Welcome to the fifth post in my Readalong, and the final post focussing on Pearl Verses the World. When I planned this Readalong, I planned to dedicate a post to classroom ideas. But then the Pandemic happened, and classrooms changed (for now, at least), and I also realised that there are already lots of great teacher notes available here and here and here.

So,l I thought I’d instead give ten quick ideas for things you can do with Pearl – at home, with an online class, or in a classroom or library. So here goes: 10 things you can do with Pearl Verses the World.

1. Read it. Yes I know that’s stating the obvious, because it is a book, after all. But what I mean is JUST read it. No need to analyse, to come up with twenty comprehension questions, or fifty different worksheets. In a classroom, or library, or at home, sometimes (lots of the time! MOST of the time!) books should just be read and digested.
2. Gift it. Let someone else read it. Books make wonderful birthday, Easter, Christmas, Name Day, just because presents. And I know, because people have told me, that Pearl has been given to recipients of all ages.
3. Write a poem about your family. On page 33 Pearl describes her family:

Me

My Mum

And my Granny…

Who is in your family? What’s it like to be part of such a big family, or such a small family? Is there a metaphor for what your family is like?

4. Write a limerick. Pearl says she doesn’t like poems that rhyme, but when her teachers insists on poems, Pearl writes limericks. Here’s one:

There was a young lady called Pearl

Who was not a rhyming type girl

She said “I’ve no time

For poems that rhyme”

Which made her poor teacher go hurl.

You can write a limerick about yourself, your cat, your dog, an imaginary person – anyone! There’s some great tips on how to write a limerick here.

5. Design a new cover for Pearl Verses the World. Have a look at the two covers it has had – the Australian one and the UK one (you can see them here). Which parts of each do you like? Now imagine YOU are the cover designer – what image would you use? What font? Any other details?
6. Now imagine there is going to be a sequel – Pearl Verses the Universe. What cover would THAT book have? What would happen to Pearl? Write that story, or part of it.
7. Write a review. A book review is a reader’s opinion of a book. You can see some examples of reviews of Pearl here and here and here and a quick guide to writing a review here. Write your own review of the book and share  it with someone who hasn’t read the book yet.
8. In the book we only hear Pearl’s voice. So, although we meet other characters, we don’t really know what they are thinking. Write a poem, from the point of view of Mitchell Mason, or Prudence Jones, or Miss Bruff.
9. There are some wonderful illustrations in Pearl Verses the World, but not every page has a picture. Find a page with no illustration and reread it, then draw the picture you think could go with that page.
10. Ask the author a question about the book! Whether you have read the book, are going to read the book, or even if you don’t think you ever will, I’d love to hear your questions. And if you post them here on my blog (in the comments) or on my Facebook author page here, I will answer them.

Thanks again for joining in on this Readalong. Tomorrow starts week 2, and I’ll be sharing a reading from Toppling. See you then.