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The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett – trailer and teaching/reading ideas

The Wee Free men
by Terry Pratchett

A young witch-to-be named Tiffany teams up with the Wee Free Men, a clan of six-inch-high blue men, to rescue her baby brother and ward off a sinister invasion from Fairyland

A Teaching Guide to Terry Pratchett
Spark discussion about A Hat Full of Sky, The Wee Free Men, and The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents with the pre-reading activities and discussion questions in this printable teaching guide to these books by Terry Pratchett.

Discussion module

Teaching guide

Secrets of The Wee Free Men and Discworld: The Myths and Legends of Terry Pratchett's Multiverse

You can buy from Amazon for US$9.99

or from me for US$7.50 --- click on the button -=>





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Sixth book of Christmas – The Polar Express (with lesson plans)

The Polar Express
by Chris Van Alsburg

One couldn't select a more delightful and exciting premise for a children's book than the tale of a young boy lying awake on Christmas Eve only to have Santa Claus sweep by and take him on a trip with other children to the North Pole. And one couldn't ask for a more talented artist and writer to tell the story than Chris Van Allsburg. Allsburg, a sculptor who entered the genre nonchalantly when he created a children's book as a diversion from his sculpting, won the 1986 Caldecott Medal for this book, one of several award winners he's produced. The Polar Express rings with vitality and wonder.

Watch the trailer

Ideas, lessons, printables, games, party fun, and much more

Lesson plans and activities

Lessons, resources and integrated units

Scholastic Lesson plan

Ideas, guides, activities and integrated units

Buy the book

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King George VI and his speech therapist from Australia

Colin Firth talks about his upcoming film 'The King's Speech', a drama about King George VI and his relationship with his Australian speech therapist.

More about the book here => http://bit.ly/bZ1z1q

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Today’s must-read “The Pacific” was made into a miniseries for television


The Pacific

Hugh Ambrose

In The Pacific, Hugh Ambrose focuses on the real-life stories of the five men who put their lives on the line for our country. To deepen the story revealed in the miniseries and go beyond it, the book dares to chart a great ocean of enmity known as The Pacific and the brave men who fought. Some considered war a profession, others enlisted as citizen soldiers. Each man served in a different part of the war, but their respective duties required every ounce of their courage and their strength to defeat an enemy who preferred suicide to surrender. The medals for valor which were pinned on three of them came at a shocking

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Young Australian to play Judy Moody

Twelve-year-old Australian actress Jordana Beatty has snagged the title role in family movie Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer based on the popular children's book series. Read more ...

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The Official Trailer for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader!

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Books into Movies – Tomorrow when the war began

Tomorrow, When the War Began (The Tomorrow Series #1)
by John Marsden

Australian teenager Ellie and six of her friends return from a winter break camping trip to find their homes burned or deserted, their families imprisoned, and their country occupied by a foreign military force in league with a band of disaffected Australians. As their shock wears off, the seven decide they must stick together if they are to survive. After a life-threatening skirmish with the occupiers, the teens retreat to their isolated campsite in the bush country and make plans to fight a guerilla war against the invaders. Writing in a distinct voice and showing rare intelligence and sensitivity, Ellie recounts their courageous battles against the Goliath in control of their land. She also records her feelings and observations about the romantic partnerships that develop within her small circle of friends, and shows how they mature and blossom during this time of crisis. Though readers are left wondering whether these heroes and heroines will survive (one is severely wounded at the end of the novel), Ellie's uncommonly honest and clear narration makes this coming-of-age adventure a story they won't forget. Fast-paced and provocative, it's a natural for book talking.
Jack Forman, Mesa College Library, San Diego
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A gripping tale, told with Marsden's customary incisiveness.

The movie is due for release on September 2nd 2010

Teaching with Tomorrow when the war began
Introducing and teaching Tomorrow, When The War
Year 10 Context study: Close study of a novel and its author
Tomorrow When the War Began Booktalk
2007 Student Essays Tomorrow, When the War Began

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Judy Moody books to be adapted for the screen

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Precious' producers adapting 'Judy Moody'
John Schulz to direct pic based on popular book series

"Precious" producers Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness have selected their next project: family pic "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer," based on the popular childrens book series.
John Schultz ("Aliens in the Attic") will direct from an adapted script by Kathy Waugh and Megan McDonald, author of the books. Schultz begins lensing in August in Los Angeles.

Read more ...

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This week’s book into movie – How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your DragonHow to Train Your Dragon  (Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)

Cressida Cowell

Young Hiccup may be the son of Stoick the Vast, chief of the Hairy Hooligans, but he isn't exactly heroic Viking material.

When he and the other boys of his tribe are sent on a mission to fetch dragons to train, Hiccup comes back with the scrawniest creature ever seen. Toothless, as Hiccup names him, is also rude, lazy, and greedy, but when the tribe is faced with horrible danger, Hiccup's unorthodox dragon-training techniques prove successful and he and his unique beast become true heroes. Sprinkled throughout with funny sketches, scribbles, and ink blots, this is a goofy and exciting tale of an underdog who proves that brains can be just as important as brawn.

Kids will hoot at the ridiculous names and sympathize with Hiccup's exasperation with his truly obstinate but strangely lovable dragon. A delightful read that fans of Ian Whybrow's "Little Wolf" series (Carolrhoda) will particularly enjoy.

Watch the trailer for the movie

More information on the book

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Could we call “Love Story” a classic, or is it trash?

Emily Farrell makes a good case for " classic".

'Love Story' is a readable classic, she writes, Forty years after it was written, it still draws teens to its universal issues.

Is it better to read "Love Story" by the late Erich Segal, who died recently, or "Hamlet," by the really late playwright William Shakespeare? The answer seems obvious to most educated people. "Hamlet" is the world's greatest tragedy; "Love Story" is trash.

But they are both classics. Yes, both. If a classic stands the test of time, "Hamlet" needs no defense. And as this high school English teacher can attest, "Love Story" still resonates with teenagers 40 years after it was written. The boys still identify with the struggle of being independent from parents, and the girls understand the desire to marry a man who is rich and athletic. Everyone cries when Jenny dies and sobs when the Barrett men finally admit, "Love means never having to say you're sorry."

A classic deals with universal dilemmas.

... And this is the first of the major points she makes in support of her viewpoint ...