We are reading

Welcome to our ‘We Are Reading…’ page where we share what we are reading in our classrooms at the moment and what we think of the books!

Nursery

In Nursery, we are been reading ‘Not Now, Bernard’ by David McKee.

This is the classic story of Bernard, whose distracted parents fail to notice he has been eaten and replaced by a monster. We follow Bernard as he does his best to attract his mum and dad's attention to the monster in the garden who wants to eat him - only to hear the repeated refrain of 'Not now, Bernard.'

Bobby - ‘‘The monster is funny!’’

Mirha - ‘‘The monster ate Bernard all up!’’

Reception

In Reception,  we are reading ‘Commotion in the Ocean’ by Giles Andreae.

Year 1

In Year 1SC, We are reading ‘The Storm Whale’ by Benji Davies.

This is the story of a lonely little boy, a whale washed up on a beach and a friendship that will change both the lives forever.

Noi and his father live in a house by the sea, his father works hard as a fisherman and Noi often has only their six cats for company. So when, one day, he finds a baby whale washed up on the beach after a storm, Noi is excited and takes it home to care for it. He tries to keep his new friend a secret, but but there’s only so long you can keep a whale in the bath without your dad finding out. Noi is eventually persuaded that the whale has to go back to the sea where it belongs.

Rafiq - “I liked the whale.”

Kaliah - “I liked that Noi helped the whale back into the sea.”

Alaia - “The little boy saved the whale from dying and it made me feel happy.”

In Year 1CP, we are reading ‘The Wolf’s Story’ by Toby Forward and Izhar Cohen.

The story is about the wolf's perspective of Little Red Riding Hood and gives a different account of the events that happen in the original story. The children really enjoyed the different spin on the story, looking at it from an alternative point of view.

Aurelia - "I like when Little Red Riding Hood gives the wolf some toffees. It was very kind."

Hadeel - "I like when the woodcutter chases the wolf around Grandma's house. It makes me laugh."

Abdullah - "I like when Gran hides in the cupboard."

Year 2

In Year 2TL, we are reading 'The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark' by Jill Tomlinson.

The story is about a young barn owl called Plop, who is frightened of the dark. The plot is divided into seven chapters, each covering a night during which Plop learns something new about the dark: dark is exciting, dark is kind, dark is fun, dark is necessary, dark is fascinating, dark is wonderful and dark is beautiful. Plop is gradually persuaded that the dark has its advantages.

Muhammad - ‘‘I like the part when the owl shouts at the lady and says he's not bald because it makes me laugh.’’

Oghosa - ‘‘I like it every time the owl says eeeeek.’’

Astera - ‘‘I love how the owl is trying to learn about the dark.’’

In Year 2AM, we are reading 'An Alien in a Jam Factory' by Chrissie Sains.

Scooter McLay’s cerebral palsy affects how quickly he can move his body, but his hyper-creative brain is a constant fizz of brilliant ideas. He spends every day inventing top secret recipes and machines for his family’s jam factory. There is just one thing missing - a pet, to share it all with. Or better still, a friend.

His wishes come true when a friendly, tiny alien named Fizzbee crash-lands through the jam factory window! The pair work together to stop a devious villain who wants to steal Scooter’s jam-making secrets. It’s all hands on deck, as they team up to and the factory from the appalling neighbour Daffy Dodgy.

Enya - “I liked when Daffy went down the roller-coaster for the first time and couldn’t believe how amazing it was.”

Abeeha - “The story was so funny, my favourite part was when Boris wouldn’t put the best friend necklace on.”

Harry - “I loved the part where they had to put their house up for sale because off all of the mess that was made.”

Year 3

In Year 3BJ, we are reading ‘George's Marvellous Medicine’ by Roald Dahl.  

George Kranky’s grandma is a grouch. She is always mean to George (and not much nicer to his parents either).

One day, when George is put in charge of giving Grandma her medicine, he wonders if he can come up with his own remedy to try and help Grandma become less of a grump.

Using some rather unusual ingredients, George creates his MAGIC MEDICINE. But will it stop his Grandma from being so horrible…

Or will it shoot sparks out of the top of her head?

Aminah - “I really liked this book especially when they made lots of different versions of the medicine.”

Myla - “I found this book really funny. I liked when lots of funny things started happening to Grandma.”

Logan - “I enjoyed this story. George made the medicine because she wasn’t very kind to George.”

In Year 3EB we are reading ‘Sam Wu is Not afraid of SHARKS’ by Katie and Kevin Tsang.

This book is about Sam Wu who tries to convince people he isn’t afraid of sharks. At the end of the story, he sees a man in the water at the beach, who Sam thinks is in danger and a shark is near. So, Sam tries to save him and becomes a hero. The shark was just a dolphin. 

Jhaniyah - ‘‘I liked that when he was scared of the sharks, it made him do funny things like lock himself in his room!’’

Sofie - ‘‘I think he is biggest hero and concur every fear he has. I think the next fear he would tackle is SPIDERS!!!!’’

Musa - ‘‘I think Sam Wu would be tackle fears of volcanoes, rainstorms and tornadoes after this book!’’ 

Year 4

In Year 4, we are reading ‘Wed Rabbit’ by Lisa Evans.

Both Year 4 classes have been reading the hilarious adventure tale of Wed Wabbit. Fidge is having a terrible week where she to solve nearly impossible clues, defeat a dictator who cannot pronounce the letter ‘r’ and deal with three thousand Wimbley Woos.

Larena - “My heart sank when Minnie was struck by the car. I’m so glad she was okay!”

Edward - “Every time I hear the words Wimbley Woos it always makes me chuckle.”

Abdul - “I really enjoyed the characters in this book. They come up with brilliantly funny ideas.”

Year 5

In Year 5JP, We Are Reading ‘The House with Chicken Legs’ by Sophie Anderson. 

 Marinka dreams of a normal life, where her house stays in one place long enough for her to make friends. But her house has chicken legs and moves on without warning. For Marinka’s grandmother is Baba Yaga, who guides spirits between this world and the next.

Marinka longs to change her destiny and sets out to break free from her grandmother’s footsteps, but her house has other ideas…

Jack - “Ive really enjoyed the start of this book and I am looking forward to seeing how it ends.”

Angel - “I feel sorry for Marinka as she is never in the same place long enough to make friends. I hope she makes friends as the book continues.”

In Year 5TH, We Are Reading ‘Wonder’ by J.J. Palagio. 

Mylo - ‘‘What an amazing book, worthy of 5 stars. It makes me want to be kinder in the future.’’

Poppy - ‘‘My favourite part was seeing Auggie’s character grow. This book teaches you to love yourself.’’

Gracie May - ‘‘I loved that the main character ‘Auggie’ believed In himself as the book went on.’’

Year 6

In Year 6, we have been reading ‘Refugee’ by Alan Gratz.

The book follows the stories of three young refugees from different time periods and locations: Josef, a Jewish boy fleeing Nazi Germany in 1939; Isabel, a Cuban girl trying to escape to America by boat in 1994; and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy fleeing the war-torn country in 2015. All three children go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge and face some unimaginable dangers. Although Josef, Isabel and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, shocking connections will tie their stories together in the end. 

Raheem - “The book has helped us to understand what life is like for a refugee.”

Eden - “I enjoyed Josef’s story and how he escaped the threat of being sent to a concentration camp.”

Dalia - “The story of Mahmoud, the Syrian boy, was tragic. I can’t believe that he had to leave his homeland because of all the violence and destruction.”