Posted on: 27/05/2021
It’s sometimes suggested that as adults we should develop altruism within our children. In an Observer article published in early May of 2014, psychotherapist and author Graham Music asserts that we're likely to be born big-hearted and kind. It is later we are pushed towards being selfish and cold, thus debunking the idea that children are inherently selfish beings. And actually, some children are just so very good at viewing our complicated adult world through eyes that simplify, they often find answers much more readily than we adults do and the uncomplicated nature of the young mind can often teach us a thing or two.
It is also said that the bond between grandchild and grandparent is like no other. We know that for many people from older generations, it is the sense of keeping in touch with youthfulness that is so appealing but so too is the connection beneficial for the grandchild with connections between grandchildren and their grandparents reportedly reducing emotional and behavioural difficulties in children. And this mutual benefit extends out-with families, too: many befriending schemes, including nursery-aged children visiting the elderly in care homes were once (pre-Covid) well-established in many parts of the country, so great were the benefits. So with the dual themes of altruism and intergenerational relationships and connections in mind, we have curated a selection of new literature: some with a touch as light as a feather upon the themes; others explicit in their intention but each as stunning as the other.
This is a book that is about not just the unbreakable bond of love between a child and her Grandad but also between a couple and the grief experienced by the half left behind when the other dies. Grandad’s house is a great place to stay in the summer: the cottage is by the sea; it is filled with interesting artefacts and mementos from Grandad’s travels and there’s even a fruit-laden cherry tree in the garden. But the granddaughter’s greatest joy is listening to her grandfather talk of the adventures he had with his greatest love: Gramps. We are taken back in time to a world of joy and love, Grandpa and Gramps’ adventures in their camper van:
Grandad puts down his photo album and smiles. I can see how much he loves those memories and how much he loved Gramps. But the van now sits alone, the memories perhaps too raw for Grandpa in his grief at Gramps’ passing. Then, Gramps is encouraged by his granddaughter to uncover the bedded-down, lonely camper van and the child’s encouragement doesn’t stop there: she suggests they fix the neglected camper up and take a trip to the seaside. And in that revived and reawakened camper van, they set off for a night under the stars, bringing with them hot chocolate to drink and marshmallows to roast. A breathtakingly beautiful book and one that which feels very real and very important. Perfect for children in Reception and Year 1, especially to explore LGBTQ and non-traditional families and examining the idea that children can support and encourage others, even if they are younger.
This eagerly anticipated book is humorous and tender as much as it is dark and ever so slightly bewildering. 11- year- old Noah has accidentally joined older sister Eve and her classmates on a geography field trip. An accidental stowaway, he’d helpfully made Eve a packed lunch for the trip before remembering that the peanut butter filling was contraband (as it often is in schools, for obvious reasons.) Having dived into the minibus to retrieve said lunchbox, the doors close and the bus moves off. Things take a bit of a turn though when the satnav that their teacher has been dutifully following appears to take the group off-course and they find themselves mini-bus-less, teacher-less and (horror!) signal-less: none of their tech will work and even worse, Noah- who is small for his age - appears to be the cause of the tech malfunctions. Eve isn’t too worried of any potential stigma around her little brother possibly being the cause of the glitches and malfunctions though, seeing as she is pretending not to know Noah at all! Told through a series of letters home, in that way that Cottrell-Boyce does, the growing of a character who is the underdog is an integral part of a narrative that deliciously pairs humour with drama. And the gold? Well let’s just say that Noah’s status is elevated somewhat by the discovery he makes even though he is, in actual fact, the root cause of all the bother! And to be rescued, Noah first must fix the internet…
The inclusion of details about Noah’s Granny and her sage advice are an ode to all grandmothers: Magic sleeps everywhere. You just have to wake it up. and The smallest thing…can make the biggest difference. The unbreakable bond between Noah and his Granny undoubtably gives our unlikely hero the strength and courage to keep going. Perfect for children in upper key stage 2.
This is such a wonderful book filled with stories of inspirational children who are selfless, community minded and outward-looking. Curiously enough, the first group of changemakers featured hails from Sant Jordi primary school in Spain who wanted to prevent loneliness in older people. Together, children work alongside older people from the local area in a community orchard, playing, chatting and growing produce together. The natural energy and inquisitiveness that the children possess is said to provide a natural relief from loneliness whilst the older project participants teach the children how to grow tomatoes, amongst other things. Further projects featured in the book explore charities established by children for raising awareness of mental health issues in young people, as with 12-year-olds Christopher and Reece from South Africa. We meet Mohamad – also 12 – who built a school in his refugee camp in Lebanon for all the children who could no longer go to school. Having fled Syria, his place of birth, when it was no longer safe for him and his family to remain, he taught maths and photography in the school, where he was eventually joined by others who came to help. Finally there’s Havana from the USA who is doing something to help all children see themselves in a book. Aged just seven, the girl started a fundraiser through a church to distribute books featuring black characters to black children. And in this section, something that we have always believed in at The Literacy Tree could not have been expressed more perfectly: books actors mirrors to reflect her own lives, but also as windows so we can understand the lives of others. A lovely book, beautifully illustrated and could be used in so many different ways in school including for project work, ideas for fundraising and school assemblies.
