Happy Sunday Bibliofriends!
Ā A new month brings a new bookish prompt in Six for Sunday world.
For those who donāt already know,Ā Six for Sunday is a weekly list-based meme created by Steph @ALittleButALot and has a different weekly prompt based on a monthly theme. April is all about childrenās literature and as a primary school teacher I am definitely ready for āKids Lit Representā!
This Sunday, we are discussing childrenās books we love. This was quite a difficult topic in many ways; not because I canāt think of any books I lovedā¦but because as a child, I would always have my nose in a book. Many of them have a place in my heart for multiple reasons that I could probably write a Sixty for Sunday instead. I also feel that the meanings of books, or the reasons why you fell in love with them changes as you get older and the morals and messages translated within them also take on new life as society changes and adapts to our modern world. To me, this is why childrenās literature is so fascinating; you could read it at different times or stages of your life and still take away something new.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopherās Stone by J. K. Rowling
Now⦠yes, I talk about this series a lot; yes, it features in nearly, but not every, list I write about books; yes, I am positive this comes under the umbrella of childrenās books which is why itās here!
Not only did this book keep my love for reading alive, even through those teenage years when āreading wasnāt cool unless you were reading Cosmo or one of your Nanās Mills & Boon novelsā (you canāt see me air-quoting and eye-rolling but believe me, I amā¦), it has also inspired so many children I have taught to actually pick up a book by choice rather than their Xbox or Nintendo and start to enjoy reading. Thatās just one reason why I love it and why itās here.
- Wizziwig the Witch by Geraldine McCaughrean
When I was at primary school, my Mum was doing a course which involved going to the library a lot to use the computers; this was the 90s after all and we didnāt have one at home yet. When I went with her after-school, I would have the entire run of the Kidsā section, which was huge to a 7 year old. It was filled with squashy beanbags in reading nooks and was decorated with brightly painted animals on the walls. It really was a special place. Whilst there I read so many books, but one set that stood out was a set all about Wizziwig the Witch by Geraldine McCaughrean. Iāve mentioned them in a previous post but I never see these books anymore so theyāre probably out of print. Iād hire them out of the library multiple times just to reread them. There was one with a crazy cooker, a singing car, a sweet machine and Iām sure there was another one with either a washing machineā¦or it could have been a time machine! Either way, I loved these books so much that I wanted to grow up and BE Wizziwig!
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
This was my first ever Roald Dahl book and it was a prize won from cereal tokens. I remember collecting the tokens, sending them off, then sitting on the stairs every morning waiting for my book to come in the post. When it didā¦šRoald Dahl really is a staple in any childrenās literature list; his storytelling is amazing and his books just seem to have an edge that others didnāt. Perhaps it was because he made up words such as āsnozzcumberā, or perhaps it was because he created a plethora of amazing characters which were either talking animals, dream-eating giants or witches who hated children. I could have included any of his books here, but the whole pretense of waiting for a book to arrive in the post ā letās face it, this was my first ever book mail ā and then finding out itās all about a boy who inherits a chocolate factoryā¦what kid wouldnāt love that!
- Heckedy Peg by Audrey Wood
As a child this book scared me slightly, however I used to know the words off by heart as it had lines which were repeated at certain points throughout the story and the plot was so cleverly constructed. Heckedy Peg is a witch who lures away a Motherās children whilst she is out at the market. She turns them into items of food and their Mother, after she has tracked down Heckedy Peg, has to guess which of her children is which to break the spell and get them back. For children itās a pretty frightening story which shows you what can happen if you disobey your parents and let strangers into your house. The illustrations were fantastic and highly detailed too.
- The Red Herring Mystery by Paul Adshead
Part story, part activity book I loved trying to solve the mystery of who stole the ruby red herring. You had to use the text and the pictures to solve the clues and work out who the thief was. In true crime novel style, all of the characters had a hidden motive and backstory which attempted to catch you out. All of the pictures in the book also had a number of hidden fish and you had to try and find them all. It kept me entertained for ages and is still on my bookshelves today.
Although this is a picture book it is one of my all-time favourites. It was the winner of the Caldecott Medal in 2007. I only discovered it a few years ago when I went on some English training for school. The two ladies who lead the course showed us how you could plan an entire curriculum topic just from that one book. Itās really changed my attitude to teaching through texts in the classroom. The illustrations are stunning and the story takes a few twists and turns that you donāt expect. Iād strongly recommend any teacher, or anyone who loves picture books to pick Flotsam up.
Looking back on this now, I can see why I tend to read so many fantasy stories. Theyāre all about witches or magic on some way, shape or form. Others that didnāt quite make my list are:
- Anything from Usbourne where you had to try and fins the duck hidden in the illustrations
- Whereās Wallyā can you tell I like finding things in picturesā¦?
- Care of Henry by Anne Fineā A cute dog story where the cover had Henryās name fit really snuggly onto his collar.
- Scribbleboy by Philip Ridleyā I read this in secondary school and bought a copy for myself a few years back.
- The Queenās Knickers by Nicholas Allanā another great one for the classroom!
- The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt(illustrations by Oliver Jeffers) ā another great teaching resource
Ā
What would make your top list of childrenās books you love? Have you read any of the ones on my list? As always, drop me a comment to chat!
Enjoy your Sunday Bibliofriends!
T xx