Hi all
It would be lovely to see you at our end of term coffee morning. Feel free to pop along for a chat and to meet Holly from Coventry clothing.
She’ll be able to tell you about the work they do for families in Coventry, so you could benefit from or support the charity.
It’s the final eviction from the competition this week, and sadly we say goodbye to three amazing books.
What’s the Story? (Reception to Year 2) – The Dragon Painter by Lesley Sims, illustrated by BlueBean
A charming retelling of a traditional Chinese story makes the perfect addition to the ever growing series.
Chang is the best painter in all of China, so it’s Chang the Emperor sends for when his new temple needs painting. But why is Chang painting dragons without any eyes? Is it true, as he claims, that if you add eyes, painted dragons come to life? This delightful retelling has sweet, simple text and gorgeous illustrations, with plenty for children to spot as Chang paints his surprising dragons.
If this was your favourite story, try Luna and the Sky Dragon by Bethan Woollvin, an inspiring story perfect for little stargazers.
Luna loves the sky and finding out about all the wonders she can see above her. But the villagers can’t stop worrying about the mythical Sky Dragon – a fearsome creature who is said to dwell in the sky. Can Luna share her love of the sky and show the villagers that the Sky Dragon is nothing to be afraid of?
Featuring real constellations as well as facts about the milky way, eclipses, comets and other astronomical delights, this enteratins and educates in equal measure.
Telling Tales (Year 3 and 4) – Batpig: When Pigs Fly by Rob Harnell
BATPIG follows the amazing, porktastic adventures of Gary Yorkshire – an entirely normal piglet whose world is turned upside down when he’s bitten by his friend, Brooklyn the bat, and develops the power of flight! And what could Gary do with this newfound talent other than become a superhero?
Alternating between Batpig’s origin story and a furious and hilarious battle with his nemesis, Repto-Man, this is a brilliantly funny and skilfully rendered commercial young graphic novel series, with each book containing two separate stories.
If you loved Batpig, make sure you look out for the other books in the series, the latest of which is Go Pig Or Go Home, featuring magical sharks – and summer camp!
First there’s the sudden appearance of Sharkraham Lincoln (half shark! half president!), who sets off a major test cheating scandal. And then, at the worryingly named Camp Whomp-a-Pig, Gary’s hoping to finally get a break from superhero-ing, but a grumpy lake monster isn’t letting this sleeping pig lie. Will Batpig ever catch a break to just relax and enjoy a tasty sandwich, and not have to save the world?
Hooked On Books (Year 5 and 6) – Canaligator by Giovanni Eposito, illustrated by Purri Pankras
Canalligator is a graphic novel set in the canals of Birmingham and tells the rhyming tale of Casey, an unlikely reptile hero, and his friendship with four young people.
The combination of verse and graphic is quite unique and a QR code at the start of each chapter takes you to the author’s YouTube channel where the reader can view a short film about each chapter.
If Canalligator was your favourite, try Another Kind by Cait May and Trevor Bream, which is not your average monster story.
Tucked away in a government facility nicknamed the Playroom, six not-quite-human kids learn to control their strange and unpredictable abilities. Life is good—or safe, at least—hidden from the prying eyes of a judgmental world. That is, until a security breach forces them out of their home and into the path of the Collector, a mysterious being with leech-like powers.
Can the group band together to thwart the Collector’s devious plan, or will they wind up the newest addition to his collection?
You now have one more week to vote for your winner. Happy reading and don’t forget to vote for your favourite!
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Another week, sees another three cracking books leave the competition. Did your favourite survive the eviction?
What’s the Story? (Reception to Year 2) – Stop! That’s Not My Story by Smriti Halls and Erika Meza
A joyful, empowering call to be the hero of your OWN story!
A girl opens up a book looking for the story that’s perfect for HER and tumbles inside. But Goldilocks is not her story, and nor is Jack and the Beanstalk or Little Red Riding Hood… There’s only one thing for it: she’s going to have to write her own story – and this time, SHE will be the hero.
A celebration of the stories we ALL love and the stories we are yet to write.
If this was your favourite book, try Once Upon A Fairytale by Natalia O’Hara and Lauren O’Hara, a story where the reader gets to decide on the adventure – the possibilities are endless.
