This month’s theme: Giving, Generosity and Kindness
This month’s theme celebrates giving, generosity and kindness, perfectly timed for the festive season and the start of a new year, with stories that inspire reflection in a season of new beginnings. Where will your reading journey take you over the holidays?

Interview with Mark Grist, Award winning rapper, storyteller and children’s author

What is one of your fondest or most favourite reading memories?

I grew up on a very remote island called Unst, in the Shetland Islands. There were fewer than 500 people on the whole island, and most days after school I’d pack a little sandwich, wander down to Norwick beach, and sit on the rocks to read. I remember reading The Worst Witch there one afternoon when a seal climbed onto the rock beside me, barely a couple of metres away. We shared the space in total silence — just me turning pages and the seal sunbathing. It felt like reading and real life had blended together. I don’t think I’d be doing the job I do now if I hadn’t had that beach to read on. 

Which fictional character would most like/least like to meet in real life and why?

I would most like to spend time with Ged from Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea books. There’s such quiet wisdom in the way he approaches the world — thoughtful rather than showy — and I think an afternoon walking along a coastline with him would do something good for the soul.

On the other hand, I would never want to meet Miss Trunchbull. She’s one of the greatest villains ever written, partly because she’s such a powerful reminder of how adults can use authority badly. It makes me appreciate all the Miss Honeys out there — the teachers who protect, encourage and change lives for the better.

Which books about giving have been most inspiring to you? Do you have any book recommendations for this theme?

One book about giving that really resonates with me is The Storm Whale by Benji Davies. It’s about a boy who discovers a small whale washed up on the shore and decides to care for it. His quiet act of kindness doesn’t just help the whale — it brings him closer to his father, showing how generosity can create connection in unexpected ways. It reminds me that giving doesn’t need to be big or expensive. It can be thoughtful and personal — a story shared, a voice offered to a cause, or even a short poem written for someone in a Christmas card. Small acts of care can have an incredible effect and taking time to write something for someone this Christmas in a card is my number one recommendation to give someone you care about a better Christmas this year.

Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 Recommendations

Sarah Murgatroyd – Foundation Stage Assistant Leader, Class Teacher FSNM

The Smartest Giant in Town by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
The Smartest Giant in Town is a delightful story about George the scruffy giant who gradually gives away his smart new clothes to animals who need his help. It is a heartwarming tale of kindness and generosity brought to life through the rhythm of the words, the repeated song lines, and the richly detailed illustrations.        

‘Room on the Broom’ by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffle
‘Room on the Broom’ is a much-loved rhyming adventure that celebrates friendship, kindness and teamwork. A kind witch and her cat collect helpful animal friends on their broom, who in turn save the witch from a hungry dragon. The magnificent new broom that is created is the perfect end to this special tale.  

Christopher Thomas Holt – Class Teacher FS2H, Foundation Stage 2 

It’s Mine! by Leo Lionni
It’s Mine! by Leo Lionni is a lovely story that shows why sharing and working together matter. The three frogs keep arguing about everything being “mine,” which quickly leads to problems, but when real trouble arrives, they realise they need each other. By the end, they discover that helping and sharing makes life better for everyone. It’s a simple, warm story that also opens the door to great conversations and activities about kindness and taking turns.

A Hat for a House by Audrey Perrott
This is a wonderful story that gently explores sharing, kindness, and thinking of others. As the characters try to find the perfect “hat” for the little house, they learn that working together and being considerate makes all the difference. Their small acts of generosity show how helping one another can turn a simple task into something joyful. It’s a light-hearted tale that encourages lovely conversations with children about kindness, cooperation, and looking after the people and places we care about. 

Robine Johnson – Lead Teacher for Primary Community Action; Class Teacher 1R

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

I have always loved “Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae. This exciting, rhyme-filled journey through the jungle links so well with this week’s theme of giving. Not all gifts come wrapped in bows. Sometimes a gift is the right words at the right moment, noticing hidden potential and offering quiet encouragement to try something new or in a different way. The wise old grasshopper unlocks Gerald’s confidence despite the mockery of others and allows him to discover his own way to dance. What a wonderful gift for anyone to receive!

Purnima Ghogar  – Secondary English Teacher

What You Do Matters by Kobi Yamada
This series includes three uplifting stories – ‘What Do You Do With an Idea?’, ‘What Do You Do With a Problem?’, and ‘What Do You Do With a Chance?’. Each book follows a young child who meets something unexpected: an idea that grows the more it’s nurtured, a problem that seems scary until faced with courage, and a chance that brings possibilities if they are brave enough to take it. Together, these stories show how small acts of kindness, courage and generosity can shape who we become. Perfect for this month’s theme of giving and new beginnings – a thoughtful and inspiring holiday read!

