‘The Storm Whale in Winter’ by Benji Davies

Ages 5-7

Published by: Simon and Schuster

What’s it all about?

Noi lives with his dad and six cats by the seaside. Last summer he rescued a helpless, little whale washed up on the beach. He still misses his friend dreadfully.

Now, as the icy grip of winter tightens and his dad sails off for one last boat trip, Noi is left watching and waiting. But where is his dad?

As Noi bravely sets off into the freezing blizzard to find his dad, he soon becomes lost. Will his old friend, the storm whale, be able to help?

At atmospheric, tense and dramatic rescue story, full of heart, excitement and emotion.

You may choose to focus on one type of reading question during a lesson, or a variety of VIPERS or you may even wish to use this guide as a starting point and then allow the children to come up with their own ideas and opinions and lines of enquiry!

Because the novel study guide is to be used to aid discussion between the adult and children, we feel there isn't a necessity for an answer booklet.

The guide provides questions and spaces for the children to record their ideas and answers but is not intended to be used as a test.

As there are many lovely pictures in this book it is important to invite the children to examine them carefully. You could encourage the children to use a magnifying glass or photocopy and enlarge a certain part of an image. Throughout the book, encourage the children to investigate:

• Page layout • How the illustrations are framed • The use of colour • How the text is written – some words are in capitals and some

are written at an angle, across the page • The facial expressions of Noi and the other characters

Before reading….

R: What is the name of the author and illustrator?

R: Which characters can you see on the front cover?

P: What do you think the story will be about?

Introduction

If you have a copy of The Storm Whale, spend some time comparing it with the sequel, The Storm Whale in Winter. How are the front covers different? How are they similar?

What is the weather like in winter? Do you prefer winter or summer? Why?

Before reading the first double page spread, spend some time looking at the endpapers and exploring the setting.

Pages 1 and 2

V: Can you describe the setting using three words?

R: Noi lives with his mum and six cats by the sea. True or false?

R: Why did Noi rescue the whale last summer?

I: Why might Noi miss the whale?

R: What is Noi doing on these pages?

I: Imagine you are standing on the beach with Noi and his dad. What can you see, hear, smell and touch?

Pages 3 and 4

E: Why is Noi running on page 3?

I: What might noi be thinking and feeling when he finds the ‘something else’?

E: What is the ‘something else’ that Noi mistakes for the whale?

P: Predict if the whale will return.

Pages 5 and 6

E: Why is Noi’s dad taking one last trip?

P: What do you think has happened to Noi’s dad?

E: How does Benji Davies make the inside of the house look welcoming and inviting?

E: What advice would you give to Noi? Do you think he should wait for his dad to return or search for him?

E: How does this double page spread make you feel? Why?

Drama opportunity: Create a Conscience Alley – one side of the class should tell Noi why he should stay indoors and the other side should convince him to go and look for his dad. Take it in turns to be Noi – what will you decide to do?

Pages 7 and 8

V: Are there any phrases or language that are repeated? Why might this be?

V: How should, ‘It was his dad – it had to be!’ be read? What is the name of the punctuation mark at the end of this sentence? How is Noi feeling?

R: Can you find all six cats on these pages?

V: Can you think of a synonym and an antonym for the verb ‘dashed’?

P: Predict what will happen next and draw a picture of your idea.

Pages 9 and 10

E: Why is the sea frozen?

E: Why must Noi be careful? What could happen?

I: Describe how Noi is feeling in one word.

Pages 11 and 12

V: Describe the setting in three words.

E: How does Benji Davies show the power of the storm on these pages?

E: How does Benji Davies make Noi stand out on these pages? What effect does it have?

P: Predict what the ‘grey shape’ will be.

Music opportunity: Create a swirling, snowy soundtrack to accompany this scene.

Pages 13 and 14

R: What does Noi see stuck in the ice?

I: Where do you think dad is?

I: What might Noi be thinking and feeling when he sees the boat?

V: How is the word clambered similar to the word climbed? How is it different?

Pages 15 and 16

R: What can you see inside the boat? Perhaps you could use a magnifying glass and spend some time exploring the inside of the boat!

I: Do you think Noi’s dad has been on the boat for a long time? Why? Why not? Where is he now?

E: Why does Noi begin to feel afraid?

Pages 17 and 18

V: Why is ‘BUMP’ written in capital letters? How should this be read?

R: What is underneath the boat?

I: What might Noi be thinking and feeling when the boat goes bump?

E: Why has Benji Davies set the illustration out like this? From whose perspective are we seeing things now? Why?

