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5 fantastic farmyard books 14/03/25
My Bright Shining Star
Publisher: words & pictures
Fatima lives in a big house with lots of other children. Her mummy found it hard to look after her sometimes, so she and Teddy went to live in the children’s home. Aunty Rae is Fatima’s favourite grown-up there, and together they love singing a song about the North Star.
Over time, other children find their families, but when Fatima visits various families, they don’t feel like home. Luckily, she still has her bright shining star: Aunty Rae.
Based on Fatima Whitbread’s own childhood, this is a celebration of foster carers. It shows the reality that there is no easy or quick way to find your ‘forever family’, but that love and kindness can still exist in a child's life. A page at the back tells Fatima’s own story, of both the real Aunty Rae and her adoptive mother, which is very moving.
The whole book is touching and not too sad, despite the subject matter. It may start conversations about different family set-ups and how not everyone has the same home life, which encourages empathy. The illustrations are warm and beautiful, making this a heartwarming read overall.
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Books we love in October 2024
The books we love this month, carefully selected for you
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Books about fostered characters
Here is a selection of brilliant stories that all children will enjoy reading, with main characters who've been fostered.
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Our favourite picture books about love
There's nothing quite like the bond between a carer and their child. Here are some books that are bound to make your storytime even more heartwarming than normal.