.
9/10

JP 7E

Book Review- Percy Jackson and the battle of the labyrinth

I enjoyed this book a lot! It is very humerous at times. It involves Greek Gods and Titans(Roman). There are lots of battles which are very enjoyable!
10/10

TM 7B

Animal Farm-Book Review

Animal Farm is a superb story, set at Manor Farm. One night, all the animals gather together to listen to what the well-respected Middle White Board, Old Major, has to say. He tells the animals about his dreams of Animalism and how he wants a farm without Mr Jones, the mean and careless farmer. Old Major passes away three days later, fuelling the other Animal's desire to put Old Major's dream into reality. After careful planning and preparation, they literally kick out Mr Jones and his wife, and begin to run the farm. The pigs, especially Snowball and Napoleon, assume leadership, and begin thinking about how to improve the farm (renamed by the animals as Animal Farm).

They come up with various ideas, from special committees to a windmill that will mean no work for the animals. But everything changes when Napoleon gets rid of Snowball. Everything turns horribly wrong, with the animals doing more work than ever. They see how everything they ever worked for, mainly freedom, has been turned on its side. Lies, corruption and selfishness take over in the farm, leading to the end, when Napoleon and the rest of the pigs invite local farmers to visit the farm and all is work. The other Animals, the hard-working horses, the donkeys and all the rest of them can no longer see the difference between the pigs and the humans. Everything is back to where it started!

JAK 10C

Library Newsletter

The latest Library newsletter is out! Please find copies in the Library or here:













http://www.kings.lincs.sch.uk/page_viewer.asp?page=News+from+the+Library&pid=275

Book Review-Ice Angel

Ice Angel-Charlotte Haptie

This book was not to my liking, but it was good as a thriller. It started to get confusing after Page 110.
7/10

CB 7E

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.