Reading Matters – news from the world of children’s books

Posted on February 8, 2020 by alibrarylady

Hello everyone and welcome to another look back at what has been happening in the children’s books community this week. It has been a very busy few days with award ceremonies and shortlist announcements, many new books published and interesting articles to read. These are just some of the items that I noticed.

What I’m reading…

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This week I have read a selection of books for younger children that would tempt even the most reluctant readers and reviewed them here:  New Books Out This Month – Facts and Fiction Made Accessible for Children

The publishers Tiny Owl kindly sent me a copy of Felix After The Rain by Dunja Jogan translated by Olivia Hellewell. This is a very special book about coping with difficult emotions and I would highly recommend it to children and adults alike.

There are many great children’s books being published this month and I would love to be able to read them all. This week I made time for Little Bird Lands by Karen McCombie and am now halfway through and enjoying it very much. My review will follow soon.

News and views from the world of children’s books…

Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) “Visibly invisible”: publish, support, and promote authors of colour – The latest blog in the #ReflectingRealities series looks at the link between quality of ethnic representation in children’s books & authorship, written by Dr Melanie Ramdarshan Bold.

Book Clinic: Stories to captivate reluctant boys –  in this regular feature from the Guardian Jasbinder Bilan (winner of the Costa Children’s Book Award 2019) chooses books that may tempt twelve year old boys.

Twenty Seven of the Best: A Personal Reading Journey by Daniel Hahn – this article was published in Books for Keeps last year but feels appropriate to share this week as each of the stories comes from a different one of the twenty-seven countries who will continue to constitute the European Union.

It’s a My Book Corner Take Over by Zoe Armstrong – a lovely interview with Emma Perry, founder of My Book Corner, and author of I Don’t Like Books. Never. Ever. The End. which was published this week.

Book Trust: New Children’s Books We Love – February is a busy month for children’s book lovers with many new titles published. The team at Book Trust have selected their favourites for ages 3 – teens.

Black History Month – 20 Recommended Authors – Jim Dean @JimYaYeah has selected some of his favourite titles from Middle Grade through YA to Adult in this list.

Reading Well Book List for Children – The Reading Agency has created this list in response to data about children’s mental health in the UK. The list covers areas such as anxiety, bereavement and bullying with books by Michael Rosen, Tom Percival, Zanib Mian and Joseph Coelho selected by leading mental health experts to support the mental health and wellbeing of children. 

Picture Books on Prescription – this interesting article from the Guardian on the power of picture books on prescription & the expert-endorsed new Reading Well for children booklist launched this week mentioned above.

The Open University Research Rich Pedagogies –  Developing Reading for Pleasure – this wonderful site contains links to research, examples of good practice and a free to download PowerPoint presentation which makes a case on the importance of Reading for Pleasure in schools that may be useful for staff meetings.

BookTrust research has revealed that more than a quarter of a million UK primary school children are experiencing literary poverty. – A child in literary poverty is defined as a child who is read to or with for pleasure, for less than 15 minutes a week outside of school. In response to the report Book Trust has launched its fundraising Pyjamarama campaign to call on families to rediscover the joy of reading.

Evernight by Ross Mackenzie Scottish Book Trust Schools Book of the Month – I was lucky enough to review this wonderful book for The School Librarian and this is an interesting interview with the author and an opportunity to win a copy of the book for your school too.

Waterstones Children’s Book Prize Shortlists Announced – Congratulations to all the authors, illustrators and publishers of this fabulous selection of books. I’m delighted to see The Middler and Asha and The Spirit Bird on the younger list.

Winners of Laugh Out Loud (Lollies) Book Award Announced – The books were chosen by teachers on behalf of their classes from shortlists drawn up a judging panel chaired by Michael Rosen.

Finally, some book reviews that caught my eye this week…

Pie in The Sky by Remy Lai – ‘A brilliant read for empathy, and one that should be in every school.’ says Nicki Cleveland @MissNCleveland in her lovely review of this book about emigration and loneliness.

Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Missing Diamonds by Annabelle Sami (Illustrated by Daniela Sosa) – a contemporary new series for fans of The Sinclair’s Mysteries and the Murder Most Unladylike books. “I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of a lighthearted mystery, very enthusiastic fangirls, secret staircases, mazes, dancing at weddings, and very enthusiastic adorable dogs!” says @starshynebrite in her review.

Sticky Pines: The BigWoof Conspiracy by Dashe Roberts – “It’s glorious, utterly glorious and comes with our highest recommendation.” says @ReaditDaddy in his tempting review of this debut published by Nosy Crow.

CLPE Teacher YouTube Book Reviews – have you seen these weekly video book reviews explaining how to use special books in the classroom?  This one by Charlie Hacking from CLPE on The Dam by David Almond and Levi Penfold is a great one to start with.

Thank you for reading and I hope that you have found something interesting or helpful within this week’s links. Don’t forget it’s International Book Giving Day on 14th February so you may like to find out how to share some book love on Valentines Day by visiting their official website

Back with more news next week…

 

 

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Felix After The Rain – written and illustrated by Dunja Jogan Translated by Olivia Hellewell

Posted on February 7, 2020 by alibrarylady

This is such a beautiful book. Wonderful illustrations which encourage the reader to linger combine with a rich text to create something that will comfort and reassure. Highly recommended for children of all ages and quite probably adults too. 

