I'm so sorry I've been away so long. Have been very busy meeting and working with lots of amazing children in school this month and don't feel as if my reading feet have touched the ground yet. So far my wonderful book packages have provided a real page turner in the form of Simon Mayo's 'Itch Craft'-his 3rd Itchingham Loft. I actually really really enjoyed this even more than the others. Perhaps it's because I've got to know the characters and have more or a relationship with them or perhaps because I felt the story 'threads' were really woven in well in this one-just seemed to be a very natural flow to it. I found myself looking forward to picking it up with a cup of tea after school. Really good, action packed-another gripping Itch read.
For something completely different the timeless fairytale with more diverse heroes and heroines. I'm beginning to wonder how solid a fairytale foundation we give our children in our increasingly non children friendly schools sometimes. This then means that tales like the Jolly Postman are missed in all their glory unless you know those traditional tales really well. Then there's the clear story conventions and fantastic modelling from fairy tales for our writers right up into Year 6. So with that in mind what about the classic set 'The Kingdom under the Sea', 'Past 8 o'clock' + 'A Necklace of Raindrops' by Joan Aitken' for a steadfast set of fairytales for every occasion.
For something completely different the timeless fairytale with more diverse heroes and heroines. I'm beginning to wonder how solid a fairytale foundation we give our children in our increasingly non children friendly schools sometimes. This then means that tales like the Jolly Postman are missed in all their glory unless you know those traditional tales really well. Then there's the clear story conventions and fantastic modelling from fairy tales for our writers right up into Year 6. So with that in mind what about the classic set 'The Kingdom under the Sea', 'Past 8 o'clock' + 'A Necklace of Raindrops' by Joan Aitken' for a steadfast set of fairytales for every occasion.
Then there is the always cheeky and funny 'The Story book Wolves' by Lauren Child which, once again could have multi layers right up to older children-not to be sniffed at just because it's got pics in!
Finally in this 'Fairytale 3' is the new 'Blackberry Blue+other fairytales' by Jamila Gavin. In her intro Jamila explains that she 'wanted to create stories which extended the Europoean image, so that more diverse children could look at the heroes and heroines and say, "That could be me." ' She has done that in this collection with gorgeous subtle, mystical illustrations by Richard Collingridge. I've read the first one which was about the title heroine-blackberry Blue-and seemed appropriate for the time of year. I'm going to stop writing and go and read some more. You need a copy so try and get your hands on one. Can't really say more than the Independent on Sunday who call it 'MAGIC' which is surely enough of a recommendation to curl up with this book.
Finally in this 'Fairytale 3' is the new 'Blackberry Blue+other fairytales' by Jamila Gavin. In her intro Jamila explains that she 'wanted to create stories which extended the Europoean image, so that more diverse children could look at the heroes and heroines and say, "That could be me." ' She has done that in this collection with gorgeous subtle, mystical illustrations by Richard Collingridge. I've read the first one which was about the title heroine-blackberry Blue-and seemed appropriate for the time of year. I'm going to stop writing and go and read some more. You need a copy so try and get your hands on one. Can't really say more than the Independent on Sunday who call it 'MAGIC' which is surely enough of a recommendation to curl up with this book.
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