Noticeboard
Noticeboard
Hello everyone.
This is the place to visit for the latest information about what I’m doing and where. It may be somewhere near you.
I will also keep you up-to-date about new books and anything else that I think you might like to read about.
Friday 9th December 2011
Hello everyone. I’ve not kept up with news and poems through November very well – sorry about that. Now it’s December and most of you will be looking forward to Christmas celebrations.
I’d like to thank the schools that we’ve visited this term. Our first visit was to St. Peter’s Primary in Henfield who had down some wonderful work around our Lighthouse books as had Little Gaddeson School in Little Gaddeson. We also enjoyed our time at South Bank International School in London, Hollywell Primary School in Watford and Weyfield Primary School in Guildford. It’s always exciting to see the wonderful work that’s going on in so many schools.
Our five year old grandson Tomas came to stay last weekend. He wanted to take the torch and wander in the dark through the woods at the bottom of the garden. He was a little nervous when several owls began to call and he sometimes jumped at our huge shadows.
When I was young I was a bit frightened of the dark so I didn’t like going to bed, I wanted to go on playing or reading. The child in this poem sounds like me and maybe like you, sometimes too.
Bedtime
Five minutes, five minutes more please!
Let me stay five minutes more!
Can’t I just finish the castle
I’m building here on the floor?
Can’t I just finish the story
I’m reading here in my book?
Can’t I just finish this bead-chain.
It almost is finished, look!
Can’t I just finish this game, please?
When a game’s once begun
It’s a pity to never find out
Whether you’ve lost or won.
Can’t I just stay five minutes?
Well, can’t I stay just four?
Three minutes, then? Two minutes?
Can’t I stay just one minute more.
Eleanor Farjeon
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could sail through the dark starlit sky in a crescent moon?
Crescent Moon
The crescent moon
Sails like a small boat,
Sharp at both ends.
As I sit in my small boat
I only see the shining stars
And the dark blue sky.
Translated from traditional Chinese, by Xia Lu.
Sunday 2nd October 2011
A very late welcome to the Autumn term, 2011!
So while you’ve all been working away with new teachers, perhaps in new classes, what have I been doing? No, I haven’t been quietly snoozing anywhere . I also haven’t been travelling to other faraway, places though I did go to the very beautiful Scotland for a few days. I haven’t been building treehouses or riding camels or anything wildly exciting but I have been busy. Busy doing what I ask myself? Not much writing but I am about to start working again. During the summer holidays I was busy looking after my grandson Tomas who has just moved into year one, which he likes very much. On Sunday 25th September David and Iwere busy reading and drawing with a delightful group of children and adults at Farleys Farm Gallery in Chiddingly, East Sussex, as part of the Chiddingly Festival. Every year for 33 years this tiny village has put on a wonderful festival. People come from all over to take part. David and I will also be busy visiting some schools in October, which we always enjoy.
And I’ve had some good news to begin the Autumn term!
‘A New Home for a Pirate’, illustrated by Holly Swain, has been chosen by Scottish Book Trust to go into 60,000 Bookbug packs. Packs of books are given to children every year, up to and including five year-olds. Many of you will have received some of these free books because they are given out all around the United Kingdom.
And the same book has also been chosen by the Dollywood Foundation, which gives books to children in some parts of the United Kingdom as well as Canada and the USA. So Pirate Jed will have thousands of ‘new homes.’
And now for some poems.
Two short poems for September. I like the mouse poem but if there is a mouse running around my house I stand on a chair. I like ‘outside’ mice not ‘inside’ ones.
Mice
I think mice
Are rather nice.
Their tails are long,
Their faces small,
They haven’t any
Chins at all.
Their ears are pink,
Their teeth are white,
They run about
The house at night.
They nibble things
They shouldn’t touch.
And no one seems
To like them much.
But I think mice
Are nice.
By Rose Fyleman, Fifty One New Nursery Rhymes
This poem doesn’t have a name but it is very sure about what to do.
