TEACHING NOTES BY BROOKE CL ARK
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Stephanie and Ann-Margrete Smee
After working as a lawyer in Sydney and London, Stephanie Smee
made her literary translation debut with an English translation of the
Countess de Ségur’s Fleurville Trilogy. Her mother, Ann-Margrete
Smee, is now retired, having worked as a government translator, court
interpreter and, for many years, a language teacher.
Gösta Knutsson
Gösta Knutsson (1908–1973) was a Swedish children’s author and
radio producer. The first Pelle book was published in 1939, followed by
many more books, comics, films, plays, music and television programs.
Pelle No-Tail is beloved in Sweden and around the world, with
translations appearing in Polish, Finnish, Danish, German, Dutch,
Norwegian and Portuguese.
TEACHING NOTES
BY BROOKE CLARK
The Adventures of Pelle No-Tail
By Gösta Knutsson
(Translated by Stephanie Smee
and Ann-Margrete Smee)
SYNOPSIS (PLOT)
The story of The Adventures of Pelle No-Tail introduces a grey tabby cat
with no tail, only a little stump. A big rat bit off his tail when he was
just a few days old, and the other cats in the neighbourhood make fun
of him.
On the day he turns seven weeks old, a man comes to visit the farm
where he lives and the cat accidentally stows away in his car; so begins
his adventure. The man’s family adopts him, calling him Pelle and
giving him a comfortable bed in ten-year-old Birgitta’s bedroom. His
place in the family is cemented when his yowling alerts them to a fire
one night, and they present him with a special medal.
One morning Pelle goes out proudly wearing his medal, and
encounters the local tomcat, Måns. He tells Pelle it makes him look
‘stuck up’, and he should take it off. Of course Pelle refuses, and
unknowingly makes an enemy of him. Måns writes a letter to the
newspaper, exposing the ‘snooty’ Pelle who has no tail, and he and his
friends rip off his collar and medal.
More adventures ensue; he’s stuffed into a papier mâché egg at Easter,
and later the family decides to have a summer holiday in the country.
There he meets a kind cat, Big-Stina, who teaches Pelle about liking
yourself no matter what. Then, on the way home at the end of the
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holiday, he finds himself on the wrong train, but luckily he meets kind
old Mr Karlsson, and a sweet little cat called Ingrid.
He eventually finds his way back to Birgitta, but trouble arrives again
in the form of Måns. He invites Pelle to come with him and his friends
to Lake Mälaren to catch some herring. He has tricked Pelle, though;
when they get to the lake the next morning, they push him off the jetty,
but he manages to grab onto a wooden pole under the jetty as he falls.
When they jump into the lake to escape two dogs, poor Pelle manages
to sneak back to town. He can’t understand why they keep being mean
to him.
At Christmas, Birgitta’s dad dresses as Santa and hands out presents to
the family – even Pelle, who gets a ball and a toy rat. He has a lovely
Christmas, but Måns has plans again. He invites him to a New Year’s
Eve party, and when Pelle opens his present he finds a medal with the
words ‘For stuck-up cats’ written on it. On the back is the message:
‘A tail is a cat’s biggest pride and joy.’
The cats fall about with laughter, while an upset Pelle slips away quietly.
When he gets home, though, Birgitta and her father present him with
a shiny new medal, with the words ‘For distinguished services’ written
on it. They all cheer, and the only thing that would make the day better
is if Måns and his friends were there to see his beautiful new medal.
THEMES
This book for children is an adventure story that deals with bullying,
embracing people’s differences, having a positive attitude and exploring
the world around you.
Bullying
Pelle can’t understand why people pick on him and look down on
him because he doesn’t have a tail. He can’t help it if he doesn’t have a
tail, he thinks. This is a strong theme throughout the book: accepting
someone who is different from you.
Embracing people’s differences
Throughout his adventures, Pelle meets many different animals and
people. They’re all very different, but Pelle likes them all for exactly
who they are.
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teaching notes
Big-Stina tells him there’s nothing wrong with having no tail; in fact,
there are some great things about not having a tail. For her, Pelle’s lack
of a tail is no issue.
Pelle learns about some strange human customs at Easter and
Christmas time. Still, he gives them a chance and joins in, finding that
he has a great time.
Having a positive attitude
No matter what adventure Pelle is having, he always has a positive
attitude and is willing to try new things and meet new people. When
others are being mean to him, he shows resilience in reminding himself
that there’s nothing wrong with not having a tail.
Exploring the world around you
From the very beginning we see that Pelle is a curious cat. This
continues throughout the story, with Pelle wandering off to explore in
each situation in which he finds himself.
WRITING STYLE
The book has been translated from Swedish by Stephanie Smee and
Ann-Margrete Smee. A classic, popular Swedish children’s book, it
was first published in 1939, and the translation is faithful to that era’s
writing style. The translation is also faithful to the location where
the book was originally set; many Swedish locations are mentioned,
character names are Swedish, Swedish expressions are peppered
throughout the book, and Swedish cultural traditions are explained.
The story is presented from Pelle’s point of view; his relationships with
other cats are explored, and humans are almost secondary to the story.
We hear Pelle’s thoughts and feelings, and see his amusement at the
odd things humans do and say. The writing style is light-hearted and humorous, even though it deals
with some important social issues such as bullying and accepting other
people’s differences. This is especially interesting to note since the
book was originally published in 1939, around the beginning of World
War II, a time when differences between cultures and people were not
celebrated in some parts of the world.
