OPHS Online Library Newsletter June 2022 #11
The OPHS Library Online Newsletter
June 2022 #11
Welcome to our Online Monthly Library Newsletter
Every month, in our Library Newsletter, we will have reviews on wonderful books that we have in our Library, snippets of new books on the horizon, interesting information about lovely Authors and also books-to-movies information. There will be links to access upcoming books that are in The Library and lots of book information that you will enjoy. We will have competitions, winner announcements, links to short stories and poems and other interesting literacy information all in one Newsletter!
If you would like to add a contribution to our next Newsletter (July issue), such as: What is your favourite book from our Library? What were your favourite and/or worst books that you have ever read? Would you like to send in a book review and/or a literacy picture? Can you think of anything else that would look great in our newsletter? Then please email:
ltaylor@oakspark.redbridge.sch.uk
The Queen’s Platinum
Jubilee
In 2022, Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service.
Books to Enjoy!
Queen of Our Times: The Life of Elizabeth II
by Robert Hardman
The definitive biography of Her Majesty The Queen by one of Britain’s
leading royal authorities.
'This is a beautifully-crafted, deeply informed and rounded portrait of the
gold standard monarch and the age to which she has given her name.
Queen of Our Times has depth, feel and insight in abundance’ - historian
Peter Hennessy
With original insights from those who know her best, new interviews with
world leaders and access to unseen papers, bestselling author
Robert Hardman explores the full, astonishing life of our longest
reigning monarch in this compellingly authoritative yet intimate biography.
Elizabeth II was not born to be queen. Yet from her accession as a
young mother of two in 1952 to the age of Covid-19, she has proved
an astute and quietly determined figure, leading her family and her
people through more than seventy years of unprecedented social
change. She has faced constitutional crises, confronted threats against
her life, rescued the Commonwealth, seen her prime ministers come
and go, charmed world leaders, been criticised as well as feted by the
media, and steered her family through a lifetime in the public eye.
Queen of Our Times is a must-read study of dynastic survival and
renewal, spanning abdication, war, romance, danger and tragedy. It is
a compelling portrait of a leader who remains as intriguing today as
the day she came to the throne aged twenty-five.
The Queen's Jubilee: An illustrated children's book to celebrate the
The Queen's Jubilee tells the story of Queen Lizzie who is celebrating
her 70th year on the throne and everyone is excited. The only problem is
that they don't know what to get a queen who already has everything...
until Prince Charlie has an amazing idea.
It's a story that teaches children the joys and beauty of nature and the
positive impact we can all make to our environment.
After enjoying the story, continue your little one's learning by planting
a seed from your favourite fruit or by going on a tree hunt together.
The Queen by Matthew Dennison
An elegant and magisterial new biography of Her Majesty The Queen.
'A worthy and balanced overview of the Queen's life. Dennison is
especially good on her childhood ... Quietly, tactfully, tastefully reverent'
The Times
For millions of people, both in Britain and across the world, Elizabeth II
is the embodiment of monarchy. Her long life spans nearly a century of
national and global history, from a time before the Great Depression to
the era of Covid-19. Her reign embraces all but seven years of Britain's
postwar history; she has been served by fifteen UK prime ministers from
Churchill to Johnson, and witnessed the administrations of thirteen
US presidents from Truman to Trump. The vast majority of Britons cannot
remember a world without Elizabeth II as head of state and the
Commonwealth.
In this brand-new biography of the longest-reigning sovereign in
British history, Matthew Dennison traces her life and reign across an
era of unprecedented and often seismic social change. Stylish in its
writing and nuanced in its judgements, The Queen charts the joys and
triumphs as well as the disappointments and vicissitudes of a remarkable
royal life; it also assesses the achievement of a woman regarded as the
champion of a handful of 'British' values endorsed – if no longer
practised – by the bulk of the nation: service, duty, steadfastness,
charity and stoicism.
The Queen: 70 Glorious Years
This official souvenir publication celebrates the Platinum Jubilee of
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II through 70 photographs chosen to
illustrate memorable events in the reign of Britain’s longest-serving
monarch.
Delightfully informal family photographs of The Queen as a young girl,
as a young wife and mother, on holiday and enjoying the company of
her children and dogs are joined by more formal images illustrating the
official life of the monarch, on grand state occasions, such as the
Coronation, the State Opening of Parliament and Trooping the Colour
– not to mention her memorable encounter with James Bond and her
dramatic arrival at the ceremony marking the opening of the
2010 London Olympics.
Each photograph is accompanied by resonant quotations from
speeches given by The Queen over the years, from her wartime
Children’s Hour radio broadcast at the age of 13 and her first televised
Christmas Day broadcast in 1957 to her speeches welcoming
Commonwealth leaders and US Presidents to Buckingham Palace
or responding to the warm hospitality extended to her on state visits
to India, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean.
Love of family, fondness for animals, a keen sense of humour,
staunch belief in the Commonwealth as a force for good in the world,
and gratitude to all the people around the world who go out of their
way to help their communities – these are among the themes that
come across from this photographic journey through a remarkable
life of duty and service.
Wishing you all a wonderful Jubilee!
The top 5 Entries for the Manga
Book Cover Competition:
And the Winner of the Manga Book Cover Competition is:
Aliza 8R Congratulations!!!!!
Author of the month
Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman, born on 19th of October 1946 is a writer from Norwich, England. He is the son of Audrey Avelyn Pullman Alfred Outram Pullman. He spent most of his childhood in travel as his father was in the Air force. That is where he developed his love for writing. He was very amused by the comics and their characters especially Batman and Superman. During 1957 Pullman spent his time with his grandfather in Norfolk where he found John Milton‘s ‘Paradise Lost’ that later became the base for his work ‘His Dark Materials’. After finishing school he studied in Exeter College, Oxford where he did his Bachelors in Arts in 1968. He also discovered William Blake‘s illustrations in 1970 that also influenced him in his works later on. In the same year he got married to Judith Speller.
