Working in education, in a early years setting, means that I am constantly surrounded by Childrens books. I also have two nephews and a niece who I love reading stories too.
I love childrens books and they are a brilliant way to engage, excite and capture a childs brilliant imagination.
So, I thought that each week I would do a ‘Weekly Feature’ of a children’s book, to share with you some of the beautiful books out there.
2020 has shone a light on the reality of racism, in all its forms.
Sparked by the Black Lives Matter protests, which stemmed from horrific injustices such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor (to name a few) we are informing and educating ourselves on the wrongs of a nation, (well I hope you are) with regard to black lives and their treatment. People are educating themselves on black heritage and culture… and learning all about black history is such an important part.
‘A genuine change must first come from within the individual, only then can he or she attempt to make a significant contribution to humanity.’
Dalai Lama
This is why educating and informing ourselves is so important and Black History Month is the perfect opportunity.
Black History Month began in 1987, in order to celebrate and bring a focus to the history and contributions that black people have made to the UK.
Black history is almost completely forgotten in most traditional history curriculums.
One of my favourite mediums of information is of course print & books.
I have been purchasing some books over lockdown and in the recent weeks. These books were recommended by many people that I follow on my blogs Instagram page.
They touch on the stories and injustices of black people and they are certainly eye opening.
I would particularly recommend ‘Just Mercy’ by Bryan Stevenson, (although this is focussed on the American Justice system it is still such an important read)
Amazon have a great Black History section that offers book suggestions for both adults and children.
These include:
•Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga •Black British History: New Perspectives, Edited by Hakim Adi •Black Poppies: Britain’s Black Community and the Great War by Stephen Bourne •Black, Listed by Jeffrey Boakye
& for children..
•Bedtime Inspirational Stories – 50 Black Leaders who Made History: Black History Book for Kids by L A Amber. •Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison •Black Heroes: A Black History Book for Kids: 51 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day U.S.A by Arlisha Norwood. •Coming to England: An Inspiring True Story Celebrating the Windrush Generation by Baroness Floella Benjamin.
I have also been listening to Podcasts on Spotify, a brilliant resource. There is a Black Lives Matter & Black History Now playlist.
This playlist is brilliant and I’m enjoying the ‘Inspirational Black Life Stories’ And the ‘BLAM UK: Black History Bites.’
𝕆𝕟𝕖 𝕝𝕖𝕗𝕥 𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕖 & the Crime/Detective Books Series.
By Helen Phifer
I stumbled across Helen Phifers books whilst browsing on the Kindle app, on my phone. Now, I totally get the merits of a Kindle but I am defaintly team ‘Physical Book’. However, when I discovered her books I couldn’t resist and they were only available as a Kindle download. I was hooked immediatly and here I am, three separate, stand alone detective series later and I am still throroughly enjoying her books.
Heres a general review of her books as a whole. The most recent that I have read being ‘One Left Alive’
‘One Left Alive’ is part of her newest series ‘Detective Morgan Brookes Series’. Her books are Crime and Thriller Novels and its no suprise that they are bestselling.
They are gripping from the get go. The horrific murder/s that gets the ball rolling, in the beginning of the book, will both horrify and intrigue you in equal measure. You will have to find out what has happened and you won’t put the book down until you do. If, like me, you are a horror fan then Helen’s books will be right up your street. There are always moments of pure, on the edge, ‘oh my god, I don’t want to read on but I must’ moments that will keep you hungrily reading until the end. (They are not for the squeamish readers amoung us!)
The characters are so relatable and are ‘normal’ people, and even with the strong police element, they and the storylines, aren’t overly complicated. Its quite fascinating to look into the police process. I love police dramas on TV, such as Line of Duty, and its almost like reading a episode. And as I said, the investigation is easy to follow, but it always keeps you on your toes and is never predictable.
With regard to the characters, I like how you are following ‘the story’ but also their story too. You are always rooting for them to succeed both professionally and personally.
