March 2012
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 email to
austral@gleebooks.com.au Payment can be made with bank cheques in Australian
dollars, by direct bank transfer or by Credit card. Freight
is sent by the most economical method within Australia or overseas, depending
on urgency.
Recommended
by Kate Shepherd and Mandy Clarke
Picture Books
A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech Pictures by Harry Bliss hardback 9780060277369 $27.00 pb 9780060007287 $11.00
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 hardback 9780060223274 $27.00 pb 9780064430081 $11.00
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 hardback 9780060223595 $27.00 pb 9780064430968 $11.00
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 9780207173226 $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 9781849392921 $14.95
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 pb 9780744536607 $16.95 Big Book 9780744547795 $44.95
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 9781849391177 $17.95
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 9780395570357 $24.99 pb 9780547076805 $11.99
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 9780850915211 $16.99
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 hardback 9781846169052 $35.00 pb 9781846168864 $16.99
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 9780688156619 $27.00
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 9780207172854 $14.99
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
Our Daft Dog Danny by Pamela Allen hardback 9780670073351 $24.95 pb 9780143503446 $14.95
Going to the beach with Uncle Peter and his dog Millie should be such fun for the two children but their dog Danny gets overexcited and just wants to bite and hang on to Millie’s tail. And that is no fun for anyone. They try hot chilli sauce on Millie’s tail but that just makes Danny miserable. At last Toby has the brilliant idea of getting a long rope which Danny can bite and tug and soon everyone joins in this new game and they all have fun again at the beach. A very entertaining book with a lively text and exuberant illustrations showing how Toby worked out a great solution to the problem of an over excited dog. (4 – 9 years)
thinkers, caring
Rose Blanche by Ian McEwan illustrated by Roberto Innocenti pb
9780099439509 $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 9780744598292 $16.95
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
Sunday Chutney by Aaron Blabey hardback 9780670071791 $24.95
I found the strong cartoon style illustrations a little confronting at first but any reservations quickly fell away on reading this lively, engaging and exuberant story. Sunday Chutney is always starting new schools because her family shifts frequently to different places round the world. This has many advantages which Sunday lists, but she can’t help hating her first days at a new school even though she has developed her own idiosyncratic ways of coping with this. I think that kids would love to give their own thoughts about Chutney’s life and her quirky views on life. (7 – 10 years)
communicators, risk takers, reflective
The Colour of Home by Mary Hoffman illustrated by Karin Littlewood pb 9780711219915 $16.95
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 9780688140236 $11.00
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 9781406305647 $16.95, pb + DVD 9781406315455 $19.95
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 9781885008336 $26.00 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 9780671667450 $11.00
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 9780763612740 $11.00
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 hardback 9780916291044 $23.00 pb 9780916291266 $12.00
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 9780141328577 $16.95
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
Abdullah's Butterfly by Janine Fraser illustrated by Kim Gamble pb
9780207190803 $14.99
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
9781862919372 $15.99
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 9780140366181 $16.95
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 9781847802507 $15.95
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 $11.00 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 9780805080483, The Black Cauldron 9780805080490 , The Castle of Llyr 9780805080506, Taran Wanderer 9780805080513 and The High King 9780805080520 (9 – 14 years)
risk takers, principled,
balanced, reflective
Crash! The Story
of Poddy by William Taylor pb 9781869434854 $19.95
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 9780140361476 $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 hardback 9780689853227 $25.00 pb 9780689711817 $11.00
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 9780207200779 $14.99
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 9781741144376 $15.99 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 9780207198014 $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
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson hardback 9780525467397 $29.00 pb 9780142501849 $12.00
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
Just One Wish by Sally Rippin pb 9780143304463 $12.95
When Little Pumpkin arrives in Australia from Shanghai, everything is so difficult.
Her hateful cousin Betty refuses to translate correctly for her and Little Pumpkin feels very isolated. However when she meets the art teacher who is deaf they communicate very well through their drawings. She gradually understands that there are many different ways of communicating. To her surprise, she discovers there are many kind people who help and even decides she doesn’t need to use the one magic wish her grandmother gave to her. (7 - 10 years)
communicators
Kensuke's
Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo pb 9781405221740 $14.95 new paperback edition with colour illustrations 9781405248563 $16.95 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
Moon Station by Rachel Flynn illus by Judy Watson pb 9780143304524 $12.95
Williams has to do a project on designing a moon station. Some enterprising kids outsource their projects to their parents since this is the modern way or “best practice.” Williams has a suspicion that this might be cheating. This is a very amusing story about the hazards of doing projects (but certainly not an example of PYP best practice.) One of the popular Aussie Bites. (7 – 9 years)
Inquirers, thinkers, principled
Nips X1 by Ruth Starke pb 9780734401137 $15.99
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
Noodle Pie by Ruth Starke pb 9781862917637 $17.99
When Andy and his father make a trip to Vietnam to visit relatives, it is for Andy’s father his first trip back since he escaped from the country in a rusty fishing boat when he was just 15 years old. For Andy who is 11 years old and was born in Australia, it is his first visit to Hanoi and the first time he has met any of his many relatives in Vietnam. The book is written mainly from Andy’s point of view and at first much seems very strange to him. Gradually as Andy comes to understands more about this family, we also understand so much more about Vietnam, its recent history and its people. A marvellous book written with humour and insight. (9 – 12 years)
inquirers, communicators, risk-takers, caring
Number the Stars by
Lois Lowry pb 9780007395200 $12.99
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 9780207170287 $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 hardback 9780192782403 $36.95 pb 9780192754134 $17.95
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 9781862913141 $11.99
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 9780702233371 $16.95 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 hardback 9780060275853 $29.00 pb 9780064462082 $13.99 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 9781862916357 $15.99
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. Rowan and the Travellers pb 9781862916364 $15.99 and Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal pb 9781862916371 $16.99, Rowan and the Zebak pb 9781862916388 $15.99 and Rowan and the Bukshah pb 9781862916395 $15.99 (7 – 10 years)
thinkers, risk takers, principled, caring, open-minded,
reflective
Sarah, Plain and Tall by
Patricia MacLachlan hardback 9780064402057 $24.00 pb 9780064402057 $10.00
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
9781865081816 $17.95
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 9789812610010 $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 9780143300663 $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
The Mobile Phone Detective by James Moloney pb 9780143304838 $12.95
This is fun! It is mystery in which mobile phone technology is the key – not that this would normally be of much interest to me but somehow James Moloney makes this mystery adventure tale very entertaining. Renton is 13 years old and is travelling with his father in France when his father is kidnapped. Renton doesn’t speak French but he manages to send incriminating photos to the French Police showing what has happened, where he is going and where his father is being held. Mobile phones can truly do amazing things in the hands of smart kids! One of the popular Aussie Chomps. (8 – 12 years)
inquirers, risk takers, knowledgeable, communicators
To the Boy in Berlin by Elizabeth Honey and Heike Brandt pb 9781741750041 $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 9781921272578 $16.95 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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