Ross MacKenzie - The Nowhere Emporium

When the mysterious Nowhere Emporium arrives in Glasgow, orphan Daniel Holmes stumbles upon it quite by accident. Before long, the ‘shop from nowhere’ — and its owner, Mr Silver — draw Daniel into a breathtaking world of magic and enchantment.

Recruited as Mr Silver’s apprentice, Daniel learns the secrets of the Emporium’s vast labyrinth of passageways and rooms — rooms that contain wonders beyond anything Daniel has ever imagined. But when Mr Silver disappears, and a shadow from the past threatens everything, the Emporium and all its wonders begin to crumble.

Can Daniel save his home, and his new friends, before the Nowhere Emporium is destroyed forever?

Step into the enchanting world of ‘The Nowhere Emporium,’ where magic awaits at every turn, ideal for young readers exploring Key Stage 2 reading books.

Genre: mystery, fantasy, action 

Themes: Bullying, Life and Death, Creativity and Imagination, Friendship, Love and Courage

Age: 9-10 years old

The Nowhere Emporium by Ross MacKenzie book cover

Activities

  1. Research and create a profile for one of the cities mentioned in the book (Rome, Edinburgh,  Cairo, Paris). What’s the city’s History? Are there any famous landmarks or attractions? Has anyone famous come from there? What language do they speak? What country is it in? How far is it from you? What is the weather like? What wildlife do they have? What’s the cuisine like? (CC links: Geography, History, Science, ICT)
  2. Design and build a souvenir from your chosen city. This could be done using materials, paper, cardboard but it must link to something the city is renowned for. (CC links: Design Technology, Science, Art)
  3. Write a ‘Wonder’ to go into the Book of Wonders. What memory will the room represent? What shape and size will it be? What will be inside? How will it feel? (CC links: English)
  4. Create your own Book of Wonders. Research book covers, typography, images and layout for their own book. Encourage pupils to design their covers with their entry in mind and include links and clues to this on the outside. (CC links: Art, Design)
  5. Create a gingerbread character for one of the characters. On the inside describe their feelings, thoughts and emotions and on the outside describe their actions, behaviours and what they say. (CC links: English, PSHE) (Use ‘Gingerbread character’ resource)

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