This week, our book recommendations are from Leo C and Zoe, both from Eagles class.

Leo recommends two different adventures featuring his favourite book character, Claude — one as a chapter book and the other as a picture book.

The chapter book Leo recommends is Claude at the Circus and the Picture Book featuring Claude is entitled Dream Bun.This week, our book recommendations are from Leo C and Zoe, both from Eagles class.

Leo recommends two different adventures featuring his favourite book character, Claude — one as a chapter book and the other as a picture book.

The chapter book Leo recommends is Claude at the Circus and the Picture Book featuring Claude is entitled Dream Bun. Both books are written and illustrated by Alex T Smith.

Leo tells us “I like the Claude books because Claude is really funny! I love him and so does my little sister—we think he’s great!”

Mrs Harvey would support both of Leo’s recommendations. In Dream Bun, Claude and his best friend Sir Bobblysock set off on a dream-filled adventure after Claude wins a magical golden bun! Packed with humour, quirky illustrations, and plenty of imagination, Dream Bun is a delightful read that will have young readers giggling from start to finish. Another fun, feel-good tale from the lovable Claude series.

In Claude at the Circus, Claude accidentally becomes the star of the show when he and Sir Bobblysock visit the circus! With its witty storytelling, lively illustrations, and plenty of unexpected twists, Claude at the Circus is a laugh-out-loud read that’s perfect for young readers who enjoy fun and mischief. Another delightful instalment in the Claude series!

Early chapter books are short, illustrated stories designed especially for newly independent readers and play an important role in creating confident readers. These books help children grow in confidence, develop reading stamina, and begin to make thoughtful choices about what they enjoy reading. Typically, children around the ages of 7 or 8 begin transitioning to chapter books as they move from sounding out every word to reading with greater fluency and understanding.

While these books can often be read independently, sharing them together at home can be a great way to ignite conversations about the plot and characters. Encouraging children to predict what might happen next builds excitement and deepens comprehension.

At the same time, don’t be too quick to set aside Picture Books! They continue to play a vital role throughout the primary years. Research shows that Picture Books support strong literacy development by introducing children to rich language, complex ideas, and deeper comprehension through both text and illustration. They offer models of story structure, vocabulary, and sentence variety—skills children are expected to use in their own writing by the end of Key Stage 1.

So, while it's great to introduce early chapter books into your child’s reading mix, Picture Books still deserve a special place on the shelf. Together, they lay the foundation for a lifelong love of reading.

Our second book of the week has a rhyming focus and is recommended by Zoe: Not That Pet written by Smriti Halls and illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw.

Zoes’ comment: “I liked discovering all the unusual animals in this funny story – especially the ants!!”

Mrs Harvey endorses Zoe’s choice. This is a really humorous rhyming text which fully engages the reader.

Mabel and her family are getting a pet! There’s no time to lose BUT which kind of animal should they choose? Given free rein over the family’s choice of pet, Mabel selects an elephant! At first, all is well as Mabel enjoys the best elephantine hugs, rides and down-the-trunk slides. However, after an elephant sits on Mabel’s mummy, the verdict is clear: “NOT THAT PET!”

A succession of failed pets follows—ants, a skunk, a snake, worms, and several more—each wreaking their own unique brand of havoc. Wising up, Mabel assesses the traits that would make for a good pet and makes an unexpected yet clearly perfect choice. With its bouncy, rhyming text and cheeky humour, this playful ode to animal companions makes for a delightful read-aloud. Mabel shows compassion and resilience as she makes attempt after attempt to find a pet that will be beloved by her entire multigenerational family. The relationship between Mabel and her doting little brother who trails her everywhere is charming.

From a Literacy perspective, rhyme and repetition are two key elements that play a powerful role in developing early literacy skills. Repetitive and rhyming texts support children’s reading by encouraging active participation, building confidence and engaging young minds. When children hear a repeated phrase, they begin to anticipate what comes next, which helps develop important prediction and comprehension skills.

Repetition also plays a deeper role in storytelling. It can highlight key ideas, develop character traits or draw attention to important details - helping children think critically about an author’s purpose.

As mentioned in previous newsletters, rhyme is also vital in early literacy. It helps children tune in to the sounds within words and introduces them to the rhythm and flow of language. As they chant or recite rhymes, children begin to use expressive voices - laying the foundation for fluent and expressive reading. Familiar rhymes and rhyming stories not only build confidence but also support children in recognising patterns and predicting text, both of which are essential reading skills.

Happy Reading

Mrs Harvey