Hello and welcome to Keelby Primary Academy's first reading newsletter!

As we head into December, I would like to take this opportunity to share a selection of books with you that may be of interest to the children in the run up to Christmas. All of the books featured are available to borrow from our new 'Home Reading Library' in the entrance to school.

Whether you share the books with your children or if you encourage them to read them for themselves, it doesn't matter. I would simply like to see children get the opportunity to develop the breadth and depth of books that they see are available to them. Scroll down to discover more information about our 'Home Reading Library.'

HAPPY READING

Mr Claybourn

Our new 'Home Reading Library'

We are delighted to be able to launch and share with you our new 'Home Reading Library'. Firstly, we would like to say a huge thank you to you all for supporting our recent Scholastic Book Fair as the commission school received made the creation of this library possible as the majority of those books pictured were purchased using that commission... so thank you!

The idea of this library in the front office is for parents and carers to be able to come into school and browse the books on offer with their child. Once you've found one you all like the look of, simply sign the book out at the office like you would in any other library. We would love you to take the books home and share them as a family whether it be for bedtime stories or part of your usual home reading routine. Explore the picture books on offer or dive deep into the plots of some of the longer stories featured. We have labelled each book as a loose guide with an age-phase sticker in an attempt to help you browse, but this is simply a guide. There is nothing to stop the older children gaining as much enjoyment from sharing a picture book than a younger child would.

Continue to scroll down to see which books we have chosen from that shelf to feature as our 'Books of the Month.'

Foundation Stage Book of the Month

For brave hunters and bear-lovers, the classic chant-aloud by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury.

Follow and join in the family's excitement as they wade through the grass, splash through the river and squelch through the mud in search of a bear. What a surprise awaits them in the cave on the other side of the dark forest!

MR CLAYBOURN SAYS: My daughter absolutely loves this book and it has quickly become a firm favourite in our household. Follow the excitement of the family as they set off on an adventure on the unlikely search for a bear. The familiar pattern of each double page allows a child to quickly learn and recite the journey, which only adds the excitement as the family get closer and closer to the dark, gloomy cave. Younger children will love the excitement as the family quickly bid to make their escape and retrace their steps in a hurry as they rush back home to safety.

KS1 Book of the Month

One tiny snail longs to see the world and hitches a lift on the tail of a whale. Together they go on an amazing journey, past icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins, and the little snail feels so small in the vastness of the world. But when disaster strikes and the whale is beached in a bay, it's the tiny snail who saves the day.

The Snail and the Whale is a delightful tale of adventure and friendship by the award-winning team behind The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

MR CLAYBOURN SAYS: There is so much to love about 'The Snail and the Whale', it’s hard to know where to begin. The story, of course is magical. A tiny snail with ‘itchy feet’ hitches a ride on the tail of a ‘great big, grey-blue humpback whale’ and sets off on a fabulous adventure around the world. When disaster strikes, it’s the little snail, despite her size and feelings of inferiority, who uses her ingenuity to save the day and get them both safely home. What a lovely lesson to teach young children!

Lower Key Stage 2 Book of the Month

Mankind must put a stop to the dreadful destruction by the Iron Man and set a trap for him, but he cannot be kept down. Then, when a terrible monster from outer space threatens to lay waste to the planet, it is the Iron Man who finds a way to save the world.

MR CLAYBOURN SAYS: I have read this book a number of times when I have taught Y3/Y4 previously and the children have absolutely loved it. My last Y3/4 class loved it and could not get enough of it - when we reached the end they wanted to start over. It is a pleasure to read. Ted Hughes conjures up images and feelings which almost dance around the room as we read. Utterly engaging and a joy to see so many children transported into his imagination by the words.

Upper Key Stage 2 Book of the Month

WINNER OF THE BLUE PETER BOOK AWARD 2019

WINNER OF THE WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK PRIZE 2019

SHORTLISTED FOR THE JHALAK PRIZE 2019

Told with heart and humour, The Boy at the Back of the Class is a child's perspective on the refugee crisis, highlighting the importance of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn't always make sense.

There used to be an empty chair at the back of my class, but now a new boy called Ahmet is sitting in it.

He's nine years old (just like me), but he's very strange. He never talks and never smiles and doesn't like sweets - not even lemon sherbets, which are my favourite!

But then I learned the truth: Ahmet really isn't very strange at all. He's a refugee who's run away from a War. A real one. With bombs and fires and bullies that hurt people. And the more I find out about him, the more I want to help.

That's where my best friends Josie, Michael and Tom come in. Because you see, together we've come up with a plan. . .

With beautiful illustrations by Pippa Curnick

MR CLAYBOURN SAYS: My class last year absolutely loved this book. We read many books over the duration of the year, but the majority of the class voted this one as their favourite before they left in the Summer. The story of Ahmet is beautifully told and this book really opens your eyes to the plight of child refugees from across the world. Thanks to this book, my class developed a real appreciation of what it must be like for a perceived outsider to join and fit in at a new school.

Thank you for reading our Reading Newsletter. Our next issue will be released in December.

We would love to have some contributions from the children for our next issue so if your child is interested, then let Mr Claybourn know.