Tutorial 1- Favourite Childhood Story

                In today’s lesson ( 6 January 2011), we were assigned to select a story that we love the most during our childhood time. My chosen story is The Bat and The Weasels.

"A Bat who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he was not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another Weasel,whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and thus a second time escaped."

1.       The reason/s you choose the story

I decided to choose this story because it has a good moral value that people always think it as a bad value. Telling lies doesn’t mean you are bad people, but in some situation, we have no other choice but to lie. Sometimes we do it because we care for others’ feeling, and in some occasions, to help ourselves and getting away from problem. However, we know that it is not good when it become a habit.

2.       Element(s) in the story that make me think that the story is interesting

I do think sense of suspense and terror are the obvious element that makes the story pretty meaningful. The bat flew and fell twice, both to the hand of different weasels. Yet, by using his trick, he was able to escape.

3.       The portrayal of characters in the story

The main character in this short story is the bat. He is a small animal with a big brain and great idea. He knew he was in danger and quickly turns the situation into his side.

4.       The plot of the story

The plot of the story is so simple, short in length and easy to understand. The climax is when the bat was able to escape by the weasels. The resolution is a happy ending like what most of the children want.

5.       The suitability of the story as children story

I think this story is very suitable for children. Children are taught to be honest and do not tell lies. However they should not be honest and give everything to the strangers that may harm themselves.  Bad people are everywhere, and a lot of cases reported everyday about missing children. Thus, this story teaches them to be careful with the stranger and do not get close to someone they don’t know. Even though element of telling lies is everywhere in this story, it gives a lesson that lies are told as a protection. It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.

Children’s Books and Folktales

How to develop reading habit in children? And how would they learn to read if they never given the opportunity? Bedtime stories are the first step in encouraging children to read. Let them know a few interesting stories or a part of it, and let them read the rest by their own. However, uninteresting text won’t help much. Give them items that suitable for them; simple words and colourful story book, which will encourage them in learning new words and understand more! Here is the review of the popular children’s book, Edwina the Emu and The Gruffalo. 

Book 1: Edwina the Emu

What book are you going to read to your children today? What book should you buy for them? Perhaps Edwina the Emu would be great for children that already pick up words at the level of 7-9 years old.  So what’s the story about?

Edward and his mate Edwina are the proud parents of ten little emu eggs. "Don't get depressed. I'll find a job, you stay on the nest," says Edwina to her stunned mate. And so Edwina sets out to find a job in this light-hearted offering from down under. However, things come and press her with the reality that she just an female emu that need to take care of her little baby-to-born soon. mWow! The woman plays a big role to the family huh? Is it a good idea or love for the family is the foremost thing to put up in a mother’s thought?

Well, this rhythmic, rhyming verse Edwina the Emu by Sheena Knowles and hilarious illustrations by Rod Clement make this an entertaining picture book that is sure to find a place in the hearts of readers everywhere, mostly the children. With the record of about almost 70 000 sales, this 32 pages book would win the heart of all readers, mostly the children.

Book 2: The Gruffalo

          Gruffalo? What is Gruffalo? Is it an animal? The first time I heard about it was in Dr. Jayakaran’s class. Well The Gruffalo is a children's book by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, that tells the story of a cunning mouse. The protagonist of The Gruffalo is a mouse. The mouse's walk through the woods unfolds in two phases; in both, the mouse uses cunning to evade danger.

          On his way the mouse encounters several dangerous animals (a fox, an owl, and a snake). Each of these animals, clearly intent on eating the mouse, invites him back to their home for a meal. The cunning mouse declines each offer. To dissuade further advances, he tells each animal that he has plans to dine with his friend, a Gruffalo, whose favorite food happens to be the relevant animal, and describes the features of the Gruffalo's monstrous anatomy. Frightened that the Gruffalo might eat it, each animal flees. Knowing the Gruffalo to be fictional, the mouse gloats, thusly:

Silly old fox/owl/snake, doesn't he know?

there's no such thing as a Gruffalo!

          After being quit of the last animal, the mouse is shocked to encounter a real Gruffalo – with all the frightening features the mouse thought that he was inventing. The Gruffalo threatens to eat the mouse, but again the mouse is cunning: he tells the Gruffalo that he, the mouse, is the scariest animal in the forest. Laughing, the Gruffalo agrees to follow the mouse as he demonstrates how feared he is. The two walk through the forest, encountering in turn the animals that had earlier menaced the mouse. Each is terrified by the sight of the pair and runs off – and each time the Gruffalo becomes more impressed with the mouse's apparent toughness. Exploiting this, the mouse threatens to eat the Gruffalo, which flees.

          This story was written in rhyming couplets, featuring repetitive verse with minor variance. The book has sold over 10.5 million copies, has won several prizes for children's literature, and has been developed into play. What I like about the book is, it tells the children that being small do not mean they are weak. By using their intelligence and intellectual also they could survive in life thus overcome their lack in physical attributes. I myself also very enthusiastic on the way Julia Donaldson wrote the story, and as a future teacher I will suggest this book to the parents to read it as a bedtime story or just buy it to their kids! No doubt this book is really, really enjoyable one.