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Rationale
for Choice:
As there is such a diversity of problems within Europe, often making
it difficult to find peace and understanding, this book in its simplicity
suggests a possible harmony within the differences that exist.
Re-telling
In the country of corners everything has corners. A ball
is going to disturb the system. Only the child is able to understand the
message.
Translation:
1. 'Phew - what a lot of bad corners today'
2. 'Yummy, they 're good, these crispy, crunchy corners.'
3. 'Darn it, we're not getting anywhere.'
4. 'What are the seven corners of the world?'
5. 'Hey, that hasn't got any...'
6. ' Have you ever seen anything like that?'
7. 'Rectangular, angular square face, Colonel Corner!'
8. 'I should have known.'
9. 'This is impossible. Quick, come on.'
10. 'There are even more of them!'
11. 'Is that yours? Where does it come from?
12. 'Hold on tight and I'll show you how it goes.'
NB This is a working translation
for educational purpose only.
Activities
for use in school:
(Could possibly be used with 'A ovelha negra'- Portugal)
1. Look carefully at the illustrations :
Discuss i) Why the adults reject the ball
ii) Why the children can accept 'round things
Make a concertina booklet using some other 'difference' to tell a similar
story', and consider the importance of the 'end-pages'.
2. Do the children know of things in their lives that are 'different'
and other people do not always understand? eg specific crazes or desires
to watch programmes/read books that their parents do not necessarily understand.
Ask children to choose something that they would really like to have for
their birthday, but they know that their parents do not understand why.
Get the children to make a list of reasons why they would like it; then
write a letter trying to persuade their parents that it is a good idea.
3. Ask children, in pairs, to write their own text to the story, but
with and additional 4-6 pages, to extend it.
They can then record the story onto tape. These 'storybooks', plus cassettes,
could then be put in the book corner.
Reflection:
Might children universally need to consider acceptance of
'others'?
NB
Further
literature and language-based activities can be found in
Picture Books sans Frontières available
from tb@trentham-books.co.uk
or www.amazon.co.uk
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