the benjamin andrew footpath library now in brisbane

http://footpathlibrary.org/index.html

I first heard about the Footpath Library earlier this year so was excited to hear that it had now branched out to Brisbane. Immediately after I sent an email to colleagues about it two came up to me to say what a wonderful idea and if it ever branches out to Townsville they'll be there to help. I had mentioned the TBAFL to another colleague a while ago when she had discussed her idea of setting up a bookclub for homeless people. We have very caring library staff.

So the TBAFL is in Brisbane now, as well as Melbourne and Sydney, with Bernadette Franzoni on the management team. Bernadette has been a young people's librarian and worked on the Summer Reading Club project, so many would know her.

Fiona Crawford, TBAFL Communications Manager, has let me know that in Brisbane TBAFL installs and stocks bookshelves in hostels and community organisations. They have enough volunteers at the moment but Fiona said that they would always appreciate if people wanted to run book drives. Book donation guidelines are on the website.
Knitters alert - The TBAFL will also happily accept knitted scarves and beanies.

Can you support the TBAFL's work with donations of books or knits?
Check here for a simple knitted beanie pattern: http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns/hats/footyhat.htm


And, stay warm. It's cold outside.

826 valencia pirates!

I am seriously impressed with Dave Eggers' pirate shopfront for writing workshops and tutoring for young people: http://www.826valencia.org/ via @cmisevalff via @GuardianBooks

http://www.fightingwords.ie/index.php - Sean Love & Roddy Doyle's Fighting Words in Dublin

Katie Waldegrave's First Story in London and Oxford.

in Australia - westside Fremantle Children's Literature Centre Inc, and eastside The Edge.

free rice

Have you played Free Rice lately?

black is the new black

two black books arrived in the mail for me from Jean and Alison at CMIS - and I love them both. The Black Book of Colours, proclaimed as innovative and groundbreaking across the world, incorporates Braille text with white typeset text against completely black pages. the right side of each double spread has raised black line drawings depicting the imagery of the text. i like that thomas finds red 'as sweet as watermelon'.

Rebel is the second in a quadrilogy by R.J. Anderson, and I'm finding faeries quite intriguing. they're edgy, they've got attitude, and they're living among us. look out! a wonderful antidote to those syrupy daisy meadows creatures.

i couldn't find a black enough image of The Black Book. the image above is from a review by Leanne Hall here.


have you read these books? what do you think of them? tell me.

whose role is it anyway?

Synopsis: The issue of accepting interlibrary loan requests for textbooks from tertiary students at a public library has stimulated debate on whether the public library should or shouldn't, with or without conditions.
And yes, considering ALIA's standards, SLQ's standards and guidelines, the Australian ILRS code, the library's CDP and mission statement.

Question: What is your public library's guideline on this issue?


Please add your comment below, or email me at wordbox@live.com.au(nospam)
Usual disclaimer: remove (nospam) from the address - make your spam into poetry but not for me.

Thanks!

online databases = unsung resources D*P*C #14 & citations

This discovery has been up for six weeks and this is the first time I get to it? October/November have been full on.

I've used online databases extensively while researching for university assignments. For some I found information within, for others using the database was the assignment.
While working here I've had the wonderful opportunity to participate in and lead webinar training offered by the State Library of Queensland where we have explored NoveList, Library PressDisplay and Oxford Reference Online from the comfort of our own Learning Space with Smartboard.
Hooking into alerts from various databases is invaluable for professional development - select some from SLQ (or other state/national libraries), your local public library, and ALIA if you're a member.
I really like recommending database use to school students, and their parents, because it opens up a whole new world of information access. And some databases generate citations for each article, making a student's work easier.

I used the visual search feature on History Reference Centre and found this article in full text, with citation examples (this one APA style). Chosen because the MTQ is an amazing place for exploration, and they offer free entry to locals.

