happy world book day from the staff and families at the downs!
TRANSCRIPT
Happy World Book Day from the Staff and Families at The Downs!
Why not try one of our recommendations....
Mrs Oram recommends- Pippi Longstocking by
Astrid Lindgren.
The book follows the tale of the wonderfully
eccentric Pippi. When she arrives at Villa Villekulla
on her horse with her pet Monkey, Mr Nilsson, and
a suitcase full of gold, her neighbours Tommy and
Annika do not know what to make of her! But they
are soon enthralled by her outrageous stories,
coffee drinking, peculiar clothes and strange
habits. It isn't long before the unlikely trio become
friends and begin having adventures together. Oh,
and did I mention, she's only 9! I would have loved
to have her as a friend when I was young.
Here you
can listen to
Chapter One
of the story
Mrs Reynolds recommends - What the Ladybird
Heard by Julia Donaldson.
My children and I love this tale of Hefty Hugh and
Lanky Len planning on stealing the fine prize cow.
We love the chorus and all say it together- they say
the animal noises and join in with the rhymes. If you
see me around school I could probably recite the
whole book to you! It has a great rhythm to it and
we all enjoy the robbers going ‘SPLOSH’ into the
duck pond.
Listen to
the story
here.
Mrs Gaches recommends - Dogger by Shirley
Hughes.
This book was a class favourite when I started
teaching 31 years ago, then it was my son’s favourite
and I still love it! The story is about family and
kindness and the artwork is beautiful. My favourite
picture is searching for Dogger in the garden at
night time. My class liked to make up an adventure
for Dogger while he was missing. My son’s favourite
cuddly toy, Peter Bear, has joined me for the
photograph. Could you make up a story about your
favourite toy?
Listen to
the story
here
Rudy and Elwood Adcock recommend The Sword
in the Stone by T.H. White
They love 'The sword in the stone' they've always
loved the film and now love the book too. They enjoy
the magic of Merlin, the knights and the legend of
king Arthur.
Here is Rudy as 'Kay' and Elwood as 'Arthur/Wart'.
Listen to
the first
chapter
here
Watch a
trailer to
the film
version.
Mrs Ewins recommends - The True Story of The
Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
I loved this book when I was a child because it was
really fun to read and now I enjoy reading it to my
children. It’s very funny and shows a different
person’s view! What if the big bad wolf, wasn’t big
and bad after all?
Listen to
the story
here
Mrs Soules recommends - Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Unsurprisingly, my favourite book would involve my
favourite treat! Roald Dahl was the first author
that I loved as I enjoyed reading his funny stories
with eccentric characters. In this book, Charlie
Bucket gets to go inside a very unusual chocolate
factory. Who wouldn’t love taking a boat trip on a
chocolate river? I would be the first in that queue!
Listen to
the
audiobook
here
Miss Leighton recommends - The Polar Express by
Chris Van Allsburg
This story captures for me the magic of Christmas.
I was delighted when the film, based on the book,
captured the story just as I imagined it – especially
the winter wonderland. It is a beautiful story and
one I enjoy sharing with children at Christmas.
Listen to
the story
here
Mrs Fordham recommends - 101 Dalmatians by
Dodie Smith.
This is my chosen book and also a best loved family
favourite. Any story involving a dog is always a
winner for me! The plot is exciting with great
characters such as the evil Cruella de Vil. This book
is a must read.
Listen to
the start of
the story
here
Mummy, Charlie and Lucy Robson recommend –
The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
My favourite books as a child were the Enid Blyton
collection. I started reading them to Charlie when
he was 5 and he has since read them himself.
Lucy is eager to start learning all about the magic
faraway tree and we’ve been reading little bits.
Can you tell who their favourite character is?
Listen to
the audio
book read
by the
actress
Kate
Winslet.
Mrs Byatt recommends - Beware of the
Storybook Wolves, by Lauren Child
I really enjoy the children's stories by Lauren Child
(you might recognise her as the author of the
Charlie and Lola stories, or Clarence Bean series).
This was the first Lauren Child book I bought as a
teacher and I've read it many times, both in class
and at home to my children. This copy includes an
audio version read by Hugh Laurie, who helped me
to improve my own telling of the story by using
different voices for each of the characters! I also
enjoy this book as it references a number of
traditional tales as part of the story. Can you guess
one of them from my photograph?
Listen to
the audio
book here
read by
Hugh Laurie.
Mrs Franks recommends - There’s a Yeti in the
Playground by Pamela Butchart.
My children and I love all of the books in this series
by Pamela Butchart about Izzy and her friends.
These books are laugh-out-loud funny
adventure/mysteries. One of our favourites is
‘There’s a Yeti in the Playground!’, all about how Izzy
and her friends spot a mysterious fluffy creature
in the school playground during a snowstorm! The
perfect book to snuggle up with together. Make
sure you have hot chocolate and a cosy blanket at
the ready, brrrr!
