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In this reader you’ll find:
David Copperfield
David Copperfield looks back on the first twenty-five years of his life. He’s only eight years old when his mother, a pretty young widow, remarries. Unfortunately, Mr Murdstone isn’t a good husband or father. David is sent away to school and only returns home when tragedy strikes. Unloved and unwanted, he’s sent to work in a factory. But David is a clever boy and wants a better life for himself.
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Charles Dickens David Copperfield
Charles Dickens
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David Copperfield Book brief
1 2 3 4 5
Charles Dickens’ eighth novel first published as a serial in 1849-50, then as a book in 1850. It’s often described as a masterpiece and is Dickens’ favourite novel. Written in the first person by the main character, David Copperfield, it describes his life from childhood to middle age. David has lots of adventures and makes several friends and enemies along the way. It includes different aspects of Victorian life that Dickens fought to change. Main themes include adventure and teamwork. Main themes include growth and changes that happen on the way to becoming an adult.
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In this reader: 21st Century Skills
To encourage students to connect the story to the world they live in.
Preliminary
B1 level activities.
Story Notes
A brief summary of the text.
Glossary
Explanation of difficult words.
Picture Caption
A brief explanation of the picture.
Audio
These icons indicate the parts of the story that are recorded.
Think
start stop
To encourage students to develop their critical thinking skills.
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Charles Dickens
David Copperfield Retold and with activities by Silvana Sardi Illustrated by Felicita Sala
Teen
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Contents
6
Main Characters
8
Before you read
10
Chapter 1
18
Activities
20
Chapter 2
28
Activities
30
Chapter 3
38
Activities
40
Chapter 4
48
Activities
50
Chapter 5
58
Activities
60
Chapter 6
70
Activities
72
Focus on... Charles Dickens
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Focus on... Life in Victorian Times
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Focus on... CLIL - Education and Travel
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Test Yourself
79 Syllabus
Mr Murdstone School Everything Changes A New Life Dora Endings and Beginnings
Main Characters
David Copperfield
He tells the story of his life from childhood to middle age.
Dora Spenlow David falls in love with Dora the first time he sees her.
Peggotty
David’s nurse. She looks after him as a child.
Miss Jane Murdstone
Edward Murdstone
David’s stepfather. He’s horrible to David.
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Edward Murdstone’s sister. She’s as bad as her brother.
Uriah Heep
Clara Copperfield
An evil criminal.
David’s mother. She’s unhappy after she marries Edward Murdstone.
Agnes Wickfield
Mr Micawber
She’s about the same age as David and is a gentle, kind person.
A kind middle-aged man. He’s the first person David stays with in London.
Miss Betsey Trotwood
David’s father’s aunt. She’s serious but not unkind.
James Steerforth
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A boy who helps David at school.
Before you read
Vocabulary 1 Match the words with their definitions. f nurse 1 ■ 2 ■ orphan 3 ■ stepfather 4 ■ mourner 5 ■ niece 6 ■ nephew 7 ■ schoolmaster 8 ■ debtor 9 ■ clerk a b c d e f g h
a person who works in an office. old word for a male teacher. your brother or sister’s daughter. your mother’s second husband. your brother or sister’s son. a woman who looks after small children. a person who feels sad for someone who has died. a person who doesn’t have the money to pay for something he has received. i a child whose parents are dead.
Speaking 2 Look at the words above again. Use them
to talk about what you think will happen in the story. Discuss with a partner.
21st Century Skills
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Grammar 3 Complete this text about David Copperfield with the
words in the box.
nurse up old a back his at talks and as the to a and Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield between 1849 _____ 1850. However, it wasn’t published (1) _____ a complete book at first: every month (2) _____ few chapters were published in a newspaper, so people had to wait (3) _____ discover what happened next, a bit like people do now with their favourite soaps! David Copperfield is (4) _____ story of (5) _____ young boy. He is eight years (6) _____ (7) _____ the beginning of the story and he lives happily with (8) _____ mother and (9) _____ . Unfortunately, David’s life changes completely. In the book, David looks (10) _____ on his life and (11) _____ about his adventures as a child and as he grew (12) _____ .
Speaking B1 Preliminary 4 In the story, David Copperfield talks about his life as a child
and growing up. Answer these questions about you.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Where do you live and who do you live with? How many days a week do you go to school? What’s your favourite subject? Why? What do you like doing in your free time? Who’s your best friend and why do you like him / her? What kind of job would you like to do in the future? Why?
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Chapter 1
Mr Murdstone 2 Although Mr Murdstone is handsome, David probably doesn’t like him because his mother starts going out with him. The day David leaves with his nurse to visit her brother, his mother runs after the cart for another kiss from her son, but Mr Murdstone doesn’t like her doing that.
