500 words: Black Lives Matter writing competition

The brilliant 500 words: Black Lives Matter writing competition launched today!

All children aged between 5 and 13 and are invited to write a story of no more than 500 words on any ‘themes and issues emerging from the Black Lives Matter movement’.

The closing date is this Friday, 3rd July at 11.59pm, so you haven’t got long!

You can submit your entries via an online form and many stories will be read out on Chris Evan’s Virgin Radio breakfast show by special guests through out the competition.  

For more information and competition rules click here: https://500words.me/.

The BBC Radio 2 500 words competition completed it’s tenth and final year on Friday, 12th June 2020.

Children’s Art Week 2020

Children’s Art Week is run by Engage, the National Association for Gallery Education andtakes place from 29th June - 19th July.

Taking inspiration from the many topics and tasks available as part of the Art Week programme, Ms McIntosh, has created some fantastic project work around the topic of ‘architecture’ for all Year 7, 8 and 9 students.  To explore and try some of the other activities available, click here. 

Below are a selection of art theme YA novels that are well worth a read:

Fire Colour One by Jenny Valentine 
A Carnegie Children’s Book Award shortlisted novel, the title of the book is that of a 10-foot long panel created with a blowtorch, water and two models by the French artist Yves Klein in 1962 and which sold for $36.4 million at Christie's in 2012. Art is a prominent theme in this novel about love, lies and redemption with a superb final twist.

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick
Inspired by the painting MidvinterBlot by the Swedish Realist painter Carl
Larrson, this dark and compelling novel is about two people who find and lose one another
over more than a thousand years.  This novel was also shortlisted for the Carnegie Children’s Book Awards.

Ivy by Julie Hearn 

A historical novel set in London during the time of the Pre-Raphelite painters.  It tells the story of a girl with beautiful red hair, previously abandoned and neglected and living a life of crime, but whose life takes a turn for the better when she is spotted as a model for a Pre-Raphaelite artist. 

The Medici Seal by Theresa Breslin

Set in Renaissance Italy, this is an epic adventure of intrigue, murder, revenge and betrayal  told through a young boy who works for Leonardo Da Vinci and carries a secret that people will kill for.

The Books that Made Me - Ms Rodgerson, History Teacher

We are asking members of staff to share ‘the books that made them’.  Below are the choices of Ms Rodgerson, History Teacher

I am currently reading: Fall of Giants by Ken Follett. This book is the first in a series called The Century. What I like about this book is that it documents the period of the First World War on a personal level by telling the story through individuals. It covers the many sides of the world- discussing the working class British perspective all the way to the role of the Russian Revolution in shaping the outcome of the war.

My favourite book as a child was: Enid Blyton's The Faraway Tree. My mother and I would read these books together and they were my first real look into the different world’s you can discover through reading.

The last book that made me cry was: The Long Song by Andrea Levy. This book tells the story of those living in Jamaica during the last turbulent years of slavery and the early years of freedom that followed emancipation.

The last book that made me laugh was: This Is Going To Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay. This is a funny and moving book which details the experience of Junior Doctors working in the NHS.

As a child of the 1990s my comfort reads are any of the Harry Potter Series. I am a huge fan of the series and I love listening to Stephen Fry reading the books as it reminds me of listening to the tapes!

The one book I think everyone should read is: It’s Not OK to Feel Blue and Other Lies by Scarlett Curtis. This is a series of essays written by a number of inspiration people. They open up about their experiences with mental health and well-being. Reading it made me more aware of how important to recognise how we feel and to talk about it.

Just an extra recommendation which I think it really nice to read during lock down is The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy.

First New Digital Issue

First News is a weekly newspaper for children that the Library subscribes to.  It covers difficult and positive news stories from around the UK and the wider world, as well as entertainment news, and articles on animals and science with competitions and reviews as well. 

Below is the final free digital edition of the newspaper:

💖 Books We Love About Love 💖

As part of SRE day at EPHS, we have put together a list of books we love about love!  

Check out our choices below - we’d love to hear about your favourite book about love.

We are publishing book reviews on the Library blog and giving out achievement point for any that we receive.  Please send your reviews and comments to Mrs Nolan at cnolan@e21c.co.uk.

Independent Bookshop Week

With book shops now open again, why not support your local independent book shop? 

The Beckenham Bookshop in Beckenham, although not yet available to browse, are very happy to help with orders, requests and queries (help@beckenhambooks.com).

Looking for you next great read?  Check out the Indie Book Award shortlist by clicking here.

Windrush Stories

Today is Windrush Day,  which was set up to remember when the first generation of people from the Caribbean arrived in the UK, by invitation, on the HMT Empire Windrush to help rebuild Britain after WWII.

