A Thousand Questions is a story of friendship, families, cultures and differences and it also provides some answers. It shows children that it is possible to build bridges across divisions in order to form friendships and that often people are in fact more similar in their hopes and dreams for the future than some may imagine.
Set in modern day Karachi, this story is told from the perspectives of two eleven year old girls, Maryam known as “Mimi”, daughter of a Pakistan born mother who is separated from Miami’s white American father and Sakina, the daughter of the cook in Mimi’s grandparents’ home. Mimi reluctantly accompanies her mother from Houston back to Pakistan, a country she has never visited before, to stay with her mother’s family for the summer holidays. It is there that she first meets Sakina.
Told as a dual narrative this is a lovely story featuring two likeable characters. Mimi is a curious girl, constantly asking questions, intrigued by an unfamiliar culture and dismayed by the poverty she encounters for the first time. Sakina is more reserved and quiet, less open about her feelings and works hard as a servant to help support her family. Yet both girls are hiding something. Mimi desperately misses her father, writing to him in her daily journal, and nurtures the hope that one day he will return and her family will be reunited. Sakina longs to go to school and gain a proper education. She has already failed the entrance test due to her low result in English but is determined to try again, something she has kept secret from her family. When the two girls meet they are wary of each other seeing only the huge gap between their backgrounds. However from this inauspicious beginning they gradually open up to each other and a cautious friendship develops. Over the summer this friendship will be instrumental in bringing about great changes for them both.
Saadia Faruqi has written this with great understanding and portrays life in Karachi vividly for the reader. I could visualise the city and the various settings and smell the delicious food as I read. The family relationships and the way in which these have influenced both girls are captured in both the dialogue and the unfolding events. The two voices telling the story are distinctive and relatable. Their concerns and interests, their likes and dislikes are all those of any eleven year old but what makes this work so well is the way in which the initial misconceptions and misunderstandings are gradually resolved and we witness how the girls gain an insight into each other’s cultures and this sharing dissolves the hostility and brings about understanding and friendship. This important message is conveyed within an exciting story told with humour and warmth. Without ever being didactic in tone Saadia Faruqi teaches her young readers a valuable and important lesson. Set against the backdrop of a national election the book feels relevant and timely prompting children to think about issues in society such as wealth, poverty, politics and corruption plus family and marriage.
In a week when the latest Reflecting Realities report has been published by the Centre For Literacy in Primary Education we are all aware how important books such as A Thousand Questions are. This would be a valuable addition to school libraries and classrooms enabling children to find children like themselves and discover children they think are different to themselves too. Best of all it shows how friendship can overcome differences through patience, understanding and kindness. A lovely book and very much recommended.
Thank you to Saadia Faruqi and Harper Collins for providing my preview. You can find out more about Saadia, author and inter-faith activist, and her other books on her website.
A Thousand Questions is published on 12th November and is available to buy online or via your independent book shop which can be found here.
Welcome to this week’s look at all the latest child book news and what a busy week it has been. There are award nominations and shortlists, podcasts, interviews and online events in abundance so I hope there is something for all tastes included here.
What I’m reading…
Unfortunately I have not read as much as I hoped or planned this week but I did write my review of Butterfly Brain by Laura Dockrill illustrated by Gwen Millward for Just Imagine. This a kind and poignant portrayal of the importance of memories, dreams and imagination in finding a way to cope with loss and grief. I also finished reading A Thousand Questions by Saadia Faruqi a middle grade story set in modern Karachi. I think that the dual narrative works well at showing how it is possible to discover what unites rather than divides through conversation and understanding. My review will be up on the blog in the next few days.
News, articles and resources…
Exploring Children’s Literature: Podcasts – Nikki Gamble has interviewed a large number of top children’s authors, illustrators and poets and this link will take you to all of them. Perfect listening for children’s book enthusiasts and a fascinating insight into some of the very best books available.
Children’s books roundup – the best new picture books and novels – I always enjoy finding out which books Imogen Russell Williams has selected for her regular feature in the Guardian but these struck me as particularly hopeful and comforting just when we need them.
Little Angel Theatre Production of Clever Cakes by Michael Rosen – this story of a clever, brave girl and how she outwits a greedy bear is told by Michael Rosen accompanied by some lovely puppetry. This production, alongside all of Little Angel’s online activities, is being made available for free. If you are able to consider making a donation – however small – to help the theatre survive during this challenging time, it would be greatly appreciated: https://littleangeltheatre.com/suppor..
Benjamin Zephaniah on new book Windrush Child – Benjamin Zephaniah’s new book Windrush Child is part of the Voices historical fiction series. In this interview he tells Book Trust about the book and why it’s so important to learn your history, and learn it right.
Nominations published for the 2021 CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals – Nominations have been published for the 2021 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals. A total of 152 books have been nominated for the 2021 Medals; 77 books are in contention for the CILIP Carnegie Medal and 75 for the Kate Greenaway Medal. This includes four titles that received nominations in both Medal categories. You can explore the Carnegie nominations here and the Kate Greenaway nominations here.
Waterstones Book of the Year 2020 Shortlist – first introduced in 2012, Waterstones Book of the Year titles are nominated by their booksellers, recent winners have included Sally Rooney’s Normal People and The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. This year’s shortlist includes Diary of a a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty, The Book of Hopes, stories and poems by children’s authors, curated by Katherine Rundell and Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright! An Animal Poem for Every Day of the Year compiled by Fiona Waters and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup.
North Cornwall Book Festival at School – launched on 3rd November the organisers of this festival have created a series of short films for schools and families. These video interviews, which include a creative challenge set by the authors for children to complete in their own time, are entirely free for use either in the classroom or at home. All of the authors involved have been kind enough to dedicate their time to this project for free. The videos are suitable for an age range from primary to KS4 and having watched a couple I think they are excellent.
