As I have shared a few days ago, I am facilitating a book club for young readers here in Singapore in partnership with the Jurong West Community Library. We just had our first session three days ago, Wednesday, 25 July 2012 at the Programme Zone in the Library. There were seven kids in all including my ten year old daughter. We are hoping that there would be more kids who can join us in the succeeding sessions.
As this was the first time that I met some of the kids, it was important for me to really get to know them and to find out what books they read and love. We also discussed our schedule in the next few months and we also nominated a few of the books that we can all read together as a group. The books will be made available to GatheringReaders participants through the Jurong West Community Library. This was the result of our nomination and voting process.
Book for August – Fiction
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
8 August (Wednesday) – Virtual Meeting here in GatheringBooks
22 August (Wednesday), 5-630 pm – Meeting at Jurong West
Book for September – Award-Winning-Book
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman with Illustrations by Dave McKean, a Newbery Medalist book.
12 September (Wednesday) – Virtual Meeting
26 September (Wednesday), 5-630 pm – Meeting at Jurong West
An October Meet a Book Artist Special
Since I am expecting that most of the children will be busy in October as it is an exam period, their only task is to email or get in touch with their favorite author. They are to ask their burning questions as well as share with the author some of their thoughts about his/her books that they’ve read.
10 October (Wednesday) – Virtual Meeting and Update
24 October (Wednesday), 5-630 pm – Meeting at Jurong West. Meet a Book Artist!
November – Visual Storytelling through Picture Books
7 November: Virtual Discussion of Favorite Picture Books
21 November (Wednesday), 5-630 pm: Meeting at Jurong West Public Library
When I asked the children whether they still read picture books, I was dismayed to hear that they thought it was for little kids and they felt ‘proud’ that they have graduated from this genre. I am hoping that I can reintroduce them to visual storytelling and get them to recapture the breathtaking artwork and masterful storytelling that can be found in picture books.
A flurry of hands as the kids scrambled to get their very own special notebooks courtesy of the Library.
December: Graphic Novel
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
12 December, Wednesday, 5-630 pm: Jurong West Public Library
We would not be meeting online in December as this is to be our final meeting. I am hoping that there would be more kids who would join us as they see this fabulous line up of books. I also invite you dear friends to join us in our virtual discussions of the books (and yes, read with us!) so that the children would feel more comfortable in sharing their thoughts in the Comments Section of my post. See you all on 8 August for our discussion of The Mysterious Benedict Society!
** Special thanks to Benedict Yeo from the Jurong West Public Library for taking the pictures during the said event.
I have read all of them except the Benedict Society, Myra, & will see if I can join you. I am traveling until the 5th, but maybe I can squeeze it in. What a nice thing to do. I hope it goes well. Good choices!
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