Teachers’ Notes
The Heart of the
Forest
Mates series
Written by Barry Jonsberg
Illustrated by Craig Phillips
Teachers’ notes by Anita Jonsberg
OMNIBUS BOOKS
Category
Young Readers
Title
Mates: The Heart of
The Forest
Author
Illustrator
Extent
Age
Australian RRP
Binding
Printing
Barry Jonsberg
Craig Phillips
64pp
6+
$10.99
Paperback
Colour
ISBN
978 1 86291 813 9
Format
198 x 128 mm
Contents
Introduction…………………………………………………………...
2
About the Author…………………………………………………...
2
About the Illustrator……………………………………………….. 3
Activities…………………………………………………………………. 3
Teachers’ Notes may be reproduced for use in school activities. They may not be
redistributed for commercial sale or posted to other networks.
Introduction
Following a prank that goes wrong during a bushwalk with her parents, Keely
discovers she is lost in the forest and is terrified. Her brother Aaron, who has died
two years previously, comes to the rescue. Initially she ignores his advice (she is
older than him by two whole minutes), but he is the one who finds the way back to
their parents.
Along the way, Keely thinks about her brother’s illness and how she has always
looked out for him. She notes that even in death he is ‘always following’ her.
Whether Aaron has returned from the grave to guide her, or is merely a figment of
Keely’s imagination [an indication of her failure to ‘move on’] is open to
interpretation. Either way, during the long and scary night in the forest, it is Aaron
who takes care of her.
The Heart of the Forest is a touching tale of adversity, courage and caring. It shows
that some bonds can never be broken, even in death.
The novel presents unromanticised parental and sibling relationships and
encourages discussion of the issues surrounding them, but remains ultimately
uplifting.
About the Author
Barry Jonsberg has written several novels for young adults, all of which have been
published to great acclaim. The Whole Business with Kiffo and the Pitbull was
shortlisted for the CBC Book of the Year (Older Readers) in 2005. His second book,
It's Not All About YOU, Calma! won the Adelaide Festival Award for Children's
Literature and was shortlisted for the CBC Book of the Year (Older Readers) in 2006.
Dreamrider was shortlisted for the 2007 NSW Premier's Award (Ethel Turner Award).
Cassie was shortlisted for both the Psychologists’ Peace Award in 2009 and the
Territory Read award in 2010. Barry has also written three books for junior readers
(8 to 12 years old). The Dog That Dumped on My Doona was shortlisted for the
Environmental Award for Children’s Literature and the Territory Read award, both in
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2009. There are two follow up novels also available: A Croc Called Capone and Blacky
Blasts Back: On The Tail of the Tassie Tiger.
About the Illustrator
Craig Phillips is a freelance Illustrator who works in his studio on the sunny South
Coast of NSW. Craig is represented in the US and Europe by Shannon Associates.
Clients include: Simon and Schuster, Penguin, TOR books, IBM, Wizards of The Coast,
Pepsi, SPIN magazine, Rolling Stone, Empire, Men’s Health, FHM, IBM, Oxford
University Press, Scholastic, and many more. He has created rock poster art for
Queens Of The Stone Age, The Hives, Foo Fighters and Turbonegro, and his work has
appeared in The Art Of Modern Rock (Chronicle Books), 200 Best Illustrators
Worldwide (Leurzers Archive), and the upcoming Fistful Of Rock (Dark Horse Books).
Craig loves making pictures. He also loves snowboarding, surfing, and most things
Japanese … but most of all he loves his wife Latifah and son Eli.
Activities
Please note that some discussions involving grief and loss may provoke deep
feelings in children. Research shows it is best to avoid exploring these issues
without the guidance of a qualified counsellor or other professional. Primary aged
children may approach you during or after class with questions or emotional
issues: it is best to seek support from your school counsellor when dealing with any
situation where you feel the child may need help dealing with his or her feelings.
Never pressure children to speak about grief and loss in a group setting. When
dealing with a novel, confine discussion to the characters’ reactions to these issues.
English
1. Keely has lost her brother Aaron because of his heart problems. Despite this,
her treatment of him remains the same as if he was alive. Find examples in
the book of Keely being ‘mean’ towards Aaron and discuss them with your
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group or class. Then find examples of Keely needing Aaron’s help and
support. Look at the passage on pages 36-38 where they laugh and have fun.
