Books

by Gordon and Ronni Lamont

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To celebrate the joys of literature.

Preparation and materials

• You will need a collection of books from the school library, both fiction and non-fiction.

Assembly

1. Ask the children to tell you about the books they have read recently (or have had read to them). Ask for their comments on favourite books - why do they like them? Extend this to favourite authors if appropriate.
2. See if the children can guess what these books are from your cryptic descriptions:

   This little green creature just wants to eat…and eat and eat.
   Further clues if needed:
   A picture book…
   About a very hungry…
   Answer: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

   This boy shares a name with someone who makes cups and bowls and mugs, and one of his favourite things is something that can be used to clean up a house.
   Further clues if needed:
   His best friend has ginger hair.
   There are going to be seven books in the series.
   Answer: Any Harry Potter book.

   This book is long and there are many different versions, some with more words than others, but every version is full of words.
   Further clues if needed:
   It’s got something to do with a word that you will find in the book: spell.
   It's not a magic book, although magic is in it.
   It's a book full of meaning, or rather lots of meanings.
   Answer: A dictionary.

3. If appropriate, talk about a favourite book of your own and why you like it so much.

4. Talk about the Bible - a book containing lots of books, with stories, poems, histories, letters and more. It's a book that holds the memories of the Jewish people about their past and the sort of people they are (Old Testament); and it tells the story of Jesus and the start of the Christian Church (New Testament).

5. Suggest that books allow us to enter new worlds and help us find out so much about anything that interests us. The internet and computer games, films and TV are great but books have some special advantages:

   They are easy to take with you anywhere.
   They need no equipment.
   You can dip in and out whenever you have a moment.

6. Suggest that everyone makes a determined effort this week to read or look at a new book, a different style of book or one by a new author. Say that trying out new books is a wonderful way to discover new interests and it only takes a short time to give it a go. Show some of the library books as examples and say a few words about each one.

Time for reflection

Reflection:
Think about:
My favourite book is...
I like it because...
A new type of book I want to read is...

Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank you for books.
Stories, poems, facts, life stories, pictures:
all sorts of books for all sorts of people.
Thank you.
Amen.

Song/music

‘The best gift’ (Come and Praise, 59)