Posted on: 25/11/2020
Every year, we ask our team to pick their favourite books (Christmassy or otherwise) and to talk about who they will be gifting them to, as part of our Christmas Bibliotherapy. This year, however, whilst there is the usual helping of winter-inspired literature there is also a notable serving of books with themes of love, hope, empowerment and freedom as well as a couple of books that aim to quell the wanderlust of the frustrated traveller within us, in a year that has been quite unlike any other. You’ll still find some lovely novels, gorgeous picture books, poetry compilations as well as some beautiful non-fiction. We hope there’s a festive and not-so-festive offering in there for every taste!
Mari and Mama are making sign, a message for the world. But Mari wonders, how will the whole world hear our message?
A book for empowering young activists everywhere, this beautifully illustrated book is a joy to read and is a seemingly simple story of how people coming together can inspire hope – and perhaps create change. Based on the true story of six-year-old Mari who attended the Women’s March in 2017, this book follows the journey of her with her mother making the sign, attending the march and creating a message for the world to see – and hear! We loved the pictures of New York City and reading the messages on the placards, and thought how these messages of protest, defiance and unity could inspire writing and creating poster and signs for home and the classroom. Messages of positivity and persistence! These seem much needed now in 2020 and I would recommend this book for the quieter children around us, who sometimes feel their voices cannot be heard above the noise out there.
After a month of feeling like we have been locked in a temporary state of hibernation, with the season changing from autumn to winter, this felt like the perfect book to hunker down with and read. Part story, part information book, Winter Sleep is about a boy who stays with his Granny in the depths of winter and believes that all the creatures he loved to spot in the summer had now died. Granny takes him on journey, gently explaining the process of hibernation and showing him where the frogs, mice, stag beetles, bumblebees and butterflies are now all hiding. We thought this book was perfectly presented, having been entranced by the story and the relationship between Granny and the Grandchild and then by being giving the science behind hibernation – one of nature’s greatest rituals. The non-fiction section at the back is also beautifully presented and encourages children to help and find out more. Like the best children’s books, I found this fascinating to read as an adult and picked up all kinds of new facts about creatures I had not even heard of, and so I would recommend this revealing book for any child looking for a little magic right now which they will find when uncovering the secrets of the seasons…
If you’re looking for some escapism in 2020 (and frankly, who isn’t?) then this is the book for you. This wonderful short novel tells the story of Tamarind, born to Indian parents but raised by her father in Bristol after the death of her mother. She’s a fan of football and definitely doesn’t like spicy food! Now that her father has remarried, everything feels like it’s changing and her father is preoccupied with someone else. As Chloe and her father honeymoon in India, Tamarind visits the ancestral home of her Indian family and she tries to piece together previously untold stories about her life and her mother as she sets out on a journey of self-discovery but is met with silence and mystery from her extended family. We particularly love the way Tamarind’s preconceptions about India are revealed as she tries new things and visits unfamiliar places – like trying salty lassi or packing too many shorts because she was convinced it was going to be hot, despite her father’s warnings to the contrary! I would recommend this book to anyone with wanderlust or simply missing travelling to far-away places and exploring new climates, foods and cultures as well as anyone who loves a mystical adventure.
“May we learn the song of Freedom that constellations sing”. This beautiful and poignant picture book ponders questions about what it really means to be free in a time when definitions of freedom are constantly shifting and in a year when many of us have been forced to reflect upon our own personal freedoms as well as those of others. “Does Freedom run through our veins? Can it be equal and maintained?”
Amyra León’s words resonate on a number of levels and the delightfully vibrant illustrations by Molly Mendoza serve to reinforce the poetic narrative that wends its way through the pages. “Inhale… Exhale…” is the refrain that echoes through the book as we discover breath is our freedom and the sky is our unifying equality and the mother and child meditate on their own freedoms and those of others. The whole piece reads like a joyful, lyrical poem and feels like it needs to be read out loud and shared to be truly appreciated. We would wholeheartedly recommended this book to anyone contemplating some of life’s bigger questions this year as well as anyone with a love for poetry and beautiful illustrations.
This is a delightful and charming Christmas story about a brave, young doe and how she came to meet Father Christmas. Under the North Star lives Dasher with her Mama, Papa and siblings. Captives in J.P. Finnegan’s Travelling Circus and Menagerie, they dream of freedom and the little doe’s greatest wish: crisp, cold air and cool blankets of white snow. Then, seizing her opportunity one night, Dasher darts out of their enclosure through an open gate. Using the North Star as a guide, she travels in search of snow and freedom. But then comes a jingle. A man and his horse appear, the man sporting a red suit; the horse a red harness and behind them lies a sleigh. But all is not well…could she, Dasher - such a young deer and so far from home - save Christmas? A heart-warming and beautifully illustrated tale of kindness, bravery and finding a place to call home. I will be gifting this book to my young niece and nephew this Christmas time.
