Journey

Product Information

This ‘visual literacy’ approach to a picture’s content, narrative and composition is an effective way to boost children’s speaking and listening skills and develop their critical abilities, as well as increase their enjoyment of the book. However you choose to expand upon the books in your classroom remember that the very fact that you’re even reading this is a good sign that your students will pick up on your enthusiasm for storytelling and creativity. Wonder mixes with longing as the myriad possibilities offered by Becker’s stunning settings dwarf what actually happens in the story. In a large, clear space, explore repetitive motions before creating a giant working ‘machine’ by combining individual actions. This book has a great message about using your imagination to escape boring situation, and how two children can use imagination together.

The sheets are labelled circles, triagles, squares and cylinders - but it doesn't really matter which one/s you have a go at. In this first idea, we look exploring the front cover of the book to predict and infer what we think will happen in the story. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny.

In this next idea, pupils can bring some of the characters from the story to life to share their understanding of the motives, actions and decisions. Tell each other what you can see in each others pictures (rather than describing your own) and discuss what kind of a world you think theirs is.

A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound.I know I was happy to see a girl as the hero of the story, taking matters into her own hands, going on adventures, etc.