Anita Loughrey's blog. This is my journal about my experiences and thoughts on writing. As well as news about me and my books, it includes writing tips, book reviews, author interviews and blog tours.
For more information about me and my books see my website: www.anitaloughrey.com. Follow me on Twitter @amloughrey, Facebook @anitaloughrey.author and on Instagram @anitaloughrey
I am shining a spotlight on The Rat King: The Rats of Letniv Volume One by Emma Miles as part of her blog tour.
The Rats of Letniv is a prequel to the Fire-Walker saga and Land Beneath the Sky companion books. This young adult, fantasy was published on 31st October 2023.
Blurb
Being the son of a Coven Lord is a far and desperate cry from luxury and safety. Every day Rothfel must prove he is worth the food his father puts on the table, and avoid the notice of Lord Atise’s brutal bodyguard, Bicken. When his only friend, a lowly slave, is cruelly taken from him, Rothfel finds himself alone in the sprawling, chaotic city of Letniv.
Yearning for friendship, love, and approval, he is offered a hand from the unlikeliest of places…
But who is really worth his loyalty?
Akimas Atise, his distant, cold, and terrifying father?
Golghen, the mysterious chameleon of Letniv city; king of liars, king of thieves?
Gentle, brave Leida; slave, concubine, descendant of the free women of the north?
Or Zephyr? Ghost, murderer, and devoted follower of the King of Rats.
Rothfel is only ten, but his choices, his love, his loyalty… will change the Land Beneath the Sky.
Blurb from The Rat King by Emma Miles
A Word from the Author
I often get asked when I knew I was a writer; the answer is always. A writer is what I am, it’s in my soul. There have been times in my life when I couldn’t write, and times when my writing has been the only thing that kept me going. I think I always longed for something deeper from life, something more meaningful, and I found it in my imagination and in the music of words.
It was poetry which first caught my attention, and whilst my younger cousins called for ghost stories it was animals I first wrote of. I think I gravitated toward fantasy because of the freedom it gives, I could create my own worlds and decide my own rules. My Wind’s Children trilogy was born from an image that came to me whilst daydreaming, of a young man sitting alone below a bridge. I didn’t know who he was; it turns out neither did he, but we found out together.
I’m now working on my seventh book and love writing more than ever, it’s an addiction, an obsession, but one I now share with my wonderful writing family. My beta readers, my editor, and you, my readers, having you with me on my journey means the world to me.
I write as much as I can around work, but I also try to squeeze in a ridiculous amount of hobbies! I’m a wildlife photographer and do a little archery. I paint, sculpt with clay, withies and driftwood, preferring to be outdoors if I can. I still have a love for the theatre, having started out in life studying backstage crafts, and a great love for language. I speak a little French, Romanian and Italian, ma non molto bene!
Thanks for reading this. If you read any of my books and love them, please come say hello and tell me, you’d be surprised at how much that means to an author.
It is my stop on the epic Do Penguins Like the Cold? blog tour. So grab your life jacket and wrap up warm – it’s time to go polar!
In this entertaining and highly informative book, expert field guide Huw Lewis Jones and nature illustrator Sam Caldwell take readers on an intrepid voyage to meet the eighteen species of penguin and to witness the conservation work underway to protect these incredible birds and their native habitats.
By observing penguins first hand, readers will discover whether penguins truly like the cold, how their diving skills make up for the fact that penguins can’t fly, and how to tell what a penguin had for dinner based on the colour of its poo!
You’ll travel by ship across mighty oceans, visit remote islands and trek across icy landscapes to discover all the different types of penguin, from emperors and kings to chinstraps and rockhoppers. This book is packed with facts, fun and everything there is to know about penguins and gives readers a taste of what it’s really like to work in the wild.
Huw Lewis Jones is an expedition leader, naturalist and award-winning author of books for adults and children, including Do Bears Poop in the Woods? He teaches natural history at Falmouth University and is lucky to have met many penguins in the wild.
