Blog Posts

How does a lighthouse work? by Roman Belyaev

12/2/2018

How Does A Lighthouse Work? by @rrrbelyaev published by b small publishing 🐝

I like a lighthouse as much as the next person but I’ve never wondered too much about their inner workings. Belyaev takes us on a beautifully illustrated tour through time and technology, piquing our interest by answering a range of questions that perhaps we would have asked if we had wondered long enough. Have you ever considered ‘How are lighthouses built?’ ‘What did people do before lighthouses?’ ‘What did Lighthouse keepers do?’ All of these questions are answered, translated from their original Russian, and so are many more.

My favourite fact - for the first 16 years of her life The Statue of Liberty was a lighthouse.

Find this book on Amazon here.

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My Secret War Diary by Flossie Albright

2/2/2018

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This book has been around for a couple of years now but it is still my ‘go to’ book when teaching WWII. This is what all diaries should look like. Flossie Albright, aged 9, in 1939 reveals her inner thoughts - about the death of her mother, looking after her baby brother and the effect of her father ‘abandoning’ her to go off to war.

The ‘collaged’ handwritten style makes the story accessible for children aged 7+. It offers both insight on a child’s home front experience as well as spotlighting events from the theatre of war through Father’s letters. The book is funny, touching and poignant in one neat little package.

Marcia Williams, author and illustrator, has captured the inner-child perfectly. Also available is ‘Archie’s War’ which tells the story of Flossie’s Great Uncle Archie through his WWI diary.

Find this book on Amazon here.

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Grandad's Island by Benji Davies

29/1/2018

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The first time I saw this book it was being read on @cbeebieshq story time and at the end my little boy asked why my eyes were wet.

Syd and his Grandad are best friends. Their houses face each other and each day they go on adventures in Grandad’s attic. One day they travel to a magical island but this time Syd returns to his Grandad’s attic alone.

Syd is sad and lonely in the attic all by himself but a tapping on the window and a message from Grandad do life his spirits. Younger children will take the story at face value but older children will understand its allegorical message. Recommended for children of all ages but take care if children have recently had a loss in the family.

Find this book on Amazon here.

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Books, Books, Books

How does a lighthouse work? by Roman Belyaev

My Secret War Diary by Flossie Albright

Grandad's Island by Benji Davies