Teach Primary Issue 18.4

Book CLUB We review five new titles that your class will love A Home for Stone by Corrinne Averiss, illus. Rosalind Beardshaw (£12.99 HB, Orchard) With stripes just like an old-time bathing suit, Stone really does stand out, but his face is the picture of misery. When the child finds him, all they want to do is make Stone smile – and so begins a quest to find Stone a new home. Surely, he’ll want to be somewhere with other folks like him? Told in rhyming verse, this warm-hearted picturebook joyfully explores profound ideas. Fitting in does not mean being the same. Our differences bring pleasures and possibilities, and with them come learning, change and growth. The bright artwork has a fresh, contemporary feel, and FS/Y1 children will enjoy responding to the rich visual landscapes. Stone’s story also invites thoughtful reflection about collecting and its impact on the environment. 50 | www.teachwire.net Monsters Never Get Haircuts byMarie-HHélène Versini and Vincent Boudgourd (£12.99 HB, Boxer Books) Have you ever seen a monster drinking strawberry milk? Probably not, because monsters don’t exist… or do they? Are you absolutely sure? In this imaginative and visually sophisticated picturebook, fifteen monsters try – and fail – to do un-monsterly things, framed by a deadpan text that chips away at their dignity and power. Defined by pencil lines in ways that bring them vividly to life, Boudgourd’s colourful critters emerge from paint washes alongside the tiny, hapless humans attempting to co-exist with them. Humour abounds, but younger or more sensitive children could find some of these illustrations unsettling. It’s all great fun though, for those ready to be playful in this way. KS2 children in particular will enjoy responding with their own stories and illustrations. Rabbit and Bear: This Lake is Fake! by Julian Gough, illus. JimField (£10.99 HB, Hodder Children’s Books) Winter’s over, and Rabbit’s had a vision of a perfect world: an island that reminds him of hot chocolate. True to form, he’s being ungracious about finding it, but Bear’s willing to go the extra mile to help her friend. When they arrive, the island clearly isn’t edible, but Rabbit’s so sure of himself that it’s hard to acknowledge the gruesome truth. Will this be a catalyst for much-needed personal growth? The sixth and final instalment in the Rabbit and Bear series, this fully-illustrated hardback is as endearingly daft as its predecessors. More than a passing interest in poo is taken, alongside gentle lessons about teamwork and friendship; emerging readers will be charmed. KS1/2 KS1/2 KS1