Inside Info 2010(2) In this 150th birthday issue of Inside Info we have a special treat – a new humorous poem for children by prize-winning Australian author Marianne Musgrove! Read it below, and all about Marianne and her books on page (?). We also have loads of new books in the library to tell you about, including a new auditory-verbal therapy book from Jill Duncan, book reviews, a blast from the past, a tour of our new library and some things just for fun. Happy Birthday, RIDBC! Five Gifts for my Enemy by Marianne Musgrove It’s my enemy’s party I’ve brought her five things A jar jammed with slippery bluebottle stings The whine of a mozzie, that tinny vibrato A whiff of sheep’s brain stuffed with sun-dried tomato The sight of a cockroach’s wide open jaw And the taste of a hairball sucked up though a straw. Five different senses laid out on a tray Gifts for my enemy Happy birthday! © M.Musgrove 2010 Marianne Musgrove Marianne Musgrove wrote her first full-length novel at the age of eleven: a romantic thriller featuring her unfortunate classmates. Although the unpublished manuscript met with only localised acclaim, she never gave up her dream of becoming an author. A descendant of King Henry VIII's librarian, you could say books are in her blood! Marianne grew up in Sydney then moved to Adelaide to go to university. There, she studied English (which she loved), law (which she loathed) and social work (which she made her career for several years). Marianne's first children's novel, THE WORRY TREE, is the winner of the Australian Family Therapists Award for Children's Literature 2008 and has been shortlisted for three other awards. LUCY THE GOOD, LUCY THE LIE DECTECTOR and DON’T BREATHE A WORD are also available now. To read up on Marianne's exploits, check out www.mariannemusgrove.com.au http://www.randomhouse.com.au/Author/Musgrove,%20Marianne Books by Marianne… The Worry Tree by Marianne Musgrove ISBN: 9781741662313 Random House Australia 2007 Just because something's not magic doesn't mean it can't be magical... Juliet's a worrywart, and no wonder! Her little sister, Oaf, follows her around taking notes and singing 'The Irritating Song' all day long. Her parents are always arguing about Dad's junk. Nana's so tired of craft lessons that she starts barbecuing things in the middle of the night. And Juliet's friends, Lindsay and Gemma, are competing to see which of them is Juliet's best friend. Juliet can't fit in any more worries! But then she makes a remarkable discovery. Behind the wallpaper in her new bedroom, Juliet uncovers an old painting of a very special tree. Nana remembers it well. It's the Worry Tree, and with the help of a duck called Delia and the other Worry Tree animals, Juliet just might be able to solve some of life's big problems. Winner of the Australian Family Therapists Award for Children's Literature 2008 and shortlisted for the Queensland Premier's Literary Award for Best Children's Book, the 2008 Adelaide Festival Award for Children's Literature and the Australian Children's Peace Literature Prize 2007 'A beautiful, realistic story of family life.' ABA Children's Special Interest Group, Kids' Reading Guide 2007-2008 http://www.randomhouse.com.au/Books/The-Worry-Tree/9781741662313/Paperback/ Click here for a free downloadable colour-in-sheet of the Worry Tree http://www.catnippublishing.co.uk/covers_300410/Worry%20tree%20colouring.pdf Lucy the Good By Marianne Musgrove Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini Random House Australia ISBN: 9781 741662955 R.R.P. $14.95 Many children’s books carry underlying themes of good versus evil, but here is a new and humorous book that takes on every child’s dilemma of working out what is good and what is bad, head on. An impending visit from Tanta Bep, a great-aunt from Holland, places Lucy in the difficult position of promising to be‘a good girl’, when all events seem to conspire against her and provoke behaviour unacceptable to the adults in her life. Is she Lucy the good or Lucy the bad? Pondering her problems while feeding the family chickens, Lucy remembers being taught that a ‘good egg’ will sink in water and a bad one will float… Lucy is a very likeable heroine, rather like a modern day Judy from Seven little Australians – certainly a character in the tradition of gutsy girls trying to find solutions to their problems. I particularly liked the mix of intergenerational and inter-cultural themes in this book – Lucy’s troubled but developing relationship with Tanta Bep, the customs of Holland effortlessly woven into the story, and also the tantalising sub-plot of Lucy's off and on friendship with Paolo. Orsini’s line drawings have a European flavour and sit well with the text. Suitable for independent readers in early to middle primary, this book will also be useful to classroom teachers planning units of work on other countries (a recipe for Dutch biscuits is included). All young readers will identify with Lucy’s struggles and enjoy the pace and humour of this story. review by Julie Thorndyke (first published in Incite, Sept 2008 v29.09) New books Grandparenting a child with special needs by Charlotte E. Thompson M.D. 2009 ISBN: 978-1-84310-906-8 RENWICK 649.151 THOM http://library.newcastle.edu.au/record=b2795899~S16 What colour is the wind? : the Graham Laycock story (1937-2006) by Graham Laycock 2008 ISBN 9780646502205 RENWICK 