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Write till your ink be dry

Harriet's Book - Winner 8-11 years

WINNER, 8-11 years

Who created it?

Harriet, age 10

Biography

Hello my name is Harriet, I am 10 years-old. I attend a drama group weekly and we are putting on our production of Matilda (Roald Dahl), I’m very excited. I also like swimming, playing with my dogs and reading. I am lucky to have chickens, cats, dogs, donkeys, and fish at my home. My favourite books are the Lottie Brooks Diaries written by Katie Kirby. I have read all the Roald Dahl and David Walliams books too.

About my Shakespeare-inspired book

I made the cover of my book by ripping up fabric and sewing a mix of pieces together using my nanny's sewing machine to create a Forest of Arden design. I made some pages look old by rubbing a wet teabag over them and pressed some wildflowers to glue in. I included facts and jokes that I enjoyed. I thought of words linked to Shakespeare and paired them to help me write a poem about him. I did lots of research online and was amazed to find how many plays and sonnets he had written. I watched a film of A Midsummer Night's Dream and read a story of Romeo and Juliet.

 

What did you enjoy about making your book?

I loved creating the cover, ripping the fabric, and putting the pieces together. It was the first time I used a sewing machine and I was amazed at how quickly it could stitch. I enjoyed being creative with my nanny, we went to the woods to find the wildflowers and feather, she showed me how to press the flowers and we attached the feather as a quill and bookmark. My nanny knows lots about Shakespeare and she enjoyed helping me. I enjoyed drawing and decorating all the pages, the poem took me the longest and the joke page was the most fun. I learnt a lot about Shakespeare and I’m proud of my book.

What is your favourite Shakespeare play, character or quote?

My favourite play is A Midsummer Night’s Dream and my favourite character is the fairy queen Titania. She is beautiful and Oberon loves her and then it is funny when she loves the man with a donkey head. Because of my book I will remember this quote from Oberon: 'I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, where oxlips and the nodding violet grows…'

Watch this video of Harriet's book