Image Source SBS News 3rd January, 2020
There have been a few questions on various forums about books teachers and teacher-librarians might share with children as we all struggle to make sense of the bush fire crisis here in Australia. Here are some that should be easy to find in Australian Primary school libraries and council libraries. Thanks to my friend at Kinderbookwitheverything for her discussion of this topic.
I am not suggesting anyone share these books with children who are directly or even indirectly affected by the fires. These are books to use if your children (living in other areas) have questions about these events. I would expect any parent or teacher would take the time to read a book first to check it is suitable - this is especially important for a topic as serious as this. Here is a quote from Megan Daley to her KidsNextRead Facebook group: "As someone who lived through the 2011 floods in Brisbane I know it was way too soon for children/families to be reading books about floods (even with a good ending) as they lived it, and in the months afterwards. Everyone is different - but I had several little people in my life who were unable to read anything about natural disasters for a very long time indeed. Just something to be mindful of as I know there will be many people in this group who are directly affected by the fires."
Bushfires
Fire by Jackie French illustrated by Bruce Whatley. Here are a set of Teachers Notes from the Geography Teachers Association NSW. And another set from the publisher.
Here is the blurb from the publisher web site:
One small spark bought fire awake
Winding like a small black snake
Fire flickered, fire crept
Flames snickered, bushfire leapt...
Inspired by the bushfires that have affected many
Australians, Fire is a moving and sensitive story of a natural disaster as seen
through the eyes of a cockatoo. The fire mercilessly engulfs homes and land,
leaving a devastating path of destruction. But from the ruins, courage,
kindness and new life grows.
Here are a set of discussion questions and web links to use with this book.
Here is the blurb from the publisher web site:
The powerful story of a family who lose their home in a
bushfire and their journey of recovery.
REMEMBERING BLACK SATURDAY
There is a fire coming, and we need to move quickly. Mum and
Dad start packing bags, grabbing woollen blankets, the first-aid kit, torches,
and then the photo albums. Dad puts Ruby on her lead and ties her up near the
back door. My chest feels hollow, like a birdcage.
Atmospheric and intensely moving, this is the story of a
family experiencing a bushfire, its devastating aftermath, and the long process
of healing and rebuilding.
Through the Smoke by Phil Cummings illustrated by Andrew McLean
Here are a set of Teachers Notes from the publisher shared by Pegi Williams bookshop.
Here is the blurb from the publisher web site:
The fire awoke like a dragon. Its flames licked the sky, and
smoke veiled the sun.
With a hungry crackle and an angry hiss, the cruel beast
circled, trapping them.
Until, through the smoke, knights appeared.
Through the Smoke tells the story of three kids, their
imagination and a frightening fire in the Australian bush.
Wombat Goes Walkabout by Michael Morpurgo illustrated by Christian Birmingham
Here is the blurb from the publisher web site:
One day Wombat digs the deepest hole he's ever dug and
crawls into the cool darkness to think. But when he climbs out again, he can't
see his mother anywhere. He is all alone.
As he wanders through the great outback looking for her,
Wombat meets all kinds of wonderful creatures – Kookaburra, Wallaby, Possum,
Emu, Boy and Koala. None of them think very much of him, though.
But when a fire sweeps through the bush, it is Wombat's
skills which save the day, and afterwards everyone races off to find his mum
and bring her back to him.
Fabish the horse that braved a bushfire by Neridah McMullin illustrated by Andrew McLean
Read my review comments - this book was short listed in 2017 by the CBCA.
Here is the blurb from the publisher web site:
Fabish was a handsome grey racehorse. In his racing days, he
wasn't the fastest horse, but he always tried his hardest. And when he retired,
Fabish took care of the yearlings in a paddock far away from the training
track. Fabish showed the flighty young horses what was expected of a racehorse.
One hot summer day, a wild wind blew up and the yearlings
were restless. Then Fabish smelled smoke. Fire was coming, fast. The trainer
threw open the gate and said, 'Go now!' Fabish neighed to the young ones and
they galloped away. All through the night, the fire raged and the trainer
battled to save the racehorses in the stables.
But what would become of Fabish and the yearlings? Could he
save them from the firestorm?
Applesauce and the Christmas Miracle by Glenda Millard illustrated by Stephen Michael King.
From QBD bookshop:
Applesauce is convinced that there can be no Christmas this
year -- her heart, where Christmas comes from, is as small as a gumnut and
there was no Christmas in it at all. But then something special happens and
Applesauce discovers that Christmas does not need to be all about glitzy
decorations, fancy foods and expensive presents. It does indeed come from the
heart.
Firefighters
Image source: Samaritans
Where there's Smoke by Robin Lovell illustrated by David Miller
Here are a set of teachers notes from the Curriculum Corporation.
Here is the blurb from the publisher web site:
One hot January day, a bulldozer cuts a new track near the
creek and firefighters back-burn around their house a bushfire is coming, and
smoke fills the air. Bodie and his mum shut all the doors and windows, and make
sure there is no rubbish around the house that can catch fire, all the while
listening to their CB to keep track of what s going on.
The fire comes closer; fire trucks arrive to fight the fire
will their house be saved?
Where There’s Smoke deals with what firefighters do when a
bushfire gets close, and what you can do to protect your property.
Web sites to investigate
Tasmanian Fire Service - School Fire Education
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority - Bushfire Education
NSW Rural Fire Service - Resources for Teachers
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