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How do the illustrations in this book compare with those in other picture books? Which do you prefer? Why? Look at the use of different fonts and font sizes in the story. Could you use a similar effect to publish a story of your own using a word processor or publishing software? There is a Spelling Seed session for every week of the associated Writing Root. Coverage: Word List WordsArmistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments

Leon goes to the place between, an almost liminal space between the magical and the real world. I think that this is a great point of creativity for children to explore, particularly in a sense of what is inside the place between and the morality behind being sent there. An equally interesting topic of debate is the magician, who seems so mysterious yet almost ominous, creating a feeling of awe and unease. It would definitely be valuable to talk about how an author creates such conflicting feelings. Although the illustrations are a bit creepy and questionable at times, it really draws the children in and makes the story unique. The vintage traditional circus feel is really nostalgic too and lends itself to a fun historical context of circus through the ages.

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This is athree-session spelling seed for the book Leon and the Place Between by Angela McAllister. Below is the coverage from Appendix 1 of the National Curriculum 2014. Look at the expressions of the characters in the illustrations. How are they feeling? How do you know? Watch this video showing how the illustrator created the images for the book. Could you use similar techniques to create images for your own story (or for a popular children’s book)?

I re-read and re-reviewed this book after years of attending grammar training with it being the sole book used across counties which put me off. Thank goodness I returned years later to enjoy it for what it is. Use a ‘place between’ in a story of your own. Where could your story’s ‘place between’ be? Where is it between? What is it like? What happens there? This is a three-week Writing Root for the story Leon and the Place Betweenby Angela McAllister. Throughout the sequence of learning children will explore the author’s language and use it as the basis for their own descriptive writing.They will explore the characters’ thoughts and emotions and take part in drama activities, leading to writing in role and the creation of dialogue.Using the structure of the original story, children will plan their own version of the story where their own character enters a magical world.This Writing Root would work most effectively in a LKS2 class, with links to other fantasy stories. It will be beneficial to have at least five or six copies of the text so that each group of learners can interact with and explore the text. Synopsis of Text:

This book about a boy and his siblings who go to the circus and come across the great magician called Abdul Kazam is just thrilling. It captures the real tension and excitement of the circus and live performance in the best way. The facial expressions of the characters and the way the text is presented gives the readers a magical experience as they move through the narrative. Look at the illustrations of the show tent before and after the show. How do they compare? Can you create two pictures of a place before and after an event takes place?

Landing (If time allows): Invite real-life circus acts into school to perform to the children or chn to create their own talent show. Leon and the Place Between written by Graham Baker-Smith is a delightful tale featuring Leon and an exciting magic show. Wanting to prove to his brothers and sister that magic really exists, Leon volunteers to be in Abdul Kazam's magic show and gets transported to a mysterious world. Filled with rabbits, doves, playing cards and magician's assistants - among other things - if a magician can make it disappear, it will end up in the Place Between! Spelling Seeds have been designed to complement Writing Roots by providing weekly, contextualised sequences of sessions for the teaching of spelling that include open-ended investigations and opportunities to practise and apply within meaningful and purposeful contexts, linked (where relevant) to other areas of the curriculum and a suggestion of how to extend the investigation into home learning.We've got a range of lovely activities perfect for use alongside this book. Why not challenge your class to add a hidden chapter to the story, or write an alternate ending? Your class could write up their ideas on these Wizard Writing Frames to create a magical classroom display of writing. Or for a fun starter task, why not try our Magic Word Search , featuring related words such as magic, potions and wand.