Celebrating Book Week Scotland in your school – Book Week is celebrated in Scotland from 16th – 22nd November and the resource pack created by Scottish Book Trust is full of activity ideas and display materials that tie into this year’s theme of ‘Future’.
Join the Winter Mini Challenge and become a reading hero! – The Reading Agency are partnering with publishers Knights Of to bring you #EveryoneIsAHero – a challenge celebrating heroes in all their forms. The Winter Mini Challenge encourages children to keep up their reading habits over the winter holidays, with a free-to-access website featuring rewards and incentives for reading and reviewing books. It starts on Tuesday 1 December 2020 and finishes on Friday 15 January 2021.
Non-fiction books to help teens understand the world around them – this month marks Non-Fiction November and these non-fiction books chosen by Book Trust could be a great tool to help teenagers explore and investigate problems in their lives and around the world.
Rain Before Poetry – this is fabulous. An hour spent with Dom Conlon, Matt Goodfellow, David Lichfield, Vivian Schwarz and Smriti Halls discussing poetry, picture books and empathy. I enjoyed every minute.
Following in Dickens’ Giant Footsteps by Catherine Bruton – a guest post on My Shelves Are Full, this is an enjoyable and interesting read about Catherine Bruton’s new MG title for Nosy Crow, Another Twist in the Tale. I also love the sound of the book so another for my lengthy lists.
UKLA Book Awards Longlist 2021 (information texts) – thank you very much to Sadie Phillips for creating this Padlet displaying the non-fiction titles on the UKLA Longlist, it’s particularly useful this month.
Blue Peter Book Awards 2021 Shortlist Announced – There are three books are in the running for Best Story, and three are on the list for Best Book With Facts. The nominated books will now be sent to children in judging schools across the country, who will read them all and then vote for their favourites. Detectives, discoveries and incredible people from history make the line-up.
Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye this week…
Too Much Stuff! by Emily Gravett – as someone who struggles to de-clutter I love the sound of this picture book. A funny, rhyming story introducing young children to the concept of waste, recycling and re-using sounds both helpful and entertaining. In her lovely review Jill Bennett says, “It’s great entertainment…and there’s SO much going on in Emily’s detailed illustrations, every one of which is a mini-story in itself.”
Midnight Guardians by Ross Montgomery – this is Waterstones Book of the Month and I’ve read a great deal of very positive feedback from readers but this lovely review combines the opinions of school librarian Miss Cleveland and her pupils so it’s feedback that matters and they rave about it!
That’s everything for this week and I do hope that it’s helpful. Happy reading!
Hello and welcome to this week’s compilation of news, interviews, resources and reviews linked to books for children and teens.
“When I am attacked by gloomy thoughts, nothing helps me so much as running to my books. They quickly absorb me and banish the clouds from my mind.”
Michel de Montaigne
What I’m reading…
There have been some fabulous books published this year and just when I think I’ve selected my favourite reads of 2020 something comes along to change my ideas. The Silent Stars Go By, the latest YA book by Sally Nicholls, is published in November and is wonderful. Set at Christmas 1919, during the aftermath of the First World War this is social history brought to life through the experiences of characters that I grew to cherish this week. A perfect read for dark, winter evenings or specifically over Christmas time I think this is beautifully written. I have reviewed it for Just Imagine here.
Butterfly Brain by Laura Dockrill illustrated by Gwen Millward is a story told in verse about grief, memories, loss and love. Reading it gave me a great deal to ponder upon and I will be reviewing it within the next few days, again for Just Imagine
This weekend I will continue to enjoy reading A Thousand Questions by Saadia Faruqi, you can read an interview with the author below. Although only a few chapters in I already think this will be a valuable addition to school bookshelves.
News, articles and resources...
Children’s book tells story of Daphne Caruana Galizia – I shared a review of Fearless by Gattaldo a couple of weeks ago and this article provides more background to this remarkable woman’s life and the inspiration for writing the book.
Great School Libraries: Case Studies Blog – if you are looking for inspiration for how to make the most of your school library these examples provide plenty of ideas ranging from newsletters and teachers’ reading groups to inquiry based learning and creating links between primary and secondary.
Courage in World War 2 – Sufiya Ahmed and Tom Palmer 4th November 6pm – an online event organised by Scholastic, you are invited to join Sufiya and Tom in conversation, talking about their books set during the Second World War. You can sign up via the link for a chat about bravery, the importance of history and the true stories told in their books.
Love My Books October Newsletter – in case you missed it earlier I’m sharing this again as it contains so much that may be helpful to both parents and teachers. This edition includes how to a shadow puppet theatre, newbooks and activity pages, downloadable activity booklets for older children and Mary Roche on the importance of reading to babies and toddlers.
Penguin launches project to boost diversity in GCSE reading lists – publisher Penguin Random House has teamed up with the thinktank the Runnymede Trust to boost diversity in reading lists in schools. There is more information in this Guardian article The partnership – Lit in Colour – follows a recent report by Teach First which found that pupils could leave school in England without studying a novel or play by a black or minority ethnic author.
Advice for Writing Poems, Kids Poems and Stories With Michael Rosen – This is great. A Poetry Masterclass in collaboration with Authorfy this Michael Rosen Poetry Masterclass, the other poems, stories and interviews on the channel are free resources and make great starting points for English, TEFL or ESOL lessons or homeschooling.
Shh! We Have A Plan: Opera for Kids– the team who created the wonderful versions of Jon Klassen’s “Hat books” now turn their attention to this lovely, popular picture book by Chris Haughton. If you sign up to the English National Opera family newsletter you will also receive instructions on how to make your own puppet bird so you can join in!
