STEAM Picture Books for children

Are you looking for STEAM focused books for young children?  I have compiled the titles that are available in my library.  Definitely getting some more. 

I am compiling chapter books as well since STEAM (UK version of STEM) is the school's focus at the moment.

Books to Movies in 2017

It might be too late to post but definitely worthy to read.

Book Club

Are you looking for a book club based in Asia?  I just ran one as one of our activities in celebration of World Book Week.  This kind of activity is quite popular in UK based schools because it is easier if most publishers are your neighbors, right? But do not fret, we can now enjoy the same activity in Asia through this new online bookstore A Bookstore Asia. 

Normally, prices are in USD but you can request for the local currency to make it more inviting to parents.  What I like about it, just giving them 5 orders, you get all the books in the catalog we distributed for free. I actually received some of our free books.

Oh by the way, they will ship the books straight to your student's home address. 

Offering free shipping in Asia, this could be the new Amazon of Asia.

STORY TIME: Storyteller Visit

We are ecstatic to have international storyteller, Dr. Margaret Read Macdonald to visit our school for advance celebration for our upcoming World Book Week and World Read Aloud Day.

The children got thrilled to see the face behind the books that they've been borrowing from the library, come into real life.  It's just magical.

Take a look at one of her storytelling session with our Year 2s.

BOOKLIST: 12 Books About Sea Animals

BOOKLIST: Books To Movies in 2016

Books that will hit the big screen this 2016.

STORY TIME: Storyteller Visit

We are happy to have a special storyteller visited our school.  She is from the National Library of the Philippines, the head of Children's Section, Ms. Melanie "Melai" Ramirez.

The children enjoyed the dancing, the singing and of course the listening to the story.  Teachers were also asked to participate in the storytelling as well.

Here's a glimpse of our storytelling for Year 1 pupils.

 

Reading Technology: iLearn with Boing [iPad App]

Is your child struggling in Math? Maybe it's the other way around, he loves numbers.  Check this iLearn with Boing app.  This app is good for 2-3 years old.  Very easy to navigate and fun for the children.  It's free!

Embark on a fun adventure in the savannah in which your child will learn key math skills such as counting, ordering numbers and adding or subtracting while playing with savannah animals! Numbers and Addition Math Games will get your kid ready for school with these fun math learning games and educational games for kids! These math learning games have been designed for kids in Preschool, Kindergarten, Pre-K, 1st grade of Primary school, Homeschool, 3, 4, 5 and 6 years old.

Look at these reviews:

"It's a TOP PICK if you want to increase your child's understanding and application of numbers and counting. It has incredibly engaging mini games and is sure to be a huge hit in any home." - Fun Educational Apps

International Book Giving Day 2015

The first time I proposed this activity to the Primary, the idea made me nervous as it might not be supported by the EMT.  But I stand corrected and they actually love the idea.  The International Book Giving Day falls on Valentine's Day, the school has another reason to celebrate love by giving and sharing experience by reading.

In just 2 days of placing the boxes around the school, we received 5 boxes of books with a bag of children's toys.  

I hope their little hands will get occupied browsing over the books we have collected from our generous teachers, pupils and parents.

Oh, me and little boy left books at the mall waiting for someone to get inspired reading it.  We are trying to teach him to live by the principle "always be a blessing to others even in our own small way".

International Book Giving Day

January is almost over, how time flies!  It's love month and "Book Giving Day" that is.  This kind-hearted activity is really a good opportunity to show what love means - love for others.  It's time to browse your book shelves at home and see if there are titles you are done reading and would love to share with someone else.  It doesn't need a big preparation, you can simply place a ribbon and insert a simple bookmark about this very special day and leave in a pubic place (bus terminal, food court, hospital, reception, mall, bus, park). 

I started this last year and left some books at a waiting area near a language school and in a taxi, I can only hope that someone took and read it.  I might not know the result of this act but I am pretty this will inspire someone, somehow.

This year, I am making the act a little bigger and spreading the good deed together with our school.  I presented the idea to our Primary Literacy Co-or, asking pupils to bring their old books on the week before 14th February.  The Library will collect, pack and donate it to a foundation. We contacted a number of groups that are interested and are near to our school.  It will not be mandated but anyone who is generous to give, will receive a bookmark designed by Anna Walker.  It's a free template from the group who organized this wonderful deed.

For me and my LO, this deed will continue this year.  I will ask him to choose a few titles from his bunch of books at home and wrap with ribbon and place the book template on top about the special day and leave somewhere, most likely at the mall.

This random act of kindness has been going around in some countries for quite some time now and now I am helping them to spread the good deed in my own special way.  As our Literacry Co-or said, this is an "act of admiration".

We don't need big, grand ideas (though it would be nice).  We just need to care for others and the world could be so much better. 

Reading Technology: iPad App

iStoryTime

Serving small children in the library, I need to constantly look and screen reading resource for their small minds. Using iStoryTime makes them engage in reading and having fun at the same time.  Your children will definitely love this app.

"The iStoryTime library app includes a wide selection of narrated children’s storybooks from your kids favorite films, TV shows and classic stories. All of the stories feature professional narration and vivid images. From reliving the adventures of your favorite Zoosters in Madagascar to following SpongeBob, The Smurfs, or woolly mammoths in Ice Age or Robin Hood in one of the great classics - the iStoryTime library app is perfect for learning to read, summer road trips, bedtime stories and more! "

Library Week 2014

This is the second time I organized a Library Week for my current school. We made it simple and easy to execute.

Our theme this year is "Connect to Reading".

For our Foundation through Primary children, we had  "Pelmanism".  This is a memory where cards of pairs are put face down on a large table. They take it in turns to turn over 2 cards at a time . It's good fun and easy to set up and put away.  We printed different sizes of different book covers from our collection for different age groups.  As our objective, children's attention are so focus on the cards and we minimize the noise, even playing it with a big group.  Printing and laminating each card is not difficult.  Overall, children had fun and I being the game master felt like I was playing in casino.  Of course, we gave sweets for everyone as they get the right cards.

As additional activity for Primary, we had Bookmark Exchange.  Children designed a bookmark on a card (library provided)  based on the theme in their classroom prior to the time they come to the library for the game. After the game and before they leave the library, they pick one bookmark from the class who came before them.  One easy, fun, creative activity indeed.

For our Secondary students, we had a Selfie Competition.  Every tween and teenager are so engaged with their phones. So let's hook them up through their phones.  We coordinated with English Department to discuss the competition with their class and promote it at the same time.  We categorize the selfies we received and gave 1st and 2nd place for each category.  Students had so mcuh fun doing the activity and even ask for more competitions like this in the future.

 

Of course, teachers and staff must participate too, to show what library can do to one's life. So we displayed pictures around the library showing how they are connected with libraries. (photos are mounted on a specially designed layout which I cannot post due identity security)

Lastly, we had Book Fair(via a vendor) and our very own Book Sale(from weeded library books) which we were able to generate the money to buy the prizes for the Selfie winners.