During our guided reading sessions in term 5, we will be reading 'The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas' by David Almond.

Summary

Stanley Potts, after a miserable existence with his aunt and uncle, finds his destiny when he joins a fair and meets Pancho Pirelli, a man who swims with piranhas. Uncle Ernie's fish canning business, which turns their house into a smelly factory, leads Stanley to seek a new life. He joins the fair and apprentices with Pirelli, who teaches him to overcome fear and find faith in himself. The story explores themes of change, self-discovery, and the complexities of life's path. 

Our writing genres for this term include:

• an explanation text
• a personal recount
• a persuasive letter.

To help us write our persuasive letters, we will look at and read some of 'Leon and the Place Between' by Angela Mcallister and Grahame Baker-Smith for inspiration!

Summary

Wanting to prove to his brothers and sister that magic really exists, Leon volunteers to be in Abdul Kazam's magic show and gets transported to a mysterious world. Filled with rabbits, doves, playing cards and magician's assistants - among other things - if a magician can make it disappear, it will end up in the Place Between!

When Leon returns, not only do his brothers and sister believe, but we do too.

With diecut holes into and out of the Place Between, the reader takes a journey right through the pages of the book, into the mysterious world of Grahame Baker-Smith's breath-taking illustrations.