The shopkeeper poked at them with a thin finger, pulled a piece of dark fluff from among them. ‘I’ve not seen your mam in a while,’ she said. ‘Under the weather again, is she?’ I just want to go to sleep,’ Addie said. She gulped down her hot drink, wiped her hand across her mouth, got to her feet. A deftly told story that dramatizes how Danes appointed themselves bodyguards—not only for their king, who was in the habit of riding alone in Copenhagen, but for their Jews. The whole story is just so lovely to read and makes you think about what some children go through in their young lives. I was especially touched by Jude who has been through so much and carries so many emotions around with him daily. Secondary Col 3 Anthologies for KS3 to KS5 English White Rose Maths Secure Science for GCSE Reimagine KS3 English KS3 Science Now Collins Classroom Classics

Snow Leopardess bids to win Grand National after having a foal Snow Leopardess bids to win Grand National after having a foal

We will do a good bit of work around Lambourn after she has jumped and that will basically be most of her hard work done. The purpose of jumping the fences tomorrow is more a case of dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.

Reference Col 1 Times Books A-Z Astronomy Gardening National Parks National Trust Books Road Maps & Atlases World Atlases We are the favourite of the English but we have still got to beat the Irish. You never know. She is the one mare they will all be looking at as she jumped them so well last time.” Ruth didn’t look like a foster carer. Not like Dawn anyway. Dawn, with her pink hair and high heels, her endless phone calls, her high-pitched laugh. Dawn, who hardly spoke to Addie for the whole weekend she spent there in the summer. Dawn, who never smiled. Eleven-year-old Addie has been taken to a rural farm in Exmoor, to stay with a foster family whilst her mum gets help in looking after herself and her daughter. Addie is angry and upset to be apart from her mum and doesn’t want to be at the farm. She hopes it is just for one night, but one night turns into weeks and then months. This poignant novel is beautifully written and explores the difficult issues of bullying, neglect and abuse with sensitivity. Rather than dwelling on why the children are in foster care, the tale offers insight into their emotions of rejection, confusion, anger and guilt. Despite the challenging subject matter, this is a positive tale, full of hope for a brighter future.

Snow Foal By Susanna Bailey | Used | 9781405294935 - Wob Snow Foal By Susanna Bailey | Used | 9781405294935 - Wob

Strengths: Like Scarlet Ibis, Snow Foal gives us a good look at the foster care system in England, along with an enticing view of an English farm. Addie's feelings and concerns see true to life, and her transference of her feelings of longing for her mother to the foal are very realistic. It's good to see other points of view; Gabe was adopted by Sam and Ruth, so is more stable, Sunni still wants to see her mother but knows that it is increasingly unlikely, and Jude is too young to fully process his circumstances. Penny is portrayed more sympathetically than many social workers, which I appreciated. The real draw will be the wild foal, and Addie's ability to bond with it and take care of it. There's even a bit of adventure when Addie takes off into the night. Some horses never take to the unique fences but Longsdon is adamant that he always believed that Snow Leopardess would acquit herself well over them, despite her connections having slight reservations about the Grand National. She was freezing cold, even in Ruth’s warm kitchen. Her toes felt as if something was biting them. And she was thirsty. ‘Yes,’ she said to Ruth. ‘Hot chocolate. Please.’ We’ve been on a massive rollercoaster with her the whole way through. When she got her leg injuries and went to be put in foal by Sir Percy I honestly thought her racing career was over. You name it, she’s done it,” says Longsdon, whose Pendra – 13 th in 2016 – fared best of his previous five National runners.He added: “When she was hurdling we said we couldn’t wait to go chasing, which was delayed by a couple of years because of injuries. The characters are so realistic and their personal stories may have you reaching for the tissues. As well as Addie we have teenager Gabe who is the adopted son of the couple, Ruth and Sam who foster the children. We also have little six-year-old Jude who doesn’t speak and Sunni who is resentful of Addie being there and sharing her bedroom. We went before she ran in the Becher. Aidan (Coleman) just jumped them the once that day, which is only two jumps, and then said, ‘that will do’ and I’d like to hope that is all it will be tomorrow. You never know because the Grand National fences are different.

Snow Foal | BookTrust

I read this book as part of the FBA (Fantastic Book Awards) club at my school. This was an interesting little read! It follow the story of Addie who is sent to a foster home on a farm when it turns out her mum is struggling with alcoholism. Addie finds it hard to fit in and just wants to help her mum get better! Addie is tasked with helping a orphaned foal get better after being found in a snow ditch and they become fast friends! We couldn’t wait to go over the big fences to be honest as we always thought she would take to them fine, but you never quite know. I’m always a glass half-full person though. Yes, we expected her to love them but until you jump them you never quite know. Grab a blanket, a hot chocolate and one of these brilliant books for the ultimate winter experience!Ruth would have rules, too, Addie thought – rules for children like her, who didn’t really belong in this house. She would tell Addie what they were when Penny had gone. Like Dawn did. However, the Martaline mare has history to contend with if she is to secure a place in the record books on April 9. At home there was a streetlamp outside Addie’s bedroom window. It shone through her curtains like a small yellow sun. It kept her company when she couldn’t sleep. At home, it was never quiet. Even at night. There was always the hum of traffic, the slamming of doors, the call of cats. A beautifully written, warm read for anyone looking for a gorgeous family book to read together and to capture the imagination of young horse fans too.