Answers from Mrs Eyres

What was your favourite book when you were a child?

I don't know if I can just pick one. I loved anything by Enid Blyton, especially the Adventure series. I think the books that stayed with me were ones that weren't just written for children: The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham and Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier, which I read when I was about twelve. Narnia books were great, too. 

If you could be a character from a book, who would you be?

I always wanted to be George, from the Famous Five, because she owned Kirrin Island. I would love an island with a ruined castle and secret caves! I'd quite like to be in a scary book, so maybe I'd be Coraline? Although it might be too scary to have parents with button eyes. Okay, final choice: I'd be Harry Dresden, from the Dresden Files books by Jim Butcher, because he's a private investigator in Chicago, who also happens to be a wizard. But then there's Lucy, from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, too... Maybe I need to give up on normal life and just be in stories. 

What sort of books do you like reading now?

I like books that are a bit out of the ordinary, where strange things happen. I'm hoping that, one day, I'll open the stock cupboard door at school and walk into Narnia. 

Who is your favourite author?

Neil Gaiman, without question. His children's books are brilliant, and his books for older readers are incredible. My favourite is Neverwhere, about a city under London filled with strange, and sometimes terrifying, characters.

Are there any picture books that you would recommend?

Anything by Anthony Browne or Colin Thompson. I can study those illustrations for ages and still find something I'd not noticed before. 

If you wrote a book, what would it be about?

I think it would be something in the fantasy genre. Maybe a Terry Pratchett type of thing, like The Wee Free Men and A Hat Full of Sky. I'd like to write for older children / young adults, because I think a lot of those books can be more imaginative than 'normal' books for grown-ups. 

If you could pick one book to read to your class, what would it be?

I'm going to cheat here, and choose a series... or two. Either A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, because the books are full of puzzles and daftness, or The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, which is funny and clever and because Elm Class deserve to know the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything. 

Mr Sayers answers the librarians' questions

The librarians wanted to know a little more about the reading habits of the school staff. Here's what Mr Sayers had to say:

What was your favourite book when you were a child?

A Twist of Fate by Pamela Scobie.

If you could be a character from a book, who would you be?

Willy Wonka.

What sort of books do you like reading now?

Short ones.

Who is your favourite author?

Khalil Gibran.

Are there any picture books that you would recommend?

Lost and Found - Oliver Jeffers,

Clown - Quentin Blake,

Elephant and Piggie series - Mo Willems.

If you wrote a book, what would it be about?

The triumph of spirituality over materialism.

If you could pick one book to read to your class, what would it be?

Whispers in the Graveyard - Theresa Breslin. 

Thank you, Mr Sayers!

“I was a Rat” (or The Scarlet Slippers) by Philip Pullman

Here's a book review by Mr Sayers:

Roger is a strange boy. He suddenly appears on Bob and Joan’s doorstep and doesn't seem to have any family history. He tears his bed sheets and has awful eating habits. Roger’s only explanation is that he was a rat.

How does such a strange boy know his way around the palace, like he’s been there before?  Why is the princess prepared to help him when everyone else thinks he’s a freak?
This story is the work of a genius!  The denouement leaves you saying “Oh, of course !” Philip Pullman is so good at getting you wrapped up in his stories, and he does the same here. The ending/solution should be obvious, but you get so wrapped up in the details of the story that you miss it – until the very end. Realising that you have been tricked, all along, actually makes you appreciate this book all the more.

Molly's 'Piece of Writing'!

Molly couldn't decide quite what she had written. It wasn't really a story. It wasn't a diary-entry. It was, she decided, just a piece of writing!

A Piece of Writing, by Molly

They say when you hit rock bottom, you can only get back up. You need to realise that there are other people who feel like you do. Sick and tired of running bare-foot on stone floors. Sometimes, this doesn't work. Sometimes, those people are taller than you, too far away or they just don't care. You run into stone walls and bang locked doors with your fists, but there is no escape. Monsters chase you, dark scary monsters, and worst of all, you know who they are. They're monsters that shout insults, trip you up, and can hurt you without even getting close. You scream and scream but no-one can hear you, so you take the only option and run. Running and running, making sharp turns and demolishing anything in your way. You keep running, keep turning, never stop, though all you want to do is curl up and die. Bash your head against floors, dig your fingernails into your palms. Something, anything to wake yourself up from this nightmare.

