Kirawee library visit

The shelves at Kirrawee didn't quite look like this. 

There was a tiny board book selection on two lower box-shaped shelves and

not four shelves of front facing - there were two.

My friends and I have been visiting public libraries here in Sydney. Last week we ventured south to Kirrawee to see their new library which opened in June this year.  It is a lovely light filled space with several cafes right next door and in easy walking distance of the train station. We didn't venture far past the picture book and junior non fiction shelves but this library has plenty of non book related facilities. 

Located at 6 Kiln Road within the South Village Shopping Centre, this state-of-the-art facility is southern Sydney’s newest library and community venue, celebrating and uplifting the area’s love of entertainment and the arts.

• Brand new collections to borrow including musical instruments, recording kits, and high quality books for all ages.
• Recording studios and a live sound room to create and capture music, film, stories and podcasts.
• A media lab and creative’s space with tools including editing software.
• Beautiful spaces to meet, study and work.
• Bookable rooms for events, such as conferences and film screenings.

Here are a handful of picture books that I enjoyed reading:

Published in 2024

A sweet friendship begins between two young girls on the first day of school. Throughout the year, they fill their pockets with everything from cookies to wiggly worms, to wonders, memories, and more as their friendship blooms.

Published in 2018

Join a multicultural celebration of unity and diverse friendships all around the world as we read and sing along with joy, love and peace! From the rivers to the mountains to the oceans and to the seas-we’ve got the whole wide world in our hands. Award-winning creator Rafael López breathes new life with his adaptation of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” as we join hands and salute all the great lands and people across all nations.

Kirkus review: This unconventional interpretation of the classic song finds a modern application with joyful illustrations that send a message of hope and power to today’s children. ... A beautiful vision of a global community. 

You could think about sharing this one when you explore our 2026 CBCA Book Week slogan Symphony of Stories. Take a look inside here. 

Published in 2025

As this quiet overture builds to a full symphony, Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander and singer-songwriter Randy Preston conduct a melody of a poem. Colorful notes are played by Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet’s distinctive artwork. Surrounded by nature’s chorus and guided by words that vibrate like thunder, let the groove lead you on, until you can’t help but sing out from your soul!

Kirkus Star review: A joyful ode to the manifold pleasures of musical expression.

You could think about sharing this one too when you explore our 2026 CBCA Book Week slogan Symphony of Stories.

Published in 2019

When Lawrence Fox’s teacher announces that students will be presenting their collections at show-and-tell, Lawrence realizes he doesn’t have anything to share. Luckily, Papa knows just what to do to help! Together, they venture into the woods. Lawrence is scared at first, but as he grows comfortable in the forest, he starts to recognize its magic, and how beautiful and unique each tree and leaf is, allowing him to gather a splendid, one-of-a-kind collection of his own.

Kirkus review: Readers will want to head out to discover a collection of their own.

This simple story about nature and finding joy in small things really touched my heart. This is a book to share with your class when you are talking about 'show and tell' and also it is one I would share with teachers in junior grades to give them an understanding that not every child can easily bring something to share with their class mates.

Published in 2024

Bookseller blurb: This gentle picture book is a celebration of a new baby's arrival, expressing all the hopes, joys, and dreams for a little one's future. The perfect gift to welcome a new baby to the world.

Very oddly this library or council area do not classify their picture books. There is no point in exploring their online catalogue to find the location of a picture book. Instead, the picture books are allocated an alphabet letter which matches the first letter of the title. This might not matter too much with a small collection such as the one at Kirrawee but in a larger library - if you have a favourite picture book author - it will be almost impossible to find the books you and your child want to read. When we asked about this the staff offered to help by identifying all the titles by an author on their online catalogue but how tedious to search for each one this way - for example think about the popular author Julia Donaldson her books would be assigned (assuming they hopefully disregard 'a, an, the') C S H G T R E W and more! It was good to see that the middle grade and junior novels were organised by author. In the adult books the library have used genre stickers - I am not a fan of this and one aspect of this that I really didn't like was the use of a sticker depicting a 'gun' as a way to show the genre of crime novels for adults. The labels came from the major library supplier Raceo. Surely there could be a better image?

