That's Mathematics by Chris Smith and Elina Braslina - blog tour

It's always exciting to find an engaging and interactive children's book about maths, and That's Mathematics, published by Mama Makes Books, is one of the best I've seen for a long time. It's based on the lyrics to That's Mathematics, a song by American musician Tom Lehrer, which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VZbWJIndlQ.

Counting sheep...when you're trying to sleep,

Being fair...when there's something to share,

Being neat...when you're folding a sheet,

That's mathematics!

 

Each page of the book is linked to a line from the song and is made up of three sections: a short piece of mathematical information about the relevant song lyric, an Explore This challenge and a Try This game or task. Having attempted a couple of the tasks with the pupils in my class, it's clear that they're designed to generate lots of mathematical discussion. Author Chris Smith has pitched the text perfectly for Key Stage Two children, although the book could also be enjoyed by younger children with parental support. Elina Braslina, the illustrator, has contributed some fantastic artwork which really supports the text and helps explain many of the concepts being introduced.

At the back of the book are the answers to the various challenges. There's also a useful section for parents, which provides suggestions about how to get the most from the book, and a glossary explaining the mathematical terms used.

It's the kind of book that children will love reading and talking about with a partner. It could also be used with a whole class, perhaps when introducing new mathematical concepts or looking for a new way to explain an idea. It's fun, it's accessible and it makes children think, the perfect combination for non-fiction texts. Highly recommended.

Frankie's World book review by Phoebe

Being one of the judges involved in selecting the books for the Empathy Lab book list is always a highlight of my year. This year's primary collection is absolutely outstanding and contains some wonderful graphic novels. Choosing one to focus on was extremely hard but, in the end, I went for Frankie's World by Aoife Dooley, simply because so many children in my class have read it and can relate to the characters. I asked one of my pupils, who is an enormous fan of the book and of graphic novels in general, to share her thoughts about it.

Hi, my name is Phoebe. I am in Year 5 in Mr Biddle's Class, and I read Frankie's World by Aoife Dooley. This book is about a girl who is called Frankie. She doesn't process the world the same as most other people and this is because she is autistic. She lives with her sister Abbey, who is six, her Mam and step-dad, Jerry. Also, she has her very best friend, Sam. They don't really have many friends but one thing they do have is each other! Frankie has special routines and habits, she hates her food touching and she doesn't do very well in social situations. Her Mam signed her up for karate (thinking it would be a good idea). It actually turned out it wasn't that bad. Frankie doesn't live with her real dad, she barely even knows him! Frankie was on a mission to find her dad throughout the book. Towards the end of the book she finds her dad and finds out that he's also autistic and also that she has a lot in common with him! One downfall she had was that her dad was the boyfriend of her bully's mum. (Frankie wasn't very happy about this.)                                                     

There were lots of things I loved about this book. One was that the only colours it actually uses are blue, orange, white and black. In the back of the book, it has all different ways to learn about autism and how to support people with autism. There are many ways to be empathetic and how to be a good friend. You can learn a lot about empathy by reading books. If autistic people are going through a tough time and you have some time to spare, let them talk to you and let them tell you how they are feeling. It costs absolutely nothing to be a real friend. A real friend would support you and cheer you on, not someone who would do the opposite. Just like what you would want other people to do for you. I love graphic novels and this is definitely one of my favourites. Not only that but lots of people in my class have read it and they all love it too. I think it is a book that is fun to read but also a book that has an important message about supporting other people.

Personally, I would rate this book a 10/10!! Also, I am looking forward to reading more books by this author and illustrator, Aoife Dooley. She has a lot of talent and that's a fact.

Buy the book here: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/readingforpleasure

Bookshop Blurb by Patrick Carroll

After a short break, it feels as if the time is right for the #BookshopBlurb series to return. This week, teacher Patrick Carroll (@pynchonic) writes about one of his personal favourites, Wonderland Bookshop in Retford (@Wonder_Bookshop). Thank you Patrick!

Wonderland Bookshop in Retford is one that you won’t forget after visiting it. Why? Well, not only do they have a tea party on the ceiling, but the shelves are stacked with a cornucopia of books for children and young people that cover every form of interest and celebrate the creativity of authors. If you want to test that out, then just ask Helen or Dave (the owners) who have a vast knowledge of books – hence their recent award as Independent Bookshop of the Year 2022 for the Midlands. This warm and inclusive environment is one that should definitely be on your list of independent bookshops to visit.

It is for this reason that not only do I go with my family to purchase all manner of books, but why we also used Wonderland to buy books for my school. You see that knowledge from people who have actually read the books and understand how to engage a reader is much more important to us than going via online giants. We wanted a rich variety of texts that the children would relate to and thanks to Wonderland, that’s exactly what we got – as well as a 20% discount. Instead of just having the usual celebrity suspects, we now have a range of texts that offer diversity, enjoyment, challenge and new perspectives.