 You find a dark corner to sit in and watch people start to build towers. Towers of hope. Towers of strength. Towers you will never climb. Your hands wrap round your knees and your face goes down into your lap. You can't bear to watch people work their way back up to the top. Because you know however high you stretch, you will never reach the top.  

Photo courtesy of chriscandy/freeimages.com

Mouse's First Summer

A book review by Alicia Mae:

Mouse's First Summer - by Lauren Thompson

This book is for mouse lovers. I enjoyed this book because it had very good descriptive words before it told you what it was describing, so your imagination started working. It also had cute characters. I love this book. I would recommend this book to my friends. 

Thank you for sharing a lovely book with us, Alicia Mae! 

Alfie's 6 Book Challenge

Alfie F. has also been doing a lot of reading. He's completed his six book challenge, and these are the books he recommends:

1.  Horrid Henry Reads a Book - I liked it because Horrid Henry screamed when he got the tickets for a reading competition.

2.  Tiddler -  I liked this because I like books with someone with a big imagination. 

3.  I like Secret Seven books because I like books with solving problems. 

4.  Superworm - I liked this because Superworm's in it. 

5.  Not Now, Bernard - I like monsters!

6.  Horrid Henry's Swimming Lesson - I like this because he did lots of excuses so he didn't have to go. 

Thanks for sharing the books you liked, Alfie. Well done for finishing your six book challenge!

Oliver's 6 Book Challenge

Oliver C. has completed his six book challenge - well done, Oli! He's written some great book reviews for you, too. Here's what Oli's been reading:

James Herriot's Cat Stories

The main characters were Ollie and Ginny. Out of twenty, Oli gives the story twenty, so a very high score. Oli enjoyed the happy ending to the story because the cats found a home.

Kaspar, Prince of Cats - by Michael Morpurgo

Oli scores this book ten out of ten. 'This is my favourite Michael Morpurgo story. It was a very exciting story as I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen to Kaspar.'

Flat Stanley - by Jeff Brown

Oli scores this book nine out of ten. 'The funniest book ever, because the writing brought Flat Stanley to life and I felt like I was with him, doing lots of funny things.' 

Little Manfred - by Michael Morpurgo

Oli scores this book ten out of ten. 'I liked how this book brought history to life.' 

Tales from Winnie the Pooh - by A. A. Milne

Ten out of ten. 'My favourite character is Winnie the Pooh because he is very funny and a bit silly.'

Humphrey's Treasure Hunt - By Betty G. Birney

Ten out of ten. 'It's the most humourous book I have ever read and even just seeing Humphrey on the front cover makes you think he is very funny.' 

You read some good books there, Oli. Thanks for writing those reviews and sharing them with us. I have to agree with you about Winnie the Pooh - I love those stories, too. Well done for finishing your book challenge. 

Jake's book reviews

If you come to the after-school club on Tuesdays, you'll know that we've challenged people to read six books and write some reviews for us. Jake's been busy and has read and reviewed four books so far. Here are his reviews:

Weird But True! - National Geographic Kids

This is a very interesting fact book. 300 outrageous facts. Weird... but they're true! I have two facts:

1. Someone carried the Olympic torch up Mount Everest.
2. Jellyfish sting, even when dead.

If you get the book, what will you find out that you don't already know?

The Magic Finger - by Roald Dahl

This story is a lovely fantasy. It's funny and I would recommend other Roald Dahl books.

Know Your Tractors - by Chris Lockwood

This book tells you a lot about tractors, the greatest tractors, and tells you what they were used for. If someone in your family had one of a kind of tractor, see if you can find it in the book!

Know Your Combines - by Chris Lockwood

This is exactly like Know Your Tractors. This book tells you about combines, the greatest combines, and tells you what they were used for. If someone in your family had one of these combines, look in the book and see if you can find it!

Thanks for those, Jake! It's good to have reviews of some non-fiction books, as I know lots of you like to find out new information. 

Book Walrus

Another book blog for you! This one includes news, book reviews and interviews with authors. You can also leave comments on the articles. It says it's: 

'A site for kids, overgrown kids, parents, teachers, grandparents and anyone else who buys or reads children’s books and wants to find out more about them.'

