Welcome to the first ever Rendell Review created by the English Team here at Rendell.
The aims of the Rendell Review are: to promote reading for pleasure, to help parents/carers with buying/borrowing books for their children, to share what the teachers are reading, and to recommend new and exciting literature.
In this edition, we have recommendations from the English Co-ordinator, Mrs Rixon-Fox, Year 4's Mr Wicks, Year 2's Miss Mace and Year 1's Mrs Nixon as well as books to read this Remembrance day and a suggestion from our Author of the Month collection which can be found on the tree in the library.
One of the buttons found under each photo is labelled 'Read the First Chapter Now!' This will take you to a website called lovereading4kids.co.uk. It is free to sign-up and will allow you to read and download the first chapter of most children's books for free. The children are used to seeing this website as part of their reading lessons in school.
Also included are buttons labelled, 'Waterstones' and 'Amazon' which, when pressed, will take you directly to the website page of the book recommended, just in case you would like to purchase it! Alternatively, you could try and borrow the book from Loughborough Library or indeed our school library.
Rendell Library
All of the books found in the review are available to loan from the Rendell Library or the class bookshelf. We have been lucky enough to upgrade our library this year into a wonderful new room where children have the space to choose, read and share stories. A few photos of the new library are included below, although we are continuing with plans to develop and expand on the design of this space in the near future. We will be excited to share these with you when they are complete. Furthermore, in the next few weeks we will be assigning upper KS2 librarians in school who will help with the running of the library and continual promotion of reading in school. Children will also get a chance to contribute to future Rendell Reviews!
We do encourage all our children to sign up to the Loughborough Library to expand opportunities for reading at home. The button below takes you to the library website where you will find all relevant information.
The Danger Gang by Tom Fletcher
UKS2 RECOMMENDATION by Mrs Rixon-Fox
The electrifying new adventure from bestselling author of The Christmasaurus and The Creakers which I know many of our children at Rendell have enjoyed. Tom Fletcher has penned another fantastic adventure story which will keep you gripped to every page.
Franky can't wait to move to his new town - although he wishes he didn't have to leave his best friend Dani behind. But everything changes after a powerful storm, when strange green lightning and powerful thunder crash down on the town. From that night on, the kids who live on Franky's street start to change. One by one, they become a little odd. A little unusual. A little... magical.
Franky's always wanted to be part of an amazing gang - just like his hero, super-spy Zack Danger! And soon, he realises that there's real danger in store for himself and his new friends. And so the Danger Gang is born...
Tom Fletcher is a captivating and funny writer who grips his readers and this book is no exception. If you enjoy a humerous read, which includes huge hamsters, terrifying sharks and invisible people (just for starters) then this book is a must read.
The Legend of Podkin One-Ear by Kieran Larwood
LKS2 RECOMMENDATION by Mr Wicks
Do you like rabbits? Do you like adventure, magic and heroes? Well this book would be for you. Podkin is son of the chieftain of the Munbury warren but is forced to flee with his baby brother and capable big sister Paz when their home is invaded by the terrifying Gorm, iron-clad monster rabbits turned evil by greed and enchantment. The story of how their little band grows to start the fight back against the Gorm is full of magic, narrow escapes and heroic deeds. Kieran Larwood has written a fabulously engaging story, full of vivid descriptions, tension and relief. This book will tease with your emotions as you follow the unlikely hero, Podkin.
If you enjoy this book, the sequel is called ‘The Gift of Dark Hollow’.
Mr. Wicks’ rating: 5 out 5 stars
The Monster from the Blue Planet by Cornelia Funke
Yr 2/3 RECOMMENDation by MISS MACE
For her birthday, Zaleb receives a small spaceship. She is thrilled that she will now be able to leave her home planet of Balbaz and visit planet Earth to see the strange monsters that live there. She is hopeful that she will find one that is suitable to bring back as a pet but having an Earth monster as a pet isn’t quite how Zaleb imagined it would be. In fact, it is much, much better…
A delightful space adventure that flips the idea of humans visiting other planets in search of alien life as Zaleb visits planet Earth. The chapters are short, there are plenty of illustrations produced using a limited colour palette of green, black, grey and cream and there are delightful extras in the form of a spot the difference (inside the front cover) and a space-themed maze (inside the back cover).
TheShark in the Dark by Peter Bently & Ben Cort
KS1 RECOMMENDATION by Mrs Nixon
If you are looking for a really fun, action-packed and funny book to read, then I recommend The Shark in the Dark written by Peter Bently. The story is about a bossy, greedy shark who tries to control the ocean. Although the other sea creatures are smaller, they utilise teamwork and clever strategies in the hope of stopping the shark in the dark. You won't want it to Finn-ish!
