Teach-Reading-and-Writing-Issue-22

Mat Tobin is senior lecturer in English and children’s literature, strand lead for primary English, and pastoral lead for BAY3 students at Oxford Brookes University. He has judged the Klaus Flugge Prize and each year creates a special Padlet on the longlist. klausfluggeprize.co.uk www.teachwire.net | 17 10 Flooded BY MARIAJO ILUSTRAJO, FRANCES LINCOLN CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2023 About this book It starts like any other summer’s day – but the water is rising. In a busy animal city, no one seems too worried at first. Some splash, some complain, most carry on as normal. Only one small voice begins to notice what’s happening. As the flood worsens, it becomes harder to ignore — and harder to speak up. Mariajo Ilustrajo’s gently funny debut is full of expressive detail, with soft pencil textures and a cool blue-green wash that slowly takes over the page. This is a thoughtful and playful story about noticing problems, listening to others, and working together. BOOKS FOR SCHOOLS Try this... n Using torn tissue or paper, layer blue-green shapes over a cityscape drawing. Add tiny animal cut-outs. What happens as the water rises? n Try placing small objects in a tub of water. Which ones rise? Which ones disappear? What might help the smaller animals in the story? n Stand in a circle and pass the story round, sentence by sentence. Each person adds the next moment, showing how the flood rises — and how the animals work together in the end. The King Who Banned the Dark BY EMILY HAWORTH-BOOTH, PAVILION CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2018 About this book When a prince who fears the dark becomes King, he decrees it banned — installing a glowing artificial sun, outlawing dark corners and silencing shadows. At first, his subjects cheer. But soon, they cannot sleep, lose their sense of wonder and realise that day without night leaves them restless and empty. Clever advisors manage the ban— only for the townspeople to rebel and discover the beauty in darkness when fireworks • What changed for the people when they couldn’t sleep or see the stars? • What do you think the dark gives us, even though it sometimes feels scary? Try this... n Make a symmetrical ‘light and dark’ collage: fold a large paper in half, paint one side bright and warm, the other cool and shadowy. Add textures (foil, tissue, charcoal) to show how both sides feel different but belong together. n Use torches and paper puppets to explore how shadows change. What happens when you move the light closer or change the angle? Can you make the King’s crown grow taller? n Take on the role of the King’s advisor. What would you tell him about why darkness matters? Write your message, or perform it in a speech. blaze in the night sky. A witty and warmly illustrated fable that explores fear, balance and the freedom to embrace both light and shadow. Thinking and talking • Why does the King ban the dark, and how do his people feel about it at first? Thinking and talking • How do the city animals respond when the flooding begins? • Who notices the problem first—and why do most others ignore it to begin with? • What does it take for everyone to finally work together? What do we learn about teamwork and responsibility? 9