LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
Book Band: Dark Blue (Ideal for ages 9+)
What a lovely and beautifully written book. This is the story of a little boy called Hari who lives with his parents and sister on Bamba Beach in Goa. He is an intelligent boy with a big heart and a mature understanding of the world.
From the first few pages the images are full and lively, and you are drawn into life in the village. There is beautiful detail in the setting. The author describes not just fish in the sea and the evening’s insects, but all their names and habits. In amongst all this description are some important topical messages. The family are poor, not just because of economy, but because the tsunami has pushed the fish further out to sea, away from Hari’s father’s reach in his small wooden boat. Only those with motorboats now have a chance of making money.
The story tells of Hari’s attempts to make money for his family and in doing so creates his own tidal waves of events.
Alongside his money-making schemes is the animosity between the neighbouring families, amusingly referred to as the ‘them over there’ and the ‘next doors’. Hari through his kindness and helpfulness and with his awareness of the people around him, wins over the ‘next doors’ and the outcome is the climax of the story.
There are many themes running throughout this book, the misunderstanding of dyslexia, poverty and its various effects and jealousy towards those more successful than others. It is a heart-warming story, with the power of goodness and kindness winning through.
The cover page by David Dean is fun and eye-catching, but the more traditional block plate illustrations at the start of each chapter are more traditional and quite beautiful.
The reading zone questions and activities are thought provoking and would provide a lot to talk and write about.
Rosie Watch
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About
Bamba Beach: A Bloomsbury Reader Synopsis
Hari's family make their living from fishing, but with no fish left in the bay, times are really hard. To catch the fish further away they need a better boat, but to get a better boat they need to sell fish...
Despite family feuds and village superstitions standing in his way, Hari doesn't give up, and it isn't long before help arrives from the most unlikely source.
About This Edition
ISBN: |
9781472989987 |
Publication date: |
5th August 2021 |
Author: |
Pratima Mitchell |
Illustrator: |
David Dean |
Publisher: |
Bloomsbury Education |
Format: |
Paperback |
Pagination: |
73 pages |
Series: |
Bloomsbury Readers |
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Press Reviews
Pratima Mitchell Press Reviews
'Patrice Lawrence, Tony Bradman, Margaret Mahy [...] any list that brings together such a quality line up of authors is going to be welcomed.' - Books for Keeps on the series Book Band: Dark Blue (Ideal for ages 9+)
Author
About Pratima Mitchell
Pratima Mitchell comes from a family of writers and was first published at the age of eleven. Her favourite authors growing up included Enid Blyton, A.A. Milne, and Louisa May Alcott. Pratima has written over 30 books and has lived all over the world including in Delhi, London, Vermont, Nigeria, Vienna and the French Pyrenees. David Dean spent most of his childhood drawing Star Wars characters and Transformers, and wanted to draw comics before realising that someone must draw book covers - what a fantastic job that would be! David is now an award-winning illustrator specialising in children's illustration and book covers, and lives in Cheshire with his two cats and hundreds of books.
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The Bloomsbury Readers series is packed with brilliant books to get children reading independently in Key Stage 2, with book-banded stories by award-winning authors like double Carnegie Medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean and Waterstones Prize winner Patrice Lawrence covering a wide range of genres and topics.
With charming illustrations, ideas for discussion points and online guided reading notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), this series is ideal for reading both in the classroom and at home.
Find more information on the Bloomsbury Readers Scheme.