Caboodle are asking young bookworms to draw a picture from their favourite book - the book that made them a child of books. Upload the drawing to their gallery and one lucky booklover will win a massive selection of 50 books from Walker Books to create their own world of stories, plus a signed copy of A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers & Sam Winston, framed print, and tote bag. 10 runners-up will receive a signed copy.
Enter here. They will pick the winners after Monday 2nd January 2017. So go on, get creative this Christmas!

Speaking Up for Libraries

Chris Riddell, acclaimed author and illustrator and current Children’s Laureate, has been speaking up about the importance of school libraries.  Backed by all eight former Laureates, Chris Riddell has written an open letter to the Government expressing his concern that the work school librarians and school libraries do to promote reading for pleasure is being under appreciated and undermined through lack of investment. 

Speaking during a House of Lords debate about illiteracy and the crisis facing public libraries and independent bookshops, Lord John Bird, founder of the Big Issue, has warned the Government that if they continue to cut libraries they should “be prepared to build more prisons, to build more homeless hostels".  He believes that libraries, both public and school libraries, are essential in helping young people become literate and therefore drastically improve their life chances.  Earlier this year John Bird co-launched a Project Literacy Campaign with actress and model Lily Cole calling upon the UN to tackle global illiteracy, the cause of many social issues.

We are fortunate at TRS that we currently have two excellent Libraries, which are well resourced and staffed by three professionally qualified librarians who are passionate about encouraging reading for pleasure.

Are You Ready to 'Take A Risk'?

The Library’s ever popular ‘Take a Risk’ competition is back for Christmas!  

To enter, simply borrow a mystery ‘Take A Risk’ book, fill in the short questionnaire, if you get the questions right you will automatically win a prize and have your name entered into a free prize draw with the chance to win more prizes. PLUS, there are spot prizes to be won!

See a Librarian in the Discovery Library for details. 

Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2016 - winner announced

Crongton Knights by acclaimed author Alex Wheatle has won the this year's Guardian Children's Fiction Prize.  Set on a fictionalised council estate, it is a funny, moving and hard hitting story about a school boy called McKay.

The prize is judged by authors and previous winners have included Jacqueline Wilson, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Ted Hughes, Philip Pulman and Meg Rosoff.  Alex Wheatle is the 50th author to win the award and the first black writer.

Crongton Knights, which is available to borrow from the War Memorial Library, is the second in a planned trilogy.  The first book in the series, Liccle Bit, is also available to borrow from the War Memorial Library.

To find out more about Alex Wheatle, who was awarded an MBE for services to literature in 2008, go to the Guardian website.

Epic Reads - best new YA books

We have an amazing collection of new YA fiction in the War Memorial Library, including the supernatural thriller The Graces by Laure Eve, the funny and touching Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella and for fans of Michael Grant, the thrillingly fast-paced Boy Nobody series by Allen Zadoff.

As well as checking out our displays and this blog for your next favourite read, why not have a look at some of the fantastic YA book blogs.  We liked YA, Yeah Yeah and Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books.

Find your new favourite read!

Remembrance 2016

Armistice Day, also known as Remembrance Day, takes place on 11 November every year, marking the official ending of the WWI on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.   A two minute silence is held on this day every year so that we do not forget the millions killed, injured and affected by war and people wear remembrance poppies.  At TRS, we will be observing a silence today at 11 am. 

The Discovery and War Memorial Libraries have special Remembrance displays of war time books for you to borrow.

The Ravensbourne School War Memorial, initially dedicated to students and staff who gave their lives in the Great War, is situated in the KS4/5 Library; known as the War Memorial Library. It was added to again after World War II. The war memorial is important to the life of the school and we mention it often.

As the War Memorial Library is for the use of KS4 and 5 students and staff only and we are aware that the KS3 students do not get to see the memorial, we are hoping to arrange a timetable of visits for the Year 7 students to visit during Form Time this term.

Books into Film - A Street Cat Named Bob

The week sees the release of the film adaptation of A Street Cat Named Bob, the true story of James Bowen, former homeless busker, recovering drug addict and Big Issue seller, whose life is turned around when he meets a ginger tom cat called Bob.  The film stars Luke Treadwell as James and Bob as himself.

A TRS favourite, A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen, also appears on the World Book Day Writes of Passage list of 50 books that will change your life.

To view a trailer of the film click here and copies of A Street Cat Named Bob, and the children’s adaption of the book Bob, No Ordinary Cat are available to borrow from the Libraries. 

Also out in cinemas is the film adaptation of Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, a gripping psychological thriller.  The film stars Emily Blunt and, for the film, the action has been transferred from London to New York.  A copy of Girl on the Train is available to borrow from the War Memorial Library.