References
Menghetti, D. (2002). Museum of Tropical Queensland. Australian Historical Studies, 33(119), 194. Retrieved from History Reference Center database.

If you're a school student you should check out Your Tutor, but through your public library site.

I've just logged in to ProQuest through SLQ using my e-services card and searched on 'townsville'. Quite a few articles came up, including these:

Ocean Research; Research on ocean research published by scientists at James Cook UniversityAnonymous. Ecology, Environment & Conservation. Atlanta: Nov 27, 2009. p. 198
Biodiversity; Scientists at James Cook University target biodiversityAnonymous. Ecology, Environment & Conservation Business. Atlanta: Nov 21, 2009. p. 392

I used the 'create a web page' feature and emailed the selections to myself and James (what will he be thinking tomorrow morning?)

http://tinyurl.com/66awf2 - Visit Townsville CityLibraries online databases page to find some information for your needs.
Or SLQ: http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/find/articles
Or NLA: http://www.nla.gov.au/app/eresources/
A secondary school loving databases: http://www.jerichoschools.org/hs/Library/esources.html
and our favourite alma mater, CSU: http://www.csu.edu.au/division/library/find-info/databases/
Join ALIA and receive access to the ProQuest journal package: http://www.alia.org.au/LISjournals/.

Don't let online databases hide - show them to your community!

Why all this gathering of information and correct citing? To learn from others, to form your own understanding, and to create new information and knowledge. And producing a perfect reference list will get you good marks in university (and should be highlighted through intensive information literacy education in schools) - today's Courier Mail had an article about plagiarism in Queensland universities (see citation below).
The article stated that 'plagiarism was rife and most cases were a result of students not understanding attribution and referencing conventions'. (Wenham, 2009, p.3).

Wenham, M. Cheats on the rise at our unis: checks detect 2000. The Courier Mail. 23 November, 2009. p. 3.

A classic post on a discussion list earlier in the year reported a conversation between a parent and a TL where a senior student had obviously used a large chunk of someone's else's work without attribution. I've seen it happen in school myself where the teacher merely googled the student's phrases and found the ripped articles right at the top of the results list. Anyway, the indignant parent said to the TL that (paraphrasing) 'everyone knows that you're allowed to plagiarise up to 25% at university'. ??
There are so many things wrong with that statement that it really is not so amusing. As the article reports, plagiarism cases can be dealt with by marking down, 'receiving a zero mark, being stripped of all credit, or being suspended' (Wenham, 2009, p.3). You only have to visit any university's website to see warnings about plagiarism, and visit the library websites to see helpful articles on how to write essays, critical reviews, etc and compile reference lists according to whichever style, and many will also allow access to EndNote or ProCite to make the student's job easier.

So gather information, process it, acknowledge sources, create your own understandings and get your information out there. And then find yourself out there on Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text..

Lee, Robin. "Why you need an MBA." inCite 28, no. 1/2 (January 2007): 14. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed November 23, 2009).

Uthmann, Sharon. "Libraries are for everyone." inCite 29, no. 11 (November 2008): 13. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed November 23, 2009).

Love writing

what does 'reading' really mean?

Interesting discussion over at OZ_TL regarding visual literacy, techno-literacy, reading books vs. reading text on screens.

to READ –verb (used with object)
1.
to look at carefully so as to understand the meaning of (something written, printed, etc.): to read a book; to read music.
read. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved November 08, 2009, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/read

The discussion began with an observation that 'skills for reading from print (on paper) are different to those for reading from a screen and we need to teach both. Research is telling us that kids need really good traditional literacy skills before they can read well from a screen' (Barbara Combes, Edith Cowan University, Perth).
Then a young teacher from outside Australia responded with a bit of a dismissal that prompted many learned teachers to respond.

