Yappy Super Reading Blog

   It's a terrible problem - or it's really not as bad as people say. There will be sudden big changes - or slower changes that we can learn to live with. It means the end for many animals, people, even whole islands - but will this happen soon, or hundreds years from now?    What is the true story about climate change? Why is it happening, and what can we do about it? If we learn about the past, then perhaps there will be time to make changes for the future... Newbolt, Barnaby. (2009). Climate Change. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

   England in 1647: King Charles is in prison, and Cromwell's men are fighting the King's men. these are dangerous times for everybody.    The four Beverley children have no parents; their mother is dead and their father died while fighting for the King. Now Cromwell's soldiers have come to burn the house - with the children in it.    The four of them escape into the New Forest - but how will they live? What will they eat? And will Cromwell's soldiers find them? Marryat, Captain. (2000). The Children of the New Forest. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

   There has been a ghost in the house for three hundred years, and Lord Canterville's family have had enough of it. So Lord Canterville sells his grand old house to an American family. Mr Hiram B. Otis is happy to buy the house and the ghost - because of course Americans don't believe in ghosts.    The Canterville ghost has great plans to frighten the life out of the Otis family. But Americans don't frighten easily - especially not two noisy little boys - and the poor ghost has a few surprises waiting for him. Wilde, Oscar. (2002). The Canterville Ghost. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

   Some call it football, some call it soccer, and to others it's 'the beautiful game'. By any name, it's a sport with some fasxinating stories. There is murder in Colombia, and a game that lasts for two days where many players never see the ball. There's the French writer who learnt lessons about life from playing football, and the women players who had to leave the club grounds because 'Women's football isn't nice'.    The cups, the leagues, the World Cup finals, the stars, the rules - they're all a part of the world's favourite sport, the beautiful game. Flinders, Steve. (2009). The Beautiful Game. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

   For a child in the great city of Venice in the thirteenth century, there could be nothing better than the stories of sailors. There were stories of strange animals, wonderful cities, sweet spices, and terrible wild deserts where a traveller could die. One young boy listened, waited, and dreamed. Perhaps one day his father and uncle would return. Perhaps he too could travel with them to great markets in faraway places. For young Marco Polo, later the greatest traveller of his time, a dangerous, exciting world was waiting...    Niccolo and Maffeo Polo were Marco Polo's father and uncle and they belonged to a family of merchants from the city of Venice. When they traveled to other countries as merchants, Marco was born but Marco's mother died. After so many years, Niccolo and Maffeo returned to Venice. Niccolo understand that his wife was dead and he had a fifteen-year-old son then. Niccolo met his 'new' son and Marco met his 'new' father.    After some year

    Marilla Cuthbert and her brother Matthew want to adopt an orphan, to help on the farm at Green Gables. They ask for a boy, but they get Anne, who has red hair and freckles, and who talks and talks and talks.    They didn't want a girl, but how can they send a child back, like an unwanted parcel? So Anne stays, and begins a new life in the sleepy, quiet village of Avonlea in Canada.    But it is not so quiet after Anne comes to live there... Montgomery, L.M. (1994). Anne of Green Gables. Oxford: Oxford University Press.