The Story Behind the Book

At primary level I was a very poor reader. When sitting on a train one day, I asked my dad what the small red signs on some of the windows said. I was puzzled when he told me they said 'No Singing', but I believed him and it never occurred to me they might have said 'No Smoking'. To me, books were simply boring. Yet my confession is – and should I be embarrassed or not? – when I discovered some Rupert Bear books, I was soon hooked without realising it. How did the author manage to keep the story going, and how did they manage to make each little illustrated paragraph rhyme so beautifully? The stories flowed, and the almost human Rupert was so appealing and loveable. Reading books became an unintentional habit for me, one that led me on to the greats such as HG Wells and George Orwell.

I don’t know about you, but after doing a stint of supply teaching which allowed me to see many more schools and teachers in action, there were those who used reading as an activity that bordered on punishment. When there was a gap in the timetable or a child has finished their work, the predictable teacher response was ‘Well read your book, then!’ ‘Reading’, usually ‘Silent Reading’, was used to stop children talking, asking questions, sharing texts or books; it was used as a form of control and discipline rather than as a relaxed and enjoyable activity. What happened to Reading for Pleasure?

What I saw and liked in one Kent school a few years back, at Deanwood Primary, was the fact that the deputy headteacher would religiously be in a cosy little room off of the library every Friday lunchtime. She’d make a point of bringing her book in there and would be fully engrossed in it. There weren’t rules, as such, it was an open invitation for anyone to come along and enjoy their own book in there without interruption. Children could talk about what they were reading afterwards – didn’t have to – but Mrs Reeder (I’ll call her) set by example.

I am hoping that with my latest book, where the stories are really two-part interviews, a peer, sibling, teaching assistant, or parent will get involved by reading the bitesize stories, taking turns and reading from the same book. Basically, one reader is the interviewer, the other the interviewee, but who will be the first to answer the question at the top of each story? Happy reading…    

Giveaway

Steven has kindly donated 2 of his new books to give away to celebrate the National Year of Reading and share in the collaborative reading approach that his book fosters. 

Each book comes with 10 fun, easy-to-read bite-sized stories, followed by 10 more challenging stories for older children. All stories are illustrated and come with a key question to be solved. For those wanting deeper questions, 40 free downloadable differentiated questions and answers for each story are also available from Lewarne Publishing.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply go to our Facebook page and comment your favourite book on the giveaway post, and you're entered!

Don't miss out on the opportunity to enter!

The competition is subject to the Terms and Conditions, which can be found below.

Terms and Conditions

For more advice about reading read our blog:Ways to Engage Reluctant Readers in School: Strategies That Work (Part 1) or How to Support Children Who Read at Home. To buy Steve's books, visit: Books | Lewarne Publishing