The “global texts” drawn on here to encourage literacy and an understanding of issues including poverty, racism and the environment are stories set in India, southern Africa, the Caribbean and south-east Asia. Teachers will need access to the original books (such as The Peacock Garden by Anita Desai or Onion Tears by Diana Kidd), although this one supplies them with many ways of promoting active and thoughtful discussion.

Sggestions for closer examination of selected passages or chapters, and of entire narratives, use prediction, focus on characters and descriptions, story-boarding and making diaries. Ideas for rewriting are particularly interesting, and the advice on using art and music reminds us that full literacy extends beyond the literacy hour.

Available from Development Education Centre, 998 Bristol Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6LE. Tel: 0121 472 3255.

Tom Deveson

Distributed by Carel, 4 Hewson St, Carlisle, CA2 5AU. Tel: 01228 538928