The Invisible

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Jon Klassen. I have a huge amount of time for Jon Klassen’s hyper-minimal style, it’s SO stark and yet so full of character and humour. Very impressive. Author Anna Kemp introduces The Hollow Hills, the sequel to her dark magical tale, Into Goblyn Wood. Children really enjoyed hearing a story that was different to mainstream genres and storylines, this made them think about what they were reading. My class really engaged with this book, and it led to a much wider class discussion than I had originally planned. A few of the children commented on how the book made them feel like they can make a real difference. Themes What's the best thing you've ever written?A poem I wrote about a badger when I was six. It included the phrase, ‘He dragged his lumbering frame across the leaves’ which I MUST have stolen from a book I’d read that day. Sadly it was never photocopied and is now lost FOREVER. I even drew a scratchy pen and ink picture of the said Badger – we learnt to write with italic metal nibbed pens at my frankly archaic primary school.

Isobel and her family don't have much but, as long as they have each other, then they know they will be truly happy. This is tested, though, when one day they have to uproot and move to the other side of the town. Away from the place she called home for so long and that was full of so many happy memories, Isobel soon realises that in the eyes of the any others, she is invisible. This feeling will, I am sure, resonate with many readers - both old and young - and is the primary reason for there being such an emotional connection to this story. However, rather than letting her invisibility define her, Isobel soon finds a way to make herself shine again....and in doing so, changes the perception of her new neighbourhood, too. Isabel’s family does not have enough money to pay the rent and bills, meaning they have to move out of their home. Tom Percival handles this with the utmost care and compassion.

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The spread accompanying this text shows Isabel’s parents, united. The father has a protective arm around the mother. They smile as Isabel plays in the snow with her puppy. Who is your favourite hero in a book?This might get a few eye rolls, because it’s from a series that I illustrate, but as far as Children’s book hero’s go, you can’t get much better than Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy. He’s just everything that you would want a hero to be, immensely powerful, over confident, full of humour, and immaculately dressed. Coffee house Caffè Nero has announced the 16-strong shortlist for the inaugural Nero Book Awards, recognising the outstanding books of the past 12...

Ein Buch, dass leider auch aufzeigt, welche Schere oft zwischen Arm und Reich klafft. Ein wenig weniger Egoismus und mehr Miteinander würde viel helfen. Dieses Buch ist ein kleiner Appell an alle Leser und zeigt auf schöne Weise, dass niemand vergessen werden darf. Tom Percival has based this story on his own lived experiences. There are too many still living this experience. Tom Percival employs the symbolism of value and worth of today’s society through a child’s experience within his thoughtful picture book. Through Isabel’s creation we are made aware of so many ‘invisible’ people. Yet the old lady planting flowers becomes an outlet and beacon for Isabel. She leads with this action too, to bring colour, optimism, the springing of something different into her own and others’ lives. He grew up in a remote and beautiful part of South Shropshire. On reflection this seemed rather more remote than beautiful, owing to the fact that he lived in a small caravan without electricity, mains water or any sensible form of heating. He thinks that he’s probably one of the few people in his peer group to have learnt to read by gas lamp.Perhaps an odd choice as a teenager, but I went through a stage of reading as many Mary Wesley books as I could get my hands on. She just seemed to be so skilled at portraying people of all ages and walks of life. As a teenager I marvelled at the fact that she could so clearly write about what it felt like to be that age, being as she had her first novel published aged 71. Of course now that I’m 35 and can still remember EXACTLY what it felt like to be 16 it doesn’t seem that unlikely anymore – ah, the follies of youth. Isabel, στο οικογενειακό της σπίτι με τους γονείς της και τον σκύλο της. Η οικογένεια ζούσε λιτά χωρίς ανέσεις και υπερβολές, σε ένα σπίτι που έσφυζε από αγάπη, ένα σπίτι όπυ είχαν ο ένας τον άλλον, μέχρι που δεν μπορούσαν πλέον να πληρώσουν τους λογαριασμούς και το νοίκι τους τους και μεταφέρθηκαν σε μια πολυκατοικία στην άλλη άκρη της πόλης. Η Isabel αισθάνεται ότι ξεθωριάζει και μένει στο παρασκήνιο, παρατηρήσει και άλλους ανθρώπους που ξεθωριάζουν και αποφασίζει ότι πρέπει να τους ζωντανέψει ξανά. Isabel realises that those around her, bustling to jobs or fun activities she can’t afford – are completely ignoring her. As if she doesn’t exist! Isabel knows she must do something, before she is Invisible for real. A beautiful, tender story about seeing the everyday beauty in the world and realising we all have the right to belong somewhere. Tom Percival’s wintery illustrations are emotive and quiet at the beginning of the story, the streets of Isabel’s strange new home isolated and dark, but filled with glorious sunny colours and life by the end as she sees people and is seen in return as someone who belongs. Compassionate, thoughtful, and a lovely story to read aloud together. We all have a place, somewhere we belong. It is not just poverty that can make people invisible to others. This book is an excellent way into having these unfortunately necessary discussions.

