Teach-Primary-Issue-19.7

Book CLUB We review five new titles that your class will love 84 | www.teachwire.net The History of We byNikkolas Smith (£8.99, Rock the Boat) Do You Believe in Ghosts? byDannyRobins, ill. EllenWalker (£8.99, Puffin) KS1/2 KS1 The Remembering Candle byAlisonGoldberg, ill. SelinaAlko (£12.99HB, Barefoot Books) Danny Robins’ beloved TV show and podcast (both titled Uncanny) draw large audiences of all ages, and now your favourite ghost hunter is back; this time, with a collection of tales specifically for younger readers. In this book, Danny dives right into real-life stories of spooky goings-on, from paranormal apparitions to mysterious poltergeists. But that’s not all – alongside this insight into the unexplainable, Danny consults with experts to explore some of the scientific phenomena that might go some way towards interpreting these happenings. From how human hearing works, to why we’ve evolved to be afraid of the dark, there is plenty within these pages to spark a series of fascinating lessons. Spooky, but not scary, this is the perfect October classroom addition. Answering big questions from your little learners can be somewhat overwhelming, especially when they have long and complicated answers. If any of your pupils have ever asked you “Where do people come from?” or something similar, this book could be for you. Starting with humanity’s origins in Africa, and exploring how mankind spread across the world, and how civilisation developed, this poem and accompanying paintings are a great way to delve into the story of the human race. The poem and art is also accompanied, in the book’s final pages, by a timeline outlining key moments in our people’s history, from some of the oldest human fossils in Ethiopia, dating from 233,000BCE, to the development of human shelter. The Remembering Candle tells the story of a little boy whose grandpa died the year before, and the boy is experiencing Yahrzeit for the first time. Yahrzeit is the Jewish tradition of lighting a candle for those you’ve lost on the anniversary of their death. The candle then burns consistently for a whole day and night, during which time, loved ones share their memories. The young narrator of the story learns that letting the candle burn for such a long time allows for the memories to return to loved ones, and gives them space to properly honour those who have passed. A great introduction to this element of the Jewish faith, or an interesting exploration of how different cultures handle death, this book is a strong addition to your RE shelf. KS2