Did you ever wish to feast with fairies, live in a tree, or ride a unicorn across the sun-lit sky? Here, in this magical world, you can. You can choose to be a clever princess, or a curious gingerbread man, or perhaps a gentle knight. Maybe you’ll live in a tree, or a tower on a hill. You can eat fresh-buttered sunbeams with fairies, or newt pie and pigtail pudding with ogres. Everywhere you look, you will find a new adventure. Just pick the one you like best.
A captivating book where the child chooses the story they want to tell – empowering children to become storytellers and weave their very own fairytale.
Telling Tales (Year 3 and 4) – Sheep School by Ross Montgomery
A thwarted thespian must use his talents to save his flock from a woolly situation in this hilarious gem from bestselling children’s author Ross Montgomery.
William the lamb just can’t stand still. His feet are always tapping, ready to dance, and he loves nothing more than bursting into song. But his talents aren’t always appreciated at Sheep School. Cast out of the flock, he wanders miserably away only to witness the rest of the sheep being captured by the Big Bad Wolf.
Can William find a way to put his artistic skills to use to save the day?
If you loved Sheep School, try The Ghost Cat Who Saved My Life by Pamela Butchart
The flat upstairs from Sav is empty, so who or what is making the strange yowling noises she can hear at night? Could it be a ghost cat?!
Sav and her best friend Liam decide to investigate, but their ghost hunt takes a very strange turn when Liam gets stuck in the stinky bin room of the flat and it’s a new feline friend who helps to get him out.
Nothing is quite as it seems in this brilliant new addition to the Little Gems list.
Hooked On Books (Year 5 and 6) – The Light Thieves by Helena Duggan
Clever, quirky and hugely imaginative, discover the eagerly anticipated new eco-adventure series from the bestselling author of A Place Called Perfect.
Who would you trust to save the world…a boy or a billionaire?
The earth has shifted on its axis and a mysterious dark mark has appeared on the sun – the whole world is in peril! But billionaire tech genius Howard Hansom has a plan…
When Grian’s sister goes missing he’s convinced she has run off to Hansom’s new city to help save the world. But when Grian and his two friends Jeffrey and Shelli track her there they find that nothing is quite as it seems.
Why is everything so secret? Where is the mysterious Area 13? What does Howard Hansom want with all the people he has enticed to live in his city? The days are getting darker but what’s really happening to the sun?
It this was your favourite book, make sure you read second book, Search For The Black Mirror to find out what happens next!
The energy from the sun is being stolen. It’s a catastrophe for the planet and every living thing on it! Friends Grian, Jeffrey and Shelli are desperately trying to work out how it’s happening. They know tech genius Howard Hansom is behind the theft and they’re determined to stop him. But they can’t use any of Hansom’s smart technology in their quest as it will track them wherever they go. The three young heroes need to find a strange black mirror to help them save the sun, and time is running out…
After this week, there is just one more vote off to go, so keep voting to make sure your favourite book makes it into the final three. Happy reading!
Another week, and another set of brilliant books leave the competition. Has your favourite been evicted this week?
What’s the Story? (Reception to Year 2) – Speak Up! by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeola
Join the brilliantly passionate and instantly loveable Rocket as she organises a peaceful protest to save her local library!
Bookworm Rocket loves to collect new books on her weekly visit to the library, and to read all about inspirational figures like Rosa Parks. She is heartbroken when she discovers the library will be closing down! Can she use what she’s learnt from Rosa and speak up to save the day?
This empowering, heartwarming picture book is a love letter to libraries and the power of reading. And it shows the incredible power we ALL have when we find our voice and speak up about the things that matter.
Read more Rocket stories from award winning duo Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola – Look Up! andClean Up!
Telling Tales (Year 3 and 4) – Adventuremice: Otter Chaos by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
The first book in a delightful new series full of friendship and adventure, from adored, award-winning author/illustrator duo Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre.
Meet Pedro. He’s tiny, but while looking for a BIG adventure he is rescued by the ADVENTUREMICE – a brave, determined team who keep all the Mouse Islands safe from harm.
Pedro’s dream is to show he’s heroic enough to join their ranks. And he soon gets the chance to prove himself, when a big scary otter starts causing trouble in the waters nearby…
If this was your favourite, you’ll be delighted to know there are two more books in the series out already!
Hooked On Books (Year 5 and 6) – The Song Walker by Zillah Bethell
The Song Walker is an extraordinary new story of friendship, discovery and courage.
“There are three questions that I need to find the answers to:
Where am I? What am I doing here? And… Who am I?”
When a young girl wakes up in the middle of the desert, she has no idea who she is. She’s wearing one shoe, a silky black dress, and she’s carrying a strange, heavy case.
