Better Late Than Never

This blog post is three days late. Does that mean I've failed in my mission to read one book a week and post about it? Technically yes. Does it mean that I've quit and decided I'm going to give up without seeing this through to the end? Not a friggin chance!

I am  more than a little disappointed to have come so close to the end and to have missed a deadline. It's something that'll stick with me for a while yet. But I won't be too hard on myself, after all I have made it this far, putting the blog ahead of everything else for over 40 weeks now. If anything this'll spur me on to do a better job next year and not to miss a single week. Only time will tell how that one goes.

This past week has seen me do a lot of travelling, especially at the weekend. So this book is a fairly fitting choice once again. Though I don't think I'd want to share it's central character's journey through it for love nor money!

Tokyo, written by Graham Marks tells the story of Adam, whose world is turned into total chaos upon the discovery that his backpacking sister has vanished in Tokyo. Frustrated by the lack of input from the police and his parents' inability to act Adam takes matters into his own hands and catches the first available flight to Tokyo to go and find her. There is only one problem, he does this all in secret, hoping that by the time his parents even realise he's missing he'll be back, sister alongside him. But as poor Adam finds out in this book life is rarely ever that simple.

With Adam being a college student and the book set from his perspective there are a fair few concepts and scenes that simply aren't meant for children below a high school age. Over the course of the book's 254 pages there are plenty of swear words and passages that hint to adult content.
On the other hand though the story is solid, with the action being quite evenly paced throughout. We do also get the viewpoints of his parents and several police officers involved in the story (albeit quite briefly).

There are no illustrations in the book whatsoever, but each chapter has a unique badly phrased English sentence that raises a little smile. The real bonus comes in the variety of language, beautiful words often juxtaposed with very plain sentences in the same paragraph, all contributes to the picture we get of Adam's quite complex character.

I actually came across the word inexorably which was a real treat as it was simply a word I didn't know (by the way it means unpreventable, just sayin')!

The ending of the story is very bitter sweet, I would've liked to see more of it in order to get a better picture of the relationship between Adam and his parents. But that is more than made up for by our exploration of their relationship with each other.

It's a definite one for a quick read when you've got a week off!

Book 47 of my 52 book list and a book with a place in the title. I'll see you again in 4 days with this week's book.

Book Title: Tokyo
Author: Graham Marks
Pages: 254
Published: 2006
Suitable for: Children aged 12 and upwards
Interesting Words: intervent, angst, stupor, conciliation, presumable, inexorably. 

Tougher by the Week

I'm not even gonna deny it this time, I'm down to the last of my get out of jail free cards. This one is a complete stretch and I'm not ashamed to admit it. But with only six weeks to go after this I'm really not in the habit of caring how much I bend the rules so long as I don't give up.

In my head completing this means I can finish something I started. For someone who’s never been able to do that her whole life, this needs to happen. I need to unlock this door before I can start to open new ones.

Anyway, that’s the personal bit out of the way. This week’s book is asking me to read something that is set in the future. I’m sure there’s plenty out there to choose from. But with me prepping my house for Christmas today and with my beloved after school club prepping for a Christmas concert, I knew the second I saw this book that it would be the ideal choice.

The Night Before The Night Before Christmas is an homage to the legendary poem by Clement C Moore, who’s charming tale told us all about a regular man’s encounter with the larger than life St Nicholas. Written by Kes Gray ( the author of the hilarious ‘Oi Frog’) and illustrated by Claire Powell, it tells us the backstory of what happened the night before Christmas Eve.

There’s tonnes of work to be done in Father Christmas’ workshop. He, Mrs Christmas and all the elves are hard at work getting the last of the things ready. But in amidst all the chaos there is something that Santa has clearly forgotten to do. Will it mess up his plans for Christmas? Will children get their presents? Will the reindeer get up from their year long hibernation and fly? Only the end of the book will tell!

Written in a grand combination of simple and yet traditional language it features a few words that children might not ordinarily come across. In spite of this fact, it’s easy to grasp these unfamiliar words in the context of their surrounding sentences. Each page features a short verse made up of rhyming couplets. The rhythm of the original poem being echoed throughout the entire piece. 

The illustrations are lovely, I don’t know why but they remind me a little of the warm drawings in the Raymond Briggs’ book The Snowman. They are nothing really like them, I just think it’s something about their warmth that makes me think of it.

This book is easily suitable for any child and would have been one I’d have loved to read to my children when they were babies. Does it encapsulate the charm of the original poem whilst still appearing as fresh? Definitely. Is it of the same calibre as the original? Probably not, but then it doesn’t have to be. It tells it’s own lovely story. And for that I’m happy to add it to my collection.

A book set in the future (remember it’s still a month till Christmas Eve Eve) this is book 46 of my 52 book list.

Book Title: The Night Before The Night Before Christmas
Author: Kes Gray
Illustrator: Claire Powell
Pages: 29
Published: 2018
Suitable for: all children
Interesting words: bellowed, brow, resounded,shirk, harrumphed

A Tale from far Away

I wrote most of this post whilst 'on location' today, having allowed myself to indulge in a weekend in the country with friends.

After a busy week it's been a proper treat, but once again there's been little time to fit in a good read. So why is it that this morning I was sat writing this blog post by hand instead of just curling up in a blanket and watching the world outside the window. Well in truth I was actually trying to do both.
My book this week is supposed to be a book from another culture, fairly apt doing a blog about somewhere far away when I was away from home myself.
It should have been a simple enough task. It really wasn't. Firstly, if the book is about another culture does it count if it isn't written by someone native to that culture? Does it have to be modern? Or can it be historical in context? Does it even have to be something that is non-fiction or can stories count?
See? Not exactly an easy path to follow, especially with children's books.

After much searching and mulling things over I settled on a book featuring traditional fairy tales from a place about as far away as I could get!


Written by English author James Mayhew it retells four traditional Russian tales which are then wrapped up in a larger fictional narrative.

The main 'fake' story is of a Tsar who punishes his wife after being tricked (by her wicked sisters no less) into believing that the handsome strapping sons she's promised to bear him are instead animals and monsters. Aware that she is being tricked she conceals one son in the folds of her clothes in an effort to try and save him.

But none of this is enough to save her and with her son still hidden away in her garments she is placed into a barrel and cast into the sea, where she drifts forever and a day before washing up on a mystical island complete with a magical storytelling cat.

A merchant passes and offers to pass on a message to the Tsar after encountering the Tsarina, her son and the magical cat. But when he relays the message to the Tsar he is forced to 'test' the cat by trying to get it to retell particular stories that no one should really know.  Is there more to this cat than meets the eye? And will the truth finally come out in the end?

Woven into this are four actual traditional Russian fairy tales including one which was the root of a ballet called The Firebird which was composed by Igor Stravinsky.

Set out in picture book format it features tonnes of beautifully vivid sketch like illustrations. The language is also beautiful and reflective of a really intelligent style of writing. At a length of 79 pages which can be quite text heavy it isn't to be taken lightly. In fact I personally wouldn't let a child under 8 read it unless they were an avid reader. It might simply put them off with the small print and large amounts of text.

