The new Librarian at Regency Park Campus has eagerly started to contribute to Primary students’ learning, through a fun exercise that transported students through time. Ms Tania McPhillamy invited students to look into the past and explore reading from 20 years ago, focusing on two books published in 1993, the year that marks the founding of YCIS Shanghai. Ms McPhillamy selected the best children’s books from the year: the annual winner of the Caldecott Award and annual recipient of the Newbery Medal, and encouraged students to read and discuss the two books with their classmates, teachers, and families. The initiative was carried one step further when Ms McPhillamy also helped students research additional award winning books, and to understand more about the Caldecott Award and Newbery Medal award process.

Ms McPhillamy described how the selected stories also connected well to the learning taking place at YCIS. One of the stories, she said, “happens to fit perfectly with the first character trait the children are studying – Attentiveness – and a note from the author inside the book also reminds students how attentiveness takes many forms.”

Ms McPhillamy is thrilled to join the team at YCIS, and summarised her joy in educating the students by saying, “I’m excited to share my love of children’s reading with the students, and to exchange ideas with parents at fun and helpful reading-related events during the year.”

YCIS Shanghai warmly welcomes Ms McPhillamy, and everyone on campus is looking forward to more wonderful reading recommendations and educational activities in the library, all with the aim of helping develop each student’s love of reading.