Pause for Poetry: An Imaginary Menagerie

This is a new edition of a classic collection which has delighted readers for many years. It was one of the first poetry books I bought when I started teaching and one which I have used regularly since.

Illustrated throughout by Roger, the poems are about both real and imaginary animals from the Allivator to the Zonk. Rich in word play and puns, each poem is imaginative and full of humour. A particular favourite of mine is ‘Bookworms’ which starts…

Bookworms are the cleverest of all the worms I know

While others meet their fate on a fisherman's hook as bait

Or churn out silk or chew up the earth or simply burn and glow

They loll about in libraries eating words to make them grow.

The words trip off the tongue, making them a joy to perform and very easy to learn by heart as well as it being satisfying for children to explore the ideas, word play and patterns and use these in their own writing.

Discover the ‘Aunt-Eater’ and learn the fate of the Goodgers, know the habits of Squiggles and consider the virtues of a teapet in this ‘imaginary menagerie’ of delights.

An Imaginary Menagerie

Poems and drawings by Roger McGough, cover illustration by Petr Horacek

Otter-Barry Books ISBN: 978-1913074357

Looking for Emily

Lily is not impressed by Edge, her new home town. Tiny and scruffy, the seaside town has little to offer and less to excite until she discovers a hidden museum- The Museum of Emily- which leads her into a mystery. Determined to find out who Emily was, what has happened to her and why she has a museum, Lily enlists the help of new friends, Sam and Jay, to solve this intriguing puzzle.

Alternating between Lily in the present and Emily in the past, ‘Looking for Emily’ is a well paced, enticing mystery with plenty of twists along the way. Although Lily is not impressed by Edge initially, its winding streets, shadowy caves and ruined lighthouse offer the perfect backdrop to the mystery and Fiona Longmuir effortlessly captures the setting and atmosphere of a seaside town.

Initially friendless, the bond Lily forms with Sam and Jay is delightful. Each is a strong individual with very different personalities, yet they come together to form the perfect team, working through problems and supporting one another. Sam’s chaotic family is a complete delight and no adventuring group of children is complete without a faithful canine companion- in this case, Sam’s dog, Costello.

For me, this was a one-sitting read as I felt compelled to find out more about Emily, uncover the identity of the sinister stranger and know whether the lost treasure existed. With its themes of friendship and family, there is so much here for KS2 children to enjoy as they solve the mystery alongside Lily and her friends. I really enjoyed it!

Looking for Emily Fiona Longmuir

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1839942754

Mia and the Lightccasters

Beware of the shadows, the Reaper King is coming…

Being an umbra trainer was Mia’s dream until an encounter with a wild creature on the Nightmare Plains leaves her preferring to stay within the safety of the walls of Nubis where she lives, her confidence in tatters. When a surprise attack on the city leads to the capture of her parents and the other umbra tamers, Mia, her little brother, Lucas and friend, TJ must make their way to the City of Light to find help.

I loved this story. There is an energy and directness to the story telling which is instantly engaging and the plot merges various genres in a perfect mixture. I know so many children who are going to absolutely love this!

Mia is a fascinating character. The bond between her family is beautifully portrayed and her relationship with little brother, Lucas, is full of love and tenderness- a real joy to see. Convinced she is not good enough or strong enough to achieve what is expected of her, Mia still faces every challenge thrown at her and comes back stronger and more determined than before. Readers will empathise with her feelings whilst admiring her kind and loyal nature as she refuses to give up on others.

There is much to love about Janelle McCurdy’s world building. Lunis, its cities, the Nightmare Plains, the umbra…the story is rich in description, allowing the reader to escape to each location as the action builds. The plot is well paced and builds to a satisfying conclusion which hints at more to come.

Full page illustrations are scattered throughout the story, adding to its appeal. Sure to be a huge hit with children in UKS2, ‘Mia and the Lightcasters’ is one to move to the top of the reading pile!

Mia and the Lightcasters

Janelle McCurdy, illustrated by Ana Latese

Faber ISBN: 978-0571368433

When Ice Cream Had a Meltdown

Inside the ice cream van, all the ice creams and lollies are so excited as they can’t wait to be picked. But no-one wants the plain Ice Cream and she has to watch as all her friends are chosen instead of her. She says she doesn’t mind and tries to hide her feelings until eventually she has a meltdown! Her frozen friends all rally round to support her and at last, her dream comes true!

‘When Ice Cream Had a Meltdown’ is another brilliantly funny story from Michelle Robinson and Tom Knight, celebrating the importance of sharing and understanding our feelings. Michelle is an expert storyteller and her lively text bounces along, making it perfect for reading aloud with a class or at home and offering an excellent starting point for helping children explore their emotions whether feeling left out or whatever!

The illustrations are fantastic! Each ice cream and lolly is bursting with personality and children will enjoy recognising many of the tasty frozen treats brought to life by Tom’s artwork. The story could also offer plenty of inspiration for making ice cream and lollies as well- a plain one or those with a whole host of flavours and toppings! You could even do a little shopping maths with the priced pictures of ice creams at the beginning and end of the book, perhaps creating an ice cream ‘van’ for role play fun!

‘When Ice Cream Had a Meltdown’ joins the other fabulous titles from this talented team- ‘When Cucumber Lost His Cool’, ‘When Jelly Had a Wobble’ and ‘The Day the Banana Went Bad’- and is sure to become a firm favourite!