362.41092 LAYC http://library.newcastle.edu.au/record=b2795903~S16 Getting ready for college begins in third grade : working toward an independent future for your blind/visually impaired child : pre-K to middle school by Carol Castellano 2010 ISBN 9781617350719 RENWICK 649.1511 CAST http://library.newcastle.edu.au/record=b2786331~S16 Your child’s hearing loss: a guide for parents 2nd ed by Dennie Walmand and Jackson Roush 2009 ISBN: 978-1-59756-321-5 RENWICK 649.152 WALD 2010 http://library.newcastle.edu.au/record=b2795901~S16 Special needs child: Maintaining your relationship : staying connected through the highs and lows by Victoria Dawson & Antonia Chitty ISBN 9781905410569 RENWICK 649.15 DAWN http://library.newcastle.edu.au/record=b2795748~S16 When your child is ill : a home guide for parents by Dr Bernard Valman ISBN 1740334817 RENWICK 618.92 VALM Why love matters by Sue Gerhardt 2004 ISBN 1583918175 RENWICK 155.422 GERH http://library.newcastle.edu.au/record=b2187093~S16 Two new young adults novels about vision impairment Blindsided by Priscilla Cummings 2010 ISBN: 9780525421610 RENWICK 813.6 CUMM http://library.newcastle.edu.au/record=b2772768~S16 Natalie, at fourteen, is a typical teenager living with her parents on their goat farm in rural America. She has the same concerns as her friends, does well at school and is interested in politics. The trouble is, she was born without irises, and her sensitivity to light and diminishing vision due to juvenile glaucoma makes it hard for her to keep up with her best friend, Meredith, and the other kids at school. Natalie can’t see at night, so going out with friends is difficult, and she is unable to learn to drive with her peers. Bad news from the doctor sees Natalie leave her home to board at a school for the blind, where she must learn to use a cane, read and write Braille, and gain other essential survival skills before her vision fades forever. Immensely readable, this is a well-researched and compassionate book that employs effective narrative techniques to engage and sustain the reader’s attention. The highs and lows of life away from home include some risky teenage behaviour that provides the essential element of conflict in this story and illuminates the problems of maintaining friendships with people who have varied and difficult life experiences. At home at the farm, Natalie and Meredith confront danger in a way that allows them to believe in their capabilities and discover hidden strengths. Sometimes a story is an appropriate way to learn – and for young people and even parents and new teachers wanting to understand more about the challenges of visual impairment, a novel like this is an accessible way of developing empathy for people with diminishing sight. reviewed by Julie Thorndyke Taking off by Janice Marriott 2007 ISBN: 9781869506377 RENWICK 823.3 MARR http://library.newcastle.edu.au/record=b2741123~S16 This is a young adult novel of a different style, from New Zealand author Janice Mariott, featuring characters who are slightly younger and less in control of their emotions. An alcoholic parent, the serious injury of a beloved guide dog, and the challenges of life in a remote township colour the growing-up experiences of newcomer Tommy, and long-term resident Alana, who lives with her family on the estuary. Images of birds and beachscapes give a real sense of place to the writing. A pervasive sense of foreboding present in the first section of the book is heightened by the awareness of the impending medical test Alana must undergo to see if she has the same genetic eye condition as her blind father. The flight to the city in Uncle Brad’s light plane brings its own problems, and the theme of flight is heavily explored as a metaphor for growing up. Despite all the difficulties these young people face, the book ends on a serene and reassuring note, with a flash-forward to a time when the ever-present teenage angst has been channelled into positive and productive live choices. reviewed by Julie Thorndyke. What mothers do; especially when it looks like nothing by Naomi Stadlen. 20007 ISBN 9781585425914 RENWICK 306.8743 STRA http://library.newcastle.edu.au/record=b2795999~S16 Naomi Stadlen believes that motherhood concerns our entire society. But she reminds us that motherhood, despite its importance, is seldom adequately investigated. On page 37 she mentions “never has any generation prepared its girls as casually for motherhood as ours”. Thus begins one of her major themes: how social changes have redefined motherhood. Of course Stadlen understands how the information age empowers mothers with more advice than ever before. Yet is this information helpful? Stadlen tells us that many researchers contradict each other. Learning from experts may undermine and intimidate us, and often researchers fail to acknowledge differing needs of different babies. This book empowers mothers, by suggesting that mothers should respond to situations according to their own unique philosophy. Naomi Stradlen is the founder of the discussion group Mothers Talking. She is also a breastfeeding counsellor for the La Leche League and is the mother of three children and one grandson. Her book provides valuable insights and advice. The book references psychologists, writers and even religious texts, yet the information is always practical. For example Stadlen writes about women juggling