Picture Books
Davide Cali and Erge Bloch The Enemy [F CAL] this book uses deceptively simple, naive drawings to compare the two "enemy sodiers". We feel the fear as the hero climbs out to kill the enemy so that the war will be over and he can go home to his family - only to discover the soldier has gone leaving personal items, family photos and a " a manual just like mine [except that] the enemy has my face". This would be an excellent text to use with Go back to where you came from.
Isobelle Carmody and Steven Woolman The Dreamwalker [F CAR] describes what happens when a graphic artists discovers that he is in the world of his creation. When they tell him tney invented him, he wonders who is tellign the truth. This is a very philosphical fantasy story (really a short story more than a picture book) with awesomely creepy illustrations. It would be suitable for advanced students who want to take a more complex philosphical look at the relationships between reality and fiction or the role of narratives in our lives.
French, Jackie and Degenmnaro, Sue. () The tomorrow Book [F FRE]. This book uses simple, easily recognised fairy tale characters to start a dialogue about how childrn can discover information to make their "tomorrow" in the outside world more like that of the books they read in the library. Suggestions include repurposing and recycling objects nad using alternative energy sources.
Carmody, Isobelle and Lee, Declan. () the Wrong thing describes a cat's discovery of "something that does not belong". we follow his prgress through the house (where all the humas are sleeping) as he uses all his senses to discover that the thing is and where it belongs. Especially suited to ESL and standard students.
Baker, Jeannie (). Where the forest meets the sea. This book, illustrated with Baker's lush collages, describes a child discovering untouched rainforest in Northern queensland. The simple texts depicts childhood cruiosity about the workld b ut the final pages invite that reader to speculate as to whether it "will be there when we come back".
Baker-Smith, Graeme (). Farther. Awesome photoshopped artworks describe the process of discovery through technology, as a boy's father grows progressively further away from his some and the son uses technology to remember his father's dream. Don't forget to explain the wordplay of the title. An interview with the author can be found here[http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2010/10/authorillustrator-interview-grahame.html].
Discoverology (). tutankhamen's tomb[NF 932 GRE] this pop-up book enablesthe reader to discover the past through an interactive reading process as they open pup-up lpages , open envolopes nad pull tabs. Pay carfull ateention to words as well as the pictures includign the use of subheadings and call-outs to make the jargon easier to understand, and the layout (magazine style) and black background to make the content mysterious.
Greder, amin (). the Island tells the story of a person who is washed up on the shore of an island. At first he is "welcomed" (note the contrast between words nad pictures on this page!) by the villagers but they soon turn on him and chase him back to sea. The monotoned pictures focus on the growing agression as the islanders build a "great wall" and "shoot down seagulls and comorants so that noone would ever find their island again". The simple text focuses the reader opn the villager's responses, but the pictures put the reader into the stranger's shoes. This careates an extrememly complex narrative that would well with Go back to where you came from or an analyusis of Caliban's role in The Tempest.
Thompson, sarah L and Gonsalves, Rob. (). Imagine a Day consists of very simple mataphoci depictions of a better world, with pictures that both anchor each phrase in reality and rise above it into the realm of symbolism. the process of discovery that goes on in the reader's head is far greater than the words or pictures would suggest. This is a good parallel to the way the tiger and sea operate in a metaphoric reading of Life of Pi.
Gervay, Suzann (2014) Elephants have Wings (F GER). is the beautiful story of two children embarking on the great journey of discovery, nestled in the wings of a mystical white elephant. They fly across the world, seeing its beauty, then conflict, to discover, there is a pathway to the humanity in all of us. Go to Suzann's website [http://www.sgervay.com/books/picture-books/elephants-have-wings/] for a discoussion of themesd and symbols.
Ziba Came on a Boat
by Liz Lofthouse, llustrated by Robert Ingpen. Penguin Viking, 2007. ISBN-13 9780670028610.
Picture book
This is a beautifully told story of a little Afghan girl taking the perilous journey that so many others have taken in the hope of finding freedom. The story moves from the frail fishing boat to Ziba’s memories of home, giving the reader a rich picture of the world that she has come from, including the fear and danger.
This is suitable at all levels.
The Peasant Prince
by Li Cunxin, illustrated by Anne Spudvilas. Viking, 2007. ISBN-13: 9780670070541.
Picture book.
This is simply and lyrically told, using two main unifying symbols – the kite that the boy and his father are flying on the first double page spread, and the father’s story of the frog who wants to escape from the well.
This is suitable for use at all levels.