When Ice Cream Had a Meltdown

Michelle Robinson, illustrated by Tom Knight

Scholastic ISBN: 978-0702313332

Meet Tracey Corderoy

Tracey Corderoy is the author of over 40 picture books and about 30 fiction titles. All her stories are wonderful, but I am a Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam super fan so was delighted when a new picture book title came out recently. You can read my review of ‘Pirates Ahoy!’ here and I thoroughly recommend the rest of the series. Tracey’s events are always a joy to attend, usually involving making something, and always full of story-fun!

I asked Tracey some questions about Shifty and Sam…

1.       Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam have appeared in 6 picture books and four early novels so far and continue to be incredibly popular characters. Where did you first get the idea for these loveable robber dogs from?

I had the most beautiful Golden Retriever called Dylan. He reached the grand old age of almost 16 and died in 2020. He was my constant companion from the moment I embarked on my writing journey.

Anyway, one day, when he was a puppy, I took him to the vet to have some vaccinations.

What happened next was my fault really, I suppose, because as we went in through the door, I forgot to press the button on his lead. This meant that Dylan could zoom off if he so wished. And he did so wish as he spied a teddy displayed in the window, on a deck chair – very cute. Dylan LOVED teddies so FWIPPPP! off he went into the window display for the bear.

I was mortified, as you might imagine. All the other animals were behaving themselves impeccably and Dylan was destroying the window display with a very waggy tail. I ‘encouraged’ him out of said window and instructed him to “drop the bear”.

He actually did. So naturally I praised him, which made things much, much worse. Dylan got happier upon hearing my praise. Then promptly he did a big excited wee all over the floor. I was even more mortified. EVERYONE was looking. I said: “Oh no, what HAVE you done, Dylan?” And then Dylan looked up at me with his adorable big brown eyes. He looked sorry. He hadn’t meant to steal the bear or do a Golden Retriever-sized wee all over the floor. He wasn’t bad, not in his heart, he just ‘didn’t think’ that day, that was all.

Anyway, we saw the visit through, and when we left I thought it best to forget all about it. My brain thought differently, however, and it came back to me quite randomly one day when I was thinking of ideas for a story. Cue Shifty and Sam who just ‘don’t think’ – until they upset little Scottie Dog by stealing his FAVOURITE teddy, Big-Eared Bob. Then it’s time for the boys to have a BIG rethink!

2.       Having rejected a life of crime, Shifty and Sam have settled to work as bakers. Do you like baking and if so, what is your signature bake?

I was/am a rubbish cook, but I did learn to bake when my daughters were little as I was required to come up with birthday cakes. A plain honest sponge cake – with jam and buttercream is my signature bake I think. I sometimes use lemon curd instead of jam. And I sometimes make cupcakes – same recipe but smaller cakes. I have been known to decorate with melted chocolate and raspberries too. Oh yes!

3.       The books are illustrated by the very talented Steven Lenton. Did you have any say in the choice of illustrator for this series and did you discuss what Shifty and Sam looked like before Steven started drawing?

I was very lucky because I think Steven had just sent Nosy Crow some illustrations of dogs (by chance) about the same time as they received my story. Ping! The penny dropped that Steven would be PERFECT to illustrate the first story as his work was so great! Nosy Crow told me of him and lucky me – as he’s totally marvellous! I left it to Steven to experiment with different styles of dogs as this was his area of expertise, and I know he worked really hard getting it just right. I so love how Shifty and Sam look. They have become dear old friends now – for me and Steven alike.

4.       Shifty and Sam have met pirates and aliens and outwitted cats, penguins and polar bears. Where will their adventures take them next?

Well now! That is a BIG surprise – and we have another surprise up our sleeves too as an old face is set to make a reappearance in the next story! I’ll say they are going on a BIG adventure to somewhere far away. But beware for robbers in disguise. Cryptic, right? Oh, and there are masks involved – but not all robbing masks. My last clue is it’s going to be a purrrfect TOOT HOOT!

5.       You always do the most amazing events, full of fun and making things. Which festivals are you taking part in this year? Which is your favourite?

It’s so amazing to be back doing live events again. I’m just back from the Wells Festival of Literature and am about to head off to Edinburgh for three events at the marvellous Edinburgh International Book Festival. I’m also doing Chichester, Just So in Cheshire, an event on The Golden Hinde (a replica of Francis Drake’s Golden Hind!). Then later on there’s the brilliant Bath Children’s Book Festival, the Marlborough Festival, the Stroud Festival, the Stratford-upon-Avon Festival and the Northern Children’s Book Festival. I like them ALL as every one is so unique and friendly. These, coupled with school and library events are doing to keep me very busy!

6.        And lastly- and most importantly according to my niece- what is your favourite cake?

Oh! So many to choose from. Not chocolate. (I know! Don’t judge me for this. I just prefer chocolate just as chocolate.) So, I’m going to say … Victoria Sponge.    

             — And Carrot Cake, please and thank you!

Thank you so much, Tracey, for answering my questions! A ‘purrrfect TOOT HOOT’? I can’t wait!

You can read my review of ‘The Story Shop: Blast Off!’ here and ‘The Story Shop: Anchors Away!’ here.

Pause for Poetry: Ready for Spaghetti

In ‘Ready for Spaghetti, Michael Rosen has created a series of joyful poems which capture moments of a child’s day from getting up in the morning to going to bed in the evening. Each is full of word play, perfect for encouraging children to join in and experiment with language.

Full of fun and energy, the playful nature of the poems will soon make them firm favourites, easy for children to learn and share as they go about their daily activities. Humour permeates the collection as Michael Rosen pauses to observe the smallest details- playing in a paddling pool, building a sandcastle, having a rumbly tummy- which Polly Dunbar captures perfectly in her irresistible illustrations.

