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Winner of The English Association 4-11 Book Awards - Key Stage 2 Non-Fiction
A companion to the successful and innovative Tail-End Charlie, about Mick's father's life in the RAF in World War II, Taff in the WAAF tells his mother's fascinating story of life on the Home Front in World War II. Simply written and using speech bubbles and captioned illustration boxes of artefacts and documents from the period, this is a dramatic and engaging introduction to its subject.
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About Taff in the WAAF
Mick Manning's mother was a young woman in Wales at the outbreak of World War II. At the outbreak of war and the start of food rationing, she left school aged 14 to work in a local greengrocer's shop. Later joining the WAAF (the Women's Auxiliary Air Force), she became a wireless operator and eventually a Y service listener for the secret signal decoding operation at Bletchley Park where the famous German Enigma Code was cracked.
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Mick Manning, Brita Granstrom Press Reviews
This is the companion volume to the very successful Tail-End Charlie...There is a high demand for books about this period which are pitched at a simple level, so this book will be well received by teachers who cover this subject. Back to School Bookseller
Visually-striking and engaging chronicle. Bradford Telegraph & Argus
A mixture of comic strip, words, pictures and memorabilia vivdly reveal Taff's story and life during the war in this atmospheric book. Engrossing and informative read for all ages. Primary Times
Every home should have a copy. -- Lynn Parsons BBC Radio 2
How do you explain the events of the Second World War to a primary school child? Here's how. Manning and Granstrom have evolved their unique approach to information books over two decades combining thorough research with compelling stories, characterful illustrations and clever design. Glasgow Herald
The illustrations vividly capture life of 'ordinary people during the War and give us an excellent picture of how life was 'behind the scenes'. Other essential jobs done by women during the war are also investigated, and the use of artefacts and documents from the time make this an excellent resource for KS2 history. Parents in Touch
From the endpapers to the presentation of the text as if typed on a 1930s typewriter, this is impeccably designed, written and illustrated: an absorbing, exciting and thoughtful account of one woman's war in all its aspects. Books for Keeps
This book deserves to become a children's classic. www.parentsintouch.co.uk
The true story of a woman who joins the forces and ends up cracking Nazi codes at Blechley Park. Its mix of spies, submarines, Nazis, computers and codes should appeal to both girls and boys, and help set the record straight: the war wasn't won entirely by jolly good chaps with moustaches. Mail on Sunday
Inspired by his [Mick Manning's] mother, who served in the WAAF during the Second World War. From life in the Blitz to dodging a Doodlebug, this captivating book really brings history to life. Beautifully illustrated by Manning and his wife Brita Granstrom, it's full of cartoons, documents and fascinating anecdotes about rations, dancing the jitterbug and listening to enemy Morse code. Daily Express
No school library should be without this title and I cannot recommend it highly enough. School Librarian
Every bit as absorbing as its companion volume 'Tail-End Charlie'... The combination of image and text appeals to a wide ability range and it would be an informative and fascinating text to share in guided reading. My Year 6 class queued to borrow it and it proved to be a resource that the children returned to regularly throughout our World War Two theme.
The pictures in this book are realistic and make me feel I am part of Taff's story. Join the Welsh Taff as she dodges doodlebugs and decodes the Nazi's code! An inspiring story about bravery and dancing the night away. Sofia Hurtado (aged 11) Ibby Link'
About Mick Manning, Brita Granstrom
Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom have been writing and illustrating children's books together for over fifteen years. Specialising in fun, lively non-fiction picture books, they have perfected their unique approach, sharing the illustrations between them and mixing up words and pictures in all sorts of inventive and delightful ways. They have won numerous awards and their books are published internationally in over 15 languages.
Their first book, The World is Full of Babies, won the Smarties Silver Prize in 1996 and their following collaboration, What's Under the Bed? won the TES Award for 1997.
Further success followed with the acclaimed Fly on the Wall series: Roman Fort, Pharaoh's Egypt, Viking Longship, Greek Hero, Tail-End Charlie and What Mr Darwin Saw. Both Roman Fort and Viking Longship were shortlisted for the English Association 4-11 Awards and Greek Hero won in 2008.
Snap! is the follow-up to Yuck! which was a regional winner of the Highland Book Awards 2006.
Recently Mick and Brita donated the entire body of work created for their book Fly on the Wall: Greek Hero to Seven Stories, the centre for children's books.
Their lastest books include Charles Dickens: Scenes from an Extraordinary Life and the award winning Taff in the WAAF.
Mick and Brita live in the Scottish Borders and have 4 sons.
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