She meets Tarni, who is on a mysterious quest of her own. Together, the two girls trek across the vast and ever-changing Australian Outback in search of answers. Except both are also hiding secrets…
If you love The Song Walker as much as I do, try Zillah’s other books, like the award winning The Shark Caller. Dive beneath the waves with this spell-binding adventure of friendship, forgiveness and bravery, set on the shores of Papua New Guinea, perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell and Eva Ibbotson.
“I want to be able to call the sharks. Teach me the magic and show me the ways.”
Blue Wing is desperate to become a shark caller, but instead she must befriend infuriating newcomer Maple, who arrives unexpectedly on Blue Wing’s island.
At first, the girls are too angry to share their secrets and become friends. But when the tide breathes the promise of treasure, they must journey together to the bottom of the ocean to brave the deadliest shark of them all…
Happy reading!
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Another week sees three more fabulous books leave the competition. Has your favourite survived the second round of evictions?
What’s the Story? (Reception to Year 2) – Dodos Are Not Extinct by Paddy Donnelly
Dodos are extinct, right? WRONG!
They’re not! They’re just in disguise, and they’re not the only ones. This book reveals the secrets of the woolly mammoths, sabre-toothed tigers and even dinosaurs! These famous creatures are in disguise everywhere, so keep your eyes peeled! You never know who might be right under your nose …
From author-illustrator Paddy Donnelly comes a hilarious story that will keep kids giggling and guessing on every page.
If this was your favourite book, try Dogs In Disguise by Peter Bentley, a joyful peek into the crazy antics of all sorts of dogs in disguise! Dressing up in clothing they find at home, these adventurous pooches blend into the crowd at all the places dogs aren’t allowed, like the store, the cinema and the swimming pool! But not all of their disguises go quite to plan, with hilarious results…
From schnauzers in trousers to cosmonaut cockapoos, this jaunty rhyming text from hugely popular, award-winning author, Peter Bently, with brilliantly witty illustrations from John Bond, creator of the Mini Rabbit books, will have children howling with laughter!
Telling Tales (Year 3 and 4) – The Wishkeeper’s Apprentice by Rachel Chivers Khoo
Wanted! A wishkeeper’s apprentice.
When Felix makes a very special wish, he doesn’t expect to be offered a job as an apprentice to wishkeeper Rupus Beewinkle. Now Felix must save the town’s wishes from the wishsnatcher, who wants to destroy hopes and dreams everywhere. Beautiful black-and-white illustrations by Rachel Sanson accompany this magical story.
If this was your favourite, look out for Rachel’s new book, The Magician Next Door, which publishes on 7th March. Late one night a flying house crash-lands in ten-year-old Callie’s garden. It is the home of magician Winnifred and all of her magical artefacts. Winnifred asks for Callie’s help finding her lost Wanderdust – until she realizes it is Callie’s sadness that is causing her malfunctioning magic.
With Winnifred’s most precious magical possessions at risk from malicious pixies and dangerous giants, can Callie and her friend Sam find the Wanderdust in time to save the magician?
Hooked On Books (Year 5 and 6) – The Stories Grandma Forgot by Nadine Aisha Jassat
“Grandma Farida has Alzheimer’s – but I’m going to help her remember a huge secret…”
Twelve-year-old Nyla’s dad died when she was four, or that’s what she’s been told. So when Grandma Farida insists she saw him in the local supermarket, Nyla wonders if Grandma is simply “time travelling” again – the phrase she uses when Grandma forgets.
But Grandma is Nyla’s best friend and when she asks Nyla to find her dad and bring him home, Nyla decides to make a brand new promise to her Grandma: to find him. As Nyla turns detective and sets out on a journey through her family’s past to try and find the truth, she also hopes that uncovering important stories will help her understand who she is, and where she fits in the world…
If you loved this emotional tale told in vers, try The Way Of Dog by Zana Fraillon.
Be strong. Be fierce. Life is more than a concrete floor.
Scruffity is born into a harsh, grey world. What he yearns for most is Family. But no one wants him. Just as his chances of adoption grow thin, Scruffity is set free by a boy as unwanted as he is. He learns how to run, to dig, to howl and, biggest of all, to love. But then tragedy strikes… How does a dog find his way home when he never had one to begin with?
If you don’t want your favourite book to be evicted next week, make sure you keep voting!
Happy reading!
Green Doctor can help families who are struggling with cost of heating and other household bills.
