Room on the Broom

10/13/2020

Julia Donaldson

International busking, singing and songwriting for children's television, playwright, poet, children's book author - Donaldson has had a varied career. From 2011 to 2013, Donaldson was the United Kingdoms Children's Laureate, an award given every two years to celebrate outstanding achievement by an author or illustrator. She has written 184 books for children.

Axel Scheffler

Scheffler and Donaldson are best known for The Gruffalo, their first collaboration. Scheffler has illustrated over a hundred children's books, designed Christmas stamps and the 20-year Gruffalo Commemorative stamps for the Royal Mail and a series of coronavirus crisis cartoons for children published in The Guardian.

World Relevance

Friends are important - especially when you need help or are afraid. October is a good month to learn and practice friendship skills -- even in the midst of the pandemic. Learning to be a good friend means taking turns, sharing and including others. Room on the Broom is also and excellent book to use as a jumping off point for primary grade activities and crafts for Halloween.

"But just as he planned
to begin on his feast,
From out of the ditch
rose a horrible beast.
It was tall, dark, and sticky,
and feathered and furred.
It had four frightful heads,
it had wings like a bird.
And its terrible voice,
when it started to speak,
Was a yowl and a growl
and a croak and a shriek.
It dripped and it squelched
as it strode from the ditch,
And it said to the dragon,

"Buzz off! - THAT'S MY WITCH!""

Synopsis

A witch and her cat are out for an afternoon broom ride, but the witch keeps losing items. A dog, a bird, and a frog help her find her things and in return they are welcome to ride the broom. Finally, the witch's animal friends rescue her from the Dragon!

Check out the animated Room on the Broom film at the YouTube Gruffalo World channel.

Learning Connections

Room on the Broom Teacher Resources & Make and Do Activities, Macmillan Children's Books
Room on the Broom and Witches Activities and Games, KidsSoup -- there are a few free resources at this page, but KidsSoup is a subscription-based resource
Keeping Friendships Strong During the Pandemic Is Good for Kids–and Adults, Wellesley College
Best Games Kids Can Play on Zoom Virtually with Friends, MommyPoppins
9 Free Online Games for Kids to Play Together, MommyPoppins

Ages: 5 - 8 years old; emerging readers, 32 pages. A rhyming read-aloud perfect for a count-down to Halloween!

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