Christmas recommendations: Best from 2011

 

You can borrow books from the MRC to read over the Christmas Holidays, especially uesful during the days before the man in the red suit pops down you chimney!

 

Here are some of the best titles from 2011 that you might have missed!

 

A Monster Calls by Siobhan Dowd, Patrick Ness

Winner of the Galaxy Children’s Book of the Year Award 2011 Prize-winning Patrick Ness displays brilliant new skills of sensitivity in this hauntingly touching story of how a boy deals with the…

 

 

There is No Dog by Meg Rosoff

Carnegie Medal winner Meg Rosoff gives a whole new look to life in this brilliantly entertaining novel about what if the job of being god was in the hands of a…

 

 

 

Withering Tights by Louise Rennison

Laugh out loud at this launch title of a brilliant new series by Queen of Teen author Louise Rennison. Tallulah Casey, cousin of the irrepressible Georgia Nicholson, signs up for an…

 

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

This is a debut novel that once read will never be forgotten.  It’s a vibrant, deeply romantic novel that will bring tears to your eyes but it will also bring laughter through…

 

 

 

The Radleys by Matt Haig

Dripping in blood, this is a story of family secrets so terrible that they shouldn’t be uncovered…Rowan and Clara think they are ordinary teenagers. They live quietly with their ordinary Mum…

 

Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace

A memorable, moving and disturbing coming-of-age story about how different individuals react to the political changes around them and, especially, to the changing power structure between blacks and whites under the…

 

 

 

Carnegie Long List continued

I’m setting myself the challenge to read all of the books on the long list before the winner is announced. 52 titles in 6 months. That’s 2 a week….. I’d better get reading!

Since my last post I have read….

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

As I suspected in the previous Carnegie Blog spot this turned out to be book one in a trilogy. Which fits in with the three siblings and the three missing books. Sigh. It is a bit of a mixture of Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl, but is a poor relation to both of these. I did like the time-travel explanation, and those in KS3 who love fantasy may enjoy this too.

Lia’s Guide to Winning the Lottery by Keren David

If you’ve ever wanted to get inside the head of a teenage spoilt brat then this book is for you! It has all the usual teenage coming of age angst:-parents, school work, friendships, siblings, love and sex. All magnified by Lia’s lottery win and the responsibilties that come with it.

My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece by Annabel Pitcher

I really enjoyed this book, and the issue with lack of speech marks was avoided by having all talking in italics, so whilst not normal I was able to read without it being too distracting. The story covers the neglect of the surviving children many years after the death of Rosie, the subsequent breakdown of their parents marriage, alcoholism and the resulting bigotry. A uplifting story of survival, and a satisfying read.

 

I’m currently reading “The Emerald Atlas” by John Stephens and I have a nasty suspicion that this to will turn out to be “Book one” of a series too!

Books I’ve read so far….

     

Guide to Renewing Your Overdue Books Online

If you have recently received one of the new Overdue email reminders you might have noticed the weblink which takes you to your own account where you can renew your overdues yourself.

You can do this just once and then if you need the book longer you will need to visit the MRC to arrange this.

Watch this video to see what happens when you click on the weblink, and how to renew your books.

Drop in on DEAR 2.4

The current focus of the Authors Page on the DEAR Homepage are…

 

all the authors whose books are included in this years Booked Up!

 

 

 

The Booked Up titles are available  to borrow from the MRC

 

Book of the Week

 

 

 

 Click HERE to find out if this book is still available from the MRC.

 

Year 7 Information Literacy Programme: Subject Index

Continuing from the last IL session, which introduced all 12 classes of Year 7 students to Dewey Decimal Classification, I showed them the Subject Index.

 

I started with a brief recap by making use of the podcast I had previously created about the 10 main classes in the MRC.

 

 

 

 

 I then gave them a story which had some missing words (those naughty book worms again!). I demonstrated how I could look up the missing word in the Subject Index to find the “magic” or Dewey Shelf number. They then had to fill all the gaps using the Subject Index, learning their way around it as they did the activity.

