Oxford Literacy Web

by Claire Llewellyn

Published 2 December 1999
A fascinating set of information books on a popular children's topic, suitable for guided, shared or independent reading, with good cross-curricular links. These books exemplify the different text types required by the National Literacy Strategy - recount/record, alphabetical reference, report, instructions. "Spots and other Lumps and Bumps" (report, recount) - All sorts of spots, from chicken pox and freckles to the Black Death (Jenner, Ramessess II, beauty patches Lots of ugh! factor for children here) "Experiments on Myself" (instructions, report) - Information about the human body and experiments to prove it. Is your foot as long as your forearm? How many smells can you sense in a day? How does holding your nose affect taste? Models scientific approach and writing "A Body Dictionary" (alphabetic reference, report) - A classic reference book with an entry for every letter, sometimes two. Vital facts and some wacky ones too - you have enough blood to fill 15 drink cans, people eat the weight of 8.5 elephants in a lifetime "A History of the Flu" (report, recount) - Charts various outbreaks showing how deadly (and otherwise) this virus can be.
Includes first-hand accounts and newspaper reports.