Reviews
There are so many incredible books available at the moment that it is impossible to read them all, no matter how hard I try! Here are my thoughts about some of the books I have read and how I think they could be used in school as well as Q and A sessions with authors and illustrators.
Day 9 of the Hilda Blog Tour
The Hilda Blog tour is well underway and I am delighted to be joining in for the Twitter leg of the tour! Hilda has long been a firm favourite in this house and in this book, the reader encounters all manner of beasts and spirits found in the city of Trolberg and the surrounding area.
The book is organised into six areas- Towering Terrors, Secretive Souls, Almost Human, Under the Water, Up in the Air and Below the Ground. Because Hilda has borrowed this book from the library so often, the librarian said she could keep it. To help any fellow adventurers, Hilda has added copious notes to the original text, adding plenty of details which the original author neglected to mention- or was unaware of.
Each section is full of annotated illustrations with Hilda’s notes and drawings added in blue ‘pen’. Although the book is obviously the perfect companion to the television series, there is plenty here to engage any reader whether familiar with the franchise or not. In fact, the book would make a great model for teachers wanting a text to inspire classes developing ideas for their own creatures which could then be developed into non-chronological reports. The contrast between the informal tone of Hilda’s notes and the ‘original’ text also makes an interesting point for discussion.
Endlessly entertaining and completely engrossing, ‘Hilda’s Book of Beasts and Spirits’ is an absolute winner! Every page is packed with details and the book closes with an index to support locating specific information.
Hilda’s Book of Beasts and Spirits
Flying Eye ISBN: 978-1911171584
Blog Tour: The Octopus, Dadu and Me
I am absolutely to be starting my Blog Tours this year by being part of this one for ‘The Octopus, Dadu and Me’. I freely admit that I shed more than a few tears over this one and really recommend it as an excellent read, but also as a book to support those who find themselves in Sashi’s situation.
In this post, Lucy Ann Unwin shares her Top Five Books to help children relate to an older generation- excellent choices one and all- and I would like to suggest one of my own, ‘Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge’ by Mem Fox. Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge is a little boy who lives next door to a nursing home. When he finds out that his special friend, Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper, is losing her memory, he tries to discover what a memory is and help Miss Nancy find hers once more. It is the most delightful story, showing the warmth of a ‘cross generational’ relationship and the special bond which can be formed.
Top 5: Books to Help Kids Relate to an Older Generation
In The Octopus, Dadu and Me I’m celebrating one of my favourite relationships — between children and their grandparents.
You can never take too much time thinking about what things might be like from an older person’s perspective — whether it’s a grandparent, neighbour, family friend, or just someone you happen to meet — I think these books really encourage that…
1. The Tale of Truthwater Lake, by Emma Carroll
This book reminds me of when you see black and white photos from the past that have been re-coloured. Stories set in historical periods can feel like those monochrome pictures: safely assigned to “The Past”.
The magic of The Tale of Truthwater Lake is that a girl from the near future actually becomes a girl from the past … she sees through her eyes, uses her body, feels her feelings and learns from her strength. Like those coloured in photos.
2. Bad Nana, That’s Snow Business!, by Sophy Henn
For younger readers, you can’t do better than Bad Nana. She has long been a favourite in our house and I fully aspire to be just like Bad Nana if I ever have grandchildren of my own!
The joy here is that Bad Nana is just a brilliant character full stop, and as far away from stereotypes as you could hope. In this particular book of the series, she gets bit carried away with her passions and makes as many bad choices as any child protagonist might!
3. Keep Dancing, Lizzie Chu, by Maisie Chan
To start with, it’s not that instinctive to feel empathy for Wai Gong — main character Lizzie Chu’s grandparent and carer — as he’s not doing a very good job at looking after her. But Lizzie loves and cares about her wai gong, so we do too.
As the story goes on, the reader can’t help but feel for him as his grief and dementia combine. But it’s also a joy to see his enthusiasm in the things he loves, and his love and pride for Lizzie is incredibly moving.
4. Grandpa Frank's Great Big Bucket List, by Jenny Pearson
This book is just hilarious and joyous, and takes a refreshingly direct approach to helping kids relate to an older generation, while being packed full of charm, humour and adventure. There’s even a chapter called: “Never Underestimate Old People”.
At the end, it includes a quiz about impressive old people and things you can do to help the older generations in your community.
5. Wished, by Lissa Evans
At the start of Wished, characters Ed and Roo are bored at the prospect of spending time with their elderly neighbour Miss Filey… they marvel at her ancient telly and her assumption that “WiFi” is a type of biscuit.
In the end, the transformation in their relationship is a total joy as through the book we see Miss Filey — Rosanna — as the fully rounded character she is, with a fierce sense of adventure, hopes and dreams still to achieve and friendships still to make.
I hope you enjoyed the list! I like to think The Octopus Dadu and Me would fit here too. Dadu means the world to my main character Sashi. When he develops dementia, her world starts to unravel.
She projects how she thinks her dadu must feel, alone in a care home, with how an octopus must feel, trapped in a tank — which is why she tries to set the octopus free. Hopefully, by the end, she’s gained a greater understanding of each of their lives, and how she can love and help them best.
Thank you so much to Lucy Ann Unwin for this excellent post and to the team at UCLan for inviting me to be part of the tour. ‘The Octopus, Dadu and Me’ is a gorgeous book, perfect for encouraging empathy and understanding, perfect for paving the way for conversations, perfect for enjoying. It really is a must read- make sure you do!
The Octopus, Dadu and Me Lucy Ann Unwin, illustrated by Lucy Mulligan
UCLan Publishing ISBN: 978-1915235039
Blog Tour: National Non-Fiction November
National Non-Fiction November is the FCBG’s annual celebration of the factual side of life. It started life as National Non-Fiction Day, the brain child of Adam Lancaster, a former Chair of the Federation and has been growing in popularity year on year. This year’s theme is Communication, a wonderfully inclusive theme and I am delighted to be taking part by reviewing two very special books from Greystone Kids. ‘Luminous’ is a picture book introduction to bioluminescence and ‘I Hear You, Ocean’ is a picture book that celebrates the sounds of the ocean.
‘Luminous’ is a remarkable book which clearly explains bioluminescence, light produced by a chemical reaction within a living organism, through lyrical text, sections of information and evocative artwork. Used to hunt, defend against predators, find mates, this fascinating phenomenon is used to communicate warnings and attraction as well as luring other creatures to their end!
Combining the poetic text with factual information means that ‘Luminous’ is a book which can be shared with children of differing ages and interests. Starting with a simple black spread, the art work shows a young child and adult using a torch to help them see in the dark (accompanied by an explanation of light and light sources) and discovering different bioluminescent creatures. Sure to spark interest and lead to further research and investigation, this book shows the joys of pausing to look- ‘really look’- and discover the wonders of nature when it’s dark outside.
Luminous Julia Kuo
Greystone Kids ISBN: 978-1771648882
‘I Hear You, Ocean’ is the second book in the ‘Sounds of Nature Series’ for young children. When a family visit the ocean, the older child whispers to the younger, ‘The ocean has lots to say…if you listen.’ Together, they listen and hear the wonderful sounds of nature as they play on the beach until it is time to go home.
