Spotlight 14. Wings

Book Podcast – Angels: A Visible and Invisible History

In this podcast, writer and broadcaster Peter Stanford talks about his book, Angels: A Visible and invisible history, published by Hodder.  The book looks at the origins of angels in religious thought and asks why, in a secular age, they remain more compelling and comforting to many than God.

Listen to the podcast

Connecting with Nature

Have you been enjoying the spring birdsong, but don't know what you're hearing?  Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is hosting an online event celebrating the superstars of Spring; a talk about the Dawn Chorus and all our beautiful UK birds.  The event is free, family friendly and suitable for adults and children alike.

Register for the online event

Or, how about helping record butterflies in your garden.  Part of a nationwide and ongoing citizen science project.

Take part in the Garden Butterfly Survey 

Take flight with the eLibrary

From dragons to Spitfires, fairies to bird watching, there's lots of wing related content in the eLibrary.

Search the eLibrary

Creativity during Corona - Wings

During lockdown, we've been posting daily prompts to spark your creativity.  Claire from Central Library writes,

I instantly think of Maya Angelou’s, The Caged Bird and there’s Sylvia Plath’s, Stings, with its wings of glass. A dark yet amusing poem is One Angel: Palazzo Arian by Ann Snodgrass. I like the image of a muddy angel.

I’ve chosen the well-known High Flight by John Gillespie Magee, after commemorating the 75th anniversary of VE Day last Friday. Written by the 19 year-old spitfire pilot on the back of an envelope, it was sent home to his parents weeks before a crash that took his life.

Many speculate that the poem is about being starved of oxygen. To me, it speaks of high emotions, hope and fear and living in a moment of high intensity, the “untrespassed sanctity of space” and his faith.

Read the poem

You could simply read the poem then close…or take a look at the prompts on our Facebook page and send us your own thoughts, notes, journal piece, poem, short story,  drawing, paintings, photographs, knitting, sewing, or  songs….  Enjoy.

Chocolate Mousse for Greedy Goose and other activities from BookTrust HomeTime

BookTrust HomeTime is a website for families. Enjoy storytime with free online books and videos, play games, win prizes, test your knowledge in book-themed quizzes, and learn how to draw some of your favourite characters.

Visit the BookTrust HomeTime website

Check out this recipe idea inspired by Julia Donaldson and Nick Sharratt's picture book, Chocolate Mousse for Greedy Goose.

Read the recipe