Cloud Busting: Puffin Poetry

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Last but not least, I would like to end this book review with a poem which I have written by myself: Take a look at some of our favourite children's poetry books - perfect for use in the poetry-friendly classroom. The Angel of Nitshill Road by Anne Fine – another story of bullying and difference, but this time with a savvy saviour… Encourage students to visit somewhere local to them and with which they are already very familiar – perhaps a park, shopping centre or churchyard – and describe it as Davey might, by combining imaginative use of their senses with the most creative language they can generate.

An interesting story told in the form of poetry homework by Sam about his friendship with Davey and Alex. He also describes a nasty incident in the poem too which really affected the friendships. As a class, children will discuss what they know, and what they can infer, about the main characters based on their reading so far. In their independent activities, they will rewrite the 'fizzy feet' scene from Davey's point of view. In the alternative activity provided, children are challenged to gather appropriate words and phrases to write a haiku about Davey.

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Sam makes an almost lethal mistake, and then regrets it. What does he learn? Why are mistakes important? I really liked the way that it was written from Sam's point of view because it showed how much of a decision he had to make with his friends. Alex or Davey? Alex or Davey? In conclusion… Cloud Busting describes a life-changing experience, and could be a life-changing book. Questions that will be worthy of deeper discussion may include:

Told in verse, in first person, the story of an extraordinary friendship that changes two boys’ lives forever – an uplifting tale that truly sings out. What actually happened was Sam Cloud Busting alone. Davey, telling no one, slipped away and left Sam alone thinking hard. Many scenes in the book lend themselves to exploration through dramatic reconstruction, or even just freezeframing. Many scenes in the book lend themselves to exploration through dramatic reconstruction, or even just freeze-framing. Try a conscience corridor/ decision alley to examine Sam’s decision not to chase after Davey in Chapter 11:

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Children will explore and discuss how different styles of poetry have been used to show the reader how Davey was bullied. In their independent activities, children are tasked to infer Davey's feelings throughout these events, in the form of thought bubbles or diary entries. In the FSD? activity, children are challenged to create a shape poem to represent the thoughts and feelings inside Davey's head. Thank you for taking the time to create and post this superb resource. It's fabulous. thank you! drawing inferences such as inferring characters’ feelings, thoughts and motives from their actions, and justifying inferences with evidence explain and discuss their understanding of what they have read, including through formal presentations and debates, maintaining a focus on the topic and using notes where necessary Almost everyone gets bullied at some point in their life–so if this is happening to your child, they are not alone.