The book is a joyful celebration of imaginative play, the natural world and sharing time with siblings. Although not strictly speaking non-fiction, there is much in this story which could act as a stimulus for further investigation as well as its developing awareness of the senses. The engaging illustrations complement the onomatopoeic nature of the text perfectly and encourage an interactive element to sharing the story.
I Hear You, Ocean Kallie George, illustrated by Carmen Mok
Greystone Kids ISBN: 978-1771647397
Two very special books to celebrate as part of National Non-Fiction November 2022! A post from Julia Kuo, the author/ illustrator of Luminous, about the process involved in writing and illustrating the book was featured yesterday on the FCBG website and a giveaway on Twitter of both this title and ‘I Hear You, Ocean’ will be taking place today so make sure you investigate both of these things as well as following on with all the wonderful posts, reviews and give-aways that have been organised.
Many thanks to the amazing Chris Routh, who not only invited me to take part in this Blog Tour, but is responsible for tirelessly organising and promoting NNFN22.
Blog Tour: The Faber Book of Bedtime Stories
A comforting story tonight for a happy day tomorrow.
I am thrilled to be kicking off the Blog Tour for this lovely book. I believe bedtime stories are an essential part of a child’s day- a special time to share with the adult(s) in their lives whether with siblings or individually, which allows a day to end with a feeling of contentment, reassurance and joy. No matter how busy, no matter how we were feeling, either my husband or I would end the day with our son this way. Not everyone feels like this, I know, but this beautifully illustrated book of stories might help some families towards a bedtime routine.
The book offers a stunning collection of brand-new stories by some amazing children’s authors all illustrated by the wonderful Sarah McIntyre. Full of wisdom and comfort, these are joyful tales offering the perfect way to end the day.
Sarah’s appealing cover illustration instantly grabbed the attention of some little friends of mine who begged to borrow it. Not only does it ‘smell wonderful’, they loved the little illustrations by the page numbers, the bold pictures (‘That’s a sea monkey!’) full of humour and the starry end papers. Favourite stories include ‘Queen Bea’ by Kieran Larwood, ‘Mooncamp’ by Kate Saunders and ‘Abi and the Goldfinch’ by Natasha Farrant, but it was Sarah’s endearing illustrations which kept taking them back to the book. Some of the illustrations encouraged storytelling in their own right as the children had conversational stories about what was happening and what might happen next based on these. Some also seemed to help develop the ability to empathise with characters and discuss how they were feeling.
As a huge fan of her work, I am delighted to welcome Sarah McIntyre to the Bookshelf as part of this Blog Tour…
Tell us about illustrating The Faber Book of Bedtime Stories, what was your favourite part of the process?
I love the painting stage! I always find the pencil roughs quite challenging, coming up with the initial ideas and making everything work with the page layouts. Sometimes it's fun but often it can be tense and frustrating and I end up having to make myself lots of cups of tea so I can get away from the desk and rest my brain, or take some time to process. But once designer Emma Eldrige had my pencil sketches and we worked together on how they'd fit on the pages, then the fun part began: laying ink and watercolour on the paper, seeing how the paint creates happy irregularities and gradients, and watching as the colours build up in front of me. I don't need endless tea for that, I can really lose myself in that process and not surface for hours and hours. It's almost like being in another dimension, time passes differently and my whole mind is caught up in that cosy space of focus. I'm so right there, that I even catch myself making the same facial expression as the characters I'm painting, or making little sound effects from the scene.
What was your favourite bedtime story as a child?
They were the stories my dad made up! He grew up on Islay in the Hebrides, and used to sing a lot of Scottish and Irish ballads to me; many of them had stories built into them, such as MacPherson's Lament and The Bonnie Lass of Fyvie. But my absolute favourites were when we'd go camping, and a bunch of other kids and I would cluster around him by the campfire and beg him to make up a story for us. I don't think he ever planned them out in advance, he'd just start talking and see where the story would go. I can't remember what the stories were about, except for one called The Yellow Chair, about people who sat in a yellow chair and couldn't get out of it again. But I'll never forget the wonder of a story being created right then and there just for us. Funnily enough, I have three yellow chairs in my house now, and it still makes me smile to think of their link to Dad's story. One of them is my studio chair, which I sat on the whole time I was illustrating this book!
Many thanks to Sarah for answering these questions and to the lovely people at Faber for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour. With Christmas fast approaching, this would be a very special gift to offer any young people in your life!
The Faber Book of Bedtime Stories
A comforting story tonight for a happy day tomorrow
Claire Barker, Ayesha Braganza, Kieran Larwood, Lucy Farfort,
Natasha Farrant, Ingrid Persaud, Emma Carroll, Ann Jungman,
Reba Khatun, Lou Kuenzler, Michael Mann, Kate Saunders,
Martyn Ford, Aisha Bushby, Pip Jones, Hannah Lee, Rashmi Sirdeshpande
illustrated by Sarah McIntyre
Faber ISBN: 978-0571363933
Blog Tour: Stand and Deliver
Highwaymen are often glamorised in literature and film as dashing figures on horseback, upholding the values of Robin Hood, stealing from the rich if not giving to the poor! However, many were bloodthirsty and violent rather than gentlemanly and gallant. Philip Caveney’s character, Tom Gregory, was inspired by the exploits of Gentleman Jack Sheppard, a notorious robber in the 18th century whose ‘spectacular escapes from various prisons, including two from Newgate, made him the most glamorous rogue in London’.
‘Stand and Deliver’ is an exciting romp of an adventure, full of colourful characters and daring deeds, and I am delighted to be able to share part of Chapter Two for my stop on the Blog Tour. You’ll be desperate to know what happens next…
CHAPTER TWO
In which we meet the orphan, Ned Watling, assistant to Tom Gregory, and learn how they first met.
A short distance from the cave, Ned was collecting firewood. He was fifteen years old and currently employed by Tom Gregory. Actually, when he thought about it, employed wasn’t really the right word. As far as Ned was aware, employed people received a wage for their efforts. All Ned got in return for his toil was a place to lay his head for the night, and his meals, which he was obliged to prepare himself. Oh, he had also received some promises.
Tom had repeatedly assured him that somewhere down the line, Ned would receive a handsome payout for his services – but the highwayman was very vague about when that time would actually come. And Ned had been working for him for nearly two years now. Before the cave, there’d been other hideouts: mouldering rooms in various towns across the country, abandoned warehouses and, for a few months, even the ruins of an old monastery near Chelmsford. Tom would ply his trade for several months, until too many people came looking for him, and then he would be obliged to move on. The cave had been their lair since early spring and, as the weather had steadily warmed, so Tom’s robberies had become more frequent, more daring. When Ned had first met Tom and been invited to enlist with him, he hadn’t fully understood what he was signing up for, but since he had come to work for the highwayman, he had learnt one thing above all else. Tom Gregory was unpredictable.
Oh, when he was in good humour, he could be jovial company, no doubt about it. He was always ready with a quip or a hearty song. But Ned had found to his cost that Tom also had a darker side. And one thing the highwayman hated more than anything else was to be kept waiting.
“Ned?” His voice echoed through the forest with an urgent tone. “Where the blue blazes are you?”
Ned began to run, plunging frantically through the undergrowth in the general direction of the cave. The last thing he wanted was to put his master into one of his moods.
“Here, Master Gregory!” he yelled. He burst into the clearing in front of the cave, dropped the big bundle ofbranches he’d been carrying and ran to catch hold of Black Bill’s bridle. Tom glared down at him for a moment.