He suggested that his generation had no problems reading and interpreting text from a screen - he has several screens open on his desktop, and he constantly flicks between them. He said that he doesn't read everything on the page, but that's what his generation is about. I'd say already he has a problem understanding what the act of reading means. To read means to look at something printed, displayed, etc in our language system carefully so as to form an understanding of its meaning. If the writer didn't want the reader to read so much he or she would have uploaded less words. Each word counts towards the reader's comprehension of the writer's intent, or to the formation of the reader's own interpretation. If you view less than the whole you cannot gain full understanding.

Many teachers responded to his argument using sound pedagogical examples, including that TLs need to invest a lot of time into teaching techno-literacy because so many students believe everything they view online. That is, they view it and accept it instead of reading and applying judgement. If a website or other online medium has not been created according to W3C standards, then the viewer already has a barrier to comprehension if he or she is flicking between screens because they won't readily see the important information.

So I responded from a writer's viewpoint, and yes, a few teachers responded to my response with cheers. I like technology applications rather a lot, but I would never suggest that the container is more important than the content.

My response: The thing is, if 'your' generation is about not reading everything on the page, you are going to miss out on some incredibly creative use of language - which is the difference between stories/poetry and a business report. If you skim you may get the gist of a story, but not its nuances and subtle pleasures. And if you are a teacher and endeavouring to teach children how to write creatively - there's a problem. Similarly, by skimming readers may miss important textual clues which would aid comprehension and support their development of further knowledge (as in the fake websites examples). Certainly students need to be educated to be capable of one day understanding business reports, as important decisions are made on the strength of them. You can use all the tools to create a digital story, present it with visuals, use stop animation, tell all your mates about it on Facebook or twitter, but the actual story should have substance. I don't believe all stories/poems have to be in book form. The story matters to me - whether that's projected on the side of a building, written in chalk on the footpath or downloaded on a kindle. The technology needs to be used effectively to support the content. I wouldn't say 'I'm going to write a story for a mobile phone screen'. I'd think about the story I wanted to write, then consider the best medium for presentation. And as the technology container affects how/where the content is communicated, then TLs are well placed to educate students in understanding this.

little black books big launch

BIG day in Townsville Monday - Jeanie Adams from Black Ink Press (also author of Pigs and Honey, Going for Oysters) is launching 12 little black books - the work of young Indigenous writers and illustrators from Heatley, Aurukun and Garbutt. Congratulations to all involved!

Titles and creators to check out:
The Day My Yumby Went Missing / Graeme Owens
Fishing Time in the Banana Boat / Jesse Mooney
When I Was In the Bush... / Shannon Summers Phillips
Two in a Boat (Boatang mo'pull) / Steve Yunkaporta
Spearing Crabs / Brent Wolmby
Catching Fish (Minh Nga'an Wichan) / Venita Korkaktain
Disaster Camping / Monty Pompey
Watch Out For Cars / Bruce Nelson
My Fishing Adventure / David Inkerman
Trip to Cairns / Erica Kerr
Smashing Aunty Kathy's Car / Rehannon Pompey
My Holiday at Balgal Beach / Tasha Nelson

i heart magnetic poetry

Link to these Magnetic Poetry sites to play, learn and create. These sites, with large data repositories, articulate into Pearce's definition (2006, p.1) of Web 2.0 sites as those 'that let people collaborate and share information in previously unavailable ways.' An array of applications are possible for the school classroom and library.

Previously you were restricted to your own fridge!

Magnetic Poetry Snaith Primary School Magnet Poems

Magnetic Poetry (and the real thing in physical form for your non-virtual fridge)

Magnetic Poetry from Poetry4kids

Eric Harshbarger's Magnetic Poetry on James Roy's site.

References:

Magnetic Poetry Shop. (2008). Chipboard words and stickers. Retrieved 22 August, 2008 from Magnetic Poetry website: http://www.magneticpoetry.com/search.asp.

Magnetic Poetry Shop. (2008). Kids Stuff. Retrieved 22 August, 2008 from Magnetic Poetry website: http://www.magneticpoetry.com/search.asp.

