Sharing Books and Noisy Bees

Pupils from Linton Heights and Linton Infants School met at the Linton Library today to show each other, and talk together about their favourite books. It was great to see them chatting easily as they gradually gained confidence in explaining stories to each other.

The last storytime was a delight, and whilst we all kept as quiet as we could to hear the twittering birds and garden noises, before listening to "Too Much Noise", by Ann McGovern, all we could hear was the ice cream van's tinkling call. I bet he did good business today! An added excitement was when the children were sent off to search the garden for paper bees and were finally sent home with a growing gift....a pumpkin seedling to nourish.

The Linton Theatre Workshop perfomed Revolting Rhymes once more - this time to the Beavers and Cubs and their families. The rhymes were pitched just right for these boys who have all gone home with a new found respect for Red Riding Hood - and giggling about her producing "a pistol from her knickers". They gave the Linton Theatre Workshop a resounding "Hoorah" in appreciation at the end.

Tomorrow is dressing up day! Pupils at Linton Playgroups, Infants and Junior Schools are all dressing up as their favourite book character. Well known author Julia Jarman will be visiting the Infant and Junior schools, and Marion Leeper frrom Cambridge Storytellers will be visiting the playgroups. Rumour has it that a certain very famous book character may be visiting with her.....he has puple prickles all over his back....who could it be?

A Day of Rhymes and Elephants

This morning Chalemina gave a performace of Little Bo-Peep and other Nursery Rhymes to around 100 tots and their parents. Costumes were amazing and thankfully Little Bo Peep did eventually find her sheep (in Old McDonalds Farm).

The Rainbows and Brownies also enjoyed some rhymes, but this time by Roald Dahl, and of a more revolting nature - have you ever thought about the Goldilocks story from the Three Bears point of view? She isn't a goodie according to them!

A sunny garden storytime in Mill Lane was enjoyed by almost 70 children and their parents. Susan Anderson read the story "The Elephant's Child" by Rudyard Kipling, from a book that was 99 years old! The children were entranced and afterwards made their very own elephant bookmarks to take home.

Our final Garden Storytime is tomorrow 8th May at 40 Symonds Lane, when we will be hearing "Too Much Noise". Don't miss it at 3.30pm. Also, Beavers and Cubs and their families will also have the opportunity of seeing Linton Drama Workshop's performance of Revolting Rhymes.

What a scorching start..........

It was such a relief to meet Paul and David from "Spill the Beans" outside the Infants School this morning, well in time for their 9.00am slot at the Infants. They had elected to travel from Nottingham early, and had even managed to find a parking space outside the school - what luck. However, our relief was short lived as we were greeted by a look of surprise from the Infant School staff, and the statement "I thought you were coming tomorrow?"

Nevertheless, lessons plans were thrown out of the window and the children thoroughly enjoyed the energetic poetry from the hilarious duo, joining in with gusto...as were the teachers.

They went on to perform at The Heights and the Granta Special School and so far we have had a very enthusiastic feedback from pupils and teachers alike.

Cindy Faulkner encouraged the pre-schoolers at Chestnut and Granta Playgroups to dance the story of "Where the Wild Things Are", by Maurice Sendak and Chalemina gave their first performance of the bookfest week at the Infant School.

Chalemina performing "Sir Goward the Coward and the Feasty Beasty" enraptured their audience with the fabulous interaction, costumes and musical instruments.

The first of the Garden Storytimes was held at 41 Back Road. Children enjoyed a drink and a biscuit and the searched around the garden for the animals in "The Monkey Puzzle" as they followed the story by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (yes the same Axel who will be coming to Linton on Saturday)!



Tomorrow Chalemina will be performing Little Bo Peep to the 'Tots in Tow" audience, starting at 10.30am at the Village Hall. There is still space available if you would like to come.

Wednesday 7th May Garden storytime is at 3 Mill Lane 3.30pm with the story of "The Elephant's Child". Also the Rainbows and Brownies and families will be enjoying "Revolting Rhymes" by Roald Dahl at 7.00pm.

Make the most of the wonderful weather, I can't believe we've been so lucky, and make the most of Bookfest.

Dance-a -Chalemina and Spill the Garden Storytimes

Tommorow is a packed out bookfest day for the children of Linton.

In the morning the pre-school children in Chestnut and Granta Playgroups will be invited to "Dance-A-Story" with Cindy Faulkner. Cindy is a practitioner in the Linton Complementary Health Centre and is trained in Dance, Drama and Mime with over 15 years experience of teaching movement in the community.

Spill the Beans are making a welcome return to Linton bookfest and will begin a day of performances and workshops at the Infant school. They will also visit the Heights and end up at the Granta Special School in the afternoon. Gary Dadd, teacher at the Special School has been adament from day one of planning the 2008 Bookfest that he wanted Spill the Beans to visit his school. "Their high energy, interactive, fun approach to poetry is just what our children will enjoy". The in-school performances by Spill the Beans have been made possible by grants from the Parish Council and the Charles and Mary Anderson Benefaction Trust.

In the afternoon the Infant School will also enjoy a performance of "Sir Goward the Coward and the Feasty Beasty", thanks to a grant from the Making Music Out Reach Programme. Chalemina specialise in small-scale productions for young children. They will put on a fully-staged performance with splendid costumes, singing, dancing and music (on ancient instruments) - which is entertaining, educational and fun. Chalemina perform regularly at the Cambridge Summer Music Festival in their Music 4 Kids programme, tomorrow children at the Infants school will enjoy it for free.

Finally at 3.30pm all children are invited to the first of our Garden storytimes, a reading of "The Monkey Puzzle", which is to be at 41 Back Road. If the weather forcast is to be relied upon it is going to be a scorcher, so don't forget your hats.

Linton's Children's History Walk

Weren't we lucky with the weather? Thank - you to Garth, and his 350 year old companions, for bringing history to life today. Around 70 people met up at the Grip and enjoyed learning about the Battle of Linton and how frightening it must have been for the people living in the houses in the High Street.

Whose side would you choose to be on in the bloody Civil War? Most of us voted for the Roundheads, the winners on that ocassion.

I think the Wedding party in St Mary's Church were rather surprised to see a Cavalier, and a Roundhead and his wife competing for the photographs. Watch out for a report in the Haverhill Echo and the Saffron Walden Reporter next week.

Photos by Dan Johnson

Garth's History Walk

Reminder that it is tommorrow, Saturday 3rd May, 2.oopm. Meet at The Grip. The weather is predicted to be fine and it will be an exciting and memorable afternoon. We have never done this before! Don't miss it!

Valerie Bloom - Carnival

Check out this You Tube clip of Valerie Bloom performing "Carnival"!



Lots more high-energy entertainment guaranteed at 1pm on Sunday 11th May at Linton Village College - you'd be mad to miss it!