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!