Pearce, J. (2006). User collaboration in websites. National Library of Australia Staff Papers. Presented at Framing the Future, ARLIS/ANZ Conference, 21-23 September, 2006. Retrieved 22 August, 2008 from National Library of Australia website: https://www.nla.gov.au/nla/staffpaper/2006/jpearce1.html.

the pyjama foundation's readathon

Gearing up for a term full of reading - The Pyjama Foundation's first Readathon is gathering supporters now to read ten books before the end of June, and to raise funds to enhance children's literacy development.

Register yourself or your school as a fundraiser, or donate to my campaign here. Thank you! Here's what they say online:
The Pyjama Foundation is transforming children’s lives through literacy. We are committed to giving children in care the same opportunities in life as other children. Through our volunteer 'Pyjama Angels' we deliver a read aloud program to assist children in foster and alternative care in Australia improve their literacy. Literacy is critical to a child's success in life.

Participants review in print or with a YouTube video, and an outstanding review can win a TV studio visit. The school that raises the most money will be visited by author Nick Earls and Queensland’s Australian of the Year 2009, The Pyjama Foundation’s CEO & Founder, Bronwyn Sheehan. Excellent, much?

You will read marvellous stories while in your pyjamas.
- new Australian saying.

RAP and NSS

What better way to start the day than to share a book. I've signed up to work with a student on the Reading Assistance Program (RAP). Yes, I'm a RAPPER, along with about ten other volunteers. We're assigned a student between two volunteers and we each spend 45 minutes with them each week - so they get an hour and a half of one on one reading time. This week we were reading a story about Rosie who likes red things, so apart from reading a few chapters we also wrote red-related words on the chalkboard (roses, stop sign, fire engine, paint..) to extend L's vocabulary, and played snap with the M100words (the red set).

Make sure you're in your school or public library on Wednesday 27th May to participate in National Simultaneous Storytime with the whole of Australia. Everyone's reading Pete the Sheep at 11am -it's a funny book.
A bit like The Man from Ironbark with animal characters. I suggest / challenge a library partner with a woolshed or a hairdressing salon to take NSS to unusual places. Jondaryan Woolshed looks good.Where will you be for NSS?

i like to play with words

My two best wordie gifts over the Christmas season came all the way from America.
1. Snatch It, a word game in which players form words from letter tiles and can add to others' words by snatching! Thanks Nic.
2. Six-word memoirs by writers famous and obscure, edited by Smith Magazine - what a brilliant book from Pulp Fiction! Some of the memoirs are so poignant, you feel like you've witnessed somebody's life out of the corner of your eye and you have to swivel back to catch the whole story.
Like these gems: 'Quiet guy; please pay closer attention.' - Jonathan Lesser. 'It's pretty high. You go first.' - Alan Eagle.
You can share your six-word memoir on Smith's site. I play with magnetic poetry words on the fridge for that quirky daily statement.
If you need 144 more words for your story - check out One Fifty and print out their zine.
Write small.

reading and writing ambassador

As a pre-preservice teacher, and a literacy & literature loving librarian and writer, my interim fun title for 2009 will be Reading and Writing Ambassador :). I loved the description of Bibliotherapy on The School of Life site (via Kathleen Noonan): 'Whatever reading needs you have, we’ll take exceptional care and effort to create a reading prescription that’s perfect for you'. Of course, that's librarianship too where we can guide you in your literary exploration, and certainly provide several gadgets (and instruction on using same) to aid your journey (databases, review journals, websites, subject guides, etc) to information collection and production of knowledge.
Libraries and schools are vital community hubs through which I intend to continue to enhance people's literacy development, and their exploration of literature, while also supporting community engagment.
I see an interesting year ahead in the secondary school library - onward and upward. The reading and writing ambassador is ready to work!
I see primary schools and public libraries in my future.

Think about what you most want to teach others.

Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself.