“Where were you?” he asked.
“Just gathering firewood,” Ned assured him. “You remember, I told you it was running low?”
“Yes, fair point . . . but I expect you to be here when I return.” Tom swung himself down from the saddle and strode towards the cave, his sack of booty slung over one shoulder. “Fetch me a tankard of ale, lad, my throat’s parched!”
“Right away, Master Gregory!” Ned started towards the dense screen of bushes where the barrel of ale was stored, then hesitated as Tom shouted something else.
“And get that horse unsaddled and fed, while you’re at it.”
“Er . . . yes. Of course.” Ned hesitated, unsure of which task to do first. Black Bill eyed him warily and snorted, as if warning that he didn’t like to be kept waiting, either. Ned turned back to the horse and started to unbuckle his saddle.
“Ned?” Now Tom’s voice echoed from within the cave. “Where’s that ale?”
“Oh, er . . . coming Master Gregory.” Ned abandoned the saddle and turned to run towards the bushes. Halfway there, he stepped on a length of broken branch, which swung upwards and smacked him in the face. He stood for a moment, dazed, holding his stinging nose, tears filling his eyes.
“NED!” The anger in Tom’s voice jolted him back to his senses. He ran to the bushes, pulled them aside, grabbed a tankard and thrust it beneath the tap of the ale barrel. Dark liquid slopped into it, and he kept filling it until the froth foamed at the brim.
He glanced nervously over his shoulder. Tom was sitting on a chair in the gloomy interior, inspecting the booty that he’d just stolen. He lifted his head and gave Ned the glare, the one that he always gave shortly before he really losthis temper.
“For pity’s sake, boy, are you bringing that drink or what? I’m about to die of thirst here!”
Ned turned, started back towards the cave and tripped on a tree root, upending the tankard and spilling its contents down the front of his shirt. He hit the ground, the impact knocking all the breath out of him, and lay there for a moment, thinking that surely to heaven there must be a better way to spend his life than this.
In that moment, he recalled how he had first met the man that people called The Shadow.
Many thanks to the lovely people at UClan for inviting me to take part in this Blog Tour. Make sure you look at the other posts to find out more about this colourful historical adventure!
Stand and Deliver Philip Caveney
UClan Publishing ISBN: 978-1915235411
Blog Tour: Winnie the Witch 35th Anniversary
I cannot believe that it is 35 years since the publication of this wonderful book! One of my all-time favourites, I have enjoyed sharing not only this, but many of, the Winnie and Wilbur stories both as a teacher and as a parent and am proud to say that I have quite a collection of their adventures.
I started teaching many years ago before things like SATs and Ofsted existed. Teaching was mainly through topics which embraced everything except English and Maths and there was an expectation that each class would ‘put on’ an assembly for parents which reflected the work their children had been doing. When I realised that my topic was ‘Colour’, I knew that I would be using ‘Winnie the Witch’ as inspiration for my Year 3 class. Lots of science, art and storytelling was involved- and everyone had great fun! I am delighted to be taking part in the Blog Tour for ‘Winnie the Witch’ and wish Winnie and Wilbur a very happy birthday with many more to come!
Thirty-five years on, this story has truly stood the test of time with Korky Paul’s amazing illustrations bringing as much joy to children now as they did when it was first published. Full of details and humour, they help to tell this tale of a witch who lived in a black house with a black cat, the trouble this caused and how the situation was happily resolved. This anniversary edition opens with a note each from Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul, the creators of Winnie and Wilbur. At the end, there are magical memories from both Winnie and Wilbur, captioned pictures showing their many adventures together as well as a glimpse behind the scenes at how Winnie and Wilbur are brought to life! This is the perfect (or purr-fect!) present for any fan of these stories, old or young, sure to continue bringing pleasure for many years to come.
With Hallowe’en just around the corner, this book makes a brilliant theme for a party or for a book event at school or for a party simply to celebrate the 35th birthday of this fabulous book. Here are a few ideas for some possible activities to enjoy!
A beautiful black cat with bright green eyes, Wilbur makes a purr-fect pompom pet! Using a medium sized pompom maker (or homemade ones from circles of card), firmly wrap black wool around each section. Do this as evenly and as fully as possible to make the best pompom. Tightly tie the pompom off around the middle leaving two reasonably long tails of wool and then tie another strand of wool around the middle of the pompom so that there are three longish strands altogether. Plait these pieces of wool to create Wilbur’s tail, cutting and tying it off to the required length. Next, cut two eyes from green felt and use a black marker pen to add the pupils. Take a black pipe cleaner and bend one end into a ‘v’ shape which gives Wilbur the size of ears you feel he should have and cut this off. Cut a second matching ear from the rest of the pipe cleaner. In pink felt, cut a nose shape and use more lengths of pipe cleaner to create whiskers. Glue all the pieces in place to make your own Wilbur!
Colour changing potion can be created using read cabbage water! We did this as part of our assembly and had great fun with it! Chop some read cabbage into small pieces. Put these into a saucepan and cover with water. Boil for about 15 minutes, leave to cool and then carefully strain the water off into a jar or bowl. (The cabbage can be eaten!)
The red cabbage water will act as an indicator, changing colour as other substances are added depending on whether these are acid or alkaline. Divide the red cabbage water between some see through containers and then try adding different amounts of bicarbonate of soda or vinegar to each. Acids like vinegar will make the cabbage water turn pink whilst the alkaline bicarbonate of soda will make it turn bluey-green. Adding more or less of the substance will affect how deep the colour is. You could try also soap, lemon juice, washing up liquid…any other (safe!) substances which are acidic or alkaline.
Use colour filters to change Wilbur’s colour. For this, you will need an anglepoise lamp and some colour filters- pieces of cellophane or plastic wallets work well. You can also use torches.
Draw Wilbur on a piece of white paper (I know my picture is awful- I am no artist!!) Shine the lamp onto the picture and then hold one the colour filters in in front of the light changing Wilbur’s colour. Play around with combining the filters and seeing how Wilbur’s colour changes. There is plenty of scientific theory to discuss here- but it’s not necessary to understand this to have fun with it. Children could make Winnie and Wilbur puppets and act out the story using the lighting to help tell the story- or create their own!
It goes without saying that adults should be on hand to guide and support for any of these activities!
There are so many ways to celebrate this delightful story, starting (of course!) with sharing it. Huge congratulations to Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul for the success of their creations - and all best wishes for another 35 years of Winnie and Wilbur!
Many thanks to the lovely people at OUP for inviting me to take part in this tour.
Winnie the Witch 35th Anniversary Edition
Valerie Thomas, illustrated by Korky Paul
OUP ISBN: 978-0192784728
Blog Tour: Hazel Hill is Gonna Win This One
It’s great to be kicking off the Blog Tour for this very important and empowering book. In her Author’s Note, Maggie Horne explains why she wrote the story and I am sure that it will resonate with - and offer hope and a voice to - many.
