Before I start a new year of blogging I’m taking my annual look back at Story Snug’s most viewed posts in 2021. It was a quieter year on the blog as homeschooling and lockdown made other demands on my time but we read lots of fabulous books and Story Snug still had several visitors – thank you to all those of you who invited us to be part of your blog tours and answered our interview questions.
Many of the most popular posts this year also appeared on last year’s list, the most viewed post is still a ‘learning activities’ post which includes arts, crafts and science activities that I linked to picture books when I first started teaching. My daughter and I recreated many of the activities before she started school and I still miss those picture book inspired crafts!
Several of the most viewed books are classic stories that I read to Reception / Year One classes when I first started teaching. It seems that many old favourites are still being bought, read and enjoyed by newer generations but it’s also good to see more recently published stories on the list too.
Picture books from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler and Eric Carle appear in this year’s most viewed posts but interestingly not the same books as last year. In 2020 our Learning with Room on the Broom and Learning with Eric Carle and The Hungry Caterpillar posts were on this list. Scroll down to see which of their books have replaced them this year.
So here you go – Story Snug’s most viewed blogposts in 2021 in reverse order…
# 10 My Naughty Little Sister by Dorothy Edwards and Shirley Hughes
My Naughty Little Sister was a huge favourite of mine as a child and has made it into our top ten most viewed posts for the first time. I still have my old, battered childhood copy of this chapter book! My Naughty Little Sister’s adventures never failed to entertain and reflect the days when life moved at a slower pace, money was scarce and technology in the home was almost non existent!
# 9 From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
A new entry for Eric Carle’s From Head to Toe. This is one of my favourite picture books to get early years children and non native English speakers moving. It’s great for introducing different animals and body parts.
# 8 A Boggle at Bewilderwood by Tom Blofeld and Steve Pearce
This is the first year that A Boggle at Bewilderwood has made it into Story Snug’s most viewed blogposts. The novel was recommended by Kevin O’Hara from Very Best for Kids who read it after visiting Bewilderwood The Curious Treehouse Adventure with his family – it looks like a really fun day out 🙂
# 7 Zog by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
A new entry in our top ten this year! We love Zog and feisty Princess Pearl who wants to be a doctor. Our copy of Zog and the Flying Doctors has been signed by both Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
# 6 Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper
Pumpkin Soup was more popular this year – it’s moved up from ninth position in 2020. This beautifully illustrated story is perfect to read during autumn and we love Cat, Squirrel and Duck’s cosy cabin in the woods. One of my former pupils used to call it ‘the teapot house’ 🙂
# 5 Prince Cinders by Babette Cole
Prince Cinders has moved up from last year’s sixth place to this year’s fifth! We love the way that Babette Cole turned this traditional fairytale on its head by introdsucing Prince Cinders, his three, large, hairy brothers and a dirty fairy!
# 4 Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
Oliver and the Seawigs has moved up from last year’s number seven to this year’s number four. This was one of the very first chapter books I read to my daughter. Rambling Isles, shipwrecks, sarcastic seaweed, posh hairdos and nasty villains all add to the adventure in this very amusing story.
# 3 How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
The third most popular blogpost is the same as last year! How to Catch a Star’s protagonist, the boy, has a dream and the story captures his persistence in making his dream a reality. We hope that all your dreams for 2021 come true!
# 2 The Colour Monster goes to School by Anna Llenas
The Colour Monster goes to School is in the same position as last year! We love the way that The Colour Monster changes colours as he experiences different emotions. His first day at school evokes a wide range of colour changes as he learns exactly what school is!!
# 1 Learning with Elmer by David McKee
Story Snug’s most viewed post in 2021 is one of the first posts I ever wrote and has been consistently popular, it’s been number one for several years. We had so much fun doing the arts, crafts and baking for this post 🙂
Did you have a favourite Story Snug post from 2021. We’d love to know which ones you enjoyed reading this year.
I’m looking forward to 2022 on Story Snug and already have guests lined up to talk about their new picture books. I’ll just be focussing on picture books and chapter books – it takes longer to read middle grade but maybe a few good ones will sneak their way in!
Thank you to all of you who have read blogposts, left comments and shared on social media this year. Happy New Year to you and your families. Hopefully 2022 will be a happy, healthy year for us all 🙂
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