I disliked Mr Murdstone the first time I met him. Perhaps I was just jealous or perhaps it was more than that. Certainly he was a handsome gentleman with dark hair and dark whiskers1 but there was something in his eyes that made me feel uneasy2. He began to call at our house and then my mother started putting on her prettiest dresses and going out in the evenings. One such evening my nurse, Peggotty, suggested that I go with her to visit her brother in Yarmouth for a fortnight3. I agreed immediately, happy at the thought of an adventure. I didn’t realise how different things would be on my return. The day of our departure soon arrived and Peggotty and I climbed into the carrier’s cart4 that would take us to Yarmouth. My mother and I kissed each other and we both cried. When the cart started off she ran after it to ask for another kiss. As we rode away I saw Mr Murdstone speak to her angrily and
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whiskers hair on side of a man’s face uneasy not comfortable, worried 3 fortnight two weeks 4 cart people sat on this for travelling and it was pulled by horses 2
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David Copperfield she lowered her head to show she was sorry. I’ll never forget that holiday. Peggotty’s nephew, Ham, was waiting for us when we got off the cart. He put me on his broad1 shoulders and took us to their home. The Peggottys lived in a boat which wasn’t used in the water anymore, but was now a small cosy2 home. For a young boy like me it was magical. My nurse’s brother, Mr Peggotty, was friendly and introduced Little Emily, his niece. Both she and Ham were orphans. She was about my age with blue eyes and curly hair and I quickly wanted to do everything I could for her. When it was time for me to leave we were both heartbroken. However, as we approached3 home, I became excited about seeing my mother again. She wasn’t waiting for me at the gate and Peggotty led me into the kitchen. Now I was worried. ‘Where is Mama, Peggotty? What has happened? She isn’t dead, is she, like Papa?’ Tears filled my eyes. ‘Of course not, Master Davy!’ she replied shocked. ‘But there’s something I must tell you. You have a new pa! Come and see him. And your mama.’
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broad wide cosy comfortable and welcoming 3 approach get near 2
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Peggotty’s family are all kind to David and he has a lovely holiday, but when he goes back home two weeks later, he finds that his mama has married again.
Charles Dickens David is shocked when he sees that his mum has married Mr Murdstone. He knows that everything will be different now and that his happy life is over.
We went into the best parlour1. My mother was sitting on one side of the fireplace and Mr Murdstone sat on the other side. As soon as she saw me, my mother smiled and and gave me a quick hug2. ‘Now, Clara, control yourself,’ Mr Murdstone said. She kissed me avoiding looking at me under Mr Murdstone’s watchful eye. As soon as I could, I went to my room. Miserable, I thought of how different things used to be, how loving and kind my mother had been. I knew that my happy life was over3 and I cried myself to sleep. I was awoken by my mother and Peggotty when they found me in my room. ‘Davy, what’s the matter?’ my mother asked. She tried to put her arms around me but I pushed her away. ‘Oh, this is your fault, Peggotty!’ she cried. ‘You’ve turned my boy against me!’ I heard other footsteps and Mr Murdstone entered. ‘Clara, my dear, remember yourself!’ ‘Oh, it’s too much!’ my mother exclaimed4. ‘Can’t I have some peace and happiness?’ Mr Murdstone calmed her with a kiss and I saw immediately that she would do whatever he said. 1
parlour (old-fashioned) living room hug (v and n) see page 13. David’s mum is hugging him 3 over finished 4 exclaim shout suddenly in surprise or pain 2
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David’s mum is hugging him and Peggotty is happy to see how much Clara loves her son.
David Copperfield
13
Charles Dickens Mr Murdstone’s sister is as bad as he is and takes control of everything in the house. David used to enjoy lessons with his mother but now they’re both nervous because Mr Murdstone and his sister are always there shouting at them.
