Catherine - Post 10 The Naming of Tishkin Silk

                                 Blog Posting 10- The Naming of Tishkin Silk

The Naming of Tishkin Silk by Glenda Millard and illustrated by Caroline Magerl. Griffin was born into the Silk family on the twenty ninth of February. His father predicted that his date of birth would make him an uncommon boy. Starting school made Griffin realise how uncommon he was and he thought if he was an ordinary boy maybe his mother would have stayed. The first day of school made other students aware of his uncommonness. Griffin wished he could have stayed at home. Griffin was a grade ahead of the other students his age. The older students thought he was a teacher’s pet and bullied him. They asked him a number of personal questions.  He was excited that his mother would return home soon with his new baby sister. It was that afternoon under the shade of a tree that he quietly said ‘Tishkin’, that’s what I’ll call her ‘Tishkin’. This book follows Griffin’s story and how he copes with school, meeting Layla and the how he finally manages to get his mother to return home.

 

I found this book very engaging and I was excited to see what was on the next page, continually predicting what would happen. I think this would be a great resource in a primary classroom. The story itself teaches students about how Griffin feels when he is bullied and about how it is ok to come from an ‘uncommon’ family and to be an individual. Everyone is different and to be accepting of everyone.

 

 

Catherine