Do you call it news? Do you call it Show and Tell? I'm talking about the time in the school day, usually in the morning, when members of a class take turns to talk about something or to show something precious to their friends. Teachers are always looking for ways to make these sessions more interesting. For some curious reason children do love Show and Tell but oddly they worry about performing for public speaking. These two activities are quite closely linked. Show and Tell feels like a good way to prepare for public speaking.
Louisa May has been a champion at Show and Tell for the last three years but now she has moved to a new school - Bobbin Head Primary. A little note to readers in Sydney, Australia - there really is a place called Bobbin Head but sadly there is no Primary school there. It is a beautiful bush suburb. For her first Show and Tell Louisa takes along a sabre-toothed Tiger skull.
"I think I should start nice and slowly.
I don't want to look like a show-off ... well not on my first day."
There is a shock coming. Her skull is 'beaten' by the head of a Tyrannosaurus Rex bought in by Jake. The pattern is established. Each day Louisa brings something amazing only to be gazumped by another kid in her class. Here is a list to show how this works:
Louisa
Juggling mouse
Ruby
Tap dancing and singing rat
Louisa
Complete samurai suit
Anthony
Warrior troll outfit
Louisa
Meat-eating plant
Reginald
Black rhino - he eats her plant
She even has a talking chair that recites the complete works of Shakespeare, solider ants dressed as soldiers and an Eiffel Tower made from match sticks. But each and every time another student presents something bigger, or better or more amazing. By May 3rd she admits defeat. She stand in front of the class and explains:
"My name is Louisa May Pickett
and I have nothing to show you and nothing to tell.
I did nothing all week.
I stayed at home with my parents.
I ate.
I slept.
I sat around and
thought about ... nothing.
And you know what?
I loved every minute
of it!"
This is such a funny book and it is a good way to explore the concept of:
one-upmanship
I work with a small group of girls in a local school and their teacher would like them to participate in the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge this year. I am not sure if this is the right project for these girls who all find reading very difficult but they are keen to participate and reach their goal of reading twenty books. Luckily the challenge does allow for special needs students to read books from a different book list. These girls are in Grade 5 but I am sourcing books for them from the Grade 3 and 4 lists. I shared Louisa May Pickett with them last week when we were looking at a range of possible titles to begin the challenge.
Louisa May Pickett was published in 2005 and since that time it has been given a new cover and a new title! I wonder if there was an issue with the word 'boring'? The good news is you can still purchase this book.
If you want to follow up this topic of class news try to find this terrific read aloud title - Gooney Bird Green. Your school library might also have Whoppers by Moya Simons and the sequel Even Bigger Whoppers from the Aussie Bites series. Here are a some other picture books about Show and Tell. Read my review of The Frank Show.
After you read Louisa May Pickett you might like to pick up an earlier book by Rod Clement - Just another Ordinary Day. It has a similar tone and theme. You could then read other books by Rod Clement such as Edward the Emu. You can listen to an sample of Edward the Emu here. It is one of Rod's most famous books.
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