2. Do you think Keely’s parents should be worried about how Keely ‘keeps
Aaron with her’ and does not seem to accept that he is dead?
3. Discuss how you relate to your siblings. Are you always friendly and helpful?
What mean things do you say to your sibling and what mean things does he
or she say to you? Bearing all this in mind, does the relationship between
Keely and Aaron appear realistic to you?
4. Discuss the idea that, despite the occasional argument or different ways of
seeing things, siblings will always look out for each other.
5. Should our feelings change towards someone just because they are ill?
6. Look at the opening sentence of the story (the ‘hook’ sentence). Why and
how does it interest the reader and encourage them to read on? Practise
writing some ‘hook’ sentences of your own.
7. Some of the words in the story are presented in different fonts. Why are they
highlighted and what effect do the fonts have on the words themselves? How
do they help to convey meaning?
8. There are instances of personification throughout the novel, where objects
and elements are given human characteristics: ‘the ground punched air from
my lungs’; ‘wetness slapped my face’; ‘the night pressed in harder’. Find more
examples and explain how they help to create atmosphere in the story.
9. Consider how the twist at the end of the story increases its effect. How has
the author kept it secret? What clues are there along the way?
10. Look at Barry Jonsberg’s website ( http://www.barryjonsberg.com ). Read
reviews of his work and write your own short review of The Heart of the
Forest.
Art
1. Look carefully at the illustrations. How do they contribute to telling the story?
2. What do we find out about the characters from the illustrations?
3. How does the position and framing of the illustrations help to create and
maintain interest in the story?
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4. Consider whether you would have picked the same events to illustrate. Why
do you think Phillips has chosen these specifically? Would you change
anything? If you would, why?
5. Choose a chapter of the story that appeals to you and illustrate it yourself.
6. Examine other style elements: the cover and what it suggests about the story
and the illustrated borders at the top and bottom of the pages. What do they
show? How do they help the reader engage with the story?
7. Look at Craig Phillips’ website ( http://www.craigphillips.com.au ) and find
out five facts about his work.
Creative activities
1. Prepare a poster or pamphlet to highlight safety when bushwalking. (See links
below)
2. Write a short story about spending a night alone in the bush. How do you
come to be alone? What can you taste, smell, feel, see and hear during the
night? What can you imagine? How do you find your way home?
3. Did or do you ever ‘speak’ with an imaginary friend, or someone who has
died? (Many of us do!) Describe what they were/are like.
4. Paint, draw or model an imaginary scary creature that may lurk in the night.
Make yours different from the creatures shown in the book.
5. Gather together five objects that link with the ideas and themes in the story.
Present your objects to the rest of the class or group and explain how they
are linked. (There is no need to buy anything – be creative and look around
your home!)
Society & Environment
1. When Keely spends the night in the forest, she imagines creatures ‘slithering’
and ‘pouncing’ in the dark. Find out what creatures actually inhabit the Blue
Mountains.
2. Why do national parks exist?
3. Who takes care of the parks?
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4. Which was the first national park to be established in Australia?
5. Which is the biggest in Australia?
Here are some useful links:
http://www.sydney-australia.biz/maps/australia/national-parks-map.php
http://www.australiannationalparks.com/
Geography
1. The Heart of the Forest is set in the Blue Mountains. Locate them on a map of
Australia.
2. Using a state map, find out how many national parks there are in your state.
3. Using the Internet, research safety guidelines for travelling through bush land
in your state – there are some useful links below:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/parksafety/WalkingSafety.htm (NSW)
http://www.vicwalk.org.au/walk_safe.htm (VIC)
http://en.travelnt.com/advice/safety-tips/bushwalking-camping.aspx (NT)
http://www.bowa.iinet.net.au/BOWA%20Safety%20Procedure.pdf (WA)
Scroll down the PDF for details.
http://www.bowa.iinet.net.au/BOWA%20Safety%20Procedure.pdf (QLD)
http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/activities/bushwalking.html (SA)
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=6382 (TAS)
4. You may wish to work with your teacher or in small groups to compare
states. Why are the safety instructions sometimes different?
5. What safety aspects are particular to your state? Why?
6. Think about safety in your classroom or school environment and write ten
guidelines to improve it.
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