My favourite book of the year so far! I fell in low with this book from the first word to the last, it's message and values are something that we all My favourite book of the year so far! I fell in low with this book from the first word to the last, it's message and values are something that we all need to consider.
Meet Aniyah and her brother Noah, two children put into the care of Mrs I- a foster carer. According to Aniyah they arrived there because they are playing a big game of Hide and Seek from Dad. This story tells of the siblings journey to name a star in memory of their mother, who always said a good person's heart became a star when they died. What makes the plot of this story so special is the innocence that is carried through from beginning to end- whilst the reader is allowed to infer the reasons behind the children being placed into care, the revelation of the truth comes to the reader at the same time it comes to Aniyah.
The themes of friendship, respect and family are so present in this text and create a powerful message for the reader about acceptance even when you only know certain details. Despite the rest of the characters knowing so much more about Aniyah's story than she does- they never once judge her on this or isolate her because of this. The emotions in the novel are so powerful and it is a challenge not to be brought to tears by the novel's conclusion.
The novel clearly addresses the rise of domestic violence around the world but what makes the message so powerful is the innocence of the children to what was happening around them. As a teacher, we are always warned of the games children might disclose and the truth behind them but as a reader being thrown into Aniyah's innocent belief of 'Hide and Seek' and 'Shut the Door and Shout' it is clear to see the detrimental impacts of this issue on children's mentality and outlook on life.
If you have not read this book I would make sure that you do and soon!...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
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 picture book that reveals a truth we might not all want to realise. 'The Island' tells the story of a mysterious man who appears on an island and hoA picture book that reveals a truth we might not all want to realise. 'The Island' tells the story of a mysterious man who appears on an island and how he is accepted, or in this case not accepted by the people around him. A shocking narrative, with a lasting providence in society today.
The themes of unknowing, fear and sectarianism addressed in this book provide children with a perspective many will not have encountered in their previous reading. This lends the book perfectly with upper KS2 for discussions about their world and their impact on the world; as well as maybe a way of displaying bullying to children in an impactful way that encourages a consideration of actions and consequences when looking at the events from an outside perspective.
This narrative is perfectly accompanied by abstract illustrations that maximise the emotions experienced by the reader. The sketching illustrations aid in carrying the emotions throughout the narrative and provides teachers with the opportunity to spend time with an older class looking at the picture book and addressing the misconception that picture books are only for KS1. Although, this text does address a difficult topic in a straight forward and truthful manner meaning that it could be challenging even for some children in the last years of Primary school. Therefore, this book might be better used in small groups of older primary children, or could be look at in parts by the whole class although I feel that not looking at the whole story is a crying shame.
Overall, it was a new experience to read such a stark and insightful picture book that addresses such a challenging topic but it has definitely opened my eyes. A beautifully insightful tale, perfect for making the reader think, not only about themselves but their society and their view of the world they want to be a part of. ...more
A beautiful and poignant narrative, perfectly accompanied by illustrations that provide perspective, depth and emotions. 'The Journey' focuses on the A beautiful and poignant narrative, perfectly accompanied by illustrations that provide perspective, depth and emotions. 'The Journey' focuses on the tale of a family forced to leave their home because of war and follows their journey to find somewhere safe.
The narrative is filled with symbols and emotions making the reader question the events of the tale and how each individual character feels about the events happening to them. However, the narrative is only part of the picture, the illustrations add layers of depth and make this tale something that you could easily spend hours on in the classroom.
The illustrations each provide an individual perspective, that opens more about the narrative than simply looking at the words. The illustrations include many references to fairy tales, creating an idea of how issues like this are displayed within society. Particularly effective, is the use of black and shadow to display the ideas of war and death- the all consuming black presence on some of the pages help to make the message of impact and consequences clear and could be really poignant in conveying other realities to children in the classroom. Despite this sense of sadness, the colours almost present a sense of positivity and hope which provides the reader with the determination to see the journey of the characters throughout.
Overall, having waited to read this picture book for a long time it has exceeded all expectations I had and definitely need to re read this book again to take time to consider the many ways it could be used throughout the primary classroom and even throughout the Primary school. Would recommend to anyone that wants to expand their perspective and challenge their ideas on the world that they live in. ...more
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