Pages 19 and 20

R: Who has come to help Noi?

I: What might Noi be thinking and feeling when he sees the storm whale?

V: Describe the storm whale in three words.

P: Predict how the whales will help.

Art opportunity: Try drawing or painting the storm whale in the style of Benji Davies.

Pages 21 and 22

E: How do the whales help Noi?

I: Why do the whales know where to go?

V: Have a go at reading out loud the sentence beginning, ‘They sang through…’ How many different ways can you perform this sentence?

R: What can you see in the distance?

E: How does this double page spread make you feel? Why?

Music opportunity: Listen to some whale sounds and music. Paint a picture inspired by the sounds.

Pages 23 and 24

I: Why is dad in the lighthouse?

V: Try reading out loud, “Noi! What are you doing here?” How can you show dad’s feelings through your expression?

I: What might dad be thinking and feeling when he sees Noi?

Pages 25 to end

E: How has the weather and atmosphere changed?

R: Who rescued dad on the stormy night?

I: Why might dad and Noi be re-painting the boat?

R: What have they re-named the boat? Why?

E: Was the storyline in this book what you expected?

E: Do you have a favourite page or illustration in this book? Why is it your favourite?

E: Does anyone know anything about Benji Davies and his other books?

P: Write and illustrate a new adventure for Noi and the storm whale.

Student Activity Book: The Storm Whale in Winter

Pages 1 and 2

Can you describe the setting using three words?

Noi lives with his mum and six cats by the sea. True or false?

Why did Noi rescue the whale last summer?

Why might Noi miss the whale?

What is Noi doing on these pages?

Imagine you are standing on the beach with Noi and his dad. What can you see, hear, smell and touch?

Pages 3 and 4

Why is Noi running on page 3?

What might noi be thinking and feeling when he finds the ‘something else’?

What is the ‘something else’ that Noi mistakes for the whale?

Will the whale return? Yes, no or maybe?

Pages 5 and 6

Why is Noi’s dad taking one last trip?

What do you think has happened to Noi’s dad?

How does Benji Davies make the inside of the house look welcoming and inviting?

What advice would you give to Noi? Do you think he should wait for his dad to return or search for him?

How does this double page spread make you feel? Why?

Drama opportunity: Create a Conscience Alley – one side of the class should tell Noi why he should stay indoors and the other side should convince him to go and look for his dad. Take it in turns to be Noi – what will you decide to do?

Pages 7 and 8

Are there any phrases or language that are repeated? Why might this be?

Can you think of a synonym and an antonym for the verb ‘dashed’?

Predict what will happen next and draw a picture of your idea.

Pages 9 and 10

Why is the sea frozen?

Why must Noi be careful? What could happen?

Describe how Noi is feeling in one word.

Pages 11 and 12

Describe the setting in three words.

How does Benji Davies show the power of the storm on these pages?

How does Benji Davies make Noi stand out on these pages? What effect does it have?

Predict what the ‘grey shape’ will be.

Music opportunity: Create a swirling, snowy soundtrack to accompany this scene.

Pages 13 and 14

What does Noi see stuck in the ice?

Where do you think dad is?

What might Noi be thinking and feeling when he sees the boat?

How is the word clambered similar to the word climbed? How is it different?

Pages 15 and 16

Do you think Noi’s dad has been on the boat for a long time? Why? Why not? Where is he now?

Why does Noi begin to feel afraid?

Pages 17 and 18

What is underneath the boat?

What might Noi be thinking and feeling when the boat goes bump?

Why has Benji Davies set the illustration out like this? From whose perspective are we seeing things now? Why?

Pages 19 and 20

Who has come to help Noi?

What might Noi be thinking and feeling when he sees the storm whale?

Describe the storm whale in three words.

Predict how the whales will help. Draw a picture!

Art opportunity: Try drawing or painting the storm whale in the style of Benji Davies.

Pages 21 and 22

How do the whales help Noi?

Why do the whales know where to go?

What can you see in the distance?

How does this double page spread make you feel? Why?

Music opportunity: Listen to some whale sounds and music. Paint a picture inspired by the sounds.

Pages 23 and 24

Why is dad in the lighthouse?

What might dad be thinking and feeling when he sees Noi?

Pages 25 to end

How has the weather and atmosphere changed?

Who rescued dad on the stormy night?

Why might dad and Noi be re-painting the boat?

What have they re-named the boat? Why?

Write and illustrate a new adventure for Noi and the storm whale.