Teacher Tuesday: My Shadow

February 7, 2023 by Sally

Welcome to the second edition of Teacher Tuesday for 2023.

Last week I shared a unit of work for teaching Worse Things in upper primary classrooms. This week I wanted to share a favourite poem that you can share with classes of any age.

Choosing poetry for the classroom doesn’t have to be hard. There are lots and lots of wonderful collections and anthologies. But there are also a lot of poems in the public domain including one of my favourites: My Shadow, by Robert Louis Stevenson.

First, listen to it read, with pictures of my shadow enjoying my local beach.

Feel free to use this video in your classroom – I’d love to know what your students think of the poem, my reading – and my amazing beach.

If you’d like a copy of the words, here they are:

My Shadow

by Robert Louis Stevenson

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,

And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.

He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;

And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow—

Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;

For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,

And he sometimes gets so little that there’s none of him at all.

He hasn’t got a notion of how children ought to play,

And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.

He stays so close beside me, he’s a coward you can see;

I’d think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

One morning, very early, before the sun was up,

I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;

But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,

Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

What can you do with this poem? Lots of things! Read it aloud to your students – from the early years right through. It is a beautiful poem to read aloud, and fun to learn to recite, too.

But, after you’ve read it, why not link the poem to a science lesson – experimenting with the way that shadows are made by different light sources. Find out why shadows are sometimes bigger or smaller than the person or object. The Science Sparks website has some excellent ideas for classroom activities here.

Or, perhaps you want to use the poem as the inspiration for an art lesson. Have students draw around each other’s shadows, for a life size self-portrait. Use a lamp to make shadows of different sized objects and draw around them. Or, go outside and search for shadows.

If you want more poems and poetry ideas, you might find these older posts of mine useful:

How to Write a Metamorphosis Poem

An Easy Way to Write a Poem

Writing a Definition Poem

If you’ve used My Shadow, or have another wonderful poem or poetry idea, feel free to tell me about it in the comments. Otherwise, I’ll see you next Tuesday.

What I Read in January 2023

February 5, 2023 by Sally

I can’t believe we are already into the second month of this new year. Time flies! It was a busy month – I holidayed, tried to write, swam a lot, walked George, who loves his beach walks especially, spent time with family – and went back to my dayjob too. So I am a little surprised to realise I managed to read 12 books this month, though I did read my way through three flights. I think my favourite book was Reasons Not to Worry (see below), a book I am recommending widely – even though, if I am honest, at the end of this busy month I realised I had not retained anywhere near as many of the lessons it contains as I hoped. I may need to reread it 🙂

Anyway, here’s what I read.

Books for Children

Trash(Random House, 2014), by Andy Mulligan. Set amongst the trash heaps and hidden world of Manila, where children subsist as best they can, by collecting trash. But Raphael, Gordo and Rat find something they shouldn’t – and it lands them in the midst of an adventure they are not sure they want to be on.
The Bookshop at the Back of Beyond (Walker Books, 2023). This is the third in a series – a fact I missed when I bought it. So it took a little while to get into, but did mostly stand alone as a fantasy adventure involving a travelling house filled with magical (and, in Nine’s case, human) inhabitants.
Ming and Flo Fight for the Future , by Jackie French (Harper Collins, 2022). The first title in the Girls Who Changed the World series, this one sees Ming, who bemoans the lack of girls in history lessons, taken back to the late 1800s where she lives the life of Flo Watson, a poor farm girl, but also witnesses the stirrings of change.
The Raven’s Song, by Zana Fraillon & Bren MacDibble (Allen & Unwin, 2022). Two of my favourite authors coming together to write – how could I not adore this book! Set in a post-apocalyptic world, where people live low tech lives in the hopes of restoring the earth – and in the past, in the beginnings of a terrible pandemic.
Runt, by Craig Silvey, illustrated by Sara Acton (Allen & Unwin, 2022). This is delightful. A little reminiscent of stories like Babe – a clever, but slightly damaged dog, and his person, Annie, who together have the ability to save the family farm. Touchingly whimsical, and inspired me to write a blackout poem when I found a chapter about a dog named George.
The Snow Queen, by Hans Christian Anderson, narrated by Julia Whelan (Audible). This audio version of the classic was a Christmas bonus with membership – though not a Christmas story. It was interesting to rediscover this story, which I believe inspired the movie Frozen, though the two are very different – which is common with Disney and other modern retellings.

