This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
I am a teacher. I love telling, and sharing stories with children.
When my children were little, they attended a Playbus, this was a play project based on a double-decker bus. We had many adventures and lots of fun with the bus. My story books have links to this involvement as well as adventures from my teaching career.
Following the first Jay-Jay story, based on the original Playbus, my daughter suggested I should write about some of the fun things we did with the bus.
The school holidays were a chance for the bus to offer playscheme play opportunities.
Over the summer, the Playbus would visit children around the town offering a safe place to play. Families, with children of all ages, would come along to explore and join in with the activities of the day.
Gloria, named after one of the Gatwick Airport Airbear mascots, was certainly a popular attraction and children would look forward to her visits.
Her story book arrived during 2020 lockdown, but did she get to have a summer of fun?
In fictional form, our Playbus lives on.
'A Spooky Tale' and 'The Christmas Play Rehearsal' have links to my teaching journey. A bus is always included somewhere.
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Max thinks he’s too old to play with the younger children. Gloria, the once bright red London bus, now painted with vividly colored pictures to attract children, provides a fun, safe place for children to play during the holidays. Gloria is a Playbus. But Max thinks it’s only for little children. He’s angry that his mother wants him to play on the Playbus. At first he kicks the soccer ball against Gloria. Then he splatters paint all over the inside of the bus and pulls out the costumes from the chest. In spite of himself, though, and in spite of his anger, Max starts to have fun with the other children. Gloria the Playbus has worked her magic on this angry little boy.
Sue Wickstead has woven a charming tale around a converted London city bus. Gloria the Summer Fun Bus tells her story of providing fun times for children during their holidays. It’s a clever idea, one that re-purposes old buses for a positive use. The story begins with Gloria’s re-creation, but the plot really starts developing when Max enters the story along with his festering anger. The young reader will enjoy the journey Max takes to discover all that Gloria has to offer: crafts, dress-up, and so much more. While the key to this story (based on a real Playbus) is safe fun for everyone, it opens young minds to creative possibilities and how one’s imagination can be nurtured in such an environment as the Playbus. What a wonderful idea and what a great story! Love the pictures!