Perfect for sharing, ‘Ready for Spaghetti’ is a wonderfully creative and imaginative collection!

Ready for Spaghetti

Michael Rosen, illustrated by Polly Dunbar

Walker Books ISBN: 978-1406377644

Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.

The Story Shop: Anchors Away!

In Puddletown High Street, nestled between the hairdresser’s and the hardware store, is the most unusual shop- The Story Shop- where shopkeeper, Wilbur, and his assistant, Fred Ferret, sell adventures that their customers can actually BE in! So when Pearl Johnson, famous explorer, calls in, Wilbur suggests she sets off on a swashbuckling pirate adventure. But will everything go according to plan..?

Containing three linked stories, ‘The Story Shop: Anchors Away!’ offers a wonderful reading experience for emergent readers. The book is full of Tony Neal’s lively illustrations which are both engaging and entertaining, adding much to the humour of the stories!

In her adventure, the very confident (bossy!-Fred) Pearl first meets some very un-pirate-like pirates and helps them to steal back the Black Pearl from the crew of the Scabby Seagull with a sneaky plan! Although things don’t go quite according to plan, fortunately, Fred is on hand to nudge things in the right direction. Once finished here, they cause trouble in a pirate competition involving earning points in a raft race, building a shelter and cooking a delicious supper before setting off on a treasure hunt. Their final adventure involves a mysterious pirate ghost before heading back to the Story Shop.

Each adventure is full of fun and told in a light-hearted, pacey style which keeps the reader engaged and keen to find out what happens next. Having three stories in one book makes the book achievable for newly independent readers, offering a sense of achievement as they complete each tale.

‘The Story Shop’ is a lovely series, celebrating the power of the imagination and story telling. Children will have great fun creating their own Story Shop adventures- and are sure to look forward to Wilbur and Fred’s next adventure!

The Story Shop: Anchors Away!

Tracey Corderoy, illustrated by Tony Neal

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1788953269

You can read my review of ‘The Story Shop: Blast Off!’ here and join me for a Q and A with Tracey this coming Friday!

Diary of an Accidental Witch: Ghostly Getaway

Bea and her classmates are off on a residential to spooky Cadabra Castle. It’s sure to be a magical trip with lots to do and plenty of fun to be had…if Year 7 can just stop arguing. However, their teachers have different ideas. Miss Lupo is determined that they keep up their Potions work and they are travelling in an old orange Ordinary bus! To top it all, they have been set a series of witchy mystery challenges as Miss Sparks is sure a few team building activities will help this argumentative lot learn to work together.

Bea’s adventures started when she and her father moved to Little Spellshire and she found herself accidentally enrolled to go to the School of Extraordinary Arts. This mishap led to her attending a school for witches, but, after a somewhat exhausting and baffling start, Bea settled in well to magical life, recording her secret experiences in her diary. Now in her third term, she has started a new diary with some New Year’s resolutions.

Told in a very light-hearted style, these books make very appealing reading yet in each story Bea overcomes or solves a problem which readers themselves might encounter. In this story, as well as the on-going conflicts and rivalries with certain classmates, Bea is really worried that her father’s work (researching the bizarre weather patterns of Little Spellshire) is coming to an end and she will soon be forced to leave her new school and friends if she and her father move elsewhere. Instead of talking to him about this, she concocts a plan of action, but (as is often the case!) hasn’t thought this through, leading to on-going problems and an increasing sense of anxiety for Bea. The easiest thing to do to set her mind at rest was to actually talk to her father…which she eventually does!

This story also shows the importance of teamwork and setting aside differences. When forced to work with her nemesis, Bea needs to find a way of cooperating with Blair and the girls come to realise that this is the way to succeed. Told with much humour and ‘quirkiness’, there is no heavy moralising or preaching here- just Bea’s dawning appreciation of the fact. I love the way the teachers nudge them towards this by creating the right conditions and then sitting back and letting it happen!

Perfect for younger, reluctant (or really any!) reader, ‘Diary of an Accidental Witch: Ghostly Getaway’ is a great addition to this series. It would make a fun class read, but actually engaging with the text with it’s footnotes, corrections, annotations and fabulous illustrations by Katie Saunders make it great for curling up with independently!

Diary of an Accidental Witch: Ghostly Getaway

Perdita and Honor Cargill, illustrated by Katie Saunders

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1788953405

Diary of an Accidental Witch: Ghostly Getaway

Perdita and Honor Cargill

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-

Free Kid to Good Home

When a little girl meets her baby brother, Daichan, she is less than impressed. She thinks he looks ‘just like a potato’ and blames him for her parents not seeming to want her around any more. Determined to find a better family, she gets herself a box and using her best handwriting, write ‘Free Kid’ on the front. Nothing she does seems to attract new parents, but she is soon joined by a dog, a kitty and a turtle who are also looking for a new home. When they all find somewhere new to live and the little girl is on her own once more, her parents appear and say they are looking for an older sister for Daichan so she gives up being a stray kid to become a big sister for a little potato.

Full of gentle humour, ‘Free Kid to a Good Home’ is a delightful book exploring the anxiety many children feel when faced with a new sibling. Very accessible and appealing with comic style illustrations and minimal text, the story is perfect for encouraging children to think about and discuss welcoming a new addition to the family. I love how the parents handle the situation, allowing the little girl to feel she has been chosen and has had a say in becoming a sister to the ‘little potato’.