Three months in to seventh grade, Hazel Hill is ‘the undisputed expert in one subject’- a boy named Tyler Harris. This is not something she has sought nor something she is thrilled about. Hazel is focused on one thing- winning the speech contest- but Tyler has somehow singled her out for his incessant talking and made her his unwilling confidante. One day, however, things change when Tyler tells her that Ella Quinn, her arch nemesis in the speaking contest, has a crush on her. No one knows that Hazel likes girls and this information leaves her reeling. As she gets to know Ella, Hazel discovers that Tyler has been harassing Ella on line and starts to realise that others might be receiving his unpleasant attention as well. When the girls try to report Tyler, they are shocked by the reactions of the adults they approach and soon it becomes clear that they are going to have to take matters into their own hands.
Sadly, this is a much needed novel on a subject far too many women and girls will find all too familiar. Hazel’s dry humour and keen sense of observation make it a very readable story which offers plenty to discuss and plenty to think about.
I found myself reading this story as various facets of myself. The younger me absolutely recognised not the on-line harassment, but the comments, the unwanted physical attention, the looks which were common. The mother of a son me was horrified by Tyler’s behaviour and his mother’s enabling and defence of this. The teacher me squirmed at the reaction of school staff who, at best, patronised and explained away the girls’ experiences. It made me think, it made me reflect, it made me angry, it made me sad…all the things an excellent novel should do. And this is exactly what is needed to generate conversations and change or challenge behaviours.
Hazel is a great character. Very independent, she has a lovely, supportive family and a tendency to over-analyse situations. Although she starts school feeling no need for friendships, her connection with first Ella Quinn and then Ella’s best friend, Riley, is brilliantly captured as she comes to realise the pleasure and support this brings, showing her, ultimately, to be a loyal and caring friend. The reader also sees through Hazel’s eyes how easy it is to judge others and unwittingly condone or validate misconceptions or idle reports of others as she initially gives little thought to the objects of Tyler’s fleeting obsessions.
The girls’s feelings about their experiences- both at the hands of Tyler and those they try to confide in- are superbly handled, allowing the reader to empathise and understand, share their anger and confusion. The tone and handling of Tyler’s on-line abuse is completely appropriate, even exploring the fact that the girls are too young to have the social media accounts and the role that plays in their not wanting to speak to adults about what is happening. Even Hazel’s parents, who are supportive and seem to listen, do not really listen when they need to the most.
There is so much to love about this story and so much to recommend it. It is a must for school libraries and book corners and will surely generate much needed discussions about speaking out when anyone doesn’t feel safe or comfortable. It might also remind adults to actually listen and not excuses behaviours with the ‘boys will be boys’ style response so frequently offered.
Hazel Hill is Gonna Win This One
Maggie Horne, cover illustration by Luna Valentine
Firefly Press ISBN: 978-1913102975
Many thanks to everyone at Firefly for inviting me to take part in this Blog Tour. Be sure to follow on through the week to find out what everyone else is saying about this fabulous book!
Blog Tour: No Place for Monsters
Today, it’s my turn on the Blog Tour for ‘No Place for Monsters’, the perfect read for Hallowe’en (or any time really!). Deliciously sinister, it offers a perfect balance of graphic novel and traditional text as the illustrations spread across each page, through and between the text, making for an engaging read.
Used to the bustle of the city, Levi is struggling to settle in to his new home in Cowslip Grove. Whilst his older sister, Regina, younger sister, Twila and mother seem happy with the change, Levi starts his new school without having made any friends. When partnered with exuberant, wayward Kat Bombard for a school project, things change. Determined to investigate some strange goings on, the pair suddenly realise that things in Cowslip Grove are not what they seem. Children are disappearing and Twila becomes the next victim…
‘No Place for Monsters’ contains the stuff of nightmares. Scratch the surface of seemingly perfect Cowslip Grove and all manner of nastiness lurks beneath. But this story offers far more than ‘just’ a horror story: it offers plenty to think about and discuss.
Levi and Kat are an unlikely partnership. Levi is withdrawn and self contained- even his artistic mother depicts him as a turtle, ‘safe in his shell’. Kat is a wild card- given to making up elaborate stories and giving her teacher grey hair, she bursts into his life, dragging him unwillingly into her adventures. But, as often happens, these very different characters come to value each other, supporting and saving one another as their nightmare develops. Their home lives are also very different. Levi’s father has been away for a long time after arguments with his mother, yet his family are close and supportive; Kat’s background is less clear, but her impressive, perfect house is clearly far from a safe, loving home.
As the inhabitants of Cowslip Grove try to make their village perfect, the story explores the dangers of conformity and of trying to subdue the natural world. As the villagers manicure their lawns, hack their hedges into perfect cubes and seek to destroy wildlife, they fail to notice the very real dangers threatening their lives. In fact, by saturating their lawns with weedkiller and fertilizers, they are helping… but I might say too much and spoil things! The story also considers who the real ‘monsters’ might be as looks can be deceiving and help comes from some unexpected sources.
The illustrations are just incredible. Full of atmosphere and detail, they add much to the story, with pictures often working in place of sections of text as well as in harmony with them in others. Both setting and characterisation are developed through the illustrations and the use of dramatic black backgrounds on some pages adds to the sinister feel of the story as the tension mounts.
Now, I have to admit that this would not normally be the type of book that I would reach for myself. It’s definitely one I would read with a view to matching it to children, but I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed it and how much I felt it had to offer! With the right group, it could be an excellent guiding reading text. Just shows, you should never judge a book by its cover!
No Place for Monsters Kory Merritt
Chicken House ISBN: 978- 1913696085
Many thanks to Chicken House for inviting me to take part in this tour! Watch out for the other posts…
Blog Tour: Honesty and Lies
I love historical fiction so was delighted to be asked to join this Blog Tour. Eloise’s ‘Gaslight’ remains one of my favourites- deliciously dark with a vivid Victorian setting (a must read if you haven’t already!). ‘Honesty and Lies’ takes the reader to Elizabethan London…
It’s 1601 and thirteen-year-old Honesty arrives in London, desperate to escape the fate awaiting her at home in Wales. A chance encounter with a girl called Alice leads to Honesty working at the court of Elizabeth I. A talented storyteller, Honesty seeks advancement whilst Alice, carrying secrets of her own, is keen to merge into the background and escape notice. Can their friendship- and they themselves- survive the intrigues and deceptions of life at court?
Once again, Eloise Williams has come up trumps and written a stunner of a novel which is full of friendship against a background rich in historical detail. Written from the alternating viewpoints of the two girls, she reveals the layers of truth and lies behind each girl’s story, gradually revealing their secrets and the reasons for their actions.
At first glance, the two girls appear very different. Honesty is rebelling against the path chosen for her by her father. Determined to carve her own path in life, she is willing to take risks and grasp at any opportunity. Her impulsive nature can make her thoughtless, but she has a generous nature and loyal heart. Alice seems cold and withdrawn, reluctantly befriending ‘this Welsh girl’. Her frustrations with Honesty are compounded by the state of nervous tension she is in due to …something I can’t reveal without spoiling things! However, the two come to trust one another, valuing their differences and realising that together they can be stronger, helping each other to become who they are ‘destined to be’.
The story would make an excellent text for guided reading. Full of historical detail, there is much to explore around the court of Elizabeth I and life at this time. The unpleasantness of the ladies-in-waiting and the capriciousness of Elizabeth herself are (sadly!) sure to be recognised in society today, offering plenty of opportunity for exploring why people might act as they do. The role of women in general, the divide between rich and poor, life in Elizabethan London, the theatre… there are so many threads to draw on for research, role play, discussion and writing in role- all wrapped up in a highly engaging story.