Alongside that, online giants don’t offer that personal touch of inviting in authors to do book signings or hold special events such as the one that we recently attended. At one end of the shop, the wonderful Hannah Gold was talking about her award-winning bestseller The Last Bear as well as her latest marvel The Lost Whale. Meanwhile, the equally fantastic Lydia Monks was in another area reading from her latest treasure Adoette, as well as teaching an engaged audience how to draw different animals. This is special, this is unique, this is what makes Wonderland Bookshop. 

International Boyface Day, Thursday 1st December

What is International Boyface Day? by James Campbell

The Boyface books seem to have a peculiar appeal to all sorts of children. When I wrote them, I tried to do so without including anything topical or specific to any particular era. My hope was that they could be read forever. I also tried to make sure that the themes in them are eternal. These themes are family, loyalty, friendship and the continual journey of a young person learning how to deal with the world and themselves. Boyface is very innocent but learns all sorts of things about the world as he progresses through his journey as a stripemonger.

The plan with International Boyface Day is that schools will be able to access some great online workshops with me and Mark Weighton. Mark specialises in showing children how to draw in ways they probably haven't encountered before. He treats every child as an artist. In my workshops I start from a similar assumption. That everyone can create stories. I use the Boyface books to show how I turned ideas into books and then encourage the children to do something similar.

My hope is that this day will grow each year until we are able to add all sorts of things to the day. Quantum Physics. Zoology. Disgusting Pancake Making. Etc.

Schools can register interest in International Boyface Day via https://www.boyface.org/sign-up.

The Woodcutter and the Snow Prince by Ian Eagleton - blog tour

It was a pleasure to be asked to join the blog tour for Ian Eagleton's latest book and I accepted the offer immediately. I'm a huge fan of his previous work, both as a writer and as an educator, and my admiration grew even further after reading The Woodcutter and the Snow Prince. It's genuinely beautiful; a modern, inclusive, festive fairy tale overflowing with empathy. It's a book full of love and a book that needs to be celebrated. Over the past week I've shared it with three different classes, from Year One to Year Five, and they've all adored it.

Oh, and Davide Ortu's artwork...what can I say? I knew that Ian would find it a challenge when I asked him to write about his favourite illustration because they're all so wonderful, and so I think it's only fair that he's bent the rules and written about four. Enjoy!

Silent Woods and Mirror-Like Lakes: My Favourite Illustration

by Ian Eagleton

Now, before I begin, I have to tell you that picking one favourite illustration from The Woodcutter and the Snow Prince has been very, very difficult!

I could have chosen the endpapers, which I adore. I love seeing maps in picture books and Davide Ortu’s ones are magical! Don’t you just want to explore this strange, wintry kingdom!

I could have chosen the four illustrations where Kai, the lonely woodcutter, is sat at home waiting for his Snow Prince. Davide has imbued Kai with such sadness and confusion that my heart breaks for him. The framing of each of these illustrations is interesting too. In the final illustration, when Kai eventually decides to go and find his prince, it’s almost like he has broken out of his confines and is about to march across the page. Very clever stuff!

I might have even chosen the moment when Kai rushes through the melting, cracking ice palace as daggers of ice shower down upon him. I love the drama and peril in this illustration and that we are looking down upon Kai as he staggers up the creaking staircase.

Certainly, Davide’s artwork is so ornate and beautiful that everyone I’ve spoken to seems to have a different favourite illustration! My dad says his favourite is when the Snow Prince and Kai are watching the Northern Lights and my husband’s favourite is the final double page spread as it’s full of such warmth and joy.

Ultimately though, I’ve been asked to choose one illustration and I’ve chosen this.

There’s actually very little text on the page but I knew this was a moment in the story for me, as the writer, to get out of the way and let Davide’s stunning artwork do the heavy lifting.

It’s from the beginning of the story when the Snow Prince whisks Kai away on his first journey. I loved The Chronicles of Narnia as a child so I am over the moon that the Snow Prince has a chariot made of ice which is also pulled by majestic snow bears.

If you look closely, you can see Kai’s face is full of wonder as they fly over ‘silent woods and mirror-like lakes’ and your eye is taken on its own journey around the page with the swooping swishes of shimmering blues and deep, rich purples. It feels like they’re going to zoom past us any minute now and there’s a real speed and movement to the illustration. There are so many intricate details too, like the patterns of the foliage in the enchanted woods and the delicate snowflakes falling.

I’m sure if you ask me tomorrow, I’ll choose another illustration as my favourite. That’s the beauty of a picture book like this – there are so many hidden details and themes and I never get tired of poring over Davide’s cinematic, enchanting artwork.

Perhaps you could curl up by the fire with a hot chocolate and just spend some time enjoying the artwork in The Woodcutter and the Snow Prince! I’d love to hear which illustration you like the most, on the understanding, of course, that it might just change.