Sam Caldwell is an illustrator based in Glasgow, Scotland. He studied painting at the Edinburgh College of Art and is the illustrator of several books for children, including Do Bears Poop in the Woods?
My stop on the tour takes the form of a book review.
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Title: Do Penguins Like the Cold?
Written by: Huw Lewis
Illustrated by: Sam Caldwell
Published by: Thames & Hudson
Do Penguins Like the Cold? by Huw Lewis and Sam Caldwell is a fascinating tour to Antarctica with tour guide Huw and expedition illustrator Sam. On our trip we can learn lots of incredible facts about penguins and where they live, how they survive and what we can do to protect them in their natural homes and habitats. This creative non-fiction picture books contains everything you want to know about penguins and more.
Some of my favourite parts was discovering where the word ‘penguin’ originated from and learning the differences between the eighteen species of penguin, what they eat and how technology can help them.
The illustrations are bold with bright backgrounds and borders that bleed to the edges of the page. There is a lot of action in the pictures to keep young readers turning the pages and encourage them to explore. Included throughout are images of Huw and Sam and their band of excited children who are accompanying them on the expedition.
This entertaining picture book would be perfect for children interested in wildlife and conservation and useful in the classroom to support a project on contrasting environments or Humans and Animals.
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You can buy copies of Do Penguins Like the Cold? by Huw Lewis and Sam Caldwfrom your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.
To follow the rest of the tour check out the schedule below:
I would like to thank Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part in this blog tour. Thank you.
To read my other reviews of children’s books published by Thames and Hudson see:
The latest addition to the wildly popular series of bedtime stories imagines what it would be like to have a polar bear for a pet.
What would it be like to have a polar bear as a pet? It might be an unconventional choice, but it would be sure to give the best bear hugs…
Polar bears are cuddly but they’re also very strong. As marine mammals, they can swim for days at a time – that’s serious perseverance! So if Santa ever needed help delivering his presents, guess who he would call?
Join our funny female protagonist as she wonders ‘what would life be like… if I had a polar bear?’
Blurb for If I Had A Polar Bear by Gabby Downay and Alex Barrow
Gabby Dawnay is a writer and poet. She is a regular contributor to OKIDO magazine and a script-writer for children’s television.
Alex Barrow is a London-based illustrator, and the art director for and a regular contributor to OKIDO magazine.
Alex and Gabby are the duo behind children’s picture books If I had a dinosaur, A House for Mouse and A Song for Bear, all published by Thames & Hudson.
My stop on the tour takes the form of a book review.
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Title: If I had a Polar Bear
Written by: Gabby Dawnay
Illustrated by: Alex Barrow
Published by: Thames & Hudson
If I Had A Polar Bear by Gabby Dawnay and Alex Barrow is a heart-warming picture book about love and imagination. A young girl dreams of owning a polar bear and all the things they could do together. As well as being a lovely story it is full of interesting facts about polar bears.
I enjoyed the way the illustrations are part of the text. This worked perfectly on the pdf I was sent but not so well in the e-book as my e-reader did not format the pages properly. This meant the illustrations were all out of place so the text unfortunately did not make sense.
Written in rhyming couplets this book was easy to read aloud. The illustrations of the polar bear as a faint pencil outline gives the desired effect of the polar bear being imaginary. but also highlights how a polar bear’s fur is translucent not white. I particularly liked the addition of double-page spreads with no text. The pastel colours add to the magical feel of the story.
A highly entertaining read. A great book for reading at bedtime and for encouraging young children to use their imagination.
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To follow the rest of the tour please see the schedule below:
You can buy copies of If I Had A Polar Bear by Gabby Dawnay and Alex Barrow from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.
I would like to thank Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part in this blog tour. Thank you.
To read my other reviews of children’s books published by Thames and Hudson see:
The second of my posts today extends the range in children’s books inspired by Norse mythology and the Vikings into young adult books. Again I have only included fiction titles and they are not in any particular order.
I have included some classics and some new releases out this month.
I hope you enjoy looking at my selection and please do add any more young adult fiction you can think of that have links to Norse mythology in the comments.
