The Library
WELCOME TO OUR LIBRARY
We have a fantastic selection of books, from football to fantasy, including many critically acclaimed and prize-winning novels. The librarian, Ms McCarthy, is eager to match the right book for each pupil, and is a keen supporter of the right to read for pleasure.
All pupils are members of the library and can borrow books for a period of 10 days. Year 7 pupils will also borrow a book to be read in their English lessons.
Our newly refurbished library was opened by Newport born poet Connor Allen, former children’s Laureate of Wales. The library has been named the Connor Allen Library in his honour.
CARNEGIE MEDAL 2025Our book groups have spent some time looking through details of the 64 books nominated for this prize. Now we eagerly await the longlist in February and the shortlist in March, when we will start to shadow the awards by reading as many of the books as we can, and writing reviews for the website. |
The Carnegie Medal is awarded every year for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people. Here are the librarian's favourite books from the recently released nominations list. The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow Fallout by Lesley Parr King of Nothing by Nathanael Lessore Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
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ANTI-BULLYING WEEK 2024Monday 11th - Friday 15th November
Every November, schools throughout the United Kingdom take part in Anti-Bullying Week. This is an opportunity to spotlight bullying and consider the steps we can take together to stop it. The theme this year is: Choose Respect. |
Reading is a proven and important way for children to improve their empathy. Below is a selection of some of the books available in the library to support friendship and compassion. On the Wall by Anne Fine The Sad Ghost Club by Liz Meddings Ella on the Outside by Cath Howe All the Things That Could Go Wrong by Stewart Foster The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh by Helen Rutter There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom by Louis Sachar Cardboard Cowboys by Brian Conaghan Booked by Kwame Alexander Jemima Small Versus the Universe by Tamsin Winter |
LIBRARY NEWS
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Year 7 and 8 Book GroupWe meet in the library every Wednesday lunch break to take part in a variety of book-related activities. During the month of October, book group members will take part in a variety of activities, including writing their own poetry for National Poetry Day on October 3rd, and Halloween crafts.
Pupils have been given a form to apply for a Blue Peter Book Badge. In 2024, St Joseph Book Group members were delighted to receive their Blue Peter Book Badges after sending in their fabulous book reviews and pictures. |
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NON-FICTION NOVEMBER 2024 |
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How to encourage reading...
Reading for 20 minutes a day has many benefits for children and young adults, including reducing stress, improving educational outcomes in Maths and English, and helping develop empathy.
It doesn’t matter if it is comics, novels, non-fiction, menus or instruction manuals … this is ALL reading. Reading from a screen, listening to an audiobook and being read to, all have huge benefits for children. If you read with your children, ask them if they understand what the words mean, teach them how to look up words in a dictionary and put new words into context by putting them into a sentence. All of these little things will help with understanding what is being read.
There are several places you can gain access to books, aside from visiting your own local library.
- If you are a member of your local library, BorrowBox is a free service offering e-books and AudioBooks which can be read or listened to on phones, tablets or other devices.
- If you would like to read the first chapters of a book, sign up to the LoveReading4Kids website where many of the books have downloadable extracts.
- If you like to read reviews, try the Booktrust website, where you can search for books by age, genre or theme.