Cooped Up Level 19-20

Cooped Up follows the story of Josh, a young boy adjusting to life in the city after moving from the country. Feeling lonely in his new apartment, Josh dreams of having a pet to fill the quiet spaces of his day. With the help of his Grandad, Josh tries to persuade Mum that a pet would bring joy and companionship. This heartwarming story highlights themes of personal change, family support, and problem solving. The expressive illustrations enhance character development and the emotional arc of the story. The text includes contractions, multisyllabic words such as œcockatoo and œapartment, and sound patterns like -ing endings and the double œoo spelling. Direct speech and dialogue provide opportunities to explore punctuation and emphasis. As Josh and Grandad present their case for a pet, readers are encouraged to think critically about decision-making and expressing needs.

Educational Benefits:

• Builds vocabulary with multisyllabic words and contractions.
• Encourages analysis of character development and setting.
• Reinforces comprehension of story structure (problem/solution).
• Promotes emotional literacy and empathy.

Classroom Ideas:

• Create a persuasive letter to Mum from Josh about why he should have a pet.
• Explore city vs country living through Venn diagrams or discussion.
• Act out key scenes to practise direct speech and expression.
• Design a care plan for an ideal classroom pet.

Safety & Information:

• Suitable for ages: 7-8
• Size: 150mm x 210mm
• Safety: Printed using non-toxic inks; no sharp edges or loose components.