Posted on: 26/07/2018
In what promises to be a long and hot summer like no other in recent memory, we are certain there are going to be opportunities aplenty for taking refuge in some shade and losing yourself in a good book, whether that be a leafy tree in a park, a local library or under a sun-lounger somewhere much more exotic. There's something particularly special about a summer holiday read and in our summer bibliotherapy, we have all chosen two recent favourites that we think will help you relax, make you think or teach you about something you didn't previously know. Do also look at our monthly Literature Review for further inspiration!
This is a visually stunning story of two children discovering and exploring an abandoned house. Investigation leads to imagination as they ponder who might have lived there and where they might have disappeared to. The illustrative style changes beautifully with each section of the book: bright hazy images depicting the outside world build to eerily faded pictures of the inside of the house, climaxing with bold images of imagination seemingly jumping off the page at the reader. This book explores themes of place, memory, time and- most significantly- imagination. Complementing the images, lyrical, rhythmic prose creates a wistful feel to the book. I recommend this book to dreamers of any age who enjoy running away with endless possibilities.
This is a book with heart. It tells the story of pickpocket Magpie, a black, orphaned girl living in France at the time of King Louis XVI. When a thieving attempt backfires, Magpie finds herself drawn into the crazy world of the Montgolfier family as they attempt to be the first in history to fly. Magpie’s quick thinking, confidence and courage soon become invaluable to the family and she finds herself thrust into realms of aeronautical science, adventure, mystery, spies and even the dizzy heights of Versaille with the King and Queen of France themselves!
Carroll uses irresistible language to uncover experiences of early flight and friendships and it is deliciously easy to fall in love with the characters, colours and chaos of it all. I love that this book is based on a true story scarcely told and would recommend this to anyone who loves fresh historical fiction and tales where true bravery comes from unexpected places.
This picture book is a visual treat that celebrates the memories of loved ones through the power of imagination. Finn reminisces the time spent with his late grandfather by dreaming of a special place they would talk about- where the ocean meets the sky. On his nautical journey he encounters magical islands inhabited by book-reading birds, giant sea shells and a sea of glowing jellyfish. His grandfather appears throughout his dreams in the form of a large golden fish which guides him and a smiling moon which is always looking over him. Although he is unable to reunite with his grandfather, Finn is comforted by the reassurance that his presence is always with him.
The illustrations in this book are both exquisite and magical. The images begin in black and white to capture the fond memories of Finn and his grandfather together which contrasts with the exciting bold colours used to bring the dream world alive. This is a beautiful story which could provide comfort for children when remembering a loved one.
Arranmore Island is a place that we all wish we could visit this summer! The question is: who will be the next Storm Keeper?
Fionn and his older sister have been sent away to the island of Arranmore to spend the summer with their grandfather. Fionn quickly discovers that the island is magical and evil lurks beneath the soil. His grandfather’s time as Storm Keeper is coming to an end and soon an heir must take over. Fionn is reluctant to assume the role as he is terrified of the ocean. A dark storm is on the horizon. Fionn must embrace his destiny as Storm Keeper and face his greatest fear.
This is a story of adventure, magic and mystery - think The Famous Five with an infusion of Harry Potter. The story reminded me of the summer holidays I used to spend in Devon with my family at the beach. This book would be a great read for older children who love fantasy and elements of magical realism.
I have been a fan of the poet and playwright Joseph Coelho for several years now and during his recent visit to one of our schools, he ran inspiring poetry workshops and performed some of his works from ‘Werewolf Club Rules’. Poems about modern childhood and families rang so very very true and wowed everyone; teachers and children alike. ‘Overheard in a Tower Block’ is no different in its vision and ambition. He is still framing moments of childhood and change profoundly. Poems like ‘Mermaid Queen’, ‘Child of Opposites’ and ‘Arguments’, speak of broken families and isolation. Poems such as ‘Bliney House’ capture the essential sounds and feelings of urban childhood. Yet the escape of books and public libraries bring a sense of wonder and discovery in ‘Prometheus Bound’ and ‘There are Things that Lurk in the Library.’ I would highly recommend this collection to children spending much of their summer at home. It’s bound to help them see the alleyways, parks, buildings and libraries, which are familiar to them, in a whole new light.
‘What a Wonderful Word’ is an essential book for any child about to broaden their horizons through travel this summer holiday. This is a dictionary of cultural specificity. “Is there any word from any language that is really untranslatable? Maybe, maybe not.” A nonfiction text about the etymology, joy and beauty of language! And - by default - the commonality of our human experience. This book can enlighten you about your own culture. As a Scot, I was unaware of the word ‘tartle’ which is defined as, ‘To hesitate because you have forgotten someone’s name.’ Or the Finnish word, Poronkusema’ defined as, ‘The distance a reindeer can walk before needing the toilet.’ Let’s not experience any ‘mistimanchachu’ this summer!
Becker’s critically acclaimed Journey trilogy of wordless picture books was always going to be a hard act to follow. Nevertheless, we eagerly awaited this new book and it is just as lovely as Becker’s others: It is summer and the hills are decorated with seed-heads and vibrant yellow dandelions. It should be a time for joy and endless, carefree days of playing in the great outdoors but for the girl in the story there is a deep sadness instead: her dog Sascha has died. The family carefully bury their beloved pet before setting off to the coast. There, the sadness remains as reminders of Sascha abound: the lapping sea-shore, which undoubtedly the dog would’ve loved; a game of Frisbee being played by others, their dog still with them. That night, under the stars in an epic sky-scape typical of Becker, a stone is thrown into the ocean in remembrance of Sascha. The stone’s journey from the beginning of time is mapped through the Big Bang, depictions of early man, triptychs of fossils becoming dinosaurs then evolving into wooly mammoths… And then, at dawn, the same stone – now shining and golden and filled with hope is found at the water’s edge. And this stone is then placed upon Sascha’s grave.
