Overview and Outcomes:

This is a three-week Writing Root based within the context of Ocean Meets Sky by the Fan Brothers. This beautiful and poignant story has stunning illustrations throughout and explores themes of family, memory and loss. The unit begins by introducing the authors to the children and highlighting the power of bookmaking/storytelling. Children find a mysterious box in the classroom labelled “Grandpa’s Stuff”. Inside they will find clues to who Grandpa was and his relationship with the main character, Finn. Finn misses his Grandfather after he has passed away and longs to travel to the fantastical worlds that his Grandpa would tell him about in his stories. Children are given a variety of meaningful writing opportunities throughout the sequence of learning and gradually build up the skills to write an extended fantasy story of their own.

Synopsis of Text:

From the creators of the gorgeous bestseller The Night Gardener comes a stunning new picture book about a young boy who sets sail to find a place his grandfather told him about...the spot where the ocean meets the sky.

It's a good day for sailing.

Finn lives by the sea and the sea lives by him. Every time he looks out his window it's a constant reminder of the stories his grandfather told him about the place where the ocean meets the sky. Where whales and jellyfish soar and birds and castles float. 

Finn's grandfather is gone now but Finn knows the perfect way to honor him. He'll build his own ship and sail out to find this magical place himself! 

And when he arrives, maybe, just maybe, he'll find something he didn't know he was looking for.

Text Rationale:

This text, which has won many awards and honours, combines the quality writing and luminous illustrations of the Fan Brothers. 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. The Fan Brothers are significant, award-winning author-illustrators and children can continue to enjoy their books following their studies of this text.

Links and themes:

Boats, sailing, grandparents, adventure, grief, relationships, representation, family 

Date written: February 2020