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STUDY NOTES
These discussion points and activities are designed to assist the
teacher to present the book to the students. They encourage extended
discussion and further thought about the content or style, and are not
intended to be prescriptive.
CHARACTERS
Activity: Write five adjectives that describe Pelle.
Activity: Create a timeline showing what happens in Pelle’s adventures.
Activity: Have the students make their own medal, with a special
message on it about themselves.
THEMES
Bullying
Activity: Draw a table, and on the left side list the ways someone can be
a friend; on the right, list some of the ways someone can be a bully.
Discussion point: As a class, discuss what bullying is, and how it is
different from having an argument with someone.
Discussion point: Discuss the reasons some people might bully others.
Discuss strategies to help someone who is being bullied.
Discussion point: Discuss how the students think Pelle might feel about
being picked on for a physical attribute that he can’t help.
Embracing people’s differences
Activity: In groups, have children survey each other, collecting
information about things such as eye colour, hair colour, hair type,
hobbies, favourite sport, and so on. Have them create a bar graph to
present to the class, showing the differences within each group.
Activity: In groups, write down all the ways you can think of that
someone might be different from others.
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teaching notes
Discussion point: Vocabulary – talk about what a ‘stereotype’ is. People
with a disability can experience this; some people assume someone
with a disability can’t do certain things, when they actually can. Discuss
how getting to know someone can help avoid stereotyping them.
Activity: In small groups, identify some questions you could ask to get
to know someone better; e.g. ask about their hobbies, favourite music,
favourite sport, pets.
Discussion point: Vocabulary – talk about what ‘diversity’ means. It
can apply to diversity in cultures, in abilities, and so on. What are the
benefits of having diversity in our community?
Discussion point: Pelle learns about how Swedish people celebrate
Christmas. Discuss how a Swedish Christmas is different from the
way Christmas is celebrated in Australia. Discuss other traditions that
students celebrate in their homes here in Australia.
Exploring the world around you
Activity: Draw a map of what they imagine the farmhouse where the
family stays for the summer looks like.
Activity: Write a report about a place they have visited and the
adventures they had there.
Discussion point: What are some of the different parts of the world that
the students would like to visit? Why?
Having a positive attitude
Activity: In groups, write one or two positive sentences about each
person in the group. Create a poster for that group, including each
person and the positive things that have been said about them.
Activity: Have students complete a ‘How I feel’ worksheet: identify a
feeling they have or have had, why they feel/felt that way, what did
they/will they do about it, and what is something else they could do/
have done. Activity: Write a positive report about yourself, including what makes
you happy, what you’re good at, something your friends like about you,
something that makes you unique.
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Activity: As a class, participate in a meditation session from the
Smiling Mind app as a way to promote calm and happy thoughts.
WRITING ACTIVITIES
• Write a book review for The Adventures of Pelle No-Tail.
• Write a story about Pelle’s adventures in a different country;
perhaps he visits a city in Australia, or the outback.
• Poems feature often in the book. Have the students identify
the poems in the story. Do all poems rhyme? Have the
students write their own poem.
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ALSO AVAILABLE
Further Adventures of Pelle No-Tail
In the second of the Pelle No-Tail series, Pelle again has to put
up with Måns and his friends, Bill and Bull, doing their best to
make fun of his missing tail.
Måns does everything he can to come up with ways to poke
fun at Pelle, whether it’s at the Spring Fête or at the cats’ great
general knowledge quiz.
But Pelle refuses to let Måns get him down, and instead he
has all sorts of new adventures.
While on holiday with his family, he plays ‘ship’s cat’ on an
exciting outing to a desert island. But as darkness falls, he
wonders – will he ever make it back to shore?
Pelle No-Tail Pulls Through
In the third book of the Pelle No-Tail series, Pelle catches up
with lots of friends, old and new. But always lurking nearby is
Måns, keen to cause trouble.
Pelle ventures out to the Swedish countryside with his family.
There’s fishing and fun to be had by the beautiful lakes. But
Måns has warned him there are trolls in the forests. Pelle will
have to keep his wits about him…
But wait! More trouble lies just around the corner for Pelle.
When an icicle almost falls on Måns’s head, he wants to take
his revenge. But he’ll have to wait for just the right moment.
Will Pelle pull through?
Meet Pelle No-Tail… Sweden’s favourite cat!
In these charming books – now published for the first time in
English since their publication in Swedish more than seventy years
ago – children will delight in the adventures of Pelle, the cat whose
tail was bitten off by a rat when he was a kitten.
In the first book, Pelle leaves the farm where he was born and goes
to live in the city. There Pelle must get used to life with his new
family. But in the city, he also meets the nasty tomcat, Måns, who
loves nothing better than to make life difficult for Pelle.
Will Pelle be able to stand up to Måns and his foolish friends,
Bill and Bull? Find out in The Adventures of Pelle No-Tail.
Recommended for ages 6–9
ISBN: 9781863959247
RRP: $14.99
To request a complimentary reading copy of The Adventures of Pelle No-Tail,
please contact Sophie Shanahan on [email protected]
blackincbooks.com/education
To order copies of The Adventures of Pelle No-Tail, please contact United Book Distributors
on +61 3 9811 2555 or [email protected]
or contact your local bookseller or education supplier.
For all other enquiries, please contact Black Inc.
Level 1, 221 Drummond St, Carlton, Victoria 3053
Phone: +61 3 9486 0288 Fax +61 3 9011 6106
Email: [email protected]