It is well worth a read though, and it gives us a warm impression of tales that would've been told around the fire. The tales are well woven into the fabric of the main story and had it not been for the author's notes at the back of the book I would never have known which stories were genuine tales and which were the author's inventions.

Book 45 of 52 and my book from a different culture, this is my choice this week. Now time to rest again!

Book Title: The Kingfisher Book of Tales from Russia.
Author and Illustrator: James Mayhew
Pages: 79
Published: 1993
Suitable for: children aged 8 and up
Interesting words: weave, hurled, flickered, spluttered, mighty, beloved

Going it alone

I found this particular topic quite interesting this week as it involved a little detective work. I had to look up a book that was self published and couldn't quite believe one of the first titles that came up.

Having sold over 45 million copies world wide and been responsible for a recent big budget movie this was the last thing I was expecting to see. Okay maybe not the last thing but somewhere close to it.

The tale of Peter Rabbit is about a mischievous little bunny who ignores his mother's advice one morning and winds up sneaking into the garden of Mr McGregor, who chases him about and tries to catch him. Unlike his obedient sisters who spend the day picking fruit Peter ends up having an adventure which almost leaves him following the same fate as his poor father (who gets served in a pie). Fortunately for our young explorer he manages to escape the farmer's clutches goes home only for mother to serve him tea and put him to bed.

I don't know what it is about this book that makes it so alluring. The words are well chosen, I feel like I'm being read the story by Mary Poppins when I read it. I can just hear the voice in my head with it's gentle, yet no nonsense tone. The vocabulary isn't too difficult but definitely shows signs of the time it was written in. There are certain words which sound archaic.

I feel like it has more to do with the beautifully drawn illustrations, which walk that fine line between realism and cartoon cute with aplomb. It is 47 pages of quaint charm which draws a smile with every page.

Hard to believe that in 1901 it's author, Beatrix Potter could not get this published for love nor money. An educated and established woman in her own right, she ended up spending cash of her own to self publish this. It wouldn't be picked up by a publisher for another year. But published it was and that is a great relief, because it went on to change Potter's entire career, allowing her to become a major children's author. With money raised from her book sales she bought and preserved large areas of land in the lake district which are now cared for by the National Trust.

So thank goodness to the man who decided to take a chance on it, he's helped change Potter's career, save vast areas of natural beauty and my blog!

A self published book, this is number 44 of my 52 book list!

Book title: The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Author and Illustrator: Beatrix Potter
Pages:47
Published: 1901 (self) 1902 (officially)
Suitable for: children aged 4 and up
Interesting words: dreadfully, implored, exert

The Flatness of Stanley

Another slight cop out this week. In fairness there is a solid reason for it. I'm currently deep into a massive novel at the moment which I will be blogging about when I get it finished. It is a book weeks in the reading, not because of it's length so much as it's very deep philosophical content. It is less like a book and more like a series of life lessons. And for me life lessons aren't learnt in an hour or two: they take time and patience to digest.

But with that book swallowing most of my available time this week it was no surprise when I woke up this morning realising once again that I wasn't blog ready. So I spouted my favourite catch phrase:
"to the library!"

I ventured to the public library in town and whilst there picked up a few choice books, including this one.

The Flat Stanley series is well known to me having been recommended by several in-the-know people who've claimed that it's an excellent starter for independent readers. One that stimulates children without overly taxing them.
I can't say that I entirely agree but then I'll be the first person to hold my hands up and say that books for 5-8 year olds aren't my forte. Anyway, since I hadn't read anything suited to that age range for a while I thought, what the hey? It's simple, not too long and an easy read; which meant more time to dive back into my more challenging text! A win win win!

This series is about Stanley, a boy who in a previous  (his first) adventure was flattened like a pancake. Being no thicker than a sheet of paper he can use his new found thinness and flexibility to do all sorts of amazing things.

In this particular story his younger brother Arthur wins a contest run by his favourite cereal company to go to Australia for a visit. Both Arthur and Stanley go off on an adventure, leaving their poor parents behind and going with the head of the cereal company and his assistants. Whilst on the flight the charming company head guy tells them of the time he lost his brother in the outback, who he never saw again.

So Arthur and Stanley get out to Australia and have a grand old time until disaster strikes and Stanley gets lost thousands of miles from anywhere in the middle of the outback. What follows is an adventure with a pleasantly warm surprise ending.

The language is not at all challenging or complex and at only 112 pages it really is a quick and easy read. The illustrations are all in black and white which is quite nice. It is clearly a book for children who are just leaving the home reading books behind. Those lovely emerging readers who can be any age from 4-8.

I wouldn't recommend it for older children unless they are still learning to read. Even then it might seem a bit tame for them.

Otherwise, it's a quaint little read and I can see why it appeals to children (girls and boys) of that age group.

With brief descriptions of Ayers Rock, the Sydney Opera House and the outback it does do a little to set the scene but don't go expecting a massive history of the country or detailed explanation of the culture out there. Still though, it's set in a country I've never been to and I'll take that happily as one of my reading missions!

You'd think with this being the half term I'd have taken on a bigger challenge but oh well! I'll save that for next week!

This is book 43 out of my 52 book list and a book set in a country I've never been to.

Title: Flat Stanley and The Australian Boomerang Bonanza
Author: Josh Greenhut
Illustrator: Jeff Brown
Pages: 112
Published: 2015
Suitable for: children aged 4-8
Interesting words: trudged, trekked, bulletin, thawed, bustling

The answer is elementary

So this week was far easier, mainly because I'd read most of this book last week! A great head start if ever there was one. It was much needed. This week has been manic and frankly I'm relieved to see the start of the school holidays!

So what did I indulge in? The answer is a case of simple deduction. Which famous fictional sleuth has been responsible for over 25,000 Holmes-related productions and products* (by the way the clue is in the name)? Why, it is none other than the legendary Sherlock Holmes.

Originally written in a serialised format for the Strand Magazine in 1887; the no nonsense, slightly off centred, sociopathic Sherlock was an instant hit. Adored by thousands of readers almost as much as his more human fictional counterpart John Watson. The stories have had an influence on most modern detective stories to date not the least of which was one Hercule Poirot.

Of course, the adaptations have been many. One of my favourites being 'Without a Clue' - an underrated gem of an 80's film starring Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine where Sherlock is a half wit actor playing a role created by Watson, the real genius.

 Another being the hugely popular recent Sherlock series created by Steven Moffatt and Mark Gattis. This series puts the action in the modern day and features incredible performances from Martin Freeman, Benedict Cumberbatch and Andrew Scott.

Even the address that he was supposed to live at - 221b Baker Street - didn't exist until popularity with the general public forced council members to create a space for it on the street itself. Imagine that, a whole address created because of the fame of one single character.
So the book I've been reading contains a series of short stories that have been collected together in one 'short story book' format.

