February 2008
I have been
asked a number of times by teachers to compile a list of literature that
I think could be used to spark stimulating discussion of the various 'characteristics'
of the Learner Profile as described in the Primary Years Programme
of the International Baccalaureat. These characteristics are: inquirers,
thinkers, communicators, risk takers, knowledgeable, principled, caring,
open-minded, balanced and reflective.
This is an
initial list of literature which I hope will provide books which can be
used to generate thought-provoking discussion of these attributes. The
books chosen are not didactic nor are they therapeutic. They are
certainly not intended as a formula to suggest that students should behave
in a particular way. In many of the books chosen, there is a strong
element of irony and many of them are amusing. I hope that all the
books will be enjoyable to read and will give students and teachers greater
understanding of varying aspects of the 'characteristics' of the Learner
Profile. I am sure the list will be of value not just to teachers of the
PYP but to any teachers interested in a wide range of good literature for
discussion. After each review I have listed some of the most obvious characteristics
which could be discussed with each book. However many of the books
are complex and I am sure students will suggest further characteristics
which can also be found in the books.
This is not
an easy list to compile but it will gradually be enlarged and improved
over time and as I get more feedback from teachers and librarians. I
have given an indication of reading levels to each of the titles. It
is worth while noting that many of the picture books listed can also be
used in worthwhile discussions with older students.
Please
Note All prices are in Australian dollars
and include the 10% GST tax. However this GST does not apply to
exports from Australia.
To order
any of the books on the list, please send the orders to Austral Ed by post,
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is sent by the most economical method within Australia or overseas, depending
on urgency.
Recommended
by Kate Shepherd
Picture Books
A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech Pictures by Harry Bliss hardback
$36.95 pb $16.95
An amusing story about a school where
the principal is so enthusiastic about his school and the way the students
love to learn that he decides to have lessons on Saturday and Sunday too. It
is Tilly who summons up the courage to tell the Principal that children
must do other things as well. This strong message is very amusingly
presented through a witty text and amusing illustrations.
inquirers, risk
takers, balanced
Best Friends for Frances by Russell Hoban illus by Lillian Hoban pb $16.95
When
Albert tells Frances that girls can't come along on a wander and can't play
baseball with him and Harold
because baseball is a no-girls' game, she uses her considerable ingenuity
and efforts of persuasion to show him how friendship should work. Hoban
is a very amusing and witty writer.
thinkers
Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban illus by Lillian Hoban pb $16.95
This story is a classic. Frances does not like to try anything new in her food. She likes to stay with bread and jam but when she is given bread and jam for every meal, even she finally tires of it and wants to try a variety of foods. Mouth watering descriptions of food from Russell Hoban add to the humour and delight of this book.
balanced
Counting on Frank by Rod Clement pb $14.95 This is the story of a boy who is a true
enthusiast about mathematics and is always estimating, calculating and
working things out. How many Franks would fill up the bedroom? (Frank
is a dog). Striking illustrations add to the fun. (5
- 10 years)
inquirers, communicators
Dr Xargle's Book of Earthlets by
Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross pb $16.95
A hilarious look at human babies
or "earthlets" from
the point of view of an alien teaching his class of alien children. Truly
a very different perspective that will ensure that babies will never look
quite the same again.
open-minded
Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell illus by Helen Oxenbury Big
Book $39.95
pb $15.95
This Award winning book has overtones of Animal
Farm for littlies. The animals use their initiative and take over
the running of the farm from a domineering, lazy and bossy farmer. (6
- 13 years)
principled
Frog is Frog by Max Velthuis pb $16.95
Frog
wants to be able to fly like his friend Duck and bake wonderful cakes like
his friend Pig but his attempts end in failure. However
after deep reflection, Frog realises that his friends love him for being
himself, that is for being a beautiful green frog who can leap so high
it is almost like flying.
reflective
Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say hardback $33.95
A beautifully illustrated picture book for older
students. Allen Say's grandfather made the journey from Japan to
the United States when he was a young man and this story beautifully describes
through text and illustrations the love that he and his grandson feel for
both countries. Many students will relate to the feelings of longing
expressed. (8 years up)
reflective
Greetings from Sandy Beach by Bob Graham pb $16.00
Bob
Graham is able to bring into a simple picture book about a family trip to
the beach wonderful observations about
family life, the difference between the city and the country and also some
of our preconceived ideas concerning people and the way they look.
