Teach-Primary-Issue-19.7

Meet the author PIERS TORDAY ON HIS TRANSYLVANIAN FAMILY, AND THE LINK BETWEEN VAMPIRES AND THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE... We love a book with a map at the beginning! How did you come up with your world? My late dad’s family are originally from Transylvania, and I wanted to explore that heritage. During lockdown, I found a map of a fantasy land he had drawn for my brother and me as kids, and it sparked my imagination! So when we could travel again, I took a train to Transylvania to research family history and folklore, blending real places with his map. What made you want to write about vampirs? So many monsters and demons are often characterisations of our deepest fears – like being turned into a bloodthirsty wandering spirit during our sleep! I think it’s best to approach our fears rather than run away or make them into something worse than they are. Vampirs in my book are a tyrannical version of the traditional vampire that have been in power so long, they think they are immortal and unstoppable. But like all tyrants, they’re actually not… How would you like teachers to use your book in the classroom? There is so much to learn from the folklore of vampires and werewolves, often used to demonise the vulnerable, migrants and the sick. Where do those stories come from, and who spreads them? The villain in the Midnight Treasure books is inspired by a real-life Transylvanian warlord, Vlad Tepes, also known as “Vlad the Impaler”, often seen as the original inspiration for Dracula because of his bloodthirsty ways. He was ruthless, but he was also trying to defend his people against the mighty Ottoman Empire. So who might have spread the story that he was a vampire? Midnight Treasure (£8.99, Quercus Children’s Books), by Piers Torday, is out now. www.teachwire.net | 85 Hansel and Gretel byStephenKing, ill.Maurice Sendak (£20HB, Hachette Children’s) Midnight Treasure byPiers Torday (£8.99, Quercus Children’s Books) RESOURCES RECOMMENDED REAL COMPREHENSION Including 54 original texts on 18 themes, Real Comprehension is a unique and powerful whole-school reading programme for Years 1 to 6. It’s designed to develop sophisticated skills of inference and retrieval, and build rich vocabularies. Pupils are also encouraged to make comparisons between different texts and identify themes within them. Visit plazoom.com/real-comprehension KS2 KS2 Opening with a nighttime march towards the edges of an empire from long ago, Piers Torday’s latest triumph sets the scene straight away: we are in the world of the vampirs, and there is a wealth of mystery, adventure, and treasure coming our way. In this fantasy epic, a werewolf named Tibor is on a deadly quest, along with his best friend Roza, to discover the elusive Midnight Treasure. But with bears – and yes, vampirs – to battle along the way, the odds are stacked against him. Can he complete his mission in time? Gripping from the very first page, this is a wonderful read for lovers of fantasy and adventure, and a masterclass in captivating writing. A true treasure indeed (no hunting required). Are you ready for spooky season? You will be after reading this creepy and vivid reimagining of Grimm’s Hansel and Gretel by the one and only Stephen King. Taking the original German tale and adapting it slightly for a modern audience (in his own words, taking the “good bits” and leaving the rest), King retains a straightforward storytelling style, while managing to pile on the tension. Accompanied by dreamlike (or nightmarelike) illustrations from Maurice Sendak (of Where the Wild Things Are fame), this one isn’t for the faint of heart. An interesting starting point for lessons based around fairy tales, but be aware that it might not be right for your more sensitive pupils. ©David Shoukry