The Worst Witch and the Wishing Star

Lucy aged 8 was fortunate to be given a copy of this to review for Lovereading 4kids.
Having really enjoyed the Worst Witch books it was great to have the latest of Jill Murphy's Worst Witch books.
Below is the review she wrote completely independently:

The  book, THE WORST WITCH AND THE WISHING STAR, is a very exiting book that makes you want to know what happens next. But sometimes it is scary because you don’t know what Miss Hardbroom will find out. It gets really scary when Ethel sees Mildred’s bag move. Inside the bag was her wish! Her best friends loved her wish! But it wasn’t the kind of thing a witch should really have. When Miss Hardbroom had a wish from the wishing star she saw, she wished for something that made Mildred’s wish useful! One day when Ethel once decided to follow Mildred, Mildred’s wish almost got taken! That was another really scary part.

I really like the book. It was very interesting. I bet you would like it too! Will you like it too? 

Book Awards

On Friday 7th July I will get the opportunity to meet some of the authors of the fantastic books I have read.  Since beginning the book judging I have read all the books on the 3 -6 year old long list and then went on to read the short listed books for all the age groups.


This book judging has made me question the importance of teachers reading the books that the children in their class are reading.  I have been surprised by the content of some of the books and feel that it is important as a teacher to be able to discuss some of the issues that occur in the books.  


The whole process has been great for both myself and for my school.  The children have been reading the books and providing their own feedback.  The children have written book reviews and discussed which book they think should win.  Some children have also contributed to a blog that I have created for them.


Following this experience I aim to continue to read new books and think about how they can be used in school.  I would like to continue to be able to advise children and teachers on books that they might enjoy.  I have found that the education library at County Hall has been an excellent resource for books including sets of some of the books.  I hope to be able to continue to use the library to access the most up to date good quality children's literature. 

Emily's favourite book

Emily loves Little Red Hood so much that on book day at school she insisted I made a red cloak for her so she could be Little Red Hood.  She took the book with her to school as she didn't want anyone to mistake her for Little Red Riding Hood.

The Memory Cage

So many issues are covered within this book.  The heartbreak of coming to terms with a grandparents alzheimers, the issues of adoption and the conflicts of war.  

Alex, who has been adopted and has hidden his own memories of the trauma he has suffered in Bosnia.  When his Grandfather deteriorates to the point where he is going to be sent to a home, Alex decides to try to help him by making a memory book.  However, as Alex begins to gather pictures from the past he also begins to uncover some family secrets.

This book is thought provoking and very moving.  The relationships are very realistic, the sibling rivalry and Alex's love for his Grandfather are developed well.  The family tension throughout is portrayed realistic throughout the book and you find yourself wishing Alex's parents could see what was going on because he has already been through enough in Bosnia.  

This is a fantastic debut all the children who have read it so far have said how much they have enjoyed it.

The Girl Savage

Wilhelmine, better known a Will, wildcat or cartwheel is growing up on a farm in Africa when suddenly her world is tipped upside down.  Will has grown up living wild and free, she hasn't been sent to school but instead has been able to play with the farm boys.  When her dad dies and Captain Browne who is taking care of her remarries she is sent to England to a boarding school.

I have only reached the point at which Will arrives at the boarding school.  The sense of despair and frustration I feel for her as she is sent away is awful.  All I am hoping is that as I get further through the book Cynthia will somehow get her comeuppance.

Now I have reached the end I am somewhat disappointed that Cynthia didn't seem to get what she deserved however the way the school girls changed was great.  The ending was a real surprise but really was a great way to end.  It was very moving to see the courage and strength that Will showed at the end and made me cry.
It took me a while to become really engrossed in this book but I am so glad I kept going.  The experiences of Will in the two different setting are so starkly different that you just wish that you could take her back to Africa.  I felt so proud of Will at the end.  This is a fantastic debut.

A Girl Called Dog

I was completely gripped by this book and read it over two days.  When I began reading the book I wasn't convinced by the girl called dog, I just couldn't understand how someone could get away with keeping a girl in a pet shop but I had to remind myself that it was fiction.  There are some very scary moments in the book, the black box in particular.  The author takes us on Dog's journey to safety with some very scary and emotional events on the way.  This is a real heart breaking book that stays with you long after you have read it.
I could picture the small but brave girl in the pet shop and loved it when she stood up to her uncle through Carlos the parrot.  I was so relieved when she found the village in which she may have come from.
I really felt though that her journey was not over and hope that the story continues.

I gave it to a girl in my class to read and she read it over 2 days as well.  She wrote 'I think the book is fantastic because Carlos can talk.  I would recommend it to class 3 girls because it is a little bit scary and hard.'

iBoy by Kevin Brooks

I have just begun reading this and I am hooked.  I was slightly concerned because my 9 year old had picked it up and begun reading it.  In my opinion it is not suitable for a 9 year old so I have taken it away from him and given him Sky Hawk instead.  However I do think it is a fantastic book so far....

Having now finished the book I have been left with a sense of relief that I don't live in an area similar to the setting of the book.  I found myself questioning whether the pursuit of those who destroyed Lucy's life was just or whether there was another way.  The idea of exacting revenge is one that is easy to identify with through the book I found myself rooting for Tom and hoping that he managed to find all the perpetrators of the crime against himself Lucy and her brother.  The ending is fantastic but it does leave you with a sense of the fact that whilst revenge has been achieved the crimes committed will continue again and again until there is a bigger change.

iBoy is a superhero for the 21st century who I imagine a lot of 'digital natives' will be drawn to.  I would however be cautious with letting a child younger than 14 read this as it deals with issues that are adult in content.