December is a busy and exciting month in the library. Christmas is fast approaching and our library is full of festive cheer, books and baubles. Year 7 have been decorating our “Favourite Book” Christmas tree and we have our yearly "Christmas Quiz" book cover competition for KS3 is always fun and sparks a bit of friendly competition between forms - winners to be announced in the next blog.
SORA has Christmas all wrapped up this winter with it’s easy to borrow and downloadable ebooks to read or listen to, with lots of titles and genres to choose from. Use the SORA app and get reading this Christmas holiday. In the library we have selected a few titles: Ice like Fire by Sara Raason; Virtually Christmas by David Baddiel; A boy called Christmas by Matt Haig; A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens; We wish you a Merry Christmas, selection of poems by Chris Riddell; The Midnight Guardians by Ross Montgomery and The Peanuts guide to Christmas by Charles M Schulz.
Check out these amazing new books that have arrived Just in time for Christmas: Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel; The Revelry by Katherine Webber; The Rise of the Dragon by George RR Martin; The Captive Kingdom by Jennifer A. Nielsen; Normal People by Sally Rooney and Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara.
Children's author Tom Palmer has written a short story called 'Silent Night.' It is linked to his recent book 'Resist,' based on the famous actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn, who grew up in occupied Holland during WWII. Silent night is a thought provoking short story told by Tom Palmer is this video: www.tompalmersilentnight
If you would like find out more about how Audrey Hepburn's childhood inspired Palmer to write Resist, please do come into the library and pick up the book, it will be a fascinating read.
We are big Agatha Christie fans in our school library, not only is she the best selling novelist of all time but she has written 66 detective books and 14 short stories loved by readers all over the world. Christie’s play “The Mousetrap,” is the longest running stage producton in British theatre history since it began on 12th April 1958.
Our latest Agatha Christie edition to our collection is “Poirot at Christmas.” This book features her famous detective character Hercule Poirot as he seeks to solve the mystery of a family reunited for Christmas, only to discover the host dead in a private room. For more on Agatha Christie novels go to: www.agathachristie.com
If action is what you love in a book, and you happen to be a fan of Alex Rider or Artemis Foul, a book series I’d highly recommend is Maximum Ride by James Patterson. This series contains many twists and turns, following the story of a girl by the name of Maximum Ride, who in fact has wings, along with her group of friends who also share the same human-avian hybrid characteristics. If modernity is not your vibe, a book I hold greatly to my heart is The Lord of the Rings, which is sure to give you the early 20th century vibe that you crave, while still maintaining a captivating storyline well ahead of its time. I’d strongly suggest reading The Hobbit first, as that sets the scene, and once you’re done with the Lord of the Rings, go challenge yourself with the Silmarillion, in my opinion Tolkein’s most glorious book of all! Finally, if you are desperate for a fantasy series, however old classics bore you, a series which you must check out is Game of Thrones by George RR Martin. With a more modern style of writing compared to Lord of the Rings, yet still transporting you into a vivid world, this series is definitely a must, keeping you on your toes throughout its course. Beware though, covered with betrayal and treachery, this series is not for the faint hearted, and do be warned, there is a flurry of adult content which you must be aware of!
This article was written by one of our Blog Buddies, Rohan 10T.
Currently trending on the ‘Poetry by Heart’ website are some fantastic poetry timeline anthologies for KS3/4, together with Poem of the week and all the latest news. We loved the free ‘Poe-tree Advent calendar,’ simply follow the link below and click the windows to reveal a new poem every day throughout December. www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/advent-calendar
The Booker Prizes just got festive! That's right, this Christmas they have launched a brilliant audio advent calendar where you can open a door and listen to a snippet of every book in recent years that has won the Booker Prize. Our favourite is Shuggy Bain by Douglas Stuart, suitable for KS5. So, grab a hot chocolate drink, snuggle up and listen, maybe you'll find a book to inspire you: https://thebookerprizes.audio-advent-calendar (Please note, this is suitable for KS5 and you might need ‘Twitter’ to view this, always ask a parent or guardian before signing up to social media).
Meet the Man who has read every book ever shortlisted for the Booker Prize! Bob Jackson has read all 315 books in the Booker Library and managed it in less than four years! Read how he did it, the books he found engaging and the most challenging novels, in this interview:
https://thebookerprizes.com/mansreadeverybookshortlisted
Fancy something hilarious and quick to read this Christmas, why not try The Worst Class in the World books by Joanna Nadin. They are available on SORA and are sure to get you rolling on the floor with laughter.
Don't forget to add the London Consortium to your Sora account, for even more books!
We have some real Christmas reading “crackers” for our Year10. If you are in Year 10 and looking for ideas on what to read next, come into the library for some inspiration or look on the Reading Cloud so see what’s new. Our recommended picks are: Blood Mage & Chaos Mage by Stephen Aryan and Order of Darkness by Philippa Gregory
If you are taking History GCSE or would like to widen your reading, check out these history books which have been carefully selected by Mr Marshall: The Afrika Reich by Guy Saville; Dominion by C J Sansom and Berlin Noir by Philip Kerr.