Make sure you read this- and everything else Eloise has written! ‘Honesty and Lies’ is one not to be missed.
Honesty and Lies Eloise Williams
Firefly Press ISBN: 978-1913102999
Many thanks to lovely Karen at Firefly Press for asking me to be part of this tour. Tomorrow’s stop- Shelves of Starlight!
Blog Tour: Secrets of the Dead and The Curse of the Tomb Robbers
I am delighted to be taking part in this Blog Tour. Both of these books are published in collaboration with the British Museum, one of my favourite places to visit and somewhere I have spent many happy hours!
It is home to the Rosetta Stone, a large stelle inscribed with three translations of a single passage, written in two Egyptian language scripts (hieroglyphic and Demotic) and in classical Greek. Named after the town on the Mediterranean coast in Egypt in which it was found, the Rosetta Sone was deciphered largely through the efforts of Thomas Young of England and Jean-François Champollion of France. Champollion made a crucial step in understanding ancient Egyptian writing when he identified the hieroglyphs that were used to write names, deciphering ‘Ptolemy’ and ‘Cleopatra’. He finally announced his discovery on the 27th September, 1822- two hundred years ago today which makes it the perfect day for reviewing these two book!
In ‘The Curse of the Tomb Robbers’, Andy Seed mixes story with problem solving to engage children with learning more about life in Ancient Egypt. Nub and his friend, Iteti, are introduced to the reader at the beginning of the book, along with information on how to use the codebreaker. Full of details of life at this time, the story is not only engaging, but a mine of information about this period of Egyptian history.
The puzzles encourage children to use hieroglyphs, learning in which direction they should be read, how to identify royal names and how to use the number system. Other puzzles are also included and all the solutions are given at the end of the story with explanation when necessary.
The illustrations are wonderful. Sure to instigate conversation about Egyptian life and offering plenty of opportunity for children to practise identifying hieroglyphs, they would be perfect for using as starting points for children to develop their own stories about Nub and Iteti, other figures shown in the pictures or characters of their own invention. Whether being used in class or at home, ‘The Curse of the Tomb Robbers’ is a welcome addition for those interested in or learning about the Egyptians.
‘Secrets of the Dead’ looks at human remains from around the world. Starting in Africa, the book focuses on Egypt and the mummification processes the Ancient Egyptians used to preserve their dead. Starting with the formal burials of Tutankhamun and Rameses the Great, the book also looks at the natural mummification of Gebelein Man and explores what can be learned in each case. Having taught the Egyptians many times, I can vouch for the fact that this is an area which fascinates children and the text is both accessible and interesting.
The book then continues with examples from the other continents showing how the dead have been preserved, offering specific examples such as the Ice Maiden of the Altai mountains and the bodies displayed in the Capuchin Catacombs beneath Palermo in Sicily (somewhere I did not visit when there!)
The book concludes with drawing attention to the amazing secrets of the past which have been uncovered by studying the bodies of those from the past as well as all the things that remain unknown. A map of the world shows the location of each discovery and a comprehensive glossary helps to explain many of the terms used. The History curriculum at KS2 says that pupils should learn about ‘the achievements of the earliest civilizations – an overview of where and when the first civilizations appeared and a depth study of one of the following: Ancient Sumer; The Indus Valley; Ancient Egypt; The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China’. ‘Secrets of the Dead’ allows for comparisons to be made between death customs and discoveries in various locations around the world, encouraging children to make comparisons between different civilisations.
The Curse of the Tomb Robbers
Andy Seed, illustrated by James Weston Lewis
Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1788009652
Secrets of the Dead
Matt Ralphs, illustrated by Gordy Wright
Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1788009003
Two excellent books to support the history curriculum or to develop a passion for the past! Many thanks to Catherine Ward for inviting me to take part in this Blog Tour.
Make sure you look at the next posts!
Blog Tour: Gender Swapped Greek Myths
The myths and legends that the Ancient Greeks created are amongst the best known and most retold. Elements of these stories have permeated our everyday life and language- Achille’s heel, Herculean strength, having the Midas touch. These are stories which have stood the test of time- stories of heroes, monsters, gods, goddesses and mortals filled with tragedy, mystery, adventure, envy, courage, vengeance and love.
Although the versions written for children are generally sanitised and simplified. It is not often, for example, that Medusa’s rape in the temple of Athena is included, nor the fact that Athena then punished Medusa for this. Rooted in a patriarchal society, women in these stories are depicted in accordance to the beliefs and values of these times. Whilst the men are generally portrayed as heroic and powerful, women tended to their needs and gave birth to their children or waited passively to be rescued- with the stories emphasising the dire consequences for any who might think otherwise.
In this new collection of re-tellings, the roles are literally reversed. With each of the myths presented here, the gender of each character has been switched, making the reader pause and reflect not only on the original tales, but on how this bias affects our everyday lives. It is amazing how a different name and pronoun impacts the reader and changes perceptions.
So, here we meet Pandorus as he opens his casket ‘just to peep inside’ and releases all the ills of the world; it is Thesea who kills the Minoheifer, Queen Aegea whose death names the Aegean Sea; Arachnus who is transformed into a spider. The book starts with an authors’ note which explains the ‘story behind the story’ with both Karrie and Jonathan contributing. In this, they discuss their reasons for this work, the sources they drew on and explain any adaptations they had to make.
The book- a beautiful hardback with a red ribbon bookmark- is full of colour illustrations, bringing these new characters to life. This would make a welcome addition to school libraries and classrooms, perfect for generating discussions and challenging thinking about the role of different characters and relationships are altered in the different versions.
Gender Swapped Greek Myths
Karrie Fransman and Jonathan Plackett
Faber ISBN: 978-0571371327
Many thanks to Bethany at Faber for inviting me to take part on this tour.
Make sure you read the rest of the tour posts over the next few days.
Blog Tour: The Shadow Order
Today, I am delighted to be taking part in the Blog Tour for ‘The Shadow Order’ by Rebecca F John. This is a story you will not want to miss!
Friends Teddy James, Betsy Blue and Effie Hart live in Copperwell, a city which has lived for a year under The Shadow Order, a law passed to prevent its citizens from seeing their shadows which have changed and now reflect each person’s true self. It’s been a long dark year in which only the Constabulary- law enforcement- are allowed to move outside in daylight hours.
When the three children decide to break the rules and climb to the top of the Observatory to see the sunrise, they witness the arrest of a woman who is shouting about the government, accusing them of being responsible for the change in the shadows and telling anyone who will listen to ‘find the orrery!’ Determined to find out what the government is really up to, the friends set off on a quest brimming with peril, excitement and adventure.
‘The Shadow Order’ is a gripping read, perfect for those children who like to be challenged in their thinking. Darkness lurks in Copperwell, not only because of the Order, but because the population are being controlled and manipulated by those in power. They are constantly being fed misinformation to make them behave in a way which suits their leaders- sounds familiar? Stories like this are so important to encourage children to think for themselves and question things, looking for a balanced view rather than blindly accepting the ‘party line’, whatever your party might be!
As with the other hosts on this blog tour, I have a snippet of exclusive content to share. I am delighted by this as it allows me to ‘show, not tell’ Rebecca’s skill in both world building and character development.
