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Books That Make a Childhood No.5 The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr

Whenever anyone asks for my favourite book from early childhood, before I discovered the world of Narnia or The Faraway Tree and certainly long before the doors to a certain school of witchcraft and wizardry were open, it has to be the simple but gorgeous story of a tiger and a little girl called Sophie. The first reason why I think every child is enchanted with this book has to be the visual appeal. The drawings are stunning, especially the use of colour. If I close my eyes, I can see the orange fur of the tiger, the purple of Sophie’s dress, the red icing on the cake and the beautiful street scene in the dark at the end. You can see the loving detail that has gone into every single image, and this is what makes the book live and breathe. The second is the charming story that the book tells. The visit from the tiger who eats all the food is funny and exciting for a young child, and a figure that could be threatening suddenly becomes a figure of fun and joy. Rather than hurting anyone,

Books That Make a Childhood No.4 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K Rowling

I must confess that I was probably already pushing the definition of child when I first read Harry Potter, but it definitely deserves a place in our Books That Make a Childhood series. The scale of the Harry Potter universe now is so huge, that it is very easy to forget it all began with one book that was rejected by numerous publishers and only had 500 copies published. It has become a phenomenon, but nothing comes of nothing, and it all started with one book that made a huge connection with its young readers. I think a lot of its success is due to the fact that J K Rowling is using traditional story archetypes and themes that appeal to both children and adults. The idea of someone who is an outsider in one world, treated with contempt by those around him, suddenly discovering that he is a legendary figure in another, taps into the classic superhero story line. The abilities that make Harry an outcast in the everyday world, suddenly become his means of escape. Harry Potter is primaril

Frozen Two: A Bold Step Into the Unknown

In case you have been living under a rock, or just do not have daughters under the age of ten, the big news this weekend, is that Frozen Two is here. So also are the dresses, toothbrushes, lunchboxes, pencil cases, pyjamas, the toilet roll (I like to think that is made up, but it is probably true). But what about the main event itself? For the first time in forever, can a sequel live up to its predecessor, or should we all have long since let it go? To sum it up simply, it is a great effort, albeit a bit of a fixer-upper. The storyline is more ambitious than the first film, and as a result, whilst it is entertaining to watch, it does not have the same emotional resonance that made the first film a hit with the adults as well as the little ones. It delves into the secrets behind Elsa’s powers, and the shameful past of Arendelle. We find out more about Elsa and Anna’s parentage, and the film takes us to a range of backdrops which are almost as visually impressive as the amount of dress

Books that Make a Childhood No.3 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis

When I was a child I developed a strange habit whenever we went on holiday. Every new hotel room or holiday cottage or caravan we went into, I would always head straight to one place: the wardrobe. Whatever coats or hangers were in there would be pushed to one side, in order to find the back of the wardrobe. And every time I realised that the back of that wardrobe was solid and fixed, I would experience the same sense of disappointment. Narnia had eluded me once more. I am sure I am not the only child who has tried to walk through the back of the wardrobe, for C S Lewis creates a world that is enchanting and alluring, despite all its dangers. Who would not want to go to a land covered in snow, where you can meet a faun, or talking beavers and a magical lion? The detail of his world is breath-taking to a child, and the memories will never leave you. Even now, when I see a lamp post covered in snow, I am immediately taken back to that first scene in Narnia, where Lucy collides with Mr

Bringing the community together through phonics!

Next week, I am going to be launching a very special new class at Heathfield Court Care Home, in Erith. This class will have the same fun and energy that comes with every Sounds Right Phonics class, but we will also be joined each week by the residents of Heathfield Court, making it our first regular intergenerational class. Why attend an intergenerational class? There has been a lot of research revealing that these classes bring substantial benefits to the community. For the care home residents, the classes are a valuable opportunity to interact with others, and experience life beyond the care home. Loneliness amongst the elderly is a huge problem in this country, and the classes offer the residents a chance to make meaningful connections with others.They look forward to seeing the children and the parents. Other nursing homes in the UK that run similar intergenerational classes have also reported that daily interactions between the residents themselves have become more positive, as t

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood - Still Chilling, Still Relevant.

When I was at university, and having a tricky time, a friend gave me a Christmas card, and had written nolite te bastardes carborundum at the bottom. I was baffled by this coded message, and it was then that I had to admit, to my coursemate’s horror, that I had never read The Handmaid’s Tale . This was particularly shocking as I was studying English Literature, with a specialism in feminist perspectives. Needless to say, this was quickly remedied. This time, with the follow-up, The Testaments , I was determined not to be late to the party. I always used to tell my students that dystopia is never really about the future, it is a warning to the present generation, and The Testaments , like its predecessor, is a tale for our times, albeit one that gives us an inkling of hope. The Handmaid’s Tale was published in 1985, and was seen as a commentary on the dangers posed by the return of ultra right-wing policies to US politics. Ironically, nearly twenty-five years later, it has become