The Bridges by Tom Percival

With busy parents and no books in her life Mia lives in a grey sad world. Then one day a kind person leaves a book on her doorstep. If you look closely you can see the giver of this gift. Mia begins to read her new book and the world opens up. There are adventures and colours and new friends and best of all she has something wonderful to share.

Publisher blurb: Mia feels alone; so alone that it's as if she lives on a small island, far out to sea. But then one day, Mia is given a book - the first she has ever been able to call her own. As Mia reads the book, bridges appear and her island fills with colour and life. And the more Mia reads, the stronger the bridges become, opening up a world of connection and hope...  Because a book can take you anywhere...

See inside The Bridges here. 

This is a book you could use as a jumping off point to talk about the 2025 Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book Week slogan.

Here are some review comments about The Bridges:

This is a must for every book corner and would be a great read-aloud for Years 1 and 2. With older children, I can see it being used as a start of term stimulus for a wider project about books and reading. It would elicit some interesting discussions about the metaphor of the bridges and islands. What would you find on the islands you visit through reading? Just Imagine

The illustrations connect the reader closely with the child in the book, moving the colour palette from sombre greys at the start to sharper, bright colours as Mia begins to cross the bridges. Books for Keeps

Tom Percival uses the metaphor of bridges throughout the book to demonstrate how reading, words and books can lead us to new worlds and can help us to make incredible connections. Mia follows bridges which grow stronger the more she reads. She visits magical worlds, discovers new facts and makes friendships all because of the power of reading. Now a confident, volitional reader, Mia knows how to help others who look lost and alone – she offers her book to them and continues to build even more bridges. Books for Topics

Look for these other splendid books by Tom Percival:

The Invisible; The River; The Sea Saw

All the Wonderful Ways to Read by Laura Baker illustrated by Sandra de la Prada

Books take us on journeys that we can all share,

And give us the power to go anywhere! 

So, no matter just how, or what book,

or your speed, what I wish for NOW . . .

Is that YOU love to read!

"Come snuggle with me, and soon you will see ... A world full of magic, and things you can be. You've so much ahead to discover indeed, so now what is wonder is how will you read?"

Will you gobble up a book? Peck at the pages? Read in a tree? Or lie on the floor? Will you read slowly or quickly with a torch late at night?  Have you thought of poetry or picture books or facts to amaze? Will you laugh, gasp or cheer?

The US publisher site has some colouring pages to use with this book. 

This book could be a brilliant way to begin your reading year in your school library and it could be a way to talk about ways to celebrate Book Week (more than one week) this year. My friend and I have started our annual Pinterest collection of books and images to support the 2024 CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) slogan which this year is Reading is Magic. I suggest you might dip back into this over the year as this collection will grow.

Here is the website for Laura Baker. And one for Sandra de la Prada. Here is an interview and video with Laura Baker. 

Sandra de la Prada was born in Barcelona, where she grew up and still currently lives. She shares a studio with her cats Chicho and Rudo, who support and inspire her and advise her through any mental blocks. Of course, so do her wonderful parents, partner and son, but mostly Chicho and Rudo. Sandra studied Fine Arts and in 2010 a publisher commissioned her for her first book and she has been working non-stop ever since on children’s books for clients all around the world. Hardi Grant

Every young children’s library and classroom should contain this gentle urging to read, and it should be gifted to all emerging bookworms! Love Reading 4 Kids

Companion books:

Everywhere with You by Carlie Sorosiak illustrated by Devon Holzwarth

"Did you know,' the girl whispers,' that this is my favourite time of day? Being here with you?"

On one side of the fence there is a dog. He is all alone although I guess someone does feed him but he doesn't seem to ever leave that backyard. On the other side of the fence there is a girl. 

She pokes her fingers through the fence; then the next day she gives the dog a treat or two; and finally she sits by the fence and reads her book aloud:

"I hope you don't mind ... but I've noticed that no one ever plays with you - and I like reading aloud."

And so together - dog and girl - imagine themselves under the oceans with mermaids and sea treasures; the become sky pirates riding dragons; and magicians with silver wands. 

But days are long for the dog until one evening something happens and he finds a way to reach the girl's back door. 

Adult readers might find the ending a little improbable, but the 'happily ever after' feeling is sure to delight all young readers. 

