Playing by the book

Reviews of kids' books and the crazy, fun stuff they inspire us to do

Bookstart 20 – Books I’d share with 20 fictional children

Posted on | May 17, 2012 | No Comments

As you may know, I’ve taken the Bookstart 20 pledge to share at least 20 books this year. Now, sharing books and book ideas is what Playing by the book is all about, so what could I do to make my Bookstart 20 pledge a little bit more of a challenge?

I thought I’d start by choosing 20 books I’d share with some of the fictional children I’ve loved reading about.

Here’s where I would start…

I don’t imagine Horrid Henry would sit still to listen to a book being read, but perhaps I’d put on an audiobook of the Nicholas stories by Goscinny so he could listen whilst he plotted his next naughty deed.

I’d love to have all the Pevensie children from the books set in Narnia join me round a blazing fire whilst I read Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy.

The Pevensie children

I think Sophie from The Tiger who Came to Tea would enjoy The Tiger Skin Rug by Gerald Rose.

Sophie and her tiger

I can imagine Halibut Jackson loves books and has lots of favourites already, but one that I think would make him giggle, and feel less alone is The Invisible Boy by Sally Gardner.

Halibut Jackson

Ronia

If I had a chance to slip a book into Juliet Capulet‘s hands before the end of the play, I’d give her Ronia the Robber’s Daughter by Astrid Lindgren.

If I could meet Laura Wilder (I know she isn’t really a fictional child, but nor are the books entirely factual) I would offer her Louise Erdrich’s The Birchbark House.



To Ralph and Piggy in Lord of the Flies I’d give Charlie Higson’s The Enemy.

I think Katie Morag would adore the How to train your Dragon novels by Cressida Cowell.

Katie Morag and the Isle of Berk

To Hiccup in the Cressida Cowell How to train your Dragon novels I’d give The Three Musketeers by Dumas.

I’d love to see Toby Lolness‘s eyes open so wide as he read Charlotte Voake’s A Little Guide to Trees.

Toby Lolness and a page from A Little Guide to Trees

I have a sneaking suspicion that Ottoline would probably enjoy the Amelia Bedelia books.

I hope Coriander might enjoy The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge.

I’d love to see Quenelda’s eyes flash as she reads Tell me a dragon by Jackie Morris. Quenelda is the heroine of the Dragonsdome books by Lucinda Hare and come highly recommended if you’re looking for an adrenaline packed fantasy chapter book with a strong female lead.


I’m sure Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen would make Tomas, in I believe in Unicorns by Michael Morpurgo, smile.

A library lion and a library unicorn

I can’t decide whether I’d give Immi Flotsam by David Wiesner or The Red Book by Barbara Lehman.


I’d love to give Miranda the Explorer a copy of The Fantastic Flying Journey by Gerald Durrell and Graham Percy.

For Ella Bella I’d select Ballet for Martha written by Jan Greenberg & Sandra Jordan, illustrated by Brian Floca.

I think Robert Jacklin from Jason Wallace’s Out of Shadows would recognise something in The Eye of the Wolf by Daniel Pennac, illustrated by Max Grafe and translated by Sarah Ardizzone.

Liz Pichon’s Tom Gates would love a joke book. I’d start with the classic Ha Ha Bonk Book by Janet and Allan Ahlberg and then move on from there.

And finally, to dear Daisy (who does not like peas), I’d give I Do Not Eat the Colour Green by Lynne Rickards and Margaret Chamberlain.



What books would you share with which fictional children? Do share!

And what books are you going to share with the real kids in your life? Don’t forget – if you haven’t already done so, you can take the Bookstart 20 pledge to share 20 books over the coming year.

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Category: Bookstart

A World Exclusive! A mini illustrated book for inspiring young story tellers, by Clara Vulliamy

Posted on | May 15, 2012 | 11 Comments

I’m so excited! The wonderfully talented, super generous author and illustrator Clara Vulliamy is kicking off a new series here on Playing by the book today.

Every month (where possible), she is going share some ideas to encourage children to tell stories of their own, using the monthly theme from the “I’m looking for a book about…” carnival. She and I will be turning her prompts into a library of mini books you can print off and give to the kids in your life (and yourself!), along with a blank mini-book ready and waiting for stories and illustrations to fill its pages.

These mini books are unique little treats, and Clara and I hope that with her prompts, and a great list of books to read/share from the monthly carnival, we’ll be firing up imaginations and encouraging kids, young and old, to create tales of their own.

As Clara says…

Maybe it’s an older child who would like to write their story down, or a younger one who would be happy telling theirs by drawing pictures…
or, my own personal favourite, making up a story together while chatting at bedtime after lights-out…

I’ll suggest a starting point, a few nudges along the way to keep the story flowing along and an inspiring object or two (I always find an actual THING helps me when I’m writing a story) –

Whose bed could this be?

- and the rest is up to them!

Now to the first mini-books from our library-to be…

Two books especially for you from Clara and me

The Small book of Big Story IDEAS by Clara Vulliamy

A blank book waiting to be filled with stories!

For each book you’ll need to download a pdf file (see below), print it off, and then use the method shown in this video to fold/cut the paper to create the actual book:

To download Clara’s Small Book of Big Story Ideas (No. 1), on the theme of elves and fairies, please click here (this is a pdf file. It is quite large, so may take a moment or two to download).

To download a blank book ready and waiting to be filled with stories inspired by Clara’s prompts, please click here (again, this is a pdf file).