(two fortunes opened over Christmas lunch).

i am a librarian

I'm doing the dance of happy - after six years and various ups and downs, I have completed all subjects for the degree in Library and Information Management through Charles Sturt University - with a second major in English Literature. Happy, so happy. Results are officially released next Friday, but with a distinction in my last subject Information Technology in Libraries, I finish with a respectable GPA.
My last report recommended introducing Web 2.0 applications to a TAFE library's service model to enable staff and students to engage with the library as both physical and virtual space with the aim of supporting teaching and learning in a twenty-first century educational environment.
Graduation will be in April next year, and then it's onward and upward and the collection of more university polo-shirts. A big thank you to Roy Sanders, our course coordinator, as well as Anne Lloyd (inf.lit. guru), Bob Pymm and other subject coordinators and of course the amazing people in the library. Highly recommend CSU.
Highlights? Earning a near perfect score and an HD for a very difficult subject on which I initially knew not a lot, and we had to do a report with two others using online communication.
I enjoyed getting to know CSU at the Res. School, including The Hill. And I totally enjoyed nailing the reference lists - it's the librarian in me. Seriously, many varied subjects with many challenges. Literature in Education, from the Masters' course, allowed me to explore postmodern picture storybooks and verse novels and their use in the classroom.
I have worked in primary and secondary libraries, a post-secondary library, in public libraries, and as a freelance cataloguer. I was a library technician but I wanted to give more. Now I am a librarian and information manager. I could work in libraries, records management, archives, or related industries. So what are my library philosophies?
Libraries are for everyone, and the library is everywhere. Libraries connect people to ideas. Libraries promote the free flow of information and enable all Australians to access recorded knowledge, information, and creative works. Libraries are vital community hubs in which, and from which, amazing things can happen.
As a librarian and information manager, my particular focuses are assisting clients to develop their information literacy, and to enable them to explore their relationship with literature. Double Lit. I also embrace the community hub aspect - both getting out in the community (with storytelling, wielding the portable barcode reader, educating clients/students on research skills or aspects of the physical collection) and bringing the community in (love the orchestra spaces in both SLQ and Brisbane Square Library).
So where to from here? If I was in the south-east corner I would be applying for the public librarian position in the Warwick library. Best wishes to all who do apply. May you do well for your community. More polo-shirts for me - opening up of employment prospects - a postgrad qualification in education in 2009. Wish me good fortune!

reading in pyjamas

A quiz from Bronwyn at The Pyjama Foundation, and my responses.

As a child, which book was your favourite? Eleanor Farjeon's The Little Bookroom
What books from your childhood do you still possess? The Little Bookroom, The Monster at the End of this Book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Magic Pudding, Anne of Green Gables, Winnie The Pooh, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, etc etc.
As a child, who influenced you by reading aloud? my Mum.
What do you believe are the benefits gained from reading aloud to children? Togetherness, Big person pronounces the difficult words so Little person learns, Reading is seen as important, Big and Little get to laugh together and make outrageous sounds together, Big and Little can explore design elements and the professions of writer and illustrator, Little and Big go on many adventures together through the world of print.
Name a book you secretly love, but never admit you read? I'll admit to all on my list (you want me to say the Sweet Dreams series??) - there are more that I want to read but haven't.
What book would you choose to read aloud to children? Eric Carle and Pamela Allen's books, Mick Inkpen's Wibbly Pig, something with rhythm and repetition and interesting concepts.
What is your favourite movie made from a book you have read? the Narnia Chronicles, the Spyderwick Chronicles,
Who is your favourite book character? Griselda, and Tashi
Where is your special place to read? Hobart Botanical Gardens
What book are you reading now? Kate Grenville's The Lieutenant (thanks, Dave), The Lollipop Shoes, looking forward to Nick Earl's next in '09, and trying to get to Inkheart.

school tutor

I've recently completed 36 hours of tutoring for three fabulous middle-school students over a three month period. As an Evenstart tutor I worked on the Investigations into Components of Writing program tackling punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, sentence control and ideas. I enjoyed showing them their creative minds at work, and seeing them all improve in test results. A created a beautiful poem about October lillies, M did well in his wordgames, and I had such laughs with B over our bizarre collaborative four word story project. We had a combination of activities using the Internet, writing on paper and on the blackboard, using the Bananagrams tiles and playing word snap. That was so much fun I'll have to do it again.