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Postcards from Valhalla by Danny Weston (aka Philip Caveney), published by UClan Books
Postcards from Valhalla by Danny Weston was released on November 3rd, 2023. It’s a contemporary YA story, set in Shetland, inspired by Norse mythology.
Viggo is fifteen years old, living in Edinburgh with his mum. He has no plans for the future other than to watch the new Thor movie at his local multiplex. But one morning, he wakes to the news that his older brother, Magnus, has gone missing on Shetland. Mum has already booked tickets to go and search for him. There’s good reason to be worried. Five years ago, Viggo’s dad, Jonathan, went ‘off grid’ in the same location and disappeared. He is now ‘missing presumed dead.’ Viggo has no option but to go to Shetland with Mum – but from the moment they set off, he’s troubled by strange visions: images of armed warriors, mythical creatures and Viking longships. And then they encounter Leon, a mysterious wandering musician who attaches himself to them and proves impossible to shake off. Once on Shetland, the search for Magnus begins in earnest and Viggo’s troubling visions start to intensify. Soon he is finding it difficult to separate fact from fantasy… and who knows what terrors lie in wait for him deep beneath the ground?
Blurb from Postcards from Valhalla by Danny Weston
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The Twisted Tree by Rachel Burge, published by Hot Key Books
Part ghost story, part Nordic mystery. The Twisted Tree by Rachel Burge is a creepy and chilling tale steeped in Norse myth.
Martha can tell things about a person just by touching their clothes, as if their emotions and memories have been absorbed into the material.
Determined to understand her strange ability, Martha sets off to visit her grandmother – only to discover she is dead and a terrifying creature is on the loose.
Then the spinning wheel starts creaking . . .
Blurb for The Twisted Tree by Rachel Burge
Set in the remote snows of contemporary Norway, this YA novel is a ghost story that twists and turns – and never takes you quite where you’d expect. Features Yggdrasil, the Norns, Hel and Odin.
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The Crooked Mask by Rachel Burge, published by Hot Key Books
Part ghost story, part murder mystery The Crooked Mask by Rachel Burge is a creepy and magical tale for young adults steeped in Norse myth.
Welcome to the Circus of Myth & Mayhem – where performers re-enact tales of the Norse gods wearing masks which mysteriously change expression, the creepy jester isn’t quite human, and the big top is full of the dead.
Martha arrives at the circus, deep in the forests of Northern Norway, determined to learn how Nina died. Did she fall from the trapeze as Stig said, or was there more to her ‘accident?’
Drawn into a dangerous game of the gods, Martha must look behind the mask and see the truth . . . before it’s too late.
Blurb for The Crooked Mask by Rachel Burge
Following the events of The Twisted Tree, The Crooked Mask continues the story of Martha and Stig as she comes to terms with her magical inheritance. The stories of the Norse gods are brought to life in the circus ring and features Loki.
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Warrior King by Sue Purkiss, published by Walker Books
Warrior King by Sue Purkiss is the story of King Alfred and his daughter, Aethelflaed and features the Guthrum, leader of the Vikings, as a significant character in this YA adventure.
The year is 878 AD. The English kingdoms of Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia and Kent have fallen to the Vikings. Only Wessex is left, and its king, Alfred, has been driven into hiding on Athelney, the ancient Island of Princes. How can he, along with his daughter, Fleda, and his closest followers, defeat the dreaded Vikings?
Blurb for the Warrior King by Sue Purkiss
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West of the Moon by Katherine Langrish, published by Harper Collins Children’s Books
West of the Moon by Katherine Langrish is an epic and action-packed YA fantasy adventure that weaves together Norse legends, shadowy creatures and an unforgettable hero.
When Peer is orphaned he is taken by his wicked uncles to live at their foreboding mill in the shadow of Troll Fell. Here he meets beautiful and spirited Hilde and after a terrifying encounter with the sinister creatures who live below the fell the pair form an inseparable bond. They are thirsty for adventure, so when a Viking longship docks at their village, they decide to set sail for Vinland – a mysterious place across the perilous sea. But are the ship’s captain and his sword wielding son really honest sailors? What creatures lurk in the shadows and forests of the new land? And will Peer and Hilde ever return?
