Themes covered:Family, parenting, animals and nature, magic and supernatural events, tolerance, facing fears National Theatre of Scotland – The Wolves in the Walls". Archived from the original on 20 February 2012 . Retrieved 6 February 2010. Roettgers, Janko (23 August 2019). "Neil Gaiman VR Experience 'Wolves in the Walls' Wins Primetime Emmy". Variety . Retrieved 18 November 2019. When Lucy hears noises from behind the wall she tries to warn her parents that there are wolves banging about. But her parents don't listen. LoveReading4Kids exists because books change lives, and buying books through LoveReading4Kids means you get to change the lives of future generations, with 25% of the cover price donated to schools in need. Join our community to get personalised book suggestions, extracts straight to your inbox, 10% off RRPs, and to change children’s lives.

Have adults ever told you a saying like Lucy’s parents told her? If so, can you give some examples? The Wolves in the Walls, by Neil Gaiman, brings to light numerous philosophical issues concerning knowledge, metaphysics, and ethics. When the main character, Lucy, hears wolves in the walls of her house, no one in her family believes her. Instead, they dismiss Lucy’s concern and remind her of the saying, “If the wolves come out of the walls, then it’s all over.” Lucy questions the meaning behind the saying, but no one in the family can give a clear and concise answer as to what it really means. It is here that the philosophical question of “what is knowledge” and the role of sayings, or “universal truths,” comes to light. As the story progresses, the dilemma of how we know what we know becomes more apparent. Writing outcomes: Internal monologues, poems, non-fiction fact cards, free writing, narratives and a multimodal story Adam Pleeth’s songs, with lyrics by Carl Grose, are not your typically family theatre fare either. They’re hard and edgy numbers, with barely a melody but a dark and persistent pulse. Even the light relief, when it comes, isn’t all that light. When the wolves finally burst through the walls, they rip through the screens with a Stephen King-like viciousness. With the family cowering in the bottom of the garden, the wolves run riot. They dance the conga, scoff Mum’s jam, dress up in silly costumes and slide down the stairs. Blue absolutely adores the carnage but her body is stiff as a board as she laughs. Does the saying, “if the wolves come out of the wall, then it’s all over” help Lucy and her family?

The Wolves in the Walls combines an intriguing narrative with dramatic and original illustrations that will engage children of all ages. This story opens up the opportunity to easily initiate and engage students in philosophical discussions about bravery, reality, and morality. Throughout this book, the overarching philosophical issue is the conflict between belief and knowledge, and how we as human beings come to accept certain ‘truths’ as reality. A discussion of these questions will allow children to approach and view important philosophical issues in a different way. Questions for Philosophical Discussion Sayings Relaxed Performances are provided for people who would benefit from a more relaxed environment, or are uncomfortable with sudden lighting changes or loud noises, including those with an Autistic Spectrum Condition, sensory or communication needs or a learning disability. Find out more here.

The Wolves in the Walls – Show details". Archived from the original on 10 September 2007 . Retrieved 6 February 2010. The next evening, the family is still hesitant to enter the house, but Lucy invites everyone to go and spend the night there by walking inside the walls. The family does just that, seeing what the wolves are doing in the house (they watch TV at full volume, eat jam, throwing leftovers everywhere, dance). Unable to stand it, Lucy and her family take chair legs and chase away the wolves, who are horrified that people have come out of the wall. Thielman, Sam (9 October 2007). "The Wolves in the Walls – Variety review" . Retrieved 6 February 2010. Some may think this book will frighten children, but it seems more like a healthy lesson in showing how silly such fear can be. The book is more about defeating fear, as the family was able to get rid of the wolves so easily. In the end the things that seem so scary (monsters under the bed, etc) are silly things that can be defeated with a simple look. And it doesn't hurt that this book is written cleverly and with wonderful style.

The metaphysical question of what reality is also playing a big role in this book, as the reader begins to wonder whether what Lucy’s parents say is more believable than what her brother or Lucy says is true. Lucy believes that there are wolves in the walls, while her parents dismiss the noises as simply indicating the presence of mice or rats. When Lucy confronts her parents about the sounds, they scare her by repeating the saying, “If the wolves come out of the walls, then it’s all over.” This ethical issue is one that all children can connect with. Every child has experienced an adult threatening a child not to do something by reminding them of the bad things that will happen as a result. Many of the popular sayings can be viewed in this light, and it is important for children to begin questioning the validity of such statements simply because something is asserted as the truth does not make it any less of a belief. Through connecting the use of the saying, “If the wolves come out of the walls, then it’s all over” with how Lucy’s parents interacted with her concern about the wolves, a discussion about how we know what we claim to know and the manner in which we blindly accept them as unquestionable truths or facts can easily occur. This is definitely not a tale for bedtime reading, but there are moments of humour in both text and illustration, which will be adored by courageous readers. Through looking at how Lucy confronts her and her family’s fear within the story, children can begin to consider what things are worthy of fear and why. Is bravery identified solely as an act of fearlessness, or can a brave act arise from a moment of fear? Is a person brave only if others can identify the courage within her simple act, behavior, or appearance? The importance of confronting your fears arises when Lucy sneaks into the house to save her pig-puppet. A discussion about whether this was a brave or dangerous thing to do can lead children into thinking about the distinction between bravery and stupidity as well as the relationship between fear and bravery. The fantasy worlds of Neil Gaiman are having a mini moment on the London stage: the week it was announced that the National Theatre’s ‘The Ocean at the End of the Lane’ would transfer to the West End, here comes this smaller but still singular take on 2003’s ‘The Wolves in the Walls’. Born and raised in England, Neil Gaiman now lives near Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has somehow reached his forties and still tends to need a haircut.

While this bizarre tale is certainly one worth reading, it's the artwork that really carries the book. Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing - After years of going to the theatre together, The Wolves in the Walls is probably the first show that my nine-year-old goddaughter Blue and I really experience together. We laugh at the same jokes, flinch at the panting raggedy wolves, and leave the theatre asking the same dazed questions.What about the golden rule? Wouldn’t you always want to be told everything and to be told the truth? Stimulate and generate = This usually starts with a hook to interest the class where the class realise who they are going to write for so they have a clear purpose and audience. Acticitives can include reading excellent model texts, drama or researching more about the author or the content of the book. In the book, neither Lucy’s mother nor father can answer Lucy’s question of “what’s all over?” and “who says?” Questions for Philosophical Discussion » Summary This story explores the conflict between belief and knowledge and considers how we come to accept certain ‘truths’ as reality.