World Book Day 2021 - WBD Tokens and Awesome AuthorFest Events

World Book Day takes place on Thursday 4th March. This year, as well as the £1 World Book Day book tokens, we will be giving away selected World Book Day books for free!  You will still be able to exchange your tokens for a £1 World Book Day book of your choice until 28th March.

In addition, we will be hosting three virtual author events, as part of the Authors Aloud UK 'Awesome Authorfest Events'.   The award winning authors taking part are Sally Gardner, Robin Stevens and Alex Wheatle.  

All of our students will have an opportunity to watch one of these live streamed events during World Book Day week, whether in school or at home.

There's lots of ways to get involved in World Book Day, despite the lockdown restrictions:

• Watch the WBD Author & Illustrator Masterclasses for top writing tips from bestselling authors including Derek Landy, Sita Brahmachari and Katherine Rundell
• Listen to the Reading is Power podcasts featuring top teen authors
• Check out The Power List full of empowering books for your TBR pile

Happy Reading!  Mrs Nolan and Ms Peters

CILIP Carnegie Shadowing Longlist 2021 announced

There are a really fantastic selection of books on this year's longlist, featuring many of our favourite authors!

2021 CILIP Carnegie Medal longlist (alphabetical by author surname):

Click on authors and titles for more information.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

The Girl Who Speaks Bear by SophieAnderson

The Space We’re In by Katya Balen

The Short Knife by Elen Caldecott

The Girl Who Became a Tree by Joseph Coelho

Beverly, Right Here by Kate DiCamillo

Furious Thing by Jenny Downham

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

On Midnight Beach by Marie-LouiseFitzpatrick

Deeplight by Frances Hardinge

And the Stars Were Burning Brightly by Danielle Jawando

In the Key of Code by Aimee Lucido

Run, Rebel by Manjeet Mann

The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Burn by Patrick Ness

After the War by Tom Palmer

Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

Somebody Give this Heart a Pen by Sophia Thakur

Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

Many thanks to the wonderful Ms Roberts, Senior Librarian at TRS for supplying the links!  You can check out the Ravensbourne School Libraries blog by clicking here. 

Bromley Libraries Digital Event - Patrice Lawrence

Looking for something to do this half term? Why not join award winning author Patrice Lawrence for a short workshop on writing a mystery story?  The event, run as part of the Better At Home Programme of National Libraries Digital Events, takes place this Wednesday, 17th February at 4pm - to view, go to the Bromley Libraries Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/BromleyLibraries.

You can find many of Patrice’s novels in the EPHS Libraries. Patrice will also be coming in to EPHS for an actual author visit in 2022 - we can’t wait!

Accessing Free eMagazines from Bromley Libraries

Want to read these free eMagazines?  

You can - and many more - on the RBDigital website or by downloading the RBdigital App from the Apple store or Google Play store.

You can read them online or download them –there is no limit to the number of titles or the length of time you keep them.

To register for an account, you will need your Bromley Library card number, PIN and an email address. If you haven’t got a library card yet, not a problem.  Just go to the Bromley Libraries website and you can join online.

Accessing Free eBooks and Audiobooks from Bromley Libraries

Following on from this morning's virtual session from the Bromley Libraries children's librarians, below is some further information about how to access eBooks and Audiobooks from Bromley Libraries.

To start you will need a valid Bromley library card and your 4-digit PIN.  These are what you use to sign in and use the service.  

If you aren’t already a member of Bromley Libraries, you can join online via the Bromley Libraries website.   If you are a member of the Library but do not have a PIN, you just need to contact any of the Bromley Libraries and they will set one for you.  The contact details for Beckenham Libraries are beckenham.library@GLL.ORG or 020 8650 7292. 

You can search for books using the Overdrive website or by using the Libby App.

You are allowed to borrow five eBooks or audiobooks at a time – for 7, 14 or 21 days (choose from the drop down menu).

Getting started with the Libby App:

• Download the free Libby App from the Apple or Google Play Store. 
• Add your library (search for Better Libraries Consortium and then choose Bromley Library)
• Enter library card number and PIN
• Borrow an eBook or eAudiobook

Libby

Lark by Anthony McGowan, which you heard an extract of this morning by kind permission of Barrington Stoke, is available to borrow as an eBook from Bromley Libraries.  A print copy is available to borrow from the EPHS Library.

Many thanks to Jenny, Anna and Ed from Bromley Libraries for providing an enjoyable session for our students.

Chris Bradford - Soul Hunters Lockdown Author Visit

I'm very excited to announce that Chris Bradford has recorded a mini virtual visit to promote children's reading and to celebrate the release of his new action-packed reincarnation thriller ... The Soul Prophecy! This is the first book in a brand new series that Chris mentioned during the Year 7 Young Samurai Virtual Visit in December.  

Watch the thrilling trailer, listen to a explosive extract read by the author and enter the fantastic Soul Competition and Prize Draw!  Prizes include a full virtual visit for the school, a complete set of all Chris's books (16 in total) and your name highlighted in book two of the series.  Chris is also giving away 5 signed copies and posters of the book in the free prize draw. The deadline for entries is 10am, Friday 12th March.

To view the watch the visit and find out how to enter the competition, click here.

Discover more at thesoulprophecy.co.uk.  The Soul Hunters by Chris Bradford will be available to borrow very soon from the Library.

To order Chris' books and support your local bookshop: uk.bookshop.org

First News Digital Issue

First News is a weekly newspaper for children that the Library subscribes to. It covers difficult and positive news stories from around the UK and the wider world, as well as entertainment news, and articles on animals and science with competitions and reviews as well. This issue includes an article on footballer Marcus Rashford.

Below is a free digital edition of the current issue of the newspaper - simple click to view:

First News have temporarily made their newspaper available for free online during school closures.

The Power of Sleep

In need of a good night's sleep?  Teenage wellbeing expert Nicola Morgan has written a timely new book on the power of sleep and the teenage brain.  

With late nights, addictive technology and exam and friendship stresses having an real impact on mental wellbeing, Nicola's book explores what lack of sleep does to the teenage brain and how to combat this.  She offers practical advice and strategies for improving your sleep patterns and mental health.

Nicola offers lots of advice for parents too - for more information, click here.

This and Nicola's other brilliant wellbeing books, including Body Brilliant : A Teenage Guide to a Positive Body Image, are available in the Library.

National Storytelling Week 2021

According to a report by the National Literacy Trust, children and young
people are reading and enjoying reading more during lockdown.  Audiobooks are also gaining popularity, for those who prefer listening to stories.  

During National Storytelling Week, why not challenge yourself to download and listen to an audio book or watch and listen to an author reading and talking about their books on YouTube?  Here are some suggestions:

Neil Gaiman reading The Graveyard Book and Coraline:

Marcus Sedgwick reading his debut novel Floodland:

On BBC Sounds:

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll 

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 

More BBC Sounds audio books are available here.

Children's Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

This week is Children's Mental Health Awareness Week. This year's theme is 'express yourself' and is an opportunity to explore the different ways we can share our feelings, thoughts and ideas through creativity.  This could be through art, music, writing and poetry, dance and drama, photography and film - taking part in activities that make you feel good.

We have a great selection of wellbeing books for you to borrow from the Library if you are in school - check out the reading list on the Oliver news page.  Alternatively, you could try downloading an e-book, e-magazine or audio book from your local public library.