The Great Paper Caper

Crime novels aren't for children, are they? Are they? Well The Great Paper Caper is. As usual Oliver Jeffers matches his quirky imagery with text bursting with wry, dry humour. Someone is chopping down the trees, but who? And why? The inhabitants of the wood set out to discover the answers to their questions with amusing and heartwarming results. If ever you wanted to introduce small children to technical legal vocabulary, then this book is for you. Alibi, investigation, examined, eyewitness report, evidence, culprit... they're all in there. And not only is the terminology introduced, the book also provides a great place to begin learning about the process of solving crimes and the following legal processes. The book throws up some excellent discussion points around justice (Did the culprit get what he deserved? Should criminals be allowed a second chance?) and motivation (Can crime ever be justified? Should we be empathetic towards criminals? How far should you go to be the winner?), making this a useful text to read to inspire debate in the classroom. It also has an environmental focus: teachers could look further at how nature is being damaged by humans, potentially by providing linked non-fiction texts which children would be more inspired to read because of the story's context. The Great Paper Caper is a great example of how picturebooks use images to do more than illustrate a text. The illustrations have to be read and interpreted too - without them the story would be incomplete as the text alone does not give all the details. In the context of the whole story, there are plenty of opportunities for teachers to do reading comprehension style activities (particularly focusing on inference skills - it is all about finding clues, after all) using just the pictures. This is another triumph for Oliver Jeffers, and one that has stood the test of time; it was first published in 2008. Here is a book which a child can enjoy alone, with an adult, or during a variety of different school lessons, and one that's sure to raise a few smiles as well as questions. Picture book / Ages 4-7 years / Reviewed by Aidan Severs, teacher.

Suggested Reading Age 5+

In the forest everyone is happily going about their normal lives. Everything was perfect until suddenly strange things start to happen that disrupt the lives of everyone who lives there. Everyone agrees something must be done, everyone that is except the mysterious culprit, a bear who wants to win at any cost. Ostensibly for younger children this book is deceptive as it could just as easily be used with older children as well due to the quite abstract concepts involved. This book has been a firm favourite in our house for some time. It concerns a mystery that the animals must solve about trees being chopped down or having their branches cut off. The reader, however, can see what is going on through Jeffers wonderful illustrations. Tracking a 'crime' through the investigation stage, capture and trial, this story is one of humour with a serious message. The bear is too focussed on winning to see the damage he is causing, and the plot is really one of conservation and recycling as well as the need to be successful in a long line of successful family members. For a picture book this is anything but simple and the plot and trademark asides in the text and pictures add layers of complexity. Children are very careless about using paper and seem not to realise how the manufacture of paper has a direct influence on trees and the environment. The use of paper is a very easy way to help with conservation and this book amply illustrates that point. There is a lot of potential for drama as well with this story, looking at crime investigation and punishment as well as the need to win. I am a firm believer that great picture books have the potential to be used by children in Key Stage 2 as well as younger ones and this book is just that sort. Picture book / Ages 4-8 years / Reviewed by Jacqueline Harris, education consultant.

Suggested Reading Age 5+