The Truck Cat- Minmi Public School- (HPGE Group Yr2-6)

Our small group of Year 2–6 students thoroughly enjoyed reading all the shortlisted picture books. Analysing each book against the judging criteria was a valuable experience, deepening their understanding of the themes and symbolism present in each story. They discovered how the text and illustrations work together to enrich the reader’s experience, recognising the integral role of illustrations in engaging with the narrative. The students chose Truck Cat as their favourite because they could relate to many aspects of the book, including the settings, characters, and, most importantly, the emotions conveyed throughout the story. They recreated their favourite page using playdough and paint, capturing the process through time-lapse photography and creating a video with Canva. This page resonated with them, as it depicted the heartfelt reunion of Yacoub and Tinka and their journey to finding their special place in the world with Mari. On this page, the students particularly noticed the connections made through the use of colour, such as Yacoub’s yellow hat and Mari’s yellow shirt, as well as Yacoub’s purple shirt and boots paired with Mari’s purple pants. Overall, the students had a wonderful time engaging with the story and expressing their creativity.