The British Library’s Windrush Stories resources exploring race, migration and culture, ‘invite us to consider a longer, more complicated and ongoing relationship between Britain and the Caribbean’.  

Highlights include close readings of three poems by John Agard and  author Andrea Levy’s essay on ‘notions of racism’ and what events let her to use writing as a tool to explore her Caribbean heritage.  To view all resources click here.

Andrea Levy’s award winning 2004 novel, Small Island, provides a definitive fictional account of the experiences of the Windrush generation and was selected by the BBC as one of it’s ‘100 Novels that Shaped Our World’.

The Books that Made Me - Mrs Ani, Learning Mentor

We are asking members of staff to share ‘the books that made them’.  Below are the choices of Mrs Ani, Learning Mentor

________________________

The book I am currently reading : Is A Treasury of Poems for almost every possibility. Edited by Allie Esiri and Rachel Kelly. I love reading poetry and this compilation has lots of my favourites.

My favourite book as a child:  Aesops Fables - It had lots of entertaining morality tales and introduced me to new ideas including new ways of thinking about everyday situations.

The Last book that made me laugh: Bird Brain by Guy Kennaway.  It is a gentle yet eccentric story filled with satire. It is about a man who loved shooting birds being reincarnated as a pheasant. It is beautifully written and ends as it started during a pheasant shooting incident. 

My comfort read: BBC Publication of The Nations Favourite Childhood Poems. Poetry brings me comfort. I find myself returning to this particular compilation of poems as it contains all my favourites. From 'Gust becos I could not spell' by Brian Patten to 'The song of Hiawatha’ by H.W. Longfellow.

The one book I think everyone should read is:

If This Is A Man by Primo Levi.

CILIP Carnegie and Greenaway Awards 2020 - winner announced!

The judges chose the wonderful Lark by Anthony McGowan, which continues the story of two brothers whose trip to the moors takes a desperate turn when the weather changes and a blizzard ensues ....

and Tales from the Inner City by the brilliantly talented Shaun Tan.

What will the Shadowers Choice be?  The Eden Park Readers, the EPHS Shadowing Group, have until October 2020 to decide which book they would like to vote for.

Both books and all the Carnegie shortlisted titles will be available to borrow from the Lower Library.

First News Digital Issue

First News is a weekly newspaper for children that the Library subscribes to.  It covers difficult and positive news stories from around the UK and the wider world, as well as entertainment news, and articles on animals and science with competitions and reviews as well. 

You can read a digital copy of the newspaper - just click below:



As the schools re-open and lockdown measures continue to ease, from 26th June First News will no longer be offering their free weekly download. 

International Pride Month 2020

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month.  As well as being a time of celebration, it is also an opportunity to peacefully protest and raise awareness of the current issues facing the LGBTQ+ community.  Pride takes place in June because that is the month the Stonewall Riots happened in the US back in 1969.  This year, because of Covid-19 restrictions, Pride marches in the London are cancelled.

All About History magazine (available in the Lower Library) includes an interesting article this month on the people who have devoted their lives to championing equality for the LGBTQ+ community, Pioneers of Pride written by Callum McKelvie.  Below is a Voices and Visibility: Uncovering Hidden Histories wallchart, which shows the history of the movement.

Michael Rosen

Ms Roberts, the senior Librarian at TRS, has written a lovely piece on her Library blog about Michael Rosen, much loved author and former Children's Laureate, who has been suffering with Corona virus.  The good news is, following a 47 day stay in intensive care in hospital, Michael is now back home and recovering slowly.

Check out Ms Roberts' post by clicking here.

Farewell to a Street Cat named Bob

Bob the Cat

The amazing Bob the cat, who helped Big Issue seller James Bowen rebuild his life and was written about in the best selling book A Street Cat Named Bob, has died aged 14. 

Bob, a beautiful ginger cat, appeared as himself in the 2016 film version of the book and has charmed and delighted audiences at book signings and appearances around the world.

Read about Bob and James in Bob: No Ordinary Cat, a copy of which is available to borrow from the Lower Library.

The Books that Made Me - Mr Collins, Director of English

We are asking members of staff to share ‘the books that made them’.  Below are the choices of Mr Collins, Director of English

________________________

The book that I am currently reading: I’ve been a sucker for crime fiction since my teens and it is the genre I return to most often; I’m currently reading “Broken Harbour” by Tana French, which is the fourth book in the Dublin Murder series, four standalone novels linked by setting and overlapping characters - well plotted, tense and beautifully written.

