TR&W Issue 20

6 Tall Story BY CANDY GOURLAY, DAVID FICKLING BOOKS About this book When Mum takes a job in the UK, Bernardo stays in the Philippines. When he finally gets his visa, it’s been years since he met his mum, and in that time Bernardo’s grown. A lot. He’s also acquired a basketball-mad half-sister and a reputation for working miracles. What will Andi do when Nardo the Giant steals her sporting limelight? And when an earthquake strikes his village, will Nardo’s magic work so far from home? This realistic UKS2 novel, with a light sprinkling of magic, explores the blending of a family from two different perspectives. Thinking and talking • What role does Nardo’s height play in this book? Is it really a tall story? • What did Nardo and Andi know about each other before they met? How did their expectations play out? • How do Nardo and Andi change each other’s lives? Try this… n What do the main characters know about the UK, the Philippines and each other? Present your findings as a report or on a poster. n At eight feet, Nardo can’t blend in, and finds his new school challenging. What problems would he face at your school, and what might he need to know? Write him a guidebook. n Bernardo and Andi are almost strangers, but discover a shared passion for basketball. Survey your class to collect information about hobbies and interests. What do people have in common? www.teachwire.net | 15 in this assumption? • Which vegetables are part of Carlos’ family? Do they look alike? • What does Pearl mean when she says, “You can just feel it when you’re with your real family”? Try this… n Look at Pearl being reunited with her Bunch. Some grapes are talking, others aren’t. Write speech bubbles for the quiet ones, then roleplay the scene, bringing everyone to life. n Working from life, draw and paint lots of different fruits and vegetables. Can you group them? Try using different rules for sorting. How do your groups change? n Make grapes from modelling materials. Give them faces and names, and display in a bowl. What does Pearl know about her Bunch? Use Pearl’s voice to introduce each member of her family. KEY S TAGE 2 BOOKS FOR SCHOOLS Try this… n Examine the images of Mum and the boy leaving home. How many questions could you ask about these pictures and events? Invent lots of answers, then write about what happened. n Can you invent more memories? Use a picture of Mum and the boy facing each other, to inspire new roleplay conversations. n “And we weren’t worried or scared...” Write or tell a story about what happens to them next. “A boy and his mum share memories of the life they’ve left behind” Cover illustration by David Dean “Will Nardo’s magic work so far from home?”