UEL PGCE group 2011-2012 discussion

Esio Trot http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19... - Here is my review of Esio Trot by Roald Dahl.

Little Albatross
Michael Morpurgo
Great Britain: Doubleday, 2004
ISBN: 0-385-60149-2

'Little Albatross'is an intriguing tale of the perilous life of an albatross chick who lives with his parents on a clifftop over looking the sea. When his parents consider him big and strong enough, they leave him and go out in search of food. None of them realised that a killer bird was watching and waiting for just such a moment, and none of them had imagined the danger that awaited Mother and Father Albatross out at sea.

This book is a cleverly compiled device that serves to inform young minds, and sensitise them to the harshness of the natural world and how human survival activity threatens the survival of other species.

Michael Morpurgo adopts the stance of educator-entertainer to present this gripping story using consecutive, brief sentences and repitition to create impact and suspense. His generous use of common adjectives, singly, as well as in twos or even fours (e.g."...bigger, stronger, hungrier, noisier" teases the imagination. The child-like repeated use of "and" (e.g. "...his wings were long and wide and wonderful.") both reflects and generates excitement.

Throughout the story, the themes of family, duty, shared responsibilty and the fickle nature of life are inescapable. Equally unmissable is the flair with which Morpurgo portrays pro-conservation attitudes among trawler fishermen, thus challenging the contrary generalisation.

'The Little Albatross' is further enhanced by Michael Foreman's eye-catching illustrations throughout. The text occupies the smaller proportion of each page in comparison to the realistic illustrations, and is laid out in a variety of locations requiring the reader to engage with every page.

'Little Albatross' is a book of many virtues - education, awareness-raising and immense entertainment. A truly breathtaking reading experience that culminates in a sigh of delightful relief.