He taught middle school children at Bishop Kirk Middle School in Summertown, North Oxford. Along with teaching he started pursuing his love that was ‘writing’. His first book was ‘The Haunted Storm’ that also received the ‘New English Library’s Young Writer’s’ Award in 1972. He also wrote an adult fiction novel called ‘Galatea’ in 1978. Inspired by his school plays he wrote his first book for children named ‘Count Karlstein’ in 1982. After his second book ‘The Ruby in the Smoke’ was published in 1982, he stopped teaching and devoted all his time to writing books. However he did teach as a part time job later in Westminster College, Oxford during 1988 to 1996. He started working on ‘His Dark Materials’ in 1993 and in 1995 he got a prestigious award, The Carnegie Medal, for his book ‘The Northern Lights’. He also got the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award for it.
Philip Pullman has been writing continuously from 1996 as this is his passion. He was also given the CBE Award in the New Years Honors List in 2004. Some of his other activities besides writing include giving talks and co judging the Christopher Tower Poetry Prize, an award of the Oxford University which he did in 2005. He also worked as a Lecturer of English at his alma mater in Exeter College of Oxford University. He also got elected in the Presidency for Blake Society.
Pullman was given the ‘Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award’ in 2005 by the Swedish Arts Council. He started his book ‘The Book of Dust’ in 2008 which is a follow up of his famous book ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy. Along with this ‘The Adventures of John Blake’ was in the process of being written which was a contribution to the British Children’s comic ‘The DFC’. He was also made an honorary professor at the Bangor University’. Another notable career boost was the Fellowship supporting the Master degree in Creative Writing at Oxford Brookes University. Pullman became a benefactor of ‘Palestine Festival of Literature’ in 2009. The most prestigious achievement for him was receiving the D. Litt.(Doctor of Letters) degree by the Oxford University. There have also been some screen adaptations of his works like ‘I was a Rat’, ‘The Butterfly Tattoo’ and ‘The Ruby in the Smoke’.
Please go to Philip Pullman’s website for more information on the great author: https://www.philip-pullman.com/home
Extract from chapter ten of La Belle Sauvage
Eleven-year-old Malcolm lives with his parents at the Trout Inn near Oxford, across the river Thames from Godstow Priory, where the nuns are looking after a special guest. One night his father comes to Malcolm’s bedroom.
Now read on…………………
“Malcolm, you en’t in bed yet—good. Come downstairs for a minute. There’s a gentleman wants a word with you.”
“Who is it?” said Malcolm eagerly, jumping up and following his father out.
“Keep your voice down. He’ll tell you who he is if he wants to.”
“Where is he?”
“In the Terrace Room. Take him a glass of Tokay.”
“What’s that?”
“Hungarian wine. Come on, hurry up. Mind your manners and tell the truth.”
“I always do,” said Malcolm automatically.
“News to me,” said his father. But he ruffled Malcolm’s hair before they entered the bar.
The gentleman waiting gave him a start, though all he was doing was sitting still by the cold fireplace. Perhaps it was his dæmon, a beautiful silvery spotted leopard, or perhaps it was his dark, saturnine expression; in any event, Malcolm felt daunted, and very young and small. His dæmon, Asta, became a moth.
“Good evening, sir,” he said. “Your Tokay what you ordered. Would you like me to make up the fire? It’s ever so cold in here.”
“Is your name Malcolm?” The man’s voice was harsh and deep.
“Yes, sir. Malcolm Polstead.”
“I’m a friend of Dr. Relf,” said the man. “My name is Asriel.”
“Oh. Er—she hasn’t told me about you,” Malcolm said.
“Why did you say that?”
“Because if she had, I’d know it was true.”
Asriel gave a short laugh.
“I understand,” he said. “You want another reference? I’m the father of that baby in the priory.”
“Oh! You’re Lord Asriel!”
“That’s right. But how are you going to test the truth of that claim?”
“What’s the baby’s name?”
“Lyra.”
“And what’s her dæmon called?”
“Pantalaimon.”
“All right,” said Malcolm.
“All right now? You sure?”
“No, I en’t sure. But I’m more sure than I was.”
“Good. Can you tell me what happened earlier this evening?”
Malcolm went through it as fully as he could remember.
“These men came from the Office of Child Protection, and they wanted to take her away. Take Lyra. But Sister Benedicta wouldn’t let ’em.”
“What did they look like?”
Malcolm described their uniforms. “The one who took his cap off, he seemed like he was in charge. He was more polite than the others, more sort of smooth and smiling. But it was a real smile, not a fake one. I think I’d even’ve liked him if he’d come in here as a customer—that sort of thing. The other two were just dull and threatening. Most people would’ve been dead scared, but Sister Benedicta wasn’t. She faced ’em off all by herself.”
The man sipped his Tokay. His dæmon lay with her head up and her front paws stretched out ahead of her, like the picture of the Sphinx in Malcolm’s encyclopedia. The black-and-silver patterns on her back seemed to flicker and shimmer for a moment, and then Lord Asriel spoke suddenly.
“Do you know why I haven’t been to see my daughter?”
“I thought you were busy. You probably had important things to do.”
“I haven’t been to see her because if I do, she’ll be taken away from there and put in a much less congenial place. There’ll be no Sister Benedicta to stand up for her there. But now they’re trying to take her anyway. . . .”
“Excuse me, sir, but I told Dr. Relf about all this. Didn’t she tell you?”
“Still not quite sure about me?”
“Well . . . no,” said Malcolm.
“Don’t blame you. You going to go on visiting Dr. Relf?”
“Yes. Because she lends me books as well as listening to what’s happened.”
“Does she? Good for her. But tell me, the baby—is she being well looked after?”
“Oh, yes. Sister Fenella, she loves her a lot. We all— They all do. She’s very happy—Lyra, I mean. She talks to her dæmon all the time, just jabber jabber jabber, and he jabbers back. Sister Fenella says they’re teaching each other to talk.”
