The Lost Spell
Welcome to Day 4 of Aunt Pythia's Peculiar Pet: Write your own Halloween story.
In this fourth episode of Aunt Pythia's Peculiar Pet, Dr Nightfowl informs you that The Book of Familiars has been damaged, which contains the all-important binding spell.
You must make your own binding spell so that you can bind yourself to your creature and share their magical powers!
For this task, first give your Familiar a secret name - this could be inspired by one of their characteristics.
To write the spell, begin each sentence with the letters of your Familiar's name. Write their name vertically, like Dr Nightfowl explains in the video. For example:
Squawk walks on four legs and flies on two wings.
Queen of the night soaring
Under the clouds
And over the waves
With a piercing cry she
Keeps me from harm.
In your spell, you can describe what your familiar looks like; their favourite places to roam; how they move; how they sound; and the power they have revealed to you. When you have completed your spell then speak the secret name three times. This will bind your familiar to you forever.
Thank you for taking part in Aunt Pythia’s Peculiar Pet Halloween Activities. We’d love for you to take part in all of Aunt Pythia’s challenges, but you can also focus on just one or two if you wish.
Share Your Challenges!
Once you have completed your Familiar diagram, Observation Diary, Map of the Shadow Lands, your Familiar Binding Spell or your adventures using Familiar Sight - please send your work to readnortheast@literacytrust.org.uk for a chance to be featured on our website!
We’ll be asking Aunt Pythia to pick her favourite responses to each of the challenges, with those selected receiving a bundle of free books!
Competition!
The best entry into the map of the shadow world challenge will see their drawing turned into a professional illustration by the brilliant Lizzie Lovejoy (instagram: @Lizzie_Lovejoy_illustration). You have until 15th November to submit your work, so you can use Halloween for some extra spooky inspiration!