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Expury – this is a gorgeous review of a classic children’s book beloved of adults too but what I loved as much as the review was the beautiful exploration of the importance of listening to stories read aloud. I have returned to this more than once since I read it earlier this week as it reminds me of the happiest and most important memories. Thank you very much to Jack Brown for writing this.
Wrigglers, wanderers, stampers and shy children… reading different stories to different listeners – Jane Porter and Maisie Paradise Shearring winners of the Little Rebels Award 2020 with their book The Boy Who Loved Everyone. They share their book recommendations for children who listen to stories in all sorts of ways. I enjoyed reading this article; it reminded me of reading picture books to nursery children as a Beanstalk volunteer, sadly still on hold at the moment. There are several great suggestions here.
October World Kid Lit Round Up – this fabulous selection collated by Claire Storey and Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp of all the latest news, reviews and details of books in translation plus events is extremely helpful and I love have it all together in one place. Thank you very much, Claire and Ruth!
Blue Peter Book Awards 2021 – the longlists for this popular award were announced this week. Ten books are in the running for Best Story, while ten are on the list for Best Book With Facts. Watch Blue Peter on 5 November to discover which titles end up on this year’s shortlists! The nominated books will then be sent to children in judging schools across the country, who will read them all and then vote for their favourites.
National Non-Fiction November 2020 – don’t forget this annual event celebrating the wonderful world of non-fiction books for children. This year’s theme is The Planet We Share, a subject of importance and concern. There are book lists, ideas and resources available on the website.
Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye this week…
The Last Tree by Emily Haworth-Booth – this thoughtful picture book is one of my favourites of the year so far and this insightful review by Mat Tobin gives a flavour of what the book is like and the reasons why it has such an impact. Mat’s understanding and knowledge of picturebooks always encourages me to revisit them and discover more and this review has had the same effect.
Timelines from Black History by Dorling Kindersley illustrated by Lauren Quinn – this DK children’s book includes more than 30 visual timelines, which explore the biographies of the famous and the not-so-famous – from royalty to activists, and writers to scientists, and more. In her glowing review Jill Bennett says, “This is a book that should be used in all KS2 classrooms and secondary school history departments.”
Along The Tapajos by Fernando Vilela translated by Daniel Hahn – This picturebook, originally published in Brazil, has been longlisted for the UKLA 2021 Book Awards under ‘Information Texts’ and this helpful review on The Values Bookshelf explains why and how it could be used in the classroom
The Ghost of Gosswater by Lucy Strange – I loved The Secret of Nightingale Wood, Lucy Strange’s debut, and this lovely review by Rich Simpson has encouraged me to put her latest book on my to read list. “A dark, Gothic ghost tale in the true Victorian sense, it has all the classic elements of a period scare story…” It sounds perfect for dark, winter evenings.
The Wolf Road by Richard Lambert – this YA debut on themes of grief and loss sounds like a must read as it is receiving accolades from authors I trust such as Hilary McKay. Ben Harris is a reviewer whose opinion I also trust and his fabulous review for Just Imagine has pushed this book up my to read lists. Ben says, “I have been lucky enough to read many excellent books this year, but very few have taken me in their steely grip and struck so forcibly as this one.” Impossible to resist really!
That’s all for this week and I hope you have find something enjoyable, enlightening or useful in this week’s selection. Happy reading.
Hello and welcome to this week’s look at what has been happening in the world of books and reading for children and young people. The kind, thoughtfulness of the children’s book community was in evidence this week when author Anne Booth organised a letter in response to the free school meals vote in Parliament. More than 200 authors and illustrators signed the letter and you can read more on the BBC News site.
What I’m reading...
This week I’ve read and reviewed, with the help of my family, a lovely picture book, Where’s Baby Elephant? by Ali Khodai. This is a joy to share and would make a great present for babies and toddlers.
Sometimes books hold unexpected connections and reminders of other stories, other lives, other possibilities and The Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay is, for me, one of those books. It makes you want to believe in magic, or at least to believe in the power of wonder and imagination, something we may sometimes lose in adulthood. Although described as a children’s book quite honestly I think it’s a book for everyone.
A highlight of my week was the Open University webinar on Reading for Pleasure: the role of book talk, an interesting and inspiring hour of ideas, recommendations and advice. Professor Teresa Cremin was joined by an expert panel of teachers – Ben Harris and Richard Charlesworth, a librarian – Rumena Aktar and the children’s author Smriti Halls. If you missed it the video link is available here and I would highly recommend it.
News, articles and resources…
The Book That Made Me: Eloise Williams – The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is celebrating its 70th anniversary this month and in this edition of The Book That Made Me on the Book Trust website author Eloise Williams explains why it had such an impact on her as a young reader.
The Promise: Bringing The Promise to life in your school, home or community – this is wonderful. A range of videos and resources linked to the picture book The Promise by Nicola Davies and Laura Carlin including tips for how to make your screening of The Promise more engaging. The resources include: a classroom guide for how to prompt discussion and creativity after the screening, ideas for how your school can take collective action and become part of a generation of youngsters who are promising themselves a greener future, and thoughts on how to continue the energy after the day. The videos are also available with signing.
What is Reading For Pleasure? with #MorningBrewEd – Ed Finch and Toria Bono hosted this chat on Sunday 18th October and this helpful blogpost by Toria includes a summary of the chat between their guests, Teresa Cremin, Ben Harris, Sonia Thompson and Richard Charlesworth, links to a video recording of the event and a Recommended Books Padlet. Lots to explore and well worth having a look at this if you missed the event last Sunday.
