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Hachette Schools resource image - Wings of Glory

Wings of Glory – Teaching Notes

Topic: English, History

Age Range: 11-14, 7-11

Related Book: Wings of Glory

Set during the Battle of Britain in 1940, Dermot O’Leary’s brand new book, Wings of Glory, tells the story of the war effort from the point of view of the animal kingdom, in an accessible, child-friendly way with lots of action-adventure, humour and bird poo! Perfect for KS2 classrooms and those studying World War Two and the Battle of Britain.

Watch a video of Dermot reading an extract here: https://youtu.be/I6G8iuQD_Bg

Download our fun activity sheet pack, including quizzes, extracts, wordsearch and more here.

Themes: WW2, Battle of Britain | History | Courage | Animals

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Cuts Both Ways – Discussion Questions

Topic: Empathy, English, Growing up, Life changes, PSHE & Citizenship, Race & identity

Age Range: 14+

Related Book: Cuts Both Ways

Book Creator: Candice Brathwaite

Uprooted from London to a sleepy English town, Cynthia finds herself caught between two brothers. When it turns out both boys have been keeping secrets from her, secrets that link back to the life Cynthia thought she had left behind in London, she realises that not everything is as it seems…

Themes: Race & Identity | Growing Up | Life Changes

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A Girl Called Justice – Teaching Notes

Topic: English, History, PSHE & Citizenship

Age Range: 7-11

Related Book: A Girl Called Justice

Book Creator: Elly Griffiths

Meet Justice Jones. Super-smart super-sleuth, with a flair for adventure! Can Justice solve the mysteries that take place at Highbury House School before it is too late? Perfect for fans of Robin Stevens, Enid Blyton and Katherine Woodfine.

Themes: The Second World War | The Phony War | Friendship and Family | Mystery

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The Twelve Dinosaurs of Christmas – Activity Sheets

Topic: English

Age Range: 3-6

Related Book: The Twelve Dinosaurs of Christmas

Book Creator: Liam Darcy, Evie Day

A dinosaur twist on the infamous ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ carol, this hilarious festive picture book is guaranteed to bring end of term fun and laughter to classes of all ages!

Count and sing along as the collection of festive dinosaurs grows and grows over the twelve days of Christmas. From one Santasaurus to five tinselled triceratopses to nine spinasauruses sparkling and beyond…

Themes: Christmas | Numeracy

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Ember Shadows – Teaching Notes

Topic: English, PSHE & Citizenship, Science

Age Range: 11-14, 7-11

Related Book: Ember Shadows and the Fates of Mount Never

Book Creator: Rebecca King

In a land where your fate is decided before your twelfth birthday, Ember Shadows alone faces an unknown future. With a heart full of courage and a head full of inventions, Ember must traverse the enchanted realms of Mount Never in order to confront the mysterious fate-maker and save her sister’s life.

Themes: Fate | Family and Friendship | Creativity | Magic | Women in STEM

Watch the video series from author and primary school teacher Rebecca King here.

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Wider Than The Sea – Teaching Notes

Topic: English, Neurodiversity

Age Range: 11-14, 7-11

Related Book: Wider Than The Sea

Book Creator: Serena Molloy

The powerful tale of a girl who feels broken, and the dolphin who makes her whole. A story of friendship, hope and self-discovery, perfect for readers aged 9+, and beautifully illustrated in black and white by George Ermos.

Themes: Neurodiversity | Friendship | Self Belief | The Power of Poetry & Art

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Lost on Gibbon Island – Activity Sheets

Topic: Climate change, English, Geography

Age Range: 7-11

Related Book: Lost on Gibbon Island

Book Creator: Jess Butterworth

An adventure-filled survival story set on a lush Cambodian island! Meet 12-year-old Lark, who finds herself ship-wrecked with no one but a baby gibbon for company. Can she survive storms, lack of food and jelly-fish infested waters and find her way home?

Themes: Environmentalism | Conversation | Courage

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You Can Do It Clover! – Activity Sheets

Topic: English, Growing up, Science

Age Range: 3-6

Related Book: Little Bugs Big Feelings: You Can Do It Clover

Book Creator: Nila Aye, Hollie Hughes

An uplifting rhyming story about dealing with worries and change, set in an exciting minibeast world, brought to life by Hollie Hughes and Nila Aye.

Themes: Nature | Problem Solving | Confidence | Minibeasts

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The Gecko and the Echo – Song and Activity Sheets

Topic: Empathy, English, Life changes, PSHE & Citizenship

Age Range: 3-6

Related Book: The Gecko and the Echo Board Book

Book Creator: Rachel Bright, Jim Field

The Gecko and the Echo is the flamboyantly funny new picture book about love, fame, friendship and how treating others with kindness makes the whole world a better and happier place. The latest rhyming tale from bestselling creators of The Lion Inside series, Rachel Bright and Jim Field. Bring the book to life with this sing-a-long song: Watch the Gecko and the Echo song here.

Themes: Friendship | Community and Kindness | Fame and Performing Arts

 

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Jayben and the Golden Torch – Teaching Resources

Topic: Disability, Empathy, English, PSHE & Citizenship

Age Range: 7-11

Related Book: Jayben and the Golden Torch

Book Creator: Thomas Leeds

Can one boy with no memories save the world?

A story of courage, hope and friendship. Whatever pages are missing in your story, you can be the hero on the next page.

Themes: Adventure, Magical Worlds, Brain Injury, Epilepsy, Friendship, Courage

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When I See Blue – Teaching Resources

Topic: Empathy, English, Mental Health, Neurodiversity, PSHE & Citizenship

Age Range: 7-11

Related Book: When I See Blue

Book Creator: Lily Bailey

An unforgettable, heartfelt story about life with OCD and the unique power of friendship, from inspiring author and mental health activist, Lily Bailey. Perfect for readers of A Kind of Spark and The Goldfish Boy.

Themes: Mental Health | OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) | Empathy | Friendship | Family | Overcoming Challenges

also Available: When I Feel Red Resources

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Topic: English

Age Range: 7-11

Related Book: The Bird Singers

Book Creator: Eve Wersocki Morris

Strange things have been happening to Layah and her younger sister, Izzie, ever since their mother dragged them to a rain-soaked cottage miles from anywhere in the Lake District: there is a peculiar whistling at night, a handful of unusual feathers appear on their doorstep and there are murmurings of a shadowed woman in the forest. And as the holiday takes on a dark twist, Layah begins to wonder if the myths might just be real.

Themes: Mystery | Friendship | Family | Sisterhood | Polish Folklore