As happy as here by Jane Godwin

As happy as here by Jane Godwin

‘We just have to be here, as happy as here, and do our best to deal with whatever comes along.’

This is one YA fiction that I wished I had read as a teenager. Filled with the possibilities of friendships – where we can find them and how they help us, mysteries to solve and overcoming adversities to see what life can be all about.

As happy as here by Jane Godwin is a coming of age novel takes us into the world of three young girls who are all stuck in hospital. Evie with a badly broken leg, Jemma with burst appendix and Lucy who is battling with Leukaemia.

The three girls are unlikely friends but soon bond over a common mystery – someone in the laneway below their hospital window is burying newspapers while another digs them up.

The girls through their developing friendship over come their fears in many different ways and investigate only to find they not only are close to solving the mystery but realising how unassuming friendships can be the ones which bring out the best in us.

This book will speak to young girls and hopefully allow them to see how important true friendships are. People who appreciate who you are, not what you can do or how you look.

Young readers will love the mystery to be solved and the links they can see within the characters to themselves or people they know.

But most importantly, this book will hopefully develop empathy. Empathy for those who might not have what we have, empathy for those who might not think the same way we do and empathy for those who make different choices.

As happy as here by Jane Godwin is a beautiful story. I loved the reference made to some great bands on Evie’s favourite playlist (namely The Killers and The Smith Street band), Jemma’s letter writing skills and Lucy’s drawings. It’s the quiet things sometimes that make us most thoughtful and happy.

Jane Godwin’s website: http://www.janegodwin.com.au/about-jane-godwin

 

Testimonials – Jack and Jill Kindergarten, Berowra.

Testimonials - Jack and Jill Kindergarten, Berowra.

Thanks so much Vanessa for coming out and sharing your book “The Bee Detectives” with our children 3-5 years old. The experience allowed them to learn so much more about Bees. We have had our native Bees for several years and had beekeepers out before. Your book took an in-depth look into classification, different ways they live, how they collect pollen and make honey.  It created lots of meaningful conversation with the children; your interactive book reading allowed them to share these ideas with each other. The extended activity afterwards of the magnifiers provided by Vanessa was a great extension to the book. The children were so excited to be their very own Bee detectives and really extended their learning.

Vanessa Ryan-Rendall
2021-05-17T03:33:47+00:00

Testimonials - Jack and Jill Kindergarten, Berowra. Thanks so much Vanessa for coming out and sharing your book “The Bee Detectives” with our children 3-5 years old. The experience allowed them to learn so much more about Bees. We have had our native Bees for several years and had beekeepers out before. Your book took an in-depth look into classification, different ways they live, how they collect pollen and make honey.  It created lots of meaningful conversation with the children; your interactive book reading allowed them to share these ideas with each other. The extended activity afterwards of the magnifiers provided by Vanessa was a great extension to the book. The children were so excited to be their very own Bee detectives and really extended their learning.

Author Visit: Jack and Jill Kindergarten Berowra

Thanks so much Vanessa for coming out and sharing your book “The Bee Detectives” with our children 3-5 years old. The experience allowed them to learn so much more about Bees. We have had our native Bees for several years and had beekeepers out before. Your book took an in-depth look into classification, different ways they live, how they collect pollen and make honey.  It created lots of meaningful conversation with the children; your interactive book reading allowed them to share these ideas with each other. The extended activity afterwards of the magnifiers provided by Vanessa was a great extension to the book. The children were so excited to be their very own Bee detectives and really extended their learning. 

Teacher notes written by Vanessa
2021-04-21T02:54:08+00:00

Thanks so much Vanessa for coming out and sharing your book “The Bee Detectives” with our children 3-5 years old. The experience allowed them to learn so much more about Bees. We have had our native Bees for several years and had beekeepers out before. Your book took an in-depth look into classification, different ways they live, how they collect pollen and make honey.  It created lots of meaningful conversation with the children; your interactive book reading allowed them to share these ideas with each other. The extended activity afterwards of the magnifiers provided by Vanessa was a great extension to the book. The children were so excited to be their very own Bee detectives and really extended their learning. 


Georgie Donaghey

I was impressed with Vanessa’s professionalism in preparing the teacher notes for my picture book, In the Shadow of an Elephant. Her depth of knowledge on the multitude of topics covered was just incredible! She has compiled a 15-page document that will allow Educators and students an opportunity to explore conversations and discover different layers within the book.

Georgie Donaghey

Teacher notes written by Vanessa
2020-08-01T07:42:45+00:00

I was impressed with Vanessa’s professionalism in preparing the teacher notes for my picture book, In the Shadow of an Elephant. Her depth of knowledge on the multitude of topics covered was just incredible! She has compiled a 15-page document that will allow Educators and students an opportunity to explore conversations and discover different layers within the book. Georgie Donaghey