“Does she eat properly? Does she laugh? Is she active and curious?”
“Oh, yeah. The nuns are really good to her.”
“But now they’re being threatened. . . .”
Asriel got up and went to the window to look at the few lights from the priory across the river.
“Seems like it, sir. I mean, Your Lordship.”
“‘Sir’ will do. You know them well, these nuns?”
“I’ve known ’em all my life, sir.”
“And they’d listen to you?”
“I suppose they would, yes.”
“Could you tell them I’m here and I’d like to see my daughter?”
“When?”
“Right now. I’m being pursued. The High Court has ordered me not to go within fifty miles of her, and if I’m found here, they’ll take her away and put her somewhere else where they aren’t so careful.”
Malcolm was torn between saying, “Well, you ought not to risk it, then,” and simple admiration and understanding: of course the man would want to see his daughter, and it was wicked to try to prevent him.
“Well . . . ,” Malcolm thought, then said, “I don’t think you could see her right now, sir. They go to bed ever so early. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were all fast asleep. In the morning they get up ever so early too. Maybe—”
“I haven’t got that long. Which room have they made into a nursery?”
“Round the other side, sir, facing the orchard.”
“Which floor?”
“All their bedrooms are on the ground floor, and hers is too.”
“And you know which one?”
“Yes, I do, but—”
“You could show me, then. Come on.”
There was no refusing this man. Malcolm led him out of the Terrace Room and along the corridor, and out onto the terrace before his father could see them. He closed the door very quietly behind them and found the garden brilliantly lit by the clearest full moon there’d been for months. It felt as if they were being lit by a floodlight.
“Did you say there was someone pursuing you?” said Malcolm quietly.
“Yes. There’s someone watching the bridge. Is there any other way across the river?”
“There’s my canoe. It’s down this way, sir. Let’s get off the terrace before anyone sees us.”
Lord Asriel went beside him across the grass and into the lean-to where the canoe was kept.
“Ah, it’s a proper canoe,” said Lord Asriel, as if he’d been expecting a toy. Malcolm felt a little affronted on behalf of La Belle Sauvage and said nothing as he turned her over and let her slip quietly down the grass and onto the water.
“First thing,” he said, “is we’ll go downstream a short way, so’s no one can see us from the bridge. There’s a way into the priory garden on that side. You get in first, sir.”
Asriel did so, much more capably than Malcolm had anticipated, and his leopard dæmon followed, with no more weight than a shadow. The canoe hardly moved at all, and Asriel sat down lightly and kept still as Malcolm got in after him.
“You been in a canoe before,” Malcolm whispered.
“Yes. This is a good one.”
“Quiet, now . . .”
Malcolm pushed off and began to paddle, staying close to the bank under the trees and making no noise at all. If there was one thing he was good at, this was it. Once they were out of sight of the bridge, he turned the boat to starboard and made for the other shore.
“I’m going to come up alongside a willow stump,” he said very quietly. “The grass is thick there. We’ll tie her up and go back across the field, behind the hedge.”
Lord Asriel was just as good at getting out as he’d been at getting in. Malcolm couldn’t imagine a better passenger. He tied the boat to a stout willow branch growing from the stump, and a few seconds later they were moving along the edge of the meadow, under the shade of the hedge.
Malcolm found the gap he knew about and forced his way through the brambles. It must have been harder for the man, being bigger, but he didn’t say a word. They were in the priory orchard; the lines of plum trees and apple trees, of pear trees and damson trees, stood bare and neat and fast asleep under the moon.
Malcolm led the way around the back of the priory and came to the side where the window of Lyra’s nursery would be, if it hadn’t been hidden by the new shutters. They did look remarkably solid.
He counted once more to make sure it was the right one, and then tapped quietly on the shutter with a stone.
Lord Asriel was standing close by. The moon was shining full on this side of the building, so they would both be clearly visible from some way off.
Malcolm whispered, “I don’t want to wake any of the other nuns, and I don’t want to startle Sister Fenella because of her heart. We got to be careful.”
“I’m in your hands,” said Lord Asriel.
Malcolm tapped again a little harder.
“Sister Fenella,” he whispered.
No response. He tapped a third time.
“Sister Fenella, it’s me, Malcolm,” he whispered.
What he was really worried about was Sister Benedicta, of course. He dreaded to think what would happen if he woke her, so he kept as quiet as he could while still trying to wake Sister Fenella, which was not easy.
Asriel stood still, watching and saying nothing.
Finally Malcolm heard a stirring inside the room. Lyra gave a little mew, and then it sounded as if Sister Fenella moved a chair or a small table. Her soft old voice murmured something, like a word or two of comfort to the baby.
He tried again, just a little louder. “Sister Fenella . . .”
A little exclamation of shock.
“It’s me, Malcolm,” he said.
A soft noise, like the movement of bare feet on the floor, and then the clock of the window catch.
“Sister Fenella—”
“Malcolm? What are you doing?”
Like him, she was whispering. Her voice was frightened and thick with sleep. She hadn’t opened the shutter.
“Sister, I’m sorry, I really am,” he said quickly. “But Lyra’s father’s here, and he’s being pursued by—by his enemies, and he really needs to see Lyra before—before he goes on somewhere else. To—to say goodbye,” he added.
“Oh, that’s nonsense, Malcolm! You know we can’t let him—”
“Sister, please! He’s really in earnest,” Malcolm said, finding that phrase from somewhere.
“It’s impossible. You must go away now, Malcolm. This is a bad thing to ask. Go away before she wakes up. I daren’t think what Sister Benedicta—”
Malcolm didn’t dare think it either. But then he felt Lord Asriel’s hand on his shoulder, and the man said, “Let me speak to Sister Fenella. You go and keep watch, Malcolm.”
