Last week, I was fortunate enough to take an exciting journey to share my picture book 'Frugal Fred' with libraries across South Australia. As well as being a teacher librarian, I am also an author and this tour was a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow educators and librarians dedicated to children's engagement and education.
The Tour Stops
Along with fellow Learn From Play Founder and author Paddy McCann we visited several libraries:
1. Gawler Public Library Service - Evanston Gardens
2. Barossa Library Service - Nuriootpa
3. Adelaide Hills Library Service - Stirling
4. Mount Barker Community Library
5. Alexandrina Library Service - Goolwa
6. Victor Harbor Public Library Service
At each stop, we had the pleasure of meeting with members of the children's engagement and education teams. These interactions were enriching and provided valuable insights into how libraries are fostering a love for reading and learning among children.
Sharing 'Frugal Fred'
During our visits, I dropped off copies of my picture book "Frugal Fred." This delightful book revolves around the themes of sustainability and resourcefulness, making it a perfect tool for teaching children about environmental stewardship. It was also perfectly timed for plastic free July which was taking place in all the libraries we visited.
'Frugal Fred' follows the adventures of Fred, an old man who lives sustainably and works to protect the environment for the future. Fred visits libraries, where books are free, and shares books to help save trees. He collects bottles to recycle, earning him money and keeping his local area clean in the process. Fred also shops locally to save on fuel, both for his trips to the shops and for the transportation of food. At home, Fred takes short showers and fills a bucket in the shower to save water and to nourish his vegetable and herb plants, which he then eats. All the money Fred saves and earns through his eco-friendly practices is used to buy trees and flowers, which he plants to beautify his surroundings and contribute to the environment.
This book is not just a story but a practical guide for young readers to understand the importance of sustainability and how small actions can make a big difference. It aligns perfectly with the goals of encouraging young readers to explore, think critically, and act responsibly towards the environment.
A Well Timed Book Launch
While we were in Victor Harbour we were also fortunate enough to attend the launch of Shane Hill’s latest book The Fantastic Farmer Fergus Makes Popcorn Rain. This is the second book in his Fantastic Farmer Fergus series and we have already made activities for his first book The Fantastic Farmer Fergus Calls The Space Station in which readers meet Farmer Fergus and discover he is no ordinary farmer! He uses his imagination to invent marvellous machines and do wonderful things. The activities for this book allow children to learn about dinosaur ants, the International Space Station, green glowing space crystals known as moldavite and how to make a sundial of their own.
Reflecting on our tour of Adelaide, I am inspired by the dedication of librarians across South Australia to foster a love for reading and learning among children. Their passion and creativity in engaging young minds are truly commendable. I look forward to continuing my collaboration with these wonderful libraries and exploring more ways to bring enriching content to young readers through Learn From Play.
A Picture Tells 1000 Words
As Paddy is a videographer he made this short video of our visit to show you some of the amazing libraries and the librarians we were fortunate enough to meet. You will also see that while at Mt Barker Library we spotted one of our worksheets taking centre stage on their display wall which made me feel very special. Please let me know know which of our resources you are using as it really does make my day to know that people are sharing the work I create.
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