the roles of mother, wife and career. Motherhood, Stadlen maintains, isn’t a hurdle, but a lifelong changing transformation. The book uses actual stories from mothers describing their experiences. These stories are helpful, warm and reassuring. Each chapter uses these real life accounts to explain and address issues such as what do babies want, and the power of comfort. This book is so full of clear, educated and well structured information it is difficult to imagine anyone reading it only once. Book Review by Jason Morgan Explaining … blindness by Lionel Bender London : Franklin Watts, 2009 ISBN 9780749682552 RENWICK Q813.6 BEND http://library.newcastle.edu.au/record=b2695208~S16 Part of the “Explaining” series of books, Explaining…blindness is written for the older child in primary school or early high school. It begins with a good description of blindness and vision impairment, together with brief historical information about magnifying and glass lenses. It explains some causes of vision impairment, medical eye tests and treatment options. Mobility aids that blind people can use, including guide dogs and canes are described. It is a good overall introduction to the world of blindness and vision impairment. It would be perfect as a reference book for school assignments. Adults would also find this a useful introduction to general information about blindness. It provides a 2 page glossary, a ‘further information’ section and an index for easy look up of different topics. reviewed by Marijana Miletic DVDs Child talk: strategies for stimulating your child's language presented by Dr Charlotte Middleton. 2009 Australian DVD/Workbook package that teaches caregivers how to provide their child with a powerful language rich environment from birth and by so doing, maximize their child’s future academic potential. RENWICK DVD 401.93 CHIL Research News See hear: when ears become eyes Bijal Trivedi The New Scientist, Volume 207, Issue 2773, 14 August 2010, Pages 42-45 Seeing Is Believing: Gene Therapy Shows Promise for Ocular Disorders M J Friedrich. JAMA. Chicago: Oct 13, 2010. Vol. 304, Iss. 14; p. 1543 Sensory hijack: rewiring brains to see with sound by Bijal Trivedi New Scientist, 17 August 2010 http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727731.500-sensory-hijack-rewiring-brains-to-see-with-sound.html?full=true Treatment Possibilities for Retinitis Pigmentosa Samuel G Jacobson, Artur V Cideciyan. The New England Journal of Medicine. Boston: Oct 21, 2010. Vol. 363, Iss. 17; p. 1669 Eyeplaysafe FACT 1: Adult supervision can prevent eye injuries Children are most likely to injure their eyes in their own home. This can be best prevented by adult supervision. • Eye injuries often occur when younger children copy what they have seen parents or older siblings doing. Supervise children at all times when using scissors, knives and sharp items. • Adults should always be good role models for children by demonstrating safe use of scissors, knives and sharp items. FACT 2: Make your home ‘eye safe’ indoors • Keep sharp items such as knives and scissors out of a child’s reach or locked in a drawer/cupboard 1.5 metres above ground level. • Keep hazardous household chemicals and medicines locked in a cupboard 1.5 metres above ground level. • Make sure sharp corners of furniture are covered or rounded. • Children can injure their eyes by falling. Prevent falls wherever possible by using good lighting, removing trip hazards and using childproof safety gates on stairs. • Make sure children do not twirl or throw objects that may harm them. FACT 3: Make your home ‘eye safe’ outdoors • Protect your child’s eyes from harmful UV rays from the sun while outside. Wearing a hat and wrap-around sunglasses with lenses that meet the Australian Standard for UV blockout offers the best protection when outdoors. • Keep hazardous chemicals such as petrol, pesticides, fertilizer, pool chlorine, paints and solvents in secure, labelled, original containers in a locked garden shed or garage 1.5 metres above ground level. • Always supervise your children when animals are present. • Trim branches that are at children’s eye level back to the trunk. • In the garden, be careful of plants with spiky leaves or sticky sap. Remove any poisonous weeds or plants that may harm children. • When mowing the lawn: • never let a child follow you or watch from a close distance as projectiles can easily end up in a child’s eye • keep children indoors, or if they need to be outside ensure they keep a good distance away from the lawn mower and are wearing safety goggles/ sunglasses • use a lawn mower with safety guards in place, and wear safety goggles or sunglasses yourself. Always remove hazardous debris from the lawn before mowing. FACT 4: Make sure toys are safe for children’s eyes • Only allow toys to be used for their correct purposes. • Keep toys intended for older children away from younger children. • Avoid buying toys that have projectiles that can be fired or shot such as toy darts. • Avoid toys with points, spikes, sharp edges and small removable pieces. • Never allow children to play with laser pointers, as these are very dangerous to vision. • Outside, beware of potential hazards such as unsafe playground equipment, broken toys and toys that could be used as projectiles. • Always remind children not to throw sand when playing in sandpits. • Ensure