GRR: Getting ReadingReading
A member of the Federation of Children’s Book Groups
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Book groupMay list
This month the Year of Culture’s theme is the history of Reading, so we are recommending books either written by authors with a connection to Reading or that feature an aspect of Reading's history.
1. “The Happy Prince” byOscar WildeThe famous playwright, author and Reading Gaol detainee wrote some beautiful fairy tales, including this one which is available either as a separate picture book or within anthologies.
2. “Orlando” byKathleen HaleThe creator of the marmalade cat,Orlando and the picture book series about his family’s escapades, studied art at ReadingUniversity. The university library holds examples of her original artwork. Her books have been reprinted in recent years including “A Camping Holiday”.
3. “Chicky Chicky Chook Chook” byCathy McLennanA great read-aloud for the very young by a local illustrator, who has recently helped Chapter One book shop create a fabulous space for sharing books in.
4. “Paddington” byMichael BondNewbury born, and an ex-pupil of PresentationCollege, the author was partly inspired to write about this much-loved Peruvian bearby memories of evacuee children he saw pass through Reading Station from London.
5. “Fizzlebert Stump: the Boy Who Ran Away From the Circus to Join the Library” byAF HarroldThe first in a rib-tickling series of stories for 8-11s about the eponymous hero, by a local poet and Carnegie/Greenaway long-listed author.
6. “Maisie Hitchins: The Case of the Stolen Sixpence” byHolly WebbIn the tradition of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, this rollicking seriesby another Reading-based author features Maisie Hitchins and her little dog.
7. “The Time-Travelling Cat and the Roman Eagle” byJulia JarmanOne of a series, which in this case was inspired by Reading’s local Roman town Silchester (Calleva) and the small eagle statue found there, which can be seen in Reading Museum. The eagle also inspired “The Eagle of the Ninth” byRosemary Sutcliffahistorical novel for older readers.
8. “Eliza Rose”byLucy WorsleyTheReading-born historian and TV presenter’s debut book for children explores the life of Katherine Howard and the court of Henry VIII.
9. "Close Your Pretty Eyes" by Sally Nicholls and “Velvet” byMary HooperTwo novels inspired by the true story of Amelia Dyer, the Reading based ‘baby farmer’. Sally’s is a contemporary ghost story and Mary’s is a Victorian thriller.
10. Reading-based Two Rivers Press have produced lots of books for people interested in the history of Reading, including "From the Abbey to the Office" which is all about authors who have an association with the town.