open-minded
I will not ever never
eat a tomato by
Lauren Child pb $15.95
Charlie's little sister Lola
is a fussy eater. However Charlie works out an ingenious way of encouraging
her to eat, even the foods she doesn't like. Charlie says that these
are not peas, "of course they are not, these are green drops from Greenland." And "These
are not carrots. These are orange twiglets from Jupiter." Lola
can't resist just tasting them and finally she joins in the game and asks
for the round red moonsquirter (she wouldn't eat a tomato of course but
moonsquirters are her favourite.)
thinkers, communicators
Marianthe's Story: Painted
Words and Spoken Memories by Aliki hardback $33.95
Aliki
returns to her own childhood for the inspiration for this exceptional
book. In Painted Words,
Marianthe struggles to learn English and adapt to a culture very different
from her own. A supportive teacher encourages her to communicate
through her drawings. In Spoken Memories,
Marianthe has learnt English and is able to tell the class the story of her
life before the family came to the United States. (6 - 10 years)
communicators, reflective
Mr Archimedes' Bath by Pamela Allen pb $14.95
Mr
Archimedes is having a bath with various animals. Every time they get
into the bath, water splashes over the side. Pamela Allen has great
fun in getting children to think about what is happening. (5
years up)
inquirers
Rose Blanche by Ian McEwan illustrated by Roberto Innocenti pb
$18.95
This is an extremely moving portrayal of the horrors of war seen though
the eyes of a young German girl who,
when she discovers children in a concentration camp in the woods, secretly
takes food to them. Innocenti's illustrations portray much of the
greed and desolation of war time and about the others who did not see what
was happening. For older children 9 years up.
principled, caring
Rose Meets Mr Wintergarten by Bob Graham pb $15.95
Rose
is a little frightened of fierce old Mr Wintergarten but she overcomes her
fears and her delightful spontaneity
and the fairy cakes baked by her mother have a surprising effect on the
grumpy old man.
risk takers, open-minded, principled
• So Few of Me by Peter H Reynolds hardback $24.95 pb $15.95
Peter leads such a busy life that it is difficult to fit everything in. He tries making lists, he tries prioritising but life is still a rush. He imagines another Leo come to help, and another and another but even with nine Leos there just seems nine times as much work to be done. Finally Leo slows right down and just daydreams. The other Leos disappear and he decides that life is best if he just tries to do his best and makes sure he always keeps some time just for dreaming. This is a simply written picture book worth discussing when children’s lives are so full of activities. (6 – 10 years)
thinkers, balanced, reflective
The Colour of Home by Mary Hoffman illustrated by Karin Littlewood pb $15.95
Hassan is miserable at school in England
where everything is grey, and where he can't talk to anyone since he doesn't
speak English. When he paints a picture of his far away home, he remembers
the terrible time when the soldiers came. However the next day he
talks to an interpreter and paints another picture in bright colours for
his mother of their happier times, in the country which used to be their
home.
communicators, caring
The Day of Ahmed's Secret by Florence Parry Heide illustrated by Ted Lewin
pb $16.95
Ahmed is very pleased with himself as
he goes about Cairo's bustling streets delivering gas bottles to his many
customers who call out his name and greet him. He is very much a
part of the life of this colourful and noisy city and he is proud that
he is helping earn money to support his family. And his secret
is that he has learned to write his name.
inquirers, caring, reflective
This is Our House by Michael Rosen illus by Bob Graham pb
$15.95
George has decided that he is the only
one who can play in the big cardboard house but the other children are
determined that everyone shall play in it. A charming and humorous
picture book about sharing and cooperation. (4
- 8 years)
principled, risk-takers
• The Wakame Gatherers by Holly Thompson illustrated by Kazumi Wilds hardback $32.95 Nanami has two grandmothers: Baachan who lives in Japan with Nanami’s family and Gram from Maine in the US. When Gram comes to visit her granddaughter in Japan Nanami is the translator between the two grandmothers who discover they have much in common since they both live near the sea and have a love of sea life and things to do with the sea. They go gathering wakame, a type of seaweed which is dried and then eaten in a variety of recipes (some of these are given at the end of the book). (6 – 10 years)
inquirers, communicators, caring
Watch Out for the Chicken feet in Your Soup by Tomie dePaola pb $14.95
Joey is a little embarrassed about his very Italian grandmother. However when he takes his friend Eugene to meet his grandma, Eugene responds with great enthusiasm to her warmth and her wonderful food (including the chicken soup which contains chicken feet).