Cases include 'The Adventure of the Speckled Band' (quite possibly my favourite one), 'The Musgrave Ritual' and 'Silver Blaze'. Each story is between 25 and 40 pages long, which is ideal when you want to read something quick and fairly easy to get through. The language hasn't been totally changed, which can often happen with updates and newer adaptations. This allows for a beautifully rich variety of vocabulary.
In my mind it would be ideal for children aged 9 and over who are looking for something stimulating and challenging, there's no real content that would bother them (it's not graphic or gross) but they'd need to be fluent readers with a good grasp of language.
At an overall length of around 290 pages (this including the excellent introduction and additional supporting activities at the end) it was actually a fairly easy and very enjoyable read.
Right, now I'm off to go and find me deerstalker!

Book 42 of my 52 book list and my book of short stories.

*quote taken from Wikipedia.

Title: The Extraordinary Cases of Sherlock Holmes.
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Published: *this edition 1988*
Pages: 290
Suitable for: fluent readers aged 9 and up who need a challenge.
Interesting words: sinister, tremor, distorted, elaborate.

Zoo Troubles

This is my confession, this week's entry is a total cop out. I've literally just rush written this after pulling the book off of my son's shelf and reading it NOT TEN MINUTES AGO. How funny that, as I sit here typing furiously to get this done before midnight - whilst listening to my family's hamster running full pelt across the living room floor - the first picture I open this book on is an image of a miserable looking hamster in a cage.
More fitting still is the subject of this book, given that my recent weeks have been completely dominated by a massive project that I've undertaken with the local zoo (one of the best zoos if not THE best zoo in the country I think).

Anyway, I had been desperately trying to work my way through a much thicker text today after not being able to devote time to reading this week (shame on me). But it got to around quarter to eleven before I thought I needed a rethink.
So I plucked this off of the shelf and just so happened to notice it had won an award. The Kate Greenway Medal, given out in recognition of outstanding illustration. It is well deserved. After all how can you argue with a book that allows it's climactic scene to be wordless with an illustration as devastatingly detailed as this?

The book follows a typical family of four, mum, dad, two brothers on a day out to the zoo. Told from the perspective of the older brother it takes us through the events of the day.
But the illustrations coupled with certain choice words and phrases cause us to examine things from an upside down perspective as we start to ask who the real animals are. From the outset there are illustrations that make us quesiton the people, like the man in the ticket office with a meerkat snarl. Or the picture of dad with the perfectly placed bull horn clouds behind him further on.

The animals in their enclosures look completely despondent, forcing us to wonder if the zoo is the best place for them. But quite possibly the most pressing question we're forced to ponder is the one where we ask (after listening to the children moan about being hungry and saying that their favourite bits had nothing to do with actually seeing animals) who does the zoo really benefit? Not the children clearly from the message that this book is sending. Not the parents either who are hard pushed to pay the entrance fee let alone all the extras that come with it. And certainly not the poor animals who are being gawped at whilst shut in their closed spaces. 

While I'm not sure I agree with some of the messages that this book gives out, I do like the fact that it makes you stop and consider. In fact by the time you read the last lines of the book you come away with a feeling of being unsettled. 

"That night I had a very strange dream." says the little boy, as we are made to look at him sitting, head in his knees with sorrow in a room behind bars. "Do you think animals have dreams?" 

At 24 pages it is hardly an arduous read, the language is very basic but gets away with that due to the perspective it's coming from and the fact that the illustrations do a lot of speaking of their own. There are clever moments in the book though. One in particular where Dad cracks a joke and it's followed by the beautiful honest irony of the son's response "Everyone laughed except Mum and Harry and me." 

I've been in Dad's shoes! The only one laughing at my own jokes! 

I'd recommend it to anyone from nursery up as it's a beautiful easy read. 

Book 41 of my 52 book list and my award winning book. Aptly timed but an honest cop out as it was such an obvious and easy choice! 

Book Title: Zoo
Author: Anthony Browne
Illustrator: Anthony Browne
Pages: 24
Published:1992
Suitable for: any child aged 3 and up
Interesting words: embarrassing, starving, interesting, remind

A Poem of Epic Proportions!

A few months ago I began a great journey,
a mission from which nothing could disturb me.
It was an adventure of epic proportion,
my goals were quite clear, there would be no distortion.

My challenge was one book a week to be read
and to save people thinking it was in my head
I had to post one weekly blog of review,
only when I could scrounge a moment or two.

Each book was to fit a topic proposed
and each single week a challenge was posed.
But the single most challenging hill by a mile
was that all of these books must be fit for a child.

Now I won't tell a lie, some books were quite easy,
at first the whole mission did nothing but please me.
But as time wore on and the topics grew stranger
I discovered I could be in terrible danger

of giving it all up and calling it quits
because forcing time was a struggle to fit.
Though struggle I did and most books overcome
until I then found the most difficult one!

One of the topics was an epic poem.
'That's easy' I thought, though I did not know them.
My husband was quick to teach me a lesson.
"An epic poem my dear is no less than

a poem that can be the length of a play.
It's not something you can just read in a day."
I asked for examples, of which he found four
by Homer and Milton and viking folklore.

I sighed with dejection, so hard was the task.
"Where do I find the kids' versions?" I asked.

Then one sunny day in the middle of June
I turned up a book that made my heart swoon.
Inside a museum there perched on a shelf
was a copy of Beowulf sat all by itself!

The problem I faced was that I couldn't buy it
and for four more months I scrambled to find it.
For what was it's dual single blessing and curse?
It was the sole kids version written in VERSE!

Roll round to October and something so pleasant
I received a copy as a birthday present!
Sent from my sister who's not one to fail ya
she got the book in all the way from Australia!

A beautiful picture book, vibrant and bold,
which starts as a bedtime story that's told
by a Dad to his son as he drifts off to sleep
with stories left deep in his mind there to keep.

And lo and behold the young boy takes centre
of his father's stories through which he did enter.
The stories of Beowulf the strong, big and brave
who fells two great monsters (one while in her cave)!

He then goes to battle a fiery dragon
and says to his people "don't worry I'll have him."
Although he wins an incredible fight
he tragically dies  of a poisonous bite.

The pictures are detailed, the language sublime,
the vocab quite tough to fit into a rhyme.
Though fit the words do, the author should be proud
as this book is a pure joy to read through out loud.

So thanks Oakley Graham for a job well done.
For kids' epic poems yours is the sole one.
And I didn't quite realise until tonight
how hard epic poetry can be to write!

Now here is my effort, a one not too tawdry,
on my year long book list this book is book 40!!!!!

