Children’s Reading

[oddoneout]

I don't think our local library has had a dedicated children's librarian for many years - long before cuts to council budgets started to really bite. However thanks to the county council deciding that its libraries and museums are important and worth supporting, the service for children continues to be good, with activities and initiatives to engage all ages, and support for the likes of nurseries and playgroups through a book loan scheme.
The Friends group which raises money to help support the site where I work runs a secondhand bookshop which always struggles to keep up with the demand for children's reading matter. I remember one day 3 large boxes were brought in by a member of the public, and as the books were put out on the shelves they were being bought; by the end of the day they had virtually all gone.

[Pulcinella]

I'll put in a plug for The Book People: some of their collections for children are astonishingly good value:

https://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=85207&catalogId=10051&mkwid_xJMq2kl5-dt_pcrid_133612089727_pkw_book%20people_pmt_e_prodid__slid__&pgrid=14673566407&ptaid=kwd-39876070&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9MeysdHw4AIVYbHtCh3WagsSEAAYASABEgK52_D_BwE

[oddoneout]

and an even bigger thought for those whose little Freddie said, the night before, "Oh by the way we've got to dress up tomorrow".
This is one area where mobile phones have perhaps improved matters, as many(most now?) schools use emails etc to communicate with parents and carers, thus bypassing the shortcomings of 'pupil-post'. Doesn't solve the problem of whether the adult concerned can deal with the request/requirement, but at least there is a better chance of being fore-warned.

[Pulcinella]

In terms of interest in science, two New Scientist books are great fun:
Does anything eat wasps? (and 101 other questions).
and
Why don't penguins' feet freeze? (and 114 other questions).
For the most part the answers are clearly given (if occasionally disputed, which in itself can be a discussion topic).
There's also a book of experiments:
How to fossilise your hamster.

[doversoul1]

Not science but this was well appreciated by a (nearly) eight-year old. Not quite by the parents who suspected that I was deliberately stirring things up (‘She’ll ask even more questions!!’).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/147492252X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

As for the matter of little Freddie, those dressing up kits can be easily bought online these days but they are not cheap. I wonder how many children and parents are happy with cut-up cardboard masks and old curtain cloaks. Or are more parents happy not have to get out their sewing kit out? Ah well, life is never easy for parents.

[ed.] The world has not yet all crumbled under the Internet.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/07/readers-world-book-day-costumes-from-the-cat-in-the-hat-to-mr-tickle

[Pulcinella]

Not science but this was well appreciated by a (nearly) eight-year old. Not quite by the parents who suspected that I was deliberately stirring things up (‘She’ll ask even more questions!!’).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/147492252X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

As for the matter of little Freddie, those dressing up kits can be easily bought online these days but they are not cheap. I wonder how many children and parents are happy with cut-up cardboard masks and old curtain cloaks. Or are more parents happy not have to get out their sewing kit out? Ah well, life is never easy for parents.

[ed.] The world has not yet all crumbled under the Internet.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/20...t-to-mr-tickle

The propensity of Harry Potter shops in The Shambles makes 'dressing up' fairly easy here in York. The staff entered thoroughly into the spirit, their theme being fairy-tale characters, and there were prizes for 'shoebox' models of a scene from a book, some of which were very inventive indeed.
As a volunteer, I DIDN'T dress up, using as my excuse the fact that I was going straight from school to SpecSavers.
That didn't wash with some of the kids though, who said that I should at least have made an effort and turned up as (Where's) Wally!
I wonder if that's what they think of me.

[oddoneout]

It's all about finding the child's interest...I've just heard from my son that the latest board book I sent my 18 month old grandson wasn't as well received as the previous two and that he preferred the Aldi leaflets collected during the week's shopping trip 'as they've got pictures of food in', and GS is very interested in food! So learning his letters(it was an alphabet board book) may have to give way for now to learning the names of fruit, veg, types of cheese, cuts of meat.

[MrGongGong]

This is the best book about acoustics for adults as well (unless you want to spend £80 and are good at Calculus !)

https://clubs-kids.scholastic.co.uk/products/Horrible-Science-Sounds-Dreadful-9780590198103

[ardcarp]

Looks fun.

[doversoul1]

This may be of some interest to Swallows and Armenians fans.

Swallows and Armenians: Arthur Ransome’s forgotten inspirations revealed

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/09/swallows-and-armenians-arthur-ransomes-forgotten-inspirations-revealed

[ardcarp]

Thanks Dovers. Fascinating. Rather as Richard Hughes did (post#61), Ransome obviously learned something about children from his time with the Armenian family. As they say, no life experience is wasted by an author. BTW, I thought the kids in the picture looked rather bored and listless with adults at the helm! (I also thought the mechanical advantage of the mainsheet rather inadequate. Hard to hold on to that in a blow.)

[DracoM]

Try Patrick Ness's YA writings. Engrossing.

[Pulcinella]

Try Patrick Ness's YA writings. Engrossing.

YA?
(And you wonder why people ask about abbreviations/acronyms on The Choir thread? )

[doversoul1]

YA?
(And you wonder why people ask about abbreviations/acronyms on The Choir thread? )

Young Adult novels (or is this a Choir Board joke?)

[Pulcinella]

Young Adult novels (or is this a Choir Board joke?)

Thank you!
No, not a joke, but a slight dig at Draco.