Key Stage 2 Recommendations: 

Tracey Williams – 3T Class Teacher

The Giving Snowman by Julia Zheng                                                                                                  
This is a beautifully illustrated book about how a snowman helps some animals and a farmer on a snowy night when they are in need and how when the sun comes out, they are all given the opportunity to pay back its kindness. A story that teaches us all the importance of giving to others.  

Mimi Kuznetsova (6C)

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
In the book, there is a young boy who grows older and wants more and more as he grows. The tree gives him everything he asks for, even if it means having nothing left. But the boy didn’t care. The tree didn’t stop giving because it wanted the boy to be happy, as the tree loved him very much. In the end, the boy realizes how much damage he has done and how much the tree gave him. He apologizes to the tree for being greedy and taking advantage of its kindness. This is a very good book on the topic of kindness and generosity because it shows that even though people love you and give you things, it doesn’t mean you should keep on asking for more and that there is a limit. Which teaches young children not to ask for too much. 

Kiko Toma (6C)

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

I chose the book Wonder. I liked reading this because it always inspires me about acceptance, tolerance and not giving up, even when things get bad. This book connects to giving because many people in the book gave and showed Auggie (the main character) kindness, empathy and chose to be friends with him. Some people, like Jack Will, was initially friends with Auggie because Mr Tushman told him to, but later in the book they became true friends, showing acts of giving, kindness, generosity and empathy.

Key Stage 3 Recommendations: 

Sarai Adams – Secondary English teacher
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Manga) written by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, flips the classic fantasy formula. Instead of chronicling a hero’s quest, it begins after the Demon King’s defeat. The story follows Frieren, an elven mage whose long lifespan kept her distant from her human companions. Decades later, after Himmel the Hero’s death, she sets out on a new journey that teaches her the meaning of life and friendship. Through guiding young adventurers and helping strangers, Frieren learns that true kindness is selfless. Her quiet acts of generosity forge lasting bonds and show that small gestures can change lives. Expect stunning battles, heartfelt moments, and a reflective take on adventure that fans of fantasy will love.

Vicky Li – 7O
Doraemon by Fujiko F. Fujio (Manga)

I recommend this comic called Doraemon because it shows kindness and friendship. This book is about a boy called Nobi Noby who is bad at sports, doesn’t do his homework, and is a total disaster. Then a robot cat from the future called Doraemon comes and helps Nobi with gadgets from his 4th dimensional pocket. It links to the theme because Doraemon uses gadgets to held Nobi who is his friend. You should read it because it shows kindness and links to the theme. (Also it is crazy fun to read).

Key stage 4 and Senior Studies Recommendations: 

Katie Sloane – Head of English Faculty

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon

Funny, absurd and deeply moving, this wholly original take on the historical novel is a wonderful tale of giving and self-sacrifice. It is 412 BC, the Athenians have tried and failed to sack Sicily and are being kept in quarries in Syracuse to be ridiculed or tortured by locals seeking revenge. Along come two Euripides-loving lowlifes – well, one and his waster mate – to give purpose and hope to these doomed Athenians, bringing them much needed food and wine in exchange for their renditions and eventual performances of Medea and Women of Troy – fearful that these plays will be lost if they allow the Athenians to die. They give them much more than material goods – a sense of shared humanity amongst these straggling enemies.

Rinka Bunsokuwan, Year 12 
Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoevsky (Translation by Michael Katz)

Crime and Punishment follows a young man in St. Petersburg who becomes consumed by a dangerous idea and makes a decision that leaves him struggling with guilt, fear, and isolation. The novel focuses on the psychological effects that follow, showing how his beliefs, emotions, and relationships shift as he confronts the consequences of his actions. It is a character-driven story that explores moral conflict and the slow process of facing one’s own humanity.

The main character’s gradual change is guided not by punishment, but by the steady compassion of the people around him. Their support, patience, and willingness to care for someone at his lowest demonstrate how powerful simple human generosity can be. The story shows that kindness can influence a person more effectively than judgment, and that empathy can reach people even in difficult or morally complicated situations. 

Chaiyanat (Win) Kuptivej 12B

A Silent Voice, Manga series by Yoshitoki Ōima

The story centers on Shoya Ishida, a high school student haunted by his past. In elementary school, he relentlessly bullied a deaf classmate named Shoko Nishimiya, eventually forcing her to transfer schools. As a result, his classmates turned on him, leaving him ostracized and isolated for years. Now older and filled with regret, Shoya learns sign language and seeks out Shoko to make amends, trying to bridge the gap he created between them.

This series explores a profound type of kindness: atonement and forgiveness. It is about is the immense generosity required to forgive someone who has hurt you, and the selfless dedication required to fix what is broken. It teaches that kindness is often a deliberate choice to understand someone different from yourself. Shoya’s dedication to learning sign language to atone for his past mistakes serves as a powerful reminder that true kindness often requires the generous gift of time, effort, and a willingness to truly understand someone else.