Oxford Literacy Web: KS2 Non-fiction Year 4
Maureen Haselhurst, Alison Sage, David Wray, Elizabeth Paren, Gill Stacey, etc.
Paperback
(Oxford University Press, June 28, 2001)
This is a fascinating set of information books, suitable for guided, shared or independent reading, with good cross-curricular links. These books exemplify the different text types required by the National Literacy Strategy - Persuasion, Discussion, Reports, Instructions, Reference, and Recount (biography). "Two African Countries" (report) offers a comparison of Ghana and Botswana, two countries with contrasting landscapes, climates, cultures and histories. "Countries of the World" (alphabetic reference) presents interesting facts and figures on each country, with maps, photographs and facts about people of diverse lands. "Red Adair" (recount/biography) gives an exciting recount of this modern hero's lifelong fight against oil fires, and his poverty stricken background, plus more technical information about firefighting. "Living on the Edge" (report) shows how people cope with living in extreme environmental conditions. It contrasts frozen and hot deserts, mountain life and water environments.