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Felix is an unhappy boy. He carries a large black suitcase around with him everywhere. Although he does not really understand what is in the suitcase it contains the grief he felt following the death of his grandmother, the hurt felt when friends are unkind and the worry felt when his father told him off. All these feelings are locked away in the case. Until one day a little boy opens the suitcase while Felix sleeps and releases the sorrow, fears and troubles that have been hidden inside. Felix is uplifted and, full of joy, he rejoins the world around him and discovers that he is welcomed.

Sometimes pictures convey emotion in a way that touches the reader more than words are able to. Dunja Jogan’s beautiful illustrations are full of feeling and understanding, encouraging the reader to empathise with Felix and, perhaps, to identify their own worries and emotions too. As in all the best picture books much of the story is depicted in the illustrations and as I read this book for the first time I found myself lingering and ‘reading’ the pictures too.

When we first meet Felix he is slumped next to the large black suitcase. His dejection is matched by the gloomy background in sombre colours, the branches of one of the trees sweeping down mirroring Felix’s stance. As the story progresses the suitcase grows larger as the weight of Felix’s troubles becomes heavier for him to bear. The reader notices too that there is light and colour on the pages but not around the figure of Felix. There is a happy world out there but it is just out of the reach of Felix.

When the small boy opens the suitcase and all the unhappiness is released Felix must weather the intense storm of feelings that swamp him and the tears that flow. Calm again he returns to a world of colour and joy that he can be part of and finds that he is welcomed and embraced by others. The dark swirling clouds, weeping faces and clenched fists of the storm are replaced by vibrant colours, smiles and happy scenes. Felix has discarded his black clothes, and lifts his face up to the beautiful world around him. The joyous cover of the book shows Felix after the storm has passed and invites the reader to follow his journey to an optimistic and hopeful ending.

The translated text by Olivia Hellewell is rich and almost lyrical and this would be lovely to read aloud. The vocabulary working so well with the pictures; during the storm Felix ‘felt a rumble in his head’ and “tears ran down his cheeks like the rain’. Happy again he feels ‘like a fish in water’ rather than feeling like he does not belong.

This is a wonderful book to prompt discussion with children about emotions and how to handle feelings of sadness, depression or anxiety. It could also be a useful and comforting read for children experiencing bereavement. The story ends with Felix being gently embraced by those around him. I think this is perfect. Felix is being treated with care, he will not be overwhelmed by others as he rejoins the world he had cut himself off from. This will, I think, reassure children that should they be brave enough to communicate their worries and not hide them away they too will be treated with gentleness and care.

Thank you very much to the publishers, Tiny Owl Publishing, for providing my review copy, I will treasure it.

Felix After the Rain is published on 20th February and this lovely video trailer provides a taste of what to expect:

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New Books Out This Month – Facts and Fiction Made Accessible for Children

Posted on February 4, 2020 by alibrarylady

As a primary school librarian I was always looking out for books that would hook those children that it was a little bit harder for me to reach. The children who found reading a little tricky or maybe just not much fun. One of the more positive aspects of children’s publishing over the last few years is the growth in the number of titles available that make this an easier job for librarians and teachers.

Today on the blog I am sharing three great books published this month that should engage a wide range of children and not only the avid bookworms in your life.

Five Ways to Make a Friend by Gillian Cross illustrated by Sarah Horne

C230B644-7D32-421C-9956-67B636935339A lovely story about finding friendship, this title from Barrington Stoke deals with common anxieties that children face with kindness and humour. The exuberant illustrations accompanying the text complete the appeal of this touching book which I think will reassure young readers.

It is Ella’s first day at her new school and she is feeling a little worried. She is missing her old school and her friends but does not want to let her Dad know and worry him. Her first day proves to be worse than she had imagined. The other girls in her class don’t seem interested in her and at lunch break, like many new pupils, she goes to the library rather than be on her own in the playground. On the shelves she discovers a book called Five Ways to Make a Friend. Could this be the answer to her problem thinks Ella. Perhaps it will be but maybe not quite in the way that she imagined.

This is a gentle story told with humour and kindness. Although it covers the problems that children starting a new school may encounter it deals with them in positive manner that I think children will find comforting. Gillian Cross has written a story that will encourage children to find the confidence to be themselves. It also shows how true friendship may be hiding in plain sight, perhaps a useful lesson. The accompanying illustrations are jolly  and relatable for young readers. One other point worth mentioning is that there is no mention of Ella’s mother and this book may be useful if you looking for fiction depicting single parent families.

Five Ways to Make a Friend is available to purchase at all good bookshops or online

Anna Gain and the Same Sixty Seconds by Guy Bass illustrated by Steve May 

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This is Groundhog Day for children and is both entertaining and very funny. The illustrations match the mood of the story perfectly and this is a book that should be a hit with even the most reluctant reader. I think it would be great read aloud too.

Anna Gain thinks that it is very important to be punctual. She is never late for anything. She is certainly never late for the school bus each morning. Then one morning something happens. Actually several somethings and poor Anna misses the school bus. She is horrified. But then she finds herself transported back in time and has the opportunity to put things right. However no matter how hard Anna tries things don’t work out and she misses the bus again. Over and over again she tries and fails. Will she ever catch the bus or is she being taught an important lesson?

I loved this and think it will appeal to young readers. Guy Bass has taken a scenario that is instantly recognisable to children and twisted it into an hilarious and chaotic adventure. However Anna learns a valuable lesson through her experience and realises that instead of treating time as something that can be beaten in fact every second is precious.

Both those books are published by Barrington Stoke and are presented in a style that is dyslexia friendly using a special typeface, extra line spacing and cream paper. However they would also be an excellent quick read for more confident readers.