TEN

TEN ways to share your writing, my PowerPoint presentation is now on Slideshare. Right click on the button in the sidebar.
Links are in the notes for you to explore.
A very special thank you to Joanna for the moresome zine images on 10 & 11.

After viewing, please comment on why and how you share your writing. Merci.

After loading, checking, reloading, etc etc, I have just discovered that Slideshare cut the .com off my footer. But the link is in the final notes anyway. Frustration.

mary popped in

Today 6pm-7pm, City Library, Mary Poppins Literary and Art Awards presentation, followed by photographs*, tea and creamy delicious treats proudly prepared by the Proud Marys Association (lovely ladies all).



The MP awards have been going for some years now, and I've judged in different categories over four years. I always feel excited to read the stories because you can feel the energy that's been put into entering by both the kids, and their enthusiastic teachers and parents. This year two sisters were awarded in the primary category, and a very creative young lady from my school was awarded second in the secondary category (I judged primary). Nancy Bates, editor of the local newspaper, read a precis of each writers' fantasy story which drew ooohs and aaahs from the audience. We heard tales of haunted houses and destroyed planets, military standoffs, vengeful dragons and happy endings in a fairyland.
The story with time capsules drew a few appreciative nods as our city's time capsule from long ago was buried but cannot be found. Curiouser and curiouser.

Winners were awarded lovely large sums of money each and certificates, and the winning drawing was also framed. The children of Mungar School had produced a vibrant illustrated book, and two participating students gave a wonderful thank you speech.
After photographs the party moved upstairs to partake in tea and creamy treats. Yum.
A special thank you to the Annes and the Proud Marys for their enthusiasm for young people's artistic pursuits, and for making me feel so welcome.
Ten points to the sponsors including the Cherry Tree Foundation and Anne Russell, and to the Councillors who attended, including Debbie, also leader of a great writing group.

And a big hurrah to Robyn, a wonderful child-friendly City Librarian (or whatever her title is after amalgamation).
And lest you think it was all chat, consider our own Mary Poppins was in attendance so what do you think we sang?
Yes, of course we did. Now let's see if I can spell it. Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious... spell check!
And Spoonful of Sugar.

Nothing like a song to loosen a crowd.


* update Saturday 18th: 'Creative students reap Poppins prizes' in the newspaper. Congratulations!



And earlier today... remember Kyle McDonald's One Red Paperclip (ORP) swap from 2006? Today a young girl came into the Library and offered me a swap - her little star notebook for whatever I had. She and three others were involved in a class project ala ORP which perhaps the teacher had read about but the girls had no idea. So I told my swapper anyway. 'cause it was a cool project. I was in the Library though, surrounded by expensive, gorgeous, resources and none of it mine to swap. I can't just give away the latest YA book or a laptop can I? No. No I can't. But, aha, I found something to swap. A freebie from two years ago so it was swappable - a paper Queensland flag on a stick. So I got a notebook and she got a flag to swap on (and she learned what the Queensland flag looked like - so not a bad day in the Library).



'night.

hypermedia

While blogs, wikis and websites, etc. are invaluable in Library 2.0 as platforms for information dissemination and virtual communication services, Web 2.0 tools can also be used for clients' entertainment purposes (and they learn as they play). Various story spaces exist online on which the user/client/reader/writer/teacher/student/librarian can either collaborate on the construction of a story or interact with the story by following hyperlinks. This is a sophisticated Web 2.0 version of the ever-popular Choose-Your-Own Adventure storybooks.