Hiroshi’s illustrations are wonderful. The facial expressions really capture a whole range of emotions and add to the humour of the story. Bold red touches on the black line drawings really stand out against the white background, perfectly accompanying the light-hearted text.

Free Kid to Good Home Hiroshi Ito

Gecko Press ISBN: 978-1776574513

Bigfoot Mountain

Living in the remote North American mountains, Minnie and her step father, Dan, are struggling to come to terms with the loss of Minnie’s mother. One day, she and her friend, Billy, discover some mysterious footprints -giant footprints- on a mountainside trail which Minnie is determined to investigate. Meanwhile, Kaayii, a young Sasquatch, and his clan have been driven across the mountain by forest fires. As their worlds collide, they must seek to understand one another as they find a way forward.

There are many things to love about this story. Full of beautiful descriptions of the landscape and nature, the book is a real love letter to the wild- perfect for sharing with children and encouraging their curiosity in the environment and all its wonders.

It is not surprising, therefore, that living in harmony with the natural world and considering the impact of human actions on the environment are central ideas to the story. Switching between the Sasquatch and human viewpoints, the reader can readily empathise with all the characters, absorbing the environmental ‘message’ which is skilfully embedded at the heart of the story.

Children (and adults!) might also be inspired to find out more about Sasquatch (See my Q and A with Roderick for suggestions of where to start!) or the remote setting of the story. ‘Bigfoot Mountain’ would make an excellent guided reading test, offering a compelling story with plenty to enjoy and discuss, research opportunities and lots of inspiration for children’s own writing.

Bigfoot Mountain Roderick O’Grady

Firefly Press ISBN: 978-1913102418

You can read my interview with Roderick O’Grady here.

Meet Roderick O'Grady

‘Bigfoot Mountain’ is a heart-warming, beautifully told story, with love at its heart- love of each other and of the environment we share. This week, I am delighted that the author, Roderick O’Grady, has agreed to answer some questions!

1. ‘Bigfoot Mountain’ is your first book for children. Why did you decide to include the legendary ‘Bigfoot’ in your story?

I had recently returned to the acting profession and found myself ‘resting’, which is what actors say they are doing when they are out of work. As these days everyone has ‘portfolio careers’ doing multiple things to make ends meet, I felt I should find another creative outlet that preferably made me some additional income. I had fallen down the rabbit hole of ‘Bigfoot or Sasquatch Research’ on YouTube and became fascinated with the subject. The challenge of writing a story that was unlike all the typical Bigfoot tales appealed to me. Usually a lone rogue Sasquatch intimidates a couple of hiker and then attacks them. My research has suggested that if they exist, and I am happy to declare that after all the hundreds of hours of research I’ve done and all the books I’ve read, (including the DNA reports) that I believe they do exist, then they are unlikely to be killers of humans and would have a way of life similar to that which I’ve described in the book.

2.     How much research did you do into Sasquatch folklore to support your writing?

A lot. I’ve read all the books I can get hold of. I discovered that all the indigenous tribes of North America had a word for Sasquatch or the big hairy people of the woods. There were it is estimated, about 50 million people living there before the pioneers arrived 500 years ago. And 350 languages. Numbers were decimated in the so-called  ‘Indian Wars Campaigns’ but also by the spread of TB, influenza, black death. And according to the Native Americans the Sasquatches with whom they had shared the forests and the plains for many thousands of years retreated further in to the more remote areas to get away from people. They decided to self isolate!

3.  If you had young readers keen to learn more about these stories, what would you suggest they read?

There’s one called ‘Looking for Bigfoot’ by Bonnie Worth, which is less silly and somewhat better researched than others. But not many do the subject justice. Native American folklore is an oral history shared by each generation and I have yet to find a book that repeats their beliefs in one tome.

4.     ‘Bigfoot Mountain’ is full of fabulous descriptions of a remote North American landscape. Did you draw on personal experience of places you have visited to create these?

Unfortunately I have never been to Canada and would love to visit the temperate rainforests of the Pacific North West where the book is set. I lived and worked in Colorado and Northern San Francisco though and so am familiar with big trees in big forests. I used the internet to check on exactly what thrives there and it is the perfect environment for living wild- everything grows in abundance- roots, shoots, berries, mushrooms, honey, maple, and then there’s the sea life and the four-legged creatures to hunt. I hope to visit when they make a TV series of the books. Fingers crossed, this will happen. Any producers out there?

5.     Kaayii (your young Sasquatch) and his family are completely in tune with nature and its wonders and are greatly affected by environmental change. What is your favourite place in nature to visit and how has it/ might it be affected by environmental change?

I enjoy the coast at Lyme Regis and when my children were young we’d of course hunt for fossils there. That coastline is constantly eroding and after a big storm more mud and shale from the cliff tumbles on to the beach. Erosion and weathering are natural occurrences but climate change affects the sea levels and winter rainfall.

5. Minnie is a wonderful character. Is she based on anyone in particular?

Thanks. She’s based on a combination of my daughter and my son. So a mixture of intrepid, fun, clever and compassionate.

6. What can we expect from you next? I believe there is another ‘Bigfoot’ adventure on its way.

Yes, Bigfoot Island is to be published by Firefly next Spring. It picks up where the first book ends and there are new characters, stormy sea adventures, caves, and canoes.

I have also written a book set in London, called Bosco by the River, a funny questing adventure. I pitch it as ‘Lord of the Rings-on-Thames but not as epic!’ It is yet to find a home (publisher) but I loved writing it and plan, if there is interest, to do a series.