 

The Subject Index is available in an editable format from Carel Press it is called the “Find it Index”

 

A-Z of Internet Tools and Techniques: Letter J

So here we are with Letter J of the tools and techniques which you can use to get the most out of the Internet.

J stands for….

Jing

Jing

Jing is a screen capture tool that allows you to make a narrated video showing how to do something on a computer. It records your mouse, and everything you click on and show on your screen.

 

Ever had a  conversation over the phone with your parents, trying to explain to them how to open the attachment you sent in your last email? (“Double-click on the attachment icon!” – “There isn’t one!”…): this trick could help you solve this kind of situation and, more importantly, some work-related issues like having to explain over and over again to your students or friends how to do something on the computer.

 

Alternatives are Cam Studio,  Screencast-o-matic,  Camtasia and Lightshot.

Bibliography Scott, Elspeth. (2009). All kinds of e-verything. School Librarian. 57

Carnegie Long List continued

I’m setting myself the challenge to read all of the books on the long list before the winner is announced. 52 titles in 6 months. That’s 2 a week….. I’d better get reading!

Since my last post I have read….

 “Matched” by Ally Condie

An interesting and thought provoking read, it did remind me of another book I read years ago and the name of that one escapes me. Unfortunately “Matched” is the first part of a series so I put it down unsatisfied and disappointed. On those grounds I hope it doesn’t make the short list.

“One Dog and His Boy” by Eva Ibbotson

I found this book to be both preachy and predictable. It is aimed at younger readers, although if you are a dog fan (and I’m not) then you’ll enjoy the dogs points of view.

“Blood Red Road” by Moira Young

This book just annoyed me. Firstly there are no speech marks so I had to stop reading every so often and work out if someone was talking or thinking and who it was – or wasn’t – and this stopped me from ‘getting into’ the book. The second annoying thing is the language used as in “I ain’t sen nutin’ yet” – which as a rule I ‘m fine with when it is used as someone is speaking – as it adds to characterisation. But this was used throughout the story – and not just in speech marks (since there weren’t any!- arrgghh!). The final nail in the coffin was it is the first part of a new series… so it didn’t end satisfactorily and I definitely don’t want anymore! So sad because at the heart of this there was a good story.

I’m currently reading “The Emerald Atlas” by John Stephens and I have a nasty suspicion that this to will turn out to be “Book one” of a series too!

Books I’ve read so far….

   

The Carnegie Medal is awarded annually to the writer of an outstanding book for children.

The long list has recently been published and the MRC is currently buying any books on the list that we don’t have already!

Reading Times

Saturday 10^th December

10.00am	1.50pm	ITV3	Doctor Zhivago Based on the book by Boris Pasternak
9.00pm	11.05pm	Film4	X-Men: Origins: Wolverine Based on the Marvel comics
11.45pm	2.10am	ITV4	Catch-22 Based on the book by Joseph Heller

 Sunday 11^th December

11.00am	12.35pm	ITV1	Black Beauty Based on the book by Anna Sewell
1.00pm	3.00pm	Film4	Eragon Based on the book by Christopher Paolini
4.00pm	5.50pm	C4	Christmas with the Kranks Based on the book Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
7.00pm	9.00pm	E4	Scrooged Based on the book A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
8.30pm	10.00pm	BBC1	Inspector George Gently Based on the Inspector Gently books by Alan Hunter
10.45pm	1.10am	ITV1	GoldenEye Based on the James Bond books by Ian Fleming

 Monday 12^th December

4.25pm	6.35pm	Film4	Tales from Earthsea Based on the Earthsea books by Ursula Le Guin
6.35pm	9.00pm	Film4	Stardust Based on the book by Neil Gaiman
9.00pm	11.25pm	5*	Mrs Doubtfire Based on the book Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine

 Wednesday 14^th December

12.50pm	3.10pm	C4	Great Expectations Based on the book by Charles Dickens
7.00pm	9.00pm	Film4	Eragon Based on the book by Christopher Paolini

 Thursday 15^th December

12.55pm	3.10pm	C4	Oliver Twist Based on the book by Charles Dickens
9.00pm	11.05pm	Film4	X-Men Origins: Wolverine Based on the Marvel comics

 Friday 16^th December – End of term J

9.00pm	11.05pm	ITV3	DCI Banks: Aftermath Based on the Inspector Banks books by Peter Robinson
11.00pm	1.00pm	BBC1	Millions Based on the book by Frank Cottrell Boyce
11.40pm	2.00pm	More4	No Country For Old Men Based on the book by Cormac McCarthy

 Saturday 17^th December

12.30pm	3.10pm	ITV4	Casino Royale Based on the James Bond books by Ian Fleming
1.15pm	3.10pm	ITV1	About a Boy Based on the book by Nick Hornby
3.20pm	5.05pm	5*	Prince Charming Based on the traditional fairytales
5.05pm	7.30pm	5*	Mrs Doubtfire Based on the book Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine
5.15pm	7.15pm	C4	A Christmas Carol Based on the book by Charles Dickens
6.35pm	9.05pm	ITV1	Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Based on the book by J. K. Rowling

 Sunday 18^th December

9.50am	11.30am	ITV1	The NeverEnding Story Based on the book by Michael Ende
11.00am	1.00pm	Film4	The Thirty-Nine Steps Based on the book by John Buchan
11.30am	1.15am	ITV1	A Cinderella Story Based on the traditional fairytale by Charles Perrault
1.00pm	2.45pm	C5	Scrooge: A Christmas Carol Based on the book by Charles Dickens
3.05pm	5.00pm	ITV1	Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Based on the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
2.45pm	4.30pm	C4	Christmas Carol: The Musical Based on the book by Charles Dickens
3.25pm	7.00pm	5*	Jason and the Argonauts Based on the Greek myth
6.35pm	9.00pm	Film4	Stardust Based on the book by Neil Gaiman
7.00pm	9.00pm	ITV1	Just Henry Based on the book by Michelle Magorian
7.00pm	9.00pm	E4	The Seeker: The Dark is Rising Based on The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper

 Monday 19^th December

5.10pm	7.00pm	5*	Prince Charming Based on the traditional fairytales
8.30pm	9.30pm	BBC2	The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff Based on the books by Charles Dickens
9.00pm	11.35pm	Film4	The Lovely Bones Based on the book by Alice Sebold

Tuesday 20^th December

11.40pm	2.10pm	C4	Swiss Family Robinson Based on the book by Johann David Wyss
10.35pm	12.35pm	ITV1	The Bourne Supremacy Based on the Jason Bourne books by Robert Ludlum

 Wednesday 21^st December

1.25pm	4.00pm	C4	Oliver Twist Based on the book by Charles Dickens
7.05pm	9.00pm	ITV2	A Cinderella Story Based on the traditional fairytale by Charles Perrault

 Thursday 22^nd December

12.35pm	3.10pm	Film4	Journey to the Centre of the Earth Based on the book by Jules Verne
1.45pm	4.00pm	C4	The Princess Diaries Based on the book by Meg Cabot
10.35pm	12.45pm	ITV1	Tomorrow Never Dies Based on the James Bond books by Ian Fleming

 Friday 23^rd December

9.20am	11.00am	BBC2	Pinnochio Based on The Adventures of Pinnochio by Carlo Collodi
7.35pm	9.00pm	BBC3	Shrek Based on the book by William Steig