What name would you give it?
Jump-jump-jump-
Jump away
From this town into
The next, today.
Jump-jump-jump-
Jump over the moon;
Jump all the morning
And all the noon.
Jump-jump-jump-
Jump all night;
Won’t our mothers
Be in a fright.
Jump-jump-jump-
Over the sea;
What wonderful wonders
We shall see.
Jump-jump-jump-
Jump far away;
All come home
Some other day.
By Kate Greenaway, Marigold Gardens
Monday 2nd May 2011
Thank you to 2K at Turnham Primary School in Lewisham for sending such wonderful stories, cards, artwork and puppets.
So it’s back to school after a strange mixture of holidays. We’ve had Easter as well as a royal wedding and a Bank holiday. Here’s an old verse about the seasons to remind you that spring is nearly over and that soon it will be summer.
Spring is showery, flowery, bowery;
Summer: hoppy, croppy, poppy;
Autumn: wheezy, sneezy, freezy;
Winter: slippy, nippy, drippy.
Mother Goose
Another poem full of wonderful words to swirl around in your head. I can hear the waves booming and imagine the sea, all deep and mysterious when I read this.
Grim and Gloomy
Oh, grim and gloomy
So grim and gloomy
Are the caves beneath the sea.
Oh, rare but roomy
And bare and boomy,
Those salt sea caverns be.
Oh, slim and slimy
Oh grey and grimy
Are the animals of the sea.
Salt and oozy
And safe and snoozy
The caves where those animals be.
Hark to the shuffling
Huge and snuffling
Ravenous, cavernous, great sea beasts!
But fair and fabulous,
Tintinnabulous,
Gay and fabulous are their feasts.
Ah, but the queen of the sea,
The querulous,perilous sea!
How the curls of her tresses
The pearls of her dresses,
Sway and swirl in the waves,
How cozy and dozy,
How sweet ring-a-rosy
Her bower in the deep-sea caves!
Oh, rare and roomy
And bare and boomy
Those caverns beneath the sea,
And grand and grandiose,
Safe and sandiose
The dens of her denizens be.
Copyright: James Reeves, from ‘Complete Poems for Children.’
(FaberFinds)
Wednesday 20th April 2011
Our last school visit for the spring term was to Cardinal Newman Primary School in Hersham, Surrey to work with Years Two and Three. With the very able assistance of scientist, Brian Egles and their teachers Year Three had based their science topic around our lighthouse keeper books. Amongst many other scientific inventions the children had made working lighthouses, sent up distress flares(water rockets) and made a springy safety system in case Mr. Grinling should fall from the lighthouse(tested with real eggs.)The classes were full of enthusiasm for the project and were delighted to explain various aspects of it to us. It was a wonderful note to end the term on.
Brian has very kindly sent photos. He would be delighted to be contacted should any other school be interested in a similar project: www.bjpce.co.uk
Monday 4th April 2011
David and I have had more very enjoyable school visits this term. Many thanks to Hawkesdown House School, Ark Academy and Thomas's School in London as well as Highcliffe Primary in Dorset. As ever we have worked and talked with so many children who enjoy stories that we are very positive that books, in many forms will, continue to enchant children everywhere.
Friday 1st April 2011
On our visit to Little Thurrock School we were greeted by a display of the lighthouse keeper's lunch. Invited artist Barbara Sampson had worked with Years One and Two to produce a mouth-watering lunch and a wonderful 3D art work. It was an exceptional display. Barbara works around London should any school etc. like to use her expertise.
Tuesday, 8th March 2011 - School visits
David and I have been delighted to read and draw for so many wonderful children and their teachers this term. Our thanks to St. Ronan’s School in Hawkhurst, Roselands Infant School in Eastbourne and Thomas’ School in Fulham, London. We would also like to thank Julie Heatley at Castle Hill Infant School who, after our visit, very kindly sent photos of the work that Key Stage One had done. The pictures are magnificent.
