November 2018 – Book Worms

Sky Hawk

One of my favourite books!

This book has thrilling action, sadness, happiness, excitement and romance. It is perfect because it has cliff hangers and ends with page turners. I chose this book in a library just by reading the blurb and read up to two chapters a day.

It is about a boy called Callum who lives on a farm. He spots a girl who is trying to catch a fish and manages it first try; she is called Iona. She becomes one of Callum’s best friends but unfortunately his other two friends make fun of Iona and Callum struggles to manage these relationships. Iona has a secret that she can’t trust anyone else with but Callum – she has found an osprey nesting on the farm.

Iona sadly passes away with summer ‘flu leaving Callum feeling desperately lost. He finds comfort in caring for the osprey and this leads him to make unlikely friendships all the way in Africa! I would recommend reading this book because it helps you when you have sad times in life and you can’t take advice from anyone else. I enjoyed this book and class it as one of my favourites.

Lani, Y5

Perfect book gifts

Adding books to Christmas stockings is a must, but which books will actually be read and loved? Whilst we’re all grateful to David Walliams for having a new title ready just in time for the festive shopping once again (and if you haven’t read it yet, The Ice Monster is another winner!), wouldn’t it be lovely for our children to branch out and discover new favourite authors?

As teachers, we are fortunate to enjoy frequent book discussions with children who have a variety of literary tastes and interests but you may not know that we also read a lot of children’s fiction ourselves. Afterall, one of the best ways to encourage children to read is to rave about what we have just enjoyed too!

So, if you’re looking for a stocking filler that comes highly recommended, look no further. You will find the books grouped as Early Readers (for children within the first year or two of reading independently), Starting to Fly (able to tackle longer chapter books) and Soaring with Confidence (for accomplished readers). We hope you find it useful and welcome your comments and suggestions at the bottom.

Soaring with Confidence

Beetle Boy, M G Leonard
Fish in a Tree, Lynda Mullaly Hunt
The Last Wild, Piers Torday
The House with Chicken Legs, Sophie Anderson
The 1000 Year Old Boy, Ross Welford
Sky Hawk, Gill Lewis
Welcome to Nowhere, Elizabeth Laird
Letters from the Lighthouse, Emma Carroll
Hatchet, Gary Paulsen
The Explorer, Katherine Rundell
Pax, Sara Pennypacker
There are further recommendations longlisted in the Redbridge Children’s Book Award here.

Starting to Fly

The Parent Agency, David Baddiel
A Boy Called Christmas or The Girl Who Saved Christmas, Matt Haig
The Creakers or The Christmasaurus, Tom Fletcher
The Girl with the Lost Smile, Miranda Hart
The Wild Robot and The Wild Robot Escapes, Peter Brown
Julius Zebra, Gary Northfield
Kensuke’s Kingdom, Michael Morpurgo
Dead Man’s Cove, Lauren St John
The Last Chance Hotel, Nicki Thornton

Early Readers

Swallows and Spiders, Julia Donaldson
Mudpuddle Farm, Michael Morpurgo
The Bolds, Julian Clary
Claude, Alex T. Smith
The Truth Pixie, Matt Haig
Wigglesbottom Primary, Becka Moor & Pamela Butchart
Little Legends, Tom Percival
Lottie Lipton Adventures, Dan Metcalf
Captain Pug, Laura James
Uncle Gobb, Michael Rosen
Bananas in my Ears, Michael Rosen
Betsey Biggalow, Marjorie Blackman
Roald Dahl (shorter books include The Twits and Billy and the Minpins)
Winnie the Witch chapter books (e.g. Winnie Takes the Plunge), Laura Owen & Korky Paul
Paddington, Michael Bond
Oliver Moon, Sue Mongredien

Thank you,
Mrs Oshungbure

Fish in a Tree

A big-hearted book that leaves you determined to be a better person. Written simply, this is a perfect tale for every child able to read independently.

I read Fish in a Tree on a train journey through the Canadian Rockies and found it as inspiring as the striking landscape I travelled through. Ally is a Year 6 child who believes the mountains she needs to climb at school are just too great, so she stops trying. Rather than feel defeated in her studies, she puts all her effort into defeating the will of her teachers and ends up deeper and deeper in trouble. She finds friendships difficult, her self-esteem is so battered and her behaviour so isolating that others don’t seek out her company. It seems that her life is on a downward spiral and nobody, including Ally, can find a way to turn things around.

Mr Daniels, a new teacher, arrives – full of cheer and positivity. He offers the clean slate that Ally so desperately needs: here is her opportunity to try a new approach. She stumbles many times but rather than berate her, Mr Daniels gently wins her trust and encourages her. He notices her dyslexia for the first time and guides her through a new learning journey that transforms Ally’s school experience. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike.

Fish in a Tree is a warm hug of a book that reminds us of the responsibility we all hold in how we treat others. Every day, we can lift those around us with a kind word or gesture and this beautiful book leaves you wanting to find opportunities to be a better person. It is written simply, making it accessible to all children who are independent readers. I would also urge parents to enjoy this book; not only is it a delightful read but a vital one.
Be brave; be different!

Mrs Oshungbure