Teach-Primary-18.3

Book CLUB We review five new titles that your class will love Sounds Good! Discover 50 Instruments byHansKonnecke, illus. OleKonnecke, trans.MelodyShaw (£16.99 HB, Gecko Press) From snakes playing glockenspiels to vultures with harps, the creatures in this appealing hardback are keen to share the sounds their instruments can make. Just click on the QR links to hear original music for each spread. The featured instruments come from a range of musical traditions and all corners of the globe. Attentive readers will spot playful connections between the sound files and the book. The pictured bee can be heard buzzing around the cello, for example, and despite stern authorial instructions, that noisy organist can’t resist some jazz. Ole Konnecke’s concise and dryly humorous text includes well-chosen facts and feels like chatting to a friend. Beautifully designed and illustrated, Sounds Good! really makes an impact, and will be enjoyed by the whole school. 50 | www.teachwire.net What Rosa Brought by Jacob SagerWeinstein, illus. ElizaWheel (£12.99 HB, HarperCollins) In 1930s Vienna, life for Jewish families is getting tougher every day. The Nazis have forced Rosa’s parents to close their shop, but her dad is working secretly. Can they survive the storm, or should they abandon everything to make a new life, far away? Their visa comes with heartbreaking decisions to make – and they aren’t about which dress to pack. Grandma isn’t allowed to travel, but her love can. And in the end, that’s all Rosa takes with her to America. In this important and affecting picture book for Year 2 up, Rosa’s son tells her true story in ways that help us connect and understand. Discovering the reality of war for just one child prompts questions about the bigger picture, and conversations about past and present will ensue. Ava Goes Green (Music Art Stories Create: MASC to the Eco-Beat 1) byRonaD. Linklater, illus. StuMcLellan (£12.99, Troubador Publishing) What do you do with your rubbish on a picnic? When Ava throws a plastic bottle into the bushes, the scene is set for a journey of discovery in this cross-curricular exploration of environmental impact and responsibility. Four original and engagingly- illustrated stories explore the impact of rubbish on birds and marine life. As she listens and learns, Ava becomes an advocate for the environment. Each story is followed by questions to reinforce learning and prompt discussion, and the book includes related music, art and writing activities. Ava Goes Green is aimed at LKS2 children taking part in guided group activities. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable adults will find plenty to draw on for lesson planning, and further materials are available online. KS1/2 KS1/2 KS2