Open-minded, risk takers
When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest illust by P J Lynch pb $15.95
This beautifully illustrated picture
book vividly describes a young girl's journey from eastern Europe when
she migrates to a new life in America at the turn of the nineteenth century. Jessie
has left behind her beloved grandmother and is determined to work out a
way that they can be together again. (7 -13 years)
thinkers, principled, caring
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by
Mem Fox illus by Julie Vivas pb $15.00
A young boy helps an old woman
whose memory is fading to remember by gathering various objects which remind
her of times in her youth.
caring
Fiction
Aquila by Andrew Norriss pb $14.95
When Geoff and Tom discover the skeleton of a Roman centurion and a UFO, it sparks an intense desire to find out more about the centurion and how the machine works. Their teachers are dumbfounded because neither student has ever shown any interest in school work. This book is great fun as the boys discover the wonders of flying a UFO but it is also an exploration of how we learn and what motivates us. (9 – 14 years) inquirers, thinkers, risk takers
A Different Sort of Real: the Diary
of Charlotte McKenzie, Melbourne 1918 - 1919 by Kerry Greenwood hardback and pb
$18.00
A most absorbing and believable story. Charlotte
struggles to understand her father's shell shock as a result of the Great
War but she finds great rewards as she helps the local doctor tend patients
stricken by the devastating influenza epidemic sweeping the community. (9
years up)
inquirers, risk takers,
principled, caring
Abdullah's Butterfly by Janine Fraser illustrated by Kim Gamble pb
$12.95
Set in a village in Malaysia this is the story of
Abdullah, his love for his grandfather and his family and how he tries
to bring extra money into the family by catching beautiful butterflies. Told
by a tourist visitor to the village who at first does not understand that
Abdullah's family has very little money, the story is simple enough for
seven year olds to read but opens up possibilities for discussion about
topics such as poverty in developing countries for older children as well. (7
- 11 years)
caring, principled
Boss of the Pool pb
$15.00
Shelley is at first
reluctant but feels great satisfaction when she succeeds in teaching a mentally
handicapped boy to swim. (8 - 13 years) Also available as a play pb
$15.95
caring
Bridge to Terabithia by
Katherine Paterson pb $14.95
This is the story of a very
close friendship between Jess Aarons and a new girl at the school. Together
they develop a secret world, based on other fantasy worlds, which is hidden
in the woods. When Leslie drowns, it takes Jess a long time to accept
her death and to try to give back some of the beauty and caring that she
had given him. (9 - 14 years)
inquirers, thinkers, principled,
caring
Christophe’s Story by Nicki Cornwell pb $12.95
Christophe is an eight year old boy from Rwanda who flees the fighting in his country to come to England as a refugee with his family. His problems in settling in are described but the book is also about different ways of telling stories. Christophe doesn’t want to read stories in books because his grandfather had always told him stories aloud, and had said that if stories are written down then their spirit is lost. However Christopher tells aloud to his class the story of how he came to England and of the violence in Rwanda but decides he is happy for it to be written down word for word so that many children can hear his story. (7 – 10 years)
communicators, risktakers
Chronicles of Prydain by
Lloyd Alexander pb $14.95 each
This is a very entertaining fantasy
series. In the
first book of the series, Taran knows only that he is an assistant pig
keeper, but he meets a group of varied and wonderful friends and together
they fight against the evil that is threatening the land. Over the
five books in the series, Taran gains in knowledge, ability, compassion
and wisdom. The five books in the series are The
Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer and The
High King (9 - 14 years)
risk takers, principled,
balanced, reflective
Crash! The Story
of Poddy by William Taylor pb $16.95
The very first chapter describes
a car crash in which Poddy is shocked but not injured and realises that
he must get help for his injured father and brother. However this
poses great difficulties because Poddy is a 13 year old boy with Down's
syndrome. It is quite remarkable how Taylor succeeds in describing
Poddy's determined struggle to conquer his fears to get help. The
dramatic effect of the story is greatly increased by alternating chapters
describing the drama at the crash site and Poddy's life in a loving, caring
and sometimes
exasperated family. (11 - 15 years)
