Frank and Bert ideas
In these lovely stories, Chris Naylor-Ballesteros explores the friendship of Frank and Bert. Through gentle humour and appealing illustrations, the books show the ups and downs of their relationship, offering reassurance and plenty to discuss.
Any of the books in the series could be used as the focus for a book group session. Although each offers plenty to discuss, these ideas are about having some fun.
Frank and Bert: The One Where Bert Plays Hide and Seek
Resources:
A copy of the book, space to play- indoors or outdoors- and twenty pictures of Bert. These need to have four different coloured hats so that there are, for example, five Berts with red hats, five with blue, five with yellow and five with green
Divide the children into four teams and name each team a colour matching the hats Bert is wearing. Explain to the children that each team is going to seek the Bert with the hat in the colour of their team and that there are five to find. They need to work together to do this- BUT they also need to show kindness to the other teams by a) not giving the game away if they find another team’s Bert or b) by moving them.
The winning team is the first to collect all five and bring them back to a base point.
Frank and Bert: The One Where Bert Learns to Ride a Bike
Resources:
A copy of the book, card, colouring pencils/ pens, etc. and scissors.
Enjoy the story with the group.
Tell the children they are going to celebrate Bert learning to ride his bike by making a slider card.
Take a folded piece of card and draw a line 3cm from the bottom edge, starting 2cm from the left had side and stopping 2cm from the right. Measure 1cm up from this line and create a rectangle. This then needs to be carefully cut out to leave a slot. Cut a separate strip of card measuring 3.5cm by 20cm. This needs to be stuck behind the slot in the card, leaving the ends open, to form a sleeve for the slider. Next cut a strip of card 2.5cm wide by 23cm long.
Decorate the card to show where Bert and Frank are riding, adding a picture of Frank at the right end of the slot as shown below. Draw and cut of a picture of Bert on his bike. Push the slider strip into the sleeve and carefully stick the bottom of picture of Bert on to the strip. Once dry, the slider can be pulled along allowing Bert to ride after Frank.
Children can experiment with the shape of the path- zigzags, wavy lines etc by adapting the design of the sleeve.
Frank and Bert: The One with the Missing Biscuits
Resources:
A copy of the book, cardboard, template, colouring pens/ pencils/ items for decoration, scissors and biscuits
Enjoy the story with the group.
Show the children an example of the ‘Frank’ that they are going to make. Depending on the age of the children, either give out photocopied templates or ask them to draw around a template onto card. Allow time for the template to be decorated to look like Frank and then cut out, reminding the children to cut round the tab!
Carefully fold the tab and then stick down. This works best if the sides are pushed in slightly to allow for a better shape when the ends are folded in. Tuck the ends in to form a Frank pocket and pop a biscuit inside!
Frank and Bert: The One Where Bert Plays Hide and Seek
ISBN: 978-1788008419
Frank and Bert: The One Where Bert Learns to Ride a Bike
ISBN: 978-1839948503
Frank and Bert: The One with the Missing Biscuits
ISBN: 978-1805130680