My favourite book as a child: an impossible question to answer (and not just because it was so long ago) - I was definitively one of those kids reading books under the covers by torchlight, and, like lots of children, I went through different phases; I had a fantasy period (almost obligatory for teenage boys) reading David Geddings and Raymond E Feist, my crime fiction addiction started with Agatha Christie, Stephen King introduced me to horror, Pratchett and, especially, Douglas Adams to the world of comedy and reading Watership Down by Douglas Adams was an intense experience but, if I had to choose one book, it would be A Rag, A Bone and A Hank of Hair - a dark dystopian sci-if chiller by Nicholas Fisk.

The last book that made me cry: these books are few and far between, it has to be said. I can only think of one: The World According to Garp - beware of the undertow. No spoilers.

The last book that made me laugh: this category is almost as sparse as the previous one - lots of books can provoke a wry smile (I recommend Christopher Brookmyre, who manages to combine crime and comedy expertly) and Catch 22 is a classic, but for making me laugh out loud, it would have to be The World According to Garp again - for a book to be able to do one of those things is unusual enough, to be able to do both - genius.

My comfort read: any well written crime novel - John Connolly`s Charlie Parker series is my absolute favourite - I buy them as soon as they come out and gobble them up immediately; Minette Walters, Reginald Hill, Val McDermid amongst others; I also really enjoy the Jack Reacher books - I know they’re formulaic and generic but they’re also very well plotted and easy to read, which is what you want from a comfort point of view.

The one book everyone should read: another question that is very difficult to answer. Obviously, everyone should be reading as much and as often as possible, and as widely as possible, there are thousands of brilliant books out there, and I am writing for a teenage audience, so I’m going to recommend a range:

• Northern Lights by Philip Pullman - read the first book and immediately went out and bought the other two books in the trilogy - stunning series.
• Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - starts with the demolition of the Earth by bad poetry writing aliens and just sets off from there - brilliant.
• A Rag, A Bone and A Hank of Hair - see above.
  
• Roll off Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D Taylor - the black American experience enduring the Depression.
• Noughts and Crosses series by Malorie Blackman - provocative, thoughtful and very well written.

For older readers:

• Beloved by Toni Morrison - bleak, dark but beautiful account of slavery life.
  
• The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood - dystopian novel which seems so prescient.
• The Road by Cormac McCarthy - bleakly beautiful, or beautifully bleak.

The majority of the books that Mr Collins has recommended are available to borrow from the EPHS Libraries.

First New Digital Issue

First News is a weekly newspaper for children that the Library subscribes to.  It covers difficult and positive news stories from around the UK and the wider world, as well as entertainment news, and articles on animals and science with competitions and reviews as well. 

Whilst the Library and schools generally are closed, you can read a digital copy of the newspaper - just click below:

The Books that Made Me - Miss Hudson

We are asking members of staff to share ‘the books that made them’.  Below are the choices of Miss Hudson, Head of Drama

________________________

The book that I am currently reading:

Natives by Akala - A fab writer who I have always admired for his straight-talking and honest views. 'Covering everything from the police, education and identity to politics Akala confront British denial and squeamishness about race and class.'

My favourite book as a child was:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling/ The Host - Stephenie Meyer - these two books were on a constant cycle when I was a teenager (it was before you could binge watch things on Netflix...) Reading these books was like binge watching my favourite series over and over, with characters that I absolutely loved. Both of these books include romance with some action and adventure thrown in there, which was the perfect combination of genres that I loved when I was younger.

The last book that made me cry:
Me Before You - Jojo Moyes. A truly heartwarming but heartbreaking story. 

The last book that made me laugh:
Everything I Know About Love - Dolly Alderton. A book which has a bit of everything. Hilarious anecdotes from the life of Dolly Alderton as she reflects on her life before she turns 30. (A book for when you are a bit older).

My comfort read:
The Perks of Being A Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky. First read when I was 16 and it's stayed with me ever since. A book about how the protagonist, Charlie, deals with the trials and tribulations of teenage life in the 90s and his own struggles with mental health and trauma in his life. A book that is darkly funny and whilst it deals with some heavy topics, it is truly a story about friendship and first love. Written as a series of letters to an unknown recipient, so it feels as if Charlie is telling his story directly to you.

The one book I think everyone should read is:
The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald. My favourite ever book. I read this in A-Level English Literature and fell in love with it. The glitz, the glamour, the romance, the unreliable narrator, the drama - truly beautifully written book with fantastic characters.

Charles Dickens 150th Anniversary

Today marks the 150th Anniversary of the death of the amazing writer and social commentator Charles Dickens (1812-1870).

Dickens wrote classic books including Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, and David Copperfield.  You can listen to the audio book of A Christmas Carol on the BBC Sounds.

As part of the celebrations to commemorate Dicken’s life and legacy, a light and sound installation was projected on to Westminster Abbey last Saturday, as part of a collaboration with The Charles Dickens Museum.  Click on the video below to view.

