Podcasts aren't just for adults! There are high-quality podcasts produced for, and in some cases by kids. Kids want to pursue their interests just like adults. Podcasts provide them with a chance to learn more about something they enjoy. Podcasts are a great way for kids to engage their other senses (without screens) and experience music, stories, science and news. For kids who struggle with reading, podcasts, like audiobooks, provide a new outlet. Finally, research shows that listening leads to better learning. A study conducted by the Audio Publishing Association showed that listening increases reading accuracy, improves comprehension and fluency and even increases motivation.

Check out a great range of recommended podcasts at our Kidcasts page.

The benefits of reading—even for a short time each day—are varied and life-changing, from improving employability, language skills, social skills, and family bonding, to reducing stress and anxiety.

We like to think we make reading for pleasure an easy task at MSS with a library collection full of great stories and high interest non-fiction. Over 8,ooo books or magazines to choose from!

You can read more about the importance of Reading for Pleasure in this Scottish Book Trust article.

Graphic Novels are good for your brain and your learning. The exaggerated facial expressions and consistent visual cues that make up the language of comics and graphic novels help train the brain to recognize when and how to utilize those empathy pathways. The great thing about graphic novels is the emotive response and connection between the reader and the novel. Graphic novels offer struggling readers different cues to a story. If a child comes across unknown vocabulary or a complicated narrative twist, the illustrations can provide contextual clues that can help the reader figure out the meaning of that passage.

Graphic Novels:

• Improve visual literacy and vocabulary.

• Inspire creativity.

• Enhance social & emotional learning.

• Help readers with learning challenges.

• Give readers a better grasp on themes and topics.

Here are some articles about the benefits of graphic novels:

3 Ways Graphic Novels Benefit Reading Skills

The visual language of comic books can improve brain function

So what makes graphic novels so great?

10 Reasons You Should Encourage Graphic Novel Reading

This is a growing collection of books on a range of topics for parents to issue. Books on emotions, puberty, anxiety, online safety, parenting etc.

There is now a Parent Library dashboard found on our online catalogue. To find it click on Dashboards then click on Parent Library in the drop down box.

Every MSS family can have a library profile to issue books.

If you find a book in our collection that you'd like to issue please email me on library@manchesterstreet.school.nz with the title of the book you'd like, the book will be issued to you then can be picked up or put in a bag and sent home with your child.

We are always looking out for books to build our collection, please let me know if there is a particular title or books on a particular subject that you'd like us to add to our collection.

25th August 2022

Thanks to our amazing MSS community we have run another successful Scholastic Book Fair.

We sold $5945 worth books and stationery which means we have $2080 worth of rewards to spend on NEW BOOKS for the library!

Also a BIG THANKS  goes to everyone who helped run this event especially the Books N Bickies students, Staff and Parents.

13th April 2022

Book promotion is a huge part of how we build our reading culture at MSS.

The Books n Bickies spent their lunchtime club time last Wednesday displaying all our ANZAC themed books and made some eye-catching poppies to help us commemorate ANZAC Day.

ANZAC Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that is observed every 25th of April (which was the first landing of the ANZACs at Gallipoli in 1915) broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served". 

7th April 2022

Graphic novels are increasingly becoming popular as a reading format here at MSS. 

Did you know that: 

• Graphic novels are captivating reads that can offer exciting, funny, complex stories teaching readers inference, demonstrate punctuation and grammar rules, and develop their visual literacy. 

• Graphic novels also help build empathy as readers can learn about emotions by observing the images on the page as they read the story.

• We have over 200 graphic novels in our collection with approximately 70% issued at all times.

Pop in and check them out.

24th March 2022

Reading builds empathy. Research has proved that reading fiction increases the understanding, detection, and comprehension of the emotional state of other people, or empathy. 

Reading also:

• Increases knowledge of the world around us

• Reduces stress.

• Reading increases vocabulary.

• Reading improves memory.

• Reading improves writing skills.

• Improves Critical & Analytical thinking  

10th March 2022

Did you know that the National Library of New Zealand Services to Schools supplies schools with books to support classroom learning and to supplement reading for pleasure collections? 

We request topic/inquiry loans every term and receive a collection of approximately 300 books that we divide up and are used by every class at MSS. We also request a Reading Engagement loan of an extra 100 books that we use to excite reading for pleasure. Some of these are added to classroom collections and others we display in our library for students to issue. 

This is a great way to have fresh recently published books in our library every term for just the postage cost of sending the books back. CHECK OUT the National Library section in our library next time you visit!

3rd March 2022

On the first Thursday of March World Book Day celebrates reading for pleasure, and has been going for 25 years!

Check out the very cool video of MC Grammar singing his latest song - READING IS AMAZING!

Click here to find out more about World Book Day

We love reading at MSS!