Green Doctor can also help regarding benefits, fuel and food bank vouchers, Big Difference (water bills) etc.
Our new Green Doctor Prasanna will be running sessions to coincide with Stay and Play sessions in the following hubs/ dates. Prasanna has a separate room booked for private consultations but it would be great if he could come into the stay and play sessions to talk to parents about the service.
|
Harmony |
Fourth Thursday |
1st Feb, 22nd Feb, 28th March (or 21st TBC) |
9.00- 1.00 |
|
Pathways |
Last Wednesday |
31st Jan, 28th Feb, 22nd March (or 21st TBC) |
1.0- 4.00 |
|
Woodside |
First Wednesday |
7th Feb, 6th March, 3rd April |
10.00- 3.00 |
|
Park Edge |
Third Tuesday |
20th Feb, 15th March |
9.30- 1.30 |
Parents can book an appointment to see the Green Doctor or just drop in informally during the latter part of the session.
PSS are able to make bookings for consultations during the Family Hub sessions.
If parents are unable to attend at the above Family Hubs they can book an appointment for phone/ online support and a home visit using the following link (self service or referred by a worker)
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We’ve read, we’ve discussed, and we’ve voted, and now the weekly vote offs have started.
The first books to leave the competition are:
What’s the Story? (Reception to Year 2) – Anansi And The Golden Pot by Taiye Selas
“Allow me to introduce myself.”
But he needed no introduction. “Anansi the spider!” said Anansi the boy. “The tales were true!”
“Traditional tales are always true,” the spider answered, laughing. “Nothing lasts so long as truth, nor travels quite so far.”
Kweku has grown up hearing stories about the mischievous spider Anansi. He is given the nickname Anansi by his father because of his similarly cheeky ways. On a holiday to visit his beloved Grandma in Ghana, Anansi the spider and Anansi the boy meet, and discover a magical pot that can be filled with whatever they want. Anansi fills it again and again with his favourite red-red stew, and eats so much that he feels sick. Will he learn to share this wonderful gift?
This charming retelling of a West African story teaches readers about the dangers of greed, and the importance of being kind. Tinuke Fagborun’s colourful illustrations bring the magic and wonder of the tale to life. When you’ve finished sharing the story, you can also find out more about the origins of Anansi folktales. This beautiful storybook is one that children will treasure forever.
If this was your favourite, look out for other Anansi stories of which there are many to enjoy regardless how old you are.
Telling Tales (Year 3 and 4) – Granny Came Here On The Empire Windrush by Patrice Lawrence
This heart-warming and heartfelt debut picture book from multi-award-winning author, Patrice Lawrence, will help ensure that the struggles and achievements of the Windrush generation are never forgotten.
One day, Ava is asked to dress as an inspirational figure for assembly at school, but who should she choose? Granny suggests famous familiar figures such as Winifred Atwell, Mary Seacole and Rosa Parks, and tells Ava all about their fascinating histories, but Ava’s classmates have got there first – and she must choose someone else. But who?
And then Ava finds a mysterious old suitcase – Granny’s “grip” – and Granny begins to share her own history, and how she came to England on the Empire Windrush many years ago. She tells her story through the precious items that accompanied her on the original voyage, each one evoking a memory of home, and as Ava listens to how Granny built a life for herself in England, determined to stay against the odds and despite overwhelming homesickness, she realises that there is a hero very close to home that she wants to celebrate more than anyone – her very own brave and beloved granny.
If you’d like to find out more about the Windrush Generation, try
Hooked On Books (Year 5 and 6) – Kingdom Over The Sea by Zohra Nabi
My own Yara, if you are reading this, then something terrible has happened, and you are on your own. To return to the city of Zehaira, you must read out the words on the back of this letter . . . Good luck, my brave girl.
When Yara’s mother passes away, she leaves behind a letter and a strange set of instructions. Yara must travel from the home she has always known to a place that is not on any map – Zehaira, a world of sorcerers, alchemists and simmering magic. But Zehaira is not the land it used to be. The practice of magic has been outlawed, the Sultan’s alchemists are plotting a sinister scheme – and the answers Yara is searching for seem to be out of reach.
Yara must summon all of her courage to discover the truth about her mother’s past and her own identity, and to find her place in this magical new world.
If this was your favourite, look out for the second book in the series, The City Beyond The Stars, which will be published in April.
If you don’t want your favourite book to be evicted next week, make sure you keep voting!
Happy reading!
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