Sarah Hunt
Primary School Librarian NZDipLIS. A passion for life long learning, all things literary and sharing of great stories. Always keen to delve deeper into things that inturn will benefit my students too
Location New Zealand
Activity
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Sarah Hunt made a comment
I have learnt so much along the way. I have especially enjoyed learning the new terminalogy related to illustrations (salience/counterpoint etc) and the concepts of mirrors and windows.
I feel all this new knowledge will not only enhance my purchasing power and help in selection of quality meaningful picturebooks but also enrich my read aloud sessions too. I... -
Sarah Hunt made a comment
Thank you for sharing these two book readings with us.
It has been interesting reading through the comments by others and I like others have been intrigued how a single story can revoke differing views. How different messages and themes can pop out of a single story depending on your own vision, life experience and cuturla perspectives. I have read and... -
What a gorgeous book, another to add to the list.
Thank you to everyone for other suggestions too and links to explore. -
Oh Patricia Grace is a true Toanga in NZ literature. This is a classic title that still holds a vital place on our school library shelves.
Diversity in many ways - single-parent family, socio-economic, strong capable female, ethnicity, feelings & emotions - such a valuable range of discussion points arise from this story.
Thank you for sharing links. -
Sarah Hunt made a comment
As a school librarian trying hard to purchase for a balanced collection I am not too surprised by any of this. I know how difficult finding quality authentic representation in children's picturebooks can be. I am grateful for the five categories framework as a helpful book classification model. I will be adding this to our purchasing guidelines.
It will be...
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Sarah Hunt made a comment
As a school librarian in NZ I can safely say we have many titles fitting the 'culturally neutral' and 'culturally diverse' but sadly the ability to find quality 'culturally authentic' titles is alot more difficult- still - then it shoud be.
An article I read a couple of years ago here...
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'Window and mirrors' is perfect terminology to use with students and when it is explained and discussed, it makes perfect sense to them.
I have a written purchasing policy for our school library and diversity and inclusion are two areas highlighted for consideration. But it can be hard.Yes you are right, dominant groups do hold the most coverage in...
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Sarah Hunt made a comment
I have enjoyed taking a closer look at the finer details of bilingual and dual language picture books. I have particulalry enjoyed taking closer attention to the order and font in relation to purpose. Understanding the purpose does make you consider these elements in a different context. Throughly enjoyed the wider readings and having found lots of articles to...
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Sarah Hunt made a comment
Thankfully, as the announcement was made that NZ was going into L4 lockdown I was able that evening to pop down to school and collect all my necessary work to see me through the lockdown. Thankfully I thought it wise to collect a selection of bi-ligual and dual language books too.
Of the pile I brought home I have chosen to analyse one not yet mentioned...
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Thanks you for sharing Nicola this is a beautiful series of books and the visual images are equally as strong as the text itself with clear descriptive imagery accompanying the text.
Thank you for highlighting the points on analysis and I am expanded in my thinking by the point of purpose. This adds another layer to consider when deciding whether order or... -
A great article thank you Nicola. And I have enjoyed reading others articles you have written on The Conversation. Other great articles on the topic of picture books also to be found. All links worked for me and I have now subscribed.
This read also had me considering other resources we have in the school library and classrooms too. Some Te Reo Maori and... -
Sarah Hunt replied to Moira M
@FT yes I have considered this and intend doing just that once lockdown ends and I am able to return to school. I am keen to also include more wordless picture books on a more regular basis too as I feel these are a vital tool in any read aloud program. Students of all year groups do enjoy these.
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Sarah Hunt made a comment
Thank you for the interview with Dr Darryn and for the comments by others. This is a very rich topic and one that holds great value for all indigenous groups. As well as the importance of inclusion and accessibility for migrants. We will all be greatly enriched by reading and sharing bi-lingual and dual language books.
We have a pretty good collection here... -
@NickyAllen following copyright laws it is not always that simple to just share a reading or pages, ethically.
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Sarah Hunt made a comment
Thank you for this interview Nicola. Darryn's book is a real treasure on our library shelves and much loved by staff and students alike. So much so I had to buy multiple copies to keep up with reserves demand. It is beautiful and I can admit to having a well of tears when I read it. A beautiful story enhanced by the beautiful language of Te Reo.
I was...
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Sarah Hunt replied to Moira M
Moira I so agree with your comment regarding visual literacy. I have made a special point of going back through the book after a reading session. Classes have enjoyed this double read through and taking a closer look at the illustrations. We have had some amazing discussions in this regard and the children see so much in the pictures when given them time to...
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Sarah Hunt replied to Megan Ingle
Oh yes Megan this new lens os very exciting. I am enjoying wearing these lens during my read aloud session with varying classes.
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Sarah Hunt made a comment
A week of revelations for me. I so throughly enjoyed exploring the visual techniques discussed and taught this week .
