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.
Michael Rosen’s Pocket Shakespeare
Sharing the ‘best bits of the bard’, ‘Michael Rosen’s Pocket Shakespeare’ offers a very accessible introduction to some of Shakespeare’s writing. Divided into chapters such as ‘Love and heartbreak’, ‘Scheming and plotting’ and ‘Thou art a boil and other insults’, the book is perfect for dipping in and out of as you discover some of Shakespeare’s finest work!
Each section begins with an introduction which sets the scene and offers additional information. These explain things such as iambic pentameter, soliloquy and pathetic fallacy, but also the world Shakespeare lived in and how he viewed it. These sections offer plenty of food for thought and would make an excellent starting point for teachers wishing to initiate conversations about Shakespeare’s work with a class.
Further notes accompany each extract, offering background information, but also challenging the reader to think, raising some of the questions which hover over Shakespeare’s work. Glossaries beneath each piece help to clarify unfamiliar vocabulary.
However, this is not just a book for those who are unfamiliar with Shakespeare’s writing. Chris Riddell’s illustrations add to the appeal of what is an excellent selection of work, including all those wonderful Shakespearean insults at the end! An index of first lines and another of plays are perfect for anyone wishing to locate a particular piece, but the real joy here is being able to explore and discover- or perhaps, rediscover- some of Shakespeare’s finest words.
Michael Rosen’s Pocket Shakespeare
illustrated by Chris Riddell
Walker ISBN: 978-1844287628
Out of this World
‘Out of this World’ is a new collection of poems, offering a mixture of the poignant and light-hearted, moving from memories to possibilities and dreams. Some poems are rich with Michael Rosen’s trademark humour whilst others are deeply poignant.
‘Family Secret’ is a deeply moving reflection on past meeting the present, referring, I’m sure, to Michael uncovering the truth about his ‘lost’ ancestors as he recounts in his book ‘The Missing’. In contrast to this, ‘The Alphabet Eater’ recounts what would happen if all the letters were eaten by a monster which would make a fun performance piece as well a great starting point for children to play with sentences and investigate what would happen to them if the monster started to eat them!
The collection is beautifully illustrated by Ed Vere whose artwork complements the poems perfectly, particularly those which accompany ‘A Day in the Life of a Cat’. There is so much to enjoy and reflect upon here, making this a book which will be returned to again and again.
Out of this World
Michael Rosen, illustrated by Ed Vere
Harper Collins ISBN: 978-0008517175
FCBG Children’s Book Awards 2024
Yesterday, I was delighted to be able to attend the Federation of Children’s Book Groups Children’s Book Awards 2024 Ceremony. This year, it was being held in Birmingham so I was up bright and early for a very exciting day out!
I hadn’t been to Birmingham for years and so was really grateful to one of the members of the Birmingham group who had not only written directions to follow from the station, but had also added in things of interest to look out for along the way! The famous bull, Ozzy, from the Commonwealth Games 2022, the lovely Piccadilly Arcade, the impressive Council House building and the domed Hall of Memory were all features of my mini guided tour as I made my way to the Novotel where the ceremony was being held.
Had the incredible library been open, I might never have made it to the ceremony, but that was a treat I had to save for later. The gilded bronze statue, known as the ‘Golden Boys’ honours Matthew Boulton, James Watt and William Murdoch, shown studying steam engine plans. Together, these three revolutionised the steam engine. Also on my route was the Black Sabbath bench, a tribute to this Birmingham metal band, located on Broad Street, above the bridge on Canal Street, also named after the band!
At the Novotel, excitement was mounting as the dedicated and hard working team of FCBG members, led by Sarah Stuffins, were putting the finishing touches to preparations for the ceremony. Always a lovely occasion, the Children’s Book Awards ceremony keeps children- the voters- at its heart as members from each of the testing groups are invited to attend the occasion. Each child arrives to find a bag of goodies ready for them-including a Fed Ted- and that they will be sitting at a table with one of the shortlisted authors or illustrators! There are not many events which offer that!
As the guests all started to arrive, there was a wonderful atmosphere as everyone circulated and asked for their books to be signed. There was so much excitement from young (and somewhat older!) readers and so much excited book-ish chat, proving that these awards really do encourage reading for pleasure and that there are plenty of young readers who enjoy a great story.
