Summer 21 Surbiton Scribbler

THE SURBITON SCRIBBLER

I am so excited to see this whole school celebration of the written word. I love reading and writing and think they are the key to opening every door of opportunity. English helps us to understand the world; how to learn new things; paint pictures in our mind; communicate with others; get whisked away to a whole new world. I am so proud of the quality of what you all write and read at this school, and of the progress you all make during your time here. So sit back, enjoy seeing the amazing writing and reading that is celebrated in this journal and be proud of what you have all achieved. Be inspired!

Ms Stewart

READING

Library News

Animal Antics

A Sense of Adventure

Stories

A Spark of Magic

Inspirational Lives

Books

and Games

WRITING

Reception Rainforest Writing 20 21 Year 1 Fairy Tale stories 22 23 Year 2 Fairy Tale descriptions Message in a Bottle The Tunnel

24 27

Year 3 Disaster Stories The Golden Umbrella 28 31 Year 4 Dragon Poems Arlo

Year 5 - Legends of the Forest The Shipwreck The Storm Year 6 War Poems The Island Writing Competition Winners

32 35

This story is about how Harry tried to save the endangered animals. My favourite part is how a small thought by Harry made such a big difference.

HotDog

byAnneCottringer&

This book is about three funny stray dogs who like to run around exploring the city. Hot Dog, Mooch and Pooch enjoy their freedom and also some delicious meatballs from Mrs Fortini until one day, the dog catcher comes around and the three friends find themselves in trouble...

The Butterfly Lion

by Michael Morpurgo

The Butterfly Lion is so inspiring as well as gripping and adventurous. It tells the story of Bertie who found the white lion as a cub while he was living in Africa. However, when Bertie gets older, his parents send him to boarding school and the white lion is sent to join a circus. The book tells the story of how they come back together.

The story is so heartwarming and the book is so interesting, you will never want to put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves animals and adventures.

KatherineWalker

Harry and the Dinosaurs Go Wild

by Ian Whybrow

Both children and grown-ups will love this story!

G - RecP

Asha and the Spirit Bird

by Jasbinder Bilan

Asha lives on the family farm with her mother in India. Her father is away working in the city, and when the money he sends stops suddenly, a wicked aunt arrives. She is determined to seize their house – and the treasure rumoured to be hidden on the land. Guided by a majestic bird which she believes to be the spirit her grandmother, Asha and her best friend Jeevan embark on a journey to the across the Himalayas, to find her father save her home …

The Abandoned Puppy by Holly Webb

This is an exciting story about a girl puppy called Cookie who is left on the doorstep of an animal shelter with her two brothers. Zoe and her grandma look after the puppies. Zoe really wants to keep Cookie, but she knows she is not really allowed to have a pet yet...

S 2W

by Roald Dahl

This book is about three mean farmers who want to kill Mr Fox and his family. It is a very funny and exciting book.

I loved this book so much! My favourite part was when the animals stole masses of food from Bunce's giant storehouse.

I would recommend this book to everyone in Key Stage 1. I give this book 5 stars!

Into the Jungle

Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright edited by Fiona Waters

Claude in the City by Alex T. Smith

Loveable dog, Claude, decides to go to the city for the very first time Everything seems normal until... Claude accidentally foils a robbery and becomes the local hero!

Jennie by Paul Gallico

This is the story of a young boy, Peter, who is knocked down by a car. To his astonishment, when he recovers, he is not a young boy, but a cat!

Varjak Paw by S.F. Said

A young cat, Varjak Paw, must use the mystical martial art, 'The Way' to survive in a city full of dangerous dogs, cat gangs and, strangest of all, the mysterious Vanishings

Rex the Rhinoceros Beetle by M.G. Leonard

danger strikes, will humble beetle, Rex, be able to save the day?

by Katherine Rundell

Enchanting short stories exploring the world of The Jungle Book.

An animal poem for every day of the year.

Amazing Animal Heroes

Kaleidoscope of Creatures by

The Great Barrier Reef by Dr Helen Scales

about

ensure that

around

Mike

stories of

Lost Species by Jess French

The Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant

This is the most compelling, joyous, tear jerking and delightful book I have ever read! It is about a perilous journey to France after the First World War. Two children decide to search for the family they've lost. For Ben his brother and for Lotti, her French Grandmére They inspire each other to make the journey across the English Channel to France in a narrowboat the Sparrowhawk. Full of adventure and excitement you won't be able to put this book down!

The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell

A bad man called Victor Sorrotore steals Vita's grandfather's house and then begins searching for the family emerald. Vita and her friends join forces to fight against him

I loved how the story was balanced so that Vita and Sorrotore outwit each other at different times so you aren't sure who will win in the end

I learnt that if you try and try again, you might get your own way and you have to work as a team to win!

M

tories for 6 9 year olds

When True Winter comes, it’s time for the Great Northern Race! The best sled teams in the world must reach a mysterious man called the Snowfather He will grant one wish to the winners Young racers Sika and Shen want to win more than anything But they don’t have big sleddogs alltheyhaveissixty sixyappy,yippypuppypugs. Canthisunlikelyteammaketheirdreamscometrue?

