Jacqueline Wilson is a popular children's author who has written manu novels. Sorne of her

besl-known books include lhe Tracg Beaker series, which was also made inlo a lelevision

Programrne, and The llluslraled Mum. This exlract is frorn an inlerview with lhe author.

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How old were you when your first book you wrote was published?

I was writing stories throughout my childhood, and my first short story was published when I was17. But Iwas 22 before I got a book published.

How did you first become interested in writing? Did any author or teacher inspire you?

I loved books, I liked pictures, and it evolved from there. No, at my primary school, they made a

fuss of me, I was chosen to read my stories aloud. At secondary school, stories were made to bemore formal, so I had lots of corrections. So I feel if they read any of my books now I'd still getfull of red marks! Do it the school way at school and your own way at home.

How long have you been writing books? And what is your favourite book you have written?

I never can decide, I think it's possibly The lllustrated Mum, it's probably the saddest of mystories, but it came almost how I wanted it to be. Each time I start a book, I want it to be this andthat and it hardly ever does. I've written over 100 books now.

How do you come up with all your ideas?

I think it's a bit like asking you, where you get your dreams from, you don't exactly know, do you?Dreams are distorted and you have no idea where they came from. I don't know what's going tocome next! I came up for the name of Tracy Beaker in *y bath. I knew I wanted her to be calledTracy and be a feisty girl but I couldn't think of the right surname for her. In my bath, I came upwith Tracy Toilet, Tracy Bath and lots more and then I was washing my hair and I pulled up thisbeaker to wash my hair down with, and that's when it came to me "Tracy Beaker".

Did you ever think your books would become a TV series?

No I didn't. For years and years, I got letters from children saying why don't you make such andsuch a TV Show? I was thrilled to bits with Tracy Beaker. I met a lovely woman called Sue, whoheld on to that idea for years and I don't know how anyone thought it would be that big. I do liketo visit the set, I don't write the script as there's too many and it wouldn't be possible. They'vewritten it just the way I would have though!

How long does it take to write a book?

It takes too long! Children read them in 3 days and think it takes that long to write it - I wish it did.I write little bits on the train, and here and there. I try to write at least 500 words a day, then whenit's finished I type it up, it can take as long as 6 months. I like to get two books written ayear.

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From https : //clubs-kids.scholastic.co.uk

Year 4 - Targeted Comprehension @ Not to be photocopied

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An lnterview lacquelinewith Wilson

KS2E-42 Reading Non-Fiction 07 (Yr4)

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(, How old was Jacqueline Wilson when her firsl book was published?

l, Whg do gou think she had "lols of correclions" in her siories at secondarg school?

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€, Whg is The lllustrated Mum Jacqueline Wilson's favourile book?

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g, Whg does she compare her ideas lo dreams?

(}) ln gour own words, explain how Jacqueline Wilson carne up with Tracg Beaker's surnarne.

Whg do gou ihink she was "lhrilled to bils" lline 22)when Tracg Beaker was rnade into a TV series?

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t What do gou think ii would be Iike lo be such a popular aufhor? Explain Uour answer.

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Totaloul of lO

@ Not to be photocopied Year 4 - Taryeted Comprehension

KS2E-42 Reading Non-Fiction 07 (Yr4)

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Question Book:Year 4, pages B-9

Author / Source:https://clu bs-kids.scholastic.co.uk

Genre:Non-fiction - interview

Cross-curricular links:. PSHE (personal achievements)

. Science (dreams)

. Art (book cover)

JacquelineWilson,bornin l945,isaverypopularchildren'sauthor. AformerBritishChildren'sLaureate,it is lil<ely that many pupils will have heard of her and will be familiar with her bool<s. She addresses

challenging issues in her books, such as children in care inTracy Beoker, and mental illness in The lllustrotedMum - two of her bool<s which are mentioned in the interview. Tracy Beaker is probably herbest-known character, and some pupils may also be familiarwith the Trocy Beoker television series.

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E.g. She wasn't writing in the way that teachers wanted her to write.

E.g. lt turned out how she had hoped it would, which doesn't happen often when she writes booi<s.

E.g. ln the same way that you don't l<now where your dreams come from or what they're going to be,

she doesn't l<now where her ideas are going to come from or what they're going to be.

E.g. She was lool<ing at all the things in her bathroom, and when she looked at a beal<er, it gave her theidea for the surname.

' E.g. lt's been a success, and it's been written just the way she would have written it.

Any appropriate answer. E.g. Exciting, because you're popular and successful. lt might also be a challenge

because it must be difficult having to come up with lots of good ideas for bool<s and write them.

Ask pupils to write a newspaper article on Jacqueline Wilson's writing career and her success withTrocy Beoker. They can use the information from the interview, as well as doing their own research.

Discuss with the class how ideas and inspiration can come from anywhere. Asl< the pupils to plan theirown short story, coming up with a main character, setting and other characters. They should plan abeginning, a middle and an end for their story, and then write it.

Split the class into pairs and asl< each pupil to think of something they have achieved in their lives. Pupils

should take it in turns to interview their partner about their achievement and how it made them feel.

As a class, discuss dreams and where they come from, e.g. some scientists believe that dreaming is thebrain's way of sorting through information it collects during the day. Split the class into small groups and

asl< them to discuss their own dreams. Can they remember their dreams? What's the strangest thingthey've ever dreamt about? Can they make any links between their dreams and real life?

Jacqueline Wilson's books have very distinctive cover art, created by the artist Nick Sharratt. Show theclass some examples of these covers and ask the pupils to come up with their own cover designs for thestory they planned and wrote in the second activity.

Key Stage 2 Comprehension - Year 4

37KS2E-42 Reading Non-Fiction 07 (Yr4)