Malcolm moved away to the corner of the building. From there he could see the bridge and most of the garden, and watched as Lord Asriel leaned towards the shutter and spoke quietly. It was a whisper; Malcolm could hear nothing at all. How long Asriel and Sister Fenella spoke he couldn’t have guessed, but it was a long time, and he was shivering hard when he saw, to his amazement, the heavy shutter move slowly. Lord Asriel stood back to let it open, and then stepped in again, showing his open, weapon-less hands, turning his head a little to let the moonlight fall clearly on his face.
He whispered again. Then there was a minute—two minutes, perhaps—in which nothing happened; and then Sister Fenella’s thin arms held out the little bundle, and Asriel took it with infinite delicacy. His leopard dæmon stood up to put her forepaws on his waist, and Asriel held the baby down so she could whisper to Lyra’s dæmon.
How had he persuaded Sister Fenella? Malcolm could only wonder. He watched the man lift the baby again and walk along the grass between one bare flower bed and the next, holding the bundle high so he could whisper to her, rocking her gently, strolling along slowly in the brilliant moonlight. At one point he seemed to be showing the moon to Lyra, pointing up at it and holding her so she could see, or perhaps he was showing Lyra to the moon; at any rate he looked like a lord in his own domain, with nothing to fear and all the silvery night to enjoy.
Up and down he strolled with his child. Malcolm thought of Sister Fenella waiting in fear—in case Lord Asriel didn’t bring her back, in case his enemies attacked, in case Sister Benedicta suspected something was up. But there was no sound from the priory, no sound from the road, no sound from the man and his baby daughter in the moonlight.
At one point the leopard dæmon seemed to hear something. Her tail lashed once, her ears pricked, her head turned to face the bridge. Malcolm and Asta turned immediately, ears and eyes tightly focused on the bridge, every separate stone of which was clearly outlined in black and silver; but nothing moved, and there was no sound but the call of a hunting owl half a mile away.
Presently the leopard dæmon’s statue-like stillness melted, and she moved away once more, lithe and silent. Malcolm realized that that was true of the man as well—during their journey over the river and through the meadow, into the orchard and up to the priory wall, he had not heard the slightest sound of footsteps. Asriel might as well have been a ghost, for all the sound he made.
He was turning now at the end of the walk and making for Sister Fenella’s window again. Malcolm watched the bridge, the garden, what he could see of the road, and saw nothing wrong; and when he turned, Asriel was handing the little bundle up through the window, whispering a word or two, and silently swinging the shutter closed.
Then he beckoned, and Malcolm joined him. It was very difficult to make no noise at all, even on grass, and Malcolm watched to see how the man set his feet down: there was something leopardlike about it—something to practice himself, anyway.
Back through the orchard, back to the hedge, through the brambles, into the meadow, across to the willow stump—
Then a stronger, yellower light than the moon stabbed the sky. Someone on the bridge had a searchlight, and Malcolm heard the sound of a gas engine.
“There they are,” said Asriel quietly. “Leave me here, Malcolm.”
“No! I got a better idea. Take my canoe and go down the river. Just get me back across to the other side first.”
The idea occurred to Malcolm in the same moment he said it.
“You sure?”
“You can go downstream a long way. They’ll never think of that. Come on!”
He stepped in and untied the painter, holding the boat tight to the bank while Asriel got in too; then Malcolm paddled swiftly and as quietly as he could across to the inn garden, though the current wanted to whirl him out into the open water, where they’d be visible from the bridge.
Asriel caught hold of the fixed line on the little jetty while Malcolm got out; then he let Malcolm hold the boat while he got in the right way round, took the paddle, and held out his hand to shake.
“I’ll get her back to you,” he said, and then he was gone, speeding with long, powerful strokes down the river on the swollen current, the leopard dæmon like a great figurehead at the prow. La Belle Sauvage had never gone so fast, Malcolm thought.
Wonderful facts from the Non-Fiction books
in our Library:
Breathing in
The diaphragm looks like an upside down bowl. Breathing is the process of moving air into and from the lungs to facilitate gas exchange with the internal environment, mostly to flush out carbon dioxide and bring in oxygen.
Breathing out
To breathe out, the breathing must always relax. The lungs return to their smaller size. This pushes out air. Did you know that to blow out hard we use our normal breathing muscles, but we also use extra muscles in our upper and lower body?
Blood
Blood carries supplies to your body cells. These supplies give you energy. They keep you healthy. Blood spreads warmth to all parts. It collects waste from your cells. Blood helps your body fight germs.
What is in blood?
More than half of your blood is a pale yellow liquid called plasma. Plasma contains nutrients. These substances come from food. Slightly less than half of your blood is red blood cells. These are the cells that carry oxygen.
Areej and Umaiza 7L
Oxygen
I am essential to your life.
I go through your nostrils where it is nice and moist and warm.
It is very comforting.
The hairs pick up all the debris that shouldn't be there. Like the dust that would clog up your airways and lungs and would choke you to death.
Without Oxygen, without me, you are dead.
Your lungs want clean, warm and moist air.
So once I get past your defences then I make my way down your windpipe where it branches into two tubes one leading to the right and one leading to the left.
Me and my other Oxygen friends go down one of them and then we end up in the what seems like endless passageways and corridors which are extremely fragile.
Then I go into the alveoli which then diffuses me straight into the blood where I bind to the haemoglobin which then takes me to my destination, where i will do the job that I am here to do.
The job that supports you! I get dropped off at a cell and go inside and then (long story short) energy is made which powers the cell and then you stay alive.
Now once I've done my job, I have to get out somehow. So I get picked up again and then I get sent back to the lungs where I am exhaled out as Carbon dioxide.
Then the plants suck me up and turn me into Oxygen again and then I do the same task on repeat helping you stay alive.
