As you know our passion for reading at Roade is incredible. We’ll do anything to encourage our children to read more and to find that special writer that engages them and feeds their imagination. So this year each class is named after a special author. You and your child could take a little time to find out about each one and share their books. Pay close attention to your child’s author-they will play quite a role this year!
Here is a list of the classes and their author name-a bit of background information so that you are ahead of the game when it comes to sharing these stories with your young bookworms!
Mrs Roff Reception class- AHLBERG.
So many wonderful stories! Not just for our younger readers-these are fantastic for readers of all ages. The Jolly Postman is incredibly cleaver!!
Janet and Allan Ahlberg were a British married couple who created many children’s books, including picture books that regularly appear at the top of “most popular” lists for public libraries. They worked together for 20 years until Janet died of cancer in 1994. Allan wrote the books and Janet illustrated them. Allan Ahlberg has also written dozens of books with other illustrators.
Miss Penney Reception class- CARLE
The awesome and classic very hungry caterpillar and so many more!
Eric Carle is an American designer, illustrator, and writer of children’s books. He is most noted for The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a picture book that has been translated into more than 62 languages and sold more than 46 million copies, which is equivalent to 1.7 copies sold every minute since it was published. Since it was published in 1969 he has illustrated more than 70 books, most of which he also wrote, and more than 145 million copies of his books have been sold around the world. In 2003, the American Library Association awarded Eric Carle the biennial Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal (now called the Children’s Literature Legacy Award), a prize for writers or illustrators of children’s books published in the U.S. who have made lasting contributions to the field.
Mrs Collison Year 1 class- MILNE
Quite simply-the genius that invented Pooh!
Alan Alexander Milne was an English author, best known for his books about the teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh and for various poems. Milne was a noted writer, primarily as a playwright, before the huge success of Pooh overshadowed all his previous work. Milne served in both World Wars, joining the British Army in World War I, and was a captain of the British Home Guard in World War II.
Miss Humphrey/Mrs Wizard Year 2 class- DAHL
The legend….
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, poet, screenwriter, and fighter pilot. His books have sold more than 250 million copies worldwide. Born in Wales to Norwegian immigrant parents, Dahl served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He became a flying ace and intelligence officer, rising to the rank of acting wing commander. He rose to prominence as a writer in the 1940s with works for both children and adults, and he became one of the world’s best-selling authors. He has been referred to as “one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century”. His awards for contribution to literature include the 1983 World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement, and the British Book Awards’ Children’s Author of the Year in 1990. In 2008, The Times placed Dahl 16th on its list of “The 50 greatest British writers since 1945”.
Mrs Lamb Year 2 class- POTTER
Yes, responsible for that naughty Peter rabbit!
Helen Beatrix Potter was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist best known for her children’s books featuring animals, such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Born into an upper-class household, Potter was educated by governesses and grew up isolated from other children. She had numerous pets and spent holidays in Scotland and the Lake District, developing a love of landscape, flora, and fauna, all of which she closely observed and painted.
Mr Warden Year 3/4 class- SIMON
This author invented the shocking character Horrid Henry-phew, glad we don’t have any children like him at Roade!
Francesca Isabella Simon is an American author living in London, who is mostly known for writing the popular Horrid Henry series of children’s books.
Mr Glbey Year 3/4 class- SEUSS
The wild, the whacky Dr Seuss with his fantastical books full of wild imaginatios! And if you think that these books are just for kids you obviously haven’t read “Oh the places you’ll go!”
Theodor Seuss “Ted” Geisel was an American children’s author, political cartoonist, poet, animator, screenwriter, filmmaker, and artist, best known for his work writing and illustrating more than 60 books under the pen name Dr. Seuss. His work includes many of the most popular children’s books of all time, selling over 600 million copies and being translated into more than 20 languages by the time of his death.
Mr Wilson Year 3/4 class- WALLIAMS
David Edward Williams OBE known professionally as David Walliams, is a British comedian, actor, author, and presenter known for his partnership with Matt Lucas on the BBC One sketch show Little Britain.
Walliams is also a writer of children’s books. He has sold more than 25 million copies and his books have been translated into 53 languages. He has been described as “the fastest growing children’s author in the UK” and his literary style has been compared to that of Roald Dahl.
Mrs Albert/Miss Finch Year 5 class- LEWIS
Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a King or queen of Narnia….
Clive Staples Lewis was a British novelist, poet, academic, medievalist, philosopher, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian, broadcaster, lecturer, and Christian apologist. He held academic positions at both Oxford University (Magdalen College, 1925–1954) and Cambridge University (Magdalene College, 1954–1963). He is best known for his works of fiction, especially The Chronicles of Narnia.
Lewis wrote more than 30 books which have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold millions of copies. The books that make up The Chronicles of Narnia have sold the most and have been popularised on stage, TV, radio, and cinema.
Miss East Year 6 class- SHAN
Experience the darker side in year 6-here comes Darren Shan.
Darrenn O’Shaughnessy, who commonly writes under the pen name Darren Shan, is an Irish author. Darren Shan is the main character in O’Shaughnessy’s The Saga of Darren Shan young adult fiction series, also known as the Cirque Du Freak series. He followed that up with The Demonata series and the stand-alone books, Koyasan and The Thin Executioner. Then came The Saga of Larten Crepsley which is a prequel to The Saga of Darren Shan. He has most recently finished a 12 novel series “Zom-B”. The first book went on sale in September 2012, with the final book, Zom-B Goddess, published in April 2016
Mr Taylor Year 6 class- ROWLING
The magical, the mystical, the wonderful……
Joanne Rowling, CH, OBE, FRSL, FRCPE writing under the pen names J. K. Rowling and Robert Galbraith, is a British novelist, philanthropist, film and television producer and screenwriter best known for writing the Harry Potter fantasy series. The books have won multiple awards, and sold more than 500 million copies, becoming the best-selling book series in history.They have also been the basis for a film series, over which Rowling had overall approval on the scripts and was a producer on the final films in the series.
So please help your child discover these writers and as many more as you can! There is nothing better than getting a hot book tip from one of the pupils. I got a sure fire awesome tip from a year 7 returning student today and can’t wait to get stuck in! Stories, reading, imaginations and adventures make the stars shine that little bit brighter and fire inspirations. Let’s aim high and reach for the sky!
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