Baldy

Baldy is a realistic story about a boy named Eddie who adopts a newborn possum after its mother is struck by a car and killed.  Eddie finds a way to feed the little thing, and in time the possum becomes the family pet Baldy.  Unfortunately, the pet becomes a pest.  In the end, Eddie must find the maturity to do the right thing and return the animal to the wild.  The story has four characters and is told in dialogue and narrative.

The story follow the pattern of a problem-solution narrative.  A variety of sentence types are used.  Illustrations support the text, although not all events are illustrated.  Bold face is used for emphasis and to create drama. The book concludes with a two-page spread that gives the characteristics of a narrative, including information about who the story is about, when and where it takes place, and the problem and solution.

Some words, such as Blue Mountains in Australia, possum, pouch, and orchard may require clarification.  The adjectives soft, shiny, and clever are used.  The pronouns they, it, he, its, his, you, him, and them are used.  A simile is used.

This title is from the Sails Literacy series. Hook readers and ignite their curiosity - over 700 levelled texts with bright, colourful, sophisticated designs.