Book Title: Beowulf the Brave
Author: Graham Oakley
Illustrator: Emi Ordas
Pages: 22
Suitable for: Children aged 4 and upwards
Interesting words: brawl, hideous, slain, knave

Love's Labours Lost

I was hoping to save this for a more appropriate time. However there are times when life delights in reminding you that there's no time like the present. So here we are, with a post that I might well regret one day, or not: we shall see.
What is love? Any of you now singing the lyrics to the song by Haddaway are showing your age! Love is a lot of different things to a lot of different people. It can all depend on where you are in your life.
I personally believe that love is two separate entities: the magical and the physical. Magical love is that phase we all go through at the start of any relationship. The romance, tenderness, obsessive yearning, vibrancy and passion that comes with every fresh discovery on your joint journey. It's a thing so precious and fragile that it's easy to watch it vanish as reality and routine kicks in.
Fast forward a few years and that magical love you have for your partner transforms into something much more tangible. So gritty in fact that you sometimes wonder if it's even there at all. It's there though, look closely, dig deep and you will find it.
It's in that tired smile he gives when he offers to put the kids to bed after a ten hour shift because he can see she's been with them all day. It's in the way she gets excited when he takes her to a concert in spite of the fact that she can't stand his taste in music, which they're about to go and hear. In the smile and the cuddle he gives her while she cries her eyes out and leaks snot all over his shoulder. Or in the way she tries to hold back a moan because he's going on about football and she knows it makes him happy.
Or maybe it's in the book that he goes out of his way to pick for her for Christmas. The one that he's specifically picked because her obsession with her career forced him to up his game and buy her the perfect text. The book that, sadly whilst hankering after this magical, mystical love  she's been missing she's ignored for ten whole months.

Now allow me to digress in order to express a very strong personal opinion. Love Can be either magical or physical, but it is ALWAYS a two way street. You may feel love for someone who doesn't love you back (and my heart goes out to you if you do). You may feel like it's the most intense emotion you've ever had in your life. But it's fantasy, it's visions and expectations that you've built up that will come crashing down around you once you realise they simply can't be met. 

Don't blame the person who doesn't love you either, it's not thier fault. Just allow yourself to let them go with love while you pick yourself up and move on. 

Proper love takes work on both sides, it's not effortless. And when you feel like your love is being taken for granted, all you can do is speak your heart and remind yourself that they work hard for you cos they think you're worth an effort. It might not all be sunshine and rainbows but you keep working for them, they keep working for you and somehow you both get through. 

Any relationship, friendship, partnership, involves both parties doing their best for each other. The moment one or the other stops the love dies and it can be really difficult to resurrect. 

Like the words at the heart of this book 'The Lost Words'. A poetry book aimed at reintroducing lost words into the public consciousness. 

It features a series of acrostic poems that revolve around the natural world. It's entire purpose is to create awareness and encourage people to learn more about the nature around them.
Set out as spells it tries to turn the real into magical, invoking imagery of a lost, mystical world of wonder.

The poems are interspersed with gorgeous pages of illustrations which add to the book's magic. The language is rich and diverse, the illustrations, detailed and dynamic. It is a beautiful combination of text and colour that the reader can wallow in for hours. 

Since poetry is not my strong suit I won't pretend I can fully analyse it. But I do know that the poem about conkers struck a real chord with me, instantly transporting me back to warm autumn nights in my childhood, conker picking with my siblings and friends. 

The subject content is suitable for everyone but I wouldn't use it with children any younger than 8 because of the vocabulary. 

The illustrations should be shown off to any children though. They are simply wonderful, warm with rich golden colours. 

This is book 39 of my 52 book list and my chosen poetry book. And if one day I do run out of love because things stop working, I can look at this and say that there was once love there. And that I tried, just like the people behind this book have. 

Book Title: The Lost Words
Author: Robert McFarlane
Illustrator: Jackie Morris
Pages: 128
Published: 2017
Suitable for: children aged 8 upwards ideally
Interesting words: conjuring, flit, sphere, glint, billow.

The Right Time to Grow up

I'm a big kid, I don't deny it: in fact I strut about happily boasting it for all to hear. My head is a sheltered realm which allows me to float off into daydreams or blurt out immature jokes at a moment's notice. It doesn't reflect on issues of the world or allow me to indulge in genial, typical conversation. Instead it chooses to keep me young by selfishly adhering to it's own closed in bubble.

My heart is the same, it delights in things that make it feel young. Weight of any kind can only be endured and carried for so long before it explodes from me, bursting out and being passed on to the nearest people faster than a burning lump of coal.
I enjoy leading yet loathe the responsibility that comes with it. I hate any kind of responsibility or decision making. I give that up to others as soon as it lands in my lap. Don't now confuse responsibility with honest hard work: I'm far from lazy. I am happy, more than happy to take on any jobs given to me and I'll always do them to the very best of my ability.
But ask me to decide, delegate or shepherd and I can't handle it. I'd much rather work with people than over them or under them. I suppose that's one of the many reasons why I have prided myself for years on comparing me to the principal character of this week's book.

"All children, except one, grow up."

An opening line of such potency that it is still clearly recognisable 107 years later. For those that might not know it, this is the first line from 'Peter and Wendy', better known these days as 'Peter Pan'.

Peter Pan as a character first made an appearance in 'The Little White Bird', an adult novel written by Scottish author and playwright J.M. Barrie. Not done with the character of Pan, Barrie featured him at the centre of a stage play in 1904 entitled 'Peter Pan' or 'The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up'. Such was the appeal of the story that it was then adapted to the novel we all know and love, which was first published in 1911.

The story revolves around the three Darling children: Wendy, John and Michael, who one night encounter a young boy named Peter Pan. Peter literally flies into their world, coming into their bedroom with his trusted fairy friend Tinkerbell to search for his missing shadow. It is returned to him and there's an exchange of gifts given as 'kisses' (an adorable scene in which thimbles and kisses get somewhat confused)!

Lured in by Peter's charismatic charm (not to mention his ability to fly) the children run away with him to the magical world of Neverland, a place that has existed in their dreams for ages and that suddenly appears as glorious reality. There are wild animals, redskins, mermaids and even pirates! It sounds like an adventure paradise!

But the children are soon confronted with the fact that a world of daydreams made real isn't always a good thing. Reality and fantasy are very, VERY different.

Wendy takes on the role of mother, not just to Peter, John and Micheal but also to Peter's crew of lost boys (all 6 of them). She must face the responsibility of caring for all 9 boys whilst struggling to remember her own parents and dealing with conflict from a petty, jealous Tinkerbell who is competing for Peter's affections. But there is one reality that is far scarier than playing at good housekeeping and that is dealing with pirates.

The pirates, led by the ruthless Captain James Hook, have a serious score to settle after Peter (in a previous encounter) cuts off Hook's hand and feeds it to a hungry crocodile. Curiously, the crocodile also eats a working clock, so Hook can always hear it coming and thus, is able to evade it for most of the story.

So the pirates hunt the lost boys and the crocodile hunts Captain Hook, eager to finish it's meal. Things go well for the children at first, all of whom ran away from their lives in the real world and none of whom really remember it. Life carries on quite happily until a clever plan of Hook's comes with devastating consequences.

