My reading list

I visited my school library today and picked up a small collection of books to read.  You might remember I did this a few weeks ago and then I blogged about each one. I certainly discovered some treasures in that bunch.  I have been away from my library for a whole year and many new titles have been added so I have lots of good reading to catch up on.

Here is a list of books I will read this week :

• Eddie Pipper by Janeen Brian
• The Ghost at the point by Charlotte Calder
• Time Vandals by Craig Cormick
• Noah Barleywater runs away by John Boyne illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
• Sam I am by Ilene Cooper
• Stir it up! by Ramin Ganeshram
• Soldier Bear by Bibi Dumon Tak

Keep your eye on my blog and I will post a review of each of these over the coming days.

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox illustrated by Julie Vivas

As a young child I regularly visited my little Nana in nursing home and now as an adult I am sadly visiting my mum each day as she has moved into care.  Memories are a slippery thing. I can hardly remember anything about my early years at school, for example, and yet I was there every day of the year.  Equally as a teenager I traveled with my family to Europe but most of this three month long trip is lost to me now.  Loss of memory is not something confined to the old but older people do feel this loss more acutely.  I know my mum does.

An old people's home, a nursing home, a care facility what ever you call it, is the setting for Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge.  Wilfrid lives next door and he is a regular and very welcome visitor.  I can certainly testify that a visitor with a smile and a word or two can lighten the day of an older person.  He knows all the people "But his favourite person of all was Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper because she had four names just as he did. He called her Miss Nancy and told her all his secrets."

Wilfrid overhears his parents talking about how Miss Nancy has lost her memory.  Wilfred is a curios and persistent boy so he goes in search an answer to the most important question of all -  what is a memory.  Each older person shares their wisdom with Wilfrid.

"Something warm"
"Something from long ago"
"Something that makes you laugh"
"Something as precious as gold"

To us these might seem like intangible things but not to Wilfred.  He sets off to find memories for Miss Nancy.  He finds a shoe box of shells he gathered last summer, a puppet that always made people laugh, a medal from his grandfather, his football and a warm egg from under a hen.  He gives these treasures to Miss Nancy "then she started to remember... and the two of them smiled and smiled because Miss Nancy's memory had been found again by a small boy, who wasn't very old either."

This is such a precious book.  If you have not seen it try and find it soon - you will be richly rewarded by this special reading experience.  Read Mem Fox's  thoughts about this book listen to her reading the story.  You could try a readers theatre version of this story and here are some detailed lesson ideas.  You can also see the whole book here and a review.

There is so much warmth in the illustrations by Julie Vivas. You just want to hug Wilfrid and his friends. I notice that my copy of this book is signed by Julie Vivas.  I know I have met her several times but I have no memory of where or when this signing happened.  It was fun to discover this today. After reading this book look for another old book long out of print called A rabbit named Harris by Nan Hunt.  It is another special book that deals with the difficult issue of memory loss in the old in a gentle and sensitive way.

Owl babies by Martin Waddell illustrated by Patrick Benson

As January approaches my thoughts are turning to the early weeks when Kindergarten students visit our school library for the first time.  There is so much excitement attached to borrowing the first library book and taking it home for mum or dad to read.  

I have a small set of books that I like to read over these weeks - I call them participatory stories because each one allows the children to join in as storytellers. I also like to read books that are perhaps familiar either from pre-school or from home collections.  One of these books which is always popular is Owl Babies.  This is one of those books can boast the most special accolade of all because children always say "Read it again".

Every child and adult has experienced the feeling of loss conveyed in this beautiful book.  The mother owl has gone hunting leaving the three little owls at home alone.  The baby owls have feelings of anxiety and concern, but each little owl has a different coping mechanism.  

Sarah is the practical one, she takes charge and explains why the mother owl has gone.  She knows the younger owls need comfort, so she gathers them all together on one branch.  

Percy is a future thinker.  He knows the mother owl has to go away so they can all have delicious food. He is looking forward to a reward for his patience. Yes, he is worried, but he is also philosophical.  

Bill is the smallest of the baby owls, and his experience of this separation is almost too hard to witness. He just knows his mother is gone and he wants her back.  His anxiety builds and builds through the story until finally 

"Soft and silent, she swooped through the trees to Sarah and Percy and Bill....