Whilst you are sitting there not even thinking about me keeping you alive, keeping your brain satisfied so you can keep on doing the everyday tasks you do. Dont worry I am not mad though I understand that you cant see me…
Yasin and Aqsa 8B
Facts about fishing
Fishing is an all year round outdoor sport, weather plays a big part you have to wear specific clothes depending on the weather
You are most likely to catch a fish in the deep end rather than the shallow
Types of fishing
The most popular is coarse fishing,
Fly fishing is fishing for trout or salmon
Float fishing is when you use a bright indicator to show when a fish bites for example if a fish bites on the bait the indicator will go underwater
Types of Bait
Maggots
Bread
Worms
Sweetcorn
Luncheon meat
Cheese
Fish
Boilies
Dog biscuits
Pepperoni
Groundbait
Ibrahima and Miroslav 8E
Rivals.
In 1700 there were once two tribes who were accomplices in the Kwazulu Region. These two tribes joined hand in hand to venture off to another land. The tribe leaders were sure wherever they went they would split the land and live their separate lives without any differences of opinions. However, little did they know that the land they would later say they would share, would be the reason they turned into nemesis’.
Miah and Brooke 7W
The Wall
3,000 years ago in ancient China the Qin dynasty were struggling against the Mongolians and they wanted them to stay out of their country. So the leader at the time,Qin Shi Huang,
proposed a plan. His plan was to build a wall. This building started construction around 220 BCE and still is going on today. This helped Qin Si Huang keep out the Mongolians.
Adam 8Y
Library Stories
Life in the cold…
The mission failed. The probe was North of Mars. It was the ice… but there is no explanation to it. The probe can resist sand storms. This is the 29684038693th attempt, we have no choice…
Next month is the perfect time to launch. We are to use the slingshot launch tactic to land on phobos or deimos- the moons of Mars. Then, with our human cargo and as many resources as we can possibly take, including multiple probes, We shall set up the stations on the moons, where we will extract the data from the moons and Mars. Only then, and only then, shall we find what has gone wrong. Otherwise, we shall make the trip ourselves.
34 weeks later…
“We are approaching phobos,”
“We are approaching deimos”
We got the call from the two ships at the control centre. Now all we have to do is set up the bases.
2 weeks later…
“Getting ready to send the probes to Mars”
*stage 3 complete*
The next day…
*static*
“The probe is down, the probe is down”
I guess we have no choice but to go there ourselves. As said by Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin, ‘what we need is a destination in space that offers great rewards for the risks to achieve it. I believe the destination must be homesteading Mars, the first human colony on another world”.
*plan B*
This means that we must jump ahead to explore the UNKNOWN. To start a new colony or to find life on another world…
*to be continued*
Riyadh and Vera 8R
The Magic Guitar
The magic guitar was once known to be the most powerful weapon known to man. It was founded in the time of the Aztecs, it is said to be created by the aztec gods and still to this day, no one has ever tried to play it.
Of course I would never play it, I'm just a 12 year old kid in high school. My friend said that he once heard a rumour that the guitar was played by a boy in our class, the quiet kid. But how could he have the bravery to even go near the guitar? Not even Mr Le would go in 400 metres of the guitar, and he’s an adult.
My dad, Mr Solanki, loves playing instruments. In fact, I’m learning to play the guitar right now, and guess who’s teaching me? My dad. I’m having second thoughts, maybe I should try and play the magic guitar, I mean I can play the guitar, there's no harm giving it a little strum, is there?
Anish 7L
Tyrone’s Mistake
It was a dark, gloomy night. The wind was an avalanche of darkness and it howled and roared like an indestructible animal, causing the limp trees to dance in the bitter wind.
Tyrone, the electrician, was laying in his bed thinking about his next project. All of a sudden, a tremendous idea popped into his head.
He began to plan out his work. Curious as to how his astonishing work may turn out, he finally got started.
Putting some wires here and there, Tyrone just couldn't figure where the wires should go, so, he took a drink of water and he accidently poured some of the water on his work.
The next thing he knew he was electrocuted and had passed out.
Abida 8B
Breaking News!!!!
Breaking news! This is channel 5 news….. We have been alerted that a nuclear power plant has leaked into Lake Fork. This has affected all of the fish in the lake.
All these type of fish have been infected BEWARE.!!!!!
Eunice and Zain 8B
Accelerated Reader
All Year 7 and Year 8 Students MUST have at least ONE library book on them at all times. You must read your AR library book for AT LEAST twenty minutes every night. Please do not forget to write your completed book in your planner on page 20. You must then complete your online book quiz within 24 hours of completing the book, then write your quiz result on page 19 of your planner!!!
Word Count for All Classes
Word Count Class totals for Accelerated Reader Book Quizzes for all Year 7 & 8 Classes
A huge congratulations to all of the Classes!
(Classes in red are the winners this month with the highest increase in words read for that year group)
Books to Movies
What film adaptation did you love?
What is your favourite movie that has been adapted from a book
Let us know the name of the book and movie adaptation that you loved the best, saying if you prefer the book or the movie, and why. Your contribution will then be added to our next Newsletter in July!
How to Write an Epic Short Story
Write a short epic
Truth is stranger than fiction. Often it is funnier too. Short Epics are nuggets from the daily news that might raise a smile or prompt a remark that starts: “You wouldn’t believe it, but…” They must be no longer than 140 characters long including spaces. Do have a go at writing one and send it to ltaylor@oakspark.redbridge.sch.uk and your epic story will be in the next issue of our online Library Newsletter!
“You wouldn’t believe it, but…. you can make your pets into historical figures!”
Children's Books that
Celebrate Neurodiversity
Neurodivergent children see and interact with the world in unique and special ways.
A neurodivergent child thinks atypically but that does not mean they are broken or need to be fixed. Neurodiversity is a concept that includes a range of diagnoses and whilst there is no fixed established definition it is generally accepted to include ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Down syndrome and other forms of different cognitive processing.
Whilst neurodiversity does bring challenges, it also brings opportunities. When neurodiversity is embraced, we can look beyond the difficulties, be open to different methods of learning and see the creative potential of thinking differently.
The books in this collection reflect neurodiversity, challenge stereotypes, help break down stigma and embrace difference.
