That's Not Right

by Alan Durant, Katharine McEwen (Illustrator)

Ellie's simple story about a bug, takes on new dimensions when she meets all of the characters from her story, each insisting Ellie's story is "not right".

Genres: Picture Books

48 pages, Library Binding

First published September 26, 2002

About the author

Alan Durant is the author of books for a wide age-range, from picture books such as Burger Boy to top-end teenage thrillers (Blood, Flesh and Bones). Having worked as a copywriter at Walker Books, he is now a full-time author.

He's married, with three children and lives just outside London. He does a lot of school visits throughout the UK and abroad and also runs writing workshops.

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie's class had to do write a story on animals. Ellie wrote a very short story about a bug that ended up being squashed by a shoe - the end. When her teacher remarked about her short story - Ellie replied that it had the elements of a story; a beginning, a middle and an end. When she gets home, she hears a voice that tells her that the story is not right. This was from a little bug that Ellie had based her story upon. Being a sow bug, he reminded her that he was not actually classified as an insect as he had qualities that would classify him as a crustacean, and noted the differences between the two. He then proceeds to retell her story from his point of view. Basically it ends up with another sow bug retelling the story as well as the poor old shoe in the story. At the end of the story, the writer prompts the readers to write from the moon's point of view. Such a brilliant story, highlighting the different points of view that one could use in a story, as what the basic structure of writing a good story would be. Well done Alan Dyrant - a lovely story with a valuable lesson as well.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie wrote a story with a beginning, middle and end, but the ending was not a happy one for the sow bug which was her main character. She meets a real sow bug with a change to her story, then other characters who tell the story from their perspective.
Great book for showing how to play with writing and come up with different ideas.

[Shemona · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘That’s not right’, is great story to read to children just before a literacy lesson. This is as it encourages children to explore and experiment when it comes to story writing and it highlights the fact that it is always good to look at points from more than one point of view. For this reason I feel this story is perfect for both key stage 1 and 2. The story involves Ellie who as the main character has written a story about a bug being squashed, she then comes across the characters in her tale who all shed ideas on how to improve and change her current text. By doing so her story greatly improves. This great read is supported by colourful pictures and humorous text which children will enjoy reading and listening to.

[Kristin Sprague · Rating 4 out of 5]

what's not right?

[milli ༅ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was WAY longer than i expected it to be why was it almost 50 pages