Anna Gain and the Same Sixty Seconds is available to preorder here

Jasper: Viking Dog by Hilary Robinson illustrated by Lewis James

C3A7915D-20C9-4E77-9ADA-0156413B4A04The second in this new series finds Jasper discovering what life was like as a Viking. Through a series of letters written to an expert historian he and his friend Charlie Tanner discover fascinating facts while sharing lots of laughter along the way. A perfect introduction to history for young children.

The first book in this series Jasper: Space Dog linked to the anniversary of the first Moon landing and taught young readers about space. In this book Jasper thinks that he may be descended from the Vikings so his friend Charlie writes to the curator of the Bogna Viking Museum to find out if indeed Vikings had dogs and if so what they were like. The obliging curator, Astrid, advises the curious duo that yes, they did, and they were used for hunting bears and moose. So begins a series of exchanges in which Astrid answers questions, sorts out misunderstandings and teaches the boy and his dog all about the Vikings. There is a lot of information included in this little book and young readers will learn as they are entertained. We discover that Vikings were fond of bleaching their hair, were keen skiers and that wireless technology Bluetooth is named after a Viking leader. We even learn that fossilised Viking poo was discovered in York! How will children resist sharing this fact?

The illustrations have bags of appeal for children and this book is presented in a style that makes it readily accessible for emerging readers. This is a lovely way of blending facts and fiction that will engage and enthuse children. I would recommend this book for primary classrooms and school libraries.

Jasper: Viking Dog is available to preorder here

Further books are planned and will cover Everest, Eco Living and more. A series to watch out for!

Thank you to Kirstin Lamb, Barrington Stoke, Hilary Robinson and Strauss House Productions for providing my review copies.



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Reading Matters – News from the world of children’s books

Posted on February 1, 2020 by alibrarylady

Hello everyone and welcome to another look at some of the latest news in the children’s book world. Happy new month! We have lots to look forward to in February including Harry Potter Book Night,  International Book Giving Day and the announcement of the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards longlists.

What I’m reading…

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This week I finished reading The One That Got Away by Jan Mark. A mix of school stories and everyday family life they have contained a dry humour that I did not expect and some deliciously spooky, and occasionally deeply sinister, episodes. A big thank you to the #JanMARKuary team especially Ben Harris @one_to_read and Jon Appleton @appletonsbooks for introducing me to this excellent author. Ben has written a summary of the month here and it is well worth a read as I think it perfectly describes the appeal of this author. It is also evidence that Twitter can be a civil, interesting and entertaining medium sometimes! This morning Chris Lovegrove has written a thoughtful article about the short story collection that we shared. If you are not already following his blog I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

I have also read another Jan Mark book, the Carnegie Award winning Thunder and Lightnings, in readiness for the first #ClassicChildrensBooksClub to be hosted by author Christopher Edge on Sunday 2nd February at 8pm.  Do join in if you can, it’s sure to be interesting.

News and Views From the World of Children’s Books…

Children’s and Teens Round Up: the best new picture books and novels – Imogen Russell Williams can be relied upon to provide a wonderful and tempting taste of the latest children’s literature in her regular articles for The Guardian. Her first contribution for 2020 is full of brilliant books for all ages.

What makes a great school author visit? – Children’s author Andy Seed travels all over the UK visiting schools. In this helpful blogpost he writes about a recent extremely successful visit and explains what made it such a success. A useful read for school librarians, teachers and authors and illustrators too.

Love My Books – this great website contains a wonderful range of free resource and activity ideas linked to books for toddlers and young children suitable for both nursery/school settings and parents. New books have been added recently and this is well worth a visit. There’s an advice section specifically for parents too.

The Missing: The True Story of My Family in World War 2 by Michael Rosen – Booktrust interview with award winning writer and former Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen about his new book and how we can best talk to children about the Holocaust.

Library Research Lesson using No Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton – School Librarian, Lucas Maxwell has designed a lesson to teach pupils how to use Google effectively while learning about the Syrian refugee crisis. He has kindly shared downloadable resources too. If you are not familiar with this excellent book you can read my review here.

World Book Day Brand New Author and Illustrator Masterclasses – 12 new films have been created by the WBD team to inspire children aged 5 – 12 and they feature some fabulous people such as Matt Haig, Cressida Cowell, Katherine Rundell and many more. You can register now and use the films when convenient to you.

From Auschwitz to Ambleside: Tom Palmer – Barrington Stoke announced that in May they will be publishing a new novel by Tom Palmer inspired by the true stories of the Windermere Children, After the War: From Auschwitz to Ambleside. After the War was researched and written with the support of the Lake District Holocaust Project. and is a powerful and evocative fictional account of the real-life child refugees who escaped concentration camps for a new life in the Lake District. Tom Palmer and Barrington Stoke have already proved that they are a winning combination and this is definitely a book to watch out for. 

Tiny Owl Publishers Free Posters  – brilliant new posters for The Drum, The New Baby and Me, The Elephant’s Umbrella, There’s Room for Everyone and more that would look wonderful decorating homes, libraries or bookshops are free to download from their website.

Branford Boase Award Longlist Announced – The Branford Boase Award was set up in memory of award-winning author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase, and is given annually to the author of an outstanding debut novel for children. Uniquely, the Branford Boase Award also honours the editor of the winning title and highlights the importance of the editor in nurturing new talent. The fabulous list includes The Middler and Asha and the Spirit Bird. 