This afternoon I’m off out with the girls and know they’ll have some waiting around, so I’ve put a copy of each book in a nice envelope, with some “fairy dust” and some pencils… I can’t wait to see what they’re inspired to create with them.

Both Clara and I have had a lot of fun creating these miniature books. If you use them, please do let us know how you and your kids enjoy them. We’d both love to see any illustrations or read any stories that come to life with the help of these mini-books.

Wishing you very happy story-telling… x

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Category: Being an author, Bookmaking, Books / Libraries, Clara Vulliamy, Elves, Fairies, Guest Posts, I'm looking for a book about..., Imagination, Storytelling

I’m looking for a book about… elves and fairies

Posted on | May 14, 2012 | 12 Comments

Welcome to “I’m looking for a book about….”, the inaugural topic-themed monthly carnival of children’s literature.

Every month I’ll be encouraging anyone who likes to review books for children (of any age) to leave links to their reviews of books that match the given month’s theme. The idea is that over time, this carnival will become a resource for parents, teachers, carers, librarians looking for books by subject.

Old reviews, new reviews, and reviews for any age are welcome. You may also submit multiple reviews, as long as they are all relevant to this month’s theme.

And this month’s theme is….

Elves and Fairies

Some of my favourite books on this theme include:


  • The Elves’ Big Adventure by Daniela Drescher, with a round up of reviews here at Little Acorn Books.



  • The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs by William Joyce, reviewed here by Donna at 32 pages.



  • The Faerie’s Gift by Tanya Robyn Batt, illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli, reviewed here by The Well-Read Child.



  • Stella, Fairy of the Forest by Marie-Louise Gay, reviewed here at Through the Looking Glass Children’s Book Reviews.



  • The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz, reviewed here by the Book Aunt.



  • The Dreamtime Fairies by Jane Simmons, reviewed here at Kirkus Reviews.



  • Damyanti at Overdue Books shares her fondness for the Shoemaker and the Elves and how that links to Sally Gardner’s The Real Fairy Storybook.



  • Jennifer at Jean Little Library shows that fairies are not just for picture books with a review of the lovely sounding Small Persons with Wings by Ellen Booraem



  • Ali has a review of Michelle Harrison’s The Thirteen Treasures, another fairy book for older children.



  • Polly has written a great round up of fairy books that might be described as classics – including ‘The Princess and The Goblins’ and ‘The Princess and Curdie’ by George Macdonald



  • For a review of Racketty Packetty House (“Toy Story meets Downton Abbey” with lots of fairies) by Frances Hodgson Burnett, head on over to Polly’s second post at The Little Wooden Horse.



  • Polly at The Little Wooden Horse has one more contribution to this month’s carnival with a post about the fairies in various Enid Blyton books and also ‘Flax the Feral Fairy’ by Tiffany Mandrake



  • Fats at Gathering Books introduces us to Catherynne M. Valente’s The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, a book Fats recommends to 10-14 year olds who like a touch of Neverland and Wonderland mixed together.



  • Myra at Gathering Books has a review of The Mystery of the Fool and The Vanisher by David and Ruth Ellwand. Myra writes, “The book leaves you with a great many questions, one of those few rare finds that would leave you with goosebumps even after you have finished reading it” – doesn’t that sound wonderful?



  • Over at Child Led Chaos there is a great round up of a series of Goblins’ books by David Melling. I particularly like the sound of how the Goblins’ series has a focus on encouraging the child reader to become a storyteller herself.



  • Kim at Dead Houseplants (I love her blog name!) has a review of Brigitta of the White Forest by Danika Dinsmore, which sounds both sparkly and exciting.



  • Over at Jen Robinson’s Book Page you can find a review of Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer by Laini Taylor. which she describes as having “a lot to offer, and receives my highest recommendation.” I’m definitely going to look out for it!



  • Janelle at Brimful Curiosities has a review of A Fairy Went A-Marketing,” a poem by Rose Fyleman, illustrated by Jamichael Henterly. Whilst the book sounds interesting, you should definitely click through to see the fairy book Janelle and her kids made.



  • Janelle’s second contribution to this month’s carnival introduces us to a slim volume of poems titled Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Fairy Poems compiled by Stephen W. Hines and illustrated by Richard Hull . I never new Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote any poetry, so I shall definitely be checking this out.



  • Caroline, who blogs at Learning Parade, has a review of The Elf’s Hat by Brigette Weninger. She’s also created an activity sheet to go along with the book, “a super story to use as a stimulus for a small world play set!”



  • The Fairyland Olimpics is reviewed by Yvonne at ‘Babbleabout’ children’s books, learning and play. “A lovely, enchanting book, perfect for this year of the London Olympics 2012.”



    • Please leave links to your reviews using the linky below. If you have included an image of the the book cover in your book review please use that for the image associated with your link below. I will also be adding your links to the main body of the text during the day (I’m trying both methods this month to see what works best).

    So now we’ve creating / are creating a great little list about books on the theme of elves and fairies, what if you want to do some elves and fairies projects and crafts? Then head on over to Red Ted Art, where Maggy has been curating a round up of just such activities. You might also wish to check out The Fairy Garden contest being held over at The Magic Onions…

    And if books and crafts were not enough, please do come back tomorrow for a wonderful guest post by none other than the wonderful author/illustrator Clara Vulliamy, all about inspiring story-telling in kids, linked to this month’s I’m looking for a book about…” carnival.



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