P7 on programme reviews

[Ali]

That's interesting Gemma. I must admit it's a long time since I read it, but it isn't a book that I would have thought about for KS2. The killing of the puppies and the ranch owner's wife by Lennie, as well as some offensive language, I would have thought would have made it inappropriate; like you, I studied it (and hated it!) at secondary school. I'd suggest checking with a senior member of staff before recommending it to Y6 children for independent reading, or to use it in literacy lessons.

[Gemma]

Alison wrote: "That's interesting Gemma. I must admit it's a long time since I read it, but it isn't a book that I would have thought about for KS2. The killing of the puppies and the ranch owner's wife by Lennie..."

Thank you Alison. I was thinking of taking a section of the book rather than the whole book for yr 6 because of the violence and offensive language. With the section (carefully) chosen for its use of symbolism I would get pupils to think about images it conjures up for them and then use similar symbolism in their writing. I would always consult the school and other members of teaching staff before introducing a new book but that's good advice.

[Ali]

Gemma wrote: "Alison wrote: "That's interesting Gemma. I must admit it's a long time since I read it, but it isn't a book that I would have thought about for KS2. The killing of the puppies and the ranch owner's..."

Yes, a carefully chosen extract could be more appropriate. Have you read any of David Almond's books? He is a writer for children whose books are highly symbolic and beautifully written. Skellig for example has lots of references to the poetry of William Blake and birds, whch are very pertinent to the text.

[Katie]

Hi all,

Here is my review of "I'm Telling You, They're Aliens" by Jeremy Strong.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[William]

Here is my review to Marcus Pfisher's 'The Rainbow Fish':

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[William]

My review of 'The Heart and the Bottle' by Oliver Jeffers:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[William]

My review of Ernest, the Moose Who Doesnt Fit by Catherine Rayner:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[William]

My review of "The Huge Bag of Worries" by Virginia Ironside:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[William]

My review of 'THe Gruffalo's Child' by Julie Donaldson and Axel Scheffler:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Anita]

My Review of Eric Carle's 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar':
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49...

[Ali]

Great reviews, William, Katie and Anita; well done for posting during reading week. Lots of trainees seem to have enjoyed the books you read in RE; I'd recommend The Red Tree as a beautiful book talking about managing feelings of sadness that also shows that there is always hope.

[Karishma]

My reviews so far:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

[Ali]

Thanks Karishma, some great reviews there.

[Ugo]

Here is a review of a book I used last week for guided reading with a group of Year 5 children
'How to be a Roman in 21 easy stages' by Scoular Anderson
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Ali]

Thanks Ugo, it's great when a factual guided reading book leads to some hands-on learning, and this sounds like a good one.

[Anita]

My review of Handa's Surprise by Eileen Browne:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15...

[Ali]

Thanks Anita, Handa's Surprise is great because its story is universal. It's a great book with good cross curricular possibilities- geography, literacy and PHSE.

[Will]

Hello, my review of Beverley Naido's Journey to Jo'burg.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Ali]

Great review, Will, thank you.

[Anita]

My review of 'The Berenstein Bears go to the Doctor' by Stan and Jan Berenstein:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/72...

[Ali]

The Berenstein bears books are classics!

[Anita]

My review of 'Where's Spot?' by Eric Hill:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...

[Ali]

Great review, Anita! It is, as you say, a great book for teaching prepositions (if you have a toy Spot and a variety of places to put him, children have great fun describing where he is!) and the repetition is great for EYFS and Y1.

[Sara]

Hi all,

Here are my three reviews (familiar settings):

'Vicky Angel' by Jacqueline Wilson

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

' Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul: 101 Stories of Courage, Hope and Laughter' by Jack Canfield, Patty Hansen and Irene Dunlap

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

'Goggle-Eyes' by Anne Fine

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Asif]

Hello

My review of 'Victorian Family Life' (3)

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Ali]

Thanks, Asif and Sara. Perceptive reviews. Asif, would the book you review be useful for teaching information retrieval skills in a cross curricular Literacy/ History lesson?