This beautiful concertina book - the third in the series by Charlotte Guillain and Oliver Averill - comes at a time where we can’t travel. It is a reminder of all the world and the beauty within, both in terms of the human world and the natural world. The map at the back of the book shows the journey to take through the awe and wonder-filled pages. We begin in the human world with an exploration of cultures, buildings, customs and more. Then ’ stop’ numbers 51 to 99 focus on the natural world covering sites such as Uluru in Northern Australia; Venezuela’s Angel Falls: the Grand Canyon in the eponymous National Park in the U.S and the Giants Causeway in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland. The illustrations are beautifully crafted in pastel shades, with iconic buildings standing out and detailed little tableaux of each area’s people. Clever use of different fonts help differentiate between the directions, which also contain information about the location and little speech bubbles with customs and pastimes described within. This is the kind of book that most probably any child would adore not least because of its interactive nature. Personally, I will be gifting this to my own child, whose thirst for knowledge about the world all around and her desperate longing to travel and explore might be somewhat sated upon reading this book.
Here at the Literacy Tree, we are huge fans of Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell. We follow all their projects closely and often use their work when planning exciting lessons for children. We also enjoy watching Chris Riddle’s live illustration sessions on social media – very therapeutic. Their collaborations - from Sleeper and the Spindle to The Graveyard Book - are always packed with imagination and energy and Pirate Stew is no different.
Long John McRon and his motley crew of buccaneers have gone into the babysitting business. Mum and Dad are heading out for dinner and leaving this rabble in charge of the house and the children. At breakneck speed, as soon as the door closes behind Mum and Dad, we are whisked away on a surrealist pirate adventure around a sleepy town.
The lyrical rhythm of the story and general mayhem of the narrative is reminiscent of books by Dr Seuss. It also reminds us of one of their previous collaborations, Fortunately the Milk – in fact there seems to be some pirate crossovers here. The illustrations are soaked in playful detail that beckon the eye to greedily notice more and more (there are lots of doughnuts by the way). This is a book that demands to be read and to get lost in many times over.
This book would be the perfect choice for children who love pretending their sofa is a pirate ship. Pirates are Christmassy after all, aren’t they?
There have been a lot of really eye-catching poetry compilations for children published over the last few years. Collections which have a mesmerising synergy between insightful poetry and lush illustrations - we simply can’t get enough! A World Full of Poems is a stunning hardback collection which can sit proudly on the shelf with the best of them.
The poems in this collection range in poetic form – from traditional haikus and sijos to modern free verse - and are assembled from across the world. They are grouped under rich headings which are ripe for exploration, such as: Family and Friends; Feelings; Animals and Nature; Body and Health.
One of our favourite aspects of this book is the activities section at the back. This section gives suggestions for the many different ways we can enjoy and read poetry. It challenges children to go on poetry treasure hunts through the book and also suggests fun, accessible ways for children to start writing their own poems. One of our favourite poems is entitled Map of Fun by the wonderful Naomi Shibab Nye, she writes:
My fabulous feet found it all.
Now they are curling under the sheet.
Tomorrow I will dance and run.
Skip and hop. Twirl and leap.
Feet always find the map of fun
and follow it.
This book would be ideal for those children who, after finishing their bedtime story, may crave a little extra rhythm and rhyme to round off the day.
This has been an extraordinary year in every sense. We have all been tested in many ways, but through the most difficult of times we have also all witnessed great acts of kindness, courage and community. And it is this spirit of humanity that Katherine Rundell has tapped into to collate this collection of stories, poems, musings and illustrations from some of our best-loved children’s authors and illustrators. Recognising that we all - and in particular, children - needed something to cling to during lockdown, she contacted some of her favourite writers and artists, asking them to contribute something small that would inspire a smile, a dream, a wish, a hope….
The resulting collection is truly magical. From stories of storm-surfing armadillos, to poems about football boots and flamingos, and illustrations of balloons, bears and dinosaurs, this is a book to be dipped into at leisure, shared with a family member or enjoyed alone during a quiet moment. Whenever and wherever, this book will provide the perfect antidote to 2020 and inspire belief in the endless possibilities of tomorrow.
If this wasn’t already the perfect Christmas gift, full to the brim with the spirit of the season, all proceeds from book sales will be donated to NHS Charities Together. What more reason to buy one for everyone you know?
I would recommend this book to everyone as a book to share and savour - as Katherine herself says, ‘a story for breakfast, another at midday, with a poem, perhaps, for dessert’ could just be the perfect way to spend the festive season and beyond.
The Bear in the Stars is a timely masterpiece. Part fairy tale, part modern fable, the story follows the journey of one great bear driven from her once-glistening homeland across inhospitable landscapes of the earth as she goes in search of food, friends and a new home. As the protection of her icy kingdom slowly drips away, the bear finds herself reliant on her changing surroundings and the guidance of others to find a new place in the world - but not all are so forthcoming. Ultimately, one small act of kindness seals the bear’s fate and reminds us that we all must work together if we are to savour and save the wonders of the planet.
Adding poignance to the story are the breathtakingly beautiful linocut illustrations which depict bear’s journey from the North Pole, through jungles, rivers, cities, and even a supermarket. With layer upon layer upon layer of meaning, this is an important story told in words and pictures of climate change and the power we all have to make a difference.
I would recommend The Bear in the Stars to readers of all ages as a book to be shared, savoured and discussed - and probably returned to again and again as children spot new details and find new meaning within its pages.
Posted in: Literature Review
