Month December 2013

Relax with Ladybird

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Ladybird’s Remarkable Relaxation
Michael Chissick and Sarah Peacock
Singing Dragon
In similar vein to Frog’s Breathtaking Speech is yoga teacher, Michael Chissick’s second picture book with artist Sarah Peacock. Here we have a story featuring a helpful character Ladybird, who comes to the aid of Dog, Frog, Flamingo and Dragon all of whom have their own particular anxieties. Dog has trouble writing stories, Frog has too much to do at home and cannot see where to start, Flamingo is being bullied at school and Dragon is feeling very sad because his Granddad has recently died. Rather than taking on their problems for them, Ladybird provides them with a special technique that enables them to relax. In a relaxed state, each animal is able to step back from his or her problem, see the bigger picture and find a plan to deal with it.
In short this is a problem solving story which incorporates a child friendly form of yoga nidra that can be used with primary school children. Even those as young as four or five can work with this version so long as they have already had some previous experience of yoga and relaxation techniques
As both a long standing primary school teacher and an experienced teacher of yoga to young children I can wholeheartedly recommend this book. The author has extensive experience of teaching yoga to children, in particular those with autism spectrum disorders and so he provides concise, easy to follow guidance for teachers and other adults wanting to use his techniques; he explains the basics of yoga nidra, (a very important skill for both children and adults) talks about how to use the book in schools as part of PSHE, in children’s yoga classes or at home and most important, there is a three-phase outline of how to teach Ladybird Relaxation including a script.
Sarah Peacock’s paintings of the characters are great fun and beautifully portray the emotions of the four

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as they change from woeful at the outset to relaxed and smiling at the end of the story.
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If this interests you, then go to the section Pages for Parents and Carers. for a review of Frog’s Breathtaking Speech.
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Special Books for Special Children

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Can I Tell You About Stammering?
Sue Cottrell
Jessica Kingsley Publishers pbk
Eleven-year-old Harry has a stammer. He tells us in a straightforward, matter of fact manner how this makes him feel, how his stammer manifests itself and in what situations, and talks about ways that people can be helpful and supportive when he starts to stammer. We hear about his visits to a speech therapist and also about his older brother, who also stammers and how his case differs from Harry’s. The author of this helpful little book is an education consultant and mother of a son with a stammer. She has researched the subject in depth and offers her expert advice via her character, Harry. In her advocate’s words, “Living with a stammer takes bravery and courage.” Sue Cottrell provides all of us, be we teachers, parents, friends or other professionals, with a sensitive and insightful introductory read. The book’s layout and the numerous line drawings by Sophie Khan make it suitable for young readers from around seven or eight; adults could learn from it too.
Buy from Amazon DSCN1566 From the same excellent series is:

Can I Tell You About Adoption?
Anne Braff Brodzinsky
Jessica Kingsley Publishers pbk
Herein Chelsea, a young girl who has been adopted as a baby, gives readers a frank account of the process of her own adoption as well as introducing two of her friends, Adilu from Ethopia and Kira from China who were also adopted. In contrast to Chelsea, they spent time in orphanages and their adoptions were transracial. There is a short section wherein the three children talk of the unanswered questions in all of their lives, there is information about foster homes and discussions on how teachers and parents can help adopted children or those undergoing the process of being adopted. The overall tenor of this book is upbeat and I can envisage it being a great help both to adopted children and those with whom they have regular contact – teachers and children – at school.
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DSCN1567 Babies Are Noisy
Anne-Marie Harrison
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
The time around the arrival of a new baby in the family can be one of anxiety and uncertainty for any young child; for children on the autism spectrum that time with all the changes a new baby entails, is likely to be particularly challenging. Subtitled ‘A book for big brothers and sisters including those on the autism spectrum’ this has a boy narrator, Andre who relates his story about having a noisy new baby. “My Baby” he calls the developing infant and we hear how he watched his mother’s stomach growing larger, about visits to the clinic, see a scan and learn how Andre was able to feel the baby kicking when he sat on his mum’s lap.

