A story about learning to be loved and not taking the smallest of things for granted. Edward Tulane is a china bunny rabbit that lives with his lovelyA story about learning to be loved and not taking the smallest of things for granted. Edward Tulane is a china bunny rabbit that lives with his lovely girl Abilene- Edward takes his daily routine as expected and holds no value to his life. Until he is lost and falls to the depth of the sea.... This is a different stories and provides an insight into the world where we often only live through our own eyes.
As Edward is pushed and taken from person to person he learns something new about the world he lives in. From sacrifice to regret to family Edward learns something new from each person he meets and it is these that warm his heart and encourage him to remember. What makes this particularly poignant is the emotions and intensity of love Edward feels for each character. The lessons he learn form his character from the beginning to the end and the reader follows him in this sense and understands the importance of each value and character. For this reason, it would make a lovely book to share with KS2 children as part of a PSHCE project.
I feel that this book holds a lot of potential for children about learning the world around them and the challenges that all the people around them might be facing. ...more
A book about imagination, growing up and family...The Land of Roar is one of the most lovely children's books you can imagine. Arthur and his twin sisA book about imagination, growing up and family...The Land of Roar is one of the most lovely children's books you can imagine. Arthur and his twin sister, Rose, used to get a long so well and would always play in the mysterious land of Roar together but childhood doesn't last forever and as the twins grow older and apart this has dire consequences not just for their relationship but also to Roar where things are quiet as made up as they seem.
This book illustrates the beautiful and complex nature of children's imagination and the importance of this. As the narrative unravels, the reader is plunged into a beautiful world of creatures both big and small. The setting is breathtaking and the reader can't help but want to take a trip there considering the detailed description but also detailed illustrations that accompany the narrative. Not only is the setting vibrant, but the characters are charismatic and memorable too. From the twin's grandfather who will stop at nothing to remind the twins of their childhood, to Win (a ninja with a twist)...you just can't help but fall in love with each and every one.
The limits of this book in the classroom are endless. It would serve as a great introduction or focus for a cross curricular adventure but it also would be a lovely book to explore as a class with no pressure of academia. Before lockdown, the Land of Roar was my class text, and it was well loved and the children really connected with all the messages. If you are in KS2 you need this book in your collection. ...more
After many of the girls in my classroom had read and loved this book I decided to give it a try for myself. I was joyfully enthralled throughout and eAfter many of the girls in my classroom had read and loved this book I decided to give it a try for myself. I was joyfully enthralled throughout and enjoyed the intermittent bursts of traditional tales to supplement the story line.
This story tells the tale of Yanka a girl who simply does not fit in. Not only because of whispers in the village about her height, but her belief in the wildly imaginative stories of Anatoly all seperate her from feeling a sense of belonging in her village. Until one fateful day...where Yanka's legs turn into bear legs. On a journey to break her curse, Yanka meets friends both human and not who all aid to save her. Along this journey, children are treated to rich and imaginative settings but also characters that promote values important in their every day lives.
Throughout the story, a range of characters tell Yanka a traditional tale of the forest she is in. These traditional tales follow a fairy tale/legend structure and provide children with a great example of these pieces of literature without guiding children towards the anthologies. These provide great opportunities for their own writing opportunities and can be introduced independently to the text- a great resource for doing traditional tales in Reading or English. Not only this, but the perspectives of individual characters give children the opportunity to make their own decisions about these stories and the impact they have on Yanka.
Not only this, but Yanka's journey promotes a range of values that are important for children in their time at school- including acceptance, tolerance and self worth. These challenges are becoming more and more prevalent in schools and having a novel that provides children a view on these issues without directly encouraging them to face it, enables for discussion and trust to be built. Whilst the majority of the children that have read this book are girls, I feel that the adventurous nature of Yanka could appeal to boys but would need a careful pitch.
Overall, a lovely tale based around the traditional legends providing children with a different narrative option within the classroom. ...more
Holes tells the story of redemption and the everlasting consequences of our actions. When Stanley Yelnats is hit on the head by a mystery pair of sneaHoles tells the story of redemption and the everlasting consequences of our actions. When Stanley Yelnats is hit on the head by a mystery pair of sneakers he never believed that his world could change or that he would be charged with theft and sent to a Juvenile Detention centre in the Middle of Nowhere.
