Let's talk about a book!

As I sit on the sofa babysitting my godchildren, I'm wondering how I can get a class full of children to follow instructions as a teacher and yet these two are pretty much running rings around me as an aunt! Still I obviously can't stay away from children even during my summer holidays (and I'm loving it!)

Anyway pre-7:00am this morning a not at all sleepy little girl brought me a book to read to her and despite thinking fondly of my lie-in I obliged as the ingrained teacher in me can't help but encourage this love of reading! One of the many books read over the last few days was one by a classic author, Julia Donaldson although one I'm less familiar with - Jack and the Flumflum tree.

Click on the image above to get your own copy. The book description is:

Jack's Granny is sick with a bad case of the moozles! And the only cure is the fruit of the fantastic flumflum tree which grows on the faraway Isle of Blowyernose. It's a perilous journey, but Jack bravely sets sail, with a motley crew of only three -- and a large patchwork sack that Granny has filled with an odd assortment of items from chewing-gum to tent pegs. But what use will they be against hungry sharks, a leaky boat and a thieving monkey? Follow Jack across the ocean in this irresistible story from the creators of TYRANNOSAURUS DRIP and THE TROLL.

Along with the familiar rhyming verses common to all Julia Donaldson stories, the vivid illustrations from David Roberts and comedy refrains make this an especially enjoyable read. Whilst I enjoyed sharing this book with my goddaughter, teaching ideas include:

• Rewriting the story from Jack or Granny's point of view
• Listing the items in the backpack and their uses in the story
• What else could they have encountered and what might have solved it?
• Finding rhyming words
• Draw a map of the journey to the Flumflum tree
• Sewing your own patchwork sacks
• Making Jack's boat 

Head over to Mrs Jump's Book Talk Tuesday to find more great reading suggestions.