New books in The Story Project curriculum

For eagle-eyed existing schools, you might have noticed that we have 4 new books in our curriculum.

When we need new books, our team has the TERRIBLE task of finding the perfect titles. We are forced to spend our days in beautiful book shops, reading gorgeous children’s stories with a coffee. What a dreadful job we have!

Joking of course, we LOVE book research. But, that doesn’t always mean finding the right book is easy. We have very high standards, because we want the books in our curriculum to really shine.

They have to inspire, excite and engage. They have to be well illustrated, reflect the diverse world we live in, and encompass wellbeing themes in an age-appropriate and thought-provoking way. Ultimately, they have to be really special.

After the DfE’s new RSHE guidance and one of our favourite books ‘On The Tip of a Wave’ going out of print, we needed a little re-think. So, off we headed to the book shops of Yorkshire and Surrey and here are the 4 new books we have chosen…

‘The Girl at the Front of the Class’ by Onjali Rauf

A beautiful, heartwarming story about a little girl who joins a new class having moved from a war-torn country. A boy in the class notices she doesn’t want to play, in fact she doesn’t want to speak at all. So he comes up with a plan to help her feel comfortable and safe in her new surroundings. It is an inspiring story of empathy, understanding, respect and kindness.

We think this book is perfect to gently introduce the topic of respect. It also supports children’s understanding of some of the more nuanced aspects of friendship, including balancing their own and others’ needs.

The books helps learning go beyond the statutory too, with introductory conversations about human rights and asylum seeking.

‘Marcus Rashford’ and ‘Mary Earps’ Little People Big Dreams

Both books provide a fascinating look at the lives of two famous footballers. You may be wondering why we have chosen two football based books. This is a deliberate decision, taken for a very important reason.

We use these two titles to explore really emotive topics; discrimination, stereotypes and racism. Learning about how Marcus’ and Mary’s experiences differ is truly fascinating and thought-provoking.

How Marcus was treated after missing a penalty due to the colour of his skin, and how Mary had to have a second job while playing in some of the top women’s leagues are incredible real-life examples of how discrimination still plays such a big role in our society.

Being able to compare the two footballers’ lives allows children to add much needed context to these tricky topics. So even if you have a class that are less-enthused by football, there is so much to discuss and enjoy in these units. And for classes who struggle with football related issues at lunchtimes, we also hope these books might help!

‘Sunny Side Up’ by Jennifer and Matthew Holm

We are big fans of graphic novels, and this one does not disappoint. It follows the tale of Sunny as she moves to live with her Grandad and must manage a tricky relationship with her brother. It covers some quite mature themes in an age-appropriate way and we think Year 6 will especially enjoy this tale.

Finding a book that deals with drugs, alcohol and vaping can be a challenge. But this story allows children to explore it alongside relationships, which is perfect for talking about peer pressure and consent.

We also love how this book explores themes of safety, with a particular focus on understanding your own needs.

Want to find out more?

Contact us on info@story-project.co.uk