 Saturday 24^th December – Christmas Eve

5.45am	7.15am	C4	Hoot Based on the book by Carl Hiassen
10.10am	12.00pm	C4	Charlotte’s Web Based on the book by E. B. White
12.00pm	1.40pm	C4	The Muppet Christmas Carol Based on the book by Charles Dickens
1.45pm	3.35pm	ITV1	The Polar Express Based on the book by Chris van Allsburg
3.25pm	5.15pm	Film4	The Thirty-Nine Steps Based on the book by John Buchan
5.50pm	8.00pm	BBC1	The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Based on the series by C. S. Lewis
7.00pm	9.00pm	Film4	The Spiderwick Chronicles Based on the books by Chris di Terlizzi and Holly Black
8.00pm	10.00pm	ITV2	Nanny McPhee Based on the Nurse Matilda books by Christianna Brand
11.00pm	1.25pm	BBC3	The Bourne Identity Based on the Jason Bourne books by Robert Ludlum

 Sunday 25^th December – Christmas Day

6.10am	7.40am	C4	The Ugly Duckling and Me Based on the traditional story by Hans Christian Anderson
6.30am	8.15am	E4	Earthsea (part 1 of 2) Based on the books by Ursula Le Guin
7.45am	9.25am	ITV1	The Borrowers Based on the books by Mary Norton
8.30am	10.00am	C4	James and the Giant Peach Based on the book by Roald Dahl
8.45am	10.20am	ITV3	A Christmas Carol Based on the book by Charles Dickens
10.50am	12.10pm	BBC2	The Sword in the Stone Based on the book by T. H. White
11.10am	1.00pm	More4	A Christmas Carol Based on the book by Charles Dickens
12.10pm	2.10pm	BBC2	Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Based on the book by Lewis Caroll
2.40pm	5.15pm	Film4	Journey to the Centre of the Earth Based on the book by Jules Verne
4.50pm	7.40pm	Yesterday	King Rat Based on the book by James Clavell
6.30pm	7.00pm	BBC1	The Gruffalo’s Child Based on the Gruffalo books by Julia Donaldson
7.00pm	9.00pm	ITV2	The Polar Express Based on the book by Chris van Allsburg
9.00pm	11.10pm	ITV2	The Bourne Supremacy Based on the Jason Bourne books by Robert Ludlum

 Monday 26^th December – Boxing Day

6.00am	7.40am	E4	Earthsea (part 2 of 2) Based on the books by Ursula Le Guin
7.40am	9.25am	ITV	The Adventures of Pinocchio Based on the book by Carlo Collodi
9.55am	11.30am	BBC2	Heidi Based on the book by Johanna Spyri
10.30am	12.30pm	ITV2	A Cinderella Story Based on the traditional fairytale by Charles Perrault
12.45pm	2.35pm	BBC2	MansfieldPark Based on the book by Jane Austen
2.35pm	4.30pm	BBC2	Emma Based on the book by Jane Austen
3.30pm	6.20pm	ITV1	Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Based on the book by J. K. Rowling
5.10pm	7.05pm	C5	The Wizard of Oz Based on the book by L. Frank Baum
7.30pm	9.00pm	BBC1	The Borrowers Based on the book by Mary Norton
8.00pm	10.00pm	ITV2	The Polar Express Based on the book by Chris van Allsburg
10.00pm	12.15am	ITV2	The Bourne Ultimatum Based on the Jason Bourne books by Robert Ludlum

 Tuesday 27^th December – Holiday Tuesday

10.15am	12.00pm	Pick TV	Merlin Based on the Arthurian legend
12.30pm	2.15pm	C4	Five Children and It Based on the book by Edith Nesbit
2.45pm	5.00pm	Film4	Captain Horatio Hornblower RN Based on the Hornblower books by C. S. Forester
4.00pm	10.00pm	Yesterday	Pride and Prejudice (6 episodes) Based on the book by Jane Austen
5.00pm	6.40pm	Film4	The Muppet Christmas Carol Based on the book by Charles Dickens
5.50pm	8.00pm	C5	Little Women Based on the books by Louisa May Alcott
6.40pm	9.00pm	Film4	Marley and Me Based on the book by John Grogan
7.00pm	9.00pm	ITV2	Nanny McPhee Based on the Nurse Matilda books by Christianna Brand
9.00pm	10.00pm	BBC1	Great Expectations (part 1 of 3) Based on the book by Charles Dickens