See What I Can Do! (KS1)
Author: Jon Roberts
This is the third book from this author and illustrator partnership, after the acclaimed Through the Eyes of Me and Through the Eyes of Us, which focused specifically upon the world of the autistic child and were inspired by Jon’s daughter. Here the scope has been broadened to look at all sorts of differences, both visible and invisible. Each spread is a delightful conversation with a child or children explaining what is different about them and what can be difficult, but most importantly focuses on the positives and what they enjoy and want to do. The text captures a very natural matter-of-fact voice and speaks directly to the innate and healthy curiosity of all children. The lively illustrations are not just brilliantly inclusive, they give a really joyous feel to the whole book. Covering a wide range of conditions including Autism, ADHD, cystic fibrosis, cerebal palsy, Downs Syndrome, muscular dystrophy, asthma, dyslexsia, dyspraxia, epilepsy, deafness and blindness makes this book a wonderful resource to prompt discussion and empathy, but is also valuable for the children who live with these daily challenges and may need to see them themselves reflected in such a positive way. An added bonus at the back of the book is an explanation of terms and useful web links. Altogether an essential book for the classroom, but also one that can be shared and enjoyed at home.
Through the Eyes of Us (KS1)
Author: Jon Roberts
Kya and Martha are like ‘two different colours sitting on a beautiful rainbow’. They are both on the autistic spectrum, but this certainly does not mean that they are the same. In this sequel to Roberts’ first book about his daughter, we are introduced to her friend Martha, highlighting similarities, but also their many differences. We see them both enjoying school, but, while Martha tends to be chatty and outgoing, Kya takes time to process questions and likes to quietly repeat words. At lunchtime, they enthusiastically devour their spaghetti, but with Martha clearly struggling to know when she is full. And at bedtime, while they both like routines, Kya just wants to keep on moving while Martha knows when she needs to get to sleep. Autism is a spectrum, and no two experiences are identical. Charmingly brought to life with exuberant illustrations by Hannah Rounding, this is a book that shares valuable autism-related experiences, such as how certain activities may stimulate and why different textures can appeal. Above all, it is a beautiful book, rich in its universal sense of childhood fun and friendship, as we witness two children’s affection for each other, their classmates and their families.
Leo and the Octopus (KS1)
Author: Isabelle Marinov
Leo is a curious child but he feels different from the other children in his class and he doesn't understand them. He doesn't like too much noise and the commotion of the classroom can sometimes upset him. When he meets Maya the Giant Pacific Octopus he builds a friendship that assures him he is not alone. The story will strike a chord with children who have Asperger's Syndrome, as well as educate other children about the condition in a way they can relate to.
Aaron Slater, Illustrator (KS1)
Author: Andrea Beaty
This text has been set in Dyslexie, a typeface specially designed for people with dyslexia | This latest addition to the innovative The Questioneers series by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts is a wonderful story that’s sure to inspire young readers who are trying to find their voice and express themselves, especially dyslexic children for whom reading and spelling might be a struggle. The eponymous Aaron Slater Illustrator of this beautifully rhyming picture book is based on Aaron Douglas, the African American painter, muralist, and graphic artist. Often hailed as the father of Black American art, and a key part of the Harlem Renaissance movement, the book follows Aaron from the age of four, when he discovers a love of stories and decides to create his own. Though frustrated by his struggle with reading (“the words are just squiggles, and try as he might, even with help Aaron can’t get it right”), Aaron discovers the magic of telling stories through images, and begins to conjure fabulous art - art that can “make a difference” and help him “discover what he wants to say.”
Anything But Typical (KS2)
Author: Nora Raleigh Baskin
Told from the first-person perspective of an autistic boy, Nora Raleigh Baskin's novel is an enlightening story for anyone who has ever worried about fitting in. Jason Blake is an autistic twelve-year-old living in a neurotypical world. Most days it's just a matter of time before something goes wrong. But Jason finds a glimmer of understanding when he comes across PhoenixBird, who posts stories to the same online site as he does. Jason can be himself when he writes and he thinks that PhoneixBird-her name is Rebecca-could be his first real friend. But as desperate as Jason is to meet her, he's terrified that if they do meet, Rebecca will only see his autism and not who Jason really is.
Clementine (KS2)
Author: Sara Pennypacker
Fun stories about feisty Clementine who just can't seem to keep out of trouble! It’s not that she means to be bad; it is just that everything she does seems to go a little bit wrong…For example, she's only trying to help when she cuts off Margaret's hair and she can't really help not paying attention in class either. Can Clementine improve? And does she want to?
Cally and Jimmy Twins in Trouble (KS2)
Author: Zoe Antoniades
Cally and Jimmy are twins but more different people it would be hard to meet. Cally is generally quiet and well-behaved, while Jimmy is anything but (his ADHD doesn’t help). It’s Cally who narrates the four separate stories contained in this very enjoyable new book, and she gives us a really good idea of what it’s like to live with the most-annoying-brother-in-the-whole-wide-world, describing the many times he gets them both into trouble, but she absolutely captures the fun they have together too.
The Boy with the Butterfly Mind (KS2)
Author: Victoria Williamson
Jamie is chaotic and impulsive, he wants to be normal but his ADHD makes him feel like his brain is full of butterflies like his brain’s about to explode and come fizzing out of his ears. Elin has a perfect reputation; if she is more helpful and hardworking, surely her dad will return to them? When Jamie and Elin’s families are thrown together it seems doomed to fail…but maybe not? The depiction of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is both sensitive and honest by former primary school teacher Victoria Williamson who has a great knack of featuring the real voices of children she has met through her work. As they grapple with their differences, as Elin’s tries to distance herself from her new stepbrother Jamie the Monster who she sees as her enemy, her fairy-tale life moves further out of reach.