The library has launched an exciting NEW competition for the innovative movie makers among us. If you like creating videos and you are in year10 then this could be a fantastic opportunity for you to show off your skills by making a short advert for any book you have read. The deadline is 31st January 2023 to submit your video.
A link will be sent to all of Year 10 next year with instructions on how to upload the videos. Top prizes of Spotify vouchers and edible prizes for the runners up.
If you like Graphic novels and comics, take a look at these great new books we have in our library, you will find them under section 741: Astroboy by Osamu Tezuka; Demon in the Wood by Leigh Bardugo & Dani Pendergast and 1984 by George Orwell.
Next year we will be submitting a team for National Reading Champions Quiz 2023. Please come into the library if you would like some more information. And remember being an avid reader is the key!
Comic Club have been very busy working towards entering The ReadingZone ‘Create a Comic Competition.’ Entries have been filled in and sent off.
Comic Club runs term time for Year 8, period 7 every Monday. New members are welcome and there are plenty of biscuits to go round. If you like Comics, come a give the club a go! Our next meeting will be Monday 9th January 2023.
A big thank you goes out to Leon, 8G for his amazing Comic Club logo – we think it’s great!
Football! Stories From the Beautiful Game in Guildford and Beyond 26 November 2022 - March 2023 Tuesdays to Saturdays; 10am to 4.30pm (last entry 4pm) If you have enjoyed watching the World Cup and what to find out about football nearer to home, check out this new exhibition at Guildford Museum. The exhibition looks at a number of local clubs and teams, some of which are over 100 years old and others which have been formed more recently. Where: Guildford Museum, Castle Arch, Quarry Street, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3SX https:///football-stories-from-the-beautiful-game
Nine Lessons & Carols Sunday 18th December 2022 at 6.30pm The 'Nine Lessons' tells the Biblical stories leading up to the birth of Jesus using exerts from the book of Gensis, the prophetic books and the Gospels, interspersed with Christmas hymns and carols. Where: St Mary Magdalene, Kew Road, Richmond TW9 2NA https://events/nine-lessons-carols
Oaks Park at Christmas Open all year round Relax and enjoy the beautiful open space at Oaks Park and explore the historic site of the Oaks Park Mansion formly the home of the Earl of Derby. The old stable block is now home to resident artists. It’s great place to visit on a frosty winter day. Where: Croydon Lane, Banstead, Carshalton SM7 3BA https://www.goparks.london/park/oaks-park
Rookery Christmas Fair Sun 18th December 2022 at 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Entry is by donation, kids under 12 go free The Rookery Christmas Fair is a great event and is back this year with beautiful craft and gift stalls from local makers and producers. The Rookery is an attractive garden within Streatham Common and this packed event promises delicious food, music and carol singing, marshmallow toasting around a campfire, and Santa’s Grotto, what could be better! Where: Streatham Rookery, Covington Way, Streatham SW16 3BX https://www.sccoop.org.uk/events
Moonfall Circus Show Mon 19th Dec - Sat 24th Dec Adult £17, Child £15, Family ticket £60 Moonfall is a 45 minute comical story-telling performance using a rope, a hoop and lots of imagination. Follow princess Amaya and her brother as she dreams of leaving her Kingdom behind in search of an adventure to the moon! Where: The Horton, Haven Way, Epsom, Surrey KT19 8NP Tel: 01372 747662 https://thehortonepsom.org/events/moonfall
Epsom and Ewell in WW2 Wednesday 20th Dec 2022, 10.30am to 12pm £5 per child Find out how the Borough of Epsom & Ewell suffered from heavy bombing during World War II. A fact filled morning activity detailing the events from 1940 - 1944 and how it affected residents in the area. Where: Bourne Hall Museums Kid Club, Spring Street, Ewell, Surrey KT17 1UF Tel: 0208 394 1734 Email dbrooks@epsom-ewell.gov.uk https://www.bournehall.org/whats/museum-activities
Treasures Tour On until 31st Dec 2022 Price: £10 Adult/£8 Child This one-hour journey takes you through the some of the treasures of the British Library such as the Magna Carta and other historical documented events. Where: Entrance Hall, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
The sky is black tonight; Coal-black, crow-black. But in that black Is the white-bright light Of a star.
That star has a gift tonight: A birth-gift, for-all-the-earth-gift. For in that star Is a fly-by-night: Is a bird!
That bird has a song tonight: A love-song, high above-song. And in that song Is the silver tongue Of a bell.
That bell has a wish tonight; A bell-wish, a well-wish. And the wish In the bell In the song In the bird In the star In the black In the sky Is Peace. Is Peace. Is Peace.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas from SGS Library staff