Blurb for West of the Moon by Katherine Langrish
It is part of The Troll Trilogy and spans years and continents. Filled with brilliantly imagined characters and creatures, this is gripping, atmospheric fantasy at its best.
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Daughter of Fire by Marie-Louise Jensen, published by OUP Oxford
Daughter of Fire by Marie-Louise Jensen is a rich, atmospheric Viking journey into Iceland.
Following an attack on her family, fifteen-year-old Thora is enslaved by a brutish Viking chieftain, Bjorn Svanson. A healer and a midwife, Thora is valuable. She also has visions of the future . . . and in one she foresees Svanson’s death. When her prediction becomes reality, Thora recognizes that another of Svanson’s slaves is a man she has seen before-a man from recurrent visions who is destined to be part of her future.
Assuming Svanson’s identity, the slave and Thora use the dead man’s ships to escape. Their destination is Iceland, the then uncharted ‘land of fire and ice’. To succeed they must first win over Svanson’s crew, and their journey is fraught with hardship and danger.
But their troubles are only just beginning. Soon, newcomers are among them and someone is stealing from Thora’s medicines to cause terrible harm. Under suspicion herself, can Thora unmask the real culprit and clear her name?
And can Thora and the man now known as Bjorn ever really hope that their pasts won’t catch up with them?
Blurb for Daughter of Fire by Marie-Louise Jensen
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Viking Girl by Pauline Chandler, published by OUP Oxford
Viking Girl by Pauline Chandleris a YA thriller set during the era of the Vikings.
Beren, a Viking princess, is forced to flee her home after her father is killed and her people defeated in battle. Guided by her uncle, she and the remains of her tribe come to England seeking sanctuary. But Vikings have been there before and laid waste to the land, and Beren’s small group is met with scorching hatred from the locals. When Beren’s uncle takes her men south to fight the king, Beren is left struggling to protect the rest of her followers.
The only help comes from the local abbey. The monks there want everybody to live in peace. But when Beren befriends a trainee monk, the factions are further divided, and the hatred simmering under the surface begins to boil over. And then a new threat – from Beren’s own uncle – raises its head. Now the people must decide: fight amongst themselves and be annihilated by a greater power, or unite under Beren’s command, and fight for their freedom.
Blurb for Viking Girl by Pauline Chandler
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Odin Trilogy Volume 1 – Odin’s Voice by Susan Price , published by Simon & Schuster Children’s
Odin’s Voice by Susan Price is aimed at the YA market.
This first adventure follows the story of a bonder, Kylie, and a pampered teen, Affroditey – both thrown together as their prescribed roles in society change. Kylie becomes the mouthpiece of the god, Odin, and gains political advantage and freedom as a result. Affroditey finds herself reduced to penury after her father’s suicide, and sold off as a bonder by her uncaring stepmother. Brought together by Kylie’s young son, who has been ‘adopted’ by Affroditey’s employers, the two girls decide to escape as pioneers to Mars, where they will help to set up a new society.
Blurb for Odin’s Voice by Susan Price
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Odin Trilogy Volume 2 – Odin’s Queen by Susan Price, published by Simon & Schuster Children’s
Odin’s Queen by Susan Price is aimed at the YA market.
In this thrilling adventure, bonder Affie has escaped to Mars with Odinstoy, and her young son, Apollo. Odinstoy has been employed by the Martian Temple of Odin as their God-speaker and Affie goes undercover as her ‘wife’. Affie hopes their new life will enable her to claw back the status and respect she had before she became a bonder – and is frustrated by Odinstoy’s disdain for the fame her new role brings. Affie’s craving for attention leads her to fall under the spell of a follower of the rival temple of Zeus, and before she knows it she is revealing more of her past to him than she ever intended. And in doing so, she finds herself betrays Odinstoy; putting all their lives at risk…
Blurb for Odin’s Queen by Susan Price
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Odin Trilogy Volume 3 – Odin’s Son by Susan Price, published bySimon & Schuster Children’s
Odin’s Son by Susan Price is aimed at the YA market.
