Book Review: Beck Ice Age Hunter Storybook and Audio CD from Learn with Grandma

Submitted by runemage on Monday, 27 September 2010 Page Views: 4647

**Church Hole** submitted by Andy B : Archaeologists at work in the caves of Cresswell Crags Monday 30th June 2003. Dr Paul Bahn (L) and Dr Pettitt look out for more cave art at the site. Picture: Steve Parkin (Vote or comment on this photo)

Runemage writes: This children's story book covers quite a timespan during the Ice Age, including all cultural aspects of life. Hunter-gatherers travelled over the habitable land and it took thousands of generations to journey from the Rock of Solutré in France to Creswell Crags in Derbyshire and leave their art for us to appreciate today.

The facts in the story tie in with archaeological evidence, showing what tools the people used and which animals they hunted for food. Whilst the text is aimed at KS2 pupils, it is very easily read and understood, the language used is simple and very clear yet it’s also very interesting.

The illustrations are superb, they remind me of the format used in old-fashioned Ladybird Books where extra information that directly complements the text is gained from discussing what is going on in the detailed pictures. One I like is on page 11, a cute Przewalski horse looking down and watching others of its kind which were plentiful at that time, pass down a ravine on their spring and autumn migration route.

There are six pages of activities in the back of the book ranging from a vocab list via science, art, observation and interaction, outings and too many others to mention, through to writing and starring in a play about the featured characters. Some of the activities can be carried out alone, some are better suited to groups.

An audio CD is included, featuring Grandma Valerie reading the story, and also a Welsh version for the dual language book.

These aren’t just a series of storybooks, there’s a whole ethos of community involvement and not-for-profit behind them. We met Grandma Valerie when she came to our event in the Brecon Beacons, she lives in a small village nearby and had the idea for the Learn with Grandma series of books and events. The books are designed for interaction, whether it be with Grandma or indeed Grandpa, in the classroom, with the family or a community group.

The books are for learning English as a first or second language, this series is in English and Welsh and plans are afoot to have many more languages included, so that children who have English as their second language can help their parents to learn some English too, to help them integrate into the wider community. A whole series of books is planned to take you through up to Roman times.

There is a choice of just English or dual language English and Welsh, which includes the audio CD of the story.

Review by Runemage