TEACHING NOTES BY BROOKE CL ARK

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Stephanie and Ann-Margrete Smee After working as a lawyer in Sydney and London, Stephanie Smee made her literary translation debut with an English translation of the Countess de Ségur’s Fleurville Trilogy. Her mother, Ann-Margrete Smee, is now retired, having worked as a government translator, court interpreter and, for many years, a language teacher.

Gösta KnutssonGösta Knutsson (1908–1973) was a Swedish children’s author and radio producer. The first Pelle book was published in 1939, followed by many more books, comics, films, plays, music and television programs. Pelle No-Tail is beloved in Sweden and around the world, with translations appearing in Polish, Finnish, Danish, German, Dutch, Norwegian and Portuguese.

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SYNOPSIS (PLOT)

The story of The Adventures of Pelle No-Tail introduces a grey tabby cat with no tail, only a little stump. A big rat bit off his tail when he was just a few days old, and the other cats in the neighbourhood make fun of him.

On the day he turns seven weeks old, a man comes to visit the farm where he lives and the cat accidentally stows away in his car; so begins his adventure. The man’s family adopts him, calling him Pelle and giving him a comfortable bed in ten-year-old Birgitta’s bedroom. His place in the family is cemented when his yowling alerts them to a fire one night, and they present him with a special medal.

One morning Pelle goes out proudly wearing his medal, and encounters the local tomcat, Måns. He tells Pelle it makes him look ‘stuck up’, and he should take it off. Of course Pelle refuses, and unknowingly makes an enemy of him. Måns writes a letter to the newspaper, exposing the ‘snooty’ Pelle who has no tail, and he and his friends rip off his collar and medal.

More adventures ensue; he’s stuffed into a papier mâché egg at Easter, and later the family decides to have a summer holiday in the country. There he meets a kind cat, Big-Stina, who teaches Pelle about liking yourself no matter what. Then, on the way home at the end of the

T E A C H I N G N O T E SB Y B R O O K E C L A R K

The Adventures of Pelle No-TailBy Gösta Knutsson (Translated by Stephanie Smee and Ann-Margrete Smee)

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holiday, he finds himself on the wrong train, but luckily he meets kind old Mr Karlsson, and a sweet little cat called Ingrid.

He eventually finds his way back to Birgitta, but trouble arrives again in the form of Måns. He invites Pelle to come with him and his friends to Lake Mälaren to catch some herring. He has tricked Pelle, though; when they get to the lake the next morning, they push him off the jetty, but he manages to grab onto a wooden pole under the jetty as he falls. When they jump into the lake to escape two dogs, poor Pelle manages to sneak back to town. He can’t understand why they keep being mean to him.

At Christmas, Birgitta’s dad dresses as Santa and hands out presents to the family – even Pelle, who gets a ball and a toy rat. He has a lovely Christmas, but Måns has plans again. He invites him to a New Year’s Eve party, and when Pelle opens his present he finds a medal with the words ‘For stuck-up cats’ written on it. On the back is the message: ‘A tail is a cat’s biggest pride and joy.’

The cats fall about with laughter, while an upset Pelle slips away quietly. When he gets home, though, Birgitta and her father present him with a shiny new medal, with the words ‘For distinguished services’ written on it. They all cheer, and the only thing that would make the day better is if Måns and his friends were there to see his beautiful new medal.

THEMES

This book for children is an adventure story that deals with bullying, embracing people’s differences, having a positive attitude and exploring the world around you.

BullyingPelle can’t understand why people pick on him and look down on him because he doesn’t have a tail. He can’t help it if he doesn’t have a tail, he thinks. This is a strong theme throughout the book: accepting someone who is different from you.

Embracing people’s differencesThroughout his adventures, Pelle meets many different animals and people. They’re all very different, but Pelle likes them all for exactly who they are.

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Big-Stina tells him there’s nothing wrong with having no tail; in fact, there are some great things about not having a tail. For her, Pelle’s lack of a tail is no issue.

Pelle learns about some strange human customs at Easter and Christmas time. Still, he gives them a chance and joins in, finding that he has a great time.

Having a positive attitudeNo matter what adventure Pelle is having, he always has a positive attitude and is willing to try new things and meet new people. When others are being mean to him, he shows resilience in reminding himself that there’s nothing wrong with not having a tail.

Exploring the world around youFrom the very beginning we see that Pelle is a curious cat. This continues throughout the story, with Pelle wandering off to explore in each situation in which he finds himself.

WRITING STYLE

The book has been translated from Swedish by Stephanie Smee and Ann-Margrete Smee. A classic, popular Swedish children’s book, it was first published in 1939, and the translation is faithful to that era’s writing style. The translation is also faithful to the location where the book was originally set; many Swedish locations are mentioned, character names are Swedish, Swedish expressions are peppered throughout the book, and Swedish cultural traditions are explained.

The story is presented from Pelle’s point of view; his relationships with other cats are explored, and humans are almost secondary to the story. We hear Pelle’s thoughts and feelings, and see his amusement at the odd things humans do and say.

The writing style is light-hearted and humorous, even though it deals with some important social issues such as bullying and accepting other people’s differences. This is especially interesting to note since the book was originally published in 1939, around the beginning of World War II, a time when differences between cultures and people were not celebrated in some parts of the world.

