e-manual for new authors presenting in primary schools

In partnership with CAL (Copyright Agency Ltd), e:lit (the new name of the Primary English Teaching Association) has developed an e-manual for new authors who would like to present talks and workshops in primary schools.
The manual is based on the information and ideas presented in a 3 day training course trialled with a dozen authors in Sydney earlier in 2008.

What's in it?

The manual is divided into three sections:

  • About primary schools includes information on the curriculum and text types taught in schools, literary events and duty of care.
  • About being a presenter covers various types of presentations including online author talks and workshops, using props and examples of  workshops for students and teachers.
  • About the business of visiting schools includes information on fees and charges, promoting yourself to schools and other resources to check out.

Accessing the e-manual

The e-manual consists of 61 pages packed with information and ideas. It can be accessed in the Special Projects section of the e:lit website. 

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Book review – Little Blue Truck

by Alice Schertle
llustrated by Jill McElmurry 
Ages 3–7.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up--that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they're willing to whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road.

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Review: Chalice by Robin McKinley

chalice   "Fans and new readers alike will greedily devour McKinley's latest, a high fantasy as perfectly shaped and eloquently told as Beauty and The Hero and the Crown."

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ghostgirl

 

by Tonya Hurley

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

And if I should die before I awake,

I pray the popular attend my wake.

 

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Book Review – Ten Little Fingers, Ten Little Toes

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes

 

by Mem Fox,

Illustrated by  Helen Oxenbury

 

 

 

Mem Fox has done it again!!
As everyone knows, nothing is sweeter than tiny baby fingers and chubby baby toes. . . . And here, from two of the most gifted picture-book creators of our time, is a celebration of baby fingers, baby toes, and the joy they—and the babies they belong to—bring to everyone, everywhere, all over the world

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Inkdeath – the third in the Inkheart trilogy by Cornelia Funke

Inkdeath

 

The Adderhead--his immortality bound in a book by Meggie's father, Mo--has ordered his henchmen to plunder the villages. The peasants' only defense is a band of outlaws led by the Bluejay--Mo's fictitious double, whose identity he has reluctantly adopted. But the Book of Immortality is unraveling, and the Adderhead again fears the White Women of Death. To bring the renegade Bluejay back to repair the book, the Adderhead kidnaps all the children in the kingdom, dooming them to slavery in his silver mines unless Mo surrends. First Dustfinger, now Mo: Can anyone save this cursed story?

 

Read the reviews and a message from Cornelia Funke, the author, and get classroom activities for Inkheart, many also applicable to Inkdeath.  Here ...

 

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Review: Madeline and the Cats of Rome

Madeline and the cats of romeMadeline and the Cats of Rome 

 by John Bemelmans Marciano

The author, John Bemelmans Marciano is the grandson of Ludwig Bemelmans, author of the original Madeline books. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, and he has carried on the tradition with a sure hand.  While his images honor the tone of his grandfather's marvelous works, they have a light spirit about them which remains contemporary.

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Review: Enigma by Graeme Base

Enigma -  Bestseller Graeme Base harks back to his classic New York Times bestselling solve-the-mystery story The Eleventh Hour in an all-new book that will “puzzle” and entice young readers.

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‘Brisingr’ Breaks Record for Random House Children’s Books


Paolini, in his first
public reading of Brisingr,
in New York City.
Photo: Lisa Berg.

 

 

 

Brisingr (Knopf), the long-awaited third volume in Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance cycle, arrived last Friday night, September 20, at midnight. In a record for Random House Children’s Books, the book sold 550,000 copies in its first day. 

Random had printed 2.5 million copies of Brisingr, the largest-ever first printing for the division. First-day sales for the title were four times that of Eldest, second in the cycle, which pubbed in August 2005. RHCB president Chip Gibson said the numbers for Brisingr “far surpassed our projections.” More than 2,500 bookstores held midnight parties.

Random House U.K., which published the novel simultaneously, reported first-day sales of more than 45,000 copies, “Brisingr is by far and away the fastest-selling book we’ve ever published,” said children’s sales director Helen Randles. The company also called it the fastest-selling children’s book in Britain this year.  

Celebrate Roald Dahl Day

13th September Roald Dahl Day

-- More about Roald Dahl  

 

-- Roald Dahl booklist

 

-- Lesson plans for specific books

 

-- Ideas for teachers
Click here - for some great ideas for your class.

-- Worksheets for Younger children
Click here for six worksheets to print out for 5-7 year-olds.

-- Worksheets for Older children
Click here for eight worksheets to print out for 8-12 year-olds.

-- Roald Dahl Quiz

-- Colour-in sheet