The book is awash with universally relatable themes that all revolve around growing up. There are so many that, for ease I've simply bullet pointed a few:

• our paths and what we will become - as in Wendy leaving the nursery to become the boys' mother
• our fears of being constrained to a life of drudgery - Peter runs away from home after hearing what his parents think she should do when he grows up
• anxiety - Wendy's failing attempts to keep her parents' memory alive for her brothers as the guilt of taking them from home starts to consume her
• regret and remorse - set out in a chapter that is harrowing for parents to read, a chapter where we see Mr and Mrs Darling's heartbreak over losing their children (if only they had done things differently)
• rejection - we learn through Peter's tragic tale of returning to his home only to find his windows barred and him quite forgotten by his own mother! 
• atonement - seen in Tinkerbell's gallant self sacrifice
• faith and belief - well, do you believe in fairies? 

But perhaps the most important theme, the one that I could spend an age prattling on about is TIME. All through the book we are confronted with symbolism and imagery related to the fear of time. The most notable of course being the very real sound of the 'tick tock croc'. 

Both Peter and Hook are terrified of time. Peter fears it because with it he stands to lose everything, especially his youth which would then make him have to be responsible. He 'thins out' (which I took to mean kills off) lost boys if they grow too much. I read this to my complete horror in chapter 4. 

Hook fears it because, for him it comes with something inevitable that he can not escape no matter how hard he tries: that thing being death. This is why, bloodthirsty as he is we can still find some underlying sympathy with Hook's character. 

There is not a major character in the story that I don't strongly identify with. Even Wendy, who like so many loves the fun of having children but not so much the chore of raising them. I'll hold my hand up and admit that raising children isn't the easiest job in the world. For me it's just one that is so worth doing as there is so much love to be shared. 

Barrie's style of writing doesn't actually reflect it's time: it's rather ahead of it. Very short and to the point it talks to us as though it's being narrated rather than written. The vocabulary however is a definite indicator of age. There are also references that in today's world would certainly be considered to be offensive. The story could be read and analysed in a million different ways.  You could write an entire thesis on it and still feel like you haven't said enough! 

It's the ideas on the struggle to hold on to our youth and innocence that still resonate to this day. Take this quote from chapter 5: 

" 'Some day' said Smee 'the clock will run down and then he'll get you.' 

'Ay,' he (Hook) said 'that's the fear that haunts me.' "

There are very few people who have never felt the pressing of time ticking in their ears. 

This theme is so genuine and it shines through the entire book. You can tell that it is rooted in the author's own tragic real life experiences. It is a beautiful fact to note that he donated the rights to Peter Pan to London's Great Ormond Street children's hospital, who still own them today. 

At the heart of this story is a message to all, we can not out run time. It will come for all of us, for every second we age is a second irretrievably lost. But there is hope, keep young in mind and heart and at least, while you age you'll have an adventure. For what is growing up if not the greatest adventure we can have? 

Book 38 out of my 52, a book published more than 100 years ago and a beautiful example that, while we may not live forever our ideas and adventures can! 

Book Title: Peter and Wendy
Author: J.M Barrie
Pages: 289 (approximately)
First published:1911
Suitable for: children of all ages - there are versions of the story suitable for nursery children upwards
Interesting words:  ardently, fastidious, formidable, swarthy, plaintive, aghast, amicably, aloof, cadaverous, quixotic, miasma, repute, indomitable

How Graphic is your Novel?

I'm going to let you all in on a little secret, something that I rarely share with anybody: I hate graphic novels. There I said it. I'm fortunate that I have a broad minded family. Living with three guys, okay 1 grown man and 2 young men was bound to open my mind a little.

But there are two regular topics of conversation at home that I yawn at quite often: football and comics. At least I suppose that with comics I take a general interest. I want to know the story behind the creation of 'Watchmen' or why 'The Killing Joke' has such an incredible reputation. I love how Asterix needs a drink to give him super strength - sorry Popeye spinach doesn't quite cut it - and I have a lot of time for the occasionally acerbic humour of Peanuts! Bless Charlie Brown has qualities I find in myself all the time! 

I hail the genius of comics that have spawned entire movie or television franchises. One of my favourite television shows of the past decade is based on a graphic novel series about the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse (cough, cough, Rick Grimes rules)! Early this year I stumbled across a graphic novel series that utterly blew me away - Deathnote - a series that asks the question, what would you do if the power to control death was in your hands?

And while I'm here let me not forget the brilliant books by Brian Selznick (The Adventures of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck) that blur the lines between comic, novel and graphic novel with such style and grace that the illustrations stay in your mind for ages!

By and large however, I can't stand graphic novels. I struggle to follow the boxed off, random word bubble format that most graphic novels follow. I find them bitty, hard to digest and confusing at best.

This week I needed something that would tick the graphic novel box whilst also being easy on the eye and not too difficult to follow. Hello book adaptation!

I was recently discussing the Twilight book series with a colleague at work. I expressed my extreme disdain for a wimpy looking vampire who gets blingy in the sunlight (really Miss Meyer?). 

Inspite of my blatant dislike of Edward's obvious physical flaw I couldn't argue against how much those books (and their subsequent movies) had made an impact on my life. New Moon was far and away my favourite of the series, it being a mixture of both Wuthering Heights and Romeo and Juliet (sigh). 

I devoured the books, totally lost in their magic. I watched the films over and over. I was even one of those twi hards who saw all of the films back to back in a cinema movie marathon. Oh yeah, I lapped it up. 

Upon spotting this adaptation in my library I was instantly struck by how painfully beautiful Bella looked. I read it through VERY quickly, reaching the book's end and realising to my abject horror that they'd broken the book into two graphic novels ( I should've checked the cover properly first haha). I've never loathed the words 'to be continued' so much! And that's with me knowing how the story ends! 

Suffice it to say that the book was a very easy read. Pure pulp, much like the original books themselves. Nothing to really stretch the vocabulary or the intellect. But then pulp isn't something to be vilified. As readers it shouldn't be our secret guilty pleasure. It's something that allows us every now and then to just drift into another world without taxing our brains too much. I personally think that is something to be celebrated, especially as it gets people doing what other books might not do, which is read. 

As a mother and an educator I want children to know about the beautiful variety of books out there. But if they keep returning to a particular author or series then I will certainly not stop them from reading something that they love. That would be like denying them food just so they can try the many different fruit flavours of water! 

The illustrations in the book are stunning! All black and white with splashes for colour to ram home specific events in the story. The colour of vampire Victoria's hair is so vividly red that I'm almost tempted to see if I can go out and replicate it! 

For those who've done well enough to avoid the series completely I will try to break the plot of this book down. Bella (very young human) is in love with Edward (young but not young veggie vampire). Edward and his vampire family hunt animals instead of humans to quench their thirst and appease their moral consciences. Bella is desperate to join their ranks. Edward is having none of it. They simply love each other too much to do what needs to be done which is respect each other's wishes. 

When Edward one day tells her that he never really loved her and he and his family up sticks and leave without a trace, he sets in motion a chain of events that sees Bella's increasing desperation lead to tragic consequences. Throw in a ridiculously handsome (my good gravy he was fit) werewolf Jacob who also has feelings for Bella and you've got a recipe for pure disaster! 