Here's another poem for you. To read more poems have a look below. A few years ago I had great fun writing this verse about vegetables. It isn’t really poetry but it swings along. I’m sure you will enjoy all those scrumptious vegetables after hearing it.
The Fastest Veggies in Town
Mum said “Look my darling boy
some scrumptious things to eat.
Carrots, peas and broccoli,
so juicy and crunchy and sweet.
Ivan the Terrible glared at his mother
Ivan the Terrible shrieked.
“How dare you give me vegetables
they’re disgusting things to eat.
Sausages, chips and burgers
for breakfast, lunch and tea.
Sausages, chips and burgers
are the only food for me.”
Carrot and Peas and Broccoli
scuttled down from the table.
“We gotta get outta here,” they said
“just as fast as we are able.”
Carrot and Peas and Brocolli
climbed into a little green van.
Broccoli said to Carrot
“Drive as fast as you can.”
Carrot had a heart of gold,
Peas were a glorious green.
Broccoli wore a head of curls
the colour just had to be seen.
“We’re at the peak of perfection,
we’re now deliciously sweet.
We must be eaten as soon as we can,”
said Brocolli, Carrot and Peas.
Drive, Carrot drive
we don’t want to lose our crunch.
We must find a tummy
that says yummy, yummy
and gobbles us up for lunch.
Dog was out in the garden,
Dog was chewing a bone.
“Excuse me, Dog,”said Carrot.
“Could your tummy give us a home?”
Dog said, “That’s very polite
its kind of you to offer.
I only eat meat and biscuits myself,
with veggies I don’t bother.”
Drive, Carrot drive
we don’t want to lose our crunch.
We must find a tummy
that says yummy, yummy
and gobbles us up for lunch.
Fox was looking cunning
as he went racing past
“We’re tasty with chicken,” called Carrot.
“But you’ll have to eat us fast.”
Fox replied “Not for me,
but thank you all the same.”
Carrot put his foot down hard
and zipped along the lane.
Drive, Carrot drive
we don’t want to lose our crunch.
We must find a tummy
that says yummy, yummy
and gobbles us up for lunch.
Cat was cleaning his whiskers
when the small green van got stuck.
“Please could you push?” asked Brocolli.
“We musn’t get covered in muck.”
Cat was very obliging.
“Oh lovely cat, you’re so nice.
We’d happily let you munch us.”
But Cat said he’d rather eat mice.
Drive, Carrot drive
we don’t want to lose our crunch.
We must find a tummy
that says yummy, yummy
and gobbles us up for lunch.
They came to the brow of the hill.
The sun was hot in the sky.
“We’re beginning to wrinkle,” shrieked Peas.
“Our skins are starting to dry.”
.They raced around a corner
And oh, what a wonderful sight.
Called “Café au Legumes.”
The veggies were filled with delight.
The van screeched to a halt,
the veg didn’t want to be late.
Along with their friends and relations
they arranged themselves on a plate.
Carrot lay beside Lettuce
Peas snuggled in with some beet
Brocolli smiled at Tomato.
A colourful vegetable treat.
Lola ate all of the veggies.
Her tummy was quite replete.
“They’re at the peak of perfection,” she said.
“So crunchy and juicy and sweet”
You drove Carrot, you drove
and we didn’t lose our crunch.
We’ve now found a tummy
that said yummy, yummy
as it gobbled us up for lunch.
And as for Ivan the Terrible
he’s spotty and plump and pasty.
If only he’d eaten his veggies
so sweet, so crunchy, so tasty.
Veggies just want you to love them.
Veggies just want to have fun.
Invite some in for a party
and eat them all, one by one.
Friday, 11th of February 2011
My website has now been running for ten months or so and I have been very neglectful of it. Not only do I forget to tell people where to look for it I haven’t added much either!
As well as news I intend putting two or three poems on the site each month. Some will be by contemporary poets and some by poets who are no longer alive. Occasionally I may include something I have written.
