What I read | September and October 2022

[my image - Sheringham, Norfolk October 2022]

Molly and the Dolphins by Malachy Doyle and Andrew Whitson.  Another story about Molly, the little girl who lives on a Scottish island with her fisherman father.  Dad had bought Molly a little sailing boat of her own, and teaches her to sail while always staying close by to make sure she's ok. Meanwhile the dolphins have arrived in the sea around the island for the summer, and when Molly gets in trouble on her little boat, they lead her safely back to Dad in his boat not far behind,  and the island she loves. A dramatic tale of two rescues, with a message of kindness, perseverance and joy.  Published by @graffeg.  Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/products/molly-and-the-dolphins  

Wellbeing from Birth by Rosemary Roberts.   I bought this second-hand after being recommended it while on Norfolk's Baby Friendly Project @EarlyChildhoodandFamilyService.  It's based on a research project to discover a new way of looking at child development from a wellbeing and holistic viewpoint.  The author shows us her Wellbeing Framework, which beautifully links play and what she calls "companionable learning".  One of the most striking aspects is that of "belonging and bound byaries", and we discover that of course, if we truly "belong" in a family, community or setting, we must have some boundaries, but these should not be random or persecuting, they should be fair, explained and have a reason. The other striking thing is that of children's need for personal time and space, the need to reflect and process life as it happens.  And if we are rushed form one activity to the next we don't have time to do this, and see wellbeing suffer as a result, sometimes seeing children who seem "absent" as they switch off so as to force this thinking time.  The book gives us as adults, parents and early childhood educators, a lot to think about too.  Putting wellbeing at the heart of our practice , as well as of government policy, must be a priority.  Published by @sagepublishing.  Find out more here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/wellbeing-from-birth/rosemary-roberts/9781848607217 

The Wish Gatherers by Karin Celestine, and illustrated by Karin Celestine and Tamsin Rosewell.  This is really different.  The illustrations are composed of needle felted animals photographed on real life backdrops in a wonderful collaboration. The story is about shooting stars, which, in our tale are Wishing Stars, ones that makes a dream come true once every thousand lifetimes. The Star Gatherer collects these from the Lake of Dreams, a secret hidden place only they know how to find, where Celestial Moths fly them back into the heavens.  A very sweet tale based around British folklore, at harvest in the autumn.  Published by @graffeg on 6th September 2022.  Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/products/the-wish-gatherers

Ebb and Flo and the Greedy Gulls by Jane Simmons.  More adventures in the outdoors by the sea with Ebb, Flo and Mum.  The family have taken a picnic to the beach, and Ebb the dog is sulking in the boat because everyone thinks he snacked on the picnic food while mum and Flo weren't looking.  The next thing we know, a storm's blown in and Ebb is out at sea on his own swirling round and round in the little boat.  Those greedy gulls were the real culprits, and all is forgiven in this lovely tale of friendship.  I love this one as the story is partly revealed by the words, but the pictures reveal more of the story if you look carefully.  Published by @graffeg.  Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/collections/childrens-books/products/ebb-and-flo-and-the-greedy-gulls

On Palestine by Noam Chomsky and Ilan Pappé, both leading voices in the struggle to liberate Palestine.  I learnt a lot that I really should have known about by now... This is a really short book, mostly arranged like a conversation between the authors and the human rights activist Frank Barat who poses the questions. They discuss the boycott, divest and sanction movement, as well as the choices for the future including two state and one state solutions, and the past, and present situation. This short accessible book made me want to read more on the subject.  Published by @penguin. Find out more here - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/286707/on-palestine-by-pappe-noam-chomsky-and-ilan/9780241973523 

Peace by Baptiste Paul and Miranda Paul and illustrated by Estelí Meza.  A beautifully illustrated picture book that defines the concept of peace using simple words and pictures, describing big and small actions that we can all take. "Peace is pronouncing your friend's name correctly" and "Peace let's the smallest of us have a voice".  And "if we embrace it, peace cradles the earth".  We need a lot more of this sort of talk and action at the moment. Published by @northsouth.  Find out more here - https://northsouth.com/books/peace/

