Mr Duckins' Chickens by Mick Elliott

Mr Duckins teaches Year 4 - perhaps the smallest Year 4 class in the world - but that's by-the by. His students adore him because he believes that the whole world is a classroom and he encourages them to explore their dreams, no matter how wacky they may be and even if it means you feel safest sitting under your desk rather than at it. He doesn't believe in tests or homework, and most often he is the initiator of the craziest learning opportunities., getting himself into more trouble than those he teaches.

So when he shares the students' favourite book 66 000 Sick and Stinky World Records and discovers that that very day is the last day to submit an entry into that year's lists, he sets off a chain of events that involve eggs, chickens and their bums and emus. Can he eat 1000 eggs in a day? Assuming he can obtain 1000 eggs!

Using text, fonts and illustrations and the sort of language and humour that its target audience of newly independent readers loves, this is another in the new Paw Print series designed to encourage emerging readers to continue reading. And for those who would like to read more about such teachers - maybe wish they were in such a class - you might introduce them to the series about Mr Bambuckle by Tim Harris so they can continue to develop their skills.

Themes: Teachers, Eggs, Records, Emus.

Barbara Braxton