Tiny Owl Publishers Activity Packs – Tiny Owl publish a range of fabulous picture books and have created free activity packs, full of brilliant ideas to help enrich your readings of many of their books, whether in the classroom, library or at home! More are being added so it’s worth keeping up to date with this website.
Scoop Magazine Black History Month Special – If you’ve not come across it before, Scoop is a magazine for children aged 7-13, that tackles a particular theme every issue. It is created with the help of a guest editor and a young junior editor. This month the guest editor is prize-winning author, Sharna Jackson and the Black History Month issue was curated to help children understand and contextualise discussions around race and racism in positive, inspiring and creative ways.
Glenthorne School Library September Reopening: An Update – school librarian, Lucas Maxwell provides an update on his library and how he is coping with adapting to the current requirements. A helpful look at what works and what doesn’t and the good news that book borrowing figures are soaring!
Stories of Joy and Hope: share your story to win a school visit from Book Trust Writer in Residence Smriti Halls – a competition for primary aged pupils with a deadline of 22nd January 2021 this is an opportunity to encourage children to think about what brings them happiness. It could be a story, a list of joyful things or a series of jokes. The winner will receive a visit by Smriti to their school and the runners up will win a set of her books for their library. All the details are available on the website.
Jenni Jennings & Damaris Young in conversation with Scott Evans 31st October 5pm – Celebrate Halloween with two spooky middle grade reads! Join Jenni Jennings (author of Malice in Underland) and Damaris Young (author of The Creature Keeper and The Switching Hour) for a conversation about their new books with Scott Evans (host of Primary School Book Club). This is the perfect event for the spooky season for young readers and teachers.
Astrid Lingdren Memorial Award 2021 – Congratulations to all who are in the running for the this auspicious award. The list of candidates was announced on Wednesday 21st October. It is one of the most comprehensive lists of the world’s foremost living children’s and young adult’s book creators & reading promoters. The UK section includes the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, Aidan Chambers and Daniel Hahn plus authors including David Almond, Michael Rosen and Katherine Rundell and illustrators Shirley Hughes and Quentin Blake.
Picture books for children – reviews – Imogen Carter’s round up for The Observer includes the follow up to to Jill Murphy’s classic, Peace at Last, the lovely picture book version of Dame Floella Benjamin’s memoir, Coming to England and more to add to your ‘to be read list’.
Little Rebels Award Winner Announcement – Jane Porter and Maisie Paradise Shearring have won the 2020 Little Rebels Award for their picture book The Boy who Loved Everyone. You can read more about the award, the winning picture book and the shortlisted titles in this Books for Keeps article.
Five books to read to children that adults will enjoy – a great selection chosen by Alison Baker Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies, University of East London for The Conversation, for ages three to ten plus and their grownups.
Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye this week...
Who Makes a Forest? by Sally Nicholls and Carolina Rabei – this picture book tells the story of how a forest came to be, a lovely look at the life cycle and what makes up the ecosystem of this habitat. Jill Bennett says in her review, “Whether for home bookshelves or school classroom collections, I strongly recommend this book.”
Fairy Tales Reimagined – Jo Cummins reviews four collections of fairy tales reimagined for the modern era, all of which look tempting and would be great additions to home or school bookshelves.
Mabel and the Mountain by Kim Hillyard – this debut sounds delightful. It tells the story of a tiny fly named Mabel who has big plans and is determined to overcome adversity to achieve her goals. Kate Hitchings describes it as “a lovely book to read aloud” and in addition “it will engage children and inspire them to voice their own dreams.” You can find out more in Kate’s review for Just Imagine.
The Valley of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr – this debut is due out in January 2021 and I am lucky to have a copy which I am saving until I can settle down and savour it properly. This lovely review by Jo Clarke gives you a taste of this WW2 story and its “hauntingly beautiful storytelling,” and it is most definitely one to watch out for next year.
Cane Warriors by Alex Wheatle – this is a book I keep seeing mentioned online as a must read. Based on true events in 1760 Jamaica, a 14 year old slave boy is involved in an uprising against his oppressors this is a fabulous review by Joanne Owen for LoveReading4Kids. She says, “Lucidly lyrical and raw, I cannot praise Cane Warriors enough.”
I hope that this week’s assortment has contained something that has been useful or interesting or maybe just another book to add to your lists. Wishing everyone on half term break this week a relaxing and restoring holiday.
I fell in love with this book from the opening paragraph. Hilary McKay’s gorgeous writing captures both the power of stories to transport us and the promise that magic exists if we open our eyes to it.
“There were no curtains at the window and the room was bare, except for the sofa and Abi’s rocking horse and Abi herself, hunched over her book like a diving bird on the edge of a pool, poised between worlds.”
When we read we make connections, with our own lives and memories, with people the story may remind us of, with the settings and the characters. Instantly, with this first sentence I was transported back to my own childhood and that sensation one feels when you start reading a new book and enter the world created by the author. Others, I am sure, will recognise that moment conveyed so beautifully by Hilary McKay in the prologue to this enchanting story. As I turned the first page alongside Abi doing the same with her book these connections continued. This is a wonderful book, a story to escape into on dark evenings, a story about families with all their imperfections and difficulties but most importantly it is a story full of kind wisdom and an understanding of what matters most to people.
Abi’s mum died when she was a baby and since then she and her dad Theo have been a team aided in life by Granny Grace who dispenses love, wisdom and delicious food. When Theo meets Polly and they decide to marry Granny Grace departs on her long delayed trip to Jamaica and the rest of her family. Twelve year old Abi has not only acquired a step mum but also finds herself now the middle child between two brothers, teenager Max and six year old Louis. Theo and Polly hope that their two families can blend into a happy new one. The reader follows their attempts and the discoveries that they make along the way.
