The Highway Rat

Product Information

Exploring ‘The Highway Rat’ has been a delightful journey, offering us insight into its captivating world. One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading. This firsthand knowledge has given me a comprehensive perspective on the collaborative efforts required to bring a vision to life on the silver screen. As the story develops, the Highway Rat’s horse has to carry more of the things that he has stolen. How much might each of these things weigh? How much would the horse have to carry in total? The Highway Rat is described as a ‘baddie’ and a ‘beast’. Can you think of any other words that might be used to describe him?

Although the story line is very simple, there is a lot of cross curricular links there. Our year 2 created a ‘WANTED!’ poster for the Highway Rat and wrote about the crimes of the rat and why they needed to catch him as soon as possible. The children had to use a range of descriptive language to make their writing interesting and for creating a sense of urgency. In addition, our year 2 created their own version of the capture of the Highway Rat with a clear beginning, middle and end. They had to use a lot of similes, adjectives and body language to create tension and a chase to grab their reader’s attention. If you’re a fan who loves to explore, you might enjoy visiting places like the Forest of Dean in England, which inspired the lush, green forests depicted in the film. Who’s who in ‘The Highway Rat’ The Highway Rat is our new book for our Literacy lessons in Year 1. They have all really engaged with the story and the characters. It has provided us with many different discussion points - one child pointed out to me today that the Highway Rat is naughty not only because he steals people's food, but also because he talks to strangers! This gave us the opportunity to have a little PSHE talk about 'stranger danger', and why the Highway Rat has not been making good choices! Now, as a seasoned movie critic and writer, I'm thrilled to share my insights and recommendations with you.One of the most noticeable differences is the inclusion of additional scenes to expand the narrative, such as the Highway Rat’s encounters with other animals. As mom who was an English Lit major, I LOVE this cheeky little book...it's a retelling of/homage to Alfred Noyes' poem "The Highwayman" (without all the, you know, shooting and death and ghosts and whatnot). My son loves the great rhythm, and at two, fills in the words at the end of each stanza. The fact that it's a long poem makes it a fun read-aloud, and it's great to start to expose little ones to poetry concepts at an early age, from a literacy standpoint. Plus, it's just fun. I've also immersed myself in the practical side of the industry, gaining hands-on experience in various aspects of movie production.

Did you know that ‘The Highway Rat’ was inspired by Alfred Noyes’ poem ‘The Highwayman’? Or that the book has been translated into over 20 languages? These are just a few of the many fascinating facts about ‘The Highway Rat’. Cosplay tips: How to dress like your favorite ‘The Highway Rat’ characters Draw a picture showing the inside of one of the Highway Rat’s bags. What different items has he stolen? Some of her other notable books include ‘Zog’, ‘Tabby McTat’, and ‘The Snail and the Whale’. ‘The Highway Rat’ book club questions

Clip

The way they transported me to different worlds, evoked emotions, and sparked my imagination left an indelible mark. It was no surprise that I decided to pursue a degree in Film Studies, where I deepened my understanding of the art and craft of filmmaking.

While there is currently no video game adaptation of ‘The Highway Rat’, it’s not hard to imagine how the story could be translated into an interactive medium.The movie version also includes mild peril which can spark discussions between you and your child about how actions have consequences. When and where ‘The Highway Rat’ takes place If you loved ‘The Highway Rat’, you might also enjoy other works by Julia Donaldson, like ‘The Gruffalo’ and ‘Room on the Broom’. The book is a captivating tale that teaches children about the pitfalls of greed and the importance of empathy and kindness. ‘The Highway Rat’ movie summary: What’s different?