House Held up By Trees

By Ted Kooser
and illustrated by Jon Klassen is new this month from Walker Books UK.

Have you ever played in a house in the trees? Maybe you have a rope ladder that only you could climb. Or even a very special tree that was nearly flat and let you climb right up into its branches.

This very moving story in a picture book format has beautiful illustrations and leaves you with a real feeling of time moving on.

‘When the house was new, not a single tree remained on its perfect lawn to give shade from the sun. The children in the house trailed the scent of wild trees to neighbouring lots, where thick bushes offered secret places to play. When the children grew up and moved away, their father, alone in the house, continued his battle against blowing seeds, plucking out sprouting trees – until one day he, too, moved away. Then, as the empty house began its decline, the trees began to take over. At once wistful and exhilarating, this lovely, lyrical story evokes the inexorable passage of time – and the awe-inspiring power of nature to lift us up.’

Walker Books UK

A book to share or to read alone. but definitely a book that will leave you with past lingering memories.

Ted Kooser, US Poet Laureat for 2004 – 2006, a poet and essayist and writes across genres in amazing ways.

This book available from Amazon.co.uk here.

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House Held Up by Trees

We had just met with Zev from the World Reader organisation at a World Literacy Foundation conference in Oxford. Some concepts just make sense form the start and this was our feelings for World Reader.

It works by loading a Kindle with over 300 books taking to Africa, direct to communities where the children have the chance to read! No more expensive lorry loads of slightly used books trying to find their way across the continent and then being stopped and refused entry.

This scheme actually works! You just need a small mind shift to know that children in Africa can access Kindles and benefit hugely from the supply of information at their fingertips.

The inquiring and smiling faces says it all. World Reader projects has some excellent photos. Read the stories of how empowering this project is for the whole family, Daniel and his grandmother are just one example.

We were invited to World Reader‘s new office celebrations and also to mark their ambition to get 1 million books into Africa. How amazing is that!

On St Jordi’s day in Barcelona the streets were full, the tradition is to mark the day of their patron saint by sharing gifts; the man to buy the woman a flower and the woman to buy the man a book.

At the SmithMartin Partnership we were delighted to celebrate with World Reader and look forward to being involved. It parallels and brings into one, our work with communities, children’s literature and modern technology solutions.

Sue Martin

SmithMartin Partnership LLP Inspiring communities and Broadening Horizons

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World Reader and St Jordi’s Day in Barcelona

At the Federation of Children’s Book Groups conference we were blown away with this new concept.

The What on Earth Wallbook, from the Big Bang to present day.

A whole wall book of facts! It’s a book with no spine, that doesn’t mean it has no real bite, this book will give you all the facts and information you need to know about the whole history of the world for billions of years.

It’s dynamic and creative and is just amazingly brilliant.

It goes on to become a whole wall display or even larger…. an outside huge wall covering for passers by.

It’s a treasure hunt of learning, it’s a story on a time line, and it changes scale like a telescope, especially as humans start to appear on the world scene.

On Monday April 30th Chris is launching the Wallbook of Sport on London’s South Bank. a great event if you can make it, or find visit World of Books.

Definitely worth finding out more and you could even make a discovery about this wonderful world.

This is clear view thinking!

How Chris made this journey himself is fascinating and resonates with all who feel that the National Curriculum is a barrier to active learning.

Or, as Chris expressed it, ” It makes discovery feel like looking through a pane of shattered glass”.

pictures courtesy of Chris Lloyd

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What on Earth Books!

Mrs Muffly lives by herself in a house on the top of the hill.

But why is she now buying loads and loads of food? Maybe there really is large and dangerous monster in the house?

A beautiful story which sets children thinking about jumping to conclusions and what can happen when you make assumptions.

The drawings and pencil illustrations are stylish and appealing, Sarah Dyer has a brilliant use of colour and space.

Sarah has written and illustrated many children’s books and in 2001 her first book, Five Little Fiends won the Smarties Bronze Award.

Frances Lincoln  published Mrs Muffly’s Monster and Monster Day at Work in the summer of 2011. Both are available in paperback and can be bought through the links above.

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Mrs Muffly’s Monster

A global initiative on one of the world’s largest challenges – improving lives through literacy.

A world wide problem and this summit is about bringing together people from across the globe to share ideas, create platforms and to build a greater awareness of the international literacy crisis.