Houses feature in several classic children’s books and in a similar way to Tom’s Midnight Garden and The Children of Green Knowe it is a house that takes centre stage in this story too. The family move into a mysterious ivy clad house next to a graveyard with a lamppost outside reminiscent of that found in Narnia. It is Abi who is first aware of a strange magic in the air. Her beloved stories become more real and she finds herself literally becoming part of their make believe worlds, little Louis receives a visitor who gradually looms larger in his life and eventually sceptical Max succumbs to magic.
Beautiful writing, well rounded and believable characters, tension and humour combine in this story which is magical in the best possible way. Sometimes it is real magic that means most to children and this book is brimming with it. The magic that bonds people together, that makes a house a home and that enables stories to transform readers. As an adult I read this book with that ‘if only’ feeling you have as a child, that perhaps if you believe hard enough magic can really happen. The blurring of reality and imagination is exquisitely done and as I read I could see Iffen just as clearly as Louis does and disappeared into the story almost as completely as Abi in hers.
Hilary McKay creates such fabulous characters and displays an understanding of family life that makes these people real to the reader. Abi is a child who I understood immediately and I loved Louis so easily that as I read I wanted to crouch down and give the little chap a hug. The author’s humour and empathy are particularly apparent in the writing of Max’s struggles with his first crush and friendship issues which arrive simultaneously as he struggles to cope with a new father figure. The way in which hardworking parents have to cope with demanding careers, family life and financial isssues is handled with a reassuring understanding and it is probably helpful and comforting for children to see depictions of this in fiction.
I enjoyed this book so much that I slowed down towards the end as I did not want to say goodbye to these lovely people. There are sentences that one reads twice to savour the use of language and all that is conveyed in a few words. I was going to quote sections but frankly there were too many to choose between. A book for children but for adults too, this cast a magical spell in an unexpected but utterly delightful way. Highly recommended.
My copy was borrowed from my local library but I will be buying my own copy as I definitely want to reread this. The Time Of Green Magic was published in September 2019 by MacMillan Children’s Books and is available online or at your independent book shop which can be found here.
This is a delightful, attractive and interactive book introducing the animal kingdom to young children and would be a lovely gift.
From the eye catching cover to the happy resolution on the final page this lovely book has been a hit with my whole family. The vibrant illustrations are attractive and the array of animals on the front prompt happy book chat before you even turn to the first page. There is a helpful list at the start providing the names of the parents and babies included in the story and this is a perfect way to combine learning with fun. We are invited to “unfold the flaps” but the way in which Ali Khodai has linked the animals together is innovative and extremely effective. Every adult I have shown this book to has commented on the original and clever presentation and it caused great merriment for the youngest member of the family. For example the lions blend into hedgehogs and then to orangutans causing a surprise with each unfold.
This is a clever and enjoyable treat to share and has been read and reread several times already. I have a feeling this will be a long standing family favourite. My three year old assistant reviewer has announced that she “really likes this book” and she’s a discerning audience! Already it is being read to her favourite toys which is a sure sign of approval. This has a traditional feel to it and the hardback edition has sturdy fold out pages making it a great book for toddlers and early years settings. I can wholeheartedly recommend this and it would be a beautiful present.
If I haven’t convinced you the helpful team at Tiny Owl have produced a wonderful video which displays the interactive element beautifully.
Thank you very much to Tiny Owl publishing for providing my copy. Where’s Baby Elephant? was published on 1st October and is available to purchase on the Tiny Owl website. Their are many other fabulous picture books from Tiny Owl and one of my favourites is Felix After the Rain.
Hello and welcome to this week’s look at all the latest children’s book news. This weekly round up is an attempt to highlight articles, news items and useful information, resources or ideas linked to books for children and young people. It’s not possible to include everything but I hope it gives a taste of what is available and is useful to those who read it each week.
What I’m reading...
Six years ago I was lucky enough to receive a proof copy of a debut to review for the Bookbag website in anticipation of its publication in February of the following year. When I read The Dreamsnatcher by Abi Elphinstone I was immediately struck by the distinctive narrative voice and the understanding of the type of story many children love. This month Abi’s latest book, Jungledrop, the second in the Unmapped Chronicles, was published and I enjoyed this one just as much as her previous stories. You can read my review to find out why. This week the whole family have shared a new picture book from Tiny Owl, Where’s Baby Elephant? by Ali Khodai and we all, aged 3 to 89, have declared this a delight! I will post a review next week but this would be perfect for babies, toddlers and for use in early years settings.
On Wednesday I attended the online reveal of the new School Library Association patrons with no idea what to expect. What a treat it was! The new patrons are Juno Dawson, Sarah McIntyre and Smriti Halls and over an enjoyable hour they talked about what school libraries mean to them and how they hope to help and support them in the future. Thank you so much to the hosts for this presentation, Alison Tarrant and Bev Humphrey, for an entertaining and extremely heartening event. You can read a little more about the new patrons and the appeal announced this week in the news section below.
News, articles and resources…
Join Nikki Gamble and 10 Outstanding Authors for An Audience With… – this sounds absolutely wonderful. Nikki Gamble of Just Imagine has launched a curated programme of online events celebrating writers and illustrators of exceptional repute. Follow the link for more information and to book your place.
The Greatest Girls in Children’s Literature? – interesting and thought provoking blogpost by teacher Freya McLaughlin which has already prompted much online discussion. Thank you to Jon Biddle for making me aware of this.