Books for Young Adults

The Edge of Limits, by S. J. Gervay (Flying Elephant media, 2022). I read this book under its previous title The Cave, when it was released quite a few years ago. But it felt like I was reading it for the first time, as I journey along with Sam on a gruelling bush camp. The topics aren’t easy – including sexual assault, violence and grief – but there are light moments, too, and the story is both well told and important. Great to see it back in print.

Books for Adults

1. Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus (Penguin, 2022). Recommended somewhere, but also read because I liked the cover, and then the idea of a scientist ending up on a so-called cooking show in the 60s. I enjoyed this, with a combination of issues including some quite heavy ones, and a touch if whimsy, including a very clever dog.
2. Reasons Not to Worry: How to be Stoic in chaotic times, by Brigid Delaney (Allen & Unwin, 2022). Oh wow! This book is amazing. Or maybe it came to me at the right time. Or both. A gift from my sister for Christmas, I was initially a little wary – the title and the subject matter (stoicism) made me think it might challenge me – and it did, but in a good way. It had me thinking, and contemplating what I could learn rom this very down to earth, relatable journey through what we can learn from the ancient stoics in modern times. Thoroughly recommend – and I’ll be rereading.

Different, Not Less: A neurodivergent’s guide to embracing your true self and finding your happily ever after, by Chloe Hayden (Audible, 2022). I have bene doing quite a bit of reading about neuodivergence in recent months, and I found this one an excellent insight. I read the Audible version, read by the author, which was an added bonus. Hayden gives an open insight into her life with autism and adhd, but also offers help to fellow sufferers, and a helpful insight for others.

4. A Philosophy of Walking, by Frederic Gros (Verso, 2015). I do love walking, so was quite excited to read this book. It was a little different than I expected, as I soon realised that my morning walks are not necessarily what Gros would call walking, given that I do them partly for exercising and walking my dog. He might call this strolling, perhaps. That aside, it was interesting to delve into why people walk, and how great philosophers of the past used walking to think, to breathe and to travel, too.

Teacher Tuesday: Worse Things

January 31, 2023 by Sally

Welcome to a new school year. If you are in Australia, and are a teacher, chances are you are busily greeting your new students this week. So it seems a good time for me to reintroduce something I used do regularly pre-covid, a weekly feature called Teacher Tuesday.

How it works is that each Tuesday I will endeavour to share something that will help teachers to use one or more of my books or poems, or perhaps books and poems more broadly, in the classroom. Sometimes it will be brand new content. Other times it will be helping you to discover – or rediscover – content that has been shared elsewhere.

To kick things off, this week I want to share an excellent unit of work developed by PETAA for my verse novel Worse Things (published by Walker Books and illustrated by the amazing Sarah Davis).

You will find this unit of work, aimed at year 5 and 6 English curriculum outcomes, here. What does it offer? Lots of big picture ideas, close reading, word knowledge, ideas for writing and creating, and more. While you are there, I encourage you to browse the rest of the PETAA site and, if you aren’t already a member, to consider joining.

Not familiar with Worse Things? Here’s a taste – me reading chapter one during the first Covid lockdown back in 2020.

As well as the above unit of work, Worse Things is suitable for reading aloud to classes from about year 4 through to junior high, as well as for individual reading. You’ll find more ideas here, at the Walker Books website.

Have you read or taught http://sallymurphy.com.au/worse-things/? I’d love to know how you went, and if you have any ideas for sharing. Leave a comment.