Word of the Week - recent winners

As you know, the Library runs competitions throughout the year, including Word of the Week.  Below are some recent winners.  If you have an interesting or unusual word that you want to share with everyone, please ask for an entry form in either of the Libraries.  The competition is available to enter in both the Discovery and War Memorial Libraries.  All Word of the Week winners receive a pen of their choice!

Look out too for other Library competitions coming up this term.

Discovery Library

Preside

Verb: To be in charge of a meeting or gathering.

chosen by Summer (7FH)

Wizened

Adjective: Shrivelled or wrinkled with age.

chosen by Fleur (9HE)

   

Ambidextrous

Adjective: Able to use the right and left hands equally well.

chosen by Rosanna (7MP)

Innovate

Verb: An act of thinking up a new way of doing something that becomes successful.

chosen by Lewis (8CL)

Foreboding

Noun: A feeling that something bad will happen.

chosen by Shelby (7HR)

Xenophobia

Noun: A strong dislike [irrational fear] of foreigners or strangers.chosen by Jamie (7FH)

Halcyon

Adjective: A period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.

chosen by Max (9LN)

Ostracise 

Verb: To exclude someone from a group or from society and completely ignore them.

chosen by Christopher (8MP)

Zooanthellae

Noun: Various yellow-brown symbiotic single-celled protozoans (dinoflagellates) that live within the cells of other organisms, especially certain corals and marine invertebrates.

chosen by Mia (8SH)

Zealous

Adjective:  Bold, passionate and enthusiastic about a belief or purpose.

chosen by Vienna (7MA)

Conspicuous

Adjective: Easily distinguishable; attracting special attention.

chosen by Rosanna (8MP)

Enrapture

Verb: To delight and fascinate.

chosen by Masuda (8BM)

Rambunctious

Adjective: Uncontrollably exuberant; boisterous

chosen by Charles (7AH)

Omniscent

Adjective: All-knowing; having or seeming to have unlimited knowledge

chosen by Kursat (7BT)

Quibble

Noun: A trivial complaint or objection.

chosen by Rosanna (8MP)

War Memorial Library

Mandate

Noun: The authority given to an elected group, such as a government, to carry out an action or govern a countrychosen by Joe Dargis (12BY)

Infrastructure

Noun: The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.

chosen by Amy (13PT)

Malaria

Noun:  An infectious disease caused by a protozoan parasite which invades the red blood cells and is transmitted by mosquitoes in many tropical and subtropical regions.chosen by Kate (13BI)

Paramour

Noun: A lover, especially the illicit partner of a married person.  Developed from the French phrase ‘par amour’ meaning ‘passionately’ or ‘with desire’.

chosen by Monet (13AP)

Anachronistic

Adjective: Belonging to a period other than that being portrayed; belonging or appropriate to an earlier period, especially so as to seem conspicuously old fashioned.chosen by Frankie (12SR)

Inclusivity

Noun: An intention or policy of including people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as those who are handicapped or learning-disabled, or racial and sexual minorities.

chosen by Ms Roberts (Librarian)

Jaunty

Adjective: Having or expressing a lively, cheerful and self-confident manner.

chosen by  Harry (12CI)

Ambiguous

Adjective: When something is unclear or open to more than one interpretation, as it does not have an obvious meaning.

chosen by Mbalu (12DE)

Transcend

Verb: To rise above or go beyond; overstep; exceed.

chosen by Frankie (13ME)

Pedantic

Adjective: Overly concerned with minor details or rules.

chosen by Louis (10WH)

Dedication

Adjective: Taking time to work hard on what you want to do; being committed to a task or purpose.

chosen by Brian (10OC)

Sesquicentennial

Noun: A 150^th anniversary or its celebration.  For example, this year marks 150 years since the birth of author, Beatrix Potter.

chosen by Fleur (10OC)

Peninsular

Noun:  A piece of land projecting into the water from the larger land mass. 

chosen by Monique (10LN)

Homogeneous

Adjective: All of the same or similar kind or nature

chosen by Mr Shuttleworth (History)

Flamboyant

Adjective: A very showy appearance or manner; exuberant or ostentatious.

chosen by Fleur (10OC) 

Writing Competitions November 2016

First Story’s National Writing Competition 2016

You are invited to write 850 words of poetry or prose on the theme of ‘footprints’.  The competition is open to all secondary state school students and their teachers too.  Schools must select three entries to submit by 23^rd November 2016.

Prizes include a place on a creative writing course for yourself and three friends with a teacher and shortlisted entries will be professionally published anthology.  The judges include Mark Haddon (author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) and Juno Dawson (author of Say Her Name).  For more details go to www.firststory.org.uk/footprints.

National Novel Writing Month

NaNoWriMo's (National Novel Writing Month) YWP challenges young writers to complete an entire novel in November! Are you up for it?  You will need a parent, teacher or librarian to help you sign up.  For more information go to https://ywp.nanowrimo.org/.

Why not ask your teacher about entering these competitions!