Peter Bently is a well-known author with a wealth of picture books available from him. If you enjoy The Shark in the Dark you may also enjoy some of his other titles including: I am Dog! or Octopus Shocktopus!
Rabbit & Bear: A Bite in the Night by Julian Gough & Jim Field
SHORT NOVEL RECOMMENDATION (6+ readers) by Mrs Rixon-Fox
The fourth book in a series of five, this wonderfully illustrated short novel is a joy to read. Witty, enchanting and engaging the story follows two charming friends through their adventures. Told with the usual gentle humour and fabulous illustrations, the ‘Rabbit and Bear’ stories are also wonderful at conveying clear messages and making everyone stop and think. There are another four of these books in the series so if you enjoy this one have a look out for those!
As Bear is getting ready for her winter sleep, Rabbit is increasingly worried by things that are changing. The river has moved…trees are disappearing…soon, even Bear is close to being slightly worried. Beaver has been at work and Progress is his middle name- nothing is going to get in his way. But Progress is not good for Rabbit- or Mole-or Vole-or Mouse… Although some of the animals might be better off as a result of the changes made in the name of Progress, can they stand by and see their friends suffer?
Remembrance Day 11.11.21
There are hundreds of books written around the subject of War, particularly WWI and WWII. These can be informative, educational and poignant. Many books can be found in our library which cover these topics and for help finding anything in particular, please do ask. Year 6 may be particularly interested after their fascinating study of WWII in the first term.
FLO OF THE SOMME by Hilary Robinson (5+years)
This picture book is a third in the poppy trilogy about a Mercy Dog called Flo who has more to contend with than racing across dangerous battlefields. Can she reach the injured in time with her first aid kit, and can she lead Ray and the ambulance unit to the injured? Flo Of The Somme pays tribute to the remarkable bravery of the pigeons and animals who risked their lives during World War 1.
The picture book is a beautiful account of an element of war which children can explore through following the stories of just some of the animals who supported the soldiers through the sacrifices of war.
WHEN HITLER STOLE PINK RABBIT by Judith Kerr (9+years)
Partly autobiographical, this is first of the internationally acclaimed trilogy by Judith Kerr (author of The Tiger who came to Tea) telling the unforgettable story of a Jewish family fleeing from Germany at the start of World War II.
Suppose your country began to change. Suppose that without your noticing, it became dangerous for some people to live in Germany any longer. Suppose you found, to your complete surprise, that your own father was one of those people. That is what happened to Anna in 1933. She was nine-years-old when it began, too busy with her schoolwork and toboganning to take much notice of political posters, but out of them glared the face of Adolf Hitler, the man who would soon change the whole of Europe - starting with her own small life.
Anna suddenly finds things moving too fast for her to understand. One day, her father goes unaccountably missing. Then she herself and her brother Max are being rushed by their mother, in alarming secrecy, away from everything they know - home and schoolmates and well-loved toys - right out of Germany!
A fascinating story of how close Judith's family came to an awful fate at the hands of the Nazi regime. A very well written story which can act as an introduction to this period in history.
Author of the Month - Cressida Cowell
Cressida Cowell is the author of the well-known series, 'How to Train Your Dragon' as well as many other wonderfully enchanting stories such as the Wizards of Once and the Emily Brown series.
THE WIZARDS OF ONCE by Cressida Cowell (9+ readers)
The Wizards of Once is the second series from Cressida Cowell after the wonderfully successful How to Train Your Dragon. The first of the Wizards of Once is set deep in an enchanting forest, this is a charming story full of Cowell’s trade mark humour and total command of mystery and magic and how it fits seamlessly into everyday life. From two opposing tribes – the Warriors and the Wizards – come two opposing characters, Xar, a young Wizard boy who has no command of magic and will fight anyone he can in order to get it, and Wish, a Warrior girl who is imbued with all kinds of magic that she should never have had access to. Xar and Wish should never meet and never become friends. But they do and together they brave the hidden dungeons in Warrior Fort to uncover a great mystery.
This story combines a fantastical quest-driven plot, a map – for all the best books have maps – and Cressida’s own beautifully magical, scratchy, inky illustrations throughout, this is a gripping story to both read aloud and delve into. With a cast of magical creatures, sprites, fairies, ogres, giants, scary witches, and one fantastically exasperated raven, this is a brilliantly imagined world. An engrossing story and a perfect place to spend the witching hours. To make this book even better, it is the first in a series of 4 wonderful reads.
Thank you for reading
We hope you have enjoyed this first edition of the Rendell Review. If your child would like more books recommending, please do talk to your class teachers or come and find myself and I'll be happy to help. Mrs Rixon-Fox
Credits:
Created with an image by DariuszSankowski - "paper heart symbol"