[Asif]

Hello Alison

I think this is a good book with which to introduce such skills. The text in the book is very well organised and pupils would find it easy to find particular bits of information or summarise a chapter or even the book as a whole.

All pictures and diagrams have some explanatory text either by the picture or in the main body of the text, making it easy to glean the information from them.

Thanks
Asif

[Catherine]

Here is my review of The Sheep Pig by Dick King Smith.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/66...

[Ali]

Thanks Catherine, a great review. I've used Dick King Smith books as a support for contrasting localities work in Geography. The link you've posted goes to the book, Catherine: this is the link to your review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Aleha]

Hi All,

This is my review of ‘Beware of Boys’.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Sara]

Hi all,

Here are my three reviews (graphic novels):

'Robin Hood' by Aaron Shepard and Ann L. Watson
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

'The Trojan Horse' by Gilly Cameron Cooper and Nick Saunders
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

'Cleopatra: The Life of An Egyptian Queen' by Gary Jeffrey and Anita Ganeri
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Sara]

Hi all,

Here are my three reviews (sci-fi and fantasy):

'Alice in Wonderland' by Lewis Caroll
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

'The Sleeping Sword' by Michael Morpurgo
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Sara]

Hi all,

Here are my three reviews (animal stories):

'The Enormous Crocodile' by Roald Dahl
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

'The Scaredy Bear' by Lucy Courtenay
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

'The Hodgeheg' by Dick King-Smith
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Sara]

Hi all
Here are my two reviews (mystery/adventure):

'Tom's Midnight Garden' by Phillpa Pearce
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

'Seasons of Splendour: Tales, Myths and Legends of India' by Madhur Jaffrey
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Ali]

Great reviews, Sara. I agree, Tom's Midnight Garden is a fantastic book to read aloud; it's absolutely magical. The chapter where Tom and Hattie skate to Ely has stayed with me for over 30 years. Have you heard about Ash Mistry and the Savage Palace? Due to be published early next month. I've read a review copy; it's wonderful!

[Mitel]

Hi, here is my review on Handa's Hen http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Anita]

My review of The Lottie Project by Jacqueline Wilson:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51...

[Ali]

Thanks, Mitel and Anita, two great reviews.

[Sara]

Hi Alison,

No I have not heard of that book you mentioned, I will have to have to look it up!

I had a great conversation with my class about their favourite authors and they have recommended me to read Michael Morpurgo's 'Private Peaceful', which is next on my list of books to read!

[Ali]

Sara wrote: "Hi Alison,

No I have not heard of that book you mentioned, I will have to have to look it up!

I had a great conversation with my class about their favourite authors and they have recommended me..."

Remind me when you're back at University and I'll lend it to you! It is so exciting to discover a writer of fantasy with a British Asian protagonist set in India. I wish it had been published when I was still teaching! Michael Morpurgo is a wonderful, wonderful writer. I had a class whose favourite book for ages was The Butterfly Lion.

[Ro]

www.goodreads.com/book/show/460337 The Magicinas guild by Trudi Canavan

[Anita]

My review of Simone's Diary by Helen Pielchaty: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23...

[Ali]

Great reviews, Romaine and Anita, thanks! Helena Pielichaty is a great writer, Anita. I think Jacqueline Wilson fans would like her, don't you think?

[Asif]

Hello

My review of Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

[Ije]

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26...

[Asif]

Hello

My reviews of:

1. The Sword of the Viking King by Terry Deary : http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/95...

2. The Goose Gaurds by Terry Deary : http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I also read Assassin by Tony Bradman but unfortunately couldn't find this one on Goodreads.

Thanks
Asif

[Ali]

Ije, the link to your review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... your link goes to the book.

[Ali]

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... is the link to The Sword of the Viking King. Terry Deary - your link goes to the book. Thanks Asif.

[Asif]

Hello Alison

Sorry for that error, hopefully I will get it right this time!

My review of 'Robin and the Monk' by Damian Harvey and Martin Remphry: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Thanks

[Ann]

Here is the link to my review of Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...