Something different to read...

I love reading fiction - stories that have been made up by authors with fantastic imaginations - but you don't just have to read fiction. There are other kinds of books too, so please let me know if you are reading anything that is a bit different.

 

Amelia kindly told me about a book that she has been reading - Strong is the New Pretty by Kate T Parker - A Celebration of Girls Being Themselves - it's a book that she has already read a few times and I am sure that she will keep on going back to it (I know that I would). 

This is quite a different kind of book. It isn't a story and it's not a normal non-fiction book full of facts. Kate T Parker is an American photographer who specialises in taking photographs of people - and does a lot of family portraits. She is a great photographer and has produced a few books. 

Every page in this book has a picture of a girl doing something that they like to do. And each of the girls has said something about themselves. This is a very positive book that girls especially will love. Reading it can make you feel good about yourself. The photographs are interesting and all very different from each other. It is a great book to just look at (especially if you are interested in photography or art) and it's also a great book to talk about. 

Just because the book focuses on girls it doesn't mean that boys won't be interested in it - but just in case... there is aother book that does focus on boys (The Heart of a Boy - Celebrating the Strength and Spirit of Boyhood) and it is just as good as this one.

The Heart of a Boy is very similar to the girl's book but - as you can probably guess. It's full of wonderful photographs. 

Books like this can be really good to read as you do not need to read them from start to finish. They are great to just dip into from time to time. I would be interested to hear what you think of them if you've looked at them too.

Secret Agents, Wizards and more...

The first book suggestion today is from Mrs Allen and it sounds as if she is really enjoying this. SilverFin by Charlie Higson... 

I read this book when it first came out (I actually read the first chapter before it came out) so I know that it is really good. A very exciting book about the young James Bond before he became the 007 secret agent that we all know. SilverFin is the first in the series and there are lots more.

Here's what Mrs Allen says about it "Oh My Goodness! - even before the first chapter STARTS, someone has been dragged to the bottom of a Scottish Loch, perhaps killed, by a mysterious eel man! Exciting or what? I am definitely addicted to this one already."

Julia has been reading The Beast of Buckingham Palace - a book that was recommended a little while ago. With a mixture of adventure and friendship in the story, Julia said that she could not wait to see what happens next. 

This sounds like two recommedations for this book from David Walliams... I might have to add it to my reading list too.

Alice has been reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by an author called J.K.Rowling - you might have heard of her. I know that you have probably all see the Harry Potter films but there is a lot more in the books than in the films... SO... if you loved the

films and want to know even more - why not give the books a go. Alice describes it as a really good page turner - and says that there are 'sad parts, scary parts' and even 'heart pounding scenes.' 

Amelia has also recommended a book that she has read a few times... I am going to write about that seperately as it is a very different sort of book. Thank you for telling me about it...  

I Am Back...

Hello everyone and thank you for leaving messages for me... 

First let say how sorry I am that I have not put more on this blog yet. 

It is not a very good excuse, but I have been busy working on a book that has been written online and read by people in different countries around the world - Spain, Mexico, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala and other places. It has been a fun and exciting book to write but I had to write it quite quickly - and also talk to hundreds of readers and answer messages and questions... Phew! I have just finsihed that now.

I will tell you a bit about the book very soon. I will be interested to hear what you think of it. I have just started writing a science fiction (spaceships, robots, aliens) book and would be interested to hear what you think of that. I wonder if you would like me to send the first chapter to you to read? 

From now on I want to try and write a few new things every week. 

Here are some things that I will be doing 

1. Suggest books to read that I have read or heard of.

2. Suggest books to read that you have told me about.

3. Answer any questions you have about me or writing (have you got any questions?)

4. Add some things to do - word searches, puzzles, story starters (so you can carry on and write your own story).

5. Anything else that you would like me to add... let me know what you would like to see here.

More Excellent Books to Read

Hi again - I hope you are all well and reading lots of great books. I am still reading the one that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago - the science fiction book. It's a big book and I'm quite a slow reader :-) . I keep on trying to snatch a few minutes in the day when I can read - even if it just a few pages (sometimes only three or four pages). As well as reading, I am busy writing too. I will tell you what I have been working on very soon.

Here are a couple more excellent recommendations -

Mrs Allen is now reading The Owl Service by Alan Garner. I have not read this but it is one book that almost every writer that I know has read and really loves... 

I can't wait to hear what Mrs Allen thinks about it but I have already added it to my list of books to read.










Sophie in Year 6 is reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio - and it is one of her favourite books she has read in the last month. 

I have not read this book either - but my wife Vicky read it as soon as it came out. She said it was fantastic and that she really enjoyed it. 














The last recomendation for today is from Julia in Year 6. Her choice is Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens. Robin is a really good writer and if you like a good mstery story then I am sure you will enjoy this. There are quite a few books in the series and each one is as good as the next... I've only read one of them so far but I will be reading more. Let me know what you think if you read one.

Some Book Recommendations

Hello everyone and thank you for leaving some messages... It's really great to hear from you all.

Here are some books that you might like to try - they have all been recommended by readers in Year 6.

I will keep on adding more books to this page as you suggest them -

Mrs Allen is reading Brightstorm by Vashti Hardy. This is the first Sky-Ship Adventure about the twins Arthur and Maddie Brightstorm. The book looks and sound really exciting. And if you like this one you will be glad to know that there are more adventures coming soon. 

The next recommendation is The Beast of Buckingham Palace by David Walliams. I'm sure that lots of you have already read some of David's book so you know that you will be in for a treat when you read this. I've not read this one yet but I'm sure that I will. If you read it too - let me know what you think of it. A S-D in year 6 says "This book is about life in 2120 where climate change and pollution has sent the world into eternal darkness and the royals have taken control dissolving the police, the army and the parliament." 

If you like fantasy and magic then I am sure that you will like the Harry Potter books by J.K.Rowling. One reader in Year 6 has alread read the first two books and is now reading the Prisoner of Azkaban. Here is the excellent recommendation from a reader in Y6 - "I'm really enjoying it.I have read numbers 1,2 and now about to finish 3.I am planning to read all of them in lock down.Once i spent 2hours and 30 minutes ready because it was such a lovely day."

The final book recommendation today comes from Amelia in Yr 6. Amelia is reading Zoe's Rescue Zoo by Amelia Cobb. There are a lot of books in the series and they are a lot of fun - I have read one called "The Picky Puffin" - if you like fun stories with animals in them then I am sure that you will enjoy these. Here's what Amelia says about them. 

"Zoe's Rescue Zoo is about a girl called Zoe who lives in a zoo that her great-uncle set up and he goes around the world saving animals and taking them back to the zoo were Zoe's mum is the vet. Zoe helps them with what ever they need and she is always getting in trouble by the zoo manger. Also Zoe has a pet lemer called Meep. The book serious is writen by Amelia Cobb and illistrated by Sophie Williams."

Thank you for these fantastic recommendations ... I hope you enjoy reading them.

I will be back tomorrow with some other things for you to do...

Have fun reading

Damian