Since his mother, Odinstoy’s, death, Gift has become obsessed with the idea of tracking down his real father. In secret, he employs a private detective to make investigations on Earth so that he can uncover his past. But when a Newsblog reveals evidence to suggest that Odinstoy wasn’t his real mother, Gift doesn’t know where to turn. He flees to the poisonous surface of Mars in the hope that the great god Odin can give him some answers…Meanwhile the mysterious Sherri, whose resemblance to Gift is undeniable, is making her way to Mars with some important news. Will she find him before it’s too late?
Blurb for Odin’s Son by Susan Price
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I hope you like my selection. Please don’t forget to add any of your own examples in the comments.
I would like to thank Alex for inviting me to join the Norsevember celebrations for all things Viking. I was asked to post a feature during Week Four with a theme of Norse Memories – How did the Norse view their part in the world and what is their lasting legacy?
What could be more of a lasting legacy than literature? For this Norse Memories themed week, I will be spotlighting 10 early readers and middle grade books that have been inspired by Norse myths and legends and the Vikings this morning and another ten young adult books this afternoon. These stories are shaping the minds of the future.
I have only included fiction titles. Apart from arranging them by age they are not in any particular order of preference. I have included some classics and some new releases .
I hope you enjoy looking at my selection and please do add any more children’s fiction books that you can think of that have links to Norse mythology in the comments.
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The Magic Helmet: a Viking Adventure by Cath Jones, Published by Maverick
The Magic Helmet: a Viking Adventure by Cath Jones and illustrated by Dean Gray is a Level 10 white level banded reader. Recommended reading age 6 – 7 years.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang like a clap of thunder. The helmet slid down over his eyes and – WHOOSH! Harry finds himself aboard a Viking ship. Can he find a way home?
Blurb for The Magic Helmet: a Viking Adventure by Cath Jones and Dean Gray
There are lots of historical facts about the Vikings incorporated within the story.
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How To Be a Viking by Cressida Cowell, Published by Hodder Children’s Books
This particular edition of How To Be a Viking by Cressida Cowell is from a rejacketed version of the classic picture book that was the inspiration for Cressida Cowell’s bestselling How To Train Your Dragon fiction series, now a Dreamworks feature film.
Unlike his dad, Stoick the Vast, Hiccup is tiny, thoughtful and polite and scared of almost everything – especially of going to sea for the very first time. But go he must… So who will save the day when everything goes wrong aboard ship and all the big Vikings lose their cool? This wonderfully witty fable will delight all those who have ever faced up to their worst fears.
Blurb for How To Be a Viking by Cressida Cowell
This 2014 reissue includes a letter from Cressida Cowell to the reader. It is suitable for reader 6-11 years.
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Storm Hound by Claire Fayers, published by Macmillan Children’s Books
Storm Hound by Claire Fayers is a mash-up of Norse myth and Welsh legend, featuring Odin and the Wild Hunt.
Storm of Odin is the youngest stormhound of the Wild Hunt that haunts lightning-filled skies. He has longed for the time when he will be able to join his brothers and sisters but on his very first hunt he finds he can’t keep up and falls to earth, landing on the A40 just outside Abergavenny.
Enter twelve-year-old Jessica Price, who finds and adopts a cute puppy from an animal rescue centre. And suddenly, a number of strange people seem very interested in her and her new pet, Storm. People who seem to know a lot about magic . . . Jessica starts to see that there’s something different about her beloved dog and will need to work out which of her new friends she can trust.
Myth becomes reality in the unlikeliest of places in the fast-paced and funny adventure that won the Tir na n-Og award.
Blurb for Storm Hound by Claire Fayers
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The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the World’s Worst Viking by Tim Collins, published by Book House
The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the World’s Worst Viking by Tim Collins is illustrated by Isobel Lundie. It is part of a series of hilarious fictional diaries put us inside the heads of hapless figures from history in frazzling situations.
