Let's enjoy reading children's books over the Summer!
Wow we've made it to the end of the school year! Over Summer you'll have the head space to relax and enjoy some reading. Why not use some time to build the bank of children's books that you know and love.
Just taking the time to read children's books is such important and worthwhile CPD for us. It means that we are truly able to share, chat about and recommend them to the children in our classes. You can only genuinely recommend a book if you have read it! As teachers we are used to putting on a show. However, I'm sure you have noticed that the children know straight away if you are trying to recommend a book that you haven't read yourself.
The impact of a genuine book recommendation from a teacher can be huge!
Head to the Open University Reading for Pleasure website here for up to date research and practice - Teachers’ knowledge of children’s literature and other texts - Reading for Pleasure (ourfp.org)
Set yourself a Teacher Summer Reading Challenge to build your knowledge of children's literature!
Here are some ideas! You could:
Explore a genre! For example you could dive into children's poetry, non fiction or graphic novels.
Read three children's chapter books! This time over Summer is the perfect opportunity for this.
Explore a range of diverse texts, so that you are able to share stories with your children which are both a window to a new world and a mirror for their own world.
Visit your local library each week for an hour. Ask the librarian if they can recommend some new and loved picture books. Then settle down, enjoy them and make a list of the ones you want to share with your class!
Check out these links for wonderful book lists for book recommendations:
Here's a few recommendations from me!
Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o and Vashti Harrison
My class would ask for this book again and again! They really loved the heart felt story and the beautiful, emotive illustrations. It is a wonderful picture book which explores identity and diversity.
The Light in Everything by Katya Balen
I truly loved reading this book. I felt such strong empathy for both main characters. Their parents have fallen in love and are on cloud nine, but both children are finding this really challenging. As the story evolves you learn more and more about the their pasts, and you begin to understand why they are who they are. It's a beautiful story of realisations and how you need to know before understanding.
It is also an excellent recommendation for a UKS2 child who struggles with focus and stamina when reading. The chapters are short and from a different view points.
My first Summer read is going to be another of Katya's books. I've heard wonderful things about
October October!
Awakening the Storm by Jamal Yogis
A year 5 pupil in my school actually recommended this book to me. It was really popular in her class and she said that I just had to read it. I haven't read many graphic novels, and I must say it really opened my eyes to how wonderful they are to read. The graphics give such detail to the story's setting and character's emotions. I would highly recommend giving it a go!
For more information about us and our support go to English Hubs - St Wilfrid's English Hub (stwenglishhub.co.uk)