Getting Started
Overview
Felix has been left in an orphanage by
his bookseller parents who have supposedly gone to protect their books and business.
It is hidden knowledge that Felix is Jewish. When he finds his favourite
vegetable, a whole carrot, in his soup, he thinks his parents are sending him a
secret sign that they are nearby. Felix is a storyteller and loves reading. His
favourite books are the William books by Richmal Crompton because 'He always
tries to do good things, and no matter how much mess and damage he causes' no
matter how naughty he ends up being, his mum and dad never leave him.'
Felix runs away from the orphanage to
find and help his parents. He sees half-naked people packed into a farm truck –
'I get it, they must be farm workers going on holiday. They're so excited
about having a swim in the river that they've undressed already.' Even when
a soldier on the truck shoots at him, Felix waves to show he's not hurt so the
soldier won't worry that he has shot an innocent kid. He finds a burning house
with people who have been shot and he rescues their unconscious daughter,
Zelda. They are found by Barney, who cares for children.
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Author profile
Morris says, 'I think stories are a
bit like x-rays. They show us what's happening inside people. Not to their
blood and bones and spleen. To their hopes and fears and dreams and feelings.
And ours.'
Morris Gleitzman began his writing career
as a screenwriter and wrote his first children's novel in 1985. His brilliantly
comic style has endeared him to children and adults alike, and he is now one of
Australia's most successful authors, both internationally and at home. He was
born in England in 1953 and emigrated to Australia in 1969 so he could escape
from school and become a Very Famous Writer!
One of his most successful books for
young adults is Two Weeks with the Queen, an international
bestseller which was also adapted into a play. Some of his other books include Boy
Overboard, Girl Underground, Aristotle's Nostril and Doubting
Thomas. In 2005 he wrote the highly successful and critically
acclaimed Once, which was an Honour Book in the 2006 Children's Book
Council of Australia Book of the Year awards.
Source: Penguin Books (used with
permission)
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Useful websites
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Focus questions
Before reading the book
- Why might there be a pile of books drawn on the
cover?
- Why might the title be 'Once'?
- Why do you think the font changes at the
beginning of each chapter for the repeated word, 'Once'?
- What atmosphere do the colours on the cover create?
Why do the colours on the back cover change?
- What do you know about World War II, the Nazis,
the Jews and the holocaust?
During and after reading the book
- In what ways is Once like, and not like,
a fairytale?
- How can people be changed by war?
- How do people show humane characteristics such
as 'love' and 'care' in the book?
- How was Felix both naïve and wise?
- How is humour used in the book?
- What do you now know about the Jewish holocaust?
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Activities
Responding to text
Themes, voice and 'once'
Small groups
Table the themes in the novel, such as
'bullying' and 'stories', and write examples of each.
Read some of Felix's dialogue and thoughts
aloud. How does the author make him sound young? How does this affect the story
that unfolds?
The word 'once' is often used in fairytales,
especially in the phrase 'once upon a time...'. How does this book begin and end?
How is it like a perverse fairytale?
Radio script
Small groups
Prepare and perform a radio script from
when Barney starts looking after the children until they are about to board the
train.
Books
Class
Felix refers to his favourite books and
author, the William books by Richmal Crompton. Find some of these and read part
or all of them. What similarities do they have with the novel Once?
Research the author, Morris Gleitzman's, favourite books. What do you notice?
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Responding to images
Cover images and font
Individuals
Why might there be a pile of books drawn on the
cover?
Individuals
What atmosphere do the colours on the cover create?
Why do the colours on the back cover change?
Individuals
Why might the font change at the beginning of
each chapter for the repeated word, 'Once'?
Motifs
Individuals
What is a motif? A motif in Once is the 'burning
of books'. Read parts of the novel that show this motif. What does this
symbolise? Design your own icon or symbol of burning books.
Class
Vote for the best motif or symbol of burning
books. Then make a three-dimensional representation of this motif (without
literally burning anything). Fire could be represented by a light source or
coloured paper or cardboard.
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Research skills
Positive and negative retellings
Small groups
The author tells this Jewish holocaust
story in a reasonably positive way. After reading the novel, read the start
again to see how he achieves this. After further research, retell the
highlights of the story in a negative form.
Bravery award
Individuals
Research real characters from this event
in history, such as Janusz Korczak. Design a bravery
award for someone you believe to be most deserving of this award. Write and
deliver an acceptance speech that could accompany the presentation of this
award.
Protection by parents
Beyond the classroom
'Sometimes ... parents can't protect
their kids even though they love them more than anything in the world.
Sometimes, even when they try their very hardest, they can't save them' (p
118). Find examples from this period in history when parents couldn't protect
their children. Discuss this among your own family and community members. Other
works of literature could be also helpful, such as The Diary of Anne Frank.
Extension: find examples from other
periods in history as well, including more recent wars and the experiences of
refugees.
Fiction from fact
Small groups
The author's grandfather was a Jew from
Krakow in Poland. Read the Author Note at the end of the book. We learn that
this story is from Morris Gleitzman's imagination but it is inspired by real
events. Is Once a primary source or a secondary source?
Which facts, incidents, places and characters are most historically accurate?
You will need to do some research to answer this. Complete an Evidence Chart
to rate your findings in terms of reliability.
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Language of history
Words from war and history
Individuals
Find words in the novel that refer to history,
war and racism, such as 'curfew' and 'ghetto' (p 95). Make a personal
dictionary of these and others from the book. Highlight those that are used
today.
Class
Compile a class dictionary, using an example
from each student.
Small groups
Make anti-war chants using some of these terms.
Historical or emotive writing
Complete this activity after 'Fiction
from Fact' (see 'Research Skills').
Class
Is the author relying on historical
accuracy or emotive writing to elicit a response in the reader? Discuss
this as a class, using examples of both historical and emotive writing. Use the
Historical or Emotive Writing Proforma to guide and record the
discussion.
Individuals
After the class discussion, decide on
your opinion or view. Choose whether the author's writing is most powerful
because of its historical base or because of its appeal to the emotions. Write
an exposition.
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