Overview and Outcomes:

This is a two-week Writing Root using the text, If All the World Were by Joseph Coelho and Alison Colpoys. The children begin by responding to, What is…? questions, in the form of statements to create a kaleidoscope of memories. Then they share the text before inferring a character’s feelings and then writing in role. A letter from the main character is sent to the class, to which the children respond by giving advice. Children then draw upon ideas in the text to think about special objects, creating noun phrases for each. They then apply this idea into a non-narrative poem with a focus on drawing upon the author’s language. Finally, after watching the author read one of his pieces, they prepare their poem to read out loud and do so to an audience. Due to this book tackling the often taboo subject of death (of a grandparent) teachers will need to think carefully how to package things best for their own class. However, written outcomes are about using memories (not necessarily of lost loved ones), love and the beauty around us to develop resilience and the ability to express and deal with difficult feelings in a positive way.

Synopsis of Text:

This beautiful story tells the love that one little girl has for her ageing grandad. They spend each season having fun together but she knows he is not well. One day he isn’t there anymore, but the little girl finds evidence of their happy times together. She knows she has memories and imagination enough to keep her grandad alive and she remembers him smiling and laughing.

Text Rationale:

A beautiful and poignant, poetic story for children to enjoy, dealing with issues of grief and loss with an uplifting sense of joy, hope and courage. The story highlights the importance of cherishing memories of people who have passed, and does this in an uplifting, life-affirming way. This story also represents BAME characters and families authentically. Joseph Coelho is an award-winning children's author and poet who is also the Waterstones Children's Laureate for 2022-2024.

Links and themes:

Grandparents, loss, grief, love, relationships, representation, family, poetic language 

Date written: April 2019