Limpet’s Lane
Swindler’s Quarter is the poorest part of Copperwell. And the poorest part of Swindler’s Quarter is Limpet’s Lane. On Limpet’s Lane, each room houses at least two families, who cram top-to-toe into beds six or eight people at a time. One early morning, Teddy and his father collected a fare from Limpet’s Lane in the cab. Teddy could tell his father was nervous by the way he kept glancing over his shoulder, wrapping his hands tighter around Jim’s reins. The tall narrow houses blocked out the rising winter sun. ‘Stay alert,’ Teddy’s father said. ‘Desperate people do desperate things sometimes.’ Teddy clamped his gloved hands together. ‘Then we shouldn’t be here,’ he said. ‘It’s frightening.’ His father replied in a murmur. ‘It’s impossible to live a life without fear.’ And clicked Jim on into the shadows.
The three children- Teddy, Betsy and Effie-are very different children, each with their own secrets and challenges. The strength of their friendship and their loyalty to each other supports them through the many challenges, emotional and physical which they face whilst trying to expose the truth. I have a particular fondness for Teddy and am delighted to see a sensitive, caring male character who doubts himself for not being brave enough, yet when needed, finds the courage to do what needs to be done.
‘The Shadow Order’ is the perfect book for the ‘moving on’ stage of readers- those able readers around Year 6/7/8 who are looking for something to challenge them, but are not ready perhaps for the content of novels aimed at older readers. I really hope there will be more books so we can follow Teddy, Betsy and Effie further as their lives continue.
The Shadow Order Rebecca F. John
Firefly Press ISBN: 978-1913102951
Many thanks to Rebecca and the lovely Karen at Firefly- it was a pleasure to meet you at the YLG Conference!- for inviting me to be part of this tour. Make sure you catch the rest of the posts about this brilliant book.
Blog Tour: Safe
Today, I am thrilled to be starting the Blog Tour for this wonderful book. ‘Flight’, the first book in which we meet Kizzy and Jakob, is a stunning story which I highly recommend and so I was delighted to learn that ‘Safe’ was to be the sequel.
This guest post from Vanessa offers a fascinating insight into her writing, showing how she adds such life and texture to her work.
When writing a novel you have to have credible characters and a viable plot which all has to happen within a believable setting. Obviously, when writing historical fiction you have to get the details of the setting right within the appropriate period. You have to watch for anachronisms. No microwaves or mobile phones in your story is an extreme way to prove a point in the instance of Safe.
With both Flight and Safe, nature has been an important element. Whether it is the trees, flowers, or the birds and animals surrounding them. This is because in both stories they spend a lot of time living outside so are aware of them. I also wanted to remind children of nature. To make them think about trees and the world beyond the screen I suppose.
But setting is so much more than geography, flora and fauna. Setting encompasses where they live, what they might eat, how they get about, how they communicate and with Safe details of the war – guns, transport, uniform. This then takes us back to research. We must do enough research to get the details right but not overwhelm the narrative. The story must always wear the research with a light hand.
When creating setting the ideal is to visit the place you are situating your story in. Sometimes this is not always feasible. For me, for example, as a disabled author, this is not always that simple and I confess it is where I love Google maps and the facility where you can ‘walk’ around to see what is there. Allowing me the freedom to ‘visit’ a place. Yes, it allows you to visualise it, but what it can’t do is enable you to hear the sounds or the smells in a place, which is a distinct disadvantage, particularly for me who loves to use the senses in her writing.
Smell can be very powerful and evocative. We can all think of a smell that immediately takes us back to a memory or a place. The smell of burnt toast immediately takes me back to holidays with my family on the Welsh coast when I was between 2 and 3. Very happy times. Using all these senses in your writing can lift the narrative and just add that depth. However, as with everything, there is a fine line between adding the perfect detail and overwhelming the reader with too much detail. It’s a cliché, but something that I stand by – less is more.
When you are writing a scene that is emotionally wrought and powerful, I have a habit of doing lots of research and writing it ‘big’ first. This might mean I will write a whole chapter based on the scene away from the manuscript so that I can get all that research in – doing everything that I have said above that you shouldn’t do. Once I have done that and got the emotion in there that I want. I will distil it down and down, by rewriting it, shorter and shorter, until it ends up at the length I want it to be in the actual manuscript. It will have all the emotion and power that I wanted because it has been informed by the work I did beforehand. I did this in Flight with the mass grave scene and also in Safe with the death of Anna’s parents and brother.
Getting the setting right is important because if you get that wrong the reader may lose faith in your story and put it down, wondering what else in the story is inaccurate. I’ve seen that with my grandson, who stopped reading a book when he found an issue with a historical book he was reading. It put him off. When I am researching my settings, I will create a document where I list all the websites and books that I use so I know if there is a query during the editorial process I can check it quickly.
Like research, the setting is something that I love to create and understand. It is one of the main foundation stones of your story and you need to be aware of it so that your readers can get the most out of your story.
Vanessa Harbour
Social Media:
Instagram @NessHarbour
Twitter @VanessaHarbour
Many thanks to Vanessa for sharing this with me today- and thanks to Amy at Firefly Press for inviting me to take part. I will be posting my review of ‘Safe’ early next week with a link to my previous review of ‘Flight’, but I highly recommend them to everyone!
Make sure you follow all the stops on the Safe Blog Tour to find out more.
Blog Tour: The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom
I was delighted to be asked to take part in this Blog Tour as I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom’. Once started, it’s almost impossible to put down!
Ophelia Bottom longs to be ‘normal’- to have well-behaved parents and live in a house which stays still. But with her parents being Shakespearian actors in their own travelling theatre company and living in a rickety old converted van, her life is unusual to say the least. So when the van, known as the Pantechnicon, makes its stop in the seemingly perfect town of Stopford and bad luck strikes her family, could this offer the opportunity she has longed for?
Packed with drama, adventure and theatricals, ‘The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom’ is an absorbing read with much to recommend it! One of its strengths is its wonderful cast of characters, particularly Ophelia’s family. Ophelia’s father (who she calls Ar) is a flamboyant, irrepressible thespian who speaks mainly in capitals and (like Mr Micawber!) seems to be permanently convinced that something will turn up whilst her mother is a risk averse, superstitious lady who wants her daughter to experience some stability and get an education. This causes some tension in the Pantechnicon which increases when Ar breaks his leg meaning the family is forced to extend their stay in Stopford. Money worries and misunderstandings cause the arguments to mount and Ophelia, sadly like many children, finds herself caught between them and full of anxiety about the future of their relationship.
Settling in to a new school is hard enough, but in a place where the town motto is plastic is fantastic – different is dangerous, Ophelia (or O-failure as her name is pronounced in school)- struggles to fit the mould. Uniformity is key and over-zealous prefects are determined that everyone should conform. As Ophelia realises that there is a sinister plot afoot in this too-perfect town with its high levels of plastic pollution, the story takes a darker turn as it romps towards its conclusion.
‘The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom’ would make an excellent class read, offering plenty to discuss and consider- the importance of family and friendship, the need to question, the dangers of plastic pollution, rights and responsibilities, how important it is to be yourself, lots of Shakespearian references… to name a few. There are some sinister characters and perilous moments to be aware of, but this is a gripping story which it is impossible to do justice to in a short review! Add straight to the top of the TBR pile!
