Dolphin Book Blog for younger readers
The best in children's books…part of SmithMartin LLP
When Jonathan Toomey gruffly agrees to make a set of nativity figures the heart warming Christmas miracle begins.
Happy Christmas
Sue Martin
http://www.booksgowalkabout.com
http://www.dolphinbooksellers.co.uk
IbbY uk - 21st Annual IBBY UK/NCRCL
MA Conference, University of Roehampton, Saturday 8th November 2014
'Belonging is...an exploration of the right to be included and the barriers that must be overcome'
Something that is deep inside us all is the need to belong, to belong to our family, to belong to a group of friends, to belong to the places that we are part of in our work and free time.
A good theme for the conference and met with enthusiasm by all present.
The topics ranged from inclusivity and diversity, against the need for publishers commercial concerns,.
It was really interesting to hear about The International Conference held in Mexico this year. Pam Dix, the chair of iBbY UK, and other members who attended the Congres International de IBBY gave a wonderful account of the global dimensions and international development in children's books and the need to pursue an agenda of translation.
Alexandra Strick, from Inclusive Minds encouraged others to join their collective and share ways of enabling inclusivity and the creation of characters with needs being just part of the story rather than being a stereotype of special needs.
Julia Hope, who has carried out a great deal of research on refugees in the primary classroom, gave a brilliant account and gave examples of children's books which are fundamental to the story and narrative of refugees. These included; The Silver Sword by Ian Serrailer, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr and Waiting for Anya by Michael Morpurgo.
Always a good day with time for reflection and thoughts about the role and immense importance of children's literature.
Sue Martin - Books Go Walkabout and Dolphin Booksellers
Wide Eyed Editions is a new imprint of Quarto Publishing Group UK.
This is a very recent addition to the publishing group's portfolio and includes some amazing publications, which will be available in March 2015. The site is excellent to look through and the Wide Eyed Blog has some of the best images ever.
Definitely one to include in your favourites or Pinterest, and to follow on Twitter.
Wide Eyed are creators of non-fiction for children and families and believe that books should encourage curiosity about the world, inspiring readers to set out on their own journey of discovery.
The illustrators and authors will bring a new sense of wonder to classic themes in simple, quality formats that look and feel like beautiful objects.
The first tranche of books includes the images below and if you click through you can access about 10 pages of the books from the Wide Eyed website.
Sue Martin Dolphin Booksellers - the best in children's books always on-line...
Twitter @booksgowalk
Beautifully created with thought and care, they all make splendid additions to your bookshelf at home or to the library.
The Magic Bojabi Tree by Dianne Hofmeyer and Piet Grobler.Folktales from Africa.
'Python has wrapped himself around the melon/mango/pomegranate tree with its delicious fruit, and he won't share the fruit unless the animals can tell him the correct name of the tree. Elephant, Monkey and Zebra each in turn visit Lion, who alone knows the name of the tree...'
I just love the title and it is excellent for jokes, rhymes and surprises.
'A monster’s lunch, a wolf boy, Monday mornings, monkeys, headlice, Christmas, making friends, goldfish – and lots more. Full of jokes, surprises and puzzles, but also sensitive and thought-provoking, this is a spellbinding new collection from the winner of the CLPE Poetry Award...'
How the Library Saved Rapunzel by Wendy Meddour (and illustrated by Rebecca Ashdown)Living on the 16th floor, the only thing that saves Rapunzel is the work in the library.
'Rapunzel sits on the sixteenth floor of an inner city block, bored, dreaming and looking out at the rain. No one can rouse her from her apathy, not the milkman or the postman or the baker or her aunt – or even the prince. But when at last a letter is delivered, it contains news that has Rapunzel on her feet again. She has a new job at the library! And suddenly her life is busy, sparkling, exciting and stimulating...'
This is a beautiful collection of Spanish words and phrases.
"Simple songs and rhymes are an excellent way to familiarise young children with another language. Uno Dos Tres a collection of 25 traditional nursery rhymes, is a delightful way to introduce Spanish. An illustrated vocabulary features simple words and phrases that are easy to learn and that can be used in games or everyday life. Children are encouraged to repeat the phrases and sing along with the rhymes, and the included CD lets them know how both should sound..."
In 2014, there were three exceptional librarians on the Honours List and we were pleased to be able to attend the ceremony held by the Schools Library Association.
This year Liz Millett, Teaching Assistant/Library Co-ordinator at Weatherfield Academy, Dunstable, has been awarded the honour of the SLA School Librarian of the Year 2014 at a celebration at the Hotel Russell in London on 6 October. Award-winning author and artist Chris Riddell (Macmillan Children’s Books) presented her with the award.