Maia B - 1N

PugsoftheFrozenNorth

byPhilipReeveandSarahMcIntyre

NorthernLightsbyPhilipPullman

ReviewedbyMrsMorrod

‘Lyra and her daemon moved through the darkening hall…portraits offormerMastershunghighupinthegloomalongthewalls’ Iwas gripped almost viscerally from the very first line, like a fish on an inescapable hook. We know nothing of Lyra in this opening, simply that she has a daemon (‘a what?’) and that they are creeping as quietly as they can, to break into the Retiring Room at the back of the shadowy Hall, lit only by candles that sparkle against the darkness.Whatgoesoninthisroom?LyrahaswatchedtheFellows trundle off and close the heavy oak door behind them, black academic robes flapping behind them like the wings of a cloud of bats.

I had often wondered this exact thing myself, sat underneath the pictures of former masters of my own college, peering at my dinner on a plate lit only by a candle This was before Hogwarts, before twinkly eyed old Prof Dumbledore came into my world Lyra was daring her daemon was not and I felt her shock at discovering a murder attempt taking place in her Oxford college almost as strongly as she did such is the majestic pull of Philip Pullman’s writing. Winning a slew of children’s and adult literature prizes, His Dark Materials trilogy was voted into 3rd place of ALL British fiction, not just children’s fiction.

I went on to discover worlds so close to and yet not completely like our own, peopled by a host of memorable characters: proud and powerful witches, who would fight to the death for Lyra; the terrifyingly righteous and menacing Magisterium; the beautiful but ferocious snow leopard daemon, Selmaria; heroic angels armed with burning swords; and the mighty, protective and wholly fiersome Iorek Byrnysson, an armoured panzerbyorn So entranced was I I still am by this last character, that I followed Lyra’s footsteps to Svalbard to see the polar bears for myself and take her journey step by seasick step to the frozen North.

I challenge you to read just the first page and not want to go on reading. Find a comfy place and settle in for the ride of your life. That this is the work of the greatest living British children’s writer is without doubt. The only real question is: what would your daemon be in Lyra’s world?

W A R S T O R I E S

BlitzcatbyRobertWestall

This book follows the story of Lord Gort, a black cat owned by a pilot in WorldWar2whogoesoffonanamazingadventure. During her incredible journey, Lord Gort is bombed and is temporarily blind and deaf She goes through so much before finally reaching her home once more.

Thisbookisfilledwithgrippingactionandsomanydifferentemotions.

William Beech, a boy of 9 years old, is evacuated to a tiny English village in the countryside just before the outbreak of World War 2. A lonely and deprived child, he finds himself living with the gruff, reclusive old widower, ThomasOakley. This amazing book clearly shows what life would have been like for an evacueeduringthewar

MidnightGuardiansbyRossMontgomery

AnexcitingfantasyadventuresetduringWorldWar2

Sometimesatthedarkesthour,hopeshinesthebrightest...

When Col's childhood imaginary friends come to life, he discovers a worldwheremythsandlegendsarereal Accompaniedbyhisguardians a six foot tiger, a badger in a waistcoat and a miniature knight Col must race to Blitz bombed London to save his sister. But there are darker forces at work, even than the Nazi bombings Soon Col is pursued by the terrifyingMidwinterKing,whoisdeterminedtobringaneternaldarkness downovereverything.

byMichelleMagorian

byMichaelMorpurgo

loved

Horse is the

ever

of a

by Michael Morourgo,

ends up

horrors of the

Mohinder's War Bali Rai

from the Lighthouse Emma Carroll

The Skylark's War Hilary McKay

The Umbrella Mouse Anna Fargher

NevermoorbyJessicaTownsend

Morrigan Crow has been cursed and is destined to die on her eleventh birthday. But, as the clock strikes midnight, she is whisked away by a mysterious man called Julian North and taken away to the city of Nevermoor Here she is invited to join the Wundrous Society Everything will be fine if only she can pass four impossible trials, using anexceptionaltalent,whichshedoesn'thave...

TheHousewithChickenLegsbySophieAnderson

Marinkadreamsofanormallife,whereshecanmakefriends Butshe is unhappy. Her house has chicken legs and will not stay in one place longenoughforhertomakefriends. Marinka's grandmother is Baba Yaga, who guides the dead, showing them their way until they float into the sky Marinka longs to change her life and sets out to break free from her grandmother, but her househasotherideas

ATaleofMagicbyChrisColfer

Fourteen year old Brystal Evergreen knew she was different, but when she stumbles across a secret section of the library, she discovers that she is a fairy, capable of magic Soon, Brystal gets whisked away to a correctional facility where, with the help of MadameWeatherberry,sheisrecruitedintoaschoolofmagic When her teacher does not return from an important mission, it is uptoBrystalandherfriendstosavetheday.

