Blackout Poetry

There are some pretty amazing things being done with blackout poetry at the moment. This was inspiration enough to feature blackout poetry in our World Poetry Day displays.

Popularised by writer and artist Austin Kleon, blackout poetry comes about by searching for stand-out words in a previously published work and emphasising those words by crossing out the unneeded text with a permanent marker. Crossing it out can mean just that, or it could get quite a bit more creative.

Students and teachers have been having fun this week creating poetry using these techniques and we have been building up a pretty decent display as a result.

World Poetry Day March 21

This week we will be celebrating all things poetry to commemorate World Poetry Day. Visitors to the Library are invited to contribute to our displays of book spine poetry and blackout poetry – both innovative ways of taking existing works of literature and creating something new. Plus, they are heaps of fun to do.

So why have a day of recognition for poetry? In celebrating World Poetry Day, UNESCO

“recognises the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind.”

The collaborative displays are proving popular with English classes and the lone poet alike. Come for a visit and create some poetry - unleash your creative spirit!

Look out for more posts this week with the results of your creative labour!

Your Ultimate Reading List! Part 3

Still looking for things to read? Here we have Mrs Paterson's picks. You'll recognise themes of survival, power, and destiny running through all these books. The characters in these stories overcome fear, learn the importance of curiosity, and search for truth. 

1. His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
Not long after Lyra Belacqua witnesses a plot to poison her uncle, the adventurer Lord Asriel, her friend Roger is kidnapped by the "Gobblers". These events lead Lyra on an epic adventure that enters parallel universes and spans three amazing books! 

2. The invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick 
Orphaned Hugo lives an anonymous life within the walls of a train station, until his biggest secret is jeopardised by his relationship with the cranky old man who runs the toy repair booth.

3. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak 
Liesel Meminger is a nine-year-old girl living in Nazi Germany during World War II. Her family hide a Jewish man named Max, who teaches Liesel to read in secret.

4. The curious incident of the dog in the night time by Mark Haddon
When Christopher Boone discovers the neighbour's dog speared by a garden fork, he decides to investigate the dog's death and record his experiences as a murder mystery novel.

5. The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Young Pi Patel survives disaster at sea only to find himself sharing the lifeboat with an assortment of zoo animals, including a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Today it is all about the unique worldview of the man who was born Theodor Seuss Geisel as the Library celebrates the birthday of beloved children’s author and illustrator Dr Seuss. I am yet to meet someone that doesn't like at least one of his stories, many of which have become the most popular children's books ever. Is your childhood favourite here?


The Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat Comes Back

Green Eggs and Ham

The Lorax
Yertle the Turtle
Horton Hears a Who
Oh, the places you'll go!

Fox in Socks
The Sneetches
The 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins

I bet you can't choose just one, right?

The great thing about Dr Seuss books is that they are so much fun to read aloud. Try it today - read one to your younger brother or sister. Or yourself. Or a much-loved pet, like The Fish  - the voice of reason from The Cat in the Hat.

Let’s remember this wonderful quote that sums up what reading is all about!