The Space We're In (KS2)
Author: Katya Balen
Ten-year-old Frank loves code and numbers; they’re a way to make sense of the world, as well as providing secret languages to share with his friends and his mum. Frank’s five-year-old brother Max is autistic and for him, the world is often a scary place, when anything unexpected, too loud, or too bright can cause him to have a meltdown. The story is narrated by Frank and every reader will understand his frustration at the unfairness of life. We know that he loves Max, but we know too how hard Max makes life for all the family. Frank is then faced with something even more terrible when tragedy strikes. With the help of those around him, we watch Frank find a way to make sense of what has happened and the bravery to cope with the different world.
Check Mates (KS3)
Author: Stewart Foster
What a luminously life-enhancing read this is. The story of ADHD afflicted underdog Felix, who “can’t concentrate or keep still”. His East German Granddad now (embarrassingly) drives the pink car that used to belong to his deceased Grandma, whose death has hit them all hard. Felix and Granddad’s grief is laid bare with heart-wrenching authenticity, but theirs is a complex relationship: “I love my granddad and I think he loves me, but sometimes it’s hard to tell.” After an altercation, Felix and Granddad forge an understanding, and look forward to a “neuangfang” (new start) that begins with a list of “Ten things I’d like to teach Felix”. Unfortunately, in Felix’s eyes Granddad’s list comprises the “ten more boring things in the world”, but Felix works through it until only the most dreaded activity remains - playing chess. He tries to wriggle out of it, but “crafty” Granddad has been surreptitiously teaching Felix chess skills and he’s soon hooked by the game, with unexpected positive side effects.
A Different Sort of Normal (KS2)
Author: Abigail Balfe
Abigail Balfe is autistic and has written this honest, amusing and very useful book about some of the things she was aware of as she was growing up. Balfe knew she was different all the way through her childhood and youth – and this book is full of observations on how she navigated her younger years. It was not until she was an adult that her diagnosis of autism was delivered – which suddenly explained a lot of confusing issues from her youth. The book is full of all the milestones of a young life from changing schools to puberty to friendships to children’s birthday parties – and how someone who feels different coped with all those stages. A book for everyone to read (adults too), not just for people with neurodiversity issues – this book is a great explainer, full of empathy for different situations, which explodes many misconceptions about autistic people along the way.
The Guggenheim Mystery (KS3)
Author: Robin Stevens, Siobhan Dowd
A sequel to The London Eye Mystery, The Guggenheim Mystery is the story of Ted Sparks (he’s 12 years and 281 days old, with seven friends) and the most unusual theft of a painting. Ted is a boy who sees the world very differently from the rest of his family – his brain works on a different operating system than everyone else’s, and that makes him an excellent detective. He’s very kind and very thoughtful, and a brilliant hero.
Perfectly Weird, Perfectly You (KS2)
Author: Camilla Pang
Dr Pang was diagnosed as autistic at the age of eight and saw the world differently. This book explores all the stages of life as readers grow up and explains them in the terms of scientific concepts. This is based on Dr Pang’s life and the fact that quite early on she realised that science with its tangible and logical patterns helped her understand all the things that seemed so strange and messy in ordinary life. The book acknowledges that it is difficult growing up and becoming the person you want to be for everyone, but it uses that as a key into the scientific possibilities of understanding some of those difficult areas. These include things like stereotyping, how to handle emotions, dealing with pressure, and finding your own personal passions to list just a few. This is a book that will be very useful to many people as it helps us look at and explain some of life’s intricacies and problems with a different perspective.
Frankie's World (KS3)
Author: Aoife Dooley
Dooley is an Irish autistic author and illustrator who writes with authority, empathy and humour about the world as viewed by Frankie. Frankie believes she is an alien; she is the smallest person in her class – and she is accused of talking too much! But really all she is different – neurodivergent, though it is not until nearly the end of the book that Frankie gets an insight into why she views things differently. Frankie’s Dad left when she was a baby and she, with friend Sam, decide to track him down. I found it refreshing that Sam is wheelchair bound but that no reference is made to this. This book so easy to relate to – the world from a child’s point of view is such a confusing place – but this helps us all see how it may be even more confusing if one’s reactions are different from other people.
How to Look for a Lost Dog (KS3)
Author: Ann M. Martin
The heroine of Ann M Martin’s fine novel has a unique voice, and the story she tells is very touching. Rose (rows) has a diagnosis of autism and struggles to understand the unspoken social rules that are built in to the rest of us. Her props are homonyms – she has an ever growing list of words pronounced the same as another but spelled differently – prime numbers, and her dog Rain (reign, rein). When Rain goes missing, Rose works methodically to find her, but their reunion brings a problem: Rain originally belonged to another family, who also want their dog back. For Rose, for whom written rules are as vital as homonyms, there’s only one course of action to take. Rose tells her story exactly as it happens, but readers will infer so much more from her descriptions of events and the reactions of the other characters.
Counting by 7s (KS3)
Author: Holly Goldberg Sloan
A touching story shot through with warmth and humour this tells of one girl’s journey to find herself. Willow’s view of the world is unusual. She is a genius with a special skill at numbers and exceptional knowledge of medical conditions but without much skill of any kind in dealing with people. When Willow’s life is turned upside down, she suddenly has to learn how to find the people who can help her. Willow’s journey of self-discovery and the cast of interesting characters who help to is totally absorbing as, largely through instinct, Willow finds the ways she needs to relate to others.
Mockingbird (KS3)
Author: Kathryn Erskine
11 year old Caitlin has Asperger's. Her world is torn apart when her beloved brother is killed in a school shooting. Anxious and confused, Caitlin decides what she and her father need is 'closure'. But she needs to find it. This is an incredibly moving and heart-warming story of loss, self-discovery and recovery told from a completely different perspective and it's likely to be one of the most moving books you'll ever read. Author Kathryn Erskine on Mockingbird: “Understanding breeds tolerance. And, whatever situation you're in, there's always hope."