SadieL-4H

MagicalKingdomofBirdsbyAnneBooth

When Maya receives a special colouring book The Magical KingdomofBirds sheistransportedtoabeautifulrealmfilledwith magnificent birds and their fairy friends. But the kingdom is in trouble evil Lord Astor has a plan to capture and cage the tiniest residents, the hummingbirds and as Keeper of the Book it's up to Mayatoprotectthem. Thefirstinaseries

TheMagicPaintbrushbyJuliaDonaldson

With her magic paintbrush, Shen can paint steaming pots full of fish and oysters to feed the hungry people in her village, but when theevilemperorhearsofhergifthecommandsShentopaintgold for him instead. She is determined to keep her promise to paint only for the poor, but how can she match the emperor's mighty power?

Jones

The Wizards of Once Cressida Cowell

Amari and the Night Brothers B.B. Alston

A Pinch of Magic Michelle Harrison

The House at the Edge of Magic Amy Sparkes

The Moonshine Dragon Cornelia Funke

The Worst Witch Jill Murphy

Araminta Spook Angie Sage

Isadora Moon Harriet Muncaster

The Boy who Grew Dragons Andy Shepherd

Inspirational Lives

T O M A K E Y O U S T O P A N D T

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

This book is about a disabled girl called Melody Although she cannot walk or talk she has a huge mind and this book is all about her experiences and her life

My favourite character is Melody because she is so smart, even though the doctors don't realise this At one point, they ask her to stack some blocks according to their size. She knows how to do it but cannot show them because she cannot move However, she is determined not to let this stop her.

- 5F

This is a book about a boy called Ahmet who is a refugee and has escaped from Syria where a terrible war is happening Ahmet has joined a new school but doesn't understand much English While some children bully the new boy, a group of friends help to make himfeelwelcome. This is an inspirational book because it shows that you can do anythingifyouhaveyourfriendsaroundyou

This book, and the rest of its series, was a huge part of my childhood, setting me off down a lifelong path of books based on true stories. This is the story of a little girl called Laura Ingalls who, with her family, moved halfway across America in the back of a wagon, in order to find new, unsettled land to build a house on, landthathadpreviouslybeenoccupiedbynativeAmericanIndians. Their adventures along the way inspired me; I could never decide if I wanted to be the naughty and curious Laura with her messy brown hair, or her prettily perfect sister Mary with her long golden locks I was utterly fascinated by how simply a family could live; making and building everything themselves without the use of technology, electricity, communication; all things we completely take for granted nowadays I didn’t just read these books, I devoured them, even calling my parents ‘Ma’ and ‘Pa’ for a while. If you like reading and learning about the past you will love following Laura on heradventuresacrosstheprairiesofAmericaandthepeopleshemeetsalongtheway.

LittleHouseonthePrairiebyLauraIngallsWilder

ReviewedbyMrsBedford

Maya

TheBoyattheBackoftheClassroombyOnjaliQ.Rauf

MalalabyMalalaYousafzai

The book is a true story about a girl called Malala in Pakistan who fights for peace She believes what she believes and nobody is changing that She fights for education When she was younger, girls were banned from having an education, and she didn’t believe or think that this was right. The Taliban were an army who were making up unnecessary rules and laws and had told citizens of Pakistan that girls weren’t aloud to go to school and that women couldn’t go outsidewithoutbeingaccompaniedbyahusbandorotherman.

The Taliban shot Malala for speaking out and doing campaigns on education. She was sent to a hospital in Birmingham where she had to have lots of help with her health However,sherecoveredandendedupstudyingatOxfordUniversity.

Extraordinary Women

An uplifting, universal story of new experiences, the unbreakable bond shared by siblings and of being proud of who you are

A beautiful bird, four friends and a plan that goes very, very wrong...

Mouse wishes he could roar like Lion. But, as he discovers, even the biggest, bossiest people are scared sometimes.

Lift the spectacular spiral pop-up to reveal a whole host of magnificent animals in their homes.

Amelia T, RecP

Zoya

Maya

Once upon a time, a little girl called Goldilocks was walking through the wood. She could see the blue sky and the tall, green trees. She could feel the fresh air blowing in her face. She could hear the trees rustling in her ears. She could smell the lovely pink and blue flowers and they smelled like honey.

Goldilocks walked towards the small, wooden cottage and pushed the creaky door open. She could see three bowls of warm, delicious porridge. She tried the first bowl. It was too cold! Next, she tried the medium bowl. "Too hot!" she said. She tried the small bowl. "Just right!" she said.

When the three bears got home, they all noticed something wasn't quite right. Daddy Bear saw that the porridge had been eaten. Mummy Bear noticed that the chairs had been sat in and that Baby Bear's chair was broken. Baby Bear saw that a little girl was snoring in his bed. They felt outraged and Goldilocks felt worried and terrified. She jumped out of the window and was never seen again.

