Following a successful series of storytelling sessions
for parents, run by MALANI (Midlothian Adult Literacy and
Numeracy Initiative), a group of parents at Woodburn Primary
School in Dalkeith began to look at what makes a good children's
book.
The group looked at a selection of books, and also at how
the books engaged with the children. They went on to write,
illustrate and make their own books based on the nursery
rhyme 'Jack and Jill' but with a Scottish flavour, 'Wee
Tam and Big Heather', and incorporated many of the features
they thought their children would enjoy into their books.
Both parents and children really enjoyed the result.
The parents then visited a local bookshop and began to
choose books that they thought they would enjoy reading
to their children. A list of fiction and non-fiction books
was compiled, and the books were ordered through the Midlothian
Library Service with money from the Read Together Home Reading
Initiative Start-Up Grants.
Once the books arrived, the parents worked on a system
to lend out the books to the parents of Primary 1 and 2
children in the school, and the library was launched on
13th September 2006. The books are stored in a foldaway
bookcase in the school and the 40 parents are already using
the library regularly and choosing books to read to their
children at home.
The library has been the talk of the playground, with
children discussing the books they have read with their
parents. Stickers are given out with the books and, with
the children wearing the stickers to school, the teachers
are asking about the books that the children have read.
Parents, children and teachers are all delighted with their
new library.
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"Going to the Woodburn Lending library
project group has transformed our lives," says Fiona
Clark. "We go to the library once a month now, but
this parents' library will be much more convenient,
as if you are at school anyway dropping the kids off,
and on a tight budget, it is a great opportunity to
borrow brilliant books at no cost."
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