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Lemony Snicket – discussion questions, vocabulary activities, writing activities, character studies, and cross-curricular activities

Lemony Snicket is the pen name of American novelist Daniel Handler. Snicket is the author of several children's books, serving as the narrator of A Series of Unfortunate Events (his best-known work) and appearing as a character within the series.

Even reluctant readers find all of the books fun to read. They are told with such an offbeat sense of humour. The stories are mysterious, but they are soothing in that the plot is predictable, the writing is informal and the characters are very simple. Lemony Snicket has very cleverly titled his books using alliteration: There is a wonderful use of language, and the books are a pleasure to read aloud.

Incorporate the books into your classroom curriculum with these discussion questions, vocabulary activities, writing activities, character studies, and cross-curricular activities to supplement and enhance your teaching.  => http://bit.ly/14iVsUE

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Fiction activities for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.

For the first time in a decade, Willy Wonka, the reclusive and eccentric chocolate maker, is opening his doors to the public – well, five members of the public to be exact. The lucky five who find a Golden Ticket in their Wonka chocolate bars will receive a private tour of the factory, given by Mr. Wonka himself. For young Charlie Bucket, this a dream come true. And, when he finds a dollar bill in the street, he can't help but buy two Wonka's Whipple–Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delights – even though his impoverished family could certainly use the extra dollar for food. But as Charlie unwraps the second chocolate bar, he sees the glimmer of gold just under the wrapper! The very next day, Charlie, along with his unworthy fellow winners Mike Teavee, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and Augustus Gloop, steps through the factory gates to discover whether or not the rumors surrounding the Chocolate Factory and its mysterious owner are true. What they find is that the gossip can't compare to the extraordinary truth, and for Charlie, life will never be the same again. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, another unforgettable masterpiece from the legendary Roald Dahl, never fails to delight, thrill, and utterly captivate.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a book that stands the test of time. Roald Dahl's story continues to capture the attention and imaginations of children today, as it did when it was first published in 1964.  Children relate to Charlie Bucket who is an ordinary boy.  The story is one of good versus evil, where the antagonists are not monsters but naughty children, who get their just desserts in the end.  There is magic.  There is imagination.  There is chocolate.  And in the end, good behaviour is rewarded.     All of this makes Charlie and the Chocolaty factory an ideal book to study, since it has already engaged the children's interest.  There are a myriad of things you can do, using this book in the classroom to build children's skills across a range of curriculum areas.  Click here to access more than 100 activities involving comprehension, character studies, craft activities, maths, ESL, music, social science, art, science.  There are puzzles, games, word searches, worksheets and more...=>  http://bit.ly/XOUHDY

 

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Horton hatches the egg – reading app

Horton hatches the egg
Kind-hearted Horton the elephant is persuaded to sit on an egg while its mother, the good-for-nothing bird lazy Maysie flutters off on a vacation.

=> http://bit.ly/N4Shwj

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Fiction activity for Three Little Pigs

There are so many versions of the The Three Little pigs out there and we found a few and created a little freebie to share with you all.

First we'll read an original version of The Three Little Pigs.

The freebie is a worksheet comparing the houses in an original version of The 3 Little Pigs and a version that you choose. We'll be choosing The 3 Little Daisies because the houses are completely different.

Click the worksheet below to download your copy => http://bit.ly/nFCK8p

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Colour in Sniff the Dragon

Paul Jenning has added to his website. This time it's a colouring picture. Sniff the Dragon. Check it out at his fabulous downloads page. => http://bit.ly/nZC5qA

You can met Sniff in Paul Jennings' book "Rascal the Dragon"

EAN:978-0143501732
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Global
Published in: Australia
Published: April 2007

Ben wants a pet dragon, but his father says no because each one has a bad habit in this easy reader by Australian author Paul Jenning. Ben finds a stray dragon that he names Rascal and begs his father to let him keep him as a pet. When Rascal makes himself useful by lighting a fire ....

Best price in Australia

... also available from

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Recently released: the latest Nanny Piggins

Nanny Piggins and the Accidental Blast-off
by R.A. Spratt

In space no one can hear you oink!

Derrick, Samantha and Michael should be in school. Instead they find themselves in NASA's space shuttle, which Nanny Piggins manages to accidentally launch, blasting them all into outer space. This time she has gone too far!

In this thrilling fourth instalment of her adventures, Nanny Piggins wrestles with a crocodile, bungy jumps of the roof using the elastic from Mr Green's underpants, staples chicken wire over their chimney to keep out Santa, captures an apricot danish-loving jewel thief and rescues her brother, Boris, from an onslaught of professional wrestlers.

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The Very Bad Book

In a very bad wood,
There was a very bad house.
And in that very bad house,
There was a very bad room.
And in that very bad room,
There was a very bad cupboard.
And in that very bad cupboard,
There was a very bad shelf.
And on that very bad shelf,
There was a very bad box.
And in that very bad box,
There was a VERY BAD BOOK...
AND THIS IS IT!!!

Author Information

Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton are a creative partnership that began with Just Tricking! in 1997 and now extends to seven Just books and over a million copies sold. Their partnership continued with the award-winning The Bad Book, the off-the-wall success of The Cat on the Mat is Flat (which was shortlisted for the CBC Book of the Year for Younger Readers award), The Big Fat Cow That Goes Kapow and What Bumosaur is That?.

Andy and Terry are now published all over the world including the US, where Andy's Bum books have made the New York Times bestseller lists.

The Very Bad Book from Pan Macmillan Australia on Vimeo.

You can buy the book here => http://bit.ly/a07915

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There’s a new Rascal from Paul Jennings

Rascal and the Bad Smell
Author: Paul Jennings
Illustrator: Bob Lea
Real books for beginners

Someone made a bad smell. But who?

Like a bloodhound on a case, Rascal puts his nose to the task of finding the culprit.

Read a Rascal story to your children and before long they'll read it to you.

You can buy the book here => http://bit.ly/dd083c

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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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Children’s stories that can still make you cry

A few of the books I sobbed over in childhood can still raise a tear. Anyone else?

Many books make me cry when I encounter them for the first time, although fewer these days than during my mascara-smeared teens. But it's rare that a childhood favourite still has the power to call forth tears. Mostly, I find, the potency of even the most sorrowful children's book fades with time, like the scent of a floral sachet – there might be a little lingering whiff of lavender, a tiny prickle at the back of the eye, but no sign of the once irresistible overflow and puckering plop of tear-drop onto page. There are, however, notable exceptions.

Read more ...