Hike by Pete Oswald.  I picked this one from the library shelf before my holiday because I loved the illustrations of the Dad and the little girl walking together in the mountains.  And we were about to go on a family walking holiday in the Peak District.  It's a book with no words, only pictures.  But no words are needed.  You can see the excitement on the little girl's face on the morning of the trip.  You can see the awe and wonder in her expression as she spots birds, butterflies and animal tracks. And you can see the satisfaction in their faces when they get to the top and stop to take in the magnificent views. They even take a selfie with a camera balanced on a rock, just like we used to do before one of them turned into a young adult with very long arms!  Published by @walkerbooks.  Find out more here - https://www.walker.co.uk/Hike-9781406394351.aspx

Mouse and Mole, Clink, Clank, Clunk! by Joyce Dunbar and James Mayhew.  Another book of three short tales about the adventures of dear friends Mouse and Mole.  We're treated to the story of Mole's motorbike, which he's fixing even though it doesn't need fixing - so you can imagine the capers there.  Next, Mole is worried that he might fall off the roof, even though he's not on the roof...and as usual Mouse calms him down and talks him through it, with the help of  some juicy apples. In "A frisky, fluttery ghost" Mole isn't listening as he's just woken up, so when Mouse has some toast ready for him, he thinks there's a ghost...  And once more Mouse is there to make everything OK again. Published by @graffeg.  Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/collections/childrens-books/products/mouse-mole-clink-clank-clunk  

Paths to the Past,encounters with Britain's hidden landscapes by Frances Pryor. Probably most well-known for the TV series Time Team (at least that's what I remembered the author from), Pryor shares his experiences visiting some of Britain's most interesting places with links to the past that's are not always so obvious. Short chapters takeus on a tour of places such as Sea Henge in Norfolk, Edinburgh's New Town, Birkenhead's Park and Peterborough's Queensgate shopping centre. We're transported back to the lives of the navvies that built the Ribblehead viaduct, and to the Roma forts of Hadrian's wall. It was a great book to read on holiday, especially as so many of the places he visits are familiar to us.  Published by @penguin. Find out more here - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/304893/paths-to-the-past-by-pryor-francis/9780141985664 

Goodbye Hobbs by Emma Bettridge and Josephine Birch.  One walk with one dog, Hobbs, from the village up to the top of the muddy hill.  One dog who's missing his best dog friend Merlin.  But in the air, at familiar places, there are whispers of memories, telling Hobbs it will all be ok, that their favourite places will still be there, and that's Merlin is with him even though he can't see him.  The illustrations are beautiful, perfectly capturing the whispers of memories in the trees.  Published by @graffeg.  Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/collections/books-1/products/goodbye-hobbs 

The Peppermint Tea Chronicles by Alexander McCall Smith.  Another installment in the lives of the residents of 44 Scotland Street.  It was great to start reading this in Edinburgh on holiday, Scotland Street and the New Town are just like in the book, although there isn't a number 44 in real life.  Bertie and Ranald go to the circus and come away with a surprise package, Stuart finds happiness, Angus finds a dead cat, and Elspeth finds a new purpose.  Lovely, witty, charming and light-hearted, I love this series.  Published by @littlebrown.   Find out more here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-peppermint-tea-chronicles/alexander-mccall-smith/9780349144269

Invertebrates are cool by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Abbie Cameron.  A lovely rhyming story with the repeated refrain "invertebrates are cool".  We discover all about worms, slugs & snails, the octopus & squid, beetles, butterflies & bees, ants, woodlice & spiders.  Illustrated facts make this really accessible for even the youngest entomologist!  Great for sharing and as an accompaniment to discovery walks outside all year round.  Published by @graffeg.  Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/collections/childrens-books/products/invertebrates-are-cool  

How to be a spy by Daniel Nesquens and Oyemathias.  Beautifully illustrated picture book guide answering (nearly) every question you had about spies, with loads of fascinating facts and some funny jokes thrown in too.  What skills do you need to be a spy? We're advised not to dress like a clown, you won't blend in.  Pages about real spies from history, codes, ciphers, spy techniques and mistakes to definitely not make.  What does a spy keep in their bag? And to finish off, a bit about fictional spies.  This would make a perfect gift for a young would-be agent.  Published by @gestalten  Find out more here - https://uk.gestalten.com/products/how-to-be-a-spy  

Albert in the air by Ian Brown and Eoin Clarke. The escapades of Albert the tortoise are brilliant, hilarious adventures. In this installment, Albert is curious about his feathered friends and dreams of what they can see and where they can go. By a stroke of luck, Albert manages to get out of the garden ending up in the middle of the noisy, messy, busy city, where he gets stuck in some chewing gum and attached to some balloons.... His feathered friends notice he's missing and set out in a mission to find him.  Published by @graffeg. Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/collections/childrens-books/products/albert-in-the-air