Matilda J - 1N

Elizabeth T - 1E

Ellen M - 1N

Once upon a time, there were three little pigs. They went out of their Mummy's house because they each wanted to build nice little houses of their own. They had a pleasant walk through the woods, smelling the beautiful flowers and the fresh air Searching the woods for building materials, they found long, dry, yellow straw, some hard, wooden sticks and some red building bricks from an old cottage.

Abigail D - 1E

The third pig was the cleverest of the three. He built his house of strong, sturdy bricks. One day, the big, bad wolf came along to the straw house He knocked loudly on the door and shouted in a fierce voice, "LET ME IN!" The little pig was frightened and ran as fast as he could to his brother's stick house. Suddenly, they heard sneaky footsteps outside. The pigs were terrified and tiptoed silently out of the house.

Ellie Y - 1N

Out of nowhere, the wolf appeared. The wolf thundered, "I will get you!" and he climbed up to the roof. But the big pig had an amazing idea. She boiled steaming water on a fire under the chimney. They could hear the wolf huffing and puffing down the chimney. He landed with a plop in the boiling water He felt miserable because he hadn't got his dinner. The pigs could hear the wolf howling his head off. The wolf could see the pigs coming towards him. The wolf said he was sorry and wanted to be friends.

- 1N

Fairy Tales

Poor Gretel just wanted to go home. For days and nights, they searched for food. That night, the evil witch glared into the boiling hot, black oven As quick as a flash, Gretel shoved the old hag into the burning oven. She rushed to get the shiny key to free her clever brother.

Ishani C - 2B

The evil witch fell with a creak, hitting her head and her body. Hansel laughed heartily. Gretel smiled and then began to cry happy tears. She grabbed the key and set her brother free. "Hooray!" cried Hansel.

Lana AH - 2W

The flaming, bright candles were sitting on the messy table. Large, silver pots and pans hung from the black pipes overhead. They jangled together making a really loud noise. A gigantic, burning fire lit up the kitchen.

Hana AK - 2B

Delicious smells filled the old, warm room. Delicious cakes were standing lonely, sadly waiting for someone to come along and eat them. Old, white candles were gazing longingly at the happy fire dancing.

- 2B

In the deep dark distance I heard twigs go snap, snap, snap, I felt damp, cold and grey. Suddenly, I wanted to run away because I was so scared but I was so frightened that I couldn't even move my body! I looked around and saw dark and gnarly trees, little bugs crawling and black crows. I tried to shout for help but no sound came out, I just heard old crows squealing. "What am I going to do?" I mumbled.

In front of me, I saw a tree full of emerald green leaves surrounded by a dazzling carpet of flowers. A dusty winding road stretched like a ribbon into the distance. Over my head, the sun was blazing like a hot ball of fire.

Charlotte S - 2B

Once upon a time, there was a kind, young boy who was called Cinderpeter. He was miserable and lonely because his evil stepmother had locked him away in a dark, gloomy cellar which was full of spider webs and rats scuttling around.

Cinderpeter wore scruffy, ripped clothes and tattered trousers which looked like rags. His hair was matted, dirty and brown.

Each day, salty tears rolled down Cinderpeter's freckled face like rain because he was so angry with his life. His sore hands ached because his evil stepmother forced him to clean all the rusty pots and pans every night and demanded that he clean the ashes in the sooty fireplace.

Amelia S- 2B

Ava K - 2W

Message in a Bottle

Lotty lived near the beach with her mum and dad. She had been living on the sandy coast for five years. Lotty was twelve years old.

One day, Lotty said, "Can I go out to play?" Mum said yes so Lotty moved her chocolate brown hair out of her shimmering blue eyes and ran down to the hot, golden beach.

When she got there, she found a mysterious tunnel. It was dark, but Lotty was not scared. She was not afraid of the dark, so she stepped into the spooky tunnel and at the end she saw the shimmering blue ocean.

On the shore, she found a bottle bobbing around so she picked it up and inside she found a letter. First, she read who it was from. It was from her parents!

She was really worried so she ran back to her little house and slammed the door. All was quiet and she saw her mum sitting on the couch with a purple blanket and saw a beautiful baby.

"Meet your new sister," Mum said. Lotty was crying with happiness. She was not expecting a baby. She thought it would just be her and mum and dad.

Lotty said, "Why did you not tell me?"

"We wanted it to be a surprise," they said. Lotty went and hugged her mum. She had a big smile on her face.

As Rose bravely crawled through the dark, gloomy tunnel with bugs crawling across her back, she yelled, "Jack!" But all she heard was a faint echo. "Jack...Jack...Jack..."

A few tears fell down her sad face. She dragged herself slowly across the sticky cobwebs and squelchy moss. She stopped suddenly as her hand splashed into a puddle of freezing cold water, right in front of her. Drip, drip, drip went the puddle.

A few minutes later, she thought she saw Jack, but it was just her own shadow on the walls. Frozen in terror, she felt around and gasped as something sliced through her finger. A bat with leathery wings swished right past her face.

Gloomily, the dark wrapped around her as her heart fearfully pumped.