Throughout the novel, initially 2D characters are revealed to be deeper understood and each present a different question to the treatment of the problems in society. Whilst at Camp Green Lake, Stanley navigates the struggle of manipulation and friendship, as well as dealing with the desire to move on and up whilst being deemed to already have reached his limit. Whilst Stanley spends his days digging a dry and barren landscape the reader is thrown back to 1800 where Sam the Onion Man and Kate Barlow encounter their own challenges of equality. Despite being popular for his natural remedies Sam will never be equal in the town of Green Lake because of the colour of his skin. When him and Kate are spotted being involved romantically, Sam is shot and killed causing a irevocable change that will never be undone. In her understanding of the town's tyranny, Kate becomes the illustrious Kissing Kate Barlow thief untouchable. Kate eventually turns mad but not before she can hide her treasure from the families that once saw to punish her.
Back in the modern day, when faced with struggles and misunderstandings of his peers Stanley and Zero runaway. Sprouting memories of his great grandfather Stanley finds solace and unknowingly cures the curse that has plagued his family for years. At their solace, the boys bond over past mistakes and find that their pasts could not have been closer. This bond becomes the power they need to overcome the mistakes of the past and find something that restores justice in both boys lives.
Initially, coming into reading this novel I wasn't that excited. However, the moment the dual narrative is introduced the story has a sudden sense of depth and meaning with clear links between the two worlds. With encompassing themes that can spread to the challenges of school life for many children, Holes places itself as a valuable novel for those children in UKS2. The receptive context options for this text are various and would easily allow children to understand the links between 1800s and modern day. Despite my initial scepticism I would recommend this book for UKS2 for both whole class and independent children reading. ...more
After promising to myself to read more poetry this year, I can't have imagined a better collection to start with! Thinker: My Puppy Poet and Me tells After promising to myself to read more poetry this year, I can't have imagined a better collection to start with! Thinker: My Puppy Poet and Me tells the story of a relationship between a boy and his dog from the perspective of the Dog (Thinker) all in the presence of 16 poems that are each as emotive and engaging as the one before and the one after.
Greenfield's poems are a delightful balance between humour and emotion. It is so easy to become engaged in each of the poems and reflect on the meaning to the individual reader, and reading the poems once just isn't enough to satisfy the reader you have to go back again and again. What makes these poems so interesting for me was how engaging it made the voice of an animal and reiterated the messages that poetry can carry narrative voice in a unique and connectable way that sometimes literature and narrative cannot. Not only this, but the poems build a narrative that although short provides plenty of opportunities for the reader to fill in with their own ideas and interpretations of events. Similarly, as the poems take on a range of formats this anthology becomes an ideal poetry collection in the classroom to allow children the time to explore the range of poetry available and the different ways in which these poems allow the reader to connect with the events.
Abdollahi's illustrations are delightfully unique and the almost collage style of illustration provide the book with many chances for the characters to be relate-able and noticeable within children's memories or collections of characters in their minds. Similarly, the presence of a BAME family provides an opportunity for representation in the classroom, and further the presence of this family away from a stereotypical setting (e.g Africa etc) enables for this representation to be accurate and relate-able for the children within the classroom. By doing this BAME characters are shown to be the same as their white character counterparts and allows for children to engage with the ideas that although not everyone in the classroom may be the same each child within it deserves the same opportunities to succeed and flourish.
A key message that the collection promotes is the idea of accepting difference and uniqueness. Throughout the collection, Thinker thinks he is odd because he is a poet dog, and even his owner and friend Jace warns him of this difference when he take him into school. However as the collection concludes and Thinker's talent is revealed it comes to light that all the pets in the class have a hidden talent and that when these are revealed it makes the world a more joyful place. This message carries forward in the classroom in promoting children's acceptance of themselves, others and the similarities/differences between them. Similarly, by using this book to promote these ideas children can bring to light their own interpretations and views in a manner that engages them and has meaning to them.
Overall, a delightful collection of poems that carries an engaging story line that promotes children's individual viewpoints and interpretations. Not only does this collection provide a great insight for children into the world of poetry and the variations within the world, but also of the messages and connect-ability poems can have for a reader and a reader's interpretations of the words they are reading on the page. I am so delighted that I picked this book up today and it has motivated me to explore poetry even more. ...more
A book about Mr Postmouse's delivery round throughout the locality...seems a simple book but this is so much more! The illustrations aid to create a wA book about Mr Postmouse's delivery round throughout the locality...seems a simple book but this is so much more! The illustrations aid to create a whole new world that the reader is readily encompassed in when given the tome to read and engage with this.
