Golvan Arts Management: For Educators: Middle Primary

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Dirtbikes by Wendy Orr (Angus & Robertson)
There used to be bush all around Naringalong, but now there’s a housing estate and hardly anywhere to ride. Some newcomers to the area make friends with locals during the summer while they ride their bikes and build a special bike track. Three boys and two girls are the narrators of this story of special interest to those who like motor bikes. Themes of family break up, different ethnic and economic backgrounds are raised. (116 pp.)
Nim's Island and Nim at Sea by Wendy Orr (Allen & Unwin )
Nim is a modern day Robinson Crusoe who can chop down bananas with a machete, climb tall palm trees, and start a fire with a piece of glass. So she's not afraid when her scientist dad sails off to study plankton for three days, leaving her alone on their island....These two books are exciting adventures with an intelligent, independent, female hero, a wonderful role model for young girls. Themes raised in the two stories, suitable for class dicussion include the marine environment and ecology, individual responsibility and family relationships, while Nim at Sea (174pp.) deals with the issue of peer relationships as Nim is confronted by kids her own age for the first time in her life. Nim's Island (114pp.) has been adapted for film and is now a Hollywood movie, suitable for a class excursion.

100% Wolf by Jane Lyons (Random House Australia, 2008)
Freddy Lupin is from a noble family of werewolves. But his first Transwolfation is a disaster when Freddy turns into a yapping poodle instead of a ferocious werewolf. Now his snooty Uncle Hotspur will hate him even more. Just when Freddy thinks life can't get any worse, he's thrown into dog prison. Will he and his new streetwise dog friend, Batty, escape? Who is the sinister man following their every move? Can Freddy prove that he is still 100 percent wolf and save the werwolf pack from disaster? This is a fun story for 8 to 12 year olds that will have boys and girls laughing out loud. (231 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)

Dirtbikes by Wendy Orr (Angus & Robertson)
There used to be bush all around Naringalong, but now there’s a housing estate and hardly anywhere to ride. Some newcomers to the area make friends with locals during the summer while they ride their bikes and build a special bike track. Three boys and two girls are the narrators of this story of special interest to those who like motor bikes. Themes of family break up, different ethnic and economic backgrounds are raised. (116 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.)
The Laziest Boy in the World by Wendy Orr (Angus & Robertson)
The “lazy” boy in this story invents and builds the most amazing machinery in order to avoid doing chores. He also gets involved with and into lots of trouble because of two unusual and “naughty” old ladies who live down the road. A fun read for boys and girls who are seen as “lazy” about their reading as well as for those who are already avid readers. (74 pp.)

Across the Dark Sea by Wendy Orr and illustrated by Donna Rawlins (National Museum of Australia)
This book is part of a series of fiction books for young children, Making Tracks, inspired by objects from the Museum's collection. The series is supported by a web site at www.nma.gov.au/making tracks that provides teachers with discussion questions, supporting activities and an activity that allows readers to interact with the Hong Hai, the boat in the Museum's collection which provided Wendy with the inspiration for her story. Across the Dark Sea features a fishing boat used to flee Vietnam after the War. It is the story of Trung and his father who escape attacking soldiers. But what awaits them across the dark sea?
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. This is a beautifully written story about a westerner opening her eyes to the realities of life for a Third World youngster.
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.

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