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"I LOVE BOOKS" by OSCAR

5/28/2014

Last day at Storyshack for a while. Please let the lovely people at Aldeburgh music and Snape Maltings know it's good to have something for families to come to besides retail therapy, coffee and walking NOT that there's anything wrong with that at all but it good to diversify a little too :-) @snapemaltings / @AldeburghEd/@aldeburghmusic if you fancy tweeting some support for another Storyshack venture in the summer hols.

So here's Oscar's exclamation which I believe is a mighty fine way to end the Spring session don't you? His sister (Saffron) can be seen peeping over her beautiful book-also an amazing way to celebrate children's creativity. Never ceases to stun me when I meet all these amazing children-look at what they can do given the space, encouragement and imagination to do it. AND....I mustn't forget that we had some other visitors in on the last day including another OSCAR who is a massive 'Winnie the Witch' fan and proceeded to read one of her adventures using all the best voices. Treats and more treats to end the Spring. Please support the reinstatement of Storyshack in the Dovecote :-) I felt quite sad today taking everything down...it does look at little bare in there now but I know it can be turned into somewhere magical in a JIFFY if I'm lucky enough to get the chance again.

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"Let the story of my niece and nephews be a warning. The more you know,the more danger you’re in. And trust me, you don’t want to meddle with the Little People"

5/24/2014

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For Tilly:
who reminded me about the beautifully illustrated Spiderwick Chronicles which reminded me of the amazing field guide above-a wonderful companion to the stories. It has those lovely line drawings in abundance with tiny details about the fantastical creatures you can find if you're lucky (or perhaps unlucky ) enough to find a hag stone to see a whole new world. It also reminded me of a favourite book of mine about Gnomes which is in a similar 'sketchbook' style which, I think, makes it even more appealing.

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"The Giver" by Lois Lowry-Read it before you see the film. This book was out way before HUNGER GAMES, DIVERGENT...first published in 1993.

5/17/2014

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Blurb : 'Jonas lives safety within the Community, a place where there is no war, no hunger and no pain. But when he is selected as the Receiver of Memory, he starts to discover dark secrets that lie beneath the surface of his perfect world, secrets that will lead him to undertake an incredible journey....'
I've already blogged about this previously when my daughter declared this to be one of the best books she'd ever read. It's a forerunner of many of the dystopian stories that are being turned into films at the moment. In fact this one is released this coming August. Looks like they've made some changes-so it's really worth a read before you watch the film and think it looks like all the other ones. It's a quick read but touches on many big issues. Maybe it appears Jonas' world is actually nearer to Utopia-there's no war, hunger, arguments. But there's also no differences, no ideas and what chillingly emerges is no emotion either:
"Father? Mother?" Jonas asked tentatively after the evening meal. "I have a question I want to ask you."
"What is it, Jonas?" his father asked.
He made himself say the words, though he felt flushed with embarrassment. He had rehearsed them in his mind all the way home from the Annexe.
"Do you love me?"
There was an awkward silence for a moment. Then Father gave a little chuckle. "Jonas. You, of all people. Precison of language, please!"
Jonas, when he is given the highest compliment of being made 'The Receiver' comes to realise the enormity of receiving memories of the time before when his world hadn't yet 'blocked these out'. It's a really interesting read, thought provoking without film action graphic violence-it's a big more careful than that. It slowly unravels the seemingly perfect world and you see it as Jonas sees it, for the first time, as he begins to question the actions of his community AND takes incredibly brave steps to do what he feels is morally right.
Please read before you watch the film 10+-another you really need to read. I know I say that a lot but it is true!

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"The feeling that imagination could overcome every hardship if you just tried hard enough" Jo Cotterill

5/14/2014

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http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2013/dec/07/review-looking-at-stars-jo-cotterill

Very powerful book, very moving-reduced me to tears. Had me gripped all day. Started last night, took it with me in the car so in between visits to trainee teachers I could read it. Completely absorbed in well known coffee shop in Stowmarket during that 'between visits' lunchtime and then couldn't put it down until I'd got to the end this evening. Hence this rather late blog. 10+ I think with some big messages in there -beautifully written with an uplifting use of stories.
"Once, when I was little, I had a story book. A real book, with pages and pictures, and it was all mine. It was about a mouse who was a detective, and he went everywhere looking for clues. I loved that book so much that I read it every day, sometimes three or four times. It was old and battered before I had it-Potta had found it on a rubbish dump-and after so many readings, it fell apart completely. Then, one day, Vivie got hold of one of the pages and tried to eat it. She was only a baby at the time, but I was so upset I cried for a week. I treasured that book - not just because it was a thing that belonged to me, but also because it gave me a glimpse of another world."
The power of those stories is conveyed in a clever thread running throughout. Amina is the story teller of her family. Although she doesn't realise at the time her stories become the key to survival, not just for her family but for others too. Just a really excellent read-and please do, it's an important book. It makes you think. It's one that, as Neil Gamain writes much more eloquently than me, enables readers to go somewhere difficult but very fortunately for most of us it is something hopefully we will not have to experience in reality.
BUT that's why WE MUST READ AND READ.

