Teach Reading and Writing Issue 19

4 The General BY JANET CHARTERS, ILLUS. MICHAEL FOREMAN, TEMPLAR BOOKS About this book A much-decorated general demands daily shooting practice and rules his army with precision. The scene seems set for military confrontation. Until he falls off his horse in a grassy meadow, notices the flowers and the bees, and experiences a change of heart that affects everyone. This ‘celebration of peace and beauty’ was first published in 1961, during the Cold War, but its powerful message remains as relevant as ever. Thinking and talking • General Jodhpur wanted to be so famous that someone would write a book about him. Would the story in this book have surprised him? How? • Did the soldiers want to go to war? What do they do instead, and how do you think they feel about it? • Could your school be more peaceful? Share ideas for change, then try them out. 5 Saving the Butterfly BY HELEN COOPER, ILLUS. GILL SMITH, WALKER BOOKS KEY S TAGE 1 KEY S TAGE 1 14 | www.teachwire.net About this book Two siblings are rescued from a capsized boat and taken to a camp. The little one is soon playing out with friends, but his big sister won’t leave their hut. When a butterfly becomes trapped indoors, she must decide whether to leave it to its fate or offer help. Will she find the courage to take the butterfly outside? The children’s trauma is not defined or shown in this moving picturebook, but readers are invited to empathise with its impact as the lyrical text and expressive artwork take them to the story’s heart. Thinking and talking • Why doesn’t the girl want to go outside? How does the butterfly help? • What do you most enjoy about playing outside with your friends? • Have you ever felt afraid of doing something? What happened next?