Halfdan is a 14-year-old boy living in Denmark in 1000 AD. His father wants him to stay at home and learn how to carve wooden tools, but Halfdan is determined to become a brave and strong Viking raider, pillaging villages in England. Unfortunately, the raid is a disaster, and Halfdan and his friend Astrid find themselves embarking on an unexpected and perilous trip with the famous Viking explorer Leif Erikson to a strange new land.
Blurb for The Long-Lost Secret Diary of the World’s Worst Viking by Tim Collins and Isobel Lundie
The book incorporates ‘Get Real’ fact boxes throughout, providing historical context and further information, as well as a timeline, historical biographies and a glossary in the end matter ideal for middle grade.
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Viking Boy by Tony Bradman, published by Walker Books
Viking Boy by Tony Bradman is an action-packed blend of historical adventure and fantasy for junior readers; a blast of uncensored Viking adventure.
Gunnar is the son of a Viking chieftain, living peacefully on his family steading with his mother, father and their people – until they are raided by Skuli and his Wolf Men, who raze his home to the ground and take his father’s life. Gunnar swears an oath to avenge his father’s death and save his mother from Skuli – but first he must run to save himself. Murderous raiders, hand to hand battles to the death, mythical flying wolves and a relentless sea journey to the Land of Fire and Ice… Unknown to Gunnar, his life has been foretold, and he finds he has a destiny greater than his own story.
Blurb for Viking Boy by Tony Bradman
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The Night Raider: A Viking Tale by Marie-Louise Jensen, published by ReadZone Book
The Night Raider: A Viking Tale by Marie-Louise Jensen is Fiction Express book written with the input of middle grade children and written from a dual narrative.
Astrid and Finn battle against suspicion as their carefully tended livestock continue to disappear. Will they succeed in finding and stopping the secret night raider? And who or what will it turn out to be? A gripping adventure story set in Viking times, with historical facts woven into the fast moving plot.
Blurb for The Night Raider: A Viking Tale by Marie-Louise Jensen
A gripping adventure story set in Viking times, with historical facts woven into the fast moving plot.
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Norse Myths: Tales of Odin, Thor and Loki by Kevin Crossley-Holland, published by Walker Books
Norse Myths: Tales of Odin, Thor and Loki by Kevin Crossley-Holland is illustrated by Jeffrey Alan Love and aimed at the middle grade market.
These dramatic, enthralling and atmospheric tales are based on the Scandinavian myth cycle – one of the greatest and most culturally significant stories in the world – and tell of Odin with his one eye, Thor with his mighty hammer and Loki, the red-haired, shape-shifting trickster. In this stunning collection of myths, the strange world of ancient magic, giants, dwarfs and monsters is unforgettably imagined.
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Blood Feud by Rosemary Sutcliff, published by Red Fox Classics
Blood Feud by Rosemary Sutcliff is suitable for middle grade, ages 9-11.
Jestyn the Englishman had once been Thormod the Viking’s slave, but after saving Thormod’s life he became his shoulder to shoulder man and sworn brother in the deadly blood feud to avenge Thormod’s murdered father, a feud that would take them all the way to Constantinople.
Blurb for Blood Feud by Rosemary Sutcliff
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The Viking Saga by Henry Treece, published by Puffin
The Viking Saga by Henry Treece contains all three books of this exciting middle grade trilogy: Viking’s Dawn, Road to Miklagard, Viking’s Sunset.
It is AD 780. Viking’s Dawn sees a young Norse boy, Harald Sigurdson, set sail for the Hebrides in the longship ‘Nameless’. The goal: to plunder the helpless coastal villages of Britain.
Just five years later, undeterred by his first desperate journey, the dauntless warrior puts to sea once again, in The Road to Miklagard – this time lured by the news of a fabulous hoard of treasure.
After a lifetime struggling with the bitter waves, Harald embarks on his last voyage in Viking’s Sunset, this time not for gain but to seek vengeance on a blood enemy.