thinkers, principled,
caring
Flour Babies by
Anne Fine pb $12.95
An entertaining novel in
which a class is given a lesson in responsibility when they have to care
for their "flour babies" which are really six pound bags of flour, as if
they were real babies. The project has a surprising effect on Simon
and his resulting reflections about himself and his family are at times
surprising and hilarious. (9 - 13 years)
Reflective
From the Mixed-up Files
of Mrs Basil E Frankwiler by E L Konigsburg pb $14.95
A
wonderfully fresh and inventive story of a brother and sister who run
away from home to live in the New
York Metropolitan Museum of Art and become caught up in a mystery. (9
- 14 years)
inquirers, thinkers, risk takers,
knowledgeable, reflective
• The Goat Who Sailed the World pb $14.95
This book has two narrators, a young twelve year old boy called Isaac Manley and a much travelled and superior Goat. This narrative device gives us two very different perspectives on Cooks’ amazing voyage around the world from 1768 to 1771, when Australia was discovered and the ship was almost wrecked on the Great Barrier Reef. Very entertaining. (8 – 14 years)
inquirers, risktakers, principled, caring
Hazel Green by
Odo Hirsch pb $14.95 Hazel Green is a spirited
heroine and the Yak is an introverted boy who is a mathematical whiz and
together they make a formidable team. (8 - 12 years)
inquirers,
thinkers, communicators, risk takers, knowledgeable, principled, caring,
open-minded
Hitler's Daughter by
Jackie French pb $14.95 When Anna makes up a
compelling story about Hitler's daughter, Mark finds the story disturbing
and questions if children can be blamed if their parents do something evil. Thought
provoking. (9 - 14 years)
reflective
Jason Prince by Max Dann pb $11.95
This is a highly
ironic story. Jason Prince is extraordinarily rich and has so many
servants that he has never had to think for himself. However once he
meets Grace, and discovers the delights of playing with her and using his
own brain, he
takes advantage of all his opportunities. (7
- 11 years)
thinkers, risk takers
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson pb $14.95
This story has a very English eccentric extravagance giving a feeling of exhilaration to this story of a young orphan girl who at the turn of the century goes to the Amazon with her governess. This is a place of horror to some because of the all pervasive insects, heat, fearsome Indians and steamy lushness but for others like Maia and her governess it is a place of endless wonder, of amazing creatures, plant life and people. Maia is a most resourceful heroine who shows her ingenuity time and again. A richly satisfying adventure story with humour and a sense of the fantastic. (9 - 14 years)
inquirers, risktakers, caring, open-minded
Kensuke's
Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo pb $14.95 When Michael
is washed up on an island he struggles to survive on his own. He
is about to give up when food appears. He is not alone. This
is a wonderful story of survival and about Kensuke, an elderly Japanese
man who lives on the island and has survived for many years using traditional
Japanese skills and crafts. (9 - 15 years).
thinkers, caring
Nips X1 by Ruth Starke pb $14.95
This is the
very entertaining story of Lan, who loves cricket, and his very determined
effort in getting together a cricket team of kids from many ethnic
backgrounds. As the novel develops, there are fascinating cross-cultural
interactions between kids and adults. (9 - 12 years)
thinkers, communicators, principled,
open-minded
Number the Stars by
Lois Lowry pb $14.95
Set in the time of the second
World War, this is the moving story of a young girl and her family who
with thousands of other Jews in Denmark were taken secretly at night in
boats across the sea to safety by the Danish people. (9
- 13 years)
risk takers, principled,
caring
Onion Tears by Diana Kidd pb $12.95
The moving story of a Vietnamese boat girl in Australia
who gradually gains friends and confidence in her new country until she
is finally able to cry real tears, not just the tears that come when she
peels onions. (7
- 12 years)
Caring
Pippi Longstocking by
Astrid Longstocking pb $16.95
This is an example of an
extraordinarily independent and eccentric young heroine who lives on her
own with her horse. Students might like to discuss her independence
and risk taking in the light of other characteristics that she lacks. Pippi
is a highly entertaining character. (7
- 12 years)
risk takers
Queen of the Universe by Libby Gleeson pb $11.00
When big sister Gina gets the chicken pos just before the school play, her younger brother has to fill in and play the part of Queen of the Universe. This is a very satisfying story for beginner readers. One of the Solo series. (6 – 8 years)
