Summer Holidays, slightly more time for reading...
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell. I read the Penguin Modern Classic edition, with an introduction by Tristram Hunt, and at 742 pages I was nervous about starting it. But this is a book that is hard to put down once you have picked it up. The author lived in England at the turn of the 20th century, and worked as a signwriter and decorator, just like the main protagonists (the philanthropists of the title). He died not long after publishing this story of life, work and poverty of the working class.
He has inspired generations of activitsts through his portrayal of Frank Owen and his co-workers, decorating the houses of the wealthy, while every lunchtime, Owen the "professor" talks to them about why they live in poverty, barely, or not at all, affording the "necessaries of life", while others live lives of excess. Owen spends many hours encouraging his fellow workers to fight for a fair society.
It is an inspirational tale, Owen doesn't convince everyone of the benefits of abolishing capitalism and adopting socialism, even though it is obvious they will have better lives. There's a seemingly ingrained feeling among those in poverty in the book, that this is the way, they are poor, they work for rich people, and their children will too, and so it will go on, and that's life.
Even though reading this, you know it's written over 100 years ago, it is still possible to see the similarities with today. We still have terrible poverty, even destitution, and we still have levels of obscene wealth. And we still need widespread system change to make a fairer society. Maybe we will get there. I hope so.
Published by Penguin Books. Find out more here - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/57463/the-ragged-trousered-philanthropists-by-robert-tressell-intro--tristram-hunt/9780141187693
How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers won the FA Cup by J.L.Carr. A short, funny and brilliantly written novel about a village football team who, through logic and determination beat the best in the country to win the FA Cup via the Fenland League. Written through the eyes of the club's Honorary Secretary Joe Gidney, the story is interspersed with quotes from newspaper articles and minutes of the Steeple Sinderby Football Club committee meetings. As My Gidney says "But is this story believable? Ah, it all depends on whether you want to believe it". It really is believable. Published by Penguin Find out more here - https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/292406/how-steeple-sinderby-wanderers-won-the-fa-cup-by-carr-jl/9780241252345
The Secret of the Tattered Shoes by Jackie Morris and illustrated by
Ehsan Abdollahi. A wonderful retelling of the Grimm Brothers Twelve Dancing Princesses. Jackie Morris has waved her magic wand of words on this story about a prince who has to find out why the princesses' shoes are worn through each night. An invisibility cloak and a few nights later, he's got his answer. But which princess will be choose? I love the bold illustrations here with angular pen and ink characters, still managing to show the kindness of the forest woman, and the frosty but beautiful princesses.
Published by Tiny Owl in 2019. Find out more here - https://tinyowl.co.uk/the-secret-of-the-tattered-shoes-is-simple-evocative-and-different/
Frog in a Fog by Marielle Bayliss and Mariela Malova. Following on from their first picture book, Frog's Bog, we meet frog again in a new tale focussing on the effects of pollution on wildlife. That may seem a sad premise for a picture book, but this rhythmic text gets the frogs dancing, and with a little help from a friendly fish, they find a place that's just right. A nature reserve where no-one dumps rubbish, chemicals or sewage, and where all of nature thrives. Teaching little ones about the problems, but highlighting possibilities and solutions too.
Published by Graffeg in 2024 Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/collections/books-1/products/frog-in-a-fog
One World, 24 hours on Planet Earth by Nicola Davies and Jenni Desmond. Picked this up in a charity shop recently, because I really like Nicola Davies books and this has lovely illustrations by Jenni Desmond who became a Sendak Fellow in 2016, and her non-fiction book The Polar Bear was a New York Times Best Illustrated book. This is a beautiful book that starts on one particular midnight in London, where 2 little girls imagine what's happening elsewhere in the world in that moment. We travel with them and find out. This book is, according to Jackie Morris "A call to action to the defence of our wild, wonderful planet". And she is right, this is an inspiring picture book to be shared with all ages to visit the awe and wonder of the world, and to demand it is saved.
Published by Walker Books. Find out more here - https://www.walker.co.uk/One-World-24-Hours-on-Planet-Earth-9781529513325.aspx and https://www.jennidesmond.com/portfolio-cp04 and https://www.booktrust.org.uk/book/o/one-world-24-hours-on-planet-earth/
Song of the Golden Hare by Jackie Morris. A gorgeous and beautiful fable, this is the story of a brother and sister whose family hold the secret of the song of the golden hare. The boy and his sister search for leverets orphaned by the fox hunt, care for them and keep them safe. Legend tells that once every 50 years the hares gather, sing, and one strives to win the heart of the Golden Queen, and the boy longs to hear the song of the golden hare. So when the hares begin to move across the land to gather, the children follow, along with others with not such good intentions.
A perfectly illustrated tale, ending on a distant island where the Golden Hare is safe.
Published by Unbound. Find out more here - https://unbound.com/books/song-of-the-golden-hare and https://www.jackiemorris.co.uk/book/song-of-the-golden-hare/ Part of my series exploring the writing and painting of Jackie Morris. For more see Instagram @jackiemorrisartist, https://www.jackiemorris.co.uk/ and @JackieMorrisPaints on Facebook.
Refugees by Brian Bilston and illustrated by Jose Sanabria. "Refugees is a book of two voices. The first one sees the people fleeing from war and persecution and asks, Why here? Why my country? It is a feeling many people share. It is one of fear and suspicion. But when you read the text the opposite way, a new voice emerges. It says, 'Why not make them welcome? Why not share the things we have?' " Now more than ever, we need to be kind, empathetic and understand human struggles from the perspective of those living through crises. Understand, support and welcome.