Sarah McIntyre’s Teacher Comic Pack! – this is a great generous idea. Sarah McIntyre has created a half hour workshop leading children in making their own comics. There are videos, helpful advice and free worksheets to download all linked to Kevin and the Biscuit Bandit her new book created with Philip Reeve.
CLiPPA Poetry Award Show LIVE – if you missed this award ceremony being shown live last week you watch the recording of the Award show via the link to the Cheltenham Literature Festival website until December 31st:
CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Shadowers’ Choice Awards – The Shadowing Groups chose The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta, illustrated by Anshika Khullar as their favourite book from the Carnegie shortlist and The Undefeated illustrated by Kadir Nelson and written by Kwame Alexander was voted the Shadowers’ Choice for the Kate Greenaway shortlist. You can find out more about the books and the scheme in this Books for Keeps article.
The 2020 Federation of Children’s Book Groups Children’s Book Award – I was delighted to see that Tom Palmer had won both the award for Books for More Confident Readers category and the overall Award last Saturday. You can find out more about all the winning books as voted for by the children who read them and watch the award ceremony via the link on the FCBG website above.
Pushkin Children’s Round Table October 28th 6.30 – 7.30pm – Pushkin Children’s Books are hosting their first ever round table event, six of their children’s authors – Ele Fountain, Liz Hyder, Kereen Getten, Susie Bower, H.S. Norup and Ayesha Harruna Attah – talking about all things writing, reading and publishing books for young readers. Chairing them in conversation will be Sarah Odedina, Editor-at-Large of Pushkin Children’s Books and editor extraordinaire to these authors. Free but you need to register via the link.
Writes of Passage, selected and with commentary by Nicolette Jones – Writes of Passage, to be published by Nosy Crow in May 2021, is a stunning and uplifting collection of over 100 pieces of writing – poems, prose, speeches, film, play, and song lyrics, quotations, and more – from Shakespeare to Stephen Hawking; Greta Thunberg to Galileo; and Lin-Manuel Miranda to Martin Luther King, Jr. This definitely sounds like one to put on the wish list for next year.
Desert Island Discs with Baroness Floella Benjamin – this is just lovely. Broadcaster, writer, politician and ‘national treasure’ Dame Floella shares her choice of music and talks about her life with Lauren Laverne.
Open University Reading for Pleasure Book Chat – Watch & download FREE resources to help children develop a love of reading. Featuring Ben Harris reading One Fox, Rich Charlesworth reading A House That Once Was and Teresa Cremin reading The Same Inside this is a valuable resource for both home and school. This team are also presenting a free webinar, Sharing the pleasure: the role of talk in reading on Tuesday 20th October 8 -9pm. If you’re quick you can still book a ticket here.
School Library Association New Patrons and Launch of Fundraiser – the new Patrons, Juno Dawson, Sarah McIntyre and Smriti Halls, have launched a fundraiser to look at the impact of lockdown on school libraries. The good & the bad; every service pivoted, every LMS moved to the cloud, every child left without. Please do read about this initiative and support it if you can. Sarah McIntyre published a fabulous new poster on Friday supporting this fundraiser and it is available to download on her website.
Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards 2020 – the winners of this award were announced on Friday, now in their 11th year the awards aim to encourage parents and carers to spend more time reading with their children.
Also the return of Open University Reading for Pleasure Book Blether! Here’s the timetable if you are on Twitter and would like to join in.
Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye this week…
The Tindims of Rubbish Island written by Sally Gardner illustrated by Lydia Corry – Printed in dyslexia-friendly font with pictures on every page and perfect for the reluctant reader aged 5+, the Tindims show keen young ecologists how to help protect our planet for the future. In her review for LoveReading4Kids Andrea Reece says, “Children will love them and their recycled world, and these stories are beautifully accessible and perfectly illustrated by Lydia Corry.”
Midnight Magic by Michelle Harrison, illustrated by Elissa Elwick – the first in a new series this magical mystery story sounds suitable for newly confident readers or to read aloud as Jo Clarke says: “Effortlessly engaging and entertaining, this is a marvellous start to a new series.”
The Ghost of Gosswater by Lucy Strange – I love Lucy Strange’s writing style and her latest book combining a Lake District setting, a ghost and a mystery would have been my ideal read as a ten year old. This lovely review by Emma Kuyateh has made me want to read it now and I’m considerably older than ten!
Witch by Finbar Hawkins – this is an outstanding review by Gordon Askew, and I always trust his reviews. He described this novel as his “YA debut of the year” but goes on to say “I have read only a few other novels this year that can stand comparison with the breathtaking quality of this one.” Witch has now gone soaring up my to read list and I would urge you to read this review to find out more.
Well, another busy week! I hope some of the links are useful to you. Happy reading.
The second story in the Unmapped Chronicles is full of adventure, magic, threat and danger and, most importantly, of the transforming power of kindness and understanding.
Cover illustration by George Ermos
“Take the marble. Then run, girl, run headlong into this adventure. The Unmapped Kingdoms have chosen you and, when magic sets its sights on someone, it’s remarkably hard to wriggle free.”
The Petty-Squabble family is not a happy one. Eleven year old twins Fox and Fibber are united in only one way, a desperate desire to inherit the family fortune and avoid being banished to Antarctica by their business obsessed parents. The children’s separate plans find them together in a mysterious antique shop in a small Bavarian town where an old man reveals that Fox and Fibber have unwittingly released long hidden magic and that magic has chosen them to travel on a quest to save the world.
When the twins are then whisked away to the magical world of Jungledrop, one of the Unmapped kingdoms in charge of our world’s weather, they quickly learn that everything they have been taught by their parents; stamping on others to get on in the world, showing kindness is a sign of weakness and success is measured by wealth, all of this is no use at all when you are up against an evil harpy named Morg and time is running out. They are going to have to learn a different way of behaving and perhaps most difficult of all they are going to have to learn to work together.
