SuitabookBig Billy and the ice cream truck that wouldn't stop!
Joe Consiglio
- Reading
- Read it as a light story first. After finishing, discuss what the surprise ending suggests about kindness and whether it changes the reader’s view of the driver.
- Themes
- Kindness towards someone difficult: The story’s stated surprise ending suggests that doing something kind to someone who does not seem to deserve it may have wider effects. Kindness is clearly presented as a value worth trying, although the full example and its consequences are not described.
- Writing from a problem: The author presents storytelling as beginning with a character and a problem, and encouraged children to write for expression and communication. The book is associated with an inviting, process-focused view of writing rather than perfection: children can start, experiment and continue.
- Worth knowing
- The ice-cream truck driver is described in strongly negative terms, including “evil” and “wicked”, although the overall event is presented for laughter. The ending’s full treatment of the driver is not clear.