I still can’t believe what we are seeing and hearing from Ukraine as we are returning to the world. It’s terrifying. A couple of resources my local library shared this week you might find helpful if you are talking to your children about what is happening in Ukraine. You can find them here and here.
The world has changed so much in the last two weeks. I’m sorry I missed bringing you a Bookworm Buzz. Floss got very poorly a couple of weeks ago and spent half term in hospital. Thankfully, the hospital have helped get her back to the point of being home, and she’s almost ready to be back to school.
I then caught covid. I’m incredibly lucky to have got it now at a point where people with complex health needs like me have a much better chance of surviving covid. I’ve been quite poorly but so grateful to have been vaccinated and given antiviral treatment and on the mend.
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New Releases and Reviews
There are some VERY exciting books coming out this Spring; my only concern is trying to keep up with my TBR pile!
Saving the Butterfly by Helen Cooper and Gill Smith
Saving the Butterfly is a new release from February this year and a poignant book right now when we need to be opening our arms to support those in need. This book gives a simplified look at a brother and sister displaced and being refugees.
The little boy is young and finding it easier to move forward but the older sister remembers and finds it difficult to emerge from the shroud of darkness she feels is swallowing her. Find my full review here and links to Walker teacher notes.
Thank You for the Little Things by Caryl Hart and Emily Hamilton
Thank You for the Little Things by Caryl Hart and Emily Hamilton is a delight. I hope you enjoy my little blog post here with super simple ideas to help you and your children find the joy in the little things in life.
Penelope Snoop, Ace Detective by Pamela Butchart and Christine Roussey
Penelope Snoop, Ace Detective is a book I did not expect to love but we have and it’s meant I’ve had a little Ace Detective in our home with her magnifying glass and notepad to jot down her clues! Full review here.
The Spectacular Suit by Kat Patrick and Hayley Wells
The Spectacular Suit by Kat Patrick and Hayley Wells is one of my latest titles that arrived from Scribble Kids to review (thank you). It was the cover that really drew me to this book and made me want to read. Full blog review and activity ideas here.
Me, in the Middle by Annette Demetriou and Angela Mayers
This isn’t one that I’ve read yet, but it’s on my wish list. Me, in the Middle is an Owlet Press title so I know it’s going to be exceptional. The book launch last week over on Insta live was so insightful and I thoroughly enjoyed finding out more about Annette and her very special book – link to live here.
It would be an excellent book to explore family trees and heritage in a very sensitive way. I love the use of the analogy of the branches of different trees and how this is resonated through each of our family trees; no two trees being identical. Very clever.
More New Titles
A few scholastic books have caught my eye this week. Firstly a YA Fiction The Girl With No Soul debut by Morgan Owen – I’ve got to read this. Next How To Steal the Mona Lisa by Bethany Walker and Jack Noel a funny, mystery for middle grade readers. Here’s a link to activity sheets to accompany this title.
Happy Bunnies is an Axel Scheffler book and looks like a cute one for a Spring/ Easter gift. Oh and not to forget You Are Enough by Sofia Sanchez, Margaret O’Hair and Sofia Cardaso.
I’ve also spotted some brilliant new releases from Walker books this month. If you can’t wait head to this link. I’ll be back to tell you more about these next week.
Tonie Box New Releases
Tonies have had a new Disney release with Tangled. It’s approximately 30 minutes long and you can hear an audio clip here.
There’s also been some gorgeous new additions to the Creative Tonie range. I think this snuggly little pair will be our next purchase to add our own stories too. To find out more about Tonies check out my blog here.
If you’re interested in audio players you might like to check out my blog post on Tonie Boxes vs. Yoto Player here.
Books for the Diary
This week is Exploring Nature with Children Spring pond week and you can find my free pond spotter in the resources section here or you can access them from the files in the Facebook Group here.
There’s lots of exciting dates coming up – here are a few to mention.
11th-20th March British Science Week – theme Growth
You can find out more about the British Science Week here. Nikki Gamble in her latest Book Blast – which was amazing as always – recommended the new release Grow by Riz Reyes as a lovely one to share with a child during this week.
