My books > Hamish bear series >Tips for teachers

Tips for teachers

The cover

• Can you guess what the story is about?
• What does the picture and the typeface tell you about the story?
• Does the cover make you want to read the book?
• Try other layouts and typefaces: e.g. draw Hamish doing something else, from a different viewpoint, and see if that would make a good cover
• Suggest alternative titles
• Look at other book covers and discuss what impact they have and why
• In "The story behind the story", you can see all the choices we had to make on the cover
• What is an author, an illustrator. Do you have favourites?
• Or you could hide the cover, not show any pictures, and tell the story - that way the children do their own illustrations. This worked well in illustration workshops I gave.

• Notice the blurb at the back. Does it make you want to read the book?
• Write your own blurb.
• Look at the blurb on other books. Is it effective? Should you believe everything that's written?!

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• I dedicated this book to Simon, my husband, and to my daughter Chloe, who was 3 when I was writing the book. Who will you dedicate your book to?
• Notice on that page the mention of Fielding Design Ltd. Discuss the work of graphic designers. They decide exactly where the text and picture fit onto each page, chose the typeface, make sure everything is just right for the printers. I did a lot of the layout myself, roughly, to see what size and shape to give to the pictures while making space for the text. Look at brochures, posters, packaging and logos around you: they were designed by graphic designers to put over a specific message.
• Notice the blurb about the author/illustrator. What do you love doing now? What do you think you will love doing when you're grown-up? What will your hobbies be? Ask some grown-ups what they love about their work

• What do you think of Hamish after reading the 2nd and 3rd pages? Hopefully by now you already like him and want to find out more. Early pages in books are often about setting the scene, establishing characters. See how that's done in other books.
• Make sure the little ones get a chance to shout 'NO!!!' when Big Bear asks Hamish to do something. Surely you don't ever talk like that, do you?
• How would you illustrate Hamish saying 'NO!' - show this with your own face and body. Now you look like you've had plenty practice doing that!

• Is the little girl going to see Hamish? Notice how authors tease you with suspense, so that you keep turning the pages.

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• How do you think Hamish feels? A bit sad, a bit cross? It's not written in the text, so how do you know? Would you have felt the sadness any better if the text said "Hamish was very sad" instead of "he didn't want to ..."?
• Do you think Big Bear said the right thing? What if he'd said 'Don't be silly, that little girl was obviously not for you. Forget her?'
• For our wee Glasgow friends: does this page and page 5 not remind you of Princes Square? Let's go there with the book.

• Have you waited and waited for someone you love? How did it feel? Does this page make you feel that way?

• Breaking rules! Now what do you think of that?!
• What do you think should happen now? Shall we help Hamish out and make the girl come in? Maybe you have your own story ideas to keep your readers waiting ...
• When the girl comes in, are you smiling too? How would you illustrate the "Hurray, she's back!"? Try it in front of a mirror. That's how I do my illustrations.

• Tell us about times you've been as happy as Hamish is here

• Are you glad that Hamish went back to the House of Teddies from time to time? Are you glad he's with the little girl, or do you think he'd be better off completely free playing on his own scooter?
• I originally wrote on the very last page "And they both loved each other more than anything in the whole wide world". I wanted everyone to really enjoy the happiness of the ending, but the editor thought it was all a bit too much. What's your opinion?

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Your turn now! Let me tell you about the next Hamish book. There's a new bear in it called Finn. Let me tell you what kind of a bear he is, and then you have a go at doing character sketches to find a really good "Finn". When you've done that I'll tell you the story and you can design the cover for it. I'll show you mine at the end!

In general

• Can you spot the same teddies on various pages? Which one would you love to have?
• Can you think of toys or people that you loved as soon as you saw them, like with Hamish and the little girl? Can you think of anyone you didn't like at first, then you loved them once you got to know them?
• You only see the little girl from behind. What do you think she looks like? Do you wish her face had been drawn in? I wanted to leave how she looks up to each reader - does that work?
• Are the pictures nice or not? (You'd think that if a child asks for a book again and again, they must love the illustrations. This is depressing if YOU find them so ugly you can hardly bear to pick up the book. I've recently started asking my wee girl "Are those pictures nice or not nice?" and been heartened to find out she has the same taste as me. But she still wants some of the ugliest books again and again ...
• Turn the pages and notice how layouts vary between 'double-page' spreads and small 'vignettes'. Also some pages are mostly green, others mostly blue, or orange. This is all to give you some variety and some surprises. Notice this in other books.
• Make up your own book. Think of the story, the layout of pictures and text, the typeface, the dedication, the blurb at the back. Use a computer or cut and paste pieces of paper. Use a deep stapler or a sowing machine to produce a neat book format. Have a go at editing someone else's book.
• You can learn more about my experience of making a book in 'The story behind the story' on this website.
• This website also has an activity sheet for wee ones, a free bookplate and bookmark, and some products you can buy online.
• Finally if you email me, I'll do my best to give a good reply.

and of course ...

• Tell us all about YOUR favourite teddy bear, and how you found it!

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Can I help you, or conversely, have you got more suggestions for this? Is this useful?
Do contact me!

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