Little Gems books from Barrington Stoke are perfect for children in Reception and Key Stage One who are ready to add some variety to their reading diet. Pitched between picture books and chapter books, these early readers give children the feeling of an older book with accessible vocabulary and spacing to help them on their way. Brightly coloured illustrations add to the appeal.
Carnival of the Clocks by Nick Sharratt
Aimed at Year One readers, Carnival of the Clocks is a fantastic Maths themed book. The school children are celebrating 21st December – the shortest day – with the “Burning of the Clocks” event in Brighton. This is a real event sponsored by the community arts charity, Same Sky. Each child has a clock-shaped lantern that they carry through the streets in a fun parade before lighting up the dark evening with a bonfire.
Along with an interesting story, children can explore shapes, clock faces and telling time. Terminology is clear with adjacent illustrations to make sure concepts are understood. Time on the hour, half-past and quarter-past are fully illustrated with a few other times included to give that little bit of extra stretch.
There is an abundance of community vocabulary as well with the typical locations of a seaside town and all the members of the family too.
In true Nick Sharratt style, there is lovely variety in the paper lanterns. Children will be sure to want to chat about and choose their favourites.
Sidney Makes a Wish by Lisa Thompson & Jess Rose
Sidney Makes a Wish is a wonderful book for PSHE sessions about friendship.
Sidney is out for a walk with his mum and spots a wishing well hidden in some tall grass. When Mum explains how it works, he is excited about the prospect of making wishes and having them come true. There’s a boy at school called Billy who he’s desperate to be friends with but nothing he does seems to work. Maybe if he wishes for interesting things like trampolines, ice cream machines and robot dogs, Billy will want to come to his house and they’ll become the best of friends.
Unsurprisingly, Sidney’s wishes don’t come true. Was he wishing for the wrong things or perhaps he was looking for the wrong friend? Just before he makes a wish with his final coin, Sidney realises that there was another friend alongside him all the time. This friend is kind, welcoming and likes him for who he is rather than for interesting toys he may or may not have.
Children will be incredibly engaged in Sidney’s predicament and the caring friend they will be able to see (even when Sidney can’t). It will prompt rich discussions about strategies for making friends and what to do if someone looks lonely.
Thank you to Barrington Stoke for these wonderful books!
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Books by Kate Heap:
Scope for Imagination 