Ginnette Cameron-Gardner | Primary Teacher Librarian

Further to my review on ‘The Mozart question’ by Michael Morpurgo in the last issue:

Michael Morpurgo explaining his motivation in writing this book:

“I learned some time ago that in many of the camps the Nazis selected Jewish prisoners and forced them to play in orchestras; for the musicians it was simply a way to survive. In order to calm the new arrivals at the camps they were made to serenade them as they were lined up and marched off, many to the gas chambers. Often, they played Mozart.”

I wondered how it must have been for a musician who played in such hellish circumstances, who adored Mozart as I do, when playing Mozart later in life.”

(https://www.michaelmorpurgo.com/mozart-question-concert-michael-morpurgo/) 

On a lighter note we have a series perfect for middle Primary students – the Lulu Bell series. Many of the books have a sustainability theme. This is especially suitable for those students ready to move on from the Billie B. Brown series, also written by Belinda Murrell. Each book is well written and has proved popular in other Primary School Libraries.

We have 6 of the series which do not have to be read in order. Two of my favourites are Lulu Bell and the Sea Turtle in which Lulu Bell and her family go on a trip and visit an Aboriginal community, and Lulu Bell and the Fairy Penguin in which Lulu Bell gets involved when she sees a dog chasing a fairy penguin as it waddles up the beach.

We have 2 more students who have completed the NSW Premier’s Challenge. Congratulations to Jake Shilbury Year 1 and Maia Sharabi Year 2, who are equal 24^th on as at 21 June.