posted on 05 Feb 2017

Beautiful Books Build Brilliant Brains at Somers Park Primary School

My ' Wild Things and Gold Rings' events have taken me and my squeaky trolley far and wide travelling on trains, buses and the occasional taxi ( I don't drive), so I was delighted to be invited by a Year Three teacher at to a local school in Malvern. As it is only ten minutes away from where I live I was able to go on a preliminary visit to talk about what they had in mind. Apparently, some of the children, particularly the boys needed to have their excitement in reading fiction for enjoyment reignited. 

Well I do love a challenge and so decided to choose some of my favourites including some from my tried and tested pop books because they always go down a storm. I was also determined to include some picture books as an essential part of any eight year old's reading diet, something that isn't always encouraged in schools despite the academic evidence that many picture books are hugely complex and demanding for readers of all ages.

I set out my stall for two different classes on consecutive days and was thrilled at the response from the children who helped me to organise the display while the others played outside - they all told me that they loved books! Perhaps the lukewarm  children would join us and my work would be cut out? I prepared myself to be super bubbly but when they joined us they also seemed full of enthusiasm. What thoroughly enjoyable sessions where time passed far too quickly. I loved the way that so many wanted to ask questions and offer their own thoughts about their favourite books. Lots of them were Roald Dahl fans and told me all about that but most of them were unfamiliar with the books I had selected. I hope that they might now be inspired to try some different authors including Mr Cleghorns Seal by Judith Kerr, Klaus Vogel and the Bad Lads by David Almond and The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon by Mini Grey.

I didn't have to try very hard to get them excited about the look and feel of my beautiful pop up books and so suggested that they might write a letter to the Head Teacher to persuade him that they would be a necessary addition in all Key Stage Two classrooms. I do hope that they convince him and I look forward to giving a similar talk to parents and carers on the same subject in a few weeks time. Perhaps they could write some letters as well ...

Karen Argent

February 2017