The reader can read online and/or create online. It's storywriting Web 2.0. As they work they will gain understanding and skills in the capabilities of information communication technologies (ICTs) and be able to apply this in their informational and communication work.
Even considering the basics: what is a hyperlink? what is an anchor? Use of the hypertext media will also give Librarian 1.0 an insight into how 21st century clients gather and process their information. Explore.

DotLit Hypermedia: http://www.dotlit.qut.edu.au/hypermedia.html

Wacky Web Tales on Education Place: http://www.eduplace.com/tales/

Libby Hathorn's Let's Play: http://www.libbyhathorn.com/lh/letsPlay/letsPlay.asp

The Neverending Tale: http://coder.com/creations/tale/

Read Write Think lesson plan:

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=128

Even Victoria Police want your hypertext choose-your-owns:
http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?document_id=12441

Joel and Cat set the story straight: http://www.joelandcat.com/About.htm - the website on which virtual readers were invited to contribute a few lines each in a shared story that mirrored the tandem story captured in the book written collaboratively between Nick Earls and Rebecca Sparrow (probably using some email communication). Entrants wrote online or sent SMS.
Penguin certainly reached out to their client base on their own turf.

verse novels

I’ve found YA verse novels to be incredibly powerful in imagery and emotional intensity, and certainly ‘social-realism novels’ as described by Margaret Cook in her article in The Age: The triumph of hope.Joy Alexander (2005) charts the development of the form from Brenda Seabrooke's Judy Scuppernong (1990) through Australia's first verse novel (is it?), Steven Herrick's Love, Ghosts and Nose Hair (1996), Libby Hathorn's Volcano Boy (the one I haven't read yet) and VNs from Americans, Karen Hesse and Sharon Creech (Love that Dog).
Catherine Bateson's His name in fire (2006) chronicles a short time in a high-unemployment/high-birth-rate country town. Like another of Catherine's verse novels, A Dangerous Girl (2000), this narrative in verse features an outsider coming to an established group. In both there are consequences of this intrusion, but in His name the consequence is more hopeful, or hopeful without the painful despair of a suicide attempt climax as in ADG. YA verse novels can be recognised as valuable reading material for all students. They show that poetry can be contemporary and real and reflective of one’s own life and culture. Using a first person viewpoint connects readers to the story, and the presentation of opposing viewpoints shows a fuller picture of each character – their responses, and others’ responses to them. His name in fire provides readers with a reference point to examine their own beliefs and values, question their own responses to situations. Would you be patient with Emma? Would you stay in this town? Would you participate in a circus? There would be so many activities you could do with this; Two students as Emma and Matthew intertwining their monologues, research on work-for-the-dole programs (and yes, I agree with Mozza, the circus did have more razzamataz than a planting native grasses project!) (although that would be environmentally positive…), podcasting some of each character's narrative, exploring the representations of family, place and fathers in YA verse novels (and YA fiction generally).... or, of course, just read them for fun.

Alexander, J. (2005). The Verse-novel: A new genre. Children's Literature in Education. 36(3) Septemberp. 269-283. Retrieved 29 March 2008 from EbscoHost.

Here's a link to YMRL's Youth Lounge with a list of verse novels, and here's my list of Australian verse novels that I have read, and can recommend (various ages/stages of development):

Cold Skin / Steven Herrick (most recently listed as an Older Readers' Notable in the CBCA awards, not quite making the shortlist)
The Spangled Drongo / Steven Herrick
Love, Ghosts and Nose Hair / Steven Herrick
A Place Like This / Steven Herrick
By the River / Steven Herrick
Lonesome Howl / Steven Herrick
The Simple Gift / Steven Herrick
Do-Wrong Ron / Steven Herrick
A Dangerous Girl / Catherine Bateson
The Year it All Happened / Catherine Bateson
His Name in Fire / Catherine Bateson
Jinx / Margaret Wild
One Night / Margaret Wild.