In English, we have been reading the beautifully illustrated rhyming story, 'The River - an Epic Journey to the Sea' by Hanako Clulow. 

The children have used 'talk 4 writing' strategies to help them to perform the story using words and actions. 

They have also been 'innovating' the story and writing their own versions of each page. 

Each class have created their own class books by publishing and illustrating them in the style of Hanako Clulow. 

Click the links below to watch the videos of children performing the original story and to read the class books. 

We sent an email to the author of 'The River', Hanako Clulow, and we are thrilled to have received a reply:

Dear everyone at Milford on sea Primary school. 

Hello! Hanako Clulow here

I am writing to thank you and to let you know how super happy I was to receive a lovely letter from Miss Walton about what you have done with my book, 'The River'. 

'The River' was one of my first books published back in 2016. I am so thrilled to know that it is still read and appreciated like this.

I am amazed by your writing, drawing and acting skills that you have put together to produce those fantastic volumes of work. Especially some of the words that you used for writing your own versions of the story, they were very impressive.

Reading and seeing your wonderful class books reminded me of the time when I was working on the book and how I was not only so excited but also struggled a bit to produce the illustrations as a new children's book illustrator. Above all, how could I have imagined to one day receive such wonderful feedback from all of you after all those years?

I hear that one of your school values is “aspire”. After seeing all your great work and learning how you are all so creative, open-minded, free-spirited and so aspiring, I now feel aspired to be like you.

As a child, drawing was always my passion but reading was not my strongest. I only fell in love with reading as I reached adulthood, but it wasn't too late. 

You can always realise new joy as long as you're curious about the world, just like how you discovered my book.

Thank you again and to the children at Milford on sea Primary school - keep writing, drawing, acting, whatever your passion, and most importantly have fun with it!

Hanako Clulow