The first thing I will comment on are the illustrations. They are incredible. Using photographic collage and illustration, this is the first book that Grahame has both written and illustrated and the results are amazing. The illustrations really do bring this picture book to life and the size of the book make it perfect for reading to groups of children. This story truly makes you feel both the sadness and the joy with which this young boy lives, and which is passed from generation to generation in this family. Cross Curricular Opportunities: Use the curriculum jigsaw and copies of the NC to help you see relevant links to the text. History Asking children prior to display who inspires them and why and then collate information and add to display/around the classroom

Exciting book display- copies of book, audio recording of it being read, images of Ancient Greek myth All he wants is to fly and he spends his time creating beautiful wings to carry him away from this place. Different types of wings hanging from the ceiling... alongside aspirations hanging from the ceiling as well This book tells the story of a father and son and a dream to fly. The father is possessed with an unrelenting desire to fly which he never achieves. When the father goes off to war and doesn’t return, the dream of flying passes on to his son.

International

Use research and criteria to develop products which are fit for purpose and aimed at specific groups' This stunning picture book by significant author Grahame Baker-Smith won the Kate Greenaway medal in 2011 and explores the relationship between a father a son. Close inspection of the text and illustrations provides subtle links to World War One and ancient Greece, in particular the story of Icarus, as well as strong links to the DT curriculum. There are many opportunities to discuss family relationships, memories and following your dreams. Links and themes: This is a picture book for children of ages 8 and upwards. Although it doesn’t contain a lot of text, the words are beautifully woven into the pictures using different fonts and text sizes. The pictures themselves are intricate and detailed images put together in a unique way using photographs and illustration which in themselves tell a story. I found myself asking questions about the images and even making up a little more of the story in my head.

When a father who dreams of flying goes off to war and doesn’t return, his son decides to make his dream come true. Grahame’s moving story, with stunning illustrations, shows how, with love and a bit of ambition, you can reach seemingly impossible goals. Ancient Greece The story of Daedalus and Icarus. Explore how this story runs in parallel with part of the story (where the Father builds wings etc.) Design and TechnologyThe winning book, Farther by Grahame Baker-Smith, tells the story of how a son takes up his father’s unfulfilled dreams of flying, and finally takes to the air. This is the story of a boy whose father is so close to him, yet so far away in spirit. A man whose days and nights are spent dreaming of flying away from the little house on the cliff. Receptive Context: Think about how you can use the room to excite and engage the children into wanting to explore the book and anything related to it more. How can you wow them when they first walk in? Before: I am lost for words. This book… its illustrations are pure and magical, an intriguing mix of realism and fantasy. Its words are stunning and the reader feels pulled into this world completely. Publishing a Greenaway Medal Winner is a triumph for a small publisher like Templar Publishing. Managing Director Amanda Wood said she was delighted and paid tribute to Templar’s Art Director, Mike Jolley. She also said it was a huge privilege for the company to work with the author, Grahame Baker-Smith.

Notes: Based for a year 5 Linguistic features. Use the New National Curriculum to focus on: Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation / This three-week Writing Root begins by introducing the concept of dreams and how important they are in our lives. It continues by exploring the text through a range of activities that include explicit grammar teaching, opportunities for shorter written outcomes and book talk. Children create a story-map of the key events from the book to write a sequel and create a set of instruction to describe how their own flying machine works. Children finish by writing a longer story about an adventure in a sequel to the text. Synopsis of Text: One day this father is called away to war, leaving his wife and son alone. The years pass and the boy grows to become part of the dream to fly away and, after some adjustment to the wings, he makes it happen. Have picture of each character displayed and as the book is explored things about that character are revealed and put around the character... mainly looking at strength in relationships Children's thoughts about the book- picture of front of book and children to add post-it thoughts as book is exploredFArTHER is another beautiful book by Grahame Baker-Smith – whose first picture book for Templar, Leon and the Place Between (written by Angela McAllister) received critical acclaim and was shortlisted for the 2010 Greenaway Award.