-

DISASTERSTORIES

Extract from 'Escape from Catania' Liya S- 3D

As the glowing, golden sun slowly rose above the rippling sea, its crimson fire-like trail spread across the city of Catania below. The dawn silence was broken as tired yawns filled the deserted streets, and the usual babble of excited, happy talk began.

Two young friends, Lavender and Zabini, walked slowly across the shore, warm sand crunching under their bare feet and cool, sparkling water lapping noisily on the shimmering sands.

Coming to the end of the beach, they stood, warmth spreading across their outstretched hands as the emerald slopes of Mount Etna towered proudly above the noisy city.

Crash! The ground shook.

"Ouch!" Lavender yelped, her face tinged with ghastly green. There was a crack like a gun going off and suddenly she found herself sprawled on the floor.

"Lavender!" Zabini skidded to a halt beside her. A livid bruise was rising around his eye. The children looked up, horrified, as Catania was drowned in darkness.

Thick, deadly smoke circled the terrified city, hissing and spitting angrily. A mighty, powerful pyroclastic surge cascaded through the city walls, its grey ash clouds trailing behind it. The people of the city froze in terror.

Mouths hanging open, Lavender and Zabini gasped and gagged, choking on the ash. Zabini nervously nudged Lavender. She responded to him with a look of pure horror...

from 'Escape from Herculaneum'

Sophia S - 3D

It was the day after the festival of Vulcanalia and many people were still enjoying their holiday in the Bay of Naples. In Herculaneum, Octavia, Magnus and Cassia ran and skipped happily over to the shoreline as their parents, Augusta and Julius, watched them stop and catch crabs. Stretching as far as the eye could see, the beach was beautiful, sparkling and shimmering in the glittering summer sun.

Pausing for a moment, Octavia stood up to listen carefully to the shrieking seagulls, whooshing waves and bobbing boats. Was it a trick of her imagination, or were the seagulls flying away from the shoreline?

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a thick cloud of ash drifting up into the sky. The sea was now a dusky black and the waves were chopping and churning and crashing against the crab pots like an angry, aggressive sea monster.

Her father was already in the dangerous water, swimming. Waving her arms frantically, Octavia called out in a quavering voice, "Father! Quickly! The sky! The sea! Get out..." But before she could finish her sentence, she heard a mighty roar as the mountain above them violently erupted, flames twisting and turning towards the heavens, enveloping everything in a thick cloud of silver ash.

Cassia and Magnus dived under their mother's ash-covered cloak. The ferocious, deafening sound of the eruption swirled around them like a monstrous, caged lion, roaring.

In one heart-stopping moment, Octavia peered out at the deserted, murky sea. She could no longer see her father. Had he been swept under a huge wave? Was he dead?

In the distance, endless streams of molten liquid surged down the mountain slopes. Time was running out. Octavia knew she had to muster up her courage and find her father...

The Golden Umbrella

Miserably, the people of New Malden trudged around with nothing to do. The colour had drained from their faces, the happiness gone from their hearts as rain poured down from the sky.

Sarah could not think. Her sisters were grumbling and her parents were irritable. She had to get outside. Wearily, she pulled on her wellies and started stomping along the road through the woods, the towering trees' gnarled fingers groping at her arms.

Suddenly, a bright, shining object floated down from the sky. Sarah blinked. Carefully, she clutched the umbrella, wondering, "What is going on? This can't really be happening, can it?" She stopped. Something strange was happening inside her like a light bulb had been switched on. She knew what she must do. "I am the only one who has any happiness left," she said to herself as her coat glowed yellow and her grey skin returned to its normal colour. "I must spread this joy."

Purposefully, Sarah veered off the path into the dangerous wilderness. After only five minutes, she stopped. In front of her was a dark, gloomy figure. It looked like a ghost, yet managed to reach out and scratch at her leg.

"I am Darkness," he croaked in a hoarse voice. "You have finally arrived. You hold my only fear: light."

Sarah gasped. "I won't hurt you unless you refuse to hand over the umbrella," he continued.

Instinct told Sarah not to obey. "No!" she protested. "GIVE ME THE UMBRELLA!" roared the spirit.

The determined girl stood her ground. She braced herself. All of a sudden, an angry lightning bolt flashed towards her. Calmly, Sarah held out the umbrella. The spell bounced back! It was as if someone was telling her what to do.

"Light! Bright! Yellow! Fun! Laughter! Joy!" she blurted out. Miraculously, Darkness began to melt. He was soon on his knees, begging for mercy. Exhausted, the spirit lay down on the floor, defeated.

Children in the local parks were the first to feel it. Then people in houses, then the people in the wild, like Sarah. It began with the trees. Like a snake of light, colour was restored. People all around New Malden felt a glow in their hearts. Life was back to normal...except for the weather. Sarah looked up and saw the gloomy, grey sky. Something had to be done. All of a sudden, the precious umbrella twitched in her hands. She held on tighter, but the wriggling just grew more and more urgent. Sarah had no choice but to let go. As soon as she did, something unbelievable happened. A stream of light soared up into the clouds, then stopped. Sarah trembled with worry but she had no need. The umbrella was the sun! The sky turned its lovely shade of blue once more, and happiness was restored to New Malden.

