Any Excuse Level 19-20

Any Excuse is a lively and clever play that follows a boy who forgets his homework, only for his friends to brainstorm wild and wonderful excuses to help him out. The story escalates with humour and creative ideas until the teacher delivers the most unexpected excuse of all. With a strong focus on the conventions of script writing, this text offers an ideal opportunity to explore dialogue, stage directions, and dramatic structure. The detailed and expressive illustrations add layers to the story, supporting visual comprehension. The language features are rich and varied, from colloquial speech and contractions to descriptive past-tense verbs and onomatopoeia. Students are encouraged to engage with themes of honesty, problem-solving, and creative expression. With opportunities to perform and interpret the text, Any Excuse makes an entertaining and educational resource for building oral fluency, understanding character motivation, and analysing text format.

Educational Benefits:

• Supports comprehension through illustration detail and conclusion drawing
• Builds understanding of dramatic structure and play conventions
• Encourages expressive reading and performance
• Expands vocabulary with figurative language and colloquial terms

Classroom Ideas:

• Assign roles and perform the play in small groups
• Create alternate endings or excuses in script format
• Identify and practise reading contractions and expressive punctuation
• Discuss honesty and consequences through character analysis

Safety & Information:

• Suitable for readers aged 8+
• Dimensions: 210mm x 180mm
• Printed with non-toxic, child-safe inks
• Softcover edition designed for classroom use