As soon as I read and finish one I always want more, so thank goodness there are a few in each series. The second book of this series is in preorder already.
I was genuinely gutted when I got to the last book in her ‘Annie Graham’ series. Gutted.
ᴍʏ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴀʟʟ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
I hope you liked this review! I am going to try and do a review for each different genre that I read.
I recently reviewed the childrens fantasy series ‘The Land of Stories’ by Chris Colfer, (any Disney lovers young and old will love this series) So, check that review out here.
As always any book recommendations are ALWAYS welcome.
Here is the penultimate quarter of my reading challenge for 2020.
July, August, September
And in a honesty it hasn’t been a very impressive one. I’ve found myself quite busy and unable to focus, as well as I would like, on my reading, which is a bit annoying.
But, none the less, here we are!
Lets have a look at what I have read during this quarter…
Books I’ve read:
Just Mercy: A story of justice and redemption By Bryan Stevenson
Cuckoos Calling By Robert Galbraith
Roald Dahl‘s Book of Ghost Stories
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparkes
Sorry Not Sorry By Naya Rivera
This quarter was quite a mixed bag.
Just Mercy was more of an ‘educate myself’ book choice and that it has been.
The injustice of the American ‘justice’ system is abhorrent and it’s definatly an eye opener in terms of how easy some people have it and how some people have so much power just because of the race/family/country they are born in.
I have been meaning to read the Robert Galbraith books for a very long time and I just haven’t got round to it.
I am glad that I finally did because I really enjoyed it and I loved the characters especially.
I have read The Notebook several times but it is a Nicholas Sparks fave of mine and I just fancied going back to it. I read it in just over a day and it was great.
I have quite a few books ready and waiting for the final quarter and I want to make it a goodun’.
I’ve got a Christmas book blog post idea too!
Also, you can check out my Insta ‘RoseannesBlog’ as I post regularly on there too.
Sorry guys, this is a bit late… but I thought I would still post it as I want to keep up with the quarterly posts.
I’ve been a lot busier since I started back at work.
April/May/June
So, that bloody pandemic is still happening… I am however back at work and have been for two and a half weeks. It is definatly nice to have a bit more normality. My work schedule isnt 100% back to what it usually is so I’m trying to make sure I still use this extra time to get through all my new books that I bought for the COVID-19 outbreak.
Lets have a look at what I have read during this next quarter… we’re halfway through the year already, madness.
Books I have read:
The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary
The Secret Seaside Escape by Heidi Swain
The Switch by Beth O’Leary
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling (3/4, but I’ll leave it on the list as its a biggun’)
The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer
Heidi Swain is one of my favourite authors so I was so excited to have this book in my second quarter. I had pre ordered it so that was a very welcome arrival.
As you can see I have also been enjoying Beth O’Leary’s books this quarter. I started with ‘The Switch’ as I have seen lots of recommendations on Instagram and then my friend at work read it and suggested it too. I really enjoyed it and consequently bought her second book, which I enjoyed even more.
‘The Family Upstairs’ I found really gripping. I literally couldn’t put it down by the end, its funny how some books grip you like that! I had this book at the beginning of lockdown so I can’t believe its taken me this long to get around to it.
I have even more books planned for the third instalment, so check back to see what I’ve been reading.
Or, check out my Insta ‘RoseannesBlog’ as I post regularly on there too.
So, one good thing to come from being ‘locked down’ is that I can finally tick something off my bucket list, something I’ve wanted to do forever… a full Harry Potter marathon. All 8 films, back to back.
Lets do this.
26th April 2020 – 5.15am – 11.45pm
I popped my HP themed, comfy clothes on, made my self a HP themed breakfast 🤣 (Yet, I went all in!) And I made sure I had plenty of snacks for the duration, inc homemade flapjack 👌🏻
All set.
I made notes about my favourite parts of each film, as I watched, which I thought I would share here too.
Harry Potter and the Philosphers Stone
Its just so sweet and (mostly) innocent and magical.