The Dragon Isle

Holly W - 4K

Mist covers the secrets of this isle.

No one knows what whispers.

Trees reach up into the sky, crying for the light. Not a noise is heard.

Birds run, frightened, from bloodthirsty dragons. No one knows about these terrors

The dragon swoops down to grip its prey from below. Howling deer cry as the dragon clutches their skin.

Whoosh

Whoosh

Winds salute the trees as they rush by

Misty mountains cover the sky

White birds swoop gracefully higher and higher

While shadowy beasts look out for their prey

Dark trees stretch their deadly fingers

Rocks like rotten teeth

Secrets hide in the dark trees, Sliding their branches up into the sky.

Why did he come here,

His black steed lurking beside him?

What can he see? Who can he see?

Dark secrets lurk. Only the lonely figure knows What secrets are hiding.

Dark Secret

Anna B - 4H

Darkness

Amber J - 4K

My heart aches, my only company.

The glowering trees give penetrating stares. Shadows, numberless, mysteriously moving.

I hear a noise, but all I see is the misty mountain's menacing glare. Looming above, strange creatures swoop, Their history not yet uncovered

I stare out into the bleak, desolate forest. I feel an urge to discover.

A winged beast lands beside me, Baring its teeth, with outstretched claws.

Mist gathers, huddling around me as if to block me from moving. Suddenly, the creature stops and once more closes its jaws.

I turn to see what made him stop.

I am too late

An icy hand descends upon me. Blackness...

Foggy Forest Sophia H - 4K

I walk into the foggy forest

So deserted and dull

So gloomy and murky Jagged rocks stick up

Sporadically, like rotten teeth

So isolated and heartbroken

Dark, shadowy branches

Like witches' bony fingers

So thin and tall

Mysterious birds

Like rips in the sky

Vivid bright white

Towering above me

I see the lonely mountain

Searching for a friend

I hate this place

It makes me shiver

I am not surprised that nobody is here.

Arlo

Dust cluttered the nursery cupboard like a new blanket of snow. The toy dog sat, shivering with longing, wondering how long it would be before he would be the one to be chosen to come out of the cupboard.

Eight months ago, when Maddie had been born, he had been given a name. But that was now forgotten. Now, every day Nanny would come to get the plush doll for Maddie. When Maddie had started to crawl a month ago, the toy dog's hopes rose higher, sure that she would crawl to him. But, when noon rolled around each day, they fell within a heartbeat. Each day, when the doll came back to the cupboard, she boasted that he would NEVER be chosen. Each day, his heart sank rapidly as he wondered if this was true.

As summer came, Maddie turned one. Nanny came to get all the toys, but the dog was left in the corner. Maddie, however, could toddle now and went in with Nanny and grabbed the toy dog. His old leather mouth formed the biggest smile.

"Arlo!" giggled Maddie. The dog's heart jumped over the moon. His name was Arlo! He remembered! And, even better, he was loved again.

From dawn to dusk, Maddie and Arlo played in the warm, sunlit garden. At night, they fell asleep, snuggled up in Maddie's cot.

As the warm summer sun peered through the curtains one morning, Maddie and Arlo were woken. As usual, Nanny came to get them dressed. Maddie liked to put Arlo's collar on and usually Nanny helped. But today, when Nanny left the room, Maddie tried to do it by herself. Nanny came back to find tears and shouts. Arlo's front leg had been ripped off while Maddie tried to put his collar on him. Nanny rushed in and promised Maddie she would sew it back. Arlo was placed in the toy cupboard. Hours went past - or was it days? Where was Nanny? Arlo's ears stuck to the doors as he heard her come to get the plush doll instead. A tear fell from Arlo's eyes. He had hoped Maddie would want HIM instead! She was loyal to him...wasn't she?

He whimpered quietly until a sudden sparkle caught his attention. It was a bone! Strange sounds formed into these words:

"Make all your misery stop, for I shall grant you two wishes. Make Maddie love you lots and let's heal all those stitches.

3...2...1... Your wishes are granted!"

Arlo looked down. He had real padded paws! A wet nose! A fluffy wagging tail! He was REAL!

He snuffled and padded his way out of the cupboard as Maddie squealed in delight and rushed over to hug him...her real dog: Arlo.

The Forest

Enteringthevibrantforest,akaleidoscopeofcolourscaught his eye. Everywhere he looked, there was something entrancing, something glorious. There was an air of magic enveloping him. Autumn had filled the forest with russet leaves.Ivyclimbedupthebark,circlinglikeasquirrel,rapidly growing.

Thesunbrokethroughthedenseforest,determinedto light it up. Suddenly, something reflected the sunlight so brightlythathehadtoshieldhiseyes.Acarpetofluscious mossledtheway,invitinghimtowardsatreasureunlikeany other.

