Spring Into Some Easter Reads…

Egg by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet is a fabulous near-wordless picture book from the creators of Supertato.

When is an egg not an egg? Everyone knows that eggs have pointy tops and big bottoms – but what happens when an upside down egg turns up? Will this odd egg ever be accepted by the others?

A fabulously funny, thought-provoking, near wordless picturebook celebrating diversity and acceptance.

Egg is the only word used in the book where the pictures tell the story of a different egg trying to fit in. Children are encouraged to spot the differences in the bright, engaging illustrations while willing Egg on to stand up and be accepted for what it is – an Egg – just like all the others, but different!

The Great Chocoplot by Chris Callaghan is the best chocolate you will get your hands on this Easter.

Jelly Wellington loves a Blocka Chocha, but with the impending Chocopocalypse, supplies in Chompton are running low. And just as worrying, she has to make a vlog for her latest science project. Can she prove whether the Chocopocalypse is real? With her last Blocka Chocha sealed safely in a tin, she along with the rest of the world, will have to wait and see.

Meanwhile, Garibaldi Chocolati arrives in Chompton, with his bitter chocolate and a temperament to match. Why would a chocolatier be so delighted by the imminent demise of chocolate?

Chris Callaghan takes the reader on a fabulously imaginative journey; pacey plot and sharp humour, centred around a family where love shines through, and quite possibly the worst neighbour you could wish on anybody, combine to create a laugh out loud adventure that will have you turning the pages while reaching for more chocolate.

Web Wabbit by Lissa Evans is one of the best read aloud chapter books I’ve come across for Year 5 and 6.

Fidge is due to go on the best family holiday, if only she can get Mum and little sister, Minnie, organised in time. But, as ever, their shopping trip doesn’t go to plan. Mum and Minnie seem to be buying anything that isn’t on Fidge’s list, taking so long that the shops close before her things can be bought. When Minnie drops Wed Wabbit, Fidge takes her anger out on the smug looking, stuffed rabbit with devastating consequences.

Stuck with her Aunty, Uncle and exceptionally irritating cousin, Graham, Fidge’s anger resurfaces when given a bag containing Minnie’s toys and listening to Graham’s imagined problems, and once again Web Wabbit is the target for her wrath, along with Graham’s transitional toy.

With a storm closing in, news comes from the hospital that calms Fidge, but it’s too little, too late, and as the lightening strikes, and Fidge finds herself trapped, all alone, in a world she’s read about 48million times. But something is very wrong. There’s a tyrant ruling, who Fidge must defeat if she is ever to find her way home to Minnie, and reunite her with her favourite teddy

Outrageously funny, Wed Wabbit is a feast for the imagination. A brilliant adventure, that will have you laughing out loud, gasping in shock, and desperate to read on, in a wonderfully crafted fantasy world that is reminiscent of any preschool tv show setting, whether it’s Toy Town, Tellytubbies or In The Night Garden. And it has a map!

Fidge and Graham are wonderful characters, each vulnerable in their own way, each as isolated from their family by the protective walls they have built for themselves, and each resilient, brave and supportive as they grow through their adventures. The cast of toys are brought hilariously to life – Ellie is kind, caring and supportive as she aides Fidge, while Dr Carrot is calm and firm as she facilitates Graham’s journey through the Land Of The Wimbly Woos. The Wimblies themselves are just brilliant – each colour with their own unique personalities and talents, that shine through their spoken verse and actions.

Beneath the humour, and amidst the action and adventure, it’s a story of grief and anxiety, and the isolation they can bring. The need to face our fears, with friends and family at our side, rather than shutting them out or hiding from the world.

 

Year 5: What new materials can you make using vinegar?

Year 5 were chemists in science this afternoon, creating new materials. We created carbon dioxide by mixing vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. Then, we found out what happens when you mix milk with vinegar. We created a new material called caesin which is a natural plastic. It took a lot of mixing!

The Daily Joker by Gareth P. Jones & Rachel Delahaye

As it’s Red Nose Day, my book pick is one that will bring comic relief…

The Daily Joker has a belly-wobbling joke for every single day of the year and is packed with hilarious illustrations from Nigel Parkinson who also illustrattes the Beano.  Packed with information about World Celebration Days throughout the year (did you know tomorrow is World Happiness Day?) and hits and tips on how to create your own rib-tickling jokes, this is a must for wannabe comedians, and anyone struggling to find their smile. If the jokes don’t make you laugh, at least they’ll give you something to groan about.

Postcode Fun

Today, Year 2 have been learning all about postcodes as part of their geography learning. They used iPads to find out popular tourist attractions at certain postcodes as well as learning about the road names around Cannon Park and how to search for a location using a postcode.

The Children’s Bookshows

To celebrate World Book Day, this week children have had the opportunity to watch author-illustratotrs and poets at work, and put questions to them to be answered.

All of Key Stage 2 were able to see Michael Rosen (or Raisin as we now know him) on Wednesday morning, who entertained us with some of his best loved performance poetry, showing how much fun it is to play with language, rhythmn and rhyme.

On Wednesday afternoon, Upper Key Stage 2 were inspired by Kwame Alexander, an award-winning poet, who read us his very moving book, The Undefeated. His advice to improve your writing? “Read, read and then read.”

Here’s a few of the children’s thoughts from Year 5 on Michael and Kwame…

I thought that the authors were very inspirational and wrote some very good poems and stories; they were remarkable!

I think that they were really funny and they made me want to write more poems.

I liked the sessions, and I really want to have more. They inspired me!

On Friday morning, children from Years 2 -4 were able to see award-winning author-illustrator and environmemtalist, Neal Layton. He wowed us with a live illustration  reading us Stanley’s Stick He then talked to us about trees and how important they are to us, and we saw his sketch books that he used to create The Tree which only has 40 words!

On Friday afternoon, children from Key Stage got to see author illustrator Jo Empson, take part in a live draw along, and see her read her brand new story – it isn’t publishing until January next year! How lucky we are!

This is what the children thought, and created from Friday’s events.

Neal is very good at drawing and I like that he likes nature.

We enjoyed Jo Emspon. We both tried to draw the lion.

 

If you missed an author for your year group, don’t worry, you can watch again using the links below.

Jo Empson for Years 1 and 2: https://youtu.be/tKQ0aQHQmwI

Neal Layton for Years 2, 3 and 4: https://youtu.be/dnHZCkaju-w

Michael Rosen for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6: https://youtu.be/lu5GDOYqorc

Kwame Alexander for Years 5 and 6: https://youtu.be/y3t5YMdV4NY

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