Blurb for The Viking Saga by Henry Treece
Into this breath taking trilogy is woven the true spirit of the Vikings, whose great thirst for travelling the seas took them on incredible voyages in defiance of icy waters, terrible hardships and bloodthirsty resistance.
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Myths of the Norsemen by Roger Lancelyn Green, published by Puffin
Puffin Classics bring the very best children’s stories to a new generation with Roger Lancelyn Green’s time-honoured collection of Norse myths and legends. Myths of the Norsemen by Roger Lancelyn Green is introduced by bestselling author Michelle Paver, creator of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness collection and Gods and Warriors, her epic Greek Bronze Age series for Puffin.
The great Norse sagas are full of magic and heroic deeds. Odin’s wanderings, Thor’s hammer, the death of Bakkur, the vision of Ragnarok – tales which have been told since time immemorial – are given a fresh life in this version, written as one continuous exciting adventure story.
This Puffin Classic contains additional endnotes for children including an author profile, a guide to who’s who, activities and more. Suitable for readers 10 years an up.
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I hope you like my selection please don’t forget to add any of your own examples in the comments and keep an eye out for my post later today on young adult books inspired by Norse Mythology and the Vikings.
Thank you again to Alex for inviting me to take part. Thank you.
Title: Me and the World: An Infographic Exploration
Written by: Mireia Trius
Illustrated by: Joana Casal
Published by: Abrams & Chronicle Books
Me and the World: An Infographic Exploration by Mireia Trius and Joana Casals
Me and the World: An Infographic Exploration is a bright and colourful compendium of infographics that provide visual comparisons of how people live all over the world, what food they eat, their homes, favourite pastimes and ways of communicating, highlighting the differences and similarities. The sources for the data for each spread are listed at the back of the book providing opportunities for the reader to check them for themselves.
Each double-page spread is introduced by the fictional character Lucia who comes from Spain, written by the publisher Mireia Trius. Starting with her name, family and pet Lucia moves on to talk about world population and significant cultural features such as languages, jobs, school and religion. Children can explore what life is like for Lucia in Spain compared to where they live and the rest of the world. The data is presented in interesting, visually stimulating ways which every reader can spend hours exploring. The infographics will engage the most reluctant reader as they are able to browse the pages in any order.
It was fascinating to discover that Hong Kong has the smallest average house sizes at 45m² compared to Australia which has the largest average house size at 214m²; or to compare the different school uniforms around the world and noticing very few of them wear ties and blazers; or view age, geography and language as if here were only 100 people in the world, which really does put things in perspective.
This would be an excellent resource for introducing the study of data and statistics to Key Stage Two pupils and would also be great for discussion points in PSHE and Citizenship. It would also be a good way of introducing the use of different keys and different graphical ways data can be presented. This book provides the foundations to help children recognise how data can be manipulated by presenting it in different ways, such as changing to vertical scale to make it bigger or smaller, or skipping numbers, not starting at zero, which is an important skill in our increasingly digital world.
Something I particularly enjoy is writing plays. I think it comes quite naturally to me as I am a very visual writer. During my career as a teacher and as a writer I have written a wide variety of plays for primary school. Many of these were for school Christmas productions when I was teaching. I have also had several plays published. I am particularly proud of Quick and Easy Plays for Primary School, which is a teacher resource of twenty-seven plays compiled into a folder.
Title: Quick and Easy Plays for Primary School
Written by: Anita Loughrey
Illustrated by: Catherine Ward
Published by: Hopscotch Educational
This lever arch folder, published by Hopscotch Educational, a division of the Mark Allen Publishing Group, contains twenty-seven differentiated and cross-curricular Quick and Easy Plays for Primary School with teacher notes and suggestions for making props and costumes.
The plays were written to be versatile, so they could be used for guided reading as well as being performed on stage. I have used this resource during school visits to encourage students to create and write their own plays. The handy ring-binder format allows the teacher to add their own notes, which is always useful in a teaching environment.
