Format of teaching sequences

I am thoroughly enjoying using the Power of Reading sequences and approaches with my class, and the children's response to the texts has been tremendous - especially the change in the boys' attitudes.

One thing that would really make my life easier is for the teaching sequences to follow the same format. Although some are similar, many of them are quite dramatically different in format. I know this may sound a bit picky but because we have to be so precise and detailed with our daily literacy plans, being able to find what I need in the sequences more easily would really help.

The Boy in the striped pyjamas

I love, love, love this book! I began reading with some scepticism, as I often find that books that have been made into films can be somewhat lacking. However, as soon as I started reading could not put the book down - I was hooked. The way that Boyne has written from Bruno's pov with such innocence and sensitivity was amazing; many books I have read which have been written from a child's pov sometimes sound childish, and fail to engage me. I especially enjoyed the way he used Bruno's more 'child-like' language, such as 'Outwith'.

The end shocked me, and made me cry - cannot believe that I didn't see it coming!

As a result of reading this I have since watched the film, and was not at all disappointed! It was, rather surprisingly, just as moving and enthralling as the book.

Brilliant choice of book!

Eye of the wolf Daniel Pennac

Similar to other bloggers, found this book hard to get into at first, was confusing who was telling the story at times however don't think this was necessarily a bad thing, just required more concentration! Enjoyed the way Pennac portrays the connection between the wolf and boy in a very simple yet effective way e.g boy closing an eye to make the wolf more at ease.

A lot to get out of this book, worth a second read.

Katie and Sue, Pakeman School

Eye of the wolf - Daniel Pennac

We both really enjoyed reading the last two books - Other side of Truth and Garbage King and looked forward to getting into Eye of the wolf , however this book was much more of a struggle to read. Eye of the wolf is written in a very different style. It doesn't have a running plot but uses anecdotes from the boy and the wolf which were sometimes hard to follow. This gave the book a disjointed feel which was hard to understand. We had been told that it may take a couple of chapters to get into the book but neither of us did. We were both left feeling a little disappointed by The Eye of the Wolf but reading other more positive blogs suggest that we should give this book another chance and have a go at reading it again.

Anna and Amy Woodlands Infants School Ilford

For the colleague who wanted to know about other Pennac titles, all those who loved Eye of the Wolf AND those who are still to be convinced...

Dog - Daniel Pennac

Half-drowned at birth, abandoned on a rubbish tip and chased by dog-catchers:Dog's had a tough puppyhood. He decides it's time to find himself an owner - someone he can train and love. But human beings are strange creatures and his search is harder than he expected...

Written from a canine point of view, this humorous and touching story will warm your hearts and have you alternatively laughing and (maybe) crying. It is reminiscent of Varjak Paw and The Miraculous Adventures of Edward Tulane and its French setting could make it of interest to those schools which have chosen French as their additional language.

Don't be put off by the first couple of chapters.

Jenny Vernon CLPE

Eye of the Wolf

I found The Eye of the Wolf incredibly moving. I particularly enjoyed the simple way the wolf and boy were connected by their shared experiences and how this enabled us to learn their stories. How powerful was the image of the boy shutting one eye in order to be able to really communicate. I don't know if it says something about the author or about me the reader, but I felt more involved/ affinity with the wolf than with the boy.

Colline Smith
St. Mary's Primary
North Somerset

Eye of the Wolf by Daniel Pennac

I found this to be an enjoyable but rather unusual and intriguing book. The beginning is very interesting and I liked the idea of writing from the wolf's point of view. You can almost feel the wolf's curiousity and disquiet at being watched by the young boy. Like the wolf you are left asking questions, who is this boy and why is he there?
This story is an easy read but rather like an onion it has so many different layers. You learn about the Blue Wolf and Africa and then there are the sub plots surrounding the characters of Shiny Straw, the she-wolf, Saucepans, hyena etc.
Africa's story is rather like reading a traditional or fairy tale and has an almost magical quality. Terrible things happen to Africa, he's an orphan and he's sold by Toa, but you always get the impression that all will be well.
The ending of the story is sentimental but I rather liked that to be honest. It's satisfying that the characters, even Toa find happiness and peace "in the zoo of the Other World". After all "Eye of the Wolf" is a book for children so why shouldn't it have a happy ending?

Heather Maynes Wraxall Primary North Somerset.

Eye of the Wolf

There is something about 'Eye of the Wolf' which is compelling. Daniel Pennac is described as a 'master story-teller'. I reflected on this as I read. There was something incredibly simple about how the boy's and the wolf's stories were told and this simplicity made me want to carry on reading. For me what made the story special was how Daniel Pennac connected the boy, the wolf and their stories together.

I was interested in James Hollis' comment that, "read aloud it is captivating..." Although I read this to myself, I can understand exactly what he means and perhaps having this read to you is the perfect way to access this beautiful story.

Penny Boardman
Learning and Teaching Adviser
North Somerset

Eye of the Wolf

The more I read this book the more enchanted I become by it. There is something very powerful, particularly about the opening (the initial stand-off through the enclosure fence and the moment the boy covered one eye), and the wolf's story. What a clever idea that you can be drawn into the wolf's world through his eye, and what a beautiful world it is. Read aloud, it is captivating and naturally generates thought provoking questions and discussions. Strangely, I don't feel the same affinity with Africa's story. Although his journey was interesting I need to give more time to the meaning of the ending.

James Hollis
High Down Junior, N.Somerset

Eye of the Wolf

Having really enjoyed the previous 2 books on the reading list (Other Side of the Truth and Garbage Kings) , I was left feeling a little disappointed by The Eye of the Wolf. While the themes running through the story were really interesting, I found the writing style a little disjointed. However, I can see how the book could be used for lots of cross-curricular writing opportunities - but probably not in my class.

Diarmuid & Laura
St Boniface RC, Tooting

Eye of the Wolf

What a lovely tale. We really loved the imagary and the narrative thread that ran throughout the story. I found the ending particularly interesting. I felt it didn't fit in with the rest of the story, which was very true to life. The ending felt slightly surreal. What do other people think?

Helen and Anna, Sacred Heart Roehampton

Eye of the Wolf

I read the book a while ago and I remember enjoying the idea and I remember the ending very clearly so that makes me think the ending was particularly effective! I enjoyed the issues it raised and the ideas of captivity (I used to be a zookeeper) so the parts where it describes the captive wolf are particularly poingant for me. I always enjoy a story that approaches things in a different way.

Eye of the Wolf

I didn't enjoy this book and felt very disappointed by it. I struggle to remember what happened in the story. I kept feeling that the story was going to open up and become more exciting. I shan't be recommending it to anyone and really hope the next book that is recommended will be more to my taste.