A beautiful story about love, loss and self-discovery and, although tinged with bittersweet sentiments, a beautiful ‘read’ for the summer. And we say ‘read’ but, like his Journey trilogy, this book is completely wordless. Stunning!
You just know that any book that opens with the lines, It’s an ordinary summer day, the day that Jimmy Killen dies and comes to life again. It’s the middle of the holidays, when it sometimes seems like time stands still, when it seems there’s nothing to do, is going to a) be an exciting read and b) resonate with a Year 6/secondary school-aged child. Davie is at that awkward ‘in-between’ stage where he feels too old to play with toys yet is too young to go out with the older teens. His mam has sent him off to wander: The day is long, the world is wide, you’re young and free… but when he bumps into a friend who has just made a horrible discovery, things take an unexpected turn. Full of beauty, this is an existential pondering of a young man who spends a day wandering and wondering. Themes of grief, loss, love, hope and a world in perpetual motion are cleverly interwoven in this highly evocative piece of writing. Technically, this novel is in the ‘Young Adult’ (age 12+) category but we feel that a mature child who has just left year 6 would really enjoy this as a summer read.
This book is not for the faint-hearted. In 1727, a group of men and boys from St Kilda are sent to hunt for birds on a remote rock, a sea stac. Every summer they are placed there and for a brief spell of time they hunt and gather, knowing there are comforts awaiting them at home. But this time, nobody returns to bring them ashore. What follows is a tale of survival. This is an intense and uncomfortable story, based on truth and mastered by McCaughrean, which is set in a murderous ocean where survival seems impossible. Abandoned and isolated, the boys and men create a fractured community, where mistrust and superstition rule under a dark sky.
This is a haunting book, not just because it may have happened, but because it reminds us that civilisation is only a fragile layer of humanity.
I’m recommending this book for anyone 10+ on an island holiday…
Based on her original YA novel and adapted from the feature film by Nora Twomey, The Breadwinner is a beautiful book with a powerful story of resilience and courage which deserves to be told time and time again. Set within the brutal Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, back in 2001, we meet Parvana, an 11-year old, who as a girl has no respects and rights and so disguises herself as boy to earn money and food for her mother, sister and brother whilst her father is in prison.
The original book was for an older audience and was a bestseller, but Parvana will strike a chord with anyone who is 9+ who has wondered what it would be like to try to defy a law that feels unjust. This book would be a wonderful gift for any child who adores animations, but has no screen to look upon on holiday. Accessible, but powerful with some truths that still need to be told.
On the surface, this appears to be a story about war and the lasting devastation it can bring and so might seem an odd choice for our summer recommended reads. However, the resonating message of this book is not the irrepressible nature of conflict but the importance of small acts of kindness and ultimately the power that hope can bring. Told from the perspective of a child whose life is turned upside down by war, is forced to flee her country and is refused a place at school because there wasn’t a chair for her to sit on, the kindness of a child who brings a chair to her hut so that she can join his class ultimately changes her fate.
Originally written as a poem by one of our most favourite children’s authors, Nicola Davies, after seeing a report about a refugee child refused entry to a school because there weren't enough chairs, it was first published on the Guardian’s website and illustrated with images of an empty chair by Jackie Morris and Petr Horáček – prompting readers to upload their own images in solidarity. We’re extremely glad that Davies has also teamed up with Rebecca Cobb (The Something, Missing Mummy), whose stunningly simple illustrations help make the complex themes dealt with accessible. We would recommend this book to anyone, old or young, who wants to be reminded of the power of hope and kindness.
There are certain elements we have come to know and love from a Michael Morpurgo novel: a distinct historical setting with a strong sense of place; an orphaned child whose life is turned from rags to riches after meeting key characters; beautiful illustrations from Michael Foreman; moments that are tinged with sadness but a resolution that leaves us with happy tears – and this latest offering, recently released in paperback, does not disappoint!
This touching historical narrative actually begins in the present day and tells the story of Jonah, a child whose mother has been badly injured two years ago in a road accident. We learn that Jonah’s life is far from easy and he is not having a good time at school, which we learn is ‘Ashlyn’s School’ in Hertfordshire – the final location of the ‘Foundling School’ when it was relocated from London. Jonah seeks refuge one day in the school chapel and finds a button. At this moment a the ghost of Nathaniel Hogarth appears – a foundling left at the hospital’s original location in Bloomsbury – who begins to recount the story of his life and how the button became his ‘lucky button’. His tale takes us through meetings with George Frideric Handel and how he eventually formed an unlikely friendship with Wolfgang ‘Wolferl’ Mozart and finally how he came to meet the King and Queen of England, who helped him to track down his foster family and learn that the button – a token left by his birth family – would have been a button from his father’s soldier’s uniform! The button is eventually passed on to Jonah, for whom it also becomes lucky, beginning to turn around his own fortunes both at home and at school.
What we love about Morpurgo’s stories is that, however fantastical, they are steeped in reality whether by their location, characters or, in this case both and we loved learning in the postface, from Caro Howell, Director of The Foundling Museum, about how the book, whilst fictional, drew on much that really did happen, including how all foundlings would have been left with a similar token from their birth parents how many of the characters had strong links to the Foundling Hospital. We would recommend this book to any young enquiring mind and we would definitely tie it in with a visit to the Foundling Museum in London!
Posted in: Literature Review