Children’s Book Sequels – This useful website helps you discover the right order of any series from Harry Potter to Biggles, from Young Bond to The Hunger Games. New titles and series have been added to the site recently and this is a useful reference tool.

Great Children’s Books Featuring BAME Characters – this week Darren Chetty posted a helpful link to all the Beyond the Secret Garden articles he has written with Karen Sands-O’Connor for Books for Keeps magazine. An excellent #ReflectingRealities resource.

Children’s Mental Health Week – takes place this coming week, 3rd – 9th February and this year’s theme is ‘Find Your Brave’. Alison from Books for Topics has collated a helpful list of Books to Support Mental Health Awareness and there are free resources available on the official website too.

The Boy Who Dreamed of Dragons by Andy Shepherd, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie– Jo Clarke @bookloverjo hosted the cover reveal of the latest book in this lovely series for younger middle grade readers. It will be published on 11th June and no doubt will be just as popular as the previous books.

Library Lovers Month – to mark February being a special time to cherish our libraries Just Imagine have interviewed current School Librarian of the Year, Ros Harding and discovered how she has made sure that her school library makes a difference. An excellent read if you are looking for ways to make your library a Great School Library.

Meet the Author – An Interview With Nicola Penfold – Ian Eagleton of The Reading Realm interviewed Nicola about her debut, When the World Turns Wild, as part of this week’s blog tour. This book is next up on my reading list and it sounds wonderful.

Finally, some reviews of children’s books that I have enjoyed this week:

The Highland Falcon Thief by MG Leonard and Sam Sedgman – this wonderful review by @chaletfan is so full of enthusiasm that I feel sure I will enjoy the book too. She describes it as “a vibrant and well-crafted story and one that gives you an incredibly rich mystery/adventure in the process.” How can we resist that?

Monster Slayer by Brian Patten and Chris Riddell – a retelling of the classic tale of Beowulf published by Barrington Stoke this is described as a “fabulous introduction to a timeless story” by Louise Nettleton @Lou_Nettleton in her review. This sounds like a must buy for school libraries and classrooms.

Patina by Jason Reynolds–  Knights Of are already displaying a knack for publishing books that make a difference. Veronica Price’s review of this follow up to Ghost suggests that this is going to be another hit as she says: ‘I cannot recommend it highly enough as a thoroughly gripping story to add to your “read-for-empathy” collections for anyone of 10+.’

Thank you for reading and I hope that you have found something interesting or helpful within this week’s links. Back with more news next week…



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Reading Matters – news from the world of children’s books

Posted on January 25, 2020 by alibrarylady

Hello and welcome to another news update where we look back at the week in books for children and young people. This is a collection of links to articles and websites that I hope will be helpful to librarians, teachers and parents.

What I’m reading…

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My introduction to the award winning author, Jan Mark continues and I am enjoying my daily dip into The One That Got Away collection of short stories. Unfortunately I have not been able to join in with the #JanMARKuary discussion on Twitter but catching up with it later is teaching me a great deal about this respected author and her writing. I also have a copy of her Carnegie Award winning book, Thunder and Lightnings, ready for #ClassicChildrensBooksClub with author Christopher Edge on Sunday 2nd February.

In my role as a StoryStarter with the Beanstalk charity I am working with a new group of children this term. My three little charges have enjoyed You Choose by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodheart, a book that I find a great tool for prompting discussion and getting to know each child a little better. This week we moved onto There’s a Shark in the Park also by Nick Sharratt. Time for lots of excited shouting and exploration with pretend telescopes!

This week I have reviewed two debuts, The Girl Who Stole an Elephant by Nizrana Farook and Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan both of which I enjoyed very much. I also wrote about my reaction to the new adaptation of Little Women.

News and views from the world of children’s books…

The Lost Spells by Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris – Hamish Hamilton will publish The Lost Spells, a new collaboration from Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, the bestselling duo behind The Lost Words, on 1st October 2020. This will be a pocket sized hardback containing a new set of natural poems and illustrations.

Brian Wildsmith Website – a new website was launched on 22nd January to coincide with what would have been this celebrated illustrator’s 90th birthday. It contains beautiful examples of his artwork and links to his many books. Do have a browse, it is lovely.

World Book Day Share a Million Stories – this year the organisers of World Book Day are on a mission to get the nation to Share A Million Stories. At home or at school, in bookshops and libraries, every story you share will count & could win you £1000 of books during the period from 27th February to 29th March. You can register now via the link above.

Read for Empathy Collections – Empathy Lab UK launched two collections of books one suitable for primary and one for secondary. The books have been specially selected by an expert panel to build empathy in children and young people. Each collection has its own Read for Empathy Guide with a synopsis of all of the books, top tips for sharing stories and more information about Empathy Day, 9 June 2020.

Q & A with Miranda McKearney Founder of Empathy Lab– Alison at Books for Topics interviews the founder of Empathy Lab to find out more about this year’s collections and the background to Empathy Day.

Booktrust’s Pyjamarama Returns – Pyjamarama is all about getting children reading. Booktrust is asking children around the country – in schools, nurseries, clubs and at home – to spend a fun-filled day in PJs and donate £1 to help give every child a bedtime story. The day takes place on Friday 5th June and there are free resources, tips and ideas available on the website ready for you to prepare.

Puffin 80th Birthday Celebrations – The publisher will mark 80 years since being founded by Allen Lane this year. In May, Puffin will publish The Puffin Book of Big Dreams, a collection of over 40 new stories. As well as Malorie Blackman and Jacqueline Wilson, contributors include Tom Fletcher, Humza Arshad, Julia Donaldson, Nick Sharratt and Helen Oxenbury among others.

