FOR EDUCATORS
FOR EDUCATORS
JUNIOR PRIMARY
Aboriginal Issues
- Dan’s Grandpa by Sally Morgan and Bronwyn Bancroft (Fremantle Arts Centre Press)
Dan and his grandpa had a special friendship. “Don’t worry Dan,” Grandpa said one day. “No matter what happens I’ll always be with you, looking after you.” (32pp.)
Activity Ideas for Art and Craft
- You Can Make Paper Sculptures by David Miller (Allen & Unwin, 1995)
Clear guidelines for thirteen projects and the tools for children to design their own paper sculptures. - You Can Make a Thousand Things with String by David Miller (Allen & Unwin, 1996)
Everything you wanted to know about knots, plaits, knitting and weaving ...almost!
Bullying
- The Tiger in his Pocket by Sandra Clayton (Allen & Unwin, 1994)
Tommo is mistreated by his wicked aunt and uncle and bullied at school. When he discovers a real, live, but tiny, tiger in his pocket, his life changes for the better. A story to transport children away from the problems in their daily lives and fire up their imagination. (64 pp.) - Yassou Nicki by Wendy Orr (Angus & Robertson)
Nicki moves from a small island in Greece to Australia. Her first day in school is very difficult but she meets a special friend who gives her hope that life in Australia might not be as bad as she first thought. The class bully is nasty to Nicki as well as others but by the end of the day, he gets in trouble. - The Bully Biscuit Gang by Wendy Orr (Angus & Robertson - Skinny)
Country Family - Dreamy Fiction
- The Magic Caravan by Paty Marshall-Stace (Puffin)
They had a dream. A piece of land, four kids and no money, but they had something else too – they had the Magic Caravan. (74 pp.)
Grandparent/Grandchild Relations
- Dan’s Grandpa by Sally Morgan and Bronwyn Bancroft (Fremantle Arts Centre Press)
Dan and his grandpa had a special friendship. “Don’t worry Dan,” Grandpa said one day. “No matter what happens I’ll always be with you, looking after you.” - Arabella by Wendy Orr (Harper Collins 1998) has been beautifully illustrated by Kim Gamble. It’s a poetic story about so many important things: the love between a child and his grandfather; the sea, its beauty and ferocity; and the joy and exhilaration of sailing that can be accessible even to a child in a wheelchair. Alison Gregg in Magpies (March 1998) said, “The story of Matthew’s summer with Grandpa would have made a wonderful book on its own; (the) subplot lifts it into an extra dimension.”
Fears
- My Teacher Turns into a Tyrannosaurus by Kim Caraher and Robert Dickins (Addison, Wesley, Longman - Supa Dooper)
Matthew has big problems at his new school. Each morning, on his way there, he meets some very scary, horrible creatures but if that’s not enough, sometimes his teacher turns into a tyrannosaurus. Matthew overcomes his fears with some help from an understanding grandmother who knows how frightening school can be.
Humour
- Yucky Poo by Kim Caraher (Macmillan Crackers 1998)
The narrator’s baby sibling eats the yuckiest stuff ever. This is just the fun sort of story to engage a beginner reader. (28 pp.) - Fair Go by Janine M Fraser and Fabio Nardo (Angus & Robertson - Skinny)
What Daniel wants most in the world is a stupendously colossal set of seventy two coloured pencils which are the prize in grade 5P’s fundraising contest. It’s a beauty contest and the girls won’t let the boys enter. All Daniel wants is a fair go. But if the boys can enter the beauty contest, then the girls can enter the footy kicking competition. (64 pp.) - Alroy’s Very Nearly Clean Bedroom by Wendy Orr and Bettina Guthridge (Addison, Wesley, Longman - Supa Dooper)
Join Alroy’s world of fantasy and fun. Climb mountains, meet lions, fight wolves, sail the sea... and just perhaps become a hero. Somehow, he doesn’t have time for tidying up his bedroom. (64 pp.) - Jessica Joan by Wendy Orr (Koala Books) is a delightful story about a woman who starts off with the quietest and neatest house on the street. After a full week of interesting live animal (instead of grocery) purchases at the local shop she ends up with the messiest and noisiest house in the street. Study notes are available.
Loneliness, City Living
- Ark in the Park by Wendy Orr and Kerry Millard (Angus & Robertson)
Sophie lived in a tall, tall building overlooking a large green park. In the middle of the park was the biggest, strangest, most wonderful pet shop in the world. It was built like a ship, with tall glass sails stretching to the sky and it was called The “Noah's Ark”. Early evening Sophie made three secret wishes as she gazed at the ark in the park. Mr and Mrs Noah, who owned the pet shop, also made a secret wish - the same one every time. On a very special birthday, a magical meeting shows Sophie, and Mr and Mrs Noah, that secret wishes have a way of coming true. Book of the Year in the 1995 CBC Awards in the Younger Reader category.
Multicultural Issues / Tolerance / “Fitting in”
- Sarindi and the Lucky Bird by Janine M Fraser and illustrated by Kim Gamble (Angus &am; Robertson)
A heart warming story set in Indonesia about whether it is the lucky bird or good old fashioned hard work and enterprise that will enable a poor family to improve their lot. Short listed for the CBC Awards in 2002. 
Abdullah’s Butterfly by Janine M Fraser and illustrated by Kim Gamble (Angus & Robertson)
A tourist learns why it is important for Abdullah to catch butterflies. At first she is horrified that the beautiful creatures are being “hunted”. The language of the story is beautiful and the message is all about how understanding breeds tolerance.- Yassou Nicki by Wendy Orr (Angus & Robertson)
Nicki moves from a small island in Greece to Australia. Her first day in school is very difficult but she meets a special friend who gives her hope that life in Australia might not be as bad as she first thought. The class bully is nasty to Nicki as well as others but by the end of the day, he gets in trouble and she begins to feel like she belongs. - Just a Little Brown Dog by Sally Morgan and Bronwyn Bancroft (Fremantle Arts Centre Press)
Even the runt of the litter can find a home. (32 pp.)
Mystery
- Undercover by Ellen Frances and Steve Axelsen (Addison, Wesley, Longman - Supa Dooper)
It’s Matt’s birthday, but nobody wants to know about it – not even his parents. But when a courier arrives with a present for Matt from Aunt Dodi and the present contains a secret message, Matt’s day becomes full of undercover surprises. (64 pp.) - Rachel to the Rescue by Ellen Frances and Mark David (Addison, Wesley, Longman - Supa Dooper)
The Mayor called it a dump. The council bulldozers were due on Monday to knock down old St Gregory’s church. Where would the after-school program meet then? (64 pp.)
Non-sexist
- Fair Go by Janine M Fraser and Fabio Nardo (Angus & Robertson - Skinny)
What Daniel wants most in the world is a stupendously colossal set of seventy two coloured pencils which are the prize in grade 5P’s fundraising contest. It’s a beauty contest and the girls won’t let the boys enter. All Daniel wants is a fair go. But if the boys can enter the beauty contest, then the girls can enter the footy kicking competition. (64 pp.) - Micki Moon and Daniel Day by Wendy Orr (Allen & Unwin)
When Micki and Daniel are together, adventures somehow just happen. A playful and engaging book for younger readers and for reading aloud.
Siblings - Space for Yourself
- Sally’s Painting Room by Wendy Orr and Jamie Bowles (Koala Tadpoles 1997)
Sally creates a place of her own, just for painting, away from the rest of the family. For beginner readers. Not much text. (64 pp.)
GOLVAN ARTS MANAGEMENT • PO Box 766, Kew, Victoria 3101 Australia • golvan@ozemail.com.au