Personally, I found the narrative alone simple, and if you are someone that only reads a picture book this is definitely going to mean you miss 90% of the text. The illustrations here are the absolute highlight and they make the story witty and enjoyable for a range of ages. Each illustration carries so much more than the couple of sentence of texts accompanied by it and children will enjoy unravelling the stories of each character that Mr Postmouse meets- and children could be easily engaged with making a story for each of the characters afterwards.
A really valuable picture book to communicate the message that there are differences between picture books and picturebooks. Everyone needs to take the time to read and digest every page of this book, to truly understand its worth. ...more
A delicate tale about a boy's discovery of day and night and the cyclic nature of the day. 'The Night Box' revolves around an investigation into the wA delicate tale about a boy's discovery of day and night and the cyclic nature of the day. 'The Night Box' revolves around an investigation into the world in the day and how the light impacts every part of the world, and the world in the night and how the dark provides different yet still as beautiful ideas and revelations.
The narrative throughout this text is intricate and well planned out. Each part of the story encompasses the reader in a true sense of awe and wonder and when traced alongside the investigatory narrative it allows for the reader to think about the differences in their own world and how these are similar and or different. Which allows, for this book to be built into a KS1 classroom very easily built around a theme of 'Our World' or allowing children to consider how their world differs around the day and night.
The illustrations within the text are as equally intricate and delicate as the narrative. Each illustration needs to be focused on and each part of the page analysed with the children in the classroom- if you don't give children the time to investigate these you really are robbing the children of a truly investigatory experience! I think it would be great to provide children with the chance to replicate this story but about their own world and allow each child to think about how their night box affects their day and night lives.
Overall, I really enjoyed this text and think it would be a fabulous addition to any KS1 classroom. Implementing this book in a KS1 classroom, would allow for children to relate their world to the often abstract world of literature. ...more
A tale that isolates how far the rift between siblings can go but also how impactful the care within a family can be. 'The Tunnel' tells the tale of tA tale that isolates how far the rift between siblings can go but also how impactful the care within a family can be. 'The Tunnel' tells the tale of two siblings, who battling rivalry ends in them taking a mysterious journey through a fairy tale tunnel ending in the brother's stone cold exterior being broken down by the love and grief of his sister.
The fact that this seemingly normal story of brothers and sisters is set amongst the back drop of fairy tales provides the chance for children to engage with the book in a wider context and depth. By spending time re reading the picture book both with and without the narrative, I was amazed about how much I discovered and how different my interpretation of the book was each time. The Tunnel incorporated so many parts of different stories that it provides a great whole class opportunity for children to engage in inference, prediction and extending the story activities and also would provide great insight for the teacher into how children's depth of understanding about stories is developing within their classroom.
The illustrations, alone, provide vital insight into the emotions and feelings of the character. The use of panels throughout also aids in developing a sense of distance between characters and also draws the reader in at different crucial times. Often the images that Brown has added greater detail and intertextuality fill the whole two page spread or the whole page that they are on...encouraging the reader to spend more time picking apart each image.
Overall, a brilliant picture book to introduce children into the idea that depth can be found in whatever text they are reading. Brilliant as both a whole class text or a group text but it is vital this picturebook is given the right amount of time to be looked at in depth and critically otherwise who know's how many children's ideas we are going to miss. ...more
A little book tackling some BIG problems. 'A Little Paper Caper' tells the story of some forest animals investigation into why branches from the treesA little book tackling some BIG problems. 'A Little Paper Caper' tells the story of some forest animals investigation into why branches from the trees have started to vanish and which one of the animals is the culprit?
The book tackles some really key problems for KS1 namely honesty and also the idea of the environment. In terms of honesty, the book reminds children of how much better honesty is and why being honest straight away can help solve the problem before it escalates. Similarly, the book provides a great introduction into discussions about the environment and the consequences of our actions, in the final pages Bear is seen sowing more tree seeds to make up for the ones he cut down. This ending demonstrates the cycle of actions and consequences; and illustrates to children how every action has a consequence and a solution enabling discussions about the classroom can do and also could give children the opportunities to survey their local environment and use what they find in their learning.
One of the most enjoyable features about this book was the limited written text. Within the book, there is no more than 1/2 sentences on each page; and the dialogue is communicated through images in speak bubbles rather than dialogue. This makes the picture book a brilliant addition to a classroom considering EAL pupils and even children who are still developing confidence with their reading- meaning that this book can be enjoyed by everyone and the messages still clearly understood.
