Read Mopoke by Philip Bunting
Bunting writes that ‘“Mopoke” is the Australian nickname for the Southern Boobook, our smallest and most common species of owl. Mopokes are known for their love of peace and quiet and for their ‘mo-poke’ call.
Questions and Activities:
Several of the different ‘pokes’ rely on the reader having a certain amount of knowledge of cultural references for them to be understood. For example, the ‘fee-fi-fo poke’ requires knowledge of the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk, while the ‘fropoke’ relies on an awareness of a particular hairstyle. Write down the meanings of some of the less obvious ‘pokes.’ Guess any that you do not already know.
What are some other words that rhyme with ‘mo’? Use one of these words to invent and illustrate a ‘poke’ of your own.
Look carefully at the picture of the wombat. How might a wombat end up in a tree at night? What would he feel like being perched on a branch?
Write a short story from the point of view of the wombat telling how he ended up in a tree full of owls.
Research mopokes, or owls native to your local area, online and make a poster showing your findings. Find out what they eat and what they look like.