7.  And lastly- and most importantly according to my niece- what is your favourite cake?

Excellent question. Tough one as I love cake. Simply love it. All cake. All day long. In fact I think it is time for a piece of cake right now. Thank you for the reminder. I like Carrot cake, Fruit cake, Coffee cake, Carrot and Walnut, Coffee and walnut, But, the other day I made Nigella’s Carrot and Ginger Cake and it was delicious!! A new fave!

Many thanks to Roderick for agreeing to this- great answers. Not sure about your choice of cake, but I loved the book and am delighted to know another one is on the way!

Bigfoot Mountain Roderick O’Grady

Firefly ISBN: 978-1913102418

Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale

Zeina Starborn spends her days dreaming of having adventures in the sky, above the smog-filled city of Ravenport, escaping the life of a Below. When invited to the annual Grand Birthday Bazaar celebrating the 12th birthday of rich Above, Jackson Willoughby, she is reluctant to go, but this leads to her winning a chance to visit the famous Willoughby Whale Hotel- a giant structure built on the back of a flying whale- with Jackson and his Uncle Hamilton. Although her father does not want her to go, Zeina seizes her opportunity and sets off on the journey of a lifetime, full of adventure, mystery and danger.

‘Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale’ is stunning- I couldn’t put down for a second! From a divided society to environmental issues, there is so much packed into this book, making it a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable story.

At first glance, Zeina and Jackson could not be more different. The Willoughbys are a powerful Above family with untold riches, living in opulence whilst Zeina lives on the airship platform, where her father works as an engineer. However, Jackson is not like the rest of his family, preferring to race velocycles to studying, owning sky whale hotels or taking over the family business. He is more cautious whilst Zeina is impulsive, boisterous and ready for action. Initially wary of each other, they grow to understand each other, becoming a team in the face of hardship and betrayal.

The importance of animal welfare and the dangers of pollution are at the heart of the story. Zeina and Jackson’s growing horror as they realise the truth of the whale hunt they are on- the cruelty and the STAN system used to control them- sits in stark contrast to the callous indifference of those leading the hunt whose only concern is the profits captured whales bring. The way power corrupts, misinformation and reporting bias are also explored through the story. It would make an excellent text for guided reading or for a class novel with plenty to reflect on and discuss whilst enjoying a fabulous adventure!

I am certain that there will be more stories about Jackson and Zeina as they continue their adventures on airships, their friendship now firmly established. Highly recommend this one!

Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale Hannah Durkan

Orion ISBN: 978-1510110649

The Secret Wild

Fern Featherstone has spent her life so far travelling the world with her botanist parents. Bursting with natural curiosity, she finds it hard to attend to her studies as her father would like and when an impromptu adventure in the Amazon Rainforest leads her into danger, her parents decide she will be safer with her uncle in London. On her journey, she encounters a little plant which seems to understand her so she decides to keep it, hiding it from her kindly Uncle Ned and naming it Special. London is becoming over run by huge plants, the handiwork of a mysterious Guerrilla Gardener, targeting many of its most famous landmarks and causing havoc. When Special becomes ill, Fern is determined to find a cure for her unusual companion, and with the help of Woody, her new neighbour and (initially reluctant!) friend, embarks on the adventure of a lifetime!

Full of the wonders- and importance of- nature, ‘The Secret Wild’ is a fabulous story with strong environmental messages about looking our plant life and maintaining the natural balance which enables all to thrive. References to, and descriptions of, plants are seeded throughout the story, sure to nurture and propagate curiosity!

Fern and Woody make a fascinating partnership. Fern is impulsive and impetuous, constantly acting without a plan whilst Woody, a great lover of jigsaws, is a cautious plotter who is botanophobic (scared of plants). Both children are lonely. Fern has been uprooted from the wild life she knows and loves, seeing her ‘exile’ from her parents as being as a result of her failings. Woody’s family circumstances have changed resulting in triplets, living with his grandmother and his father working away on an oil rig off Scotland. Initially off to a faltering start, their friendship quickly takes roots, blossoming into mutual respect and support as they find the courage and determination to deal with all the challenges of solving the mystery of the Guerrilla Gardener, saving London and looking after each other.

‘The Secret Wild’ would make an excellent class read or guided reading text, offering much to discuss and explore as well as an engaging and enjoyable story.

The Secret Wild Alex Evelyn

Walker Books ISBN: 978-1406399394

Pause for Poetry: When the Bell Goes

In this ‘rapping, rhyming trip through childhood’, Neal Zetter turns the clock back to his school days…which seem to have a lot in common with those of today! From mornings to teachers to lessons to home time, Neal brings his performance poetry skills to exploring school life in all its glory (or perhaps gory detail!)

Each poem is accompanied by a joke (What time is it when somebody eats your watch?) or fun fact which may or may not be true (Fire brigades and hospitals across the UK deal with an average of 19 people a week who, during a yoga session, tie themselves in knots from which they cannot escape) which relates to the poem.

The contents page is set out like a school time table with sections on subjects like clothes, playtime and afternoons as well as the less pleasant ‘sick’! Here, there is a poem about that well known ‘tummy ache’ which any teacher (or parent!) will tell you is still a major feature of the school day, one about the class nosepicker and that constant ssssssniffing!

There’s a playtime poem which acknowledges those of us who don’t love football (yay!). ‘Lists’ is a poem about creating- well, lists- and would make an excellent model to inspire children to create their own. A class could have great fun rewriting ‘Good Morning’ to suit its own members whereas ‘Fake News’ offers the opportunity to rewrite history!