The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom Susie Bower
Pushkin ISBN: 978-1782693604
Thank you for including me in this Blog Tour! Make sure you follow on for the rest of the week!
Blog Tour: Once Upon a Fever
Disease begins with a feeling…
Sisters, Ani and Payton Darke, live with their father who is a Methic at the hospital of King Jude’s. Since ‘the Turn’ when people’s feelings first started making them ill, Methics have worked hard to help those made ill by emotions- including the girls’ mother whose grief has made her succumb to water fever. Both girls want to find a cure for her sickness and are frustrated by their father’s lack of progress, but that’s where the similarity between them ends. When Ani finds an imprisoned boy who turns everything he touches gold, she is determined to help him, leading the girls on an unexpected and dangerous path…
Instantly engaging, ‘Once Upon a Fever’ is a breath taking story of intrigue, deceit and magic.
Sisters, Ani and Payton are very different personalities. Ani has to take medicine to control the anger that bubbles inside her whilst Payton is studious and far better behaved than her impulsive sister. Since leaving the Isles and coming to Lundain to seek treatment for their mother, the girls have grown apart, but the distance between them is never more obvious than when Methic Guild Master, Jenipher Blake comes into their lives. Having long admired Blake, Payton is sure that if she can learn under Blake’s guidance, she will find the cure her mother needs which leaves to a rift, further separating the sisters and taking them from King Jude’s.
In the girls’ world, controlling- stifling- emotions is seen as essential to good health, but only once she experiences the healing power of nature and gives in to her emotions does Ani really feel alive and in control. The importance of this ‘holistic’ approach, of finding balance and experiencing emotions is key to our well being and the story explores this beautifully. The clinical ‘methic’ approach upheld by Blake is in stark contrast to the beliefs of the last Wilders, one of the guilds disbanded after the Turn, who Ani meets having escaped from the medical attentions of the Methic Guild Master. Living in Hyde Gardens, hidden from the rest of society, Henrich, Tally and a young boy called Estlin, keep the traditions and knowledge of their guild alive. Tally tells Ani:
But we mustn’t forget other important, healing things. Things like diving into cold water, sleeping beneath the stars, eating fruit that’s grown warm under the sun. Lying on the grass and thinking of nothing except the shapes of the clouds. that’s what the methics have forgotten…’
Thought provoking and powerful, ‘Once Upon a Fever’ is a must read story, combining a skilfully crafted world with a compelling plot. Make sure you add it to your summer reading list!
Once Upon a Fever Angharad Walker
Chicken House ISBN: 978-1912626984
Many thanks to Angharad and Chicken House for inviting me to be part of this tour. Make sure you look at the other posts about this wonderful book.
Blog Tour: No Sleep for Bear
I love Duncan Beedie’s books and so was delighted to be asked to take part in this blog tour for his new book, ‘No Sleep for Bear’.
Bear (star of The Bear Who Stared’) is back in another story! As Winter approaches, Bear is looking forward to a very long sleep. He makes a list and settles down…but the more he tries, the more awake he feels. Eventually, he meets Frog, who shows him how to relax and soon he is snoring contentedly!
A new book from Duncan Beedie is always a delight! ‘No Sleep for Bear’ is completely adorable and is sure to become a firm favourite as a bedtime story. Full of gentle humour, Bear learns the importance of relaxing and being calm before going to sleep, brilliant advice for little ones and adults alike when thinking about bedtime. All of Bear’s friends try to help him in his quest for a good night’s sleep- even when it takes them all winter to do so!
There are obvious links between the story and hibernation, animal habitats and well being, making this a lovely story to include in a topic box as well as on class and library shelves.
The illustrations are full of visual jokes and plenty of details to keep readers entertained on every reading. I love the little family of ladybirds- they need a book of their own!
Bear is so lovely that he would make the perfect subject for a Book Group session. Here is an idea for a simple awake/ asleep Bear glove puppet which could be made with children at home or school.
You need some thicker paper (sugar paper works well, but any can be used really), thin card for the wheel (teabag box card is good), felt pens, scissors and a split pin. Bear is brown, but white could easily be used and coloured/painted.
Using your hand as a guide for size, cut two matching ‘mit’ shaped pieces (see middle picture) for Bear’s face/body. Now you need to create a ‘wheel’ so that Bear can gradually close his eyes as he falls asleep. Draw round something circular, which is just slightly wider than the mit shape, on white card and then cut this out.
Decorate Bear, carefully cutting out eye holes. I forgot to add his distinctive eyebrows! Cut two smaller circles out the the same material you used for the body to be his ears.
Position the wheel carefully so that it is not too high up or the pieces of the puppet will not be able to be glued together. When you are happy with the position, use the split pin to attach the pieces and then cover the sharp ends with a piece of masking tape so that little fingers will not get caught on them. Then stick the front and back sections of the mit together across the top (making sure you are above the wheel) and on each side (beneath the wheel). The wheel will poke out of either side so it is easy to turn.
Now, you need to draw the eyes in so Bear falls asleep as the wheel is turned. I copied the four stages from the pictures in the book. It’s worth doing this in pencil first to make sure they fit as the different eyes need to be drawn quite close together so they can be seen without the other eyes appearing (this might not sound like it makes sense, but you’ll see!). The wheel will need to be turned a few times to loosen it so it moves freely and then Bear can fall asleep as you turn the wheel one way and then wake up again as you turn the wheel back. Finally, glue his ears into position.
Now enjoy making Bear fall asleep and wake up again. You could use the puppet whilst reading the story or for retelling your own version! Have fun!
No Sleep for Bear Duncan Beedie
Templar ISBN: 978-1787419865
Thanks very much to Duncan and the people at Templar for asking me to be part of the Blog Tour for this lovely book. Make sure you look at the other posts!
Blog Tour: Escape to the River Sea
Today, it is my great pleasure to start the Blog Tour for ‘Escape to the River Sea’, Emma Carroll’s brilliant sequel to Eva Ibbotson’s classic, ‘Journey to the River Sea’.
The theme of this post is journeys. Journeys can be taken through the imagination, through experience, through travel- or much simpler, every day trips, offering the familiarity of places we love and treasure. The central character in ‘Escape to the River Sea’, Rosa, has already made the journey to England on the Kindertransport before launching into the adventure of a lifetime- a trip to the Amazon rainforest. Through Emma’s evocative narrative, the reader is able to journey with Rosa as she travels, relishing the sights and sounds of each location she encounters.
I was asked to think about a couple of my favourite journeys for this post before Emma shares hers. This was a surprisingly hard task…
Travel has always been very important to me and I have many wonderful memories of special journeys. One of my favourite trips in the UK, however, has to be to Ashdown Forest, the 100 Aker Wood where Christopher Robin played. Not only was it a joy to finally play Poohsticks on the bridge after so many years of wanting to visit, this was also our first trip away from home after my husband had had heart surgery. The drizzle meant that we had the whole space to ourselves- allowing me to recite the hums of Pooh to my heart’s content!
A favourite journey overseas has to be to China. When we went many years ago on our honeymoon, there were not many tourists and it was an incredible experience. Favourite moments include visiting the Forbidden City, seeing the incredible terracotta warriors, walking on the Great Wall and taking tea in the Yuyuan Gardens. (Please excuse the poor copies of my pre-digital photos! The terracotta warriors picture is from the shop- we weren’t allowed to take pictures in the Mausoleum Site Museum).
