Good Reads: Burscough County Primary
Chosen by Year 6 students at Burscough County Primary, Ormskirk.
The Iron Man by Ted Hughes
(Illustrated by Andrew Davidson, Faber, 0 571 14149 8, £3.99 pbk)
The Iron Man is about a metal robot which eats parts of tractors, and when a little boy called Hogarth and his father spot the Iron Man he mysteriously disappears into the deep blue sea. When Hogarth and his father find out that the Iron Man eats tractors they start to make traps out of leaves and sticks but the Iron Man doesn’t fall for it.
I’d say 8-11 year-olds would like this book because it’s very interesting especially the Iron Man’s challenge.The best bit of the story is when the Iron Man has an arch rival who is a dragon with a pair of wings and a big long tail.
The characters are very good with the Iron Man as the best because he’s mysterious and very strong. That’s why we like him.
This book reminds me of Gillian Cross because I’ve read The Prime Minister’s Brain which is spooky and mysterious, just like The Iron Man.
My favourite part was the Iron Man’s challenge against a dragon which flies in the darkness and spits flames out of its mouth.
This cliffhanger book makes me feel like you have to read on to know what happens next.
Ashley Disley and Daniel Carson
Little Women by Louisa M Alcott
(Various paperback editions available)
This is a true, old fashioned, early Victorian story about the four March girls. Meg is the oldest. Then there is Jo who is tall, boyish and has a powerful temper. She would like to be a writer. Beth is a caring girl who would love to be a pianist. The youngest, Amy, dreams of being a lady some day. Sadly their father is away on military service so they’re all feeling down. They spend many Christmases without their father – or presents!
As they all need cheering up, their next door neighbours, old Mr Laurence and his grandson, Laurie, take Meg and Jo to a ball. Jo did Meg’s hair for the occasion but unfortunately took a big chunk out of her hair while trying to curl it. Then Jo left her ball gown on the stove and it burnt, so she could not dance with the gentlemen and she hid behind the curtains. That made us both laugh.
This book is probably for girls age 10 and upwards but maybe some boys would enjoy it. Adults would enjoy this book because it’s got love life and grown up words. The characters are kind and funny. They certainly made us feel funny inside. We could see all the events going on in our minds. The sayings would not be used today. We loved the book and would give it 10 out of 10.
Hannah Taylor and Debra Howard
Thanks to Andrew Kidd, Deputy Head of Burscough County Primary.
If your students would like to review their ‘good reads’, apply to the editor of BfK.
