Hercufleas

Author: Sam Gayton

Illustrator: Peter Cottrill

Age: KS2

UKLA Book Awards 7-11 category shortlist 2016

Main points:

Comedic

Adventurous

Great book to engage boys with reading

Links to Myths and Legends e.g. Hercules - mythical creatures e.g. giants

Fleas seen as pests, but are presented as heroes - carries message of hope, dreams and not judging based on appearance

Illustrations enhance book and reading experience

Children could learn about the Black Death, alongside reading this book, as Hercufleas goes on a journey with Greta to find a drop of the Black Death in a vial, as fleas could carry the disease then infect others (plan to use it to defeat the Giant Yuk).

The Noggin character in Yuk's brain only speaks in rhyming couplets - this provides an opportunity to focus on this type of poetry with the children. This could be extended to explore poets who use this technique, such as Shakespeare in his sonnets.

Lots of creative opportunities to develop:

Wanted posters

Design your own House Hat

Create a hero/heroin - comic strip - adventure story (possibly using myths and legends for inspiration)

Science focus on fleas/invertebrates

Newspaper reports

Design a fortress - history link (e.g. types of castles)