Asheedgedforward,thefallenleavescrackledbeneathhis feetlikealogsnappinginablazingfire.Tentatively,anervous deerpeeredaroundatree,unsurewhattoexpect.

As she entered the neverending forest, a figure darted acrossthetranquilgrass.Lookingoverhead,shesawaneagle elegantlysoaringabove.Asweetaromalingeredwhereshe walkedandvividraysofthesunkissedherfaceasshedanced alongwiththegentlewind.

Allaroundher,viridescenttreesswayed,whisperingtoone another, moss climbing to the top of their branches. Dandelionsparksshotuplikefireworksasthewarmwind whistledthroughtheoutstretchedbranches.

Overthesteep,steephill,theluxuriousemeraldgreen forest loomed above the town. Birds fluttered excitedly aroundasiftheytoohadonlyjustarrivedandwerebaskingin itswonder.

Thesunwasbeatingdownontheflowers,makingthem bloomandglowinthelight.Itwasasighttomakeanyone gasp.Deerprancedthroughthemeadows,steppingcarefully through the clumps of daisies and roses. Birds swooped daintily,chirpinggently,accompaniedbythegentleswishof leavestwirlingtothefloor.Paradise.

Assheskippedalongtherough,stonypathway,thegirlfelt awaveofexcitementcrashoverher.Sheheardathudand lookedaround.Nobodywasthere.Shewalkedonfurther.

Treeswhisperedinthewindasthesun'sraysgleamed throughtheviridescentleaves.Shesmeltthesweetscentof flowersastheywavedpleasantlyather.Beautiful,magnificent birdsflappedtheirwings,twitteringmadly.Loomingoverher wasthetallesttreeshehadeverseen,withdropletsglistening onitsleaves.

Slowlyandsteadily,thegirlwalkedon,hesitatingincaseshe missedanythingaroundher.Aglimpseofsilvermadeher stop.Sheturned.Standinginaglade,justthroughthetrees, shesaw...aunicorn.

Shiveringwithexcitement,scarcelydaringtobreathe,thegirl slowlystretchedoutherhand.Coulditbetrue?Coulditbe thatshehaddiscoveredthetruthaboutthelegendofthe unicorn?

The Shipwreck

The ship tossed and turned in the eye of the storm. I heard a shrill scream and then realised it was me.

"Captain!" The sailors' voices echoed through the ship. All around me, I saw fingers of lightning, colossal waves and frantic running.

Frightened for my life and my fellow sailors, I clung to the rope with all my might and ran, ducking beneath the painful needles of rain. What could I do? The captain was nowhere to be seen which left me in charge...

"Crew! To me!" I bellowed.

Reaching for the sail, I caught sight of the blind lightning. BANG! The ship rolled from side to side and I knew I had to think of others first. My heart beating as loud as a drum, I struck an emergency flare, creating an orange flicker in the air. I watched it soar upward with a heavy heart. Too little, too late I told myself.

The pulse throbbing through my head grew louder and louder. Suddenly, a huge wave picked the boat up. Above us, an ominous moon grinned devilishly. Barrels rolled, white foam sprayed and moss-green water hissed.

Sailors came rushing up, their faces blank with fright. Rapidly, I emptied the floating barrels of their cargo and gave each sailor one. Taking a deep breath, I rolled out of the boat into the raging tumult of the sea.

Would this living nightmare ever end?

The Storm

The barnacles beneath me clung on hard as the waves crashed against my old, crooked body. The crew trudged on, miserable. Gazing up to the sky, I could sense a storm brewing. I set off from the harbour; the treacherous journey had begun.

Night fell. The fierce waves gushed towards me, fighting back while I pushed forward. Lightning rained down like knives, ripping my outstretched masts. I shivered with fear... Could this be my last journey?

Suddenly, lightning hit the sea-bed, making it churn with anger, covering every sign of life under its blanket of sand. The sky's gloomy, grey clouds glared down at me.

Bitter salt forced its way between my cracks, seeping and weeping into my hold. I felt heavy and weak. What was happening? The cries and shouts of the crew above echoed around me.

Monstrous waves battered hard against me, forcing my body to become unstable. CRACK! My great mast crashed down through the ocean's skin. The water shook and shuddered as the mast fell down, down, down, out of sight.

Desperately, they tried to steer me away from the eye of the storm but I could go no further. The current gripped me tightly. I could not escape the grasp of the ocean... What would happen to me?

GOODBYE FOR THE MOMENT

At night, we left while the moon was high, Riding across the rusty tracks. The only thing was you in my mind, I thought of you smiling at the back, Waving your hand to say goodbye.

I remembered, before going to bed, Hearing your sweet lullaby.

Not being able to say thank you is my only regret.

You promised to stay beside me forever,

A promise I held deep in my heart.

I hope that when we meet again

We can smile and laugh, Just like I remember. And even now, as we are apart, I'll never forget you, until we meet again. "Goodbye for the moment!" I cry once more.

Sonia J -

Goodbye for the moment, But the time will come, When we beat the opponent, And we will have won.

