Literacy Time PLUS Ages 5 to 7 Recommended Read
3 Oct 2007
This month’s recommendation for five- to seven-year-olds
Dragon & Mousie and the Snow Factory by Andrew Fusek Peters (y Lolfa, 9780862439453)
This beautifully illustrated tale has a wintry theme, as Andrew Fusek Peters tells another story of the adventures of Dragon and Mousie. One morning they wake to find the forest covered in snow and set out on a journey to the Snow Factory to find out how it is made.
Y Lolfa are offering 10 Literacy Time readers the chance to win a FREE copy of Dragon & Mousie and the Snow Factory by Andrew Fusek Peters. For your chance to win, simply click here our and tick the box to enter our prize draw. Closing date 31 March 2008
A Dose of Dr Dog by Babette Cole (Jonathan Cape, 9780224070577)
Dr Dog’s well-deserved holiday is interrupted when the Gumboyle family turn up. Helped by Professor Dash Hund, he can cure everything from mosquito bites to motion sickness – but can they save the family from the hungry local plants? Babette Cole’s book features some gruesomely giggle-inducing illustrations and ideas that will make this book a favourite with early readers.
Rita & Whatsit; Christmas with Rita and Whatsit; Rita and Whatsit at School; Rita and Whatsit at the Beach by Jean-Philippe Arrou Vignod, Illustrations by Olivier Tallec (Zero to Ten, 9781840895100; 9781840895179; 9781840895124; 9781840895117)
Rita is sulking on her birthday when a parcel starts to wriggle. Rita catches it and out pops a ‘scrap of a dog’ who seems more interested in sleeping than playing. But once he has a name (of sorts), Whatsit reveals that he can talk! This series of books tells of Rita and Whatsit’s adventures in a wry, humorous style, accompanied by simple but effective drawings that express the nature of the characters – Rita’s grumpy bossiness and Whatsit’s cheeky wittiness are conveyed wonderfully. The quirky style of writing will keep young readers amused while non-readers will enjoy looking at the characters’ expressions.
The Primary English Encyclopedia: The Heart of the Curriculum (Third Edition) by Margaret Mallett (David Fulton, 9780415451031)
Do you know your diphthongs from your digraphs? Are you au fait with all the main reading programmes published in the UK? And can you really tell the difference between a legend, a myth and a fable? If you have the slightest doubt about saying yes to any of these questions, fear not: the answers are all in The Primary English Encyclopedia. This fantastic resource contains such a comprehensive coverage of literacy topics that it will undoubtedly become one of the most regularly consulted titles on your bookshelf. But don’t wait until you need to look something up; with sections on things like ‘Language across the curriculum’ and ‘Shakespearean drama (in the primary years)’, the book makes interesting reading at any time. There is even ‘A Who’s Who in Primary English?’ at the back.
Teacher Review: First Steps to Emotional Literacy by Kate Ripley (David Fulton, 9781843124153)
Reviewed by Liz Banyard, PSHE Coordinator and Reception teacher, Wilmcote CofE, Warwickshire.
The aim of the book is to provide a programme for children in FS and KS1, and older children with language and social communication difficulties, towards Emotional Literacy. The CD provides resources for staff training and delivering the programme. The book fulfils its aims and provides strategies and resources which are complemented by the CD, although these are not easy to locate. The Pink Bun stories on the CD are relevant and meaningful to children, but the questions at the end could be more open-ended. The book and PowerPoint presentation on the CD would best be used as part of staff training on aspects of the SEAL. The book is interesting and well researched, but not an easy read for the average busy class teacher, and I doubt I would buy it for general use in school. It would, however, be a useful resource for SENCOs and PSHE coordinators.