It's a great book, but if you're not too keen on spending the time reading the full novel, this version enables you to take in the plot quickly and easily. At around 250 pages (not exact as it wasn't numbered) it was exactly what I was looking for this week. Hmmm, think my boxsets might be hanging around somewhere! 

This is book is book 37 of my 52 book list and my graphic novel. 

Title: New Moon The Graphic Novel Volume 1
Author: Stephanie Meyer
Illustrator: Young Kim
Published: 2013
Pages: 250 (approximately)
Suitable for: children aged 11 and up (maybe 12, depends on your view of vampire romance!)
Interesting words: scattered, reckless, reared 

Coping with the world's end

Before I do anything else I'm going to take a moment to talk about routine and how it can be a blessing and a curse. I've touched on this subject before but with me returning to work after the summer holidays I found myself mulling it over once again. This week I strived to encourage friends and family in the education sector not to give up on books simply because the grueling routines were back. I'm passionate about making time for reading no matter how hard that might be.
But that's the funny thing about advice, it's easy to offer / tough to take.
I haven't read a thing all week.

That's not to say my week has been overly difficult, it's had a couple of challenges but it's had some beautiful moments too. But the hectic pace had left me exhausted and by yesterday, when a health complaint of mine reared it's ugly head again I'd just about given up on everything. I was simply in one of those moods where I was feeling lethargic and unable to even focus on the simple task of reading much less anything else.

This morning arrived with me still feeling poorly and sorry for myself, I reached a dismal acceptance. My blog would not get done this week. I'd failed at the one thing I was desperate to see finished.
Now it's at this point I have to relate a valuable yet painful lesson that I've been learning for the past few years (it's a life lesson that, to be fair to me, some people never learn). This lesson is this: 'don't expect the world to come and bail you out when things are at crisis point'. I woke up this morning miserable, praying that someone or something would make me happy, just as I've done many times before. But happiness isn't something that comes from others. Why should I put that pressure on the world around me? My loved ones don't deserve it, after all they're just trying to get on with their own lives and be who they are.

No, happiness is what I make it. To get through today I would have to turn inwards, summon every ounce of inner strength and work on improving myself and my situation in the hope that I could make myself happy. As the saying goes, heaven helps those who help themselves (forgive me if I've got that saying wrong).
Now another thing I've come steadily to believe more and more is that, if you've love in your heart and the will to keep trying, the universe will have your back. It's a personal belief that has grown dearer and dearer to me as I've grown emotionally. It's important to keep love in your heart, love for others, for the world and most importantly self love. How can I expect others to prop me up if I can not love and support myself?

So with both my lesson and my faith in mind this morning I faced the end of my blog world by systematically going through my 'to read' pile and cross referencing it with the dwindling list of challenges left to me.

Then there it was, a book chosen not for the challenge at all but as an extra to read because I'm a fan of the author. I honestly sat staring at it for a moment, a book that I'd chosen purely out of self love which served no purpose other than to be something of a joy for me to read.
A book that by a startling coincidence could easily be used to fill not one, or two, but three separate challenges on my list!!!! And it was one I wanted to read desperately! Thanks universe!

The author, Geraldine McCaughrean first came to my attention with her officially recognised sequel to the legendary story of Peter and Wendy  by J.M Barrie. She won the right to create a sequel to the J.M. Barrie's original in a centenary competition and her book 'Peter Pan in Scarlet' did not disappoint, selling over 30, 000 copies of it's initial release and then being translated into 37 different languages.

That however, is not the story I sat down to read today. Why am I holding off before revealing the title of the book? Well because this was my very first self pitying thought when it occurred to me that I wouldn't get my blog finished.

Where the World Ends is based on a true story that sadly has very little in terms of fact to go off (due to the age of the story and lack of evidence behind it). But happen it did and that lends it a tangible dramatic grit that many fictional stories, no matter how incredible, can lack.

It is set in 1727 around the island of St Kilda, part of an archipelago way out past the island of Skye in the north west of Scotland. To be more specific the entire story focuses on a group of three men and nine boys who sail out from the island to the local (I use that term loosely) island stacs where they perform the yearly duty of killing and harvesting birds and wildlife for the purpose of food, trade and so on. Every year a group will venture out to the warrior stac and remain there for up to three weeks while they wait for their kin to come and collect them.

Only in this particular summer three weeks become five, then seven and it doesn't take long for the group to realise that they are stranded out on this stac with no help coming to them. Thus begins a struggle for survival and hope for deliverance from their fate. They have the solid fears of isolation, possible starvation, and lack of equipment to contend with and lets not forget the big two demons, inner rivalry and insanity. As time goes on cracks in the group begin to widen, particularly when one of them announces that he's seen the end of days and that really, they've been left stranded in the world by the angels who've rounded everyone else up for judgement.

Quill, the book's central character does an epic job of holding things together, telling stories to the younger boys to keep their minds active, even comforting the older men who break when they succumb to the harsh reality of the fact that no one will come to their rescue. What follows is a tumultuous existence, the group battling the elements and each other as the story winds up to a cataclysmic and tragic conclusion.

The book has it's obvious villains, the sanctimonious Col Cane who thinks he's in touch with God himself and the biggest boy, bully Kenneth who works to make others' lives a misery. But really they're small dramas when compared with the mammoth efforts of the boys to remember their own identities and their places in the world. Hope, faith and determination are the biggest emotions in play here, emotions I felt echoed in my soul as I raced to read the book from start to finish. I have promised myself that now it's served a purpose I'll read it again and take my time, just to savour it properly.

It's 336 pages are split into chapters of varying length which is based largely on the books pace, the biggest of the chapters are in the middle section of the book. The language is fantastic I found myself dashing to grab a notepad to write down quotes! It's hard not to pick up on a visceral piece of imagery such as this:

"The August dawns sliced their way clearly through the horizon."

or better still this:

"Remembered pictures are like water, the harder you try to hold on to them, the more surely they run away... ...it is unbearable to lose the memory of a face."

or how about this?

"After the world ends, only music and love will survive." Sigh! How romantic!!!

But the staggering thing that marks this book out is the vocabulary! I like to pride myself on being a bit of a wordsmith, but when I find myself reaching for the dictionary or calling lazily out to my husband in another room to check on the meaning of words every few mintues then I know I've been sufficiently challenged! Younger readers might struggle with the language altogether as the combination of extremely varied vocabulary and occasional rural speech might be tough. I'd encourage those who find it a chore to persevere.

There is the very rare use of a swear word and several hints at things that might be deemed inappropriate for younger readers too. I'd personally recommend it to readers aged 11 and up. Though I'd certainly encourage teachers to read it to younger classes if they don't mind skipping one or two words or scenes (I know this might lose some of the flavour of the book but better that then not to share it at all).