The Sound of letters by Jeanne Boyer and Julien Billaudeau.  A lovely hardback alphabet book with a difference.  All the letters are illustrated to show the sound they make rather than the name of the letter. So "c goes k' k' k' like whe I break the shell of a boiled egg. And the letter "m is Mmm... like when I enjoy honey, blueberries, and ice cream".  A much needed addition to the traditional category of alphabet books.  Published by @littlegestalten.  Find out more here - https://uk.gestalten.com/collections/stay-inspired/products/the-sound-of-letters  

The Winter Dragon by Caroline Pitcher and Sophy Williams. A heartwarming tale of a little boy who doesn't like the dark and the winter, and of how his cardboard dragon comes to light at night. The winter dragon warms Rory's bed, toasts him a teacake and tells him tales of ancient creatures and volcanoes. When spring comes along the dragon has to go, and Mum tries to throw out the cardboard dragon. But Rory has his memories of the winter dragon, and when winter comes round again, he dreams of his dragon at home in hs own world of warmth and light. Published by @graffeg. Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/collections/childrens-books/products/the-winter-dragon

Meanwhile back on Earth...finding our place through time and space. A cosmic view on conflict with Oliver Jeffers. The latest masterpiece from one of the most famous picture book artists of our time, this follows on from "Here We Are" and "What We'll Build". It's a journey through time and space, set in the context of a father taking his two squabbling children on a car / space rocket journey. As they travel to each of the planets, the fighting siblings learn about what was happening on earth as long ago as it would take them to drive there by car. So driving to Venus would take 78 years, and 78 years ago humans were fighting each other in the second world war. As they travel back through time and space, every place they reach has the shadow in time of conflict.  And so it goes on, right now, in so many places, while our beautiful planet is slowly, slowly destroyed. This is a great, and thoughtful, story, that sends a message to us all to teach our children kindness and empathy. There will still be sibling squabbles, but there needn't be war. Published by @harpercollins. Find out more here - https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/meanwhile-back-on-earth-oliver-jeffers?variant=39748597907534 

Feminism for the 99%, a manifesto by Cinzia Arruzza, Tithi Bhattacharya and Nancy Fraser.  This is a little book with really big ideas.  The concept is that we can't just keep campaigning for equality, without taking into account (and completely changing) the systems that create and maintain the problem.  So there can never be feminism for the 99% without tackling capitalism, and freedom & justice for all.  Because the whole issue of inequality is interwoven with the climate crisis, racism, and capitalist economics.  And just because we have a third female PM, definitely doesn't mean we have equality and justice for all women - no more, as they put it, "lean in" feminism (it must be ok because X% of women are in the boardroom / cabinet etc).  We need to be more than feminist, we need to be internationalist, anti-racist and environmentalist too - we need governments to respond to the crises of poverty, ecological disaster, war, mass migration & racist far right populism, as if they really are crises, social and political.  Only where's the profit in that? It feels like such a big challenge and such a hard fight, it's comforting to know there are many, many people like the authors spreading the word and continuing the fight.  Published by @versobooks.   Find out more here - https://www.versobooks.com/books/2924-feminism-for-the-99  

Whites, on race and other falsehoods by Otegha Uwagba. I'm not going to say that this little essay is " necessary" or "much-needed", as these have become so cliché as to be almost insulting. I have learnt from this book, but it also made feel a lot of different feelings. I'm completely struck by her description of the social media habit of jumping on a bandwagon and posting a black square, an infographic or an emoji, or businesses with their corporate "statements". It's like greenwashing, it's fake antiracism. So we must continue to call out racism, but what we really need is system change - to abolish the parts of the systems that disadvantage particular groups.  Anyway, I'd highly recommend this.  Published by @4thestate. Find out more here - https://www.4thestate.co.uk/book/whites-on-race-and-other-falsehoods-9780008503277/

Autumn by Ali Smith, the first of her "seasonal quartet" novels, these first drew my eye on the charity shop shelf because the cover designs are so beautiful. Autumn is set in the aftermath of the Brexit vote in late summer 2016 and reaching through Autumn, ending in November 2016. The main character, Elisabeth, is a poorly paid university lecturer, whose mum has an obsession with antique-hunting TV programmes, and whose childhood neighbour, Daniel, is 101 years old and in a final dreamy sleep as she sits by him and reads classic fiction to him. We also discover Elisabeth's childhood self as she spends time with Daniel learning about art and life. It's not like any book I've ever read, but I now have all of Ali Smith's novels on my shelves. She weaves a story so you barely realise it's there, bringing in the hate and division after the vote, Daniel's dreams of being inside a tree, and 60s political scandal, as well as her own realisation that she may never be able to live anywhere other than her original student flat. I'll read these in the season in which they were set, as that seems only the right thing to do. Published by @penguin. Find out more here - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/285171/autumn-by-smith-ali/9780241973318 