The Schools’ Hub from Chicken House Publishers – This looks brilliant! Educational resources that work with Chicken House books and align with the Key Stage 2 and 3 curriculums. Content created by teachers and librarians that have a passion for reading, PDF downloads of chapter-by-chapter guides, schemes of work, videos and useful links to external resources are here to help with class or book club planning.

Great School Libraries Case Studies – School librarians create readers. However they do much more besides. Have a look at these case studies and get inspiration for everything from well-being to spotting fake news.

Finally some book reviews that have caught my eye this week …

Max Kowalski Didn’t Mean It by Susie Day – ‘a warm and hopeful read which I’d absolutely recommend to anyone who loves reading wonderful children’s novels with bags of heart.’ says Jim, @Yayeahyeah in his review. Jim is one of my ‘go to’ reviewers and is so knowledgeable about children’s, teen and YA fiction that I have put this on my to read list straight away.

Where the World Turns Wild by Nicola Penfold – this debut due to be published next month is reviewed by children’s writer, K M Lockwood: ‘There are moments of loveliness to remind the reader what we truly care about – special moments with families and friends, and in the natural world.’ I’m looking forward to reading this and you can find out more during the blog tour next week:

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I Don’t Like Books. Never. Ever. The End by Emma Perry and Sharon Davey – ‘a wonderful book to encourage a love and a curiosity about books and I thoroughly recommend it to parents, educators, librarians’ says Lily Fae @faeryartemis in her lovely review of this picture book due out next month. This sound perfect.

That’s all for this week. I hope you have found something here of interest. Happy reading!

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Little Women – entertainment or empathy?

Posted on January 22, 2020 by alibrarylady

Little Women has always been a book that has mattered to me. Last week I finally managed to see the Greta Gerwig adaptation of this classic loved by generations of readers and it made me realise once more why it matters so much. It is a story full of love, understanding and ultimately of tolerance too. As I write this the new Empathy Lab collections have been announced in preparation for Empathy Day in June. These books are titles that offer children a way to understand people different to themselves, to respect and value others and to develop empathy skills. It occurred to me that had such a list existed in the 1800s perhaps Little Women should have been included!

When I was about ten or eleven, my Mum said that she thought I might be ready to read one of her own favourites from childhood. It had been a present from her older sister who coincidentally had given me my much loved copy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Mum then handed me a fat, rather battered looking hardback book with slightly discoloured pages. It had, I thought, a rather ‘grown up’ look to it. The book was Little Women by Louisa M Alcott. I tentatively took the book, honestly not sure what to expect. Although very different to anything I had read before, I became engrossed. The language and content bore little resemblance to my own life but something about it touched me. I think it was partly that I knew my Mum had loved it. The handing on of this story about a mother and her daughters felt a little like a rite of passage. I wanted so much to be like Jo, thought that my Mum probably liked Meg best and we both agreed that Amy was infuriating. We talked about the book together and I went on to read the rest of the series. This was a story shared and loved together. I know that I am not alone in this experience. Little Women is a book that is recommended and handed on to the next generation and sometimes it is the sharing that makes it special. When we recommend a book we are really recommending what is important to us. Little Women is the type of book that is shared as we grow into adolescence therefore we grow alongside the characters so it feels even more relevant.

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Illustration from my own copy of Little Women given to me by my mum.

Some have said that they found the non linear narrative of the new film a bit confusing but I think it gave it added poignancy. Greta Gerwig has captured in her adaptation the way in which the four adult sisters retain the core essence of themselves as children. As my own sister who I watched the film with commented, “They’re the same, just a little more weary.” We laughed as we recognised ourselves in that description and just like the March sisters we reflected on our shared childhoods and teen years and how little we have changed really. That is one of the key themes of the book and the film and the reason I think it matters. The sisters are very different characters with different hopes and dreams so inevitably their lives will follow different paths. As the story unfolds they learn to respect each other’s hopes and dreams. Just because their dreams are different does not mean they are not equally important. Yet throughout all their experiences Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy are still, deep down, the same people they have always been.

Throughout the book the impetuous Jo tries to learn to control her temper with mixed results. She is famously tested by Amy’s wilful and selfish actions at one point. Yet the two sisters do learn to forgive each other and mature into a trusting and loving relationship. A wonderful example of understanding and developing empathy. The book itself opens with Jo bemoaning the fact that they will not be receiving many Christmas presents because they are “poor”. A little later in the book the girls are asked by their mother to donate their Christmas breakfast to the Hummel family who are in dire need. The girls oblige and troop off together to help. As a child I remember being impressed with this act of generosity and wondered if I could manage to be so kind. Now as an adult I think it shows great empathy with others in difficult situations.

The new film version portrays these episodes as childhood memories looked back upon by the young women they have become. We witness how experience shapes us and this, I think, gives the story a different feel to the original. The actors caught the defining characteristics of the sisters beautifully and in a couple of cases gave them a little extra. Emma Watson’s Meg had a little more joy about her than some previous versions had and for the first time Amy, as portrayed by Florence Pugh, developed a dignity as she grew up and I found her a much more sympathetic character.

As many critics have already commented upon, the ending as written by Gerwig is thoughtful, ambiguous and clever. Personally I loved it. The idea of a book within the book and the merging of Jo’s character with that of the author appeals to the book lover in me. A story about the ordinary, the everyday and the seemingly unimportant has become a book that is cherished many, many years after it was written. There has to be a good reason for that. Perhaps that reason is that we all need a little kindness, hope and empathy.

