The Barnabus Project

Half elephant and half mouse, Barnabus is not quite perfect.  As only Perfect Pets are wanted, he is hidden away in a secret lab with the other Failed Projects. He dreams of seeing the world outside his tiny bell jar, places which Pip the cockroach tells him and the others about. When he learns he is to be ‘improved’ by being recycled, Barnabus doesn’t want to be made fluffier or given bigger eyes- he wants to be himself. With lots of teamwork and courage, he and the other Failed Projects escape and find their own place in the world.

Utterly adorable, Barnabus will capture both your attention and your heart. The story sends a clear message about the importance of being yourself, valuing who you are, not changing to conform to the ideals of others and finding your place in the world. It is perfect for starting conversations and challenging ideas about conventional notions of beauty or worth. Even when the other Failed Projects are frightened of what they discover in the most secret part of the secret lab, Barnabus reminds them that everyone should be valued and that they should all stick together.

The illustrations are stunning. Lift the beautiful dust jacket and the cover is like a blackboard covered in formulae and calculations. Each spread is full of details to notice and enjoy- are Wilke’s Paperclips something I should know about?! The Fan Bothers are amazingly talented, both at illustration and capturing poignant, heart warming stories perfectly.

‘The Barnabus Project’ lends itself beautifully to being at the heart of quality English work. There are so many points at which both illustration and text could be further explored through drama, discussion and writing in role to inspire artwork, poetry, stories, characters… and planning is currently being developed. It is, quite simply, a masterpiece!

The Barnabus Project The Fan Brothers

Frances Lincoln ISBN: 978-0711249448

Ocean Meets Sky

Finn remembers his grandfather who used to tell him wonderful stories. To honour him, Finn creates a boat fit for a long journey, like the one they had planned together. After his hard work, he falls asleep and in his dream, a great golden carp comes to guide him on a magical journey until he wakes to his mother’s voice.

Everything about this book is beautiful. Beneath the dust jacket, golden images shine on a deep blue background, tempting the reader to explore further. In contrast, the jacket is dusky, muted tones, yet just as lovely.

The illustrations are fabulous. Finn leaves the sepia tones of his real life for the blues and greens of his dream land. The world Finn sails through is populated by many of the objects and pictures found on his Grandfather’s desk and around his room. The Library Islands are piled high with books, many of the spines revealing familiar and much loved stories, including ‘The Night Gardener’, also by the Fan brothers.

Finn travels through this land until he reaches a starry sky, full of hot air balloons, a Chinese dragon, submarines and ships of all shapes and sizes. The golden fish, who drooping moustache resembles that of Finn’s grandfather, swims towards the full moon who bears the face of Grandfather, smiling serenely as Finn says goodbye and is called home by a familiar voice.

Love and loss are beautifully explored in this wonderful story, through both the text and the delightful illustrations. One not to be missed.

Ocean Meets Sky The Fan Brothers

Lincoln Children’s Books ISBN: 978-1786032058

Saturdays at the Imaginarium

Meanwhile I’ve slipped into a secret side room,

locked the door

and imagined

the Imaginarium.

(Well, who did you think

runs this whole show!)

An imaginarium is a ‘place devoted to the imagination’ - an excellent way of describing this creative and thought-provoking collection of poems. All manner of ideas and thoughts are explored here in a seemingly random collection of fabulous wonderings and reflections.

There are so many poems worth commenting on, pondering over and enjoying. Some are very direct, written almost as a challenge, whilst others are softer, like whispers. All are enjoyable and engaging.

A Word of Advice, Sunshine’ and ‘The Nameless’ are two of my favourites. As well as appealing directly to me, my inner-teacher knows that these would be wonderful for sharing with and inspiring a class. ‘Eight, Maybe Nine, Magicians You Never Knew About’ is fabulous- a beautifully observed reflection, perfect for discussing and for using as a starting point for developing children’s own ideas on who and what in this world might really be magical.

The poems play with words and ideas, often honing in on the everyday, but considering them with a quirky eye and plenty of originality. Various types of poems are used, including a ‘liwuli’, a form I had never heard of, but plan to explore further. There are helpful notes about this form included at the end of the book.

There are illustrations throughout in black and white by Jude Wisdom and a delightful colour spread in the centre. These are as imaginative as the poems!

‘Saturdays at the Imaginarium’ is a wonderful collection of poems to explore again and again.

Saturdays at the Imaginarium

Shauna Darling Robertson, illustrated by Jude Wisdom

Troika Books ISBN: 978-1912745128