Building positive relationships in the early years - Conversations to empower children, professionals, families and communities with Jamel Carly Campbell and Sonia Mainstone-Cotton. The conversational style of this book makes for light reading, giving us the chance to almost join the conversation in our minds and reflect on our own practice as we do so.  They discuss how we can build better relationships with children, their families and with other professionals, but actually in the end it boils down to taking the time to get to know people, because if we know them better we can earn their trust and respect and value their individual views, cultures and lives. A great little book, highly recommended.  Published by @routledge. Find out more here - https://www.routledge.com/Building-Positive-Relationships-in-the-Early-Years-Conversations-to-Empower/Campbell-Mainstone-Cotton/p/book/9781032062464#  

Gaspard's Christmas by Zeb Soanes and James Mayhew ( also a magical orchestral concert work by Jonathan Dove which you can listen to by scanning the QR code on the back of the book). It has snowed in London at Christmas, and Gaspard the fox is out looking for scraps of food. He comes across an old man, freezing, and sleeping outside in the snow. Soon Gaspard has rallied all his friends in a fabulous adventure to save Christmas. These are classics in the making, wonderful storytelling and beautiful illustrations. Buying this book helps St Martin-in-the-Fields homeless charity.  Published by @graffeg. Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/products/gaspards-christmas @stmartininthefields https://www.smitfc.org/ 

Split - Class divides uncovered by Ben Tippet. This is brilliant, and just what I needed. The author unpicks the dilemmas of today, so many billionaires and so many who need to rely on food banks, and why. Some of the statistics are mind-blowing, for example how the tax system is the very system that creates poverty - "tax avoidance costs governments across the world $500 billion each year in lost tax revenues. This is enough money to give access to clean energy for 3 billion people..., universal access to clean water for the 2 billion that don't currently have it..., tackle major infectious diseases..., and still leave $19 billion in change."  So whatever our government says is not possible, it really is possible and they are making a choice, a really unkind and unempathetic choice.   This book helps us to make sense of the society we are living in today, how neoliberalism has created huge divisions, and about the causes of the huge inequalities we see around us. Probably my top recommended read for 2022.  Published by @plutopress. Find out more here - https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745340210/split/ 

Hugg 'n' Bugg - finding home by Ian Brown and Eoin Clarke.  A nice rhyming tale of the animals that live in the Himalayas.  Hugg is a yeti and Bugg is a flea looking for a warm home to escape the cold outside.  And Hugg makes the perfect home. Published by @graffeg.  Find out more here -https://graffeg.com/collections/childrens-books/products/hugg-n-bugg-finding-home 

Mr Penumbra's 24-hour bookstore by Robin Sloan.  I don't know why books about books or bookshops are so appealing, like the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.  But that's why I picked this one, and it doesn't disappoint.  Clay works as a clerk in the Bookstore, overnight on the late shift, when mysterious customers request special books from the back of the store, and then disappear into the night. With the help of his friends, and Google, Clay embarks on a mission to discover the secrets behind Mr Penumbra and his 24-hour Bookstore. Published by @atlanticbooks   Find out more here -  https://www.waterstones.com/book/mr-penumbras-24-hour-bookstore/robin-sloan/9781782391210  

City Psalms by Benjamin Zephaniah. This is his forth book of poems, published in 1992, described by Bob Mole in the foreword as a "collection of modern urban songs, ballads, raps, rants and poems made for his time and his places". Read them as you would hear him speak them, and you get the emotion and atmosphere and meaning. Better still go and listen to the poet himself, live or online. It's a great collection to read though, and I especially love "Dis Poetry".

"Dis poetry stays wid me when I run or walk

An when I am talking to meself in poetry I talk,

Dis poetry is wid me,

Below me an above, 

Dis poetry's from inside me

It goes to you

WID LUV."

Published by @bloodaxebooks. Find out more here - https://www.bloodaxebooks.com/ecs/category/benjamin-zephaniah 

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