Woolvs in the Sitee
by Margaret Wild; illustrated by Anne Spudvilas. Picture Puffin, 2008 (2006) ISBN-13: 9780143502562
Picture book for older readers.
This stunning picture book is a superb example of a picture book specifically aimed at older readers. Wild’s use of phonetic spelling gives an appropriately disturbing sense of something primitive and uncontrolled. In a society that has broken down, even the language conventions have been lost.
This could be used at any level.
The Island
by Amin Greder. Allen & Unwin 2007 (2002). ISBN-13: 9781741752663.
Picture book for older readers.
This is a dramatic and disturbing story of what happens when a stranger comes to the island. There are contrasting images of the large, overfed islanders, pitchforks in hand, and the little, naked figure of the outsider. There is a succession of increasingly threatening illustrations of the islanders.
This is suitable for use at all levels.
Interpreter of maladies
by Jhumpa Lahiri. Flamingo 2000 (1999). ISBN-13: 9780006551799. 198 pp.
Picture book for older readers.
Nine superb stories – some set in India, some in America – all related in some way to the experience of Bengali Indians. Many of these stories are about alienation and the longing for home.
This is an excellent resource at all levels.
Diane Lucas and Ken Searle - Walking with the Seasons in Kakadu
Tan, Shaun. The Lost Thing.
Memorial, Gary Crew and Shaun Tan
Way Home, Libby Hathorn and Gregory Rogers
My Place, Nadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins
Belonging, Jeannie Baker http://www.jeanniebaker.com/focus_web/belonging_interview.htm vhttp://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/raps/belonging/welcome.htm
Window, Jeannie Baker
· Tales from Outer Suburbia, Shaun Tan
· My Island Home, from neil Murray's song
· The Island, Greder Armin
· Memorial, Gary Crew and Shaun Tan
· Way Home, Libby Hathorn and Gregory Rogers
· My Place, Nadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins
· Belonging, Jeannie Baker
· Window, Jeannie Baker
· The Arrival, Shaun Tan A fabulous anaysis of this book (but for the Area of Study: Journeys – be careful that you only use points thdat relate to belonging) can be found if you scroll down to the bottom of the page at http://www.e-rudite.net/peter_skrzynecki.htm Even if you’re not using this text, have a look at this table because it will give you ideas for how to approach other picture books as related texts.
· Possum Magic, Mem Fox
· Ten Little fingers and Ten Little Toes, Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury
· Almond, David, The Savage
Isobelle Carmody and Steven Woolman The Dreamwalker [F CAR] describes what happens when a graphic artists discovers that he is in the world of his creation. When they tell him tney invented him, he wonders who is tellign the truth. This is a very philosphical fantasy story (really a short story more than a picture book) with awesomely creepy illustrations. It would be suitable for advanced students who want to take a more complex philosphical look at the relationships between reality and fiction or the role of narratives in our lives.
French, Jackie and Degenmnaro, Sue. () The tomorrow Book [F FRE]. This book uses simple, easily recognised fairy tale characters to start a dialogue about how childrn can discover information to make their "tomorrow" in the outside world more like that of the books they read in the library. Suggestions include repurposing and recycling objects nad using alternative energy sources.
Carmody, Isobelle and Lee, Declan. () the Wrong thing describes a cat's discovery of "something that does not belong". we follow his prgress through the house (where all the humas are sleeping) as he uses all his senses to discover that the thing is and where it belongs. Especially suited to ESL and standard students.
Baker, Jeannie (). Where the forest meets the sea. This book, illustrated with Baker's lush collages, describes a child discovering untouched rainforest in Northern queensland. The simple texts depicts childhood cruiosity about the workld b ut the final pages invite that reader to speculate as to whether it "will be there when we come back".
Baker-Smith, Graeme (). Farther. Awesome photoshopped artworks describe the process of discovery through technology, as a boy's father grows progressively further away from his some and the son uses technology to remember his father's dream. Don't forget to explain the wordplay of the title. An interview with the author can be found here[http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2010/10/authorillustrator-interview-grahame.html].
Discoverology (). tutankhamen's tomb[NF 932 GRE] this pop-up book enablesthe reader to discover the past through an interactive reading process as they open pup-up lpages , open envolopes nad pull tabs. Pay carfull ateention to words as well as the pictures includign the use of subheadings and call-outs to make the jargon easier to understand, and the layout (magazine style) and black background to make the content mysterious.
