Howzat Pat series #1 and #2 – Pat Cummins & Dave Hartley. Illustrated by Serena Geddes

Harper Collins Australia

October 2024

I admit that I’m not quite the cricket fan I once was [though, of course, I went to see the Bradman Collection when we were in Adelaide a fortnight ago!] but it was still pretty exciting, and also a lot of fun to write teaching notes for these two titles, the first in a series that I guarantee will fly off your shelves.

ISBN: 9781460764688

I’m Pat Cummins and I love playing cricket. I love it so much that I sleep with my bat!

There’s BIG NEWS in my family – we’re moving from the coast all the way to the mountains and I’m NOT HAPPY about it. I have LOTS of questions, like …

-Will I FIT IN at my new school?
-How will I make new FRIENDS?
-What’s there to DO in the MOUNTAINS?!
-MOST importantly – WHERE WILL I PLAY CRICKET?!!!

The first book launches with the surprise announcement that Pat’s family is moving from the city to Mount Riverview in the Blue Mountains, where his mum is to take up a deputy principal’s position.

It’s a big upheaval for the family and also exciting, but Pat is trepidatious. He really hopes that he can make new friends but also, he wants – no, NEEDS – to still be able to play his beloved cricket. After all, how will he ever be able to play for Australia if he doesn’t keep honing his skills?

There’s a bit of a hiccup at first, when it looks like Pat is going to get really involved with a few boys who are not the kind of friends anyone needs. They are the mean bullies in the school, and any kid reading these books will immediately recognise the type.

Standing up for oneself isn’t always easy though. Luckily, Pat finds a way through this predicament and soon finds himself with a couple of genuine new friends, Prav, who goes to the same school, and Beth, the Aboriginal girl who has played in the State squad!! Beth goes to the private school but that doesn’t stop these three bonding over their cricket, especially being coached by Tanaka-san and being chosen for the Glenbrook-Blaxland Under 11s, and their similar personalities. Pat soon starts to feel part of the Mount Riverview community as things settle into place, and while the rest of the family are already content, he now feels like he’s home.

ISBN: 9781460716564

Pat and his two friends are well into cricket training, and preparing for their matches. It comes as a huge surprise to Pat when Sensei chooses him to be the captain of the Under-11 squad – what an honour! And Pat is determined to do his very best to live up to the expectations.

At the same time as training is becoming fixtures, the friends find out that the proposed new burger chain in town is in a location that is not only a special place for the local First Nations mob, but also the habitat of koalas and more. How can planning permission be granted for a place where there are endangered animals? Beth and her grandfather, Pop Fred, are both pretty upset.

The friends are determined to investigate and stop the whole plan if possible. And then, Pat sustains an injury that puts him in a moonboot, and out of cricket for at least a month – what a bummer!

By happy chance (or good management) Pat’s teacher sets the class a project to investigate local Mount Riverview sites being impacted by human activity – and it becomes quite obvious that she too is against the new burger joint being built where there is a fragile ecosystem.

Following the trio’s progress in uncovering the truth about the planning application being granted, and exposing the dodgy mayor, not to mention Pat’s display of real leadership despite not being able to actually play his much-loved sport, is a fantastic read that your kiddos will eat up.

After I’d written the notes, I commented to the education manager at HC that not only are these well-written and pacey with lots of added interest, including the dynamic fonts, and Serena Gedde’s fab illustrations liberally scattered throughout but that they are fun, engaging and wholesome.

By that I mean, there is not a fart joke in sight nor anything else that I find not only in poor taste but just grabbing for cheap laughs. The humour in these is far more appealing.

The strong themes of family and friendship, acceptance of diversity, care for community and for the environment are all authentic, and it is easy to see that these are driven by Pat himself – who is (though I’ve never met him) by all reports a really good guy. I predict your kiddos, both boys and girls, whether capable readers or not-so-keen ones, will absolutely eat this series up and I, for one, can’t wait to see more. As we bounce right into cricket season [yes, I will miss the footy *sad face*] I’m giving it a huge 5 🏏🏏🏏🏏🏏rating -howzat!!

Howzat-Pat-Classroom-Resources Download

And here are some additional ideas:

Blue Mountains post-contact:

Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth: Blue Mountains crossing
Would you make a good explorer?
History Mystery: Myths and Mysteries of the Crossing of the Blue Mountains
Travel back in time and research the history of Australian cricket [Google Art and Culture] including the inclusion of First Nations players.
Science:
Seek out ideas for caring for Country, the environment and nature including animals e.g. Bushcare Blue Mountains, Kids for Saving Earth, Junior Landcare
Both koalas and platypuses are critically endangered. Research these animals and why they are at risk. Investigate actions students could take to support their safety. Australian Koala Foundation, Australian Conservation Foundation, Australian Platypus Conservancy
Plan and execute a fund-raising event which could include songs e.g., Goodbye Blinky Bill (John Williamson) and A Platypus Song (Don Spencer), sharing fun facts and information in a presentation, selling cupcakes or crafts to suit the theme.
Invite a wildlife expert to come and talk about these and other at-risk animals, the need to protect them and the ‘how to’.
Use some of the many available resources on climate change and sustainability to become more informed of the impact on land and animals: NSW DoE Climate Change, WWF UK. Sustainable Schools NSW, Australian Institute – Teaching Climate Change, Getting Started with Sustainability – Sustainability in Schools

RULES: Dice Cricket Equipment Needed: One six sided die, one ‘Dice cricket Score Sheet’ Two teams play against each other. Each team, consisting of one player.Both sides have one innings each (an innings is complete when all 10 wickets are out).Roll your die to score runs. Keep track of your team’s runs by crossing them off on your scoring sheet.Rolling a ‘5’ results in a wicket being taken. Keep track of your team’s score and wickets by crossing them off on your scoring sheet. The team scoring the highest number of runs wins.