Teach Primary 18.8

www.teachwire.net | 45 the main narrative. The world of The Five Realms is expanded upon in the follow-up novels (which are all worth reading) and, by the time that you have enjoyed all seven books that are currently available, it’s a world that you will feel totally immersed in. David Wyatt’s incredible double-page illustrations bring so much to the book and, whenever you arrive at one, they are worth pausing at and taking some time to explore. Being a fan of children’s fantasy, I I remember reading The Legend of Podkin One-Ear when it was first published, and being especially impressed with two particular aspects. First, the story itself is outstanding; it is action-packed, filled with fascinating characters, both good and bad, and tells its story within a story extremely cleverly. Secondly, the world created by Kieran Larwood is exceptional. The book is almost Tolkienesque in the way that it is stuffed with mythology, folklore and history, all of which add extra depth to was delighted when The Legend of Podkin One-Ear won the 2017 Blue Peter Book Award, and feel that it is a book which is rapidly heading towards classic status. Every year, I have a group of children who fall in love with Podkin, his family and friends. It’s a book that I often recommend to teaching colleagues because Podkin’s universe is so rich with detail, and a huge amount of fun to journey through. It’s filled with opportunities for discussion, writing and artwork, as well as providing wonderful chances to make comparisons with other books. Join a found family on a perilous journey, in Kieran Larwood’s charming adventure story BOOK TOP I C JON B I DDLE Book topic KS2 Illustrations ©David Wyatt Published by Faber & Faber, 2017 T E ACH RE AD I NG & WR I T I NG The Legend of Podkin One-Ear