The Woodcutter and The Snow Prince by Ian Eagleton, illustrated by Davide Ortu, is published by Owlet Press. Out now, £7.99 paperback. www.owletpress.com

Charligh Green vs The Spotlight by Priscilla Mante - blog tour

With the success of the Lionesses at the Women's Euros earlier this year, the release of Charligh Green vs The Spotlight was perfectly timed. It's the second book in The Dream Team series by Priscilla Mante, following on from Jaz Santos vs The World, and features several of the same characters.

Charligh Green's life revolves around her love for football and her passion for drama. She's been given the leading role in her Year 6 school performance but finds remembering the words almost impossible. They're all definitely inside her but, for some reason, they're never there when she actually needs them. She's also becoming increasingly frustrated by her apparent clumsiness on the football pitch and in her everyday life. Eventually, Charligh gets visited at school by an educational psychologist who diagnoses her with dyspraxia.

There's so much to love about Charligh Green vs The Spotlight. One of the things I enjoyed the most is the way the relationships between the main characters are explored across different settings. The intense nature of their ever-changing friendships reminded me of so many children I've taught over the years. Their loyalty, their sarcastic humour and their belief in each other all rang true as I read the book. I also liked the fact that Charligh isn't diagnosed with dyspraxia until over halfway through the story. It's part of her but, crucially, it's not what defines her; by the time she's diagnosed, we already know a lot about her personality, her friendships and what makes her tick. One of the most emotional parts of the book is Charligh's unusual relationship with a former West End theatre star living out her final years in a care home. The friendship is delicately written and gives the story an extra level of depth.

Jaz Santos vs The World was one of the most popular books in my class last year and Charligh's story is already doing the rounds. Priscilla Mante has done a wonderful job of linking the characters and storylines across the two books, and I know my class are excited by the fact that there might be a third in the series.

To find out more about dyspraxia and Dyspraxia Week 2022, which is currently taking place, do visit the Dyspraxia Foundation website. I spent time exploring it today and it made me reflect upon what else schools can do to support pupils with dyspraxia.

A huge thank you to Priscilla Mante for inviting me to be part of this blog tour. I loved revisiting the world of The Dream Team, and Charligh Green vs The Spotlight is a book I'll definitely be recommending at every opportunity.

The Story of Greenriver by Holly Webb - blog tour

The Story of Greenriver by Holly Webb is a book to savour. Stories about animals can touch readers' hearts in ways that few others can and this is one of the most powerful I've read in a long time. It combines an emotionally engrossing adventure with valuable messages about the environment, the importance of acceptance and the complexity of family relationships. It's a book that deserves its place in homes, schools and libraries as readers of all ages will be captivated by the adventures of Silken, a beaver who feels like she is no longer a valued member of her community, and Sedge, an otter forced to live in the shadow of his absent sister.

I was thrilled when Holly invited me to be the final stop on her blog tour promoting the book. She wanted to write about the importance of animal stories and the magic that they can deliver. I hope you enjoy reading her blog as much as I did; it brought back fond memories of childhood favourites such as Redwall and Watership Down.

The importance of animal stories in children’s books by Holly Webb

I grew up with a house full of pets, and loving books about animals. I know that I’m supposed to be able to describe The Story of Greenriver in a couple of succinct sentences, but when anyone asks me what the book’s about, I find myself explaining that it’s an otter book because I love otters – but it’s also a loving homage to Redwall, The Animals of Farthing Wood, The Wind in the Willows, Watership Down, and hundreds of others. With a whole lot of time spent poring over the illustrations to the Brambly Hedge books thrown in. And a lot of pony books.

I think I loved books about animals so much because I wanted as many animals in our house as we could fit in. (I feel slightly deprived at the moment, with only three cats.) But stories about animals aren’t only for children who dream about fitting a pony in their back garden. It can often be easier to identify with an animal character than a human one – it’s difficult, sometimes, to realise, Oh, I’m quite like that person! The separation between the reader and the animal makes it easier, more acceptable even, to admit, Yes, I’m lonely, I need a challenge, I’m struggling. And of course it’s a lot easier to write adventure for animal characters, since that same separation means that you don’t need to worry as much about encouraging dangerous behaviour!

After so much stressful pandemic time – with two years being a fifth of a ten year old’s lifetime, just as an example – time outdoors is vital for all of us. But it’s very easy to feel that natural landscapes aren’t for you. That they’re scary, or dangerous (which obviously they can be, even more so when you’re unfamiliar with them!) boring, or just strange. Fabulous books like The Diary of a Young Naturalist, by Dara McAnulty, and The Lost Words, by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris – whose otters are incredibly beautiful! – have raised the importance of familiarising children with the natural world again, with letting us all see the beauty and fascination waiting for us. There are huge benefits for everyone’s mental health, but also for the natural world. People who love animals and the natural landscape will want to protect them – and they’ve never needed that protection more.

I started writing The Story of Greenriver because I loved otters, and I wanted to create an exciting adventure story. As I was writing, my love for the river and the woods around it grew into a deep wish to inspire children to explore the natural world and feel comfortable in it. Everyone should be able to spend time outdoors, to find a place that’s home and adventure, with its own deep magic.z

Holly Webb