This folder contains plays themed around the following topics:
Childhood Experiences – friends, school journey, Victorian childhood
Traditional stories – fairy tales, myths and legends, fables
Stories form other cultures – creation stories, Chinese festivals, Christmas
Each topic contains three differentiated plays for the age range. As you can see, there are nine plays in each chapter. The first play in each set of three is the easiest and is suitable for younger or less able children within this age range. The language level and stage directions are much simpler than in the next two. The font size is also larger in the first plays. Here is an example of one of the simpler plays:
The third play in each set of three is the most challenging play with more complex language and more detailed stage directions. The font size is smaller in these plays. Here is an example of one of the more challenging plays:
There are six folders in the series, each written by a different author. Mine is aimed at ages 9-10, which would be Year Five.
To purchase a copy of Quick and Easy Plays for Primary School by Anita Loughrey directly from the publisher Hopscotch Educational, or your local bookshop should be able to order copies.
Title: Music and How it Works: The Complete Guide for Kids
Written by: Charlie Morland
Illustrated by: David Humphries
Consultant: Gareth Dawson
Published by: DK Children
Music and How it Works: The Complete Guide for Kids by Charlie Morland and David Humphries
Music and How it Works: The Complete Guide for Kids provides answers to questions such as, why do we like music, do animals like music, how sound is made and what animal can produce the highest pitch? It provides a very comprehensive look at music and everything involved in creating and listening to music. For example children can discover more about the seven ingredients of music: rhythm, dynamics, melody, harmony, tibre, texture and form. It discusses reading music and the different notes as well as explaining sharps and flats, intervals, tones and semitones and octaves.
This book provides opportunities for children to discover their own love of music by looking at scales, chords and keys, different instruments and different genres such as opera, blues, rock and hip-hop to K-pop and electronic music. The author, Charlie Morland, includes ‘playlists’ of key pieces encouraging the children to look up pieces of music to listen to themselves. There is also an insightful look behind the scenes at the process of the music industry.
The vibrant, modern feel using bright colours, photographs and infographics will appeal to children of all ages. I particularly liked the way this book clearly explains the psychology and math behind music, how it can affect our mood and improve our minds and the research into the Mozart Effect. At the back of the book is a musical timeline which gives a breakdown of music throughout history from the first percussion to using streaming apps such as Spotify.
This is the ideal book for anyone who is interested in music whether that is listening to their favourites, or learning an instrument, or writing and composing their own songs from the introduction to the final chorus. It is guaranteed to help children to develop a deep passion for music. The perfect addition for all school libraries.
Over the years I have written a lot of teacher resources. 100+ Fun Ideas for Science Investigations in the Primary Classroom is one of my favourites.
Title: 100+ Fun Ideas for Science Investigations in the Primary Classroom
Written by: Anita Loughrey
Illustrated by: Pat Murray
Published by: Brilliant Publications
It contains over 100 exciting, fun classroom experiments in an easy-to-use layout to help teach scientific investigation in the primary classroom. The activities require a minimum of preparation and only the simplest of science equipment. Each activity provides opportunities for children to develop their skills of scientific enquiry.
All experiments listed in this book closely match the statutory and non-statutory guidelines and schemes of work for Key Stages 1 and 2.
With the aid of this book, the children are given the confidence and courage in order to thrive inside the classroom whilst having fun in the meantime. This therefore naturally promotes the development of key scientific attitudes applicable both inside and outside of the classroom. Group co-operation is also encouraged within the investigative activities, helping to enforce the importance of leadership and appropriate communication skills.
This compilation of exciting ideas for classroom experiments has been tested and approved by primary school teachers over a period of 17 years of education. You can be assured that the activities in this book will lay the relevant foundations for secondary education and support every child’s journey through education.
To purchase a copy of 100+ Fun Ideas for Science Investigations in the Primary Classroom by Anita Loughrey directly from the publisher Brilliant Publications or from your local bookshop will be able to order copies, or online at uk.bookshop.org, an organisation with a mission to financially support local, independent bookshops.
Much To Do About Writing 