Always say ‘Ta’ to Leamington Spa
This last week has been host to World Book Day – that annual celebration of books for our younger readers. And each year we give away hundreds and hundreds of books to the school kids of Bicester – some come to the shop clutching their WBD voucher, dressed as their favourite literary character (the standout this year was a tiny little chap dressed as a Policeman – An Inspector Calls?). Others we visit, with Amber doing sterling work on a ‘bookdash’ about the town visiting three schools on Thursday morning and dispensing free books with gusto. The shop has been bursting with the chatter of young voices, excited by thoughts of books and reading.
Another annual event for us is the ‘P-Factor’ Poetry Competition at Kings Meadow Primary School. Each year we’re invited, along with Andrew from the town’s Comedy Club, to be the judging panel of the next generation of poets, and each year we’re bowled over by the enthusiasm shown by these school kids. Not only do they learn their verse off by heart, but they have the bravery and confidence to stand in front of the entire school and shout out their rhymes. If books fuel curiosity, poetry grows confidence, and with teachers up and down the land like those at Kings Meadow, the future looks bright.
All The Things You Can Say to Places in the UK by Brian Moses
Always say ‘Ta’ to Leamington Spa,
say ‘Have a nice day’ to Whitley Bay.
You can shout ‘What’s new?’ or even ‘Howdo’
to inhabitants of Looe or Crew.
You can tell the whole story in Tobermory,
say ‘Hi’ to Rye and ‘Right on’ to Brighton,
or call out ‘Let’s go’ to Plymouth Ho.
Talk through your dreams in Milton Keynes,
say ‘It’s all for the best’ in Haverfordwest.
Always say ‘yes’ when you visit Skegness
but only say ‘No’ in Llandudno.
Don’t tell a lie to the Island of Skye
or say ‘It smells’ in Tunbridge Wells.
Don’t talk rude if you’re down in Bude
or start to get gabby in Waltham Abbey.
Don’t ever plead in Berwick on Tweed
or say ‘You look ill’ to Burgess Hill.
You could lose your voice and talk with your hands
when you take a trip to Camber Sands,
but whatever you say just won’t impress
the inhabitants of Shoeburyness.
I was caught like a child pouring over Sami Bayly’s The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Extinct Animals when it arrived in the shop this week; did you know there used to exist a giant millipede that was larger than the size of a human today? And it weighed over 50 kilograms! I can promise you that children and adults alike will be drawn to this book. So whether you have a hankering to learn about extinct animals, to read fantastic fiction, or to delve into some true tales – our newsletter holds all the recommendations you need.
As always, if there’s anything you need, just pop by or reply to this email!
From Amber
Feeling curious? Click on the book covers below to explore the book.
The full newsletter with links to books – including this week’s Signed Editions – can be found HERE