Listen to
the author
here as she
gives you a
sneak peek
into her
book.
The Nemeth family recommends – Moomins by Tove Jansson
Moomins are white, round fairy tale characters that look a bit like a
hippopotamus, but they are trolls. Their house is always open for anyone who
needs a place to stay or feels lonely and that’s why Moomins’ have many
colourful friends. They go together through exciting adventures, but they
never worry. Volcanoes, comets, floods, earthquakes – no problems is so great
it can’t be made better by a cup of coffee and pancakes. Keep calm and be like
Moomins 😊 These are lovely stories for children and some hidden philosophical
thoughts for grown-ups.
Listen to
chapter one
here
Miss McKenna recommends - Blubber by Judy
Blume
This was a very important book to me when I was
younger. It taught me about resilience, the
importance or showing kindness to everyone and
taught me to treat people how you would like to be
treated.
Listen to
the first
chapter
here
Mr Gambrell recommends - Curiosity: The Story
of a Mars Rover by Markus Motum.
This scientific and historical picture book
intentionally sparks children’s ‘curiosity’ to
understand and analyse human space exploration.
Motum shows how the importance of illustration can
build a narrative and spark children’s ideas and
responses. In this book, children get to explore the
enormity of space, the mission to Mars and its
landscape. See how far curiosity has led us, and how
much further it might take us still... a great read if
you love space and the solar system!
Listen to
the story
here read
by a real
astronaut in
space!
Zara and Lorna Meakins and Sydney the cat
recommend – Harry Potter and the Philosophers
Stone by J. K. Rowling
Here are Zara and her sister Lorna dressed as
Harry Potter characters with the characters Zara
has made. They are reading Harry Potter and the
Philosophers stone. Apologies for our cat Sydney,
he was pretending to be Professor McGonagall in
the background!
Listen to
Chapter one
‘The Boy
who Lived’
here
Mrs Tysoe recommends - Sam’s Sandwich by
David Pelham.
Not only is this a funny story in rhyme but every
page has a pop-up surprise to unravel!
Listen to
the story
here
Miss Gasking recommends - Alice in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll
Of course, my favourite book is all about
imagination and thinking outside of the box! Alice in
Wonderland is all about believing in the impossible.
From being able to fit down a rabbit's hole, to a
talking caterpillar and a queen with an oversized
head. The story is all about a girl who is struggling
to fit into the real world escaping to a wonderful
world of imagination, where words you could only
imagine have real meaning. Such as brillig meaning
tea time. She meets interesting characters along
the way; including a hat maker who has gone mad but
enjoys having tea parties.
How fascinating would it be to have tea with the
Mad Hatter?
Listen to
the audio
book here
Or watch to
the first
chapter in
this
beautifully
illustrated
book
Mrs Culver recommends - The Christmasaurus by
Tom Fletcher
It is no wonder that my favourite book is about my
favourite time of year, Christmas!
In this book we get to meet William Trundle and his
dad, Bob Trundle - a man obsessed with Christmas.
When William starts to doubt that Santa is real an
unexpected gift restores the magic for him. With
plenty of snow, candy canes, crumpets, elves, Santa
and not forgetting a special dinosaur, this is one
adventure I'd be happy to go along with!
Listen to
chapter one
here
Mrs Storey recommends - The House at Pooh
Corner by A.A. Milne.
I have always loved the characters from the
Hundred Acre Wood and Winnie-the-Pooh’s
mischievous adventures to find honey. This is one
has to be my favourite one of Pooh’s adventures as
he invents a new game - Poohsticks!
Listen to
chapter one
here
Find out
about the
game of
Poohsticks
here
Mrs Allcock recommends – The Twits by Roald
Dahl
This has been a favourite book of mine since I was
a child! I love the quirky characters and the vivid
language used to describe them, throughout the
book and particularly love the ‘forensic’ description
of Mr. Twit’s beard!
I enjoy reading this book so much and feel so happy
that I have been able to read it to my own children
and now they love it too!
Listen to
the audio
book here
Watch how
part of
story was
adapted for
the TV
Miss Chantler recommends - Harry Potter and
the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
This is by far the best of the Harry Potter books in
my opinion. We already know Harry and his friends
and all that happens at Hogwarts, but in this story
life at Hogwarts takes a dark turn with the arrival
of the Dementors. The Prisoner of Azkaban has so
many exciting twists not least of which involves a
magical Time-turner.
I love this book .... I wonder what my Patronus would
be .... perhaps a Brown Bear!
Listen to
chapter one,
Owl Post,
here
Mrs Wells recommends - Malory Towers by Enid
Blyton.