‘Go downstairs while David and I talk. We’ll join you shortly,’ he said with a smile. When we were alone he asked me, ‘Do you know what I do to a dog that doesn’t do what I say? I hit it. I beat it.’ He looked at me angrily, and I understood all too well. ‘Now, come downstairs and don’t annoy your mother or me again.’ After dinner that evening, Mr Murdstone’s sister arrived. She was dark and looked angry like him, and had a large nose and thick eyebrows1 which almost met in the middle. She had come to help my mother, and started the next morning by rearranging all our food cupboards. From then on she took control of everything. On the one occasion that my mother asked to be consulted occasionally, he told her he was disappointed that she was so ungrateful. It was enough. My mother never mentioned it again. I started my lessons again with my mother but these were no longer the happy times they had been before. Mr and Miss Murdstone were always there, always shouting at my mother for being too kind to me, and at me for every mistake I made. Mr Murdstone made me nervous and I
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eyebrows the line of hair above your eyes
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David Copperfield couldn’t remember anything. My mother also became nervous. When she thought no one was looking she tried to help me but was immediately rebuked1 by Miss Murdstone. My poor mother suffered as much as I did, if not more. This continued for several months until one morning I entered the parlour for my lessons and saw my mother looking more nervous than usual. Mr Murdstone was holding a cane2 in his hand. ‘Now, David, you must be very careful doing your lessons today,’ he said. This made me forget everything, and things went from worse to worse. Finally my mother burst into tears. ‘David, you and I will go upstairs,’ Mr Murdstone said, taking my arm. My mother ran after us but Miss Murdstone stopped her. I could hear my mother crying as I went up the stairs. When we got to my room Mr Murdstone suddenly pinned3 my head under his arm and raised the cane in his other hand. ‘Please, Sir! Don’t hit me! I’ll do better!’ ‘Really!’ he replied and hit me hard. The hand holding me was near my mouth and I bit it. He hit me even
1
rebuked spoken angrily to cane stick used to punish someone 3 pinned held so that you can’t move 2
15
One day, Mr Murdstone appears with a cane, which makes David even more nervous and he can’t remember anything. His mother cries when Mr Murdstone takes David away to punish him. David bites Mr Murdstone’s hand while he’s hitting him with the cane.
Charles Dickens Mr Murdstone hits David even harder, then he locks him in the room. David sees nobody for five days except Miss Murdock who brings him his food but she doesn’t speak to him. Then Peggotty comes to the door one evening to tell him he’s going away to school the next day.
harder, again and again. I heard my mother and Peggotty crying outside the door and then it was over. He left me and locked the door behind him. I was kept in my room for five days. The only person I saw was Miss Murdstone who brought me food but never spoke to me. On the fifth evening I heard whispering1 at my door. ‘Davy, my darling.’ It was Peggotty. ‘Oh, Peggotty!’ I cried. ‘Hush or they’ll hear us, my lovely. Listen! You’re going away to school tomorrow.’
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Think
Do you ever feel nervous at school? Why? / Why not?
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whisper speak very quietly
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David bites Mr Murdstone’s hand which makes him even angrier than before.
David Copperfield
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After-reading Activities • Chapter 1
Reading Comprehension 1 Decide if the following sentences about Chapter 1 are
true (T) or false (F). David felt uncomfortable with Mr Murdstone from the beginning. 1 The Peggottys lived on the water. 2 Peggotty knew about the marriage before David. 3 David realised his life had changed with his mother’s marriage. 4 Miss Murdstone arrived on the same evening David returned home. 5 David’s mother tried to take control of the house again. 6 David’s mother was afraid to help him with his lessons when Mr Murdstone was there. 7 David bit Mr Murdstone’s arm.
T F 3 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 21st Century Skills
Speaking and Writing
2 In Chapter 1, we find out that David does his lessons at home
with his mother. Discuss these questions with a partner, then write your answers. 1 2 3 4
Would you like your parents to teach you? Why? / Why not? Do you prefer doing lessons online or in the classroom? Why? Who’s your favourite teacher? Why? What happens if you do something that makes the teacher angry? 5 What do you think makes a good teacher? 6 Do you think teaching is a good job? Why? / Why not?
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Grammar 3 Write sentences using used to / didn’t use to with the prompts
below.
1 2 3 4 5
David’s mother / go out in the evenings. Things / be different. Mr Murdstone / live with them. David’s mother / be affectionate. David / enjoy his lessons.
Before-reading Activities
Speaking 4 Discuss the following questions with a partner. 1 Do you think David will be happy at school? Why? / Why not? 2 What will the school, teachers and other pupils be like?
Listening B1 Preliminary 4 5 Listen and complete the information about David’s school
with one word in each space. House It was an unwelcoming The school was called Salem _______. (1) _______ building. When David arrived, the school was very (2) _______ . There were no boys because it was the school (3) _______ . The classroom was a horrible, dirty (4) _______ room and it smelt terrible. David noticed that there were pieces of (5) _______ on the floor. At one end of the room, there was a (6) _______ on a desk that said: “Be careful. He bites.”
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After-reading Activities • Chapter 6
Reading Comprehension 1 Decide if these sentences about Chapter 6 are correct (3)
or incorrect (X).