Tom Percival ρίχνει με τις λέξεις και τα χρώματά του (είναι απίστευτο το πώς καταφέρνει να κάνει τον αναγνώστη να κρυώσει, να πονέσει, να εξαφανιστεί) φως σε όσους συνυπάρχουν ανάμεσά μας και αισθάνονται «αόρατοι», αναδεικνύοντας με τρυφερότητα τη σημασία του να αντιλαμβανόμαστε την αλήθεια γύρω μας. Το βιβλίο αυτό καταρχάς δείχνει σε κάθε παιδί και ενήλικο ότι ανεξάρτητα από την οικονομική κατάσταση της οικογένειάς του μπορεί και πρέπει να διεκδικεί το δικαίωμά του στην ευτυχία και στην ομορφιά, πάντα με τη συνεργασία και την αγάπη των γύρω του. Then she realises she can see other “invisible” people. She sets out to help them do small but good deeds. Their invisibility soon disappears and Isabel realises she and her new friends have made a difference. C'est un bel album, sur un enjeu social réel et actuel, qui conviendrait aux enfants d'âge scolaire. This full colour picture book uses muted shades for much of the story – showing us just how cold and dark it is and how awful it is to be ‘invisible’. The beginning of the story has colour – but it is all edged with cold, and icy windows. It is not until the end of the book – when winter has passed, when the sun and spring add to the wonderful colour the new community has created by all working together. This is a very gentle story with a potent and persuasive message, that small acts can add up to a huge change. Whilst being selfless it also shows that Isabel and her family have all benefitted by the actions she has instigated. The turning point in Isabel’s fortunes comes when she notices an old lady planting flowers in empty paint pots and a homeless man feeding the birds. Isabel joins in, helping with their endeavours and this creates a ripple across the community as more and more people get involved. The ripple becomes a wave, the wave becomes a tsunami of positive community action.Tom Percival. Το να αισθάνεται κάποιος πως είναι αόρατος και πως δεν ανήκει πουθενά είναι ένα πολύ βαρύ συναίσθημα για όλους τους ανθρώπους πόσο μάλλον για τα παιδιά που έχουν μια έμφυτη χαρά και αισιοδοξία. What was your favourite book when you were a child?Tim and Tobias is the first book in the ‘Flight Path to Reading’ reading scheme and was written by Sheila K. McCullagh. It was the first book that I remember loving and was (guess what) atmospheric, magical and slightly dark. Lo stato mentale in cui si trova la piccola nella storia può essere ricondotto ad uno stato di solitudine. Tutto inizia con una sensazione di distacco e altri “sintomi” tra i quali: Isabel thinks the snow and ice are beautiful, but it creeps up her bedpost at night and on the inside of her window. It might be pretty, but it is also very cold.

What book do you wish you had written?‘How I came up with the meaning of life – A true story’ by Tom Percival. Because then I’d have nothing to keep me up at night! Normally it involves a long train journey, because that’s the only time that I’m not having to do some of my other work, or look after the kids, or do the washing up, or tidying up the house, or chopping logs for the fire, or putting out the rubbish or any one of the myriad things I have to do in my actual house on a day-to-day basisGorgeous illustrations with clever use of colours helps tell this tale, reminding us to look up, be aware of others, and all important inclusion in our communities. The message of hope the book delivers is powerful. It reminds us that small acts can make a big difference. It reminds us to look for the helpers. The winners of the Diverse Book Awards 2023 have been announced, with one winner from each of the four categories announced: Picture book, Children... The UKLA Book Awards, which is judged by teachers, includes four categories including 3+, 7+ and 11+. The winners were announced live at the awards ceremony on July 1st at the UKLA International Conference in Birmingham.