 

 

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Children’s Books Debuts – new voices making a difference

Posted on January 20, 2020 by alibrarylady

Over the last few days I have been transported to far away lands to accompany brave young heroines on epic journeys and I have loved every moment of it. The publishers Nosy Crow had sent me a proof copy of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant a debut by Nizrana Farook and I had earmarked it to read this month to coincide with its publication. I had also decided to add the winner of the Costa Book Award for best children’s book to my reading list. Earlier this month Asha and The Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan published by Chicken House, another debut, was announced as the winner. These two wonderful books complemented each other well and ensured a very enjoyable reading week.

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First of the two was The Girl Who Stole an Elephant selected as Waterstone’s Children’s Book of the Month. Set in Sri Lanka this is an exciting adventure featuring an irrepressible and brave heroine. Chaya is a thief who steals from the rich to help those in need or in trouble, however this time she has gone too far. Chaya has stolen the queen’s jewels. This has serious repercussions that she had never anticipated which result in her best friend Neelan paying a huge price for Chaya’s recklessness. She is determined to put things right. However things don’t go to plan and Chaya, Neelan and their companion, Nour flee by riding the King’s stolen elephant into the Sri Lankan jungle where their adventure becomes even more dangerous.

The setting is beautifully drawn in this fast paced story and the descriptions are full of interest for young readers who will, I think, find jungle life captivating. There are moments of great tension and the short chapters, frequently ending in a cliff hanger, are packed with excitement and drama, making this perfect for children who may lack reading stamina. You are carried along on a wave of thrills and danger from the dramatic opening lines onward. This would be wonderful read aloud in schools and would have a wide appeal. The interplay between the characters is interesting and felt believable. We watch as the characters develop, particularly Chaya, and their attitudes to each other alter. This book had a fresh and original feel yet still retained at its heart the classic epic adventure journey. A wonderful story.

Jasbinder Bilan author of Asha and the Spirit Bird won the 2017 Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction competition with this inspiring story of two children who undertake a dangerous journey into the Himalayan mountains. Beautifully written and both touching and uplifting this is a thoughtful story about the importance of family and being brave to help those you love.

Asha misses her father who is away working in the city, money is tight and her mother is tormented by a ruthless moneylender. Asha resolves to find her father and put things right before it is too late. She and her best friend Jeevan face an arduous journey across the mountains suffering tiredness and hunger and they are running out of time. Asha’s mother will leave for England if she cannot repay the moneylender by the time of Divali just a few weeks away.

The children experience both good and bad on their mammoth journey and their friendship grows stronger as a result. They face the dangers of wolves, tigers and devious, wicked junkyard owners and are helped by kindly shepherds. Throughout it all Asha is sustained by the sense that her ancestors, particularly her grandmother, are watching and guiding her. I enjoyed this story very much and the descriptions of the lands the children pass through, the food they eat and other details brought their world to life vividly for me. Books such as this one enable children to learn as they read without it feeling as though they are being taught. The glossary at the start of the story is helpful too. There is tenderness and care in the relationships and the author allows the friendship between Asha and Jeevan, on the cusp of adolescence, to hint at the possibility of it developing into something more. Her religion is important to Asha and the spirituality and her strong family bond even to those who are no longer with her is touching. She, like Chaya in The Girl Who Stole an Elephant, is brave and she is, I think, an extremely engaging character. Highly recommended for both reading for pleasure and as a class book which would prompt discussion and links to the curriculum.

Children’s books are somewhat neglected in the main stream media unless they are written by the ‘big names’. These two excellent debuts are shining examples of the high quality children’s literature available and I hope that their exposure will be heightened by their success as an award winner and a book of the month in shops on the high street.

Thank you to Nosy Crow publishers for providing my review copy of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant.

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Reading Matters – News from the world of children’s books

Posted on January 18, 2020 by alibrarylady

Welcome to the second Reading Matters of the year and thank you to everyone who gave me such kind and positive feedback last week. I will try to make this a regular weekly feature if possible and hope that it will be a useful resource for busy school librarians, teachers and parents. This has not been quite such a news packed week as last but there is still plenty of positive news for us to enjoy in the world of children’s books.

What I’m reading…

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Sometimes my reading takes me on unexpected journeys and sometimes books may, by coincidence, be linked in some way, be it theme or time period, genre or character. This happened this week and made my reading particularly enjoyable. The publishers Nosy Crow had sent me a proof copy of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant a debut by Nizrana Farook and I had earmarked it to read this month to coincide with its publication. I had also decided to add the winner of the Costa Book Award for best children’s book to my reading list. Last week Asha and The Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan, another debut, was announced as the winner. So, this week I read them both. I was transported to far away lands to accompany brave young heroines on epic journeys and loved every moment of it.

My reading of the short story collection, The One That Got Away by Jan Mark, continues and every single one so far has been a gem. Look out for #JanMARKuary on Twitter to join in with an appreciation of her work.

I finally managed to see Greta Gerwig’s film version of Little Women. Despite my fears that it would not match my fond memories of the book I simply loved it.

News and Views in Children’s Books

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Popular author Abi Elphinstone revealed the cover of her forthcoming book, Jungledrop, created by George Ermos this week. It is stunning and gives us a taste of what to expect when the book, the second in The Unmapped Chronicles, is published on 14th May.

Abi describes the story as being “an adventure set in a glow-in-the-dark rainforest but it is also a story about being kind – to others, to our planet and, perhaps hardest of all, to ourselves.” I can’t wait to read it!