Check out the display in our library of our amazing staff reading  over the summer break - WHO can YOU spot?

DID YOU KNOW - that Reading for 10 minutes a day exposes YOU to more than 600,000 words in one year! That's A LOT of words!!

Not only can your reading be books from our library (comic books, novels, picture books, information texts), but ALSO your everyday reading can include recipes, road signs, shop signs or the back of food packets. It all counts. 

‘The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.’  - Dr Suess

Books for Kids at Christmas with Manchester House - Books 'n' Bickies community project for 2021 - where students will buy a selection of new children's books for Manchester House to give out to local families. 

We invite our MSS community to join us. New books can be gifted to this scheme via the school library or check out the display then buy a book to donate from Paper Plus Feilding.

Hells Pizza Reading Challenge wheels have been handed out for every student.

Here is a guide on how this programme will run at MSS:

1. Students receive a pizza wheel from their teacher - name them, keep them in a safe place.

2. Each time students read a book, they get a segment of their pizza wheel signed by a staff member - they should be able to answer questions about the book.

3. Once they have read 7 books, they head to see Ms Bennitt to get their pizza wheel stamped and signed - Hell Pizza Feilding have previously requested we do this as they were concerned some schools weren't using the wheels appropriately.

4. Then they can go to Hell Pizza to receive their FREE 333 kids pizza.

I would love to know what you are reading and where you are all reading whilst you're at home so we are running a Reading At Home Photo Competition called Pānui Kāinga.

Take a photo of what and where you have been reading at home to go into the draw to win prizes. Send your photo to Ms Bennitt library@manchesterstreet.school.nz Include your Name, Class and Year group.

A draw will take place each week we are online learning.

I am looking forward to seeing all the fun places you have found to read around the house and section.

Hōtoke Booky Update: We are on the board now that every participating class has completed their first two reviews. Exciting!

This Manawatū District Libraries current region wide reading incentive programme for students has been created to encourage reading in our local schools, and MSS is delighted to be involved. Every student registered via their teachers receives a reading log booklet to record their reviews of 10 books. Once completed students are awarded prizes for their efforts and our school library receives a FREE book to add to our collection for every 2 reviews the student group completes. 

The School holidays are here and we have some great ways to spend the wintry days ahead:

 Did you know #1 that we have some great digital and audio stories available online on our Bookish Fun page Such as...

Kidcasts: Podcasts by and for Kids - Kids want to pursue their interests just like adults. Podcasts provide them with a chance to learn more about something they enjoy. Podcasts are a great way for kids to engage their other senses (without screens) and experience music, stories, science and news.

RNZ Storytime: New Zealand audiobooks, stories for kids of all ages. Including picture books and chapter books by great NZ authors such as Brian Falkner, Joy Cowley, Donovan Bixley, Jennifer Hessell, David Hill and many more.

and lots of bookish craft to keep busy with on wintry days.

Did you know #2 that our local public library has a fantastic range of FREE activities and sessions every day over the holidays? S.T.E.A.M Fun; Messy Mornings; Movie in the Library; Virtual Reality. You can just pop in, there is no need to register.

Check out the Manawatu District Libraries timetable filled with fun here : School Holiday Programme

Thursday 1st July

Our annual Book Fair earns us around $1880 in Scholastic book rewards. These rewards pay for a Scholastic NZ Standing Orders subscription which provides newly published books to our collection throughout the year. We receive a box of new picture books and a box of new chapter books nine times a year. Check out July's selection which arrived last week. Some of these titles haven't even hit the bookshops yet and will be on our MSS shelves next term ready for issuing.

A big thanks to all our MSS families who support our library by purchasing from the Book Fair and Book Club.

Thursday 1st July

Our Year 6 'Books n Bickies' group have started a new weekly interactive display called 'Guess the Theme'. 

Students who have filled in an entry form with the correct answer go into the draw to win a new book as a prize. 

Can you guess the theme of this week's display?

We love displaying and promoting books in our library, this month's display showcases our growing collection of Matariki picture books. 

Have you seen the Matariki cluster reappearing in our night skies?

Matariki is the Māori name for a cluster of stars which is visible in our night sky at a specific time of the year. In June/July, Matariki will re-appear in the dawn sky – signalling the start of the Māori New Year. In 2021 Matariki is celebrated between 19 June to 11 July. Setting on 2 June - Reappearing on 2-5 July

Thursday 27th May

Everyone had a great time parading their Book Character costumes in front of each other after morning tea today. What an AMAZING effort and range of characters their were (more pictures to come next week). 

Here are the Best In Class for 2021 

We have our annual Book Week coming up during the week of 24th-28th May.  We are proud to have a strong reading culture at Manchester Street School and Book Week is a school-wide celebration of all things books and reading.