I have enjoyed story times at school and have made a point of slowing down so that the illustrations have had time to shine. With some classes when time allowed I enjoyed reading the story and then taking them back through the book to look... -
Sarah Hunt made a comment
Aroha’s Way by Craig Phillips (Wilding Books 2020)
I chose to analyse this book, not only because it is a topical story for our current climate but because it also has the most beautiful illustrations.Salience:
Aroha being the main character is front and centre on most pages throughout the book. She commands attention as we hear her story.
Facial... -
Sarah Hunt made a comment
A great article. I do love Molly Bang books from her Sunlight series and I am now super keen to read the recommended "Picture this: How picture Books work." Off to the public library again.
Another series that is worth looking at as a visual feast are books by Elin Kelsey artwork/illustraions by Soyeon Kim ("Wild Ideas and "The Last Goodbye" and "You are...
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Sarah Hunt made a comment
The mention of text in rhyme and the ease and flow this creates when reading made me think about books that don't quite get this right. A couple of books come to mind which I plan to revisit tomorrow and test this out. If the rhyme is off it trips the reader up and this stumbling whilst reading can change how a book is received by the listener. If the reader...
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Sarah Hunt made a comment
Oh what a gem of an interview with this icon of children's literature. We still own all of my adult children's Lynley Dodd books and "My Cat likes to hide in boxes" and "Nickle Nackle Tree" were firm favourites along with Hairy MacLary, Slinky Milinki and Scareface Claw. My daughters Hairy Maclary stuffed toy sits pride of place on my office shelf at school...
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Sarah Hunt made a comment
The article “What is a picture book” gave much food for thought. I particularly liked reading about visual and narrative analysis, especially counterpoint and complimentary. Putting names to the terms and understanding them in more detail has been helpful.
I have particularly enjoyed the trips down memory lane. Oh what memories have surfaced reading of all...
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Sarah Hunt made a comment
In the article Sendak’s quote "Words are left out — but the picture says it. Pictures are left out — but the words say it." struck a chord for me. A great picture book can be so much more than its written words if the illustrator works their magic. Illustrations can add such rich layers to a story that add so much more than the words themselves.
And what...
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Sarah Hunt made a comment
A thought provoking read.
Who doesn't love Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things are". A timeless classic still popular in the school library today. A fantastic read aloud and one that foster's wonderful discussions with all year groups. It also makes for an ever-popular "Story Basket" along with props and activities for students to ponder over and expand... -
Sarah Hunt made a comment
What a great article. Counterpoint in text makes for some great discussion during storytimes - I particularly love Anthony Browne books for this. "Voices in the Park", to name one, is a favoutire and the illustrations add such alot to the story that the text doesn't include. Makes for rich discussion.
I also like the mention of Illustrators being selected...
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Sarah Hunt replied to Nicola Daly
I am enjoying reading everyones entries too Nicola. Seeing titles listed and favourites of the past is bringing back some very fond memories.
You are right, we get so busy that we perhaps forget these little gems that used to bring us such joy as children. So many titles are springing to mind now as I read these lists.
As a primary school librarian I read... -
Sarah Hunt replied to Lynda White
Oh yes Lynda, you have reminded me of the "Jack and Jill" comics. Born in the Channel Islands I remember getting this along with the Twinkle comic and Rupert the bear.
Enid Blyton books were my go to independent reads as I progressed as a child "Adventure's of a wishing chair" were a big favourite.
Oh reading everyones suggestions are bringing back so many... -
Sarah Hunt replied to Moira M
Ohh haha such memories. "Mister Magnolia has only one boot" oh how my daughter loved this book as a child. Great reminder thank you Moira!
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Oh yes Susie, Shaun Tan books are just amazing, sophisticated in style and theme by the most part but truly wonderful books. I am equally in awe of books with little to no words. Wordless picture books are a favourite of mine with authors like Aaron Becker and Jennie Barber coming to mind. Mirror by Jennie Baker is a favourite and the Journey/Quest/Return...
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Sarah Hunt made a comment
Oh it's always hard to pick just one isn't it.
I will go with a relatively new book "The Bomb" by Sacha Cotter (2018)
A very kiwi book about time spent at the pool during a NZ Summer.For those not in NZ a "Bomb" is the term used for jumping into a pool and causing a big splash.
The blurb reads "In this story about being true to oneself, a boy... -
Sarah Hunt made a comment
Kia ora Nicola and Dianne, thank you for sharing your books with us. Hairy Maclary was a regular read with my own now adult children, and is still popular in our school library, a real timeless classic for sure.
I also have to agree with the comments about the biographical series shared. These are wonderful books and a well loved series here by both teachers... -
Sarah Hunt made a comment
Wow feeling my age with this one. The 1960's didn't offer a load of picture books as such. Well not in my household. I remember loving my Nursery Rhmne books which I had quite a few. Twinkle and Rupert Annuals also. I was read too often and this mostly consisted of nursey rhymes until such time I began reading for myself, then my reading became much more...
