This week we are going to explore one of Wendy Orr's latest picture books. She is certainly a very talented author who can write different stories for different ages of children. When this book was first released in 2010 Wendy Orr made a book trailer to promote her new book. This means that she wanted to encourage people, especially parents and children, to want to read her story and therefore buy the book. Here is the book trailer. Watch this before you read today's story. Today's story will provide lots to talk about and you will learn a whole lot more about Wendy Orr too!
Some things to discuss
Does the book trailer make you want to read and find out what happens in the story?
Does the book trailer build suspense? How? (Hints: Use of music; Why doesn't Wendy Orr read all of the story? Wendy Orr's tone)
Why do you think Wendy Orr chose that particular page to stop her reading of the story?
Do you think this a successful book trailer?
How is a book trailer like a movie trailer?
Discuss what you think will happen next.
Does the book trailer build suspense? How? (Hints: Use of music; Why doesn't Wendy Orr read all of the story? Wendy Orr's tone)
Why do you think Wendy Orr chose that particular page to stop her reading of the story?
Do you think this a successful book trailer?
How is a book trailer like a movie trailer?
Discuss what you think will happen next.
Read the story and discuss
The sisters are using their imagination. What kind of things do you like to pretend?
The princess packs sleeping bags, a rug, pillows, a book, a lantern, and her teddy bear. What
would you pack if you were going on a long journey in your own backyard? Why?
Are the monsters outside the tent at night real or imagined? Which one is your favorite?
Which one is the scariest? Why? Look at the picture on the last page. Can you see the 'monsters' there?
What kind of things scare you at night? Are they real or imaginary? How do you make yourself feel brave? Make a group list of all the things that people are afraid of. Make another list of all the brave things people have done.
What animals might you hear or see if you camped out in your backyard, or somewhere near where you live? Are any of them scary? Are any of them dangerous? What is the difference between dangerous and scary?
Which illustration is your favorite? Why?
What’s your favorite part of the story? Why? Does it match the picture?
Sometimes the text deliberately doesn't match the pictures so that the reader gets a sense that something is not quite right and that something is about to change or happen in the story. Look at the pictures and the text when the girls start to hear noises and see shadows from inside the tent. Read what the text says about the princess and look at the pictures. What do you notice?
The princess packs sleeping bags, a rug, pillows, a book, a lantern, and her teddy bear. What
would you pack if you were going on a long journey in your own backyard? Why?
Are the monsters outside the tent at night real or imagined? Which one is your favorite?
Which one is the scariest? Why? Look at the picture on the last page. Can you see the 'monsters' there?
What kind of things scare you at night? Are they real or imaginary? How do you make yourself feel brave? Make a group list of all the things that people are afraid of. Make another list of all the brave things people have done.
What animals might you hear or see if you camped out in your backyard, or somewhere near where you live? Are any of them scary? Are any of them dangerous? What is the difference between dangerous and scary?
Which illustration is your favorite? Why?
What’s your favorite part of the story? Why? Does it match the picture?
Sometimes the text deliberately doesn't match the pictures so that the reader gets a sense that something is not quite right and that something is about to change or happen in the story. Look at the pictures and the text when the girls start to hear noises and see shadows from inside the tent. Read what the text says about the princess and look at the pictures. What do you notice?
Is this story an adventure fantasy?
Remember last week we spoke about adventure fantasy stories? Would this picture book fit into the same category? Why or why not?
Once again Wendy has brought animals into her story. How are they the same or different to the animals in other stories we have read by Wendy Orr?
Once again Wendy has brought animals into her story. How are they the same or different to the animals in other stories we have read by Wendy Orr?
Look at the illustrations
Why has the illustrator used such 'rich' and full-bodied colours? Flick through the book and discuss the depth and richness of the tones used. Why were they chosen? How do they match the characters in the book?
In many of Wendy Orr's books the main characters are girls who do amazing things. Why do you think she chooses girls to be those brave and adventurous characters? Think of there adventure type stories that you know. Who are the main characters? What is Wendy's message for us when she has a girl as the brave, adventurous, clever, problem solving character?
Why has the illustrator used such 'rich' and full-bodied colours? Flick through the book and discuss the depth and richness of the tones used. Why were they chosen? How do they match the characters in the book?
In many of Wendy Orr's books the main characters are girls who do amazing things. Why do you think she chooses girls to be those brave and adventurous characters? Think of there adventure type stories that you know. Who are the main characters? What is Wendy's message for us when she has a girl as the brave, adventurous, clever, problem solving character?
Additional Activities for later
Map Your Journey!
In the beginning of The Princess and Her Panther, the two sisters go on a long journey across the
desert sand to a wide blue lake. The princess sets up her red silk tent under a tree in the dark,
deep woods. By the end of the story you realize all of their activities have taken place in their
own small backyard. Make a map of your own backyard, then re-make a map of your backyard
using your imagination. Label forests, mountains, deserts, and lakes with adventurous names.
Are there any pets next door that can become fantastic creatures? Let your imaginations go. If
you don’t have a backyard, use a favorite park or your school playground. Then write a story of
what happens in this new magical kingdom.
Make a Poster
In The Princess and Her Panther the two sisters finally find their courage. They shout “Enough
is enough!” and leap from their tent to scare the imagined monsters away. Brainstorm a list of
things you can do to remain calm when you are afraid. Make a poster of at least five things you
can do when you are scared then draw pictures to go with your list, and then post the poster by
your bed!
Onomatopoeia
The author uses onomatopoeia for the sounds and movements of each of the night monsters—choose an animal
that you like and make up list the sounds we usually associate with them. Think of how they move and what
kind of cries or barks they make. If you could turn this animal into a fearsome night creature what would it
sound like? How would it move? Write a Persona Poem, writing in the voice of your animal. Begin with “I am
___________”, filling in the blank with the name of your animal.
In the beginning of The Princess and Her Panther, the two sisters go on a long journey across the
desert sand to a wide blue lake. The princess sets up her red silk tent under a tree in the dark,
deep woods. By the end of the story you realize all of their activities have taken place in their
own small backyard. Make a map of your own backyard, then re-make a map of your backyard
using your imagination. Label forests, mountains, deserts, and lakes with adventurous names.
Are there any pets next door that can become fantastic creatures? Let your imaginations go. If
you don’t have a backyard, use a favorite park or your school playground. Then write a story of
what happens in this new magical kingdom.
Make a Poster
In The Princess and Her Panther the two sisters finally find their courage. They shout “Enough
is enough!” and leap from their tent to scare the imagined monsters away. Brainstorm a list of
things you can do to remain calm when you are afraid. Make a poster of at least five things you
can do when you are scared then draw pictures to go with your list, and then post the poster by
your bed!
Onomatopoeia
The author uses onomatopoeia for the sounds and movements of each of the night monsters—choose an animal
that you like and make up list the sounds we usually associate with them. Think of how they move and what
kind of cries or barks they make. If you could turn this animal into a fearsome night creature what would it
sound like? How would it move? Write a Persona Poem, writing in the voice of your animal. Begin with “I am
___________”, filling in the blank with the name of your animal.