I love Enid Blyton books. I used to read Malory
Towers and want to go to a boarding school, it
sounded like so much fun.
The adventures that Famous Five went on seemed
great fun too, and they were very addictive to read.
Listen to
part of
‘First Term
at Malory
Towers’
here
Mrs Ford recommends - The Elves and the
Shoemaker by The Brothers Grimm.
I loved fairy tales when I was a child. This is my
favourite because the elves help the Shoemaker
and their kindness is returned. It shows how we can
all show a little kindness to each other.
Listen to
the audio
book here.
Watch the
adaptation
performed
by the
Northern
ballet on
Cbeebies
Presents
The Taylor household recommend - Harry Potter
series by J. K. Rowling
In our house we like to read the Harry Potter
series. Here are photos of Isabella showing 'Harry
Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.' We love these
books because of the magical adventures and
battles between good and bad!
Listen to
Chapter one
‘The Boy
who Lived’
here
Mrs Underdown recommends - An Elephant in the
Garden by Michael Morpurgo
There are several reasons why I love it. Firstly, I
love animals so when I initially saw the front cover
I was drawn to it. Also, it is set during the Second
World War which is a period of time I find
fascinating. However, this story is told from the
point of view of a child living through the war near
Dresden in Germany, which makes it an even more
interesting book, because you are hearing the story
from a child of the nation on the opposing side
during the war. Throughout the book the characters
face a hard but exciting journey and form an
amazing relationship with an elephant - the perfect
recipe for a great book!
Find out
Michael
Morpurgo’s
inspiration
for this
story
Miss Whittle recommends - Goodnight Mr Tom by
Michelle Magorian
This book is special to me as it tells a beautiful,
heart-warming story about a young Boy during
WWII. I was always moved by the deep bond
between Mr Tom and Willie and the friendships
formed.
The story made me laugh and cry and has a beautiful
ending.
Listen to
the first
chapter
here
Ms Luxford recommends – Room on the Broom by
Julia Donaldson
Room on the Broom is a much-loved story in the
Luxford household.
It's a magical journey through forests and bogs
that embraces diversity and acceptance. We often
have family debates about what our truly
magnificent broom would look like!
Listen to
the story
here
Miss Peerman recommends – The Land of Roar by
Jenny McLachlan
This book is all about twins who when they were
little used to visit the Land of Roar, an imaginary
world that they had created and loved. The twins
are now eleven and they had almost forgotten about
The Land of Roar until they visited their
grandfather for a holiday. The children have
another amazing adventure there with some very
surprising events taking place.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book as an adult and my
daughter enjoyed it too as a child.
Listen to
the first
chapter
here
The Reynolds’ family recommend – The Harry
Potter series by J.K Rowling and The Three Little
Pigs by Joseph Jacobs
Here is Maisie with her favourite book and film
characters she has made for world book day.
Oscar loves to read the three little pigs. Here is a
picture of him and his pigs he has made with his
family for world book day
Listen to
Chapter one
‘The Boy
who Lived’
here
Listen to
Oscar’s
book here
Miss Hollis recommends – Mr Wolf’s Pancakes by
Jan Fearnley
This is my favourite book because it has lots of
great characters throughout the story and Mr wolf
bakes some delicious pancakes to eat at the end!
Listen to
the story
here
Mrs Barnes recommends - The Adventures of the
Wishing Chair by Enid Blyton
This was my favourite book (amongst many others)
growing up. I found the stories and adventures the
children had were just so magical, they transported
me to a magical fantasy world.
Listen to
the audio
book here
Mrs Ridall recommends - The Lion the Witch and
the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
As a child I would read this over and over. I always
wanted to be like Lucy, find a wardrobe that would
land me in a mystical place called Narnia.
Aslan was my favourite Character from the story.
Listen to
chapter one
here
Mrs Glanville recommends - The Boy, The Mole,
The Fox and The Horse’ by Charlie Mackesy
I love this book because it is full of heart-warming
and inspirational quotes. You can read it from
beginning to end in one go or - as I have - mark your
favourite pages and read them when you need a
little boost.
Listen to
the book
here
Logan and Mia Franks recommend – The Danger
Gang by Tom Fletcher
They say it's "funny" and "exciting" and we can't
wait to see what happens next!
Listen to
the author
as he reads
part of the
first
chapter
Mrs Jones recommends – The Famous Five series
by Enid Blyton
My favourite books as a child were the Famous Five
books. I couldn't wait to go to the library and borrow
another one. I was always hooked on the story from the
start and became totally absorbed in the suspense and
the antics of the characters. I loved then recreating the
story when playing with my friends and going on our own
adventures and looking for our own mysteries to solve.
If you love reading, like playing outdoors and have a good
imagination, then I think you'll enjoy these books too.
Listen to Five
on Treasure
Island here