Manga and Graphic Novels

I went to a presentation at the weekend on Manga and graphic novels. Graphic novels are comic books and manga for anyone - like me - who doesn't know, are Japanese picture storybooks (translated into English). I am thinking of getting some for the library. Is anyone a manga fan who would like to make some suggestions as to what I should get?

Carnegie Medal Shadowing

Doon's Shadowing Group came together for the last time this year on Monday 18th June to have a small celebration and decide on our choice of winner. After some debate we were unable to agree a winner - for the first time ever. The group was evenly split between Beast by Ally Kennen and Just in case by Meg Rosoff.
It was announced on 21st June that the Carnegie Medal judges had decided on Just in case as the winner.
The adventures of the dish and the spoon won the Kate Greenaway Medal. That was our clear favourite and the favourite of Dalmellington Primary School.

The shadowing groups' favourite were My swordhand is singing and Scoop for the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway respectively. For more information have a look at The Shadowing Groups page

Readers' Cup final

On 6th June a team of S1/2 pupils went to Loudoun Academy to represent Doon at the final of the East Ayrshire Readers' Cup competition. Our team consisted of Darren McLelland, Steven Slider, Ryan McKnight and Sophie Murphy. Sophie stood in at the last moment as the original team members were away on a school trip that day. Cumnock Academy won the competition by one mark on a tiebreaker question.

Storytime

As part of our Carnegie/Kate Greenawy Shadowing programme, a group of S2 pupils entertained some P1 and P2 pupils from Dalmellington Primary School in the Library and read some of the Kate Greenaway shortlist to them. Our pupils put lots of expression and drama into their readings and the small children were riveted. After all the groups had had a chance to hear all the stoires, we offered them a drink and a biscuit. The primary pupils were asked to vote for their favourite. The clear choice was The adventures of the dish and the spoon by Mini Grey. It won by 12 votes to 6. The winning team of David Gemmill and Dale Templeton were presented with prizes by Mrs Gormanley.

May book

Our May read was The Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich. Opinions were somewhat divided about the book. Some group members enjoyed this book, they felt it was beautifully written and really interesting. Others found that they couldn't get into it at all and didn't take to the mystical aspects of the book. The Painted Drum is set in America and moves in time from about one hundred years ago to the present day. The central characters are mainly Native Americans whose lives have been affected by the drum. We all felt the book was very different from our usual choices and it had opened our eyes to a different world.