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"Everyone is special Everybody has gifts..."

5/13/2014

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A lovely book set in Australia which is a great starting point, mid point or end point for themes galore. A little wombat goes 'walkabout' and meetings animals along the way-a Kookaburra, Wallaby, Possum, Emu, Boy and Koala. They aren't terribly impressed by the Wombat as they tell him everything they can do and he very modestly says he doesn't do much but 'thinks a lot and digs a lot'.
I won't say much more but this is also a pertinent assembly book for BLP, for anytime when we need reminding about appreciating all our different talents. For SATS week where children feel more pressurised than ever to be 'good' at certain things. This book is a very gentle reminder that we are all special. All the animals mentioned above are very glad of Wombat's own gifts and talents during the story but I won't spoil it and tell you why. Get a copy from the library and find out for yourself.

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'When he had an idea, he grabbed whatever was at hand, such as an old envelope or a piece of cardboard, but it was usually one of his small notebooks.'

5/4/2014

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Here is Katy (the caboose) who dreams about escaping her constant journeying on the back of a freight train. She comes from one of our very favourite family books-'The Caboose who got loose' by Bill Peet. Got talking to a lovely family about Katy today as this was one of the first families who spied the book and knew it straight away. I was curious to know a bit more about Bill Peet as his illustrations are really quirky. Always loved the movement in them and that slightly sketchy feel that makes them really lively. He was a really interesting chap-his Dad loved trains hence this story. Take a look for yourselves:

http://www.billpeet.net
I like the quote above about how he worked....just grabbed whatever was at hand when he had ideas BUT lots of notebooks on hand. Always good-you can come and make them at STORYSHACK OF COURSE ;-)

Several of Bill Peet's books had an environmental theme. 'Farewell to Shady Glade' is about a beautiful forest being destroyed for buildings with a similar theme to Dr. Seuss' 'The Lorax'. You will find 'Jennifer+Josephine', 'Farewell to Shady Glade' and of course, 'The Caboose who got loose', in STORYSHACK so come on in and enjoy the stories just like our imagineers below. Ooh, they made some beautiful books too AND summoned a Fairy flying around the Barbara Hepworth lawn. It ALL happens at STORYSHACK.
RELEASE YOUR IMAGINATION.....

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You can have a fishy on a little dishy when you come to Storyshack....

5/2/2014

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Been very busy visiting the next generation of teachers this week (always a privilege) but Storyshack will be open THIS SUNDAY from 1-4pm. You can catch some fish like Joe here. If you bring the sun with you it'll be even better.
Amy has visited Storyshack before and always has wonderful ideas about what she'd like to make. So below is her rather pretty rabbit with matching accessories with ingenious ways of attaching them+these carefully drawn dragon/monsters not sure about official name and I don't want to get it wrong-look at the detail on those eye lashes.

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Release your imagination......
Explore new worlds.
Make your own stories.

"I LOVE BOOKS" by OSCAR

"Let the story of my niece and nephews be a warning. The more you know,the more danger you’re in. And trust me, you don’t want to meddle with the Little People"

"The Giver" by Lois Lowry-Read it before you see the film. This book was out way before HUNGER GAMES, DIVERGENT...first published in 1993.

"The feeling that imagination could overcome every hardship if you just tried hard enough" Jo Cotterill

"Everyone is special Everybody has gifts..."

'When he had an idea, he grabbed whatever was at hand, such as an old envelope or a piece of cardboard, but it was usually one of his small notebooks.'

You can have a fishy on a little dishy when you come to Storyshack....

Sarah Gallagher

Archives

Categories

Release your imagination......Explore new worlds. Make your own stories.

"I LOVE BOOKS" by OSCAR

"Let the story of my niece and nephews be a warning. The more you know,the more danger you’re in. And trust me, you don’t want to meddle with the Little People"

"The Giver" by Lois Lowry-Read it before you see the film. This book was out way before HUNGER GAMES, DIVERGENT...first published in 1993.

"The feeling that imagination could overcome every hardship if you just tried hard enough" Jo Cotterill

"Everyone is special Everybody has gifts..."

'When he had an idea, he grabbed whatever was at hand, such as an old envelope or a piece of cardboard, but it was usually one of his small notebooks.'

You can have a fishy on a little dishy when you come to Storyshack....

Sarah Gallagher

Archives

Categories

Release your imagination......
Explore new worlds.
Make your own stories.