Quill's journey through this story and his growth from boyhood into manhood is a deeply emotional one, his faith and love at times being all that stands between life and death. He is every inch the hero of the story, his fortitude providing a rock of shelter for all others, even though he somehow manages to feel responsible for things that go wrong. Guilt is just one of the many burdens he carries, until he is so haunted by his demons that it's clear he will never be the same again. Most importantly, the book stresses his need to depend on himself to get through, as none of the others in the group could carry the weight that he has to. But that doesn't stop them from coming to his aid, so when he needs to work alone he does, but he also is wise enough to take help when it's offered.

I can learn a lesson from him. Now to move forward with that love in my heart, inner fortitude and clearer approach to getting this blog done!

This is book 36 of my 52 book list and an inspirational work of fiction based upon a true story.

Book Title: Where the World Ends

Author: Geraldine McCaughrean

Published: 2018

Pages:336

Suitable for: children aged 11 upwards

Interesting words: remnants, sumptuous, manse, stolid, belligerent, sanctimonious, ineffable, concatenation, cleits, I could go on and on! 

Something lurking in the water

Horror, its an overwhelming concept: something so broad in scale and yet so singular in terms of our own personal taste. We all know instinctively what scares us. That thing that junps out of the shadows without warning, the hideous,unamable creature who's repulsive physiognomy we can't distinguish, or the monster lurking just behind the door patiently waiting for an ignorant human to cross the threshold.
We all have those specific little things that scare us senseless.

We're known to glorify them, even challenge ourselves to see just how much horror we can tolerate. One of last year's biggest selling cinema releases was a second  film adaptation of a 1980s' horror novel.  I myself being deathly afraid of spiders have attempted to watch Arachnophobia on at least 3 seperats occasions. It was thanks to the stubbornness of my husband and sister that got me through it.
What causes these fears? Is it something that stems from childhood? Was I once bitten by a patheticially non-radioactive spider when I was a little girl? I know my fear and fascination with zombies is rooted in being shut in a darkened room with Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' on the telly (thanks again to my little sister). There's nothing like the sunken eyes of zombie Jackson and the chilling voice of Vincent Price to inspire fear!
Anyway, I digress, as I say most of us are scared of something (I can hear somebody saying "I'm not" just to be different - jog on showoff)!
Me? I've always known what scares me. I've been a massive fan of Stephen King since the tender age of 11 - I read 'It' way too young.

Before I cover this week's chosen book I have to give credit to the children's book series that turned my son from a reluctant reader into an avid one. It has sold more than 350 million copies worldwide, which is eerily as many as Stephen King has sold himself. I refer of course to the Goosebumps series written by R.L. Stine (often hailed as the Stephen King for kids). These books filled a much of ignored gap in the market, allowing children to delight in scaring themselves through the medium of reading. They've been adapted into a long standing t.v. series and 2 Hollywood movies on top of generating all kinds of merchandise. Well Well played Mr Stine, thank you for allowing my youngest son a more natural build up to the works of adult horror and for getting him to read in the first place!

I'll take care to mention that I've used the word ignorant a fair bit in this blog post. My usage has been intentional. In fact it is the subject of ignorance that led to my choice of book this week.
Many months ago my husband gave me a newspaper article that he thought might pique my interest. I looked briefly at it, acknowledged his effort with a thank you, placed the article on my desk and got on with my day. It was three whole weeks before I even looked at it again. When I read it I realised it was all about book recommendations. I applauded myself on knowing a couple of the titles (yay me) but then came across a book series that intrigued me. Bookshops were a bust but the local library had one copy of the series' second installment.

 The cover appeared distinctly unremarkable. I spent some time wondering who in the world of journalism had lost their wits so completely that they'd tout it as a great read. The blurb redeemed it a little, but not enough for me to want to read it immediately. So it sat on the top of my 'to read' pile for months. I kid you not, it's incurred the maximum charge from the library. Last week I was traveling to London and I picked it up on a whim as I needed something to tide me over on the train.
Pike centres around Nicky, a young boy who lives at home with his single father and older brother Kenny. Kenny has clear mental and emotional needs but at no point are we ever really told what those needs are. In that respect we're left to do a little detective work.
One day, while the two boys are out with their dog on a fishing trip at Bacon Pond Nicky discovers something. After Nicky has to swim out and rescue the struggling dog he sees something he simply can't understand, something strange and very very wrong: a gold rolex attached to a dismembered hand which is partly attached to...
...well Nicky knows, you'll just have to read more to find out!

Desperate to improve their financial situation Nicky decides he has to retrieve this watch, it could provide his family with much needed cash. But the waters of Bacon Pond are dangerous. Stories of the omnivorous pike have spread through the town like wildfire. As if to ram the point home, Nicky is forced to out swim them when he swims out to rescue his dog in that very first chapter.
The pike are not the only threat. The town's local gangster is on the loose, with some scores to settle, particularly after the disappearance of his father. Will the gangster seek retribution against Nicky and his family? What happens to the several major characters that have just plain vanished (characters which include Nicky's mum)? Who is the mysterious stranger that skulks around the pond at random hours of the day? And what the hell is lurking deep down in that murky water?
Well, where do I start? The book itself is only 127 pages long, an easy read for reluctant readers. Written in the first person, the language used is every inch the reflection of the book's main character. This leads to a beautiful feeling of gritty realism, the only negative being the fact that this child swears a lot (yes, I'm well aware most boys his age do).
It won't stretch young readers in terms of vocabulary but the plot will at least hook them and get them reading. While I wouldn't ordinarily class it as a horror it does use a tool that most horror movies and books have sadly forgotten: the tool of suspense.
The first chapter throws a well timed shock your way, before the next couple lull you into a false sense of security while you get to know the characters. When the next intense scary chapter arrives the reader is a little unprepared. What follows is Nicky's increasingly frantic plan unfolding as he tries to get the watch. It's a slow methodical rise to a climactic point which seems to last an age! I nearly went blue holding my breath!
It is expertly crafted, with phrases that stand out for extra effect, such as this one on the very first page:
"...if you looked closer you could see... ...the shimmer of energy that passed through the solid body under the scales."
It doesn't matter that it's the second book in the series. It stands well enough on it's own.
If as a parent, you're confident that your child can handle swearing then I suppose they could get away with reading from the age of 9. The ideal age in my opinion would be around 11 or 12.
It'll succeed where other books might fail, in giving kids a good scare!
Book 35 of my 52 book challenge, my scary book and maybe a reason why I should pay my husband a little more attention!

Book Title: Pike

Author: Anthony McGowan

Pages: 127

Published: 2015

Suitable for: children age 11 upwards

Interesting words: frayed, murk, dappled, impact

Breaking Chains

There are books that take time and effort to read. There are books that are a little easier, with a smoother flow. Then there are books that you don't read through, you fly through. This week's book is of the third kind.