A lovely little hardback edition, with beautiful illustrations to accompany this cleverly written forwards and backwards poem.
Published by Gemini Books Group in June 2024 Find out more here - https://www.waterstones.com/book/refugees/brian-bilston/jose-sanabria/9781786751294
The Shy Book by Howard Pearlstein and James Munro. This is excellent, and unique. This book has a problem, it's feeling shy, emabrassed, and is worried the reader will find it boring, so it suggests reading a differnt book. But don't give up, keep reading, fo it has a simple solution to feeling shy. Lovely illustrations bring the "book" character to life, in all its wonderful shyness. Published by Graffeg in 2024 Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/collections/childrens-books/products/the-shy-book
Ebb abd Flo and the New Boat by Kate Canning and Thomas Voigt, based on the original books by Jane Simmons. Another gentle tale about Flo and her little dog Ebb, who live by the sea and have adventures together. A new boat appears by the jetty and Bird makes friends with Zoot, a tiny yellow canary. But when the new boat leaves again, Zoot goes too, and Bird is very sad. So Ebb and Flo have to find a way to cheer Bird up.
Published by Graffeg in August 2024 Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/collections/childrens-books/products/ebb-and-flo-and-the-new-boat
Ebb and Flo, a Blowy day by Kate Canning and Thomas Voigt, based on the original books by Jane Simmons. It’s a very blowy day, so Ebb, Flo, Ma and Bird go to Granny’s house to check on her. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blows Granny’s washing and Flo’s kite away. Will they be able to get them back? These gentle tales are perfect for sharing at bedtime. Published by Graffeg in August 2024 Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/collections/childrens-books/products/ebb-and-flo-a-blowy-day
Mariana and the Merchild by Caroline Pitcher and Jackie Morris. A folktale from Chile, retold by Caroline Pitcher and illustrated with Jackie Morris's beautiful paintings. Mariana is an old woman who lives by the sea, all alone, longing for the village children to be friends with her. One day she finds a stranded baby, a mermaid baby, washed up by a great storm, whose mother is the Sea Spirit, arriving to feed her child each day, while Mariana looks after her. Of course, the Merchild must return to the sea one day, but for now she brings Mariana and the village children together like a family.
A captivating story of kindness, friendship, magic and love. Listen here - https://youtu.be/4mwAPludY3A?si=3yOhC2gPDR4sQvJZ
Published by Otter-Barry Books. Find out more here - https://www.otterbarrybooks.com/books/mariana-and-the-merchild. Part of my series exploring the writing and painting of Jackie Morris.
The Fun we Had, looking back on a lifetime of love by Charissa Coulthard and Sam Usher. The story of Nana who is very poorly, and her granddaughter visits through the seasons, as they share memories of adventures and treasures they collected.
This is really very good, and I can see it becoming a bestseller. The rhyming text makes for an engaging and sensitive story told in the first person by the little girl who we see grow through the book. It is also a personal one, written by the author inspired by her own mother and her relationship with her little grandson. It is a sad story (it did make me cry) but it is also a happy story full of joyous memories and precious mementoes.
And it is accompanied by exquisite illustrations, that perfectly tell us everything that's not written in words.
Published by Simon and Schuster in July 2024 Find out more here - https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/The-Fun-We-Had/Charissa-Coulthard/9781398524491
Whispa and the Waves by Ffion Jones and illustrated by Elena Mascolo. A powerful and practical picture book exploring anxiety and mindfulness. Using the analogy of the waves getting bigger and becoming a storm, this story follows Whispa as she becomes more and more anxious about joining in with her friends' singing. Eventually she remembers to breathe in and out slowly, regulating her breathing and her emotions. Mindfulness is cleverly woven into the story as she breathes and focusses in on her surroundings, noticing what she can see, hear and feel. This is a great story for sharing with young children to teach them about feelings, and how to calm the storm of emotions through breath and noticing. Published by Tiny Tree in 2024 Find out more here - https://tinytreebooks.com/whispa-and-the-waves/
Albert and he Thief by Ian Brown and Eoin Clarke. Albert and his friends have all lost something, and the squirrel who is responsible wants to return all the things he took, as well as some interesting shiny stuff from the humans' houses!
Another hilarious adventure form Albert and friends, with some facts to share about the garden animals included in the back of the book. Published by Graffeg in 2024 Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/collections/3-to-6/products/albert-and-the-thief
Molly and the Pirate Cave by Malachy Doyle and Andrew Whitson. Molly's dog Gus goes missing, and the tide is coming in. But Molly and her friends know all about the tides on the island, and so they know just what to do when they find Gus, and the tide is coming in. Another dramatic adventure with Molly and her friends on the island, as well as a great opportunity to talk about the sea, the tides, and life on an island. Published by Graffeg in 2024 Find out more here - https://graffeg.com/products/molly-and-the-pirate-cave
Great British Railways, 50 things to see and do by Vicki Pipe and Geoff Marshall. Loads of facts. Like the smallest station and the longest platform. Great for inspiring kids to travel by train. Published by September Publishing Find out more here - https://septemberpublishing.org/product/great-british-railways/
Facebook | www.facebook.com/itsallaboutstories/
Pinterest | uk.pinterest.com/allaboutstories
Instagram | @nickyhudson2436
Buy me a nice cup of tea | https://buymeacoffee.com/itsallaboutstories
No comments:
Post a Comment