Desert Island Books...Children's Choices!

Aneurin & Gwennan

We decided to mix things up a bit for this week's Desert Island Books...so we've handed over the reins to the kids! Assistant Librarian Emily Hywel asked her two children Aneurin (aged 6) and Gwennan (aged 4)...plus some friends...what books and luxury items they would choose. Some great choices...bunny rabbits and nail varnish would certainly cheer us up too! 

 

 

If you were stranded on a desert island which 4 books would you like to have with you and why?

 Gwennan & Friends:

Ella Bella Sleeping Beauty – because it all about ballet and I have a friend called Ella

Emily Brown and Stanley the Rabbit – because it has a rabbit in it
The Troll
ANY Peppa Pig books…

Aneurin:

Batman – because it’s about a superhero of course!

Minecraft Annual
1000 Gair Cyntaf Sali Mali – so I know what things are called

 

If you could bring one of the characters to life, for company, who would you choose?

Gwennan & Friends:

Sleeping beauty - cause I like her dress

Emily Brown and Stanley - so we could go on adventures
The Troll - cause he’s a good cook and he cooks fish, even though he prefers goat - but I like fish

Aneurin:

Batman or Steve (from Minecraft) - cause either of them can save the day!

 

You have one luxury item on the island with you... what would it be?

 

Gwennan & Friends:

A sleeping beauty doll (two of them chose this!)

Some of my bunny rabbits… and my nail varnish!! J

 

Aneurin:

A Minecraft computer that builds things in real life so I can dig up the sand and build a base and other stuff….. (I’m sure this is allowed J)

 

You are rescued and can only take one book back with you … which one would you pick?

Aneurin:

 

Minecraft Annual of course – but I don’t want to be rescued….

Desert Island Books...

Image Courtesy of: BrandonSigma / Free Digital Photos

 

More from our Desert Island Books series...this week we have some great contributions from Elaine Sharpling who is a member of the University's Education staff. Great choice of luxury item Elaine...!

If you were stranded on a desert island which 4 books would you like to have with you and why?

My first choice would be Songs of Innocence and Experience by William Blake. Each pair of poems speaks of the journey from innocence to experience and debates whether it is better to remain ignorant of all life’s trials and tribulations or to live life to the full.

Following a bit of a theme here, my second choice would be a children’s book: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Di Camillo. This is the tale of a china rabbit who spends his days looking at a pristine white tablecloth. One day, his life suddenly changes when he embarks on an adventurous journey. Again, the story asks the question of whether taking a risk in life is more fulfilling than staying behind the front door! Perhaps it will help to explain why I have arrived on the island in the first place.

Third choice…mmmm… I am rather fond of the shipping forecast on Radio 4 and have a romantic picture of a rugged ship’s captain glued to the radio listening for the weather in Dogger Bank. I have a lovely book called Rain Later, Good by Peter Collyer and I would add this to my list.  He takes each shipping forecast area and conjures up these mythical locations using detailed drawings and poetry. I could pretend I was a radio presenter and invent a shipping forecast each morning.

Lastly, I will not be very patient on this island and may be prone to the odd complaint. To help me put this into perspective, I should like a very big book on the Lives of the Saints. Perhaps then, I will be a better person when I am rescued!

If you could bring one of the characters to life, for company, who would you choose and why?

I don’t think I would like William Blake as company for a lengthy period as poets tend to be a bit solitary and a china rabbit might be a bit limiting and somewhat delicate. There are no actual characters in the Rain Later Good book so I think I will go for a good selection of saints; Thomas Aquinas, John Fisher and Thomas More.  They would offer a nice mix of being interesting and scholarly and then they will wander off for more contemplative moments and leave me to practise my shipping forecast.

You can have one luxury item on the island with you…what would it be?

A big bottle of Chanel 5 perfume please.

You are rescued and can only take one book back with you…which one would you pick?

Do you know, I think I will leave them all behind for the next shipwrecked person. Would that not be the start of an island library?

Desert Island Books...

Image Courtesy of: Arvind Balaraman / Free Digital Photos

Another fantastic desert island book selection for you, courtesy of Assistant Librarian Alison Evans who works at our Swansea Business School library.

The 4 books I’d take with me.  I may have cheated a bit here, by listing book series rather than books - but come on, just FOUR books …??! 

.   Wolf Hall / Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel.  Un-put-downable books by one of my favourite authors - will also remind me of some of the best productions I have seen on stage.

.   The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson.  Not that I probably need it, as I am just about word perfect - with voices!  I have read this book aloud at bedtime many, many times.  It will bring back happy memories.

.   The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams.  To remind me of the absolute madness of the world I have left behind.

.   Hmmmm  …  the last one will have to be something that will keep me occupied for a long stretch of time.  So, it’s probably got to be The Hobbit / The Lord of the Rings / The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien.  It would probably take me something equivalent to a Middlearth Age to work out all the complicated mythology …!

The character I would bring to life:

No question - the clever mouse from The Gruffalo.  He would be excellent company and so wily that he would know lots of ways to keep us well fed, safe and happy …

My luxury item:

Ice cream to keep us cool – vanilla flavour, not owl …

The book I would bring back:

The Gruffalo, of course.