Long ago I was a teacher mostly of younger children. We read lots of poetry and verse partly because I have always enjoyed these things but also because, in my experience, children love hearing it. Many poems are quite short so it is possible to fit them into those few minutes left perhaps before break times; too short for a story but just right for a poem. Poems benefit too from being heard a number of times allowing children the option of absorbing the poem in different ways depending on their mood. Poems are often about feelings and so open a door to allow children to explore their own in a safe environment.
I hope you enjoy some or all of the poems and verses I put on the website. Perhaps you will try writing one of your own. I love making up stories and putting in all sorts of different words. Lucy has certainly enjoyed making up some of the funny words in this poem.
A Woobit Song
A Woobit went walking through Carraway Town
In his ragged new sweater and his tin golden crown.
He whiffled and warbled and sang “worrajee,”
Because he was coming to eat me for tea.
He woffed on the doorstep and wonged on the bell,
He sniggled and snorfed at the thought of the smell
of little girl chops and little girl pies,
(He wanted to crunch me with vinegary fries.)
But I didn’t care for his scrobbles and squeals,
(Because nobody likes to be Woobitses’ meals.)
So I tromped on his crown, and wurfilled his sweater,
And now (for a Woobit) he couldn’t be better.
Lucy Coats
This year there have been many foggy days where I live. For the first time I can remember it has swirled through the garden. I think fog is rather mysterious and a little bit frightening because when it’s very thick it hides things. It comes down quickly but it can also disappear very quickly. And it makes no noise at all.
Fog
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
Carl Sandburg
If you would like to read other poems by the American poet, Carl Sandburg, put his name into Google.
My grandmother and my mother often read to me when I was little. Lots of nursery rhymes and stories but the first poem I remember was this one. I was frightened of the dark when I was a child so I know how frightened I would have been by a knock on the night time door. Even now I feel a little tingle when I imagine the person in the poem opening the door and not finding anybody there.
Some One
Some one came knocking
At my wee, small door;
Someone came knocking
I’m sure-sure-sure;
I listened, I opened,
I looked to left and right,
But nought there was a-stirring
In the still dark night;
Only the busy beetle
Tap-tapping in the wall,
Only from the forest
The screech owl’s call,
Only the crickets whistling
While the dewdrops fall,
So I know not who came knocking,
At all, at all, at all.
Walter de la Mare.
More poems by Walter de la Mare can be found by putting his name into Google.
Wednesday, 19th of May 2010
Boughton-under-Blean and Dunkirk Primary School
To the children of Year Two Foxes class and Mrs. Foxall: Thank you from David and I for your wonderful pictures of Hamish, Mrs. Grinling and the lighthouses. Hamish is looking nicely plump and I do like Mrs. Grinling’s new hairdo. Some of you asked questions about the books. If you look at the FAQs page on my website you will find answers to most of the questions. Sam R., you asked how long it takes to do a book. About three months for most of the books but some have taken much longer.
Twickenham Preparatory School
Lynne Main and children: Lovely thank-you letters and pictures. We really enjoyed meeting you all.
Thursday, 1st of April 2010
David and I have enjoyed all the visits to schools this term. Thank you to Northwood Prep, Twickenham Prep, St. Stephen’s Primary in Kent and the three British Schools in the Hague.
Thank you also to Weasel Class at Hingham Primary School in Hingham, Norfolk. You sent some wonderful photographs, and stories about the Grinlings and Hamish including one about a new pet for Mr. Grinling, a sunbathing hamster no less.
Friday, 19th of March 2010
This is a small celebration day for me. The very first piece of writing on my new notice board. I'm especially pleased because I can write with some very good news. My latest book – A Very Strange Creature - published by Orchard Books, with wonderful illustrations by Layn Marlow, has been listed for an award. It is one of the titles for younger readers in the Red House Children's Book Awards.
I am so pleased because it is children just like you who choose the books for this award. Thank you.
I hope to put something on my notice board quite regularly. It won't always be about my books. I would like to include other bits and pieces too. So keep those beady eyes reading!