The 2024 Children's Book Council of Australia slogan is Reading is Magic - here is a perfect book to use when you introduce this idea next year.  See inside Everywhere with You here. 

Carlie Sorosiak is the author of a terrific middle grade book about dogs:

I, Cosmo

Carlie Sorosiak also wrote Always, Clementine - I gave that book five stars. I previously talked about Found you by Devon Holzwarth. 

Book Week 2022 Dreaming with Eyes Open

Book Week is coming - August 20th-26th. 

The poster and merchandise this year is designed by Jasmine Seymour. Her book Baby Business won the 2020 CBCA New Illustrator award. 

You might like to read my previous posts where I share my personal thoughts about book parades and alternate ways to celebrate:

Book Week 2013

Book Week 2015

Book Week 2016 

Book Week 2018

Book Week 2020

Book Week 2021

I went hunting for some books about dreams and found these from previous blog posts:

When the World is Dreaming

Dreams for our Daughters

Dandelion's Dream

Fanny's Dream

Ballerina Dreams

Someday

The other books you want to add to your display would be this splendid series:

I recently completed a post with some companion books to read alongside the shortlisted Picture Books. My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything and I have also added images to a Pinterest collection which might be another way to explore the 2022 slogan with your classes. 

I no longer work in a school library but a friend asked me to create some Book Week challenges as these were greatly enjoyed by her own children when they were in Primary school. Here are a few ideas which you are welcome to use, change, adapt etc. 

My rules are simple but of course you can set your own:

• the challenge must be completed during the school day 
• the deadline for entries bell time each day
• label your work with your name and class
• up to ten winners will be announced each morning and they will each received a small prize bag and certificates for highly commended and commended entries

Thinking challenges

Design and make

A way has been found to share dreams through glasses. You need to design these special glasses, make them extra big and in their large lenses show your favourite dream or daydream.

Creative writing

Your teacher tells you stories must not end with the words “It was all a dream” but you disagree. Write a short (100 word) story that ends with those words and make it such a brilliant story that your teacher will be persuaded to change his or her mind.

Research

The CBCA posters and materials for the Book Week slogan features original artwork by Jasmine Seymour. She has filled her posters with lots of different Australian birds. Your task is to find an unusual Australian bird and draw a picture on a post card. On the other side of the card, you will write a very short greeting to a friend living in another country explaining our Australian Book Week celebration. You should also mention your favourite book from the short list this year.

Puzzle me a puzzle

Using the words of the 2022 CBCA slogan “Dreaming with eyes open” as a starting point design a puzzle such as a find-a-word; a set of cryptic clues; a crossword; or a dot-to-dot.

Make a poster

A local mattress and bed shop would like to promote their business with a new slogan. Use the words of the 2022 CBCA slogan or words that relate to the slogan to design a poster for the shop.

Debate topic

The 2022 slogan is missing a word or two – it should say Dreaming with my eyes open; Dreaming with your eyes open; Dreaming while reading with my eyes open. Pick one of these and write your opening remarks for the debate. (Limit 100 words)

Art

Do you enjoy day dreaming? Draw your self portrait day dreaming with a book you love.

Art

Draw a map showing the land of your dreams

Design and Make

Design an invitation and planning sheet for a pyjama party to celebrate book week. Think about where the party will be held; who to invite; what the children need to bring and wear; and add in other plans such as games to play and food to share all linked to the theme Dreaming with eyes open.

Music

Use one of these lyrics to compose a song. These quotes are from Gathering Dreams and on this site you can find an acknowledgement for each quote:

“Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.”

“Nothing happens unless first we dream.”

“Follow your dreams, they know the way.”

“Dream it, then make it happen.”

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.”

Design and Make

It has been discovered that the dreams of children contain important information about saving our planet. Design and make a small portable machine that can be attached to the heads or hearts of young children to capture their dreams.

Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds The Tunnel by Anthony Browne

"At the other end she found herself in a quiet wood. There was no sign of her brother. But the wood soon turned into a dark forest. She thought about wolves and giants and witches."