Once everyone had eaten a delicious lunch, the ceremony was ready to begin and Korky, Winnie the Witch and Wilbur treated us to much wand waving and merriment, including a masterclass in how to draw Winnie. Every child had a numbered ticket in their goodie bag and one won a signed book and another won the picture. Sadly, adults weren’t included!
Each shortlisted author was then presented with a portfolio of work, full of pictures and writing from the children who voted for their books. These are so special and each author was genuinely moved to see the contributions these contain. Sadly, Karen Obuhanych, Philip Reeve, Sarah McIntyre, Michael Rosen and Simon Fox were not able to attend, but they sent messages which were shared at this time.
And then, the winner of each category was announced. Rob Biddulph won the Books for Younger Children’s category with ‘Gigantic’, Thomas Flintham won the Books for Younger Readers’ category with ‘Press Start! Game On, Super Rabbit Boy!’ and the Books for Older Readers’ category was won by ‘The Final Year’, written by Matt Goodfellow and illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton. Although everyone had their favourites that they were rooting for, the results were received with great delight and much cheering.
As with each category, the overall winner was announced by children from one of the FCBG groups- another thing which is special to this award! Overall Winner of the Children’s Book Award 2024 was ‘Press Start! Game On, Super Rabbit Boy! ‘ by Thomas Flintham.
It was a fabulous occasion, greatly enjoyed by everyone! The Federation of Children’s Book Groups Children’s Book Awards is absolutely about children having a voice and genuinely reflects their interests and reading tastes. Huge congratulations to all the shortlisted authors and illustrators - and their publishers- and a huge well done to those involved in the organisation of the event!
This has nothing to do with the awards, but on the way home, I visited the wonderful Birmingham Library and then the ‘Victorian Radicals: From the Pre-Raphaelites to the Arts and Crafts Movement' at The Gas Hall, part of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. The perfect way to end the day!
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.
Please Write Soon
When asked to present a project in school, Solly -Solomon- tells his classmates about his Polish cousin, Bernie. He shares a series of letters which he wrote to Bernie and those he received in return over the course of the war. Through these letters, Solly tells Bernie about his evacuation to the countryside and his experiences there whilst Bernie writes of being sent by his parents from his home in west Poland to the east of the country where they hope he will be safer. As events build, the cousins share their experiences, worries and hopes until Sonny is able to tell his class what happened to Bernie and his family.
Inspired by the true experiences of the cousin of Michael Rosen’s father who was in the Anders Army, ‘Please Write Soon’ is a poignant story which introduces its readers to many events of the Second World War. A photo of Michael Rechnic (the inspiration for Bernie’s story) is included at the beginning of the book, encouraging the reader to remember those who experienced great hardship, fought and sacrificed so much for us today and perhaps inspire those who read this story to find out more about these events - and perhaps explore how they affected members of their own family.
Reading the story helps the reader to understand something of the impact of the war on the lives of real people. For Londoners like Solly, this included evacuation, the fear of air raids, rationing and the destruction of bombing. Solly also writes of the Bethnal Green Tube Station tragedy which took the lives of so many who were trying to get to safety. Solly’s letters are also brimming with little details of his daily life- playing marbles, watching badgers as well as his fears and troubles. Bernie’s letters tell of being sent to a work camp in Russia before becoming a soldier and fighting in Persia and Italy. When his letters are less frequent, Solly worries about what might have happened to his cousin, but continues to send his letters.
There is so much to reflect on and absorb from this poignant story and it would make an excellent text to use in school. The letter format makes the boys’ experiences very vivid, encouraging empathy and understanding in the reader. Events from the war are clearly explained and are sure to encourage children to investigate further. Michael Foreman’s illustrations complement the text perfectly. Using only shades of grey with touches of red, he captures scenes from the boys’ letters beautifully.
The afterword also makes an important read, adding much to the story and exploring Remembrance and its significance today, a very fitting conclusion to the book.
An excellent addition to any library or book collection.
Please Write Soon: An Unforgettable Story of Two Cousins in World War II
Michael Rosen, illustrated by Michael Foreman
Scholastic ISBN: 978-0702303180