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Then after the birth come more challenges – presents for the baby, nappy smells, noise – lots of it – and general busyness at home. Being a big brother though can also be rewarding and Andre starts to help with the caring and he anticipates being able to play with his little brother one day. Such is the sensitivity with which the book is written, there is a real sense of it being a child with autism’s voice in this account. The illustrations too have a child-like style. All in all, this unassuming book will be of great benefit to families and professionals working with children particularly those on the spectrum, as part of the preparation for the arrival of a new baby.
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Inspired by Nelson Mandela

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I am re-posting this review now following the sad news of the death of one of my great heroes, Nelson Mandela. Mandela makes an appearance in this story and inspires Malusi, the young herd boy who meets him.

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The Herd Boy
Niki Daly
Frances Lincoln
Set in the Transkei region of South Africa, this longish story tells of one particular day in the life of Malusi, a young herd boy whose job it is to take care of his grandfather’s sheep and goats. This is a task that requires courage and skill but Malusi has set his sights higher; he wants to become President of his country. As he walks home with his friend Lungisa and an injured lamb from grandfather’s herd, a smart car stops and the boys are greeted by an old man who tells them he had once looked after sheep and asks them what they want to be when they grow up.

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When he hears that Malusi aspires to be the country’s president, his response is “a boy who looks after his herd will make a very fine leader.” This utterance stays with Malusi as he settles down to sleep, for those words had in fact been spoken by none other than Nelson Mandela who had himself come from humble beginnings.
As well as being an unusual story, this uplifting book offers a fascinating and detailed look at a distant rural way of life. With its extended text, it is best suited to top infants and above and would be an interesting addition to any primary school library.
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Fairy Tale Fun

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Jack and the Baked Beanstalk
Colin Stimpson
Templar Publishing pbk
This is a reworking of the traditional tale given a depression-era setting and some amusing twists. There’s a back-story too, telling how Jack and his mother have become down on their luck due to the building of a new flyover that results in people by-passing their burger van. So, to encourage more custom, Jack’s mother sends him with their last pennies to buy milk and coffee beans. En route for the shop Jack encounters a man who offers him magic baked beans and knowing plenty about fairy tales as well as having a penchant for such beans, Jack
finds this offer irresistible. Decidedly unimpressed, Jack’s mum tosses the can of beans through the window and next morning Jack discovers, as one would expect, a magic baked beanstalk has grown.

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Then begins a life-changing adventure for Jack, for the lonely, money-obsessed giant he finds at the top, his chicken companion and ultimately, for Jack’s mum and the business that eventually becomes the thriving `Baked Beanstalk Café’ thanks, in no small way, to the new resident cook and the unfailing supply of baked beans and eggs.
Drawing on his experience in film, Stimpson’s powerfully dramatic pictures have been digitally worked and several are framed like film clips, adding to the filmic effect. Indeed I can see this book could well become a film. But for now, if like me you are a fan of re-workings of traditional stories, then get hold of a copy of this book.
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Red Riding Hood
James Marshall
Walker Books pbk
It’s good to see this new enlarged edition of a Marshall fairy tale first published about 25 years ago. James Marshall created several hilarious renditions of traditional tales and this is one of my favourites. Delivered in a direct, colloquial style, “Granny isn’t feeling up to snuff today… I’ve baked her favourite custard as a little surprise.” it is witty, and charming with a plethora of chubby moggies thrown in.
Red Riding Hood is so utterly beguiled by the charming-mannered wolf she meets on the way to Granny’s that she complies with his requests, allowing him to get there first, gobble up Granny and later, her as well. Then comes the brave hunter who, alarmed at the racket coming from Granny’s house, leaps through the window, cuts open the now slumbering, bulging bellied wolf and releases the contents of his stomach with Granny uttering, “It was so dark in
there I couldn’t read a word.”
Every scene of Marshall’s story is wonderful. Take for instance the perfect escort carrying the basket for Red Riding Hood who balances precariously along the log, and Granny, stack of books beside her bed, admonishing the wolf for interrupting her reading, or even the wolf with tail resting on the book-stack.

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If fairytales are your thing, or trolls or witches perhaps, then you might like to try the interactive

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How to Find a Fairytale
Libby Hamilton and Tomislav Tomic
Templar Books
This one is packed with minibooks, maps, characters and objects to search for in the illustrations, flaps to open, a wheel to turn and a final ‘Happily Ever After’ stand out scene. There is a suitably old fashioned feel to the whole thing. Children will need to know some fairy tales already to get the most of out it so it’s not for the very young.
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