Rose and Jack are very different. Jack plays sport with this friends while Rose is a book reader. Jack sees the world in "black and white". Rose uses her imagination. This is lucky because when Jack enters a long tunnel and doesn't come back Rose goes into the tunnel and she discovers a strange world. When Rose sees her brother has been turned to stone her knowledge of fairy tales that tells her what to do.

I love all the small details in this book. The end papers show a brick wall (the rigid unimaginative thinking of Jack) and a fanciful patter (the creative and imaginative thinking of Rose). Looking closely at Rose's bedroom you will see a gingerbread house light, a print of Red Riding Hood in the style of Arthur Rackham, pretty wall paper (referencing another Anthony Browne book - Knock Knock who's there) and her coat which looks just like the one worn by Red Riding Hood. And Jack is wearing a wolf mask.

Thinking about the CBCA 2021 slogan Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds I have talked previously about the idea of portals to another world. Yesterday I talked about The Mirrorstone which is a old book now out of print but luckily even though The Tunnel is also an older book (1989) it is still available. The Mirrorstone is for an older group of students in Grades 3-6 but my focus book today, The Tunnel, can be read across a wide range of ages. Here are a set of teaching ideas. 

The girl’s fear of losing her brother overwhelms her fear of entering a tunnel, which she correctly deduces may take them to a parallel world where physics works in unexpected ways. Anthony Browne makes sure to show the reader an open page of her book. This story therefore has the double function of promoting literature — if you read, you’ll be well-equipped to handle whatever life throws at you. Slap Harry Larry

When I thought about linking The Tunnel with the 2021 CBCA slogan I also thought of another Anthony Browne book where the character goes into another world. If you can find Through the Mirror it would also be a good one to share as a part of your Book Week discussions.

Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds The Mirrorstone by Michael Palin illustrated by Alan Lee

 

In 2020 the CBCA slogan Curious Creatures Wild Minds neatly matched with the book Where the Wild things are.  Someone posed the question a few weeks ago asking for a single book which could be used to explore the theme this year (Old Worlds, New World, Other Worlds) and so I have been thinking about this.  Last night I had a light-bulb moment and thought of a couple of perfect books. The Mirrorstone is one of these. This links also with a post I shared yesterday exploring books which involve a time slip or movement through a portal to another world.

The Mirrorstone by Michael Palin is from 1986 and of course it is out of print but it is sure to be in many school libraries - at least I do hope it is.  This is such a wonderful book to read aloud and I would suggest you could use it with any primary class from Grade 3 up to Grade 6. This book contains amazing holograms by Light Fantastic which add an extra, very appealing layer to the beautiful art by Alan Lee. 

Paul is home alone late one afternoon. He looks in to the bathroom mirror and sees something strange.

It is not his own face which is looking back at him. He reaches out and touches the mirror and finds himself transported to different world. 

"The bathroom he knew so well began to disappear, the light became brighter, the wind blew stronger and the next moment Paul found himself, blinking, in the middle of a strange city. It was full of towers topped with flags which swirled in the breeze. He recognised nothing and no one. It was like a picture in a history book."

Paul is a good swimmer but what he doesn't know is that someone needs his skill. This man has seen Paul. His name is Salaman and his purposes are quite sinister. 

"The man's hair was long and matted as though it hadn't been washed for years. His face was lined and wrinkled, as if he'd been through a dozen lifetimes, but the eyes that stared at Paul were bright and piercing."

"I am, in my humble way, a genius. I have spent my lives studying glass, reflections ... mirrors... the movement of light on surfaces, and I have in my researches discovered the formula for the perfect mirror. A mirror that would show people themselves as they really are. Outside and inside."

Salaman shows Paul a globe. Looking into the globe Paul can see an underwater world. There is an amazing stone that looks luminous. Salaman wants this stone. 

Paul is terrified. He runs out the door and away down the street but he doesn't see the gleaming puddle in the alleyway. As he steps into the puddle he finds himself sinking into the underwater world he had seen in the globe. He sees a palace and swims inside and into air. There is a window and he can see Salaman looking at him. Paul is somehow inside the globe he saw in the old man's room.  Paul is ordered to dive back into the water and retrieve the stone but just as he reaches it the whole rock comes to life. It is an enormous sea monster. Paul is held down and your young reading companions will be holding their breath as Paul struggles to reach the air. Paul does retrieve the Mirrorstone but when Salaman looks into it he does not see the face of a genius. In shock Salaman drops the globe and it smashes onto the floor. Paul is set free. 