1 ■ Uriah Heep grew in height. 2 ■ Mrs Micawber burnt the little book. 3 ■ The Micawbers were living at Mr Wickfield’s house. 4 ■ Uriah Heep wanted to take the little book from Mr Micawber. 5 ■ Mr Wickfield knew what he was doing when he signed the important documents. 6 ■ Mr Wickfield didn’t want to make Heep a partner. 7 ■ Mr Wickfield’s business was doing well. 8 ■ Mr Wickfield was bankrupt. 9 ■ Agnes and Aunt Betsey acted in the same way to the news. 10 ■ Traddles decided to send Heep to prison.
Grammar 2 Complete the sentences with the present perfect of the v erbs
below. Use for or since if necessary.
be hold love want steal 1 2 3 4
has wanted to meet Mr Micawber __________ for David’s aunt __________ a long time. Heep __________ Mr Wickfield in his power __________ he signed the documents. Uriah Heep has to repay every penny he __________ . Dora __________ ill __________ some time. Agnes __________ David __________ she was a girl.
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Reading B1 Preliminary 3 Choose the best answer, A, B, C or D to complete the text
about Chapter 6. received a strange letter from Mr Micawber asking him to David ________ meet in London. Mr Micawber was very upset so David (1) ________ him to Highgate where his aunt and Mr Dick were. Here, Mr Micawber (2) ________ them about how he wanted everyone to know what a terrible criminal Uriah Heep was. They all went to Canterbury and Mr Micawber (3) ________ them a little burnt book with proof of all Uriah Heep’s fraud and treachery. They threatened to (4) ________ Uriah in prison if he didn’t pay back all the money he had stolen. Then Dora (5) ________worse and before dying she asked to speak to Agnes, probably because she wanted Agnes to look (6) ________ David. A took 1 A invited 2 A spoke 3 A saw 4 A send 5 A had 6 A for
B brought B sent B told B watched B go B did B after
C gave C went C said C showed C spend C got C forward
D received D gave D talked D looked D put D went D at 21st Century Skills
Speaking
4 Discuss these questions about the story with a partner.
How much do you agree with each other?
1 Did you like the story? Why? / Why not? 2 Why do you think Dickens chose to tell the story through David? 3 What differences are there between Agnes and Dora? 4 How does David change in the novel? 5 What do you think was the most difficult part of David’s life? 6 Would you like to read other books by Charles Dickens? Why? / Why not?
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Focus on...
Charles Dickens
1812
Charles Dickens was a British writer born in 1812.
Childhood The happiest part of his early years was spent in Chatham, Kent with his family, where Charles enjoyed reading books like Robinson Crusoe. His proud father encouraged him to sing and act.
Factory worker Then everything changed when his father was sent to prison for not paying his debts. The rest of the family moved into the prison except Charles who started working in a warehouse. Although he only worked there for a few months, this change from gentleman to worker was very hard for Charles and later gave him lots of ideas for his books.
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1834
1836
1865
Writer At sixteen, Charles decided he wanted to become a journalist and had to study hard, but by 1832, he was a successful reporter. However, he wanted to be a writer and his first article was published in 1834. He wrote for several magazines and at twenty-five, he wrote his first book, The Pickwick Papers. In 1837, Oliver Twist started to appear in a monthly magazine. Between 1836 and 1865, he wrote over twelve novels as well as short stories, plays and nonfiction books. His most famous novels include A Christmas Carol (1843), David Copperfield (1849-1850) and Great Expectations (1860-61). Family 1836 In April 1836, Charles married Catherine Hogarth. They had ten children but it wasn’t a happy 1858 marriage and in 1858, they separated.
1870
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Died in 1870 suddenly, leaving his last novel unfinished.
Focus Focus on... on...
Life in Victorian times
The Chimney Sweep by Jonathan Eastman Johnson 1863
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Working Children Just as, many children in poor countries today have to work, many children from poor families worked during Victorian times. Read these questions and answers to find out more. What age did children start work? Children as young as four were used in some factories. In mines the minimum age was five. Where did they work? Some worked in factories, such as textile factories, others in mines, gas works, mills, some cleaned chimneys. How many hours did they work? They were made to work up to sixteen hours a day. In 1833, a commission established the maximum number of hours children in the textile industry could work. No children under nine could work. Eleven to eighteen year olds year olds could work twelve hours, nine to eleven year olds could work eight hours. In 1842, it was extended to mines. In 1847, the working day was limited to ten hours.
without talking any breaks. In mines, children were sent down the smaller tunnels and pulled heavy coal carts. Little boys cleaned chimneys. What were conditions like? Terrible! Factories were often dirty, unventilated with no natural light. Disease, injuries and mutilation were common. Dangers in coal mines included landslides, suffocation and coal inhalation. Chimney sweeps got stuck, burnt or they fell. When did child labour stop? A law passed in 1870 said that all children between five and ten had to attend school but children continued to work for at least another ten years.
