Book 12: Trophy Kid

Book Title: Trophy Kid

Author: Pat Flynn

Year Published: 1960

Genre: Children's Literature

 

 

 

This novel is about a Marcus Wright a school tennis star. He has a dilemma whether to choose love or the next state titles. Marcus goes to his two friends Matt and Kayla for help even though they know nothing about tennis. Marcus soon becomes he own worst enemy when he puts too much pressure on himself. There are many themes evident throughout the novel for the reader to understand such as winning and losing, death and support from your peers. This novel is suitable for 10-14 year olds.

Book 11: Shark Girl



Book Title: Shark Girl

 

Author: Kelly Bingham

Year Published: 2007

Genre: Children's Literature

 

This very inspirational novel by Kelly Bingham is about a bright 15 year old artist who has her right arm amputated off by a shark attack. She is very self conscious about what her friends and boys might say about her when she goes back to school. To help get her life back on track she volunteers at the hospital so she can re-discover herself. This novel is suitable for the age of 12 and about and helps students learn about trauma and the feeling of being different.

Book 3: Storm Boy

Title: Storm Boy
 
Author: Colin Thiele

Year: 1964

Genre: Children's Literature/ Drama


'Storm Boy' is a novel based upon a South Australian true story. It is written in third person, as Colin Thiele (the author) tells the story of a young boy (also known as Storm Boy) and his pelican. Storm Boy enjoys to walk along the deserted beach along the Coorong, where he finds three young pelicans in a nest that was destroyed by 'shooters'. He then nurses the three pelicans and is forced to release them by his father so he could focus more on school. One of the pelicans Mr Percival returns, and they share a special bond.

The story is based around the characters: Storm Boy, Fingerbone, Hide-Away and the pelicans. It is also written in third person, as the narrator is the author, telling the story of Storm Boy and the experiences he faced. Thiele also uses noun and verb groups to describe what is happening and the setting. This is backed up by detailed pictures (photographs), that enable the reader to visualise the storyline.

Book 13: The Day My Bum Went Psycho

Book Title: The Day My Bum Went Psycho
Author: Andy Griffiths
Year: 2001


'The Day My Bum Went Psycho' is a humorous book about a boy Zack Freeman who's bum detaches itself from his body. One night Zack follows his bum, and finds that it meets up with other bums to plan to take over the world. The plot was to fill up a 'bumcano' with methane gas, which would then explode and make everyone unconscious so they can replace themselves with their faces. Zack meets up with a bum-hunter Silas Sterne and his daughtor Eleanor, where he faces the reality that bums are a threat. The friends encouter various bum-related places and things in order to fight against the bums evil plan to take over the Earth.

This book would be most suitable for middle-upper primary students. It is an extremely humerous book that uses pleanty of descriptive words and phrases about bums and bum-like things to make the storyline more interesting and disgusting for the person reading. This story could be used in English if looking at comedy as an English genre or looking at different forms of text and how they capture the readers interest.

Book 11: Don't Worry Grandpa

Book Title: Don't Worry Grandpa
Author: Nick Ward
Year:1994


'Don't Worry Grandpa' is a story about a Grandpa who gets quite un-settled when it comes to thunderstorms. Throughout the story he is settled by his grandson Charlie, who keeps him calm by telling him the indigenous story of what is really happening in the sky outside. The story is written in thrid person as the author is telling the story about Grandpa and Charlie. It is a story that has great illustrative pictures that connect to the text, which can help the reader to not only understand that adults aren't the only ones able to give reassurance, but also the indigenous story behind thunder.

This story is both suitable for junior-middle primary students, as it is easy to understand and is quite an interesting picture book. It could be used for an English lesson if looking at nouns, verbs and adjectives, or even in indigenous history when looking at the dream time.

Book 10: Never Smile at a Crocodile

Book Title: Never Smile at a Crocodile

Author: Lawrence and Churchill

Year Published: 2010

Genre: Children's Literature

 

 

 

 

 

Never smile at a crocodile is great book bound to make students laugh. The book is based on a song. A monkey who doesn't listen and smiles at the crocodile. As it is based on a song the class can sing a long whilst reading aloud. The appropriate age for this book would be year 3 and up. Students could illustrate their own pictures for each page in an Art lesson or investigate each different animal in a Science lesson. 

Book 9: Miss Rumphius

Book Title: Miss Rumphius

Author: Barbara Cooney

Year Published: 1985

Genre: Children's Literature

 

 

 

Miss Rumphuis is a book about the difference Alice Rumphuis is making in the world by planting lupine. The book is great for students in year 2 and higher. The message throughout the book would be great to teach in a social studies lesson about the environment.