I have read this book to groups of students for over 30 years. It takes two sessions but I love to leave the group of listeners desperate to hear the ending. Michael Palin (yes the famous one) has written a wonderful story which I think perfectly matches the 2021 CBCA slogan. 

Mr. Palin has done a splendid job, but the real hero of this enterprise is Alan Lee, the illustrator. His carefully researched, intricately detailed watercolors are just right for illustrations that must be naturalistic enough to complement the images in the hologram. New York Times

Here is the blurb from the back cover of the book:

"The first time Paul saw it was at the swimming baths. The face staring at him from the mirror wasn't his own. Then, at home, even stranger things began to happen and so began an enthralling looking-glass adventure of time, space and imagination."

When this book was released it was one of a pair designed by Richard Seymour.  I read have also been reading The Minstrel and the Dragon Pup to groups of students for over thirty years.  

Time Slip, Time Travel or Moving through a Portal to another World

Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds

A colleague asked me today for books where the characters move into another world. Of course there are the obvious choices of Alice in Wonderland and Narnia but this teacher, who is working in a school library, needed other ideas.  I started my hunt and came up with quite a few. I'd love to hear from you in the comments if you have other books which match this topic.

I will begin with three Picture Books:

The Tunnel by Anthony Browne 

Zathura by Chris van Allsburg 

The Hero of Little Street by Gregory Rogers

My friend also reminded me about this breathtaking wordless trilogy:

You can see a video of Journey; and Quest; and here is the Walker Books trailer for Return. Here is a set of teachers notes compiled by Aaron Becker. Just Imagine have a set of ideas. 

Here are some series which may still be in your school or local library:

Time warp Trio series by Jon Scieszka (see above)

The Time Travelling Cat series by Julia Jarman

The Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne

Whatever After series by Sara Mlynowski

The Timeslip series by Belinda Murrell

Now for some Middle Grade and senior Primary level novels.

The time traveller and the tiger by Tania Unsworth

Olive of Groves by Katrina Nannestead

With my Knife by Andrew Lansdown

Tom's midnight garden by Philippa Pearce

Howl’s moving castle Diana Wynne Jones

The secret library of Hummingbird house by Julianne Negri

Tricky Nick by Nicholas Johnson

The Root cellar by Janet Lunn 

Cicada summer by Kate Constable

The Time tree by Enid Richmont

The four seasons of Lucy Mackenzie by Kirsty Murray

The Children Next Door by Gene Ure

The Future Trap by Catherine Jinks

The Shadow Guests by Joan Aiken

Stig of the dump by Clive King

The 13th Floor by Sid Fleischman

The Word Hunters by Nick Earls

The puzzle ring by Kate Forsyth

On the blue comet by Rosemary Wells

King of Shadows by Susan Cooper

The Train to impossible place by PG Bell

When you reach me by Rebecca Stead

A clock of Stars by Frances Gibbons

The Halfmen of O by Maurice Gee

The Song from somewhere else by AF Harrold (Mature readers only)

The girl who Circumnavigated Fairy Land by C. Valente

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins and sequels

The Griffin Gate by Vashti Hardy

The Riddle of the Tumpalar by Judy Bernard- Waite

Fast forward by Jenny Pausacker

Timeslip by Diana Chase

A wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle

Somewhere around the corner by Jackie French

Timesnatch by Robert Swindells

The other aspect of this question would be to make an exploration of the way the characters move through time - is it through a door; a cupboard; on a train; in a time machine; by touching a special object; travelling in a lift; or through the back of a cave? Your students could write a time travel or a time slip story where they invent a different way for the characters to move through time. Perhaps you remember an old book by Emily Rodda called Finders Keepers where the boy moved into the television screen.

Finally I will mention this very old book.  Someone asked about it on a Facebook group recently and I must stay parts of the plot do still linger with me.  This is long out of print and it is most unlikely to still be held in a school library but it might give you a "blast from the past." I have put the two covers. Sorry one is rather out of focus - it was the best image I could find. My memory is that this was a very funny story with a crazy woolly mammoth and a terrific time machine.