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Children's Literature
Jan Grajczonek
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EARLY YEARS' CATEGORY
The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell. (2005). Publisher: Little, Brown & Company. ISBN: 0-316-11488-X (Hard cover)
A seemingly simple story about a gift of nothing that becomes the gift of everything, The Gift of Nothing is a journey of discovery for Mooch the cat, as he searches high and low for that special gift. It is Earl’s birthday and Earl is Mooch’s best friend. After much thinking about what to get someone who has everything, Mooch finally decides he’d give NOTHING. He then searches in every place he can think of looking for nothing, but finds that the world is filled with things… When Earl opens his beautifully wrapped gift he finds nothing. “So the two friends just stayed still and enjoyed nothing… and everything.”
In a world consumed with accumulation, this book introduces young students to the essential things that sustain friendships, relationships, community. A rich brainstorm could follow the sharing of this book in which young students suggest the many things that cannot be bought, packaged, or picked up, but truly are everything. There are many special days for which students make cards including Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and so on. This year, students could include a wrapped gift of nothing with their card, but decide what gift of everything is really in this gift of nothing.
MIDDLE PRIMARY CATEGORY
The Postman’s Dog by Lisa Shanahan & Wayne Harris. (2005). Publisher: Allen & Unwin. ISBN: 1-74114-252-0
Charlie is the town’s well-loved postman. He is part of everyone’s lives. After the mail deliveries are finished, Charlie shares each and every moment of his day with his wife. When Charlie’s wife passes away, he becomes withdrawn and is unable to relate to his friends in the same way. They in turn become increasingly concerned and finally suggest that he gets a dog. Charlie chooses Lucy and after a wonderful holiday in which they get to know each other, Charlie returns to his much loved job but Lucy has other ideas… It seems she does not like postmen. Charlie is devastated. Desperate measures must be called upon, but will they work?
Students could be asked to identify what it is that makes Charlie think he has the best job in the world. They would have no difficulty in recognising that Charlie’s happiness lies in his relationships with everyone. They could then be led to discover it is these very same qualities that also convince Lucy that being a postman is the very best job in the world!
UPPER PRIMARY CATEGORY
Me, All Alone, at the End of the World by M.T. Anderson & Kevin Hawkes. (2005). Publisher: Walker Books. ISBN: 0-74458-555-4.
A young boy who is never named, lives alone at the End of the World filling his day listening to the wind, finding treasures such as fossils and bones of monsters, and whistling dance tunes at sunset. His world is one of harmony and tranquillity. He is one with nature and his respect for, as well as relationship with, his environment are obvious. But all of this comes to an abrupt end, as one, Constantine Shimmer moves in on the End of the World and proceeds to bulldoze and destroy to create another world filled with construction and crammed with activities. Soon the sounds of the wind and emptiness are unable to be heard. Thinking becomes impossible. Although he has made friends, the boy decides to leave and discovers another home - at the Top of the World… He settles in and although he still visits his new found friends, is again at peace within himself and with his environment. How long will he be left alone?
This story explores another dimension of relationship - that of relationship with self and the environment, both key in the Church’s understanding of morality. Older students could compare and contrast the boy’s life before and after meeting Constantine Shimmer. They could also be encouraged to examine the pace of modern day life and the increasing need for a space to be kept uncluttered, to be kept empty, wherein they could come to know their own selves and their own place within their environment.
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