Overview and Outcomes:

Using The Unforgotten Coat by Frank Cottrell Boyce, children will explore the experiences of refugees and the reasons why people have to flee countries to seek asylum. This could be used in conjunction with Refugee Week. Through the Writing Root, children will write extended narratives in the style of a journal, recorded as a series of diary entries.  There are also opportunities to write explanation texts about a science experiment, mirroring the text, as well as non-chronological reports, following research about Mongolia.

Synopsis of Text:

Two refugee brothers from Mongolia are determined to fit in with their Liverpool schoolmates, but bring so much of Mongolia to Bootle that their new friend and guide, Julie, is hard-pressed to know truth from fantasy. Told with the humour, warmth and brilliance of detail which characterizes Frank Cottrell Boyce's writing, readers will be transported from the streets of Liverpool to the steppe of Mongolia.

Text Rationale:

Frank Cottrell-Boyce is a significant children’s author and children may already be familiar with some of his other titles such as Cosmic and Millions.  This poignant story won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize in 2012 and we chose it for the richness of its offering: from the compelling characterisation and unique dialogue and dialects to the Polaroid photos which help to tell the story.  There are strong links to the themes of migration, movement and belonging and the familiar school setting will help children fully engage with the plights of the characters within. 

Links and Themes:

Migration, immigration, refugees, Mongolia, movement, belonging, family, friendship

Date written: March 2014