What did they do? They had to crawl under machinery pick things up, clean running machinery or work
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CLIL History
Focus on...
Education and Travel Education School wasn’t for everyone. It was generally only for families who had the money to pay for it, although there were Sunday schools organised by the Church and day schools organised by charities for poorer children. Despite this, in 1840 only about twenty percent of children went to school. Children from rich families had nannies and governesses to teach them. When they were old enough, the boys were sent away to school. Girls normally stayed at home and learnt how to sing, play the piano and other accomplishments suitable for young ladies.
During the Victorian Age, many new schools were set up and it seems that anyone could do it! David Copperfield’s experience at Salem House was a sad reality for many boys while any room was good enough
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to use as a classroom. After 1870, education became compulsory, but they didn’t learn all the subjects we learn today. Most only learnt to read, write and do arithmetic.
A Stagecoach Setting Out by John Charles Maggs 1873
Travel How did people travel around the country before there were cars, buses and trains? They used a stagecoach. These were four-wheeled vehicles pulled by horses that travelled regularly between towns. Like buses and coaches today, they ran to a timetable. There were seats inside the coach and up on
top, behind or next to the driver. These weren’t so good if the weather was bad! Stagecoaches followed a specific route and stopped on the way at ‘stages’, a bit like buses stop at bus stops today. The stages were at inns (a type of hotel) where passengers could rest and eat before continuing their journey. David Copperfield travelled to London by stagecoach when he went to school.
Decide if the following statements about education are true (T) or false (F). T F 1 2 3
Poor families sent their children to Sunday schools. Only qualified teachers could open new schools during the Victorian Age. Until 1870, children didn’t have to go to school by law.
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■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Test Yourself Complete the crossword. 2
1 3 4 5 7
6 9
8
10
Across
3 Where David worked as a child. (9 letters) 4 If your bread is like this, don’t throw it out. You can feed it to the ducks. (5 letters) 5 Aunt Betsey wore one. (6 letters) 6 Some dogs do this too much. (4 letters) 7 Give a big smile. (4 letters) 8 Mr. Barkis drove one. (4 letters) 10 Uriah Heep was one. (7 letters) Down 1 2 8 9
People sat in this room in the past. (7 letters) Another way of saying two weeks. (9 letters) Children were punished with this. (4 letters) It’s a good idea to write one in case of death. (4 letters)
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Syllabus Topics Clothes, daily life, work, family, home, emotions, people Tenses Present simple, Present continuous Past simple: finished time Past continuous: actions in progress at a specific time in past, interrupted actions Present perfect simple: indefinite past, unfinished past Past perfect: narrative Futures: present continuous, going to, wil Verb forms Imperatives Passives: present, past simple Gerunds: after verbs, prepositions Conditional sentences Type 0, 1 and 2 Reported speech Statements, questions, commands Modals Can, could: ability, permission May, might: possibility, permission Must, have to: obligation Should, ought to: advice Used to: past habits Adjectives Comparative and superlative forms Adverbs Regular and irregular forms
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Teen
Readers
Stage 1
Maureen Simpson, In Search of a Missing Friend Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales Janet Borsbey & Ruth Swan, The Boat Race Mystery Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Angela Tomkinson, Great Friends! Edith Nesbit, The Railway Children Eleanor H. Porter, Pollyanna Anna Sewell, Black Beauty Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
Stage 2
Elizabeth Ferretti, Dear Diary… Angela Tomkinson, Loving London Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Mary Flagan, The Egyptian Souvenir Maria Luisa Banfi, A Faraway World Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island Elizabeth Ferretti, Adventure at Haydon Point William Shakespeare, The Tempest Angela Tomkinson, Enjoy New York Frances Hodgson Burnett, Little Lord Fauntleroy Michael Lacey Freeman, Egghead Michael Lacey Freeman, Dot to Dot Silvana Sardi, The Boy with the Red Balloon Silvana Sardi, Scotland is Magic! Silvana Sardi, Garpur: My Iceland Silvana Sardi, Follow your Dreams Gabriele Rebagliati, Naoko: My Japan
Stage 3
Anna Claudia Ramos, Expedition Brazil Charles Dickens, David Copperfield Mary Flagan, Val’s Diary Maureen Simpson, Destination Karminia Anonymous, Robin Hood Jack London, The Call of the Wild Louisa May Alcott, Little Women Gordon Gamlin, Allan: My Vancouver