14th March Exploring Nature with Children Vernal Equinox
Get your Spring books at the ready – it’s almost time. I love the seasonal books that we have in our home. The books that get a turn for a few months of the year ready to be greeted like relatives you don’t get to see as much as you’d like to.
Here’s a blog post with lots of our favourite Spring time books. I’m really looking forward to seeing what new releases come our way this Spring. You’ll also find free Spring flowers ID cards in the resources section too.
14th March Mars Day
You can find lots more information on Mars Day here and Usborne have some great Quick Links that you can find here.
15th-21st March Neurodiversity Week
I couldn’t think of a better author to base your week around than own voices author Elle McNicoll. Do go and check out her social accounts as she’s a powerful voice for the neurodivergent community as well as an incredible author! A very interesting chat with Elle and Aisha Bushby for International Women’s Day 2022 can be found here.
17-18th March Holi
Check out one of my previous Bookworm Buzz Book News here for some of our favourite books to celebrate festivals. You might also find these KS2 resources useful from the BBC too.
Thought Provoking Reading
I was scrolling through Instagram a couple of weeks ago and this stunning photo of Charnaie Gordon popped up on my feed. The title and the cover of the book that Charnaie was holding drew me in and made me want to read the caption. You can find the post and caption here.
As thought provoking reading goes I found Charnaie’s information and thoughts fascinating. Especially as she begins by saying it’s believed that early humans were colour blind and couldn’t see the colour blue. She continues to explain the rarity of blue and how it was seen as sacred. It’s such a stark contrast to how we see blue now. When I look at the children’s books in my home blue is the colour that dominates the spines. Do go and read the full caption over on Charnaie’s Instagram page hereweeread.
Reading For Pleasure Webinar
Reading for Pleasure: Responsibility, Rigour and Relevance by Teresa Cremin was a brilliant hour long video session with a superb balance of theory and practical application ideas for developing Reading for Pleasure. You can still watch the video for free until the 17th March 2022 here and you can get a certificate of attendance.
What I’m Reading
It’s been a weird couple of weeks for reading for me. There wasn’t any reading while I was in hospital with Floss for a week. Then having covid has meant I’ve read a little but not as much as usual and more YA fiction rather than younger fiction as I haven’t had my Flossie to snuggle up with a book to. I’m also really missing taking pictures of books!
Next week I’ll be sure to have an image of all my current reads and those soon to be read reads. For now, let me tell you what I have been reading.
Chain of Iron and Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare
A huge thanks to @tandemcollectiveuk for letting me join one of their latest Readalongs. It’s an author I’ve always enjoyed @cassieclare1 with her second book in The Last Hours series. Thanks to Tandem and @walkerbooksya for gifting me this yummy copy of Chain Of Iron and book one Chain Of Gold.
The #TandemReadalong started on World Book Day and as we were all stuck in unwell it was lovely to have something bookish to join in with. I’ve finished book one and . If you have your own copy and would love to be involved, all the details are. If you love fantasy this would be a great series for you. I wasn’t sure whether I’d enjoy the period element to it as I have previously read books more set in today’s world by Cassandra Clare, but I’m riveted!
Ambrose Follows His Nose by Dick King-Smith & Josie Rogers
A Toppsta win that I am so excited about is Ambrose Follows His Nose. I was such a big fan of Dick King-Smith’s books as a child and still now can’t think about a fifty pence piece in the same way after The Queen’s Nose. It also was the beginning of my 50p collection! This will be a read-aloud to my daughter who is five and my niece who is eight and I can’t wait.
Mama: A World of Mothers and Motherhood
This is a book that sinks into your soul the more you read it. Incredibly powerful, at times raw. Motherhood with all its power and vulnerability. Wow @helene.delforge and @quentingreban it’s phenomenal and I can’t stop reading it. Published by the wonderful Floris Books – thank you for my review copy.
This book has been my ‘daily poetry habit’ read that I began for 2022. Here’s my full review.
A couple of my usual MUSTS for you to dive into this week include Anne’s (A Library Lady) book news here and The Reader Teacher’s March highlights here.
Looking forward to getting back into the normal reading groove this week, see you next week.
Lisa x