The Shopkeeper’s Wish ‘Wish Star, Wish Star, Brightly shine Grant tonight This wish of mine. Bring me friends to share this day Chase my loneliness away.’ ‘Mr Bonn would make a lovely Santa’ Lisette said. ‘He was always so kind to us when he had his sweetshop.’ Mrs Porfitt nodded slowly. Her hands went toContinue reading “The Wish Star and the Five Wishes, Part Seven – The Shopkeeper’s Wish”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Pigeon Spies not Pigeon Pies!
Pigeon Spies What do you think of when you hear the words ‘spy’ and ‘secret service? I bet the picture below doesn’t spring to mind. But some of the UK’s most important spies in World War 2 were pigeons – the Confidential Pigeon Service! Homing pigeons would be air dropped into German-occupied France so thatContinue reading “Pigeon Spies not Pigeon Pies!”
UKYAC MG Blog Tour Day 2 – An Interview with Jane Elson
After reading the astounding ‘How to Fly with Broken Wings’ I was delighted to be asked to interview the author, Jane Elson. How to Fly with Broken Wings tells the story of twelve-year-old Willem, who has Aspergers Syndrome and a piece of homework – to make two friends of his own age. All Willem reallyContinue reading “UKYAC MG Blog Tour Day 2 – An Interview with Jane Elson”
Girl With a White Dog
In my third book recommendation for anti-bullying week, I’m turning to Anne Booth’s stunning debut novel, Girl With a White Dog. Booth manages to cover so many aspects of bullying and compassion in her book that I don’t know how they all fit in there. Jessie is excited when her gran, who suffers from Alzheimers’Continue reading “Girl With a White Dog”
Beegu
Today’s book (Beegu, by Alexis Deacon) isn’t really about bullying, but it’s a delightful book for tinies that emphasises the value of welcoming strangers and showing kindness. Beegu is an alien who, for reasons unknown, lands on Earth where she tries to make friends with everyone she meets, but the only people who stop andContinue reading “Beegu”
Jane, the Fox and Me
This week is anti-bullying week, so I’m sharing a few of my favourite books that have bullying as a theme. Today is Jane, the Fox and Me, by Fanny Britt and Isabelle Arsenault (this edition translated by Christelle Morelli and Susan Ouriou). Jane, the Fox and Me is a beautiful graphic novel about a youngContinue reading “Jane, the Fox and Me”
National Anti-Bullying Week
November is anti-bullying month, with a focus this year on cyberbullying. Bullying doesn’t stop at the schoolgates. It follows children home and pops up on their phones and tablets. So its great that there is so much work going on to stop this. You can find lots of information about Anti-bullying week (including free resourcesContinue reading “National Anti-Bullying Week”
One Year On
One year on When I was about 14 my Dad caught me moving the books in the ‘T’ section around in the local bookshop. When he asked me why I was doing it I said, with all the confidence of youth ‘making space for mine.’. It took me a while, but one year ago IContinue reading “One Year On”
Interview with Mo O’Hara
I’m absolutely over the moon to welcome a very special guest to the blog today – the fabulous Mo O’Hara. Mo is the author of the hilarious My Big Fat Goldfish series, which I recommend to anyone who loves funny books about friendship and adventure. Recognising a good opportunity to get an insight into theContinue reading “Interview with Mo O’Hara”
Building a Hero and Thinking on Your Feet
This weekend I did a mini-workshop at the Greenbelt Festival. Greenbelt is like no other festival on earth. Where-else could you start the day sitting on an earth mound looking over a Duke’s lawn before enjoying some aerial theatre, taking in a couple of talks about drone warfare or climate change,drop in on some storytelling,Continue reading “Building a Hero and Thinking on Your Feet”
Sarah Todd Taylor 