I will take my ink, pen and paper to write to you all, And by the time I come home, though I may seem tall, Remember that I love you, Through, through and through.

Jade H, 6P

The train chugs into the station,

It's now time to go Why I have to leave, Nobody knows. Pack your little suitcase, Fill it to the brim, Memories of home and love, All contained within.

So pack your little suitcase, For now it's time to go. Your little suitcase

Is a precious piece of home.

Naomi S, 6P

TheIsland

Thereweren'talwaysthreeislands.Ardenhadoncebeen aplaceofharmony,wherepeopleandanimalslived together.Buttimeschange. IwasalreadyratheroldwhentheGreatSplittookplace: myscales,thoughstillablindinggleamofaquamarine, wereveryslowlylosingtheirshine;myfeetnolonger pushedmethroughthewaterlikeabladethroughsnow; Ihadtopreservemystrengthcarefully.

Theskywasgreyanddull,notitsusualperiwinkle.I shouldhavetakenthatasanomen-thatthisdaywould notbeliketheothers.Icircledroundthelusciousgreen islandofArden.Itwasdrapedincolour,readyfor tonight'sfestival.Already,Icouldhearthehumans singingand,judgingbytheracket,someoftheanimals hadjoinedintoo.

Withoutwarning,theirtunelesssinginghalted,replaced byanominouscrack.Whatcouldthatpossiblybe? Perturbed,Ishookmyhead,tryingtotellmyselfthatit wasnothing.Icarriedonmypatrol,nowfullyawakeand alert,watchingoutforanythingelsesuspicious. Aroundlateafternoon,Ifinishedmypatroland,although

still pondering what that noise could be, it was no longer a priority. Now, I decided, it was time for a hearty meal. Competitively, the fish of the island offered up their wares, each trying to outdo the rest. The result was an ambrosial platter that was only fitting for a Guardian of Arden: me.

Ten minutes later, the plate was clear and my stomach was a balloon threatening to burst. Curling up my coils, I lay down my head for a peaceful nap.

CRACK! BOOM!

I careered out of my cave in surprise, terrified of what I might see. Arden now had two clean cracks running straight through it. Huge, grey, lifeless blocks protruded out through the earth of the widest crack, and distorted machines were pushing the land away into new territory.

Arden was split into three: The Hollow, The Door and Nedra. Furthermore, I, the Great Dragon, the Guardian and Protector of Arden, had stood by and let it happen.

The snow was glistening

The sky was dark

The moon sat upon the dismal clouds

The plants were packages of hope covered by a melancholy blizzard. The playing field missed the footsteps trampling over the emerald green grass, it missed the bottle green uniform and most of all it missed the children fighting for the ball in desperation to obtain a goal.

Add a little bit of body text

The footpath was smothered in snow.

And as we speak, somewhere in this wonderous world this is happening again and again and again.

Clara P - 5F

At the height of Lockdown, an unexpected snowfall at Hinchley Wood inspired the following writing competition winners:

The snow settles on the silent wood. In the forest there is no sound: The birds aren't flying in the air, Not near the quiet Hinchley grounds.

There are no children playing sports, They have all gone away. There are no teachers either, The snow is here to stay.

Silence lingers here now, The squirrels are asleep, The badgers are not stirring, The clouds as white as sheep.

Add a little bit of body text

The frost is stuck up on the trees, The ice surrounds the house. No movement in this place, Still and silent as a mouse. No whisper in the wind, It's silent as can be. You cannot hear a single sound, Oh noise, rescue me!

I

enacing silence swarms in as the snow begins to fall.

cy breezes flood Hinchley Wood and start to drain happy memories.

U O Y G N I S S

olemn trees start to weep as the last of their leaves abandon them.

adness enters the bitter air that grieves over happiness lost.

n the lifeless wood, frightened animals hide away.

obody interrupts the sickening silence of the bare wood that once was filled with joyful girls.

listening in the moonlight, the frozen lake lies still and lonely, waiting for someone to break the silence.

ells echo as fun memories of the past.

h, how happy memories surround our beloved Hinchley Wood that we love with all of our hearts!

nder all of the crisp snow lies a hope that the laughter of girls will soon return.

One Thing Missing

Untouched, icy snow blankets the path, But there is one thing missing: Pupils' friendly footprints are missing. Where are those eager faces, Ready to score a goal, win a race?

Trees big and small, Meeting to form an archway, To shelter those joyful students. Waiting for the sound of skipping feet padding happily along the path. But none comes.

Add a little bit of body text

Acres of land, waiting to be trodden on, Frosty snow covering sloping roofs. Icicles hanging, water dripping Drip, drip, drip. But still, one thing is missing.

Balls waiting to be kicked, Beanbags waiting to be thrown. But still, one thing is missing. Everything waiting, But no joyful students, No skipping feet padding up the snowy path... Yet...

Invitation

If you are a dreamer, come in,

If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean-buyer...

If you ' re a pretender, come sit by my fire

For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.

Come in!

Come in!

Shel Silverstein