toys comply with Australian standards. More information on Australian Standards for toy safety can be found at www.kidsafensw.org Fact 5: ‘Eye safe’ behaviours at school • Teach your child to use pens, pencils, rulers and erasers correctly—they are never to be used as weapons. • Your child should be taught never to flick a rubber band. • Play is important for health and development. Encourage your child to play with balls, bats, and skipping ropes. Remind them to always watch out for other children. • Fighting with other children should not be allowed or tolerated as eyes can easily be injured. Fact 6: ‘Eye safe’ behaviours at the park and playground • Never let your child play under trees where magpies are nesting. • Inspect the playground equipment to ensure it is safe and does not have broken parts. • Teach your child not to pick up and play with an object that does not belong to them. • Warn your child that slingshots are very dangerous. • Make sure your child wears a helmet that complies with the Australian Standard while roller skating or roller blading, or riding a bike, scooter, skateboard or caster board. • Teach your child to wear a hat and sunglasses to protect their eyes from the sun. Fact 7: Dealing with eye infections • Eye infections can spread easily, so avoid infections by washing hands and practising good hygiene. • If a child is being treated for an eye infection it is important that the eye medications are used as indicated. Symptoms may stop but could recur if medications are not used for the prescribed course. • Children and adults should wash their hands after contact with animals. • Eyedrops, contact lenses or eye makeup should never be shared with anyone else. • An adult with a coldsore should never kiss a child as the coldsore (herpes) virus can be spread to the eyes and may permanently damage the child’s vision. Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational purposes only. Please consult with your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is correct for you or your child. Reproduced with permission from eyeplaysafe.org.au For more eye safety facts, see http://www.eyeplaysafe.org.au/project/fact_sheets.htm On the web eyeplaysafe Fun eye-safety activities for young learners aged 5-9 years. Kids can have fun with online activities to learn about eye safety at home and when playing. http://www.eyeplaysafe.org.au/index.htm Guide Dogs NSW/ACT has a short video guide, with audio description, which describes the best way to guide a person with impaired vision http://www.guidedogs.com.au/education-and-resources/helping-people-with-impaired-vision/how-to-guide-a-person Love to read – literacy resources for parents and teachers, fun stuff for kids. The official website for the National Year of Reading 2012 http://www.love2read.org.au "Unlocking Student's Potential: What's working for you?" 2011 Biennial Conference of the South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment (SPEVI) 16 to 21 January 2011 in Sydney. Please see the Conference Flyer on the SPEVI Homepage for more information. Dictionaries, Non Fiction book, Children's books, Documentary books, Teaching books, CDs, DVDs and Games, for parents who wish to learn more about Australian Sign Language http://www.auslanshop.com.au/ Risk Reduction Strategies on Facebook Danah Boyd describes some strategies teens use to manage their online presence… http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2010/11/08/risk-reduction-strategies-on-facebook.html Now on display... Braille books and tactile maps Each year, the RIDBC Renwick Students completing the literacy course are required to produce a tactile map and story book in braille for students in the early years of schooling. This year’s braille books and maps are visually and tactually appealing and should prove popular with braille learners, parents and teachers. The books and maps will become valuable resources for our graduating Renwick students when they enter the professional field of vision impairment. Just for Fun Amazing ! ? Dolphins sleep with one eye open! ? It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. ? Camels have three eyelids to protect themselves from blowing sand. ? The placement of a donkey's eyes in its head enables it to see all four feet at all times! ? Women blink nearly twice as much as men. ? A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue! ? An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain. ? Owls are the only birds that can see the colour blue. From: http://www.world-english.org/ Summer to-do-list ? walk barefoot on wet sand ? freeze your own ice-blocks of juice or cordial ? give a homemade present ? count the number of fairy lights in your street ? wish the telemarketer who rings at dinner time a Merry Christmas ? make up a silly holiday jingle to sing in the car ? swap books with a friend ? make a rainbow of nail polish on dad’s toenails while he is napping ? hug your grandma (or someone else’s) ? photograph a sunset for next year’s Christmas card Contact the library Site address RIDBC Renwick Centre, Rydge Family Library 361-365 North Rocks Rd North Rocks NSW 2151 Australia Postal address RIDBC Renwick Centre, Rydge Family Library Private Bag 29 Parramatta NSW 2124 Australia Email: renwick.library@ridbc.org.au Web: www.ridbc.org.au/renwick/library/ Telephone: +61 (0)2 9872 0285 Fax: +61 (0)2 9872 0809