Thursday will be our biggest day of the week as it's Book Character Dress Up Day (I can't see what you all come to school as), and we have a MSS community Book Week Celebration event  so come along & join in the bookish fun!

We'll be here from 3pm-7pm so pop down when it suits your family.

Listen to a STORY, create some bookish CRAFTS, do a JIGSAW, play a BOARD-GAME, enjoy a QUIZ, & grab a free sausage at our BBQ! 

Wednesday 19th May

MSS joined the National Simultaneous Storytime event yesterday with over 14,000 schools and libraries from all over Australia and New Zealand. Students watched astronaut Dr Shannon Walker read 'Give me some space' by Philip Bunting from the International Space Station, and got the chance to hear about what it's like to live and work in space first hand.  Check out the video and here is the PDF of the book for your to enjoy

Wednesday 12th May

Yesterday was the 30th annual Kids Lit Quiz. This event is considered 'the sport of reading' and is open for Year 6-8 students. Teams of four students are asked to answer 100 questions on children’s literature divided into ten categories, which vary each year.  

MSS students Aislinn Doidge-Kuriger, Jesse Jennett, Willow Squires, Micaela Wald with Susanna-Grace Bosher as our reserve (and chief supporter) competed against 45 other teams from schools from all over the wider Manawatū region to reach 14th place. They won one round tying with two other schools!  It was a fun morning celebrating books and literacy. Well done to this great team of enthusiastic readers.

World Book Day is held every year and is another great  way to celebrate reading. 

Click on the photo of David Walliams, who is about to read an excerpt of his book Fing, to check some great videos of authors reading their books to celebrate World Book Day.

Welcome to World Book Day's 10 Minute Story Sharing, where you can 'pick and mix' a selection of book readings - CHECK OUT these videos, reading with your favourite authors such as David Williams, Cressida Cowell,  and a great Enviro segment from author Jess French. 

25th February 2021

We have had another fun & busy week in the library.  Staff from the Feilding Library ran the first STEAM Makers lunchtime session of 2021 where students made their own cotton reel motor. These sessions take place in Room Q three times each term and are a fun way for students to dabble in some science and technology activities.

Every class visits our library to issue and return books each week. Our amazing Year 3 Pikopiko student librarians have been undergoing some on-the-job training over the past couple of weeks - this week we showcase Room O enjoying their class's library session.

11th February 2021

Our library is the heart of reading here at Manchester Street School. 

It's where YOU develop and grow their love of books with access to over 7900 books in our collection. SO many books!!

Check out the 'We love Reading at MSS' showcasing our MSS staff reading, who do you recognise?

Did you know that we have a way to buy books for your home?  A new Scholastic Book Club brochure comes out twice a term and is filled with great books at bargain prices as low as $3. 

Issue 1 is currently out now.

Find out more here: https://www.scholastic.co.nz/parents/lucky-book-club/

Welcome back to school. 

Let's celebrate reading by reading aloud on our first day back! 

Ms Bennitt will be visiting classes to share some great read-alouds with you all.

The library will be open next week and ready for you to issue your next GREAT READ.  See you there !

5th November 2020

It’s almost Guy Fawkes Night, and at the school speech competition Andy talks about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot. The children cheer excitedly, thinking Andy will win the contest. But then, Aroha gets up, wearing a white feather in her hair, and tells the story of another fifth of November – the invasion of Parihaka in 1881. This is a beautifully illustrated, poignant story that recounts a key event in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history. 

You can also listen to an audio version on RNZ's Storytime here:  https://storytime.rnz.co.nz/book/remember-that-november/

22nd October 2020

This term we are taking part in the nationwide HELL Reading Challenge - where students read 7 books and report back to staff about their reading. Once all seven sections on the wheel are signed off and the wheel is stamped students can then redeem their 'pizza wheel' for a 333 - Hellthy Kids Pizza from Hells Pizza. Reading for pleasure and Pizzas - win win! 

Pizza wheels are available from your class teacher or Ms Bennitt in the library. 

15th October 2020

This term kicked off with the 'Sport of Reading' event Kids' Lit Quiz Manawatū heat, held at the Civic Centre on Tuesday morning. MSS was represented by Harlow McDonald, Robert Bosher, Fynn Payton, & Camryn Luke with Milla Gallavin as reserve and chief supporter! 

The team were in 'play-offs' for TWO of the ten rounds when they top-scored with other teams. Thanks to quick thinking and fast reaction they won one of these, each team member receiving a book voucher for their efforts - it was very exciting and nerve racking for us (very proud) supporters! A big thanks to Mrs Meads who came 'out of retirement' to help coach our team over this past year. MSS finished up 18th out of 42 teams of Year 6-8 students from schools from all over the wider Manawatū region. 

It was a great way to spend a morning, celebrating the literature knowledge of so many students. We wish the winning team from Palmerston North Intermediate good luck as they head to the Nationals in November. 