Overall, a great story and a true representation that you should never judge a book by its cover...like I said it's a very small book dealing with very big problems. ...more
A journey of a boy's feelings of revenge when his dog is killed by an Artic Wolf but when this doesn't produce the feelings he initially expected AtukA journey of a boy's feelings of revenge when his dog is killed by an Artic Wolf but when this doesn't produce the feelings he initially expected Atuk is forced to consider the consequences of his actions.
The longer parts of narrative and sophisticated language make this picture book ideal for children in KS2 and perfectly shows to older children that picture books aren't just for small kids. The narrative here, tells a delicate story of a young boy's method of coping with grief through revenge and then his associated questions of guilt and loneliness, when he realises that by killing the wolf he has not achieved any healing and has instead made himself a feared creature in his homeland. The detailed description of the setting as well would provide great opportunities for discussions between children and teachers about the Tundra habitat that can be a bit harder to display to children than some others i.e the rainforest.
Also, the book presents a clear view of the Inuit culture and lifestyle- a reality that is filled with misconceptions and stereotypes! Again creating another discussion and exploreatory topic for children to engage in individually or as part of a whole class project; furthermore combined with other books about different realities and cultures this picturebook would be a great addition to a PSHE lesson on stereotyping and its effects.
Not only is the narrative detailed, but the illustrations are intricate and only a joy to look through. In terms of accessability for EAL or disengaged readers taking the text away and predicting what the text might say would be a great opportunity and could develop some really detailed discussion and justification of why the children believe these decisions have been made. Not only this, but the illustrations build on intricacy and reading beyond the lines often using hidden images or images that convey more a symbolic meaning than what the reader immediately gets from just simply reading the text.
Whilst this picture book may not be my favourite, it is a definte example of how this genre can be stretched towards KS2 and also how a book can include many cross curricular topics and build links in children's learning within the classroom- you could easily teach a unit on the Artic across most subjects using this text. Overall, a lovely story for older readers with careful considerations of feelings and the cycle of emotions. ...more
A vibrantly coloured picture book that has a great approach to a rather tricky topic. Grandad's island tells the tale of a boy and his grandfather advA vibrantly coloured picture book that has a great approach to a rather tricky topic. Grandad's island tells the tale of a boy and his grandfather adventuring to and from a mystery island, however when Grandad stays on the island Syd is left to navigate the world by himself.
This picture book deals excellently with a tricky topic about family members leaving which can be difficult to explain to young children. However, this books positive tone throughout could really aid this discussion in the primary classroom by navigating a sad topic in a memorable way.
Not only is there an overall positive tone and message in the story; the illustrations and in taking this book from good to exemplary. This book is filled with vibrant colours and eye catching images of the rainforest and animals! But the use of colour also extends here in aiding to communicate the characters emotions as at times the colour reverts to a brown...maybe highlighting the emotions people feel during grief.
Overall, although this book deals with a difficult topic it's still an excellent resource in any KS1 primary classroom! It's illustrations and messages allow for this to be an ideal resource in initiating discussion and communicating the difficult messages in an understandable and relatable way. ...more
An exciting and interactive picture book that brings children on a journey alongside Sunny the Meerkat to find out where he belongs. Although, other pAn exciting and interactive picture book that brings children on a journey alongside Sunny the Meerkat to find out where he belongs. Although, other picture books focus around telling stories like this with animals, the way that Gravett presents the narrative through postcards aids in making this story unique and exciting.
Although not all the characters in the novel are developed with the same level of personality as Sunny, children still feel engaged in the lives of them as they fulfil different roles within their habitat/ pack. Sunny presents a cheery personality that children can easily connect with, and the humour within his postcards carry a lighthearted feeling throughout the narrative. The postcards written within the book add an extra dimension to the text, as children can read these with an element of drama or use the knowledge from the postcard to explore the new setting that Sunny visited.
The main ideas in the book about family, aid in making the book relatable to children of this age. With children in the class, coming from different backgrounds and all having a different idea of what home is, this books allows for the discussion around this to open freely and would also allow for EAL pupils to be easily engaged in explaining how their home culture might be different, maybe allowing them to feel less isolated. Overall, I enjoyed this picture book and can see that it hold real potential to be used throughout KS1 in varying places in the curriculum.
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