Empathy Day 2020

Today is Empathy Day!  You can join in by:

• Read - find and start an empathy boosting book
• Connect -  practice listening 100%
• Act -  use your empathy skills to make a difference

The Books that Made Me – Mrs Codling

We are asking members of staff to share ‘the books that made them’.  Below are the choices of Mrs Codling, Head Teacher
________________________

The book that I am currently reading:

Defending Jacob by William Landay - this is an exciting book, close to my heart as it's about teenagers (!) and I'm trying to avoid watching the tv series before I've finished the book. It's part of an EPHS book-club read - so it was chosen by Miss Rodgerson. I studied English Literature at A-Level and have always enjoyed discussing and dissecting a book with someone else who has also read the same thing.

My favourite book as a child was ....

Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl – read it about 700 times. Roald Dahl was an absolute must. I had the whole series bought for my by various aunties. I used to think it was quite risky and naughty when I was a child! I was very innocent!

The last book that made me cry:

The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - about love, commitment, relationships, strength, loyalty, passion, belief. I read it whilst in hospital and the nurse approached me asking if I needed stronger pain killers as she thought I was in pain (I'd had my appendix out). I answered that my book was just so sad!

The last book that made me laugh:

This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay. A real ground shaker for me, as well as a giggle. I literally had no idea that life in the NHS was so tough; this was before COVID-19! Honestly, people that work in hospitals really are heroes.

My comfort read:

Good Housekeeping magazine – ha ha sorry – with a cup of tea and a digestive biscuit!

The one book I think everyone should read is ...

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khalid Hosseini. To understand how other people live, what they go through, how different cultures work. Not always a comfortable read, but hugely important. As a woman in particular, it made me reflect on how lucky I am to have been born into a liberated society full of opportunities.

Summer Reading Challenge 2020 Goes Digital!

The Summer Reading Challenge takes place every place every year in Public Libraries with the aim of keeping children reading over the Summer.  This year, due to Covid-19, the event is launching early and going online and the theme is ‘let’s get silly’!

It’s really easy to take part - you can sign up to to an easy-to-use website and create your own profile at sillysquad.org.uk from today!  

You can set your own challenge to read any amount of books - it can be comics, joke books, poetry, fiction or non-fiction in print, e-book or audio book formal.  Each time you finish a book you can add it to your profile and write a review - you will receive online rewards and a downloadable certificate once you’ve completed your challenge!  If you need some inspiration, watch some well know celebrities talk about their favourite children’s books by clicking here. 

Don’t forget that you can join your local library online and download e-books and audio books onto your computer.  Click here to find out how.

The Books That Made Me - Mr Muzio

We are asking members of staff to share ‘the books that made them’, continuing with Mr Muzio, Deputy Head and Music Teacher
________________________

The book that I am currently reading: 

Miles: The Autobiography by Miles Davis and Quincy Troupe.  This book really appeals to me as I am a trumpet player and music teacher. It has inspired me to go back and listen to some of his most famous Jazz albums. I spent lots of my half-term listening to his iconic album Kind of Blue on repeat.

My favourite book as a child was:

The Twits by Roald Dahl.  I found the whole Roald Dahl collection brilliant but this book introduced me and got me hooked into the world of Roald Dahl literature.

My comfort read:

Anything from the detective/thriller genre.  I recently really enjoyed reading a series of books about a fictional missing persons investigator called David Raker by the author Tim Weaver.

The one book I think everyone should read is: 

The one book I think everyone should read is 102 minutes by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn. This book is about the terrorist attack that took place in America on 11th September 2001. It contains stories about those who lost their lives and those that survived on that fateful day. Reading the book brings back memories of that horrific day and reminds me how the events of that day changed the world we currently live in.

100 Great Black Britons Home School Competition

Ms Rodgerson would love you to enter this exciting competition, which is open to all age groups.  You can work on your own or as “virtual” teams with friends and family. 

 The winning projects will be the ones that are the most innovative and that clearly show why the chosen Great Black Britons were important.

All projects must focus on one or more Great Black Britons featured on the website or nominees that the campaign should have considered since 2004. 

Judges will need to see your work so don’t forget to send a picture or a video of your project!

Please also send your work out Ms Rodgerson, so that she can see the great work you are doing as well.  Any entries will earn 5 achievement points.  For more information visit:

https://www.100greatblackbritons.co.uk/

Fighting Racism - non-fiction, fiction and online resources

George Floyd

With the global protests that are taking place in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in America, we wanted to highlight books and online resources that deal with racism and racial inequality and how we can fight it. 

Click on the link below to view the excellent reading list, compiled by Jane Hill, Learning Resources Manager at Kings Langley School:

Fighting Racism - non-fiction, fiction and online resources

Many of the books on this list are available to borrow from the EPHS Libraries or are on our wish list.