Show Us Who You Are (KS2)
Author: Elle McNicoll
When Cora's brother drags her along to his boss's house, she doesn't expect to strike up a friendship with Adrien, son of the intimidating CEO of Pomegranate Technologies. As she becomes part of Adrien's life, she is also drawn into the mysterious projects at Pomegranate. At first, she's intrigued by them - Pomegranate is using AI to recreate real people in hologram form. As she digs deeper, however, she uncovers darker secrets... Cora knows she must unravel their plans, but can she fight to make her voice heard, whilst never losing sight of herself?
Dandelion Clocks(KS3/4)
Author: Rebecca Westcott
One of our Books of the Year 2014 - March 2014 Debut and Mega Book of the Month The big emotions at the heart of this story will grab readers’ attention and guide them through a painful and heart-warming story. Liv’s life is pretty typical: there are the ups and downs of friends and school and testing her parents about how much they will let her make her own decisions. Life is a bit extra complicated because of her brother’s behaviour but Liv is used to it and mostly she can manage that too. But then Mum begins to behave very oddly. When Liv learns the truth her life is turned upside down. Through her diaries and the photos she takes and helped by Mum’s diaries too Liv charts the dramatic weeks that change her life.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (KS3/4)
Author: Mark Haddon
When Christopher finds a dead dog on his neighbour's lawn he applies the principles he has learnt from Sherlock Holmes, his own literary hero, to the situation and so begins the narration of his own remarkable story. In particular, Christopher traces the mystery surrounding his mother's absence and his father's unexpected behaviour, drawing on the clues he can understand.
A Kind of Spark (KS3)
Author: Elle McNicoll
When 11 year old Addie, who is autistic, learns about the 16th century women who were persecuted for witchcraft, she starts to lobby for a local memorial in her small Scottish village. With the help of a new girl at school, she fights valiantly against injustice and oppression. The Branford Boase Award Judges said: ‘Phenomenal’; ‘I loved it’; ‘brings a brand new voice into children’s books’; ‘deals with ideas of difference without being heavy handed’. Find out more about the Branford Boase Awards here.
Diary of a Young Naturalist (KS3/4)
Author: Dara McAnulty
Diary of a Young Naturalist recounts a year in the life of an autistic and highly gifted 15 year old, struggling with school, bullies, moving house and fearing the decline of the natural world whilst rejoicing in it.
Car Wash Wish (KS3)
Author: Sita Brahmachari
Hudson, the teen narrator of her new novel, is well aware of his own tendency to misunderstand or misread what others are saying, so the moment when he and his dad suddenly connect with one another is particularly powerful. That it takes place in a car wash only makes it more convincing. Hudson’s dad explains how much he loved going through the car wash with his own father as a child, and how the cloud of soapy bubbles felt like a kind of heaven.
Read Between the Lies (KS3/4)
Author: Malcolm Duffy
Soon-to-be-stepbrothers Ryan and Tommy are as different as ice-cream and cabbage. Tommy has recently been released from a young offenders’ prison, while Ryan is a piano-playing good lad who’s moved down south with his dad following his parents’ divorce. In Ryan’s words, “Don’t do cooking but hear it’s all about the blend of ingredients. Same with families. Ours is all wrong. Like ice-cream and cabbage”. Despite their marked differences, the teenagers do have something in common — they’re both dyslexic, but have very different ways of dealing with it. Tommy’s journey through handling prejudice against his criminal past (“a single bad decision doesn’t make you bad”) and learning to read is gripping, moving and - ultimately - uplifting, as is Ryan’s dedication to teaching Tommy to read. As Ryan’s mum announces her plan for them to move, and Tommy discovers long-buried family secrets, the perfectly-paced plot ramps up the stakes, with plenty of humour and touching moments shining through the boys’ troubles.
The Reason I Jump: one boy's voice from the silence of autism (KS3/4)
Author: Naoki Higashida
Written by Naoki Higashida when he was only thirteen, this remarkable book provides a rare insight into the often baffling behaviour of autistic children. Using a question and answer format, Naoki explains things like why he talks loudly or repeats the same questions, what causes him to have panic attacks, and why he likes to jump. He also shows the way he thinks and feels about his world - other people, nature, time and beauty, and himself. Abundantly proving that people with autism do possess imagination, humour and empathy, he also makes clear how badly they need our compassion, patience and understanding.
The State of Grace (KS4)
Author: Rachael Lucas
In a Nutshell: Living with Asperger’s * Dealing with change * New beginnings “Being human is a complicated game”, and that’s certainly the case for fifteen-year-old Grace, the sparkling protagonist of this gorgeously heartfelt and often hilarious novel. Grace is bright and witty, but has Asperger’s and often feels as if she speaks “human as a second language”, though when she’s riding her horse “everything melts away”, and Anna, her adorable best friend, totally has her back, and then there’s the magic of getting together with the “mysterious Gabe”. But an undercurrent of tension between her parents offsets the good times. Her dad’s a wildlife cameraman and works away a lot and, when her mum’s old uni friend turns up, life at home is further disrupted. Change is hard to deal with at the best of times, but it’s intensified tenfold when you’re Grace and “living with all your senses turned up to full volume”.
Every Shiny Thing (KS4)
Author: Cordelia Jensen, Laurie Morrison
When Lauren's parents send her brother to a therapeutic boarding school for teens on the autism spectrum and Sierra moves to a foster home in Lauren's wealthy neighbourhood, both girls are lost until they find a deep bond with each other. But when Lauren recruits Sierra to help with a Robin Hood scheme to raise money for autistic kids who don't have her family's resources, Sierra has a lot to lose if the plan goes wrong. Lauren must learn that having good intentions isn't all that matters when you battle injustice, and Sierra needs to realize that sometimes the person you need to take care of is yourself.
ePlatform
Please do not forget that you can also use our reading app ePlatform to read lots of fabulous electronic and audiobooks! For instructions on how to use ePlatform, please use the link below:
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8064653522683152574/1799106046324446297
Well, that is the end of this month’s Library Newsletter!
Is there anything else that you would like to see in The Online Library Newsletter? If you have any contributions, queries or great ideas please email: ltaylor@oakspark.redbridge.sch.uk
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