communicators, risk takers
Rain May and Captain Daniel by
Catherine Bateson pb $14.95 Daniel writes his account
of his new friendship with Rain in the form of a Star Trek journal. Rain
corresponds with her mother through fridge poems. A highly entertaining
account of a strong friendship between two eleven year olds in the country. (9
- 13 years)
thinkers, communicators,
caring, open-minded, reflective
Red Scarf Girl A Memoir of
the Cultural Revolution by Ji Li Jiang pb $13.95 A deeply moving autobiography set during
the Cultural Revolution in China. Ji Li Jiang describes her
own experiences as a twelve year old girl puzzling to understand the strange
and terrifying events that befell her family at that time. An excellent
introduction to any study of the Cultural Revolution. (11
years up)
risk takers, principled, reflective
Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda pb $15.00
This series contains many
of the elements of the traditional fantasy - the quest, the dragon, misty
swamps and walls of
spiders. Rowan is a courageous, modest fantasy hero who grows in
experience and strength of character with each new adventure. Sequels
are Rowan and the Travellers and Rowan
and the Keeper of the
Crystal, Rowan
and the Zebak and Rowan
and the Bukshah pb $15.00 each (7 - 10
years)
thinkers, risk takers, principled, caring, open-minded,
reflective
Sarah, Plain and Tall by
Patricia MacLachlan pb $14.95
A beautifully
written story about a woman who answers an advertisement to come to be
the wife of a
farmer living on the prairie. She is a wonderfully caring mother
to his children but she misses the sea and the younger boy especially is
fearful that she will leave. (8 - 14 years).
risk takers, principled,
caring, reflective
Secrets in the Fire by
Henning Mankell, translated from the Swedish by Anne Connie Stuksrud pb
$16.95
This is the remarkable story of Sofia, a
young girl in Mozambique who has suffered immensely. She loses a
leg in a land mine explosion and many close members of her family have
been killed. However her strength, determination and indomitable
spirit are remarkable. (11 years up)
risk takers, principled, caring,
reflective
Sing to the Dawn by Minfong Ho pb $12.95
This story is set in a marginal rice growing area
of Thailand. It reveals some of the frustrations, difficulties and
injustices of village life by describing Dawan, a 12 year old girl who
strives to continue her education at a city high school in Thailand in
spite of competition from her brother and opposition from her father. (10
years up)
thinkers, pincipled
Stella by the Sea by
Ruth Starke pb $12.95 Stella is a most resourceful young girl whose parents
are both very busy with their work. She finds and rents a cubby house
of her own, in the backyard of a rather lonely elderly man. She fixes
up the cubby house, decorates it and arranges to take the neighbours' dogs
for walks and she is also the catalyst for a new community spirit in the
neighbourhood. This is a most engaging and amusing story. (7
- 11 years)
thinkers, risk takers, principled, open-minded, well balanced, reflective
• To the Boy in Berlin by Elizabeth Honey and Heike Brandt pb $15.95
This is the story of an intriguing email correspondence between Henni who lives in Melbourne, Australia and Leo Schmidt in Berlin. The emails fly backwards and forwards providing much amusement and also glimpses of the difference and similarities between their lives. They both become involved in working on Henni’s school project which involves fascinating historical documentation about early German immigration to Australia and the treatment of Germans in Australia during the 2 World wars. We also learn incidentally about some of the problems of immigration in Germany and Australia today. I especially liked the humour, especially humour concerning the difficulties of translation and also some of the extraordinarily long German words that exist. This is an excellent book for discussion on a variety of topics. (10 – 14 years)
inquirers, thinkers, communicators, principles, caring, open-minded
Where in the World by
Simon French pb $14.95 A deceptively simple but
beautifully constructed book about Ari, a talented young musician and how
he and his mother leave Germany and settle into life in Australia. As
a young boy in Germany, Ari had an exceptionally close relationship with
his grandfather who also taught him to play the violin and Ari misses him
terribly. (8 -14 years)
communicators, caring,
open-minded, reflective, well-balanced
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GST of 10% which is not applicable for overseas schools.
To order any of the above books, please send
orders to Austral Ed by fax, post or email.
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