Books

‘nana dig’ is a short book, written in 7 words for beginner readers. It is about nana running to dig for honey ants in the red, sandy desert of Central Australia. There is a very catchy song at the end of the book entitled “Dig nana, dig” which teaches the oral language used in the book, in full Standard Australian English. This teacher’s book includes notes detailing the rationale behind the author's decisions about which words to use, which sounds to include and what SAE grammar to introduce in this particular book.

‘nana dig in red sand’ reinforces the 7 words introduced in Book 1, ‘nana dig’ and develops confidence in reading through repetition. It describes nana digging in the red sand for honey ants. The song at the end of the book is a bit of fun about looking for honey ants. ‘Where can they be?’ Ask Nana and the kid, standing on top of the tunnels! This teacher’s book includes notes detailing the rationale behind the author's decisions about which words to use, which sounds to include and what SAE grammar to introduce in this particular book.

‘big mob ants’ is a story about a kid who runs across the red, wet sand to dig for honey ants with her nana. In 16 words, 7 of them repeated from HAR 2, the story tells how the wet sand makes it easier for them to collect 10 honey ants together. In Book 3 the red school bus is introduced, which is everybody’s favourite! At the end of the book there are 2 rhymes, one to teach the sound /s/ and the other, “the big wet red bus” is a revision of the book’s vocabulary. This teacher’s book includes notes detailing the rationale behind the author's decisions about which words to use, which sounds to include and what SAE grammar to introduce in this particular book.

‘dig dig dig’ describes, in 20 words (16 repeated from HAR 3) how honey ants live under the ground in tunnels. At the back of the book there are 2 rhymes in colloquial Standard English, “honey ant” and “9 kids and nana find 10 honey ants”, that reinforce the sounds and vocabulary introduced into Book 4. This teacher’s book includes notes detailing the rationale behind the author's decisions about which words to use, which sounds to include and what SAE grammar to introduce in this particular book.

In Book 5 ‘honey ants yum', nana and the kid run across the red sand and sit under the mulga tree to dig for honey ants. The story is told by reinforcing the 20 words in books 1-4 and 9 new words are introduced into the book. There are two rhymes in Standard English at the back of the book designed to teach the /h/ sound, “happy little hen” and “hello, hello” which is a paired speaking activity. This teacher’s book includes notes detailing the rationale behind the author's decisions about which words to use, which sounds to include and what SAE grammar to introduce in this particular book.

In Book 6 ‘wet kids running’, we follow the adventures of 10 kids who go on an excursion with nana on a big, red bus in the rain. Aside from building on the 29 previously introduced words, 10 new words are included. The book contains several numeracy activities and a rhyme in Standard English about ‘numbers’. This teacher’s book includes notes detailing the rationale behind the author's decisions about which words to use, which sounds to include and what SAE grammar to introduce in this particular book.

Book 7, 'Stop Dog’ tells the story about a group of children who go on a trip to look for bush tucker with Nana. A dog jumps on the bus and causes all sorts of trouble such as tipping out all the honey ants collected in a cup! Of course, the children love the naughty dog! At the end of the book there is a song in Standard English to teach parts of the body (self words) and rhymes to teach the sound /f/, ‘five fingers’, ‘five funny fingers’ and ‘fat ant’. Building on the 39 words previously introduced into the HARs, 9 new words are introduced into HAR 7, making a total of 48 words which are repeated frequently in the book in order to reinforce learning and to build reading confidence through success. This teacher’s book includes notes detailing the rationale behind the author's decisions about which words to use, which sounds to include and what SAE grammar to introduce in this particular book.

Book 8, ‘Stop the Bus’, begins with the bus driver and nana collecting children from their homes. The bus takes them to school, but on the way they ask to stop at a mulga tree to see if there are any honey ants. At the end of the book there are 2 songs in Standard English, one teaching the vocabulary found in the book and the other teaching the sounds /p/ and /d/. By now the readers have learnt 54 words. This teacher’s book includes notes detailing the rationale behind the author's decisions about which words to use, which sounds to include and what SAE grammar to introduce in this particular book.

Using 65 words, (54 of which have been introduced in previous HARs) ‘Get the Snake’ tells a story about children in the playground at school. One child decides to stay and not go to class on time. He is playing in a tree when a snake comes. The children see this from the classroom and rush out, calling Nana who goes to fetch the bus driver. The story ends happily, the blood in the picture isn’t from a snake bite but because a tree branch has scratched the kid’s leg! There are a song and a rhyme in Standard English at the end of the book, teaching the vocabulary for parts of the body. This teacher’s book includes notes detailing the rationale behind the author's decisions about which words to use, which sounds to include and what SAE grammar to introduce in this particular book.

‘Wet Baby’ is the final book of the 1-10 red series, which consolidates 70 words introduced over the ten readers. The story is about nana and a baby going to school and playing in the playground while the children are in class. The baby pours a cup of water over himself and the children rush to help! At the end of the book there is a song to teach Standard English vocabulary and ‘if’ clauses and a paired rhyming activity reinforcing the /h/ sound. This teacher’s book includes notes detailing the rationale behind the author's decisions about which words to use, which sounds to include and what SAE grammar to introduce in this particular book.