Tag Archives: children

Favourite books for 4 year olds

. . . . . . . Her favourite book . . . . . . The Tiger Who Came to Tea

For World Book Day my granddaughter’s nursery asked the children to dress up and bring their favourite books.

I knew what book she would choose – of course it was

. . .  The Tiger Who Came to Tea  

But as you see, the dress she chose is the one worn by Princess Sofia in . . .  ….. . . . . …

Sofia the First – The Perfect Tea Party

And here’s a selection of the other children’s choices . . . 

Little Red Riding Hood             Spider-Man

                                           

           The Snail and the Whale

The Very Hungry Caterpillar      The Wizard of Oz

                                                             

Where disability is no bar – Maria Giulia Cotini

In the town of Narni, Italy, lives the author, Maria Giulia Cotini, who this summer was directing I Ragazzi Pon Pon (The Cheerleaders) in their performance of her play Giullarino Mingherlino (The Skinny Jester).

This was part of the children’s holiday activities, where they got together to learn more about their town’s history and link it with places around the world.

Maria Giulia Cotini directs the play, Guillarino Mingherlino

Maria Giulia is also the author of the book, Shotaro – the child who wanted to become a Samurai.

Anthony Ridgway, author of the WIZZY books

Just like Little Knoll Press author, Anthony Ridgway, Maria Giulia has been disabled from birth, but for both of them this has been no bar to imagination and achievement.

 

Shotaro is written in Italian and is available as a hardback book (ISBN: 9788804674610) and e-book.

Here is a translation of the blurb:

‘Shotaro is intelligent and stubborn, and he refuses to accept that his greatest dream (to become a Samurai like his father) is unattainable. Shotaro is disabled from birth and his father decided he would become a monk.

The rōnin, Kenya, arrives at the monastery and declares he is willing to train even him.

But when the terrible Daimyō destroy Shotaro’s home village and his father disappears, Shotaro’s life is turned upside down and everything seems lost.

In ancient Japan, a country marred by war and corruption, Shotaro is able to demonstrate, with courage and determination, that you don’t need a perfect body to make a man into a warrior.’

And here is some more about Maria Giulia:

Maria Giulia Cotini was born in 1980; disabled from birth, she does not walk and has problems with her hands, sight and hearing.

Maria Giulia has been in love with the martial arts since a child, and at the age of ten she was the first child with a disability to practice karate in the gym with the able-bodied.

Working on her knees, she adapted the techniques up to competition standards, which was previously considered impossible.

Always passionate about myths and legends, Maria Giulia graduated with honours in History of Religions.

You can see Maria Giulia at a Karate event by clicking on her picture here –

Children love Anthony Ridgway’s Wizzy books

Anthony Ridgway’s latest story

WIZZY

and the Seaside Adventure

– pure adventure, Enid Blyton-style 

– children on their own quest

– Wizzy, the talking wheelchair with attitude

– animal magic with Honey, the dog

– watercolour illustrations by Suzan Houching

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What young readers from a Worcestershire school think …

Dear Anthony
I love the idea of Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure. It’s very creative. My favourite part was where the policemen were puffed out from climbing the cliff.
Other children will love this book and the adventures they have together. All of the characters have great personalities.

The cover is very clever and it shows you the setting of the story. Wizzy is a funny wheelchair with an attitude and your story’s hilarious. Dan is a clever boy, who’s adventurous. James is a kind, helpful and brave boy. Sophie is shy and can get nervous quite easily, and startled. Honey is a very loud, sweet and loving dog.
Keeping writing more stories.
From A

HUMOUR

My favourite character is Wizzy because he was really funny and cheeky.

I found it funny how the wheelchair Wizzy never understood any of the catch phrases.

I found Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure really funny and it’s my favourite book now.

This book is filled with funny and interesting things and I would recommend this book to any child.

I thought that Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure was full of humour.

I like how Wizzy doesn’t understand sayings and phrases.

My favourite part was where the dog peed on Wizzy’s wheel.

I like the part about the dog peeing on Wizzy’s wheel.

My favourite part of the story is when the dog sniffs Wizzy’s wheel, then wees on him.

I really love your book so much. I think it is very good and it makes me and my class laugh a lot.

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ADVENTURE and CREATIVITY

I’m really impressed that you can create a book like that.

Wizzy, especially, was a very good detective in the book.

Pete is really bossy and it’s lucky those thieves didn’t get away. I can imagine the manor house and the pirate coming for me – gives me the chills!

Your story was wonderful. It made me want to have more adventures.

CHARACTERS

I really liked how you put in a wheelchair in to your story, called Wizzy.

 Wizzy is my favourite character because he is like a robot but in wheelchair form. Honey is one of my favourite dogs. Dan is very funny because he really gets into it and can be very clever like Wizzy.

I loved how you made Wizzy so full of himself and how he always has to get everything right. I also liked how you put in more than one character and said not only what the children were doing but put in what Honey the dog was doing.

I liked how Wizzy is funny, Dan is very cheeky, Sophie is very cautious, James is very caring, Pete and Cindy are very mysterious and Honey the dog is very energetic.

In most books I feel like I’m about to fall asleep but with this book I felt very alive. My favourite character was Dan because he was very brave and wanted to get on with everything. I like how you put Dan into a wheelchair.

I really like how Wizzy thinks he’s better than Honey and is jealous of her.

My favourite character is Wizzy because he’s such a bighead.

I loved Wizzy and Sophie because Wizzy is such an amazing, cool wheelchair. I could not believe he could talk. He is also very smart, just like you. I also like the part when Sophie likes Wizzy, but then does not –  it is like changing the weather.

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USING TECHNOLOGY / SURPRISE

I loved the part where Wizzy made a hologram of a pirate and scared Cindy.

My favourite part was when Wizzy used the projector to pretend to be a pirate and scared Pete and Cindy away.

I wonder what it would be like to have a wheelchair like Wizzy – a friend to Dan and is always there for him.

I would like to have a talking chair like Wizzy.

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ILLUSTRATIONS

The illustrations a very cool but my favourite drawing is the pirate.

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NEW ADVENTURES

Your next book could be about Wizzy feeling ill or about Pete and Cindy stealing her.

In your next book I think there should be another kid in a wheelchair.

Your next Wizzy and Dan could go to the zoo.

I think you’re ready to be the greatest author in history.

 

TO BUY THE BOOK click Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure

ISBN: 9780993507878