Although inspired by the Amazon rainforest the land of Jungledrop is a gorgeously imagined one and Abi Elphinstone has once more created a world that will enchant young readers just like Narnia did for previous generations. This is a world of magical rooftop pathways, mysterious caves holding secrets and enchanted temples. The threat to this magical kingdom mirrors the threat to our own habitats and the story encourages children to notice the beauty and the fragility of the natural world about them and to help to protect it if they can.
In addition to the fabulous setting the reader meets equally fabulous characters. My own favourite was the talking parrot, Heckle, who not only is able to read your mind but also never stops telling everyone what those thoughts are. She has, as you may imagine, a large part to play in the adventure! There are panthers, apothecaries, flying creatures, magical plants and an enchanted map among other delights and this imagined cast of characters build together to create an intricately plotted and satisfying story. At the heart of it all are Fox and Fibber, two of the most unlikely, and in Fox in particular, frankly unlikeable heroes. Yet their development throughout the adventure is what gives this story its heart and the important theme that does, I think, give this book an added impact. This is ultimately a story of redemption, of discovering that kindness is important and that by opening yourself up to others and sharing goals and ideas life can be easier and happier for everyone including yourself.
Comparisons have been made with both C S Lewis and Roald Dahl and I can understand why, the idea of a portal to another world is similar and one that has long held an appeal to readers. The names of many of the characters are reminiscent of Dahl and made me chuckle; how can you not feel sympathy for a magical flying stallion named Total Shambles or want to visit an apothecary called The Constant Whinge? Yet there are important differences. In Narnia the fantasy world was used partly to convey religious themes whereas the Unmapped Chronicles are focussed on the climate crisis which is something that resonates strongly with today’s young readers and could never have been imagined when C S Lewis wrote his books. Abi Elphinstone uses humour in Jungle Drop just as she did in Rumblestar but her humour is subtly different to that of Dahl, kinder and more forgiving. Perhaps in Dahl’s version of this story Fox would have been punished as the irritating children in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were? In Abi Elphinstone’s hands Fox is guided and reassured in order to encourage change which is a much more hopeful and positive message for children.
This exciting story is an escape from reality but rooted in real life concerns. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and feel sure young readers will too. Although the second in the series Jungledrop works perfectly well as a stand alone as sufficient background to the Unmapped Kingdoms is included, however I imagine children will want to read the others in the series too, the first of which is Everdark followed by Rumblestar. Everdark is to be rereleased in a dyslexia friendly format too. I should like to thank Abi Elphinstone and Simon and Schuster for providing my review copy.
Jungle Drop was published on 1st October and is available at your local bookshop or online.
Teachers may be interested in the range of teaching resources, video clips and ideas available on the Authorfy website. It is free to register on the site.
Hello and welcome to this week’s catch up of news from the children’s book world. Black History Month is marked in October, this week saw both Libraries Week and Dyslexia Awareness Week and today is World Mental Health Day and all of these events are of course linked to books and this week’s round up reflects this.
What I’m reading…
This week I read two very different books published by Barrington Stoke, Daisy and The Unknown Warrior by Tony Bradman and World Burn Down by Steve Cole and enjoyed them both. Although different in themes I was struck by the way in which they could both link to the curriculum within schools so have reviewed them in a joint post and linked to teaching resources here in case that would be helpful.
Years ago I read and enjoyed Dame Floella Benjamin’s memoir, Coming to England and this week saw the publication of a picture book version. It is lovely and I would recommend it for both home and school, you can read my review to find out why.
As part of Libraries Week, Tiny Owl Books kindly invited me to write a guest blog post about the need for diverse and inclusive books in libraries. I think that when a school library is inclusive and recognises diversity it sends a positive message to children and helps build bridges and creating understanding. If you are interested you can read my post here.
News, articles and resources…
2020 Children’s Book Award winners to be announced on 10th October – Join hosts Sarah McIntyre and Philip Reeve to discover who has won the CBA awards for 2020. Sarah and Philip will also read you a brand new story – written especially for the Book Awards! – and Sarah will be sharing a drawing masterclass. Saturday 2pm, today!
The Lost Spells Explorer Guide – a free 35-page Autumn Explorer’s Guide to The Lost Spells, by education consultant Eva John. Lesson plans, activities, writing & art challenges, outdoor learning, nature-literacy all free to download.
An interview with illustrator Daisy Hirst – Jake Hope’s interview with this popular illustrator about her work, influences and techniques is an interesting read. Daisy also talks about her book I Do Not Like Books Anymore being selected for the 2020 Read for Empathy Collection.
Jungle Drop by Abi Elphinstone Teaching Resources – the second in the Unmapped Chronicles is out now and there are a range of teaching resources, video clips and ideas available on the Authorfy website. It’s free to register!
Diversifying knowledge of children’s literature by Matthew Courtney – Looking for diversify your knowledge of children’s literature? Be sure to check out this blog post by teacher Matt Courtney on the OuRfP site for advice and links to resources to help teachers and school librarians become ‘agents for change’.
Dyslexia Awareness Week: Dyslexia Creates – Awesome Authors – Jo Cummins has written this interesting blog post featuring some well-known children’s authors who have been quite open about their struggles with dyslexia and how they’ve worked around their difficulties to produce some of our favourite children’s books.
MindYourself – the Mental Health & Wellbeing Reading Guide – Launched this week by Children’s Books Ireland in partnership with ISPCC Childline & JigsawYMH. This guide is a ‘first-aid kit’ for worries, sadness, anxiety & any number of feelings a young person may want to explore. I am impressed by the amount of work that has gone into creating this free and comprehensive guide; full of practical advice and wonderful book lists covering board books for babies all the way to YA titles this is a brilliant resource.
