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Teacher’s Notes Wombat Books 1 www.wombatbooks.com.au

Wombat Books Teacher’s Notes

Jack and Mia

Robert Vescio / Claire Richards

ISBN: 9781925139730

Recommended retail: $24.99

Reading level: Ages 0-‐7

Wombat Books, PO Box 1519, Capalaba BC Qld 4157 www.wombatbooks.com.au 07-‐32451938 [email protected]

Light the Dark Pty Ltd, Trading as Wombat Books ABN: 30 137 345 941

These notes may be reproduced free of charge for use within schools but not offered for commercial sale.


Introduction Jack and Mia celebrates the power of childhood friendships and the strength of coping with separation. Jack and Mia are close friends. They stick together like paper and glue and not even long distance can change that. However, even though they are no longer together, they learn to accept it and deal with the situation wisely. Story Summary Jack is lonely until Mia and her family moves in next door. Soon, a friendship develops and they become inseparable. Jack and Mia do everything together. They dress-‐up and build castles and play out their stories with their teddies, which are loyal subjects in their kingdom. But one day, Mia’s family has to move away. Jack and Mia both miss and think about each other every day and night. Jack mopes around and Mia no longer wants to play. That is, until Mum calls Jack to the study to find Mia on the computer screen. Immediately, Jack and Mia resume their roles as king and queen and continue to rule their kingdom over the ocean via the Internet.


Key Learning Areas

1. Study of Society

Friendship Jack and Mia are best friends who like to spend every minute together. What does it mean to be a best friend with someone? Ask the students to write a sentence about friendship or about a friend. What are some of the things you look for in a friend? What do you think makes a good friend? Feelings of Separation and Loneliness When friends move away we experience a mix of feelings. Ask the students what they felt when a friend or a family member moved away. Did they feel lonely? How did they keep in contact? Geography Ask students what moving to a different country means for them. Do they know people from other countries? Digital Devices Ask students how Jack and Mia could continue their friendship. What are some other ways you can communicate with a friend who lives far away?

2. Language and Literacy

Idioms Idioms are words and phrases that cannot be taken literally. When they are used in everyday language they have a meaning other than the basic one you would find in the dictionary. For example in the book Jack’s Mum says, ‘Two sides of the one coin.’ This emphasises similarity – when two things appear different but are actually similar.


Pairs The phrase – ‘stuck together like paper and glue’ implies closeness and togetherness. What are some other idioms and pairs?

3. Creative Arts

Role playing Children imagining, celebrating and playing out their dreams. Ask students to act out the story of Jack and Mia. Dress-‐up Ask students to design their own costumes and play out their favourite role. Drawing/Photo Display Ask students to create a ‘Friendship Wall’. They can bring in photos or draw pictures of their friends.


Themes Friendship A friend is someone you spend time with, have fun with and trust like Jack or Mia. A friend is someone who supports you and introduces you to new things. It is someone you can laugh and joke with, have adventures with, share secrets and feel safe with. Separation When friends move away it can be hard to accept. Sometimes it happens very quickly and it can leave you with all sorts of feelings like Jack and Mia in the story i.e. they feel sad, hurt, angry and confused. Loneliness We all experience a mix of feelings when family or friends move away i.e. anxious, hurt, sad and confused. Sometimes it can make us feel lonely, even if we still have friends and family with us. Imagination It’s important to play and pursue dreams like Jack and Mia at the beginning of the story. They like to celebrate each day using their imagination. Geography Moving to another country and living abroad, away from family and friends, can be life changing. In the story, Mia’s family has to move away because of her dad’s work. Sometimes, people have to move to somewhere faraway because of their family. Communication There are many ways of communication. There are phone calls, texting, social networking, web-‐caming, email, skype and face-‐timing. In the story, Mia uses skype to communicate with Jack. They are able to communicate via the internet and keep their friendship strong.


About the Author Robert Vescio is a published children’s author. He has worked in the publishing industry for over 12 years as a Production Manager and as a Photo Editor. Robert sourced photographic material from world-‐renowned photographers the ilks of Greg Gorman, Mario Testino, Annie Leibovitz and Jean-‐Baptiste Mondino just to name a few. Robert’s picture books include Barnaby and the Lost Treasure of Bunnyville (Big Sky Publishing), Marlo Can Fly (Wombat Books) listed on the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge for 2015, No Matter Who We’re With (IP Kidz). He has more picture books due for release soon.

Many of his short stories have been published in anthologies such as Packed Lunch, Short and Twisted, Charms Vol 1 and The School Magazine NSW. He has also won awards for his children’s writing including First Place in the 2012 Marshall Allan Hill Children’s Writing Competition and Highly Commended in the 2011 Marshall Allan Hill Children’s Writing Competition. Robert enjoys visiting schools. His aim is to enthuse and inspire children to read and write and leave them bursting with imaginative ideas. Robert is a BIG kid at heart and a HUGE fan of Disney. He enjoys spending time with his children who are an endless source of humour and inspiration. For more information visit: www.robertvescio.com or www.facebook.com/RobertVescioAuthor. About the Illustrator

Claire Richards is a South Australian illustrator who started out in experimental painting. Her favourite technique is layering watercolour over crayon, pencil and ink. Her recipe for making picture book illustrations involves acting out the poses, drawing on the computer and mountains of storyboards. Since finishing her art studies in 2004 Claire has illustrated half a dozen books and created a range of quirky cards.


Questions and Reflections 1. Do Jack and Mia have a strong friendship? Why? 2. What are some of the things Jack and Mia like to do together? 3. What does ‘Two sides of the one coin’ mean? 4. Do Jack and Mia like to share things? How? 5. Why does Mia have to move? 6. How do Jack and Mia feel about the move? 7. How did Jack come to have Mia’s book? 8. Why is Jack happy to find Mia’s book? 9. How did Mia and her mum appear on the computer screen? 10. How do Jack and Mia communicate with each other? Activities 1. Discuss some ways of communicating with friends. Allow students to write a letter

or draw a picture to their friend. 2. Ask students if they have ever travelled outside of Australia? Show them where

Australia is on a map or on a globe. Have them draw and write about a foreign country, perhaps somewhere they would like to go.

3. Talk about Idioms and how they are used in everyday life. Ask students to finish the following common expressions:

1. As fit as a _______ 2. As cool as a _______ 3. Keen as ______ 4. A penny for your ______ 5. At the drop of a ______ 6. Can’t judge a book by its ______ 7. Your guess is as good as ______ 8. Taste of your own ______ 9. Don’t put all your eggs in one ______ 10. Back to the drawing ______

Answers: 1. Fiddle 2. Cucumber 3. Mustard 4. Thoughts 5. Hat 6. Cover 7. Mine 8. Medicine 9. Basket 10. Board

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