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STUDY NOTES

These discussion points and activities are designed to assist the teacher to present the book to the students. They encourage extended discussion and further thought about the content or style, and are not intended to be prescriptive.

CHARACTERSActivity: Write five adjectives that describe Pelle.

Activity: Create a timeline showing what happens in Pelle’s adventures.

Activity: Have the students make their own medal, with a special message on it about themselves.

THEMES

BullyingActivity: Draw a table, and on the left side list the ways someone can be a friend; on the right, list some of the ways someone can be a bully.

Discussion point: As a class, discuss what bullying is, and how it is different from having an argument with someone.

Discussion point: Discuss the reasons some people might bully others. Discuss strategies to help someone who is being bullied.

Discussion point: Discuss how the students think Pelle might feel about being picked on for a physical attribute that he can’t help.

Embracing people’s differencesActivity: In groups, have children survey each other, collecting information about things such as eye colour, hair colour, hair type, hobbies, favourite sport, and so on. Have them create a bar graph to present to the class, showing the differences within each group.

Activity: In groups, write down all the ways you can think of that someone might be different from others.

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Discussion point: Vocabulary – talk about what a ‘stereotype’ is. People with a disability can experience this; some people assume someone with a disability can’t do certain things, when they actually can. Discuss how getting to know someone can help avoid stereotyping them.

Activity: In small groups, identify some questions you could ask to get to know someone better; e.g. ask about their hobbies, favourite music, favourite sport, pets.

Discussion point: Vocabulary – talk about what ‘diversity’ means. It can apply to diversity in cultures, in abilities, and so on. What are the benefits of having diversity in our community?

Discussion point: Pelle learns about how Swedish people celebrate Christmas. Discuss how a Swedish Christmas is different from the way Christmas is celebrated in Australia. Discuss other traditions that students celebrate in their homes here in Australia.

Exploring the world around youActivity: Draw a map of what they imagine the farmhouse where the family stays for the summer looks like.

Activity: Write a report about a place they have visited and the adventures they had there.

Discussion point: What are some of the different parts of the world that the students would like to visit? Why?

Having a positive attitudeActivity: In groups, write one or two positive sentences about each person in the group. Create a poster for that group, including each person and the positive things that have been said about them.

Activity: Have students complete a ‘How I feel’ worksheet: identify a feeling they have or have had, why they feel/felt that way, what did they/will they do about it, and what is something else they could do/have done.

Activity: Write a positive report about yourself, including what makes you happy, what you’re good at, something your friends like about you, something that makes you unique.

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Activity: As a class, participate in a meditation session from the Smiling Mind app as a way to promote calm and happy thoughts.

WRITING ACTIVITIES

• Write a book review for The Adventures of Pelle No-Tail.

• Write a story about Pelle’s adventures in a different country; perhaps he visits a city in Australia, or the outback.

• Poems feature often in the book. Have the students identify the poems in the story. Do all poems rhyme? Have the students write their own poem.

ALSO AVAILABLE

Further Adventures of Pelle No-Tail In the second of the Pelle No-Tail series, Pelle again has to put up with Måns and his friends, Bill and Bull, doing their best to make fun of his missing tail.

Måns does everything he can to come up with ways to poke fun at Pelle, whether it’s at the Spring Fête or at the cats’ great general knowledge quiz.

But Pelle refuses to let Måns get him down, and instead he has all sorts of new adventures.

While on holiday with his family, he plays ‘ship’s cat’ on an exciting outing to a desert island. But as darkness falls, he wonders – will he ever make it back to shore?

Pelle No-Tail Pulls ThroughIn the third book of the Pelle No-Tail series, Pelle catches up with lots of friends, old and new. But always lurking nearby is Måns, keen to cause trouble.

Pelle ventures out to the Swedish countryside with his family. There’s fishing and fun to be had by the beautiful lakes. But Måns has warned him there are trolls in the forests. Pelle will have to keep his wits about him…

But wait! More trouble lies just around the corner for Pelle. When an icicle almost falls on Måns’s head, he wants to take his revenge. But he’ll have to wait for just the right moment. Will Pelle pull through?

Recommended for ages 6–9ISBN: 9781863959247

RRP: $14.99

To request a complimentary reading copy of The Adventures of Pelle No-Tail, please contact Sophie Shanahan on education@blackincbooks.com

blackincbooks.com/education

To order copies of The Adventures of Pelle No-Tail, please contact United Book Distributors on +61 3 9811 2555 or orders@unitedbookdistributors.com.au

or contact your local bookseller or education supplier.

For all other enquiries, please contact Black Inc.Level 1, 221 Drummond St, Carlton, Victoria 3053Phone: +61 3 9486 0288 Fax +61 3 9011 6106Email: enquiries@blackincbooks.com

Meet Pelle No-Tail… Sweden’s favourite cat!

In these charming books – now published for the first time in English since their publication in Swedish more than seventy years ago – children will delight in the adventures of Pelle, the cat whose

tail was bitten off by a rat when he was a kitten.

In the first book, Pelle leaves the farm where he was born and goes to live in the city. There Pelle must get used to life with his new

family. But in the city, he also meets the nasty tomcat, Måns, who loves nothing better than to make life difficult for Pelle.

Will Pelle be able to stand up to Måns and his foolish friends, Bill and Bull? Find out in The Adventures of Pelle No-Tail.

TEACHING NOTES BY BROOKE CL ARK