Children’s Book Tree December 4, 2009

Following the success of last year’s initiative customers at Blackwell’s book shop on South Bridge can once again support Edinburgh’s most vulnerable children through an exciting initiative, The Children’s Book Tree.
Blackwell’s are working with City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Women’s Aid and Edinburgh Young Carers to help make Christmas a little better for disadvantaged local [...]

Free books to download November 18, 2009

I have recently discovered a terrific blog called Royal Mile ICT: resources for learning and teaching by a primary teacher in Edinburgh called Julie.
The other day she flagged up a site that gives free pdf versions of books to download which are good to use on interactive whiteboards.
Thanks, Julie, I’ll keep on reading.

Can ICT applications help young people engage with literature? August 27, 2009

 

I went to another interesting hour at the Book Festival this week called Technology and Literacy, with Bill Boyd (whose contribution he includes here along with his terrific new alphabet for the 21st century reproduced above),  Lili Wilkinson, and Judy Robertson.
Lili, an Australian cyber-journalist, spoke first and introduced us to the site, ‘inside a dog’ [...]

Once Upon a Time … August 25, 2009

We are lonesome animals. We spend all of our life trying to be less lonesome. One of our ancient methods is to tell a story begging the listener to say-and to feel- ‘Yes, that is the way it is, or at least that is the way I feel it.’ You’re not as alone as you [...]

Visual Literacy, Learning and the Graphic Novel and Manga August 20, 2009

I’ve just been to an interesting talk at the Book Festival with Dr Mel Gibson (no, not that one) talking about using Graphic Novels and Manga when teaching children and young people literacy skills.
She gave us a whirlwind tour of such books, few of which I had heard of.
I am aware of Colin McNaughton and [...]

Scottish Book Trust August 18, 2009

Autumn Term event programme
Scottish Book Trust’s 2009-10 programme is quickly taking shape and they have information about FREE events for pupils. Upcoming events include authors Darren Shan (pictured), Betty Birney, the return of the brilliant Oisin McGann and of course, The Royal Mail Awards Ceremony in November.
Online Teachers in Residence Programme Scottish Book Trust [...]

‘The Magic of the Written Word’ July 27, 2009

Blake Morrison writes about an exhibition of photos by Andre Kertesz depicting people reading. He writes: The act of reading involves no action, beyond turning the page. But the mental activity is intense, and it is this that fascinates Kertesz. 

The photo above features a boy sitting in a New York doorway in 1944, amid a [...]

Anthony Browne for Children’s Laureate June 10, 2009

What good news! I actually don’t like ‘Gorilla’ very much but love some of Brown’s other books, notably ‘The Tunnel’ and ‘Changes’. Browne’s near-photographic realism is always sprinkled with touches of the surreal, and a plethora of visual puns. And I, along with millions of others, find them very touching too.
The Guardian reports: Browne said [...]

We know the truth, not only by the reason, but also by the heart. (Blaise Pascal) June 2, 2009

On TV last week there were two programmes set in hospitals and focusing on brain tumours: real doctors performing a live operation and the final episodes of ER. One was considerably more engaging than the other. Surprisingly it was the fictional account of the death of a favourite character, Mark Greene, that caused me to [...]

Good news about literacy in the early years May 22, 2009

The BBC reports that hundreds of children and their parents are set to gather to mark the 10th birthday of Bookstart in Scotland.
Bookstart, the national baby book-gifting scheme, was launched in Scotland in 1999 and has given away more than two million books.
Babies, toddlers and their parents have been invited to Storybook Glen on the [...]