The collection is illustrated throughout by Emily Ford whose black and white drawings add to the fun of the poems. A great addition to class shelves!

When the Bell Goes: A Rapping, Rhyming Trip Through Childhood

Neal Zetter, illustrated by Emily Ford

Troika ISBN: 978-19099991576

The Sky Over Rebecca

A mysterious snow angel in the snow with no footprints leading to or from it leads ten-year-old Kara on a quest to discover how it was made. On an island in the middle of the frozen lake near her home, Kara meets Rebecca, a young Jewish girl, who she comes to realise is from another time. Desperate to escape the Nazis and get her disabled younger brother, Samuel, to safety, Rebecca’s friendship with Kara offers both girls hope.

‘The Sky Over Rebecca’ is a superbly written, sensitive and unique, time-slip story. Set in modern day Sweden where Kara lives, the story flows to World War II and back again as she and Rebecca form a deep connection and bond of friendship.

Kara is used to being alone. Her father left shortly after she was born and although they have a good relationship, her mother works long hours. Kara’s grandfather is an important part of her life, but she knows there is a conversation he wishes to have with her that neither of them wants. In her loneliness, Kara is desperate for companionship and finds true friendship in Rebecca. Matthew Fox captures this sense of isolation perfectly, leading the reader to empathise with Kara as she copes with bullying, loss and loneliness, admiring her courage and determination as she feels compelled to help her new friends.

As time overlaps and spirals, Kara slips between past and present, piecing together Rebecca and Samuel’s story. Hauntingly beautiful, the story reaches its deeply poignant and satisfying conclusion, leading me to shed more than a few tears!

For children interested in, or learning about, WWII, ‘The Sky Over Rebecca’ offers something different, both in content and style. Matthew Fox has a sparse, yet lyrical writing manner which is both refreshing and compelling, suiting this narrative perfectly. I look forward to seeing what he writes next!

The Sky Over Rebecca Matthew Fox

Hodder ISBN: 978-1444966022

A Day that’s Ours

The most beautiful love song from parent to child, ‘A Day That’s Ours’ is absolutely gorgeous. In it, a father takes a day to be completely with his daughter, seemingly doing nothing much, but building memories of precious time shared. His happiness in her innocent joy at the little things is perfectly captured as he reflects that this time parents have with their children is so fleeting and ‘these magic years’ will come to an end as she begins school where she will ‘make her way alone’.

Told in perfect rhyme, the rich and evocative text is accompanied by gorgeous illustrations which add all the little details you would hope for. Having decided to ‘steal a day’, the pair emerge from the little girl’s wonderfully messy and lived-in bedroom to make a pile of pancakes for breakfast. The picture shows dad whisking the mixture whilst his daughter spills milk everywhere and the cat enjoying this unexpected treat! The little girl’s face is full of joy at the stack of pancakes she can’t possibly eat as her father gazes on adoringly and we can imagine her endless, excited chatter filling his world.

Their day doing ‘nothing much’ is bursting with simple, pleasurable activities which need nothing but time and togetherness. Their ‘slow again’ walk along the pavement brings the untold excitement of discovery- a beetle, a flower ‘shyly smiling’, a leaf dancing in the air- as they make their way to the park. Around them, the world continues at its normal busy pace whilst they are cocooned in their togetherness, absorbed in each other. With their ‘slow day fading’, they head home where they share a story and a cuddle before bed- the end of a perfect day.

There are no gadgets, no technology- the father gives his child his full attention and is rewarded so completely in return. Natural curiosity, wonder at the world and fun provide all the entertainment needed. I used to love days like this with my son and this book perfectly encapsulates that special feeling.

A lovely story to return to again and again- as much for grown-ups as for children!

A Day That’s Ours

Blake Nuto, illustrated by Vyara Boyadjieva

Out in August 2022.

Flying Eye Books ISBN: 978-1838740757

The Perfect Present

Best friends, Tom and Mot, share a birthday. Tom gives Mot a colourful feather which Mot thinks comes from a spectacular bird. Tom wishes he could give Mot the bird the feather comes from. Mot gives Tom a marble which Tom thinks could be the smallest planet in the universe, leading to the two friends imagining all the things they would love to give one another, making the day the best day ever and the perfect present!

A wonderful celebration of the imagination and the joy of friendship, ‘The Perfect Present’ is a story to enjoy again and again. Tom and Mot (I love the fact that their names are a reflection of each other!) are never identified as male or female allowing children to readily identify with them as they play together. The gifts they give one another appear simple, but lead to the most wonderful imaginings, full of excitement and adventure whether indoors or out! The ‘perfect present’ is the present moment- and the joy of spending time with someone you care for!

The illustrations are wonderful. Tom and Mit’s imaginings burst from the page in bright splashes of colour as they drift in space or float beneath the sea, meeting creatures and enjoying the beauty of nature. Around their house are reflections of their imagined adventures indoors and out- a dinosaur toy, elephants on the plant pot, fish swimming on their lampshade, a toy bird hanging from the light- perhaps inspiring the reader to create their own stories and adventures!

Another ‘perfect present’ from Petr to his readers!

The Perfect Present Petr Horacek

Otter-Barry Books ISBN: 9781913074326

You can read my review of ‘A Best Friend for Bear’ here.

Passionate About Penguins

The latest in Owen Davey’s very popular non-fiction series, ‘Passionate about Penguins’ is a beautifully illustrated, essential addition to your collection. These books are so tactile and inviting that I have seen children pore over them for ages, completely caught up in the experience.