Jason Reynolds named Library of Congress’ national ambassador for young people’s literature – Reynolds is the bestselling and award-winning young adult author and poet well known for titles such as Ghost and Long Way Down.The two-year position, equivalent to the British Children’s Laureate, aims to raise the nation’s appreciation of youth literature, as it relates to literacy, education and the development and betterment of lives.

Empathy Day Collection Selection – On January 22nd EmpathyLabUK release their #ReadForEmpathy collections.  Check out what’s in store by watching Miranda McKearney and Sarah Mears discuss the judging process held at CLPE  featuring Learning Programme Leader Farrah Serroukh.

Books for Keeps January edition – this fabulous online magazine contains reviews, articles and interviews. So much interesting stuff in this issue it’s impossible to only highlight a couple of items. A must read!

My Journey to Publication by Nizrana Farook Author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant– this guest post by the debut author of the Waterstone’s Children’s Book of the Month on Emma Perry’s My Book Corner blog is fascinating.

Young Adults Books Round Up – Reviews – If you are looking for books for older teens and young adult readers these new titles selected by Fiona Noble for the Guardian would be an excellent place to start.

Brian Wildsmith – 22nd January would have been this celebrated illustrator’s 90th birthday. To mark the occasion a new website is to be launched by his family and author/illustrator James Mayhew and bookseller Tamsin Rosewell plan to fill Twitter with his art using #Wildsmith90

Year 5 Recommended Reads  – Following last week’s Year 6 list Scott Evans, the Reader Teacher has now updated his list for Year 5.

Reading Zone interview with author Ross Welford– Ross Welford tells us more about his latest book, The Kid Who Came From Space.

Bedtime Library books…a starter list. Simon Smith, primary school headteacher and picture book expert has compiled this helpful list of picture books to share. A lovely mixture of classic and contemporary.

Pippi of Today”, a collaboration between The Astrid Lindgren Company and Save the Children, will support the charity’s work with children on the move. The Astrid Lindgren Company and Save the Children have come together to launch a global campaign aimed at creating awareness and raising money for Save the Children’s work with today’s Pippi Longstockings.

Planning for Another Year of Reading by Donalyn Miller– Advice from the “Book Whisperer,” along with recommended titles to sustain the enthusiasm of young readers.

School Library Association Regional Training Day in Surrey – There is still time to get an early bird discount on our SLA regional training day with Elizabeth Hutchinson  on 12th March. The subject is Using Inquiry to Engage Teachers Across the Curriculum and is suitable for school librarians working with KS2+

Finally, some reviews of children’s books published recently that have caught my eye

Respect: Consent, Boundaries and Being In Charge of You,’ by Rachel Brian  – A fantastic, accessible gem about consent and respecting boundaries for UKS2+ says @LibraryGirl&BookBoy (Jo) on her blog. 

The Boy Who Fooled the World by Lisa Thompson -Lucas Maxwell describes this as a touching, funny novel about a white lie that gets out of hand.

The Cure for a Crime by Roopa Farooki – a new middle grade detective fiction novel perfect for fans of Ruby Redford, Murder Most Unladylike and Alex Rider. You can find out more on Veronica Price’s blog.

The Monster in the Lake by Louie Stowell illustrated by David’s Ortu – this lovely review by Mary Reed suggests the second in this magical series celebrating libraries is just as good as the first instalment.

I hope that you have found something of interest in this week’s selection. Happy reading everyone!



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Reading Matters – news from the world of children’s books

Posted on January 11, 2020 by alibrarylady

It is the time of year when many people make resolutions or set themselves new goals. Across social media there have been suggestions for reading challenges such as a greater number of books to read this year, reading a wider range of genres, classics or books from different time periods. Some of these appeal to me but after consideration I have chosen to concentrate on my own reading for pleasure and to try to follow the latest news in the world of children’s books more closely. There is frequent criticism amongst children’s book lovers that literature aimed at children and young people is neglected in the main stream media. I think that this is a valid criticism. It requires time to research and investigate using a variety of sources to keep up to date.

As a school librarian I used to produce a weekly news update for parents and teachers and have decided to do something similar on this blog. It will probably not be weekly but I hope it will be frequent. At least that’s my plan, you might even call it my resolution!

So this first Reading Matters will be a recap of some of the news, reviews and articles that I have enjoyed or found useful over the last week or so.

What I’m reading…

My own recent reading has been made up of the books I had been asked to review for the School Librarian Magazine (the quarterly journal for School Library Association). Evernight by Ross Mackenzie was one of these and is a darkly magical adventure with a brave and inspiring heroine at its heart. Definitely one to watch out for in 2020, it is published next month by Andersen Press. I also read a retelling of Jane Eyre by Tanya Landman and loved it. Published on 15th January by Barrington Stoke it is the perfect introduction to this classic for young readers.

This month on Twitter I am following, intermittently unfortunately, a Jan Mark reading discussion #JanMARKuary organised by Ben Harris @one_to_read This has introduced me to The One That Got Away, a new collection of short stories by this award winning author. The stories are wonderful, full of humour and with cracking dialogue and unexpected twists and surprise endings. You can find out more about Jan Mark on this website and also order a copy of The One That Got Away if you are now tempted to join in.

News and Views in Children’s Books

Costa Children’s Book Award Winner – India-born author Jasbinder Bilan has won a coveted UK children’s book award for her debut novel. You can read an interview with the author at Books For Keeps.

