We use grandparents and children to review books where possible.
Malpas the Dragon by Ann Cattanach, illustrated by Michael Renouf Malpas
was treated badly by his parents, who taught him to be a rude, angry dragon, but this meant that he was also unloved and lonely. He flies around the world, breathing fire, screaming, moaning and farting. He makes everybody afraid. His only friend, Haley, doesn't have much success offering help to the sad and smelly dragon, but Malpas ends up helping her to help others who are lonely. His tears of stone, with their fiery centres begin to warm their hearts. Children, grandparents and teachers all loved this book. "The parents were very mean treating Malpas like that" "He was better off without his Mum and Dad but suffered because he didn't know how to behave." "This is about why children bully isn't it" "This is a book to read together, read aloud and discuss.
Thanks to Jan for her help with reviewing Malpas
ISBN 978 1 84310 572 5
£8.99
The Ice Journey by Grandma Valerie
The Ice Journey tells the story of the Ice Age Solutreans’ journey from South Western France across the Atlantic to America. I read the book with my 8 year old granddaughter. Although she found some words difficult - for example “archaeologist”, “genetics” and “concept” - once I’d explained them she enjoyed the story.
The book generated a lot of discussion and we were able to link it to our own trip to Lapland; we talked about the snow and ice and being in a tepee made of skins and how to smoke fish by stringing it above a fire to preserve it. We talked about the discovery of bones and tools and what we had seen at the museum. We also discussed our family “genetics” and how the family had changed across the generations. The book includes a game and a recipe. She enjoyed the game but turned her nose up at the thought of eating raw fish! She also liked the “can you answer these questions” page as we did very well!
My granddaughter felt very positive about The Ice Journey and we both thought that it had helped her with history and science. I would recommend the book be read together - be prepared for lots of questions!
Lynn Bean
(Published by Grandma’s Stories Ltd. ISBN 978-1-905550-01-2)
