August = CBCA Book Week Month. A busy and exciting time for children’s book authors and illustrators as they visit readers across Australia. I love seeing posts from librarians and shadow judges, especially this year, as their displays feature my own shortlisted title Scout and the Rescue Dogs. Scout is also shortlisted for WAYRBA and was this year’s winner of the WA Premier’s Book Award for Children.
At this busy time of the year, I have some fun extension suggestions for teachers and librarians, including a Forever Home Wanted activity to download. This can be adapted for all ages. If you enjoy the activity, please share it and send me a photo of your completed dog bios…
Book trailers are a great way to teach students about blurbs and summarising books. Your students might enjoy this Book Trailer, created by 12-year-old Eden Montgomery.
Children’s Book Week costume: to be Scout, all you need is a shirt with a truck or dog pattern, a cap with a possum, a bag of stones, or a big fluffy dog (real or stuffed 😉
Scout and the Rescue Dogs lends itself to mapping ideas. Try mapping Scout’s journey on a large map. Students could research individual towns, or map a new philanthropic dog food route for Scout, her dad, and Molly.
Philanthropy is a wonderful word and a great thing to celebrate. Ask students what kind of philanthropist they’d like to be? What are some ways they can help their community now? Research local volunteers and invite them to morning tea at school.
Are there truck lovers in your class? If so, it’s time to get your head around the differences between a triple, a b-double, a regular semi, and a giant like this 50-metre swimming pool sized truck. You need a big runup to pass this monster! Truck cabins are cosy, could your class reading nook become a truck cabin?
Do you remember the Black Summer fires? Write a journal entry, real or imagined from the POV of a fire-fighter, a wildlife carer, or someone whose home was impacted. Amidst the horror, kind people across the world tried to help. In pairs act out an interview scenario. Choose an Australian animal and research ways to care for it.
Owning a pet is a huge responsibility. Who has a dog? Would they make a good truck buddy? Does anyone have a different kind of pet that could be a truckie companion? Use bios from the book or your local dog/cat shelter as inspiration to make bios for them.
Teachers and librarians, do you have other Scout and the Rescue Dogs activities that have worked well with your students? I’ll be sharing more ideas over the next few weeks, and updating activities, so please send your ideas. And in the meantime, here is a link back to the Scout page for more info. Check out the gorgeous truck dog photos, the writing back story, and all the best for a wonderful Children’s Book Week!
Dianne Wolfer 