WHAT'S ALL THIS FUSS?  ... 

You knew I'd come back."  

The baby owls are thinkers and yes, they knew she would come back.  Bill is especially pleased all the tension and anxiety are gone and he can happily say "I love my mummy!"

The joy of reading this book comes from the individual characters of the baby owls.  I love to use different voices for each one.  The illustrations are so luminous you can almost touch the owl feathers. Martin Waddell is a master storyteller.  I was once lucky to hear him read Owl babies.  He read with such affection and with a perfect languid pace. We have a DVD of this book in our library too but we only look at it after a careful reading of this classic heartwarming story. Here are some teaching notes. As a final touch I have three tiny baby owl puppets which come out of my library bag when we read this book.

Here is a comment that sums up the power of Owl Babies:

'Books have long been used to give children a way of looking at and understanding issues that are familiar to them by putting them in a different context'

Year Six recommend ...

Each year I report on books that our departing students recommend in their Year Book.  I was not in my school library in 2012 but I am pleased to see a terrific variety of books on this list.  I have only included books that are in our school library.  Here is the list from 2011 and now for 2012 ...

Year Six 2012 recommend …

• Boom by Carl Hiaasen
• The invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
• Once, Then, Gone Morris Gleitzman
• A series of Unfortunate events by Lemony Snicket
• Fearless by Tim Lott
• The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein
• Brotherband by John Flanagan
• Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

• Spirit Walker series by Michelle Paver
• Rangers Apprentice series by John Flanagan
• Mortal Engines series by Philip Reeve
• Redwall series by Brian Jacques
• Wildwood by Colin Meloy
• Narnia series by CS Lewis
• Snap by Alison McGhee
• Double act by Jacqueline Wilson
• Clarice Bean by Lauren Child
• Conspiracy 365 series by Gabrielle Lord
• The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
• The brilliant world of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon

• Magyk by Angie Sage
• Angel Creek by Sally Rippin
• A horse named Elvis by John Heffernan
• Why I hate school by Michael Fatarsky
• The one and only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
• Candy Floss by Jacqueline Wilson
• Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
• Mud sweat and tears by Bear Grylls
• Cherub series by Robert Muchamore
• Moonrunner by Mark Thomason
• Pangur Ban the White cat by Fay Sampson
• There’s a boy in the girls bathroom by Louis Sacher
• UFO Unavoidable family outing by Dave Hackett

Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera

Hello out there - blog reader!  I have made it!  This is my 400th post and I have nearly reached 50,000 hits. I started my blog at the end of 2008 and I can only say I wish I had started it sooner.  This is such a great way to record all the books I read and as a bonus it has allowed me to think a little more deeply as I read - thinking about how I will discuss a book or which quotes I might use.  One more thing - thank you for reading my blog.  Knowing I have an audience is a huge incentive to keep blogging.

I have been working through my favourite Christmas books so I will finish the year with one more title - Auntie Claus.  This seems like a great choice because this book is such fun to read aloud and I read books aloud in my job every day, it has a timely message about giving and receiving and I did visit New York this year which is the setting for this book.  There are also links between this book and Eloise which I reviewed recently and with The Empty Stocking which was a new discovery for me this year and which has a similar theme.

Sophie's family love Christmas.  Mr Kringle is president of the Jingle Bell Bell company, Mrs Kringle owns the Mistle-toe-to Nail Salon and her brother is named Chris.  The other member of the family is the mysterious Auntie Claus.  Each year just after Halloween Auntie Claus disappears claiming to be going on a business trip.  She does not return until Valentines day.  Where does she go?  Sophie decides to stow away in a packing box to uncover the truth but the truth is a huge surprise.  Sophie arrives at the North pole and is assigned a job as a elf in the mail room.  An announcement comes over the loud speaker that someone is needed to volunteer to visit the coal mines and pick up the  B-B-and-G list - Bad boys and girls. Sophie volunteers but when she looks at the list she does not see her own name.  Instead her brother Chis is on the list.  "On his favourite day of the year, Chris would find only a stinky stocking filled with coal and gunk."

Here is an enthusiastic review.  Here is the author web site for this book where you can hear an extract read by Ellen Burstyn and you can hear the author talking about her book on this short video.  I have also discovered that there is a musical version of this book, there are two sequels and the illustrations have featured in Christmas window displays in famous US Department stores.