 Wednesday 28^th December

10.15am	12.00pm	Pick TV	Journey to the Centre of the Earth Based on the book by Jules Verne
10.25pm	12.05pm	ITV1	The Great St Trinian’s Train Robbery Based on the St Trinian’s cartoons by Ronald Searle
12.40pm	2.30pm	Film4	Charlotte’s Web based on the book by E. B. White
1.25pm	3.30pm	BBC2	The Man Who Would be King Based on the story by Rudyard Kipling
4.05pm	6.00pm	BBC1	Bedknobs and Broomsticks Based on The Magic Bed Knob (How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons) and Bonfires and Broomsticks by Mary Norton
5.05pm	6.55pm	Film4	The Spiderwick Chronicles Based on the books by Chris di Terlizzi and Holly Black
6.10pm	8.00pm	C5	The Witches of Oz (part 1 of 2) Based on The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
6.40pm	9.00pm	ITV2	Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Based on the book by Roald Dahl
6.55pm	9.00pm	Film4	Scrooged Based on the book A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
9.00pm	10.00pm	BBC1	Great Expectations (part 2 of 3) Based on the book by Charles Dickens
9.00pm	12.30am	C5	Ben Hur Based on the book by Lew Wallace
11.00pm	1.20am	ITV2	The Bourne Identity Based on the Jason Bourne books by Robert Ludlum

 Thursday 29^th December

8.45pm	10.05am	BBC2	Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure Based on the Tarzan books by Edgar Rice Burroughs
10.55am	1.00pm	ITV1	The Railway Children Based on the book by Edith Nesbit
12.05pm	1.50pm	BBC2	The Ipcress File Based on the book by Len Deighton
12.55pm	2.55pm	C5	Back to the SecretGarden Based on The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
2.55pm	6.20pm	C5	David Copperfield Based on the book by Charles Dickens
3.35pm	6.00pm	BBC1	Superman Returns Based on the DC Comics, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster
6.20pm	8.00pm	BBC2	Confessions of a Shopaholic Based on the book by Sophie Kinsella
6.20pm	8.00pm	C5	The Witches of Oz (part 1 of 2) Based on The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
6.55pm	9.00pm	C4	St Trinians Based on the cartoons by Ronald Searle
8.00pm	9.30pm	BBC3	Shrek Based on the book by William Steig
9.00pm	10.00pm	BBC1	Great Expectations (part 3 of 3) Based on the book by Charles Dickens

 Friday 30^th December

9.00am	10.20am	BBC1	The Cat in the Hat Based on the book by Dr Seuss
9.00am	11.05am	BBC2	David Copperfield Based on the book by Charles Dickens
10.55am	12.55pm	ITV1	Pollyanna Based on the book by Eleanor H. Porter
11.05am	12.50pm	BBC2	The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Based on the book by Charles Dickens
12.50pm	2.45pm	BBC2	A Tale of Two Cities Based on the book by Charles Dickens
3.15pm	5.45pm	C5	Alicein Wonderland Based on the book by Lewis Carroll
5.45pm	7.30pm	C5	Snow White Based on the traditional fairytale by The Grimm Brothers
7.00pm	7.30pm	BBC3	The Gruffalo Based on the book by Julia Donaldson
7.30pm	7.55pm	BBC3	The Gruffalo’s Child Based on the book by Julia Donaldson
10.20pm	12.05pm	More4	The Others Inspired by The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

 

Why not borrow one of these great books from the MRC or your local library? 
After all, the book is often better than the film 😉

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

 

 

With thanks to Helen Smith, Rawmarsh Comm

 

Book of the Week

 

 

 Click HERE to find out if this book is still available from the MRC.