Children are great learners and time spent in reading is still the best way to support learning, and alongside the children it is hoped to reach out to parents too.

It has the power to transform lives, it helps families, through literacy; out of poverty and into prosperity.

Best of all it can broaden horizons, fuel imaginations and develop creativity.

The World Literacy Summit is being held at Oxford from 1st to 4th April. There is a wealth of speakers and debates, including Dr Tony Cree from the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation and Dr Patricia Edwards from International Reading Association.

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The World Literacy Summit

What an incredible place to visit.

On the edge of the Arabian Gulf and peninsula Abu Dhabi is a cosmopolitan city, with a modern outlook and a long cultural history. There are beaches, souks, parks, museums and galleries.

The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is in its 22nd year and the country for focus this year is the UK.

There’s much happening and a strong emphasis on children’s literacy and education. From the Tales of Arabia to modern stories, from ezone to illustrators corner we are looking forward to keeping in touch through the blog.

At the centre of several major places in the world and a travel hub for transworld flights the Book Fair is an easy place to get to. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair – a must for keen book enthusiasts and travellers.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Sue Martin

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Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

I wondered why I had decided to to travel to Kew to spend an afternoon at The National Archives.

Not normally for me to be interested in row upon row of carefully sealed shelves and files containing invaluable documents and manuscripts.

The London branch of The School Library Association had planned the day and it was fantastic!

One hundred and ten miles of carefully sealed shelves, only ever to be touched by the white gloves….we looked at maps of the 1600′s and the invasion of Caribbean islands, beautifully painted in water colour.

In the Education Room we studied a document which, after a Dan Brown type of investigation turned out to be a police report about two suffragettes burning a hotel in Felixstowe.

Lots of resources and an incredible website, where material can be downloaded(good plan to mention The National Archives) and can be a real bonus for research and for collecting more information. Excellent for schools and for anyone ready to learn.

Sue Martin

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The National Archives for School Resources

The graffiti messages for Ben Harvester as he is followed by bad forces to his home. Ben has joined the Ministry of Pandemonium and along with Becky and Mr October rushes to the scene as people die. It’s Ben and Becky’s job to guide their souls on before the enemy gets in first.

Great stories and a real page turner. A ‘not put downable’ book until finished!

Second in a series of Ministry of Pandemonium books by Chris Westwood, published by Frances Lincoln, about an alternative and secret London. Chris has written children’s books that have been in the limelight for many awards and is considered for film options with Steven Spielberg for his books, Calling All Monsters.

But try this book, if you are not too scared and want to find out which is the most difficult for Ben…meeting gruesome soul stealers or meeting his Mum’s new boyfriend?

New, out on March 1st – be there!

Sue Martin

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Great and Dangerous – new from Frances Lincoln

For Lilah May it’s about whatever is happening to her very best friend Bindi, why is she behaving so madly? The love of her life, Adam Carter is apparently having nothing to do with her!! Is the whole world coming to an end?

Author Vanessa Curtis has another winning book following from The Taming of Lilah May in this latest book, Lilah May’s Manic Days,  a new title published by Frances Lincoln.

Edgy, sparky and just the book to read when you are convinced that anyone older is absolutely out of the ark.

Great cover too…I’m now on to read her other books, Zelah Green and Queen of Clean.

You can buy the book through Dolphin Booksellers- the best in children’s books always on line.

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Lilah May’s Manic Days

War Horse, that amazing book written by Michael Morpurgo, and dramatised in the West End at the New London Theatre will shortly be available at the movies.

Steven Spielberg’s latest film production, War Horse, is opening at cinemas on January 13th. It has already been acclaimed for its powerful and thought provoking message.

With a great line up of actors, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Emily Watson and Peter Mullen, and over 200 horses, trained by Bobby Lovgren the film shows the story of the relationship between a boy and a horse.

But yet, there is so much more…. more than a million horses were sent to the front during the first World War,only 62,000 returned. The horse, Joey,is taken through so many different places and into such horrendous situations. It is a tale of endurance, courage and the pitiful way that war treats humans and animals alike.

There are many newspaper editorials, but try The Observer or The Guardian for some extra information.

A remarkable film, an outstanding theatre production and an even better story, written and developed by Michael Morpurgo.

See you at the movies

Sue Martin

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War Horse