Grandad's Secret Giant

Product Information

This funny picture book for children three years and over comes from Britain’s best-selling children’s author David Walliams. It follows the day in the life of a school on bring your pet to school day. Miranda, who loves to be different, decides to bring in her pet snake to the dismay of her fraught teacher. Be warned: your class may want to follow suit after this reading session! Make a stop-motion animation that retells this story or tells a similar story about somebody who is ‘different’. This month our #BeanstalkBrilliant Book of the Month is a 60 year old classic - 'Where the Wild Things Are' by Maurice Sendak. We're exploring how classic books can have appeal across the generations and deepen a child's connection with the story... This picturebook is an absolute joy from start to finish. The story is simple and accessible with some lovely figurative language (He has hands the size of tables, legs as long as drainpipes and feet as big as rowing boats…). The contrast between the atmospheres created in the opening and closing endpapers would provide a great basis for a discussion. David Litchfield’s use of colour throughout the vibrant illustrations is excellent, as is the way that he uses body language to show the different emotions of the main characters. There is so much to see in the pictures that it is a book that requires repeated reading.

Rather than recount a synopsis of the story (it's always a treat to read a quality book for the first time as a process of discovery without spoilers), I'm going to say a few brief words about my experience of reading it and how it could be applied to a Year 1 class, including cross-curricular opportunities to engender greater depth of engagement. Billy says that it was ‘IMPOSSIBLE’ for a giant to rescue their boat. Think of things that are certain, likely, unlikely and impossible. Use this as the starting point for other work about probability.

Thank you to @kidlitexchange for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. The Boy and the Giant was published in November, 2018.

The people living in the town couldn’t finish the mural, so the giant completed it for them. Could you start a picture or painting and ask a friend to complete it? People are scared of things that are different’. What does this mean? Can you think of examples of this? When is it good to be different? Imagine that Billy and the giant are looking at the same place. Can you draw their different views (from different heights)?

Published

One day, a bear stumbles across a strange object: a piano. Over time, he learns how to play the instrument and the beautiful tunes can be heard across the forest. Eventually, the bear heads to New York to become a star. Plenty of teaching ideas have been inspired by this book, including creating colourful posters to promote the bear in New York, retelling the story from the bear’s point of view and writing instructions on how to play the piano. Given the festive feel of the cover this could be mistaken as a holiday book… one of the main characters, a young boy, even leaves his house late at night (...Polar Express?). What a wonderful thing it would be, if a child were to read or receive this book around the December holidays; Imagine a conversation about the increasing necessity of acceptance during the holidays. You may have some questions in your mind before you fill in your application form. Here are answers to our most commonly asked questions. If your question isn't answered here you can find out how to get in touch with our team.

On 1st November 2017 Reading Matters merged with the national children’s literacy charity Beanstalk.Author Anna Kemp introduces The Hollow Hills, the sequel to her dark magical tale, Into Goblyn Wood. David Almond introduces his new picture book, A Way to the Stars, a story about perseverance and finding a way to make dreams come true. There is a secret giant living in the town of Gableview. Billy’s Grandad tells him stories about the giant and all of the ways he has helped the people in town, but Billy just thinks they are just tall tales. One day, Billy actually sees the giant! He is so terrified that he runs away. He knows that he has hurt the giant’s feelings and feels very bad, especially after remembering that his grandad had taught him that people can be scared of things that are different. Billy and Grandad come up with a plan to make things better and make the giant feel welcome in Gableview. We know from our volunteers that being a reading helper brings purpose and enjoyment into their lives. Find out more about the benefits of being part of our reading community here.