Starting with an explanation of what penguins are and the six distinct groups they can be split into, the book then introduces diet and habitat. Most penguins live below the Equator with the book explaining that, contrary to what many people believe, penguins and polar bears would never meet in the wild.

Penguins are specially adapted to their aquatic lifestyle and Davey focuses on the Humboldt penguin to illustrate these features, making it very useful for the Y6 Science curriculum work on adaptation as each feature is taken and considered, making it a great model to use for presenting work on other creatures.

Whether exploring their feathers, how they move or how they defend themselves, each topic is clearly explained in bite-sized chunks of information using side headings to help the reader navigate the page. Word play and puns are used to add a touch of humour to the text and although there is no glossary, many words are explained in context.

A sense of the size of different penguin species can be found on the pages entitled ‘To Scale’. Here, a whole host of penguins can be seen drawn around a human with a handy scale marker down the side of one page, allowing the reader to gauge the relative size of these creatures, some of which are surprising!

‘And the Award Goes To…’ offers some fascinating trivia. I had no idea how the Macaroni penguin got its name nor which species was the fastest underwater! The book ends with a note on conservation and how human activity is endangering most penguin species, but offers positive comments on what can be done to help them.

‘Passionate About Penguins’ would be a brilliant addition to any library, topic box or reading shelf for many reasons. It is also one of those wonderful books which has appeal to a wide age range and could be used in classes across KS2 to support work in science. Details like the Latin binomial classification added in the index demonstrates the work of Linnaeus and classification systems touched on in Year 6 or to support work on food chains in Year 4.

As usual, the illustrations are colourful and engaging, adding to the pleasure of immersing yourself into the world of penguins. I hope this series continues for a long time!

Passionate About Penguins Owen Davey

Flying Eye Books ISBN: 978-1838740771

Published 4th August 2022

You can read my review of ‘Crazy About Cats’ here and ‘Obsessive About Octopuses’ here.

Meet Rachel Delahaye

‘Day of the Whale’ is one of the best books that I have read. Thought-provoking, challenging, full of evocative descriptions and engaging characters, it is one which I will be recommending and sharing constantly! Being able to ask author, Rachel Delahaye, some questions was a fantastic opportunity and I am delighted to be able to share these today!

1.     Cam's curiosity and determination to ask questions in the face of danger leads him to uncover some frightening truths. Did you write the story with the idea that it might encourage readers to challenge what they are told and to ask questions of their own?

No and yes. I didn’t set out to make any point when I began writing this story – I decided to launch into the world-building of Cetacea and see where it took me. It first took me to Utopia and then took me to a flipside – a place where I imagined how a small, isolated population, eager for preservation, could easily be manipulated by someone with a more sinister purpose. As soon as this dark side of paradise began unfolding, I begged my brainwashed characters to dig deeper. I realised very quickly that this wasn’t going to be adventure for adventure’s sake – and that, yes, I wanted my readers to find the truth, alongside Cam and his friends. In my opinion, there’s only one way to do that, and that’s to ask questions and to challenge the slogans we’re told explain everything. I hope the story shows that curiosity isn’t annoying, knowledge isn’t something to be suspicious of, and critical thinking is the key to finding truth; being told what we want to hear isn’t always kindness, it can be manipulation; what’s popular isn’t always what’s right. If a single reader comes away with the desire to ask more questions because of it, then I’ll be a very happy author. That was a bit long-winded, I’m sorry!

2.     Cetacea is located where Australia used to be and your descriptions of the landscape are wonderful. Why did you choose this part of the world as the setting for 'Day of the Whale'?

I was born in Australia and although I haven’t spent much of my life there (I moved to the UK when I was six, and then lived there for a few years in my 20s) it’s the kind of place that leaves a mark. Behind the glossy cities, there’s an ancient country with wild and diverse landscapes, rainbow colours, and skies that either yawn with endless blue or bubble with turbulent storms. It’s dramatic and captivating. During lockdown, I found myself missing it, and itching to write about the landscape and play around in its palette. I’m a huge fan of Australian author, Tim Winton, and I guess I was trying to emulate his style in a way – his descriptions of Australia are super sensory, wild and full of contrasts. Australia is not just a place, it’s a character. In addition to that, I wanted to introduce readers to the incredible wildlife and use that zoo-like environment of a small island to bring them all together, desert and jungle creatures side by side. There may be animals that readers haven’t even heard of – animals that might not be here much longer. What better way to show what’s a stake if we don’t look after our world? 

3.     Banjo feels a deep connection to his First Nation's heritage. What research/ advice did you seek to help you form his explanations/ ideas? 

I’m really glad you asked me this. To write a story about Australia and the importance of the past without including First Nations peoples to me would have been outrageous. As a white, far-flung Australian, I naturally felt unsure about how to write it, but Banjo came bounding into my head and led the way. Despite his light skin and fair hair, he is a descendent of the Darkinjung people of the Central Coast in NSW Australia – it’s an area I’m familiar with, and the Darkinjung are also known as the Whale Dreaming people, which of course is an absolutely perfect fit. It’s not explained exactly how Banjo is a ‘descendant’ – only that he is aware of his heritage because his parents broke the Cetacea law of not speaking about the past and whispered Dreamtime stories to him in his bed. Although better than most, his understanding of his ancestry is childlike, which provided a forgiving platform for my own very basic knowledge. Of course, in preparation, I read books, but no amount of reading could qualify me as an educator or any kind of authority – for a start, there are over Australian 800 First Nations dialects. But it did convince me that what I was doing was right. That aspect of my story is not my ‘voice’, but I recognise it as being very important – and I would be delighted if readers were inspired to discover more about First Nations history, art, cultures, because of it. What I did talk about, I knew needed to be right, so when I wrote Banjo’s explanation of what white man named The Dreamtime, I got in touch with Gavi Duncan, an Aboriginal Darkinjung Elder. Through back-and-forth emails, I got the child-friendly definition of the Dreamtime as close to correct as I could, with his approval. He also told me the Dreamtime story of Toorongong the Whale. With that in hand, it felt like I had all the threads to weave a beautiful, meaningful tale. This September, I'm going to Australia to meet with him.

