“Keep Calm and Read on”
Crawford Prep North Coast Library opened its doors ready to welcome the avid readers and ‘quiet time’ seekers. Every class in the school has a special half hour each in an eight day cycle to spend choosing books, listening to a story and playing a few problem solving games.
Our first display of the year gave the children a glimpse into the life of Pirates. Aarrgh! Me Matey! With swords, eye patches and parrots the world of Pirates came to life. Many a good book about Pirates, including “How I became a Pirate by Melinda Long and David Shannon” and of course the infamous story about Captain Hook and Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, were out on display.
Each day our library opens at second break and many children spend the time reading, putting on puppet shows in our ‘mini puppet theatre’ and enjoying a game of chess or two. The library is creatively decorated with hot air balloons made from Chinese lanterns and pages from an old discarded book. We have a decoupaged book shelf, using pages from a ruined copy of the Roald Dahl book, “The Witches”, emblazoned with red letters spelling “Keep Calm and Read On” neatly done by Kiara Teunissen.
We have a few dedicated Library monitors who regularly arrive to help put books back on the shelves, straighten up after the tornado of “book exchange” time and help with displays and posters around our library. Thank you to Sanam Govender, Saanthan Kasavan, Matthew Abel, Kimaya Moodley and Aryan.
The first ‘Big Question’ competition was won by Lara Bipp in grade 5 who correctly estimated the number of books in the CPNC library. The total number of books at the time was 4 499 and Lara estimated 4 500, only a one book difference!
The Africa Cup of Nations competition had the school a buzz in hope and support of Bafana Bafana. A big display of football stories, big soccer player biographies and Learn Soccer skills books were well received by our avid soccer fans. The country groups and log were up on display in anticipation of a favourable result for South Africa. Never mind, it still brought children to the library and kept the interest alive. Congratulations to Nigeria!
Valentine’s Day created excitement with the “Valentines Post Box” in the library which promised hope to friends to share the love. Books about friends and people who care were out alongside the “Fall in Love with a Book Character” display. With the likes of the Lorax, Harry Potter, Judy Moody and Horrid Henry in little red hearts, children were lining up to read with love and enjoyment. At second break the day before Valentine’s Day, the library was bursting with friends writing and posting valentines messages into the box. Mr. Teunissen’s special Valentines assembly was the perfect time to deliver the odd few Valentines. “You are the Peanut to my Butter!” was one such letter sent to a Grade 7.
Reading and Writing is alive at Crawford North Coast Preparatory and we are spoilt with an interactive Media Centre filled with ‘good reads’ and ‘enthusiastic children’. Keep Calm and ask a Librarian.