You might have been waiting for me to name my number one Christmas book. Well I think it is a three way tie - The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg, The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski and The Silver Christmas Tree by Pat Hutchins. Auntie Claus is certainly in my top ten so you should plan to read it next Christmas or even sooner if you are still in a festive mood.

Figaro and Rumba and the crocodile cafe by Anna Fienberg illustrated by Stephen Michael King

Here are another pair of incongruous friends - a dog, Figaro and a cat called Rumba.  You might think of the Owl and the Pussycat,   Frog and Toad, Little Bear and Little Tiger in Panama by Janosch, Cat and Fish by Neil Curtis, Bear and Mouse created by Bonny Becker and even Minton and Turtle created also by Anna Fienberg.

Figaro and Rumba is a beginning chapter book - it has six chapters with zany illustrations by Stephen Michael King. I enjoyed the final three chapters more than the earlier ones.  I thought perhaps the intention might be to make Rumba a pessimist and Figaro the optimist but this idea is not really sustained.  Rumba is, however, more practical than Figaro.  He knows their house needs cleaning from time to time especially when the windows become so dirty Figaro cannot see outside.  Rumba also takes time to pack food and other supplies when the two friends set out on adventures.  But it is Figaro who saves the day when Rumba is almost kidnapped or catnapped in the final chapter.

Figaro is very keen to travel on The Very Fast Train.  He has seen it advertised on television.  Nate the rat, who is their friend, has told Fiagaro about the speed, the food and the fun.  Before they can set off there are a few things that hold them up.  House cleaning, saving their friend Nate after a canoe accident and an unexpected visit to the doctor - he is a numbat.  The biggest challenge, though, comes on the train itself when the friends meet a crocodile.  "Figaro studied the crocodile's wide mouth.  He didn't trust his smile.  And his voice was too smooth.  It was sugary and sweet like Mrs Fooozy's chocolate icing but with nothing solid underneath.  It was a voice that left you feeling empty, with sore teeth."

If you are looking for a simple, joyful little chapter book Figaro and Rumba and the crocodile cafe is perfect.  After you read this book look for Jeremiah in the dark woods by Allan Ahlberg which also features a dastardly crocodile.  I will predict this book might be short listed in 2013 for the CBCA awards.  If it is I will be very happy because it is always great to have a junior title for younger readers to share before Book Week.  I also imagine there may be some further adventures for Figaro and Rumba.  It would be good to know a little more about their experiences in Cuba.

The last straw by Fredrick H Thury illustrated by Vlasta van Kampen

Based on the idea of the straw that broke the camels back The Last Straw is the Christmas story told from the point of view of a camel who is asked to carry the gifts of the wise men.

Hoshmakaka is an old camel and his body is suffering all the aches and pains of old age but he is also an arrogant and boastful camel. He has a huge ego and so even though he is asked to carry enormous quantities of gifts for the baby king he does not give in although he does grumble under his breath the whole way.

"Why me? If these men are so wise, don't they know about my joints? My gout? My sciatica? What did you say I am to carry?  How much will it weigh? Besides I have other commitments.  There is a water-drinking competition in Rangal. Then I really must go to the cud-chewing convention in Beemish."  In spite of these objections Hoshmakaka agrees to  do as the voices have commanded.  He makes the boast that he is as strong as ten horses.  The young camels who walk beside Hoshmakaka on this journey to deliver rich gifts to the baby king use this boast to keep him walking.

Along the way more gifts are added including milk from some mountain goats, bags of ground corn, fine silks, two rare birds, pillars of oak, sweetmeats and pastries, jars of honey, jewels, beads, rolls of leather and twenty gallons of wine.  Finally one small boy brings a tiny gift for the baby - a piece of straw for his bed.

"And with that, Hoshmakaka fell to his knees... Then from the humble manger, a tiny hand reached out and touched Hosmakaka."

This is another one of those old Christmas books. It was published in 1998 but you might be lucky and find it in a library.  The illustrations and story remind me of books like The greatest treasure of Charlemagne the King by Nadia Wheatley and The Quilt makers gift by Jeff Brumbeau.  Here is a page of teaching ideas.