UKLA Book Awards 2021 Longlists Announced – The longlists for the 13th year of these unique book awards highlight a diverse range of authors, from exciting debuts to prize-winners and best-sellers. All the books exemplify the award criteria’s aim of encouraging teachers’ knowledge of high-quality children’s books that can reflect all identities and promote diversity.
Author Tom Palmer’s Free Remembrance Day Resources – This is so helpful and generous. Free resources for schools, including a pre-recorded assembly, a live Q&A, posters, short films from the Somme and Normandy linked to Tom’s books Over the Line, D-Day Dog, Armistice Runner and the Wings RAF series.
Black Lives, Black History & Anti-Racism Book Suggestions – Books for Topics have put together a list of children’s books that celebrate black lives and that explore black history both in the UK and around the globe. They have also included some key titles that support conversations about systematic racism in a child-friendly way. A useful all year round resource and not only for Black History Month.
Book Trust’s Great Book Guide 2020 – the Book Trust team have put together this guide of 100 books from the last year carefully chosen to engage and excite children all the way up to age 11. They are grouped by interest age.
October 2020 Children’s and Young People booklist – Brilliant books by black authors and illustrators – a helpful list compiled by the Reading Agency of 65 brilliant books created by black authors and illustrators. There is something for everyone with fantastic poetry, graphic novels, fiction and non-fiction titles.
Floella Benjamin on turning Coming to England into a picture book – a fascinating insight into the writing process that created the lovely picture book I reviewed above. The importance of teamwork in its creation and balancing the need for historical facts with an awareness of the sensibilities of young children is covered in this a Book Trust interview.
Through the Looking Glasses: A Free Anthology – anthology of illustrations and bedtime stories from wonderful children’s writers and illustrators from around the world edited by Nicolette Jones. Free to download this book has been created to promote the Glasses in Classes campaign.
The Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2020 – this year’s shortlist was announced this week with titles on a variety of subjects, from the tiny microbes in your gut, through the poetic language of code to the wonders of space and beyond. The Prize aims to promote literacy in young people and to inspire them to read about science. It also supports the writing of excellent, accessible STEM books for under-14s. The Prize is unique in that the winner is selected by judging panels made up of young people at schools across the country from a shortlist curated by an adult judging panel.
Zafon Weil wins 2020 CLiPPA (CLPE Children’s Poetry Award) – Poet Zaro Weil was announced the winner of this annual poetry award yesterday for her collection of nature poems, Cherry Moon, published by ZaZaKids Books/ Troika Books and illustrated by Junli Song. You can read more about the award and the shortlisted books in this article in Books for Keeps.
Finally, some bookreviews that caught my eye this week...
Big Bright Feelings – Tom Percival – I am fond of this series of picture books. Sometimes young children lack the vocabulary to be able to articulate their feelings and these books are a perfect way to prompt conversations and also to reassure and comfort. Jo Clarke’s lovely reviews explain how they do this.
The Miracle on Ebenezer Street by Catherine Doyle – if you are super organised you may be planning your Christmas reading and possibly present lists too. This review by Veronica Price has put this on my Christmas wish list as she says, “Catherine Doyle has written a remarkable story which celebrates the colour, beauty, hope and love of Christmas.”
Cherry Moon written by Zaro Weil illustrated by Junli Song – beautiful review by Andrea Reece on LoveReading4Kids by Andrea Reece of the winner of this year’s CLiPPA (see above) “At a time when children need nature more than they ever have, Cherry Moon is a book to treasure.”
That’s all for this week and I do hope that something has proved to be of interest or will be helpful to you. Happy reading!
A picture book that captures the optimism and positivity of Dame Floella herself this inspiring true life story is a joy to read and is made accessible to the youngest of readers.
When Floella Benjamin was ten years old, she and her siblings, sailed from Trinidad to England to join their parents and begin a new life in London. As a child the young Floella was excited about what the future held for them but life in England wasn’t what she had expected. Dame Floella’s memoir was one of the first books I ordered for the school library over twenty years ago and since then it has become an important part of the curriculum in many schools. It is wonderful that this new picture book version will bring her inspirational story to a younger audience.
When this book first arrived on my doormat on a damp, drizzly morning I said at the time that it felt as though the sun had come out and I really can’t better that description now. This is a joyful picture book with a powerful and optimistic message at its heart; that determination and courage and of course kindness can overcome many things in life. Dame Floella’s personal story is complemented perfectly by Diane Ewan’s vibrant illustrations which are a delight. The cheerful cover illustration depicting the family’s arrival is followed by endpapers showing the stunning natural world of Trinidad and then the details of family life from both before and after the journey contain detail for young readers to pore over. It is an inviting and eye catching package.
This deeply personal story of the Windrush generation is as important now as it has ever been. I was struck by the words on the very first page spoken by Dame Floella’s father, “We have been invited to go to England.” We need to remember that word, ‘invited.’ This lovely story empathises the importance of kindness and the difference it can make. The scenes where the young Floella is trying to make friends at her new school will resonate with young children everywhere. A beautiful picture book for schools and families spreading a thoughtful and important message.
I should like to thank Clare Hall-Craggs and MacMillan Children’s Books for kindly providing my review copy. Coming to England was published on 8th October and is available at all good bookshops and online.
If you would like to find out more about Dame Floella Benjamin you may like to visit her official website.
Historian David Olusoga read Coming to England on CBeebies earlier this month and if you are quick you can still watch it here. It is available until the end of the month and is wonderful.
Library Lady 