Weatherfield Academy is a special school for students aged 7 to 19 with Moderate Learning Difficulties and additional complex needs. There are 117 pupils in the school with 52% attracting Pupil Premium funding and entitled to free school meals and 32% in social care. Much of the curriculum is aimed at giving students lifelong skills. In 2009 a room was adapted for the library and Liz Millett took on the job of developing it. The pupils make good levels of progress, as judged by Ofsted in 2013.
Liz says “My aim is to increase their pleasure from reading whatever level they are at to make sure they are not frightened by books or put off them, so that they will come to see reading as something they will always have for themselves.”
To read more about Liz go to: http://www.sla.org.uk/liz-millett.php
Sue Martin - Dolphin Booksellers - the best in children's books, always on line
This is just Amazing!!
A golden brown book full of beautiful images all about bears. This is the latest from Jackie Morris, written and illustrated this year, published on 2nd October by Frances Lincoln.
'Let me tell you something about a bear...
Where the water churns with the salmon, there the Brown Bear stands and catches the wild king of the river.
Eight wild bears - Moon Bear, Sun Bear, Sloth Bear, Brown Bear,Spectacled Bear,American Black Bear, Giant Panda and Polar Bear, all in their own habitats and some info about each of them.
The last page is the best! Brown Bears paws, just waiting to be touched, if you dare!
Sue Martin
Dolphin Booksellers - the best in children's books always on line.
A magical collection of poetry for any child and especially for Early Years. I'm a Little Alien written by James Carter and illustrated by Mique Moriuchi is perfect for all little stars.
Frances Lincoln has a great reputation for new and inventive children's books and this fits well with their poetry collection.
One of my favorites is Beware!
....Forest dweller
grizzly-fella
sneaking, lurking
here and there
you beware-
there's a BEAR !
Buy for nursery and Foundation Stage settings or for parents and children to share together.
Sue Martin - Dolphin Booksellers - the best in children's books always on line
What happens when puppies fall in love? How do you fold up your Gran?
Not things you normally have to think about, but the mysterious rules of the Werewolf Club are funny, spooky and spellbinding.
It's an exciting debut poetry collection by Joseph Coelho and illustrated by John O'Leary, the book is a brilliant addition to any class room, childrens bookshelf. Fifty poems and a delight to read.
An excellent book from Frances Lincoln publishers, who have a wonderful knack of launching some brilliant materials.
Buy direct through Dolphin Books and we will donate to our project in Nepal.
Sue Martin
Dolphin Books - the best in children's books, always on line.
Two super star authors have joined Barrington Stoke on the Red Squirrel dyslexia friendly picture book list.
The picture books are designed for easy reading, with good layouts and fonts to help emergent readers and children with dyslexia.
Wolf Man is by Michael Rosen and Chris Mould. The townspeople are terrified, Wolf man is on the loose, he has escaped! This is a funny tale with some serious stuff for toddlers!
Freddy and the Pig is by Charlie Higson and Mark Chambers. Freddy has hit on a cunning plan. He sends the pig to school and he stays at home eating and watching TV. But it doesn't work out quite as Freddy planned.
Dolphin Booksellers are pleased to support these reading projects.
When Ali first meets Amirah, he notices everything about her - her hijab, her long eyelashes and her red trainers - in the time it takes to have one look, before lowering his gaze. And, although Ali is still coming to terms with the loss of his mother and exploring his identity as a Muslim, and although Amirah has sworn never to get married, they can't stop thinking about each other.
Can Ali and Amirah ever have a halal 'happily ever after'?
This book is recently published by Kube Publishing, publishers of Islamic literature. It's a stunning novel of young romance, for young people and adults, written by award winning author Na'ima B. Robert.
Falling in love as a teenager is a difficult time and for a young Muslim there are things that make life really hard. 'She Wore Red Trainers' is brilliant at being right there with the characters.
Nai'ima was born in England, grew up in Zimbabwe and converted to Islam in 1998 at the age of 21after visiting Egypt as a student. She graduated from the University of London and is founding editor of the UK-based Muslim women’s magazine, Sisters.
She has published many picture books with Muslim themes and four young adult novels: From Somalia, With Love, Boy vs Girl, Black Sheep and Far From Home. You can discover Na'ima B. Robert's collected works on Amazon.co.uk here.
She has also published a memoir, From My Sisters’ Lips, and a series of children’s non-fiction books under her family name, Thando McLaren. Na’ima B Robert is married with five children and divides her time between London and Egypt.
You can buy direct from Kube Publishing or from Amazon.co.uk here...
Sue Martin Dolphin Booksellers - the best in children's books always on line