Its our introduction to the magical world.
That shot of Hogwarts over the lake, as the first years sail across in the little boats. The music, the panorama, the first shot of that magical place. Don’t tell me it doesn’t choke you up, because I wont believe you.
Hagrid telling them everything he shouldn’t; ‘should not have said that’
Christmas at Hogwarts ❤
and just the general nostalgia it brings of when me and my twin sister used to play Harry Potter. A lot of it was focused on the first book. We made Daily Prophets and everything y’all! It was very serious.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Weasleys! And being introduced the magical yet so human and normal Burrow.
Dobby!
Ron freaking out because of the spiders; ‘Follow the spiders? Why couldn’t it be follow the butterflies?’
The blind Basilisk- poor boy. (Disclaimer, no I’m not a Slytherin I just feel bad for the corrupted, injured creature)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
(Disclaimer: This is my least favourite film, sorry)
Remus Lupin & Sirius Black
The back story of the Marauders (Which is even better in the book… obv)
Beaky, the little sweatheart.
The time travel aspect is cool and clever.
HERMIONE PUNCHES MALFOY (See, told you I’m not a Slytherin)
But, as I said, not my favourite as the directorial change sees a lot of changes to this film that to me makes it stand out and not flow as well within the series, in terms of appearance and layout continuity, as others.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
(One of my absolute favourites and the first one me and my twin sister went to see on our won 7 + times #sorrynotsorry)
THE HAIR. If Harry Potter and the goblet of Fire was a Friends episode it would be; ‘The One where none had a haircut’.
The Tasks!
OH THE ANGST.
That scene… any avid HP fans will totally get the crazy, hilarity of this…
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
(Disclaimer…..)
The award for the worst character goes to…
‘Hate is a strong word, but I really, really, really don’t like you.’ (I also hate you Umbridge)
Getting a little bit more of the Wizarding World history and back story via the Order of the Phoenix.
Seeing inside the Ministry of Magic for the first time. What at set! #tilegoals
Dumbledore’s (badass) Army
Fred and Georges epic, ‘in your face bitch’ style exit from Hogwarts.
My favourite quote courtesy of Kingsley Shacklebolt… ‘You may not like him, Minister, but you can’t deny, Dumbledore’s got style.’
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Finding out about the horcruxes. These are one of my favourite bits if the book. I love the Gaunt family history toooo (Suddenly Chapter One of the Goblet of Fire makes perfect sense, AM I RIGHT!!)
Harry on Liquid luck is one of the best Harry Potter scenes, period.
Aragog’s funeral, classic; ‘ Here lies Aragog, King of the Arachnids… His body will decaayyyyyyyy but his spirit will live onnnnnnn.’
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt1 & Pt2
They are basically just one REALLY long film because they are the same book.
Part 2 is better than Part 1 (Just sayin’)
Shit gets REALLLL DARK.
My favourite parts of part one are them collecting the horcruxes.
My favourite part of part two is most of it.
I love Christmas at Godrics Hollow.
The Battle of Hogwarts… ‘I’ve always wanted to do that spell’ (Badass Maggie G)
‘NOT MY DAUGHTER YOU BITCH.’
And then there’s… FRED. HEDWIG. DOBBY. and so many others 😦
19 years later. I can still remember seeing this film so clearly in the cinema and when this came on I wanted to cry because the final line of the book….’All was well’ is awesome, they did it! But also, its the end.
I just have to mention… The Harry & Hermione dancing in the tent scene… MEGA CRINGE, CAN’T WATCH. COVERS EYES. FAST FORWARDS. Ok, lets move on.
[FYI: Fave books 1 &7 Fave Films 1, 7 and 4]
Yay! I finally got it done. I’m so chuffed I finally managed to do this. You’ve got to make the most of the situation you are in. Nailed it.
Do you agree with my notes? (Be nice) Or have you got anything to add?
Roseanne Byford 