March 2016

Culture corner
Museum of Childhood
Opening Saturday, 19 March – explore the
magical worlds of The Clangers and Bagpuss in
a new exhibition. Created by Oliver Postgate
and Peter Firmin, and filmed in a barn in rural
Kent, these characters brought new life to
children’s television. Clangers, Bagpuss & Co will
be the first major retrospective of Smallfilms –
Firmin and Postgate’s influential and muchloved
production company – and include films
not seen for decades.
Postgate’s voice and Firmin’s puppets and
artwork are cornerstones of 20th century
British culture and their quirky and inventive
Bagpuss © Smallfilms image © V&A Museum, London
programmes shaped the childhood memories
of millions. As well as telling the story of
Bagpuss and The Clangers, the exhibition goes
behind the scenes of some of their other
creations, such as Pogles Wood, Noggin the Nog
and Ivor the Engine.
Friday 25 to Sunday 27 March, 2pm–4pm
Easter is early this year and showing alongside
the exhibition will be a Small Films Marathon,
when visitors can see back-to-back screenings
of Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate’s animated
classics including The Clangers, Bagpuss, Noggin
the Nog and Ivor the Engine. Drop-in. All ages.
Workshops and drop-in activities will run
throughout the spring holidays.
V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath
Road, E2. For details: vam.ac.uk/moc/whatson
A mini literature festival
Inspired by the success of our annual Town Hall
Tales children's literature festival, Story Habit
kicked off 2016 with valuable enrichment activities
at Daubeney Primary School in Hackney. Over a
week, six children's authors took part in a wholeschool
reading-for-pleasure festival.
Author Alex Milway explored the magical world of
Operation Robot Storm with Year 4, where secret
Yeti agents are the last hope to communities in
the Welsh Mountains, besieged by mysterious
blizzards and ice storms.
There was also, author and
illustrator Hilda Offen with her
book Rita and the Romans, perfect
for Year 2 kids. Through her
adventurous and brave character
Rita, the kids learned about the
power of their imagination.
Andrew Weale’s
books are ideal for Nursery
and Reception, in particular his
rebellious and greedy character
Nora, where the children laughed
about a little girl who bit off more
than she could chew.
Writer of novels and scripts for the BBC Catherine
Johnson introduced Year 5 students to Nest of
Vipers, through which the children learned about
the power of transformation and belief.
Roland Chambers explored his
nautical world of Nelly and the
search for Captain Peabody with
Year 3 students.
And for the older children Philip
Womack's The King's Shadow
explored the possibilities of
creating worlds beyond our own.
You might want to try these wonderful stories with
your own kids.
Jo de Guia, storyhabit.co.uk
LOVEEAST MARCH 2016 19