A Cover Reveal: Queen Narelle is coming

January 27, 2023 by Sally

Can you hear the trumpets sounding?

Da da da daaaaaaa.

Can you hear the drums drumming?

Bom bom bom bom bom bom bom bom

Can you hear the people cheering?

Hurrah hurrah hurrah hurrah hurrah

(You can’t? Well you’ll just have to imagine then!)

Please rise and welcome…

Queen Narelle!

Who is Queen Narelle? Well, as well as being the title of my upcoming verse novel, she is also a rather delightful, clever, and very regal cat. And today she is here because it is cover reveal day!

And, rather than keeping you (and Queen Narelle) waiting, here it is:

Isn’t it lovely? Simon O’Carrigan has done a beautiful job of bringing my little cat to life. And the design team at Walker Books have then worked some extra magic to make the cover simply scrumptious.

You do have to wait a little longer to find out what’s inside that cover – release date is June 3 – but I look forward to sharing Narelle’s story, as well as that of her human, Maddie, with readers of all ages.

It’s extra fitting that I am revealing the cover today, because Queen Narelle is a verse novel, and, of course, today is Poetry Friday. So, to top off the celebration, I thought I’d share a couple of cat poems. One of my own – Marmalade and Marmaduke – published in the School Magazine and then brought to life with a reading by Geoffrey McSkimming, and artwork by Matt Ottley.

and another, a favourite from my childhood, by Eleanor Farjeon

Cats Sleep Anywhere

Cats sleep anywhere,
Any table, any chair
Top of piano, window-ledge,
In the middle, on the edge,
Open drawer, empty shoe,
Anybody’s lap will do!
Fitted in a cardboard box,
In the cupboard, with your frocks-
Anywhere! They don’t care!
Cats sleep anywhere.

by Eleanor Farjeon

I do love cat poems – and, while my dog George is less impressed, I cannot wait to share Queen Narelle with you, in paperback and in ebook format in June.

Want more poems? Come with me – I am off to pounce on the delights of Poetry Friday, with the Roundup hosted by Jan at Bookseed Studio.

Out and About in January

January 20, 2023 by Sally

One of the absolute joys of being an author is the chance to meet and engage with young people.

In January I have two such chances and am still smiling when I think of them.

First, I went up to Perth and, for the first time ever, presented in the Hay Street Mall, a part of Perth I have always loved, as it holds many memories, usually around shopping with first my mum, then my friends and, as an adult, with my husband, children, or by myself. But this visit was special – because in a previously vacant shop space, the Centre for Stories has set up a Story Lounge – and I was invited in, courtesy of the Literature Centre.

I ran a writing workshop for upper primary aged writers, and we had a lot of fun exploring the contents of a Writer’s Toolbox. I didn’t get any photos, but the Lit Centre posted this lovely story about it, also showcasing the two other writers who were part of the line-up.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Literature Centre (@theliteraturecentre)

Then, just yesterday, I was lucky enough to be invited to a Teddy Bears’ Picnic, hosted by the City of Bunbury Libraries, and held at Maidens Park, not too far from where I live.

With Jono and Penny from the Bunbury Library

What fun! I took my trusty old teddy bear, Pandy, who I have had for as long as I can remember, and we read, sang, spoke and laughed to and with lots of children, parents and teddy bears. The library staff had asked me to read my first two picture books – Floatingest Frog (which is still in print) and Pemberthy Bear (which, sadly, isn’t), and it was a real joy to bring these books out for a new audience.

You can see here just how much fun I have reading – I am reading the line “aaaaaaalll the way over here” while Penny and Tanya look on:

A park is always a lovely place to share – but this park was extra lovely, with towering gum trees, plenty of shade and – a bonus – a kookaburra laughing along to some of the lines. Pandy had a lovely outing too, and I have promised him he’ll be taken along again one day.

Now I’m back at my desk writing more, reading more, but looking forward to more lovely outings in 2023.