18th September 2020

Bees are the tiny superheroes of the natural world.

They keep our planet growing by pollinating native plants, our gardens and our food crops.  And they make honey, wax, propolis and royal jelly - all products that humans use.

Bees need our help.  They face many challenges: habitat loss, diseases, parasites, pesticide poisoning and the effects of climate change. 

Check out our range of picture books and information texts on Bees.

Next week is Te Wiki o Te Reo, giving us the opportunity to celebrate māori language and showcase our ever growing collection of resources aiming to increase our knowledge of the māori language and tikanga here at MSS. 

Just a reminder that families are able to lend books from our library, pop in to see me if this is something you would like to do.

Mā te kimi ka kite, Mā te kite ka mōhio, Mā te mōhio ka mārama

Seek and discover. Discover and know. Know and become enlightened

Learning is a journey. It starts with a conscious effort to seek knowledge. Upon seeking, you will surely discover a brand new thing or see a familiar object in a totally new light. Eventually, the things you know will lead you to become wise beyond your years. Seek. Discover. Know. Be enlightened.

18th August 2020

We have had another fun week of reading in our vibrant library.

Our 'new' wooden cubes have quickly become popular places to read and with the lovely weather we have had, our Papa Panui Ora area has been established on the deck outside the library where students can enjoy their reading with a bit of fresh air at lunchtimes.

6th August 2020

WOW!!! What fantastic support we have had for our book fair! We sold just over $5500 worth of books, gifts and stationery. That earns our school $1900 of new books and resources.  NGĀ MIHI NUI!

 A big THANK YOU to all the amazing parent helpers, student librarians who helped as our 'customer service team' and to everyone who has popped in to see all the bargains.  

2nd July 2020

Yesterday our Books 'n' Bickies group had the opportunity to meet and interview two finalists in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults via zoom with students from Campbells Bay School in Auckland. 

Matthew Cunningham wrote Abigail and the Birth of the Sun & Giselle Clarkson illustrated The Gobbledegook Book. Both books are Picture Book finalists in the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults this year.

The students left feeling inspired and buzzing from this experience, Mrs Palmer and myself felt pretty excited too. The interview was recorded and will be released during Books Alive week in August for everyone to watch.  

15th June 2020

Who loves a good spy story? Have you read the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz?

Following his uncle's mysterious death, teen Alex Rider's life changes when a quest for answers leads him to be recruited by a shadowy offshoot of MI6 known as The Department.

Click on the images to watch this exciting spy drama tv series on TVNZ on demand.

It has been a busy week celebrating reading and books. 

Today students and staff dressed up as Book Characters. 

Here is a slide show of each class - such fun!

4th June 2020 - The Library Sleepover

Each class chose a teddy or toy (Rm I chose their class bird Fred) to join Clifford and Cat in the Hat for a night of fun - click on the image to check out what they got up to...

3rd June 2020 - Swap-a-Reader

Teachers and Support Staff have being reading to different classes each day this week after morning tea - sharing the love of books and reading.

J.K. Rowling has written a NEW BOOK!!!! And it's free for you to read online.  Exciting stuff!

The Ickabog will be published for free on this website, in instalments, over the next seven weeks, a chapter (or two, or three), at a time. It isn’t Harry Potter and it doesn’t include magic. This is an entirely different story.

Illustration Competition! "The most exciting part, for me, at least, is that I’d like you to illustrate The Ickabog for me. Every day, I’ll be making suggestions for what you might like to draw. You can enter the official competition being run by my publishers, for the chance to have your artwork included in a printed version of the book due out later this year." J.K. Rowling -  Check the details HERE.

Today as a prelude to the fun of Book Week next week - every class at MSS took part in the National Simultaneous Storytime event - reading Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas by Lucinda Gifford. This event is an annual celebration of reading where the same book is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around Australia and New Zealand. Even the Rm I class chickens joined the fun!

Just a reminder that our trial of eBooks & eAudiobooks is available until 18th June - find out more on our online catalogue. Come and see me in the library if you'd like help with this.

This is another fun reading online opportunity - this time brought to us by our very own Taika Waititi!

In Episode 1, Taika is joined by Chris Hemsworth, Liam Hemsworth and Nick Kroll as they start this ever so exciting story and read Chapters 1 – 4 of James and the Giant Peach. 

After more James and the Giant Peach inspired fun? Visit   http://roalddahl.com/giantpeach to find a whole host of FREE activities inspired by the book. 

How cool is this!! The team from the 'everything Harry Potter'  Wizarding World website are asking friends to read all seventeen chapters of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone/Sorcerer’s Stone for us. Here is Chapter One

https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-the-boy-who-lived 

To find out more; https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/introducing-harry-potter-at-home-readings