BookTrust Calendar of Children’s Book Events and Awards – the helpful team at Booktrust have collated this comprehensive resource which is helpful for planning or general interest.

Year 6 Book list – Scott Evans, The Reader Teacher has updated his suggested book list for Year 6 and it available to download on his website.

Closure of Carousel – this is sad news. I subscribed for many years and found this magazine very useful.

Frank Cotrrell Boyce Promoting Children’s Books – this popular and award winning author took to Twitter this week to criticise the lack of attention paid by the main stream media to the wide range of children’s books available. He is now highlighting quality literature via his Instagram account. The first titles up were The Highland Falcon Thief by M G Leonard and Sam Sedgman due out next month and Icarus Was Ridiculous by Pamela Butchart illustrated by Thomas Flintham.

Little Women review by Lonesome Reader– I found this review of both the book and the film interesting and am very much looking forward to seeing the film next week.

The Ghost Garden by Emma Carroll – this week Jo Clarke @bookloverjo showcased the cover for Emma Carroll’s first novella for Barrington Stoke. I am a huge fan of both Emma’s books and this particular publisher so am looking forward to this hitting the bookshelves in July.

10 Great Books to Read in 2020 – a list for Book Riot produced by former School Librarian of the Year, Lucas Maxwell

Great School Libraries Blog – super school librarian Jo Clarke writes about how she uses Chatterbooks Clubs in school.

Children’s Books to Brighten Up January – reviews of new titles for all ages in this Irish Times article.

Five Things To Know When Quitting to Follow Your Dream – an interesting interview with author Lisa Thompson to coincide with the publication of her latest book, The Boy Who Fooled the World.

Summer Reading Challenge – The Silly Squad will be in your local library this summer and the list of titles was announced this week. The Summer Reading Challenge 2020 will be a celebration of funny books, happiness and laughter.

Finally, some children’s books published over the last few days that have caught my eye:

Orion Lost by Alastair Chisholm – published by Nosy Crow this is reveiwed on the Reading Zone website where you can also read an extract. “Perfect for fans of Mortal Engines and Star Wars”

The Moonlight Zoo by Maudie Powell-Tuck and Karl James Mountford – published by Little Tiger Press. Described by Jill Bennett on Red Reading Hub as an “enchanting story wherein determination is key.”

Tiger Heart by Penny Chrimes – published by Orion Books. This fabulous review by Joy Court for Love Reading 4 Kids has prompted me to add this to my wish list. “magnificent story of courage, love and loyalty which leaves the reader satisfied and enriched.” Wow!

There is sure to be much that I have missed out on as it has been a particularly busy start to the year in the world of children’s books but I hope this selection is of interest. Watch this space for the next Reading Matters coming soon. Happy reading!

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Jane Eyre – a retelling by Tanya Landman

Posted on January 7, 2020 by alibrarylady

As a teenager Jane Eyre was one of my favourite books. It was not a set book for an exam instead one that I had chosen for myself from a suggested classics list provided by my English teacher. It had a lasting impact on me. The gothic plot, the setting and the themes all attracted me and the mystery element guaranteed that this was a story that I made time for. However it was the character of Jane that ensured that this book will always have a special place in my memory. On the surface a small, quiet insignificant person she had hidden depths that gave her a great deal of appeal. This is at heart a ‘coming of age’ story way before such a concept had been considered. When I heard that Barrington Stoke were publishing a retelling of this classic that is so important to me and many other readers I was intrigued. I wondered how you could transfer the lengthy story into a manageable and accessible text without losing what made it such a renowned literary work. I approached my reading of my review copy with, I confess, a little trepidation.  I should never have worried. Tanya Landman has managed to convey the themes, accentute the key plot points and, most impressively to me at least, capture Jane’s wonderful spirit. I loved this and think it is brilliantly done.

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The reader accompanies Jane on her journey from childhood to maturity.  As an orphan she is ill treated by her guardians and then banished to Lowood, a harsh boarding school where she is raised in the shadow of cruelty and deprivation. As a teenager she takes a job as a governess to the ward of Mr Rochester at Thornfield Hall. It is there that the secrets and mystery deepen and Jane’s life takes a dramatic turn.

Jane’s voice is central to this remarkable story and Tanya Landman has ensured that Jane’s spirit, determination, fierce independence and intelligence is retained and this will, I believe, add to this retelling’s appeal to today’s young readers. The compelling drama, including the ‘mad woman in the attic’, that makes this such a well known story even to those who have never read it is rewritten powerfully and with care and poignancy too.

The author has greatly reduced the length of the part of the book when Jane stays with the Rivers’ family and the lengthy religious discussions. This is probably a wise decision as many young readers, in my experience, have found that section harder work. The language throughout is accessible and yet the text still feels true to the original. In fact this so rekindled my enthusiasm for the book that I have unearthed my dog-eared and yellowing copy from the 1970s and am keen to reread this old favourite now.

This is the perfect way to introduce this wonderful classic to readers who may be put off by the length of the original or its Victorian prose. Tanya Landman has captured the heart of the story, the plot, the passion and also the hopes of the young character who made such an impact on me all those years ago.

Jane Eyre by Tanya Landman is published on 15th January and is available to purchase here. Like all Barrington Stoke publications it is printed on an off – white background and in an accessible easy to read typeface. The book has a reading age of 9+ and would be excellent for set text study in secondary schools. I also think it would be suitable as a read for pleasure for Year 6 in primary schools. It deserves a place in every secondary school library.

Thank you to Kirstin Lamb and Barrington Stoke for providing my review copy.

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