TEACH READING & WRITING
17
What’s the story?
JamielovesAngus,histoyHighland
bull, andtheir experienceswill be
familiar tomanychildren, who
will enjoy theseshort stories in
novel form.
Jamie ispresentedasa fully
rounded individualwithan
important role toplaywithin
his family: one that involves
responsibilityaswell as
entitlement. In fact, there’sa
generousservingof ‘right and
wrong’ in thisbook–although it
wears itsethical hat lightly.
Thesearehumorousstories,
full ofwarmthandcharm, that
showadeepunderstanding
of family lifeandtheway that
generations interact.
Deep thinking
Themes include family,
friendship, empathy, caring,
responsibility, right andwrong,
pointof view, the importanceof
listening, independence, change
andgrowingup.
Try this...
●
“See you tomorrow,”
whispered Jamie to the
package. The package
rustled its paper excitedly...
What would you like tofind
inside a package andwhy?
Tell the story of what
happenedwhen you found a
package that rustled.
●
Dad tells Jamie a story
about his buggy. Have your
children heard stories about
themselves, and do they
remember being little? How
do they think they’ve changed
since then? Use The Perfect
Day to help you imaginewhat
itmight be like to be older.
●
What choices does Jamie
make, andwhat would have
happened if he’d behaved
differently?Make a list of
new scenarios for Jamie to
deal with. How should he act?
Why dowe sometimes do the
wrong thing, and how canwe
make up for that?
The Jamie
andAngus
Stories
BYANNE FINEAND
PENNYDALE (Walker)
Key Stage 1
Try this...
●
Find a patch of disused land
that coulddowith a bit of TLC.
Take photographs andmake
plans. Research the best plants
for your location and growthem
fromseed. Enlist the help of
others to transformyour space.
Keepdiaries andmake a display.
Take a look at Belonging (Walker)
inwhich collage artist Jeannie
Baker depicts the transformation
of anurbanneighbourhood.
●
Create an enormous collage
vine to decorate a corridor or
other space. Invite everyone to
write their hopes for peace on
leaf-shaped cut-outs and tie to
the branches.
●
Find out about a charity
that works for peace and
reconciliation. Involve children
in planning and carrying out a
fundraising event, or write a
report to sharewith your school
about what you’ve learned.
“With itsmysterious and dreamlike
paintings, this is a book that catches our
memories, reminding us of stories half-
forgotten and thingsmisplaced”
What is courage, and howdo these
characters display it? Howmight
you be courageous in dealingwith
your fears?
●
Talk about ‘stranger danger’
and other risks. Was Evie right to
go into thewood?Howcanwe stay
safe and still be independent?
●
Explore awooded area,
looking and listening for
evidence of the things Evie
notices. Collect words,
impressions, drawings and
descriptions of thewood you’re
visiting and use to create a
collaborative poemor illustration.
7
In association with
Illustration © 2009 Michael Foreman. From A Child’s Garden. Reproduced by permission of Walker Books Ltd
Illustration © Penny Dale. From The Jamie and Angus Stories by Anne Fine, illustrated by Penny Dale. Reproduced by permission of Walker Books Ltd