Here's the link: 

http://book-walrus.com/

'Girls Heart Books' blog

I hope I don't get accused of sexism here, but I found a great book blog I wanted to share with you. It's called 'Girls Heart Books' and has articles written by loads of different children's authors. If you're stuck for a good book to read, there's a book-finder page which sorts books by genre. Here's the web address for you:

http://girlsheartbooks.com/

Fear (part one) by Imogen

Imogen wants 'to make people read more, because I think it will make whole new worlds and possibilities come to life'. Here's the first part of her short story. 

Fear

 Sometimes fear is something you can't escape. Its iron fists can hold you tight, and it suffocates you with its cold grip. That's just something, something that I'm going through right now. My blood pumps through my veins quicker than I could imagine it ever could. But, suddenly, I feel strangely sick. Dizzy. The whole world spins around. I close my eyes just hoping it is not happening. But deep inside, I know it is. I shut the curtains in my room, darkness. Peace. I block the sound of the rowing downstairs out, just wishing it could end. The door slams and I watch my dad walk down the path towards his car, and drive away. 

People can say whatever they want, pat me on the back, whatever. But it will never bring my dad back into the family. He's never coming back. Ever. But, I suppose I just have to be optimistic. Optimistic? Why should I be optimistic! There is nothing to be 'optimistic' about. He's gone, Amy, just face up to the facts! But the truth is, the facts aren't encouraging, they don't have any hope, just hopeless disaster ahead.

 To be continued. 

Photo courtesy of: APatterson/freeimages.com

Enid Blyton

At the latest 'Not a Reading Club', many of you told us how much you love books by Enid Blyton. Maggie Mae is a huge fan of the Famous Five books, which she says she'd recommend because of all the adventures (although she thinks there should have been another dog in the stories!). Other people liked the Secret Seven series, the Malory Towers school stories and the books about the Faraway Tree. 

I found this website:

http://www.enidblyton.net/

which includes quizzes and information on all of her books.

This link from the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/blyton/

tells you about Enid Blyton herself. Did you know that, in 2008, she was voted the UK's best-loved writer?

I used to love reading Enid Blyton's books - my favourites were the ones in the Adventure series. I think she was the author that got me to love reading and I'm lucky to have lots of hardback books that my dad gave me from when he was young. 

Do you have a favourite Enid Blyton book?

The Summer Reading Challenge

Some of you have asked about this year's Summer Reading Challenge. This year's theme is the 'Mythical Maze' and focuses on myth and legend. You can find more information here:

http://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/

or ask at your local library. 

Opal Plumstead: a new book by Jacqueline Wilson

Darcy, one of our librarians, wants you to know about a new Jacqueline Wilson book which will be published this September. Here's what the official Jacqueline Wilson website has to say about it:

The brilliant new story, starring Jacqueline Wilson's most outspoken, fiery and unforgettable heroine yet: Opal Plumstead, schoolgirl, sweet factory worker and Suffragette.

Opal Plumstead might be plain, but she has always been fiercely intelligent. Yet her scholarship and dreams of university are snatched away when her father is sent to prison, and fourteen-year-old Opal must start work at the Fairy Glen sweet factory to support her family.

Opal struggles to get along with the other workers. But Opal idolises Mrs Roberts, the factory’s beautiful, dignified owner, who introduces Opal to the legendary Mrs Pankhurst and her fellow Suffragettes. And when Opal meets Morgan - Mrs Roberts’ handsome son – she believes she has found her soulmate. But the First World War is about to begin, and will change Opal's life for ever.The brilliantly gripping new story from the bestselling, award-winning Jacqueline Wilson.

Another librarian, Molly, says, 'I think my favourite book is probably My Sister Jodie by Jacqueline Wilson. It made me laugh and cry. We don't have a copy in school but I would be happy to lend it to anyone. My copy has gotten a bit tatty after me reading it about a thousand times, but it is still well worth the read. Oh yeah, and if anyone is running out of books to read, come and ask me or any of the librarians and I'm sure we can find you something out of the library, or I shall have a look through my collection at home for you to borrow.'

Thanks for that, girls. I'm going to have a look through my bookshelves tomorrow as I think I've got some Jacqueline Wilson books to bring in and add to our school library. I'll get them labelled up and they should be ready by the end of Tuesday!

Enjoy your extra day off this week!