Greder, amin (). the Island tells the story of a person who is washed up on the shore of an island. At first he is "welcomed" (note the contrast between words nad pictures on this page!) by the villagers but they soon turn on him and chase him back to sea. The monotoned pictures focus on the growing agression as the islanders build a "great wall" and "shoot down seagulls and comorants so that noone would ever find their island again". The simple text focuses the reader opn the villager's responses, but the pictures put the reader into the stranger's shoes. This careates an extrememly complex narrative that would well with Go back to where you came from or an analyusis of Caliban's role in The Tempest.
Thompson, sarah L and Gonsalves, Rob. (). Imagine a Day consists of very simple mataphoci depictions of a better world, with pictures that both anchor each phrase in reality and rise above it into the realm of symbolism. the process of discovery that goes on in the reader's head is far greater than the words or pictures would suggest. This is a good parallel to the way the tiger and sea operate in a metaphoric reading of Life of Pi.
Gervay, Suzann (2014) Elephants have Wings (F GER). is the beautiful story of two children embarking on the great journey of discovery, nestled in the wings of a mystical white elephant. They fly across the world, seeing its beauty, then conflict, to discover, there is a pathway to the humanity in all of us. Go to Suzann's website [http://www.sgervay.com/books/picture-books/elephants-have-wings/] for a discoussion of themesd and symbols.
Ziba Came on a Boat
by Liz Lofthouse, llustrated by Robert Ingpen. Penguin Viking, 2007. ISBN-13 9780670028610.
Picture book
This is a beautifully told story of a little Afghan girl taking the perilous journey that so many others have taken in the hope of finding freedom. The story moves from the frail fishing boat to Ziba’s memories of home, giving the reader a rich picture of the world that she has come from, including the fear and danger.
This is suitable at all levels.
The Peasant Prince
by Li Cunxin, illustrated by Anne Spudvilas. Viking, 2007. ISBN-13: 9780670070541.
Picture book.
This is simply and lyrically told, using two main unifying symbols – the kite that the boy and his father are flying on the first double page spread, and the father’s story of the frog who wants to escape from the well.
This is suitable for use at all levels.
Woolvs in the Sitee
by Margaret Wild; illustrated by Anne Spudvilas. Picture Puffin, 2008 (2006) ISBN-13: 9780143502562
Picture book for older readers.
This stunning picture book is a superb example of a picture book specifically aimed at older readers. Wild’s use of phonetic spelling gives an appropriately disturbing sense of something primitive and uncontrolled. In a society that has broken down, even the language conventions have been lost.
This could be used at any level.
The Island
by Amin Greder. Allen & Unwin 2007 (2002). ISBN-13: 9781741752663.
Picture book for older readers.
This is a dramatic and disturbing story of what happens when a stranger comes to the island. There are contrasting images of the large, overfed islanders, pitchforks in hand, and the little, naked figure of the outsider. There is a succession of increasingly threatening illustrations of the islanders.
This is suitable for use at all levels.
Interpreter of maladies
by Jhumpa Lahiri. Flamingo 2000 (1999). ISBN-13: 9780006551799. 198 pp.
Picture book for older readers.
Nine superb stories – some set in India, some in America – all related in some way to the experience of Bengali Indians. Many of these stories are about alienation and the longing for home.
This is an excellent resource at all levels.
Diane Lucas and Ken Searle - Walking with the Seasons in Kakadu
Tan, Shaun. The Lost Thing.
Memorial, Gary Crew and Shaun Tan
Way Home, Libby Hathorn and Gregory Rogers
My Place, Nadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins
Belonging, Jeannie Baker http://www.jeanniebaker.com/focus_web/belonging_interview.htm vhttp://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/raps/belonging/welcome.htm
Window, Jeannie Baker
· Tales from Outer Suburbia, Shaun Tan
· My Island Home, from neil Murray's song
· The Island, Greder Armin
· Memorial, Gary Crew and Shaun Tan
· Way Home, Libby Hathorn and Gregory Rogers
· My Place, Nadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins
· Belonging, Jeannie Baker
· Window, Jeannie Baker
· The Arrival, Shaun Tan A fabulous anaysis of this book (but for the Area of Study: Journeys – be careful that you only use points thdat relate to belonging) can be found if you scroll down to the bottom of the page at http://www.e-rudite.net/peter_skrzynecki.htm Even if you’re not using this text, have a look at this table because it will give you ideas for how to approach other picture books as related texts.
· Possum Magic, Mem Fox
· Ten Little fingers and Ten Little Toes, Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury
· Almond, David, The Savage