4.     There are strong environmental themes running through the story, but although whales are part of this, they are not what the story is actually about. To me, they are more a symbol of all that has been lost as Cam's people have been deceived with the lie that they need to strive to make amends for the dirty past. Is this how you see it? 

This is hard to answer, because the whale came before the story itself, and it arrived not as a symbol but as a starting point. It began when an image sprung to mind of a boy looking at a giant screen with a blue whale on it. I knew I had to write something, but I didn’t really know what… All I had was ‘the whales are talking to the people through the screen’. Why? I came up with the idea of an island being ruled by whales. As I started to write, my own fears about populist politics and climate change melted together, and the whale became a symbol of a huge deception, yes – how big tricks can be pulled right in front of our eyes – but it had several other functions too: they represent climate catastrophe and also education, illustrating what we have to lose and what we have to gain. Whales are crucial for the environment; if they go extinct, then we really are in trouble (their role in the ecosystem supplies us oxygen). But their incredible communication, compassion and teaching of life-skills to their young can be an inspiration. To us small humans, they also instil a sense of awe. And we need to sustain that same feeling of awe about our planet and its creatures. Because when they’re gone, they’re gone. And then we’re gone, too. And finally, through the story of Toorongong, they represent everything from creation to kinship, to the wisdom of our elders. And to that, I say, never ignore history. It tells us all we need to know, especially about human nature.  

5.     Your 'Mort the Meek' books and the Jim Reaper series are very funny stories- a complete contrast to 'Day of the Whale'! You do both styles very well, but which do you prefer writing?

Sorry to be annoyingly predictable, but I don’t have a favourite. The comedy is a lot of fun. It’s invigorating and light and tends to skip from my fingertips – it’s enormously enjoyable and, dare I say, comes to me more easily that my more intense stuff. But that intense stuff, writing stories that make the brain tick and the heart thump, is intoxicating. It’s harder to get right. My drafts run into double figures. But every redraft is worth it, because not only am I getting the words right, I’m finding new strands to the plot and new ways to weave them together, and I’m getting to know characters in more depth and in turn they’re enriching the story with their actions and reactions. If I could continue my career switching between thrillers and gigglers, that would be perfect!  

6.     What can we expect from you next?

I’m currently editing a futuristic duology (possibly trilogy) which will be out next year, which explores the definitions of freedom and choice, which is very exciting. I’m also toying with some more comedy ideas and a sister book to Day of the Whale, set at sea. All in good time!

7.     And lastly- and most importantly according to my niece- what is your favourite cake?

Really moist lemon drizzle cake with a crisp sugar crust and heaps of lemon juice. Anyone who doesn’t agree is wrong.

Huge thanks to Rachel for answering these questions- so hard to decide which ones to ask!- and I cannot recommend ‘Day of the Whale’ highly enough! You can read my review of it here, but much better than that, read it yourself!!

Day of the Whale Rachel Delahaye

Troika ISBN: 978-1912745197

Pause for poetry: Follow that Word

Having been asked to update the FCBG book lists, poetry has been very much in my mind as this is where I decided to start. A great poetry lover, my collection of poetry books runs into the hundreds, going right back to my childhood.

I have always shouted about the importance of poetry in school and recently, there seems to have been a renewed interest in this much neglected area amongst teachers so I have decided to have a ‘pause for poetry’ every Wednesday, looking at some of my favourites past and present!

‘Follow that Word’ is a new collection from poetry master, John Agard, winner of the BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award 2021, illustrated by Momoko Abe (whose picture book ‘When the Sun Goes Home’ is an absolute joy!). It is a masterclass in word play interwoven with myths, legends, history and wisdom. Packed with over sixty poems, there is much to ponder, amuse, delight and think about in these pages.

The collection includes a number of calypso poems. A type of folk song which often incorporates Spanish, Creole, and African phrases, calypso is originally from Trinidad but is also sung elsewhere in the Caribbean and these poems use the rhythms and energy of this musical tradition. ‘Two To Catch On’ is a joyful celebration of diversity and begs to be performed!

It’s been around from Creation dawn

and it only takes two to catch on.

Try it, people, and you will see

this is the dance that can set you free.

Other poems are concerned with figures from history or mythology. ‘Coffin’, for example, introduces the reader to Matthew Coffin, the carpenter who invented the wooden coffin whilst ‘Jumbo’ reflects the experience of Jumbo the first African elephant to arrive at London Zoo. All or any of these poems could be used with a class to enliven various areas of the curriculum, as starting points for discussion or reflection or simply for the joy of sharing their word play.

Often including lines from the poems, Momoko Abe’s illustrations add much to the collection. Lady Mosquito and her babies chase across one page whilst Greek vase inspired friezes border others.

There is so much to treasure and enjoy in this collection! A must for teachers.

Follow that Word John Agard, illustrated by Momoko Abe

Hodder ISBN: 978-1444964974

A few John Agard poetry books from my shelves.