Pick of the Week

Every week I choose a picturebook as “Pick of the Week” for the front desk in my Primary School Library.   When classes make their weekly visit many of the students race to the desk to see what I’ve chosen (the power of books!!), and often teachers will use it as a read aloud during their class library session.  As ‘butterfly’ on the wall I love to watch, listen and compare the different responses by different age groups to the same story.  I thought Itiiti’s Gift by Melanie Drewery & Fifi Colston (illustrator) a brilliant choice by LIANZA for celebrating  NZ Library Week with children.   It deserved pride of place as our “Pick of the Week” and it was great to listen and watch as 12 or more teachers picked it up and shared it with their classes.  Children ranging from ages 5 to 11 responded to this story with warmth and understanding.  As far as the message went they “got it” - they took delight in Itiiti’s special gift ‘finding her’ and weren’t shy in telling their classmates what their own special gifts might be.  Very uplifting.  They also enjoyed the familiarity of the NZ setting and symbols in the beautiful artwork.  This book also reminded me of another favourite picturebook of our students called Ruby Sings the Blues by Niki Daly. Children of all ages were quick to see the funny side of Ruby’s ‘loud problem’ and responded with great admiration when she turned that problem energy into something positive and special - a fabulous story about a blues singer going places!!  Remember noone is too old for a great picturebook  - Wendy