Just before the start of the summer I was asked to recommend a children's book on the topic of slavery. It had to revolve around themes such as justice in some context and had to be something suitable for 10-11 year olds (i.e. not too heavy or dry).
I thought it would be a piece of cake. Normally when I get asked for a recommendation I'm brimming with ideas. But this time I was completely stumped. I reached out on social media to friends, colleagues and people in the know and was given this book (amongst others) as an option.
Chains is a historical fiction set at the time of the American Revolution and war for independence from British rule. It is told in first person narrative and tells the story of Isabel, a black slave girl who is at the mercy of the unforgiving world around her.
At the start of her story she and her little sister Ruth are free girls, having been granted freedom in the will of their owner (a woman, just to add). Upon her death the will is ignored and the next thing you know the sisters are being sold off by an unscrupulous man to an even more unscrupulous couple, who the cart them off from their quiet Rhode island life to the thronging streets of New York.
The city is a hive of political unrest, with many people switching sides between the American patriots and the British (Tory) loyalists.
Isabel's new owners clearly back the Tories (as they stand to profit financially). In a desperate attempt to try and improve the situation for herself and Ruth, Isabel finds herself playing both sides; acting as messenger, spy, informant and food supplier (largely to the patriots). All the while her one main priority is simply to try and secure freedom for Ruth and for herself. As this is the first in a series of books I will not spoil things by divulging too much but I can say that Isabel endures more than her fair share of tragedy.
We watch her dregedation from polite, well spoken free girl to harsh, ruthless pauper. As the world beats her down we see her character harden, her transition reflected in her interactions with others. But with her hardening comes fortitude and with her increasing desperation to escape comes an adaptability that helps her to survive and even conquer insurmountable odds.
The action moves quite quickly and the first person narrative keeps us right at the heart of it. The language and vocabulary will stretch young readers. There are beautifully articulated sentences broken occasionally by a word or phrase that reminds us of who is talking. Remembery has gone my favourite example, I absolutely loved it! In fact I'm tempted to start a campaign to make it an offcially recognised word!
At 300 pages exactly it's not too long and the pace moves quickly enough to carry you swiftly through it. Actually if you're anything like me you'll read it in two sittings!
Thorough research has been done and several major historical events are placed in the story to give it some extra realism. Most impressive is the author's sharp attention to detail. One scene describes the airing of a room, but the way in which it is written and one character's dreadful conformity to certain habits really makes you feel the sheer workload involved in, what these days we simply wouldn't bother with.
You don't just read about a lady going to her bed. You're told of all the things that need to happen in the process: the pan of coals being slipped between the sheets, the fire being lit and stoked, the right change of apparel and all the rest. It's the painstaking research and craftsmanship that really allows us to see the world through Isabel's eyes.
It's an ideal book for the age group I was looking for and I for one cannot wait to see their response to, especially since the character of Isabel is their age! In a time where the basic right to freedom can often be taken for granted it gives a strong impression of what it would have been like to fight for it.
Book 34 of my 52 book challenge and my book written by someone from another country.

Book Title: Chains
Author: Laurie Halsey Anderson
Pages: 300
Published: 2008
Suitable for: children aged 9 upwards
Interesting words: apoplexy, girth, carcass, subordinates, noxious, pestilence, errand, perpetual

And My Sunshine Makes Me

I want to take a minute to talk about Pride. I know I'm slightly delayed what with most of this country's Pride celebrations long past. But as the fates would have it, this week the subject is more than apt.

For those of you wondering why I'm spelling Pride with a capital P I'm referring to the movement that embraces equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. According to Wikipedia it's purpose is to "promote their self-affirmation, dignity, equality rights, increase their visibility as a social group, build community, and celebrate sexual diversity and gender variance."*

It is for us to stand up as people and share the message that our sexuality should not be a reason for shame or awkwardness. We are who we are and should all be accepted equally.

My son (who incidentally is celebrating something special today) is a staunch supporter of equality. He will use the term 'equalist' instead of 'feminist' because he doesn't want to pigeon hole women. He truly believes that all are on an equal footing and I'm terribly proud of him for that.
His enthusiasm is akin to a blast of soft sunshine: both strong and comforting.

Pride is one of many things that he's passionate about and I have to say I share his view that no one should have to hide who they are just for acceptance of others. This week's blog goes on to tackle that very subject.

'And Tango Makes Three' is set in the relative quietude of New York's Central Park Zoo and tells the story of chinstrap penguins Roy and Silo. Roy and Silo are two male penguins who fall in love and make a nest in the hope of being able to lay an egg the way most of the other penguin couples do.
They can't, but after careful observation one of the zoo keepers gives them a 'surrogate' egg laid by another chinstrap penguin couple who are unable to look after it.

Roy and Silo incubate the egg and before long out pops a healthy baby penguin which the zoo keepers lovingly name Tango (after all it takes two)! So this true story ends happily with Roy, Silo and Tango living at the zoo as a proper penguin family.

Well then, why have I selected this picture book (which features no real stand out imagery or wording, no diverse vocabulary or real challenge)? Simple; it was banned not long after it's initial publication in America back in 2005.

Not only is it banned in states across the country but also in Singapore. It topped the American Library Associations' most challenged books list in 2006 and then again in 2010. The argument against it coming from parents who didn't like homosexuals being used as role models (even penguin ones) and who complained that two male penguins raising a baby penguin didn't really adhere to the 'normal' stereotype of a healthy family unit.

Their complaints were taken to schools and libraries where the overall judgement was 'we don't want this read to our children unless we approve of it first, which we don't'.

Many libraries tried to use alternative methods of shelving and advertising the book in order to get it some coverage. Others just hid it to avoid complications or begrudging parents. In fact if you go to search the book's title online, the story of it being banned appears before the actual book itself.
Such was my fuss over this book that I had to order in an imported copy after bookshops everywhere gave me no joy and the public libraries' only copy mysteriously disappeared after being returned in May of this year.

I've had it on reserve for over 8 weeks (I'll soon be withdrawing that) before giving up and paying for a copy. And it's the most I'll ever pay for a picture book hands down.

It's worth every penny though.

It's beautifully simplistic, it's 32 pages offering no serious challenge in terms of vocabulary but instead reading like a warm lullaby. The illustrations by Henry Cole are excellent, pencil drawn images that offer the same warmth as the text. Most importantly your heart is with the story from the word go, you buy into it as you read. It's a wonderfully crafted book with a footnote at the end providing the cherry on the sundae by giving you a tiny bit of the real history of it.

This is a great book for any child from the age of 4 upwards and it shows that any group can be a family so long as the love is there. The backgrounds: race, sexuality, gender, even species of the group do not matter so long as there is a will to love and nurture each other. It's an honest message, with a real power to it.

I think it's an ideal way of opening children's discussions and will allow children to express their thoughts and sentiments on the subject (hopefully without any reprisals). We are now in a world where people, especially children should be able to be proud of who they are and open enough to vocalise their beliefs in safety and security.

This is the kind of story that I would have read contentedly to my son, proud of the fact that I'd helped to expand his thinking. Maybe one day he'll read it to children himself.

Book 33 of my 52 book list and my previously banned book.

* quoted from Wikipedia page regarding gay pride.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_pride

Book Title: And Tango Makes Three
Author: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Illustrator: Henry Cole
Published: 2005
Suitable for: children aged 4 and up
Interesting words: snuggled, carousel