Emma’s favourite journeys…
A favourite journey in the UK... The road home. I live in a steep valley, so the road down into my village gives the most brilliant views out over the countryside. It never fails to make my heart lift a little.
A favourite journey overseas...taking the mountain bus in Ecuador from Otavalo to Esmeraldas on the coast. We drove up into the mists on a bus crammed with other travellers, live chickens and guinea pigs. The road was twisty and narrow, with heart-stopping drops on either side. I'll never forget it!
You can read my review of ‘Escape to the River Sea’ here. Many thanks to Emma for sharing her favourite journeys and to Clare for inviting me to take part in the Blog Tour! Make sure you catch up with the other stops along the way!
Escape to the River Sea Emma Carroll, cover illustration by Katie Hickey
Macmillan ISBN: 978-1529062700
Out on the 9th June 2022
Blog Tour: The Map of Leaves
I am delighted to be part of the blog tour for this fabulous book and share my review. ‘A Map of Leaves’ is a must read so I hope you will borrow or buy a copy and enjoy it as much as I did!
Living alone since her Ma died, Orla tends her beloved garden, listening as the plants whisper to her. When sickness comes to the village of Thorn Creek where she lives, Warden Atlas claims that the wild is the cause and must be destroyed. Armed with her Ma’s book, ‘Plants and their Medicinal Uses’, Orla is determined to find a cure and prove the warden wrong and hides on a boat heading upriver to find the truth. Used to being alone, she finds herself unwillingly teaming up with Idris and Ariana, who are also keen to find a cure for this mysterious illness, on a dangerous adventure from which they might never return.
‘The Map of Leaves’ is a wonderful adventure, set in an atmospheric world. Nature is key to the story and the healing power of plants and the importance of wild spaces are celebrated on every page. Each chapter begins with a plant, its Latin name and a brief description of its properties, encouraging the reader to learn more about the plants around us and reminding us of just how much nature gives us. These early remedies and cures are completely fascinating, sure to spark interest and encourage conversations about the development of medicines we have today.
The story also makes us reflect on the impact humans can have on the environment- how nature needs its wild spaces to thrive and for us to thrive in return. It also considers how those with power and wealth can abuse this in pursuit of personal gain and how those who set the rules do not always follow them- sound familiar?! Warden Atlas is ruthless, showing scant regard for anyone or anything, making him easy to despise.
Orla has a deep connection with nature and a deep distrust of those around her. The loss of her mother from the mysterious sickness is so raw that she has closed in on herself, shunning support or comfort from others. As the story develops, she gradually grows to care for and trust Idris and Ariana, although initially she is quite prickly and difficult to be with. Fiercely determined to find a cure for the sickness-Mapafoglia (‘the map of leaves’ named for the lines like an inky map which appear on the skin of those infected)- and to restore her beloved plants to health, she makes mistakes along the way, but learns from them and becomes a stronger person- and one that is far more likeable at the end.
The book would be excellent for guided reading, offering much to think about and discuss as well as a gripping story which children will love. As well as following a quest, the story also shows how Orla changes as a result of her experiences, finding her place in the world, surrounded by the plants that she loves. The book could also be used very successfully as a class text, offering many opportunities to pause and reflect, write in many different ways, research and enjoy a cracking story; however, for me, the attention rich setting of guided reading would work best!
‘The Map of Leaves’ is definitely one not to be missed!
The Map of Leaves Yarrow Townsend, illustrated by Marie-Alice Harel
Chicken House ISBN: 978-1913696481
Many thanks to Laura for inviting me to join this blog tour! Make sure you enjoy some of the other stops in the tour as well!
Blog Tour: The Hunt for David Berman
Today, author Claire Mulligan joins me for the third stop on her blog tour for her debut novel, The Hunt for David Berman, to talk about how she started writing and her journey to getting published.
My Writing journey
When I was thirteen years old I wrote a story for an English class, my very first piece of writing set by my rather formidable teacher in my first year of secondary school. Mr Noonan liked the story so, rather than flinging my copybook to me across the class (which he had done to every other student), he asked me to come up and read it out loud. As I read and my classmates laughed at the funny bits and Mr Noonan smiled encouragingly I saw firsthand the power of the written word. As a child I loved reading and trips to the local library were a weekly occurrence and, under the guiding eye of Rose the librarian, I read a vast amount. Fast forward several decades and as a busy mum I wrote snippets here and there in my spare time. There were lists of words I liked, diaries I managed to keep for only a short time, surnames of people and interesting names over shop fronts, town lands, lines from poems. At that time I worked as a Montessori teacher and story time and picture books were a huge part of the children’s daily life. I read to my own children at home, stories on the sofa in front of the fire, board books the baby chewed on, bedtime books to help us settle down to sleep and I loved all of these books as much as my children did. I loved seeing how utterly engrossed they were in the characters lives or in whatever exciting adventure was happening in the book. I wrote a couple of children’s short stories and they were published in The Caterpillar Magazine. I also wrote a short story (this time for adults) which won third place in the RTE Radio 1 Short Story competition. And these two things really helped to build my confidence. I spent more time day dreaming and thinking of stories. I would walk the dogs each morning and slowly on these walks the beginnings of another story came. I wrote when I got the chance, moments of quiet in the day when the children were at school or late in the evening when the house was finally wrapped in sleep. I wrote more and more and as this story unfolded it began to change from story length to book length. And so here we are, The Hunt for David Berman is what that story turned into! I was glad to let the characters of Robert and David step out of my imagination and onto the page. When you have a story in your head it’s often all you can think of. Now I’m working on another book, this time set in 17th century Ireland - it features changelings, old magic and the Otherworld and those characters are dying to have their story told too...
The Hunt for David Berman by Claire Mulligan is published by The Moth on 5th May 2022, £8.99 paperback.
Blog Tour: Let’s Go Outside!
I was delighted to be asked to be part of the Blog Tour for this lovely book which celebrates the joy of spending time outside! On yesterday’s stop, you can read an interview with author, Ben Lerwill, offering an insight into his writing. The spotlight today is on Marina Ruiz’s fabulous illustrations which accompany Ben Lerwill’s text. She has very kindly shared a sneak peek into her sketchbooks, showing how her images were created.
‘Let’s Go Outside1’ shows the fun that can be had exploring the outdoors and includes discussion prompts and activity ideas at the end for adults and children to enjoy together. Throughout the book, Marina’s joyful illustrations show the excitement and pleasure of imaginative play and being active before cosying up warm at home-until it’s time for the next adventure.
The picture above shows the development of Marina’s work from her initial sketches to the final image. Her work is full of little details which allow children to create their own stories about what might be happening. There is such joy on the children’s faces as they notice things and explore their surroundings.
Marina’s work is full of texture and colour and her love of printmaking is evident in her illustrations. Each spread is delightful, making this a very special book, both in terms of its message and its pictures.
Perfect for sharing at home or at school, ‘Let’s Go Outside’ not only offers a lovely reading experience, but also encourages children to get outside and explore all the adventures the natural world has to offer!
Let’s Go Outside Ben Lerwill, illustrated by Marina Ruiz
Welbeck Publishing ISBN: 978-1913519803
Many thanks to Marina for sharing her wonderful work.
The Blog Tour continues tomorrow with A Page Turner, @KellyLBuxton.