Diamond Willow Nominee

Hamish X And The Cheese Pirates

By Seán Cullen.

Puffin Canada, 2006.
ISBN 9780670065028

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Comments (3)

Hamish X is an orphan that cannot be detained in any orphanage anywhere. He is sent to Wind City where orphans are made to work in a blue cheese factory. He plans an escape with some friends but it is put on hold when the factory is attacked by a gang of pirates. With his magic boots and a boring plumbing book (that holds the secret identity of his mother) Hamish and his friends embark on an adventure that is both hilarious and captivating.

About the Author

Seán Cullen

Comedian Seán Cullen’s stage and screen credits include the CBC’s Seán Cullen Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the showcase series Signs and Arrows, and the Toronto stage production of The Producers. He is the winner of two Gemini Awards.

Book Reviews

CM Magazine
Quill and Quire

Suggested Activities

Research different kinds of cheese. Try the website www.cheese.com. You could then go to a grocery store to find out how many different kinds your local store has. Assign a different kind of cheese to each student in your classroom. They must each bring enough of that cheese for every student in your room. Have a taste testing party. The teacher could bring grape juice for everyone. Make a graph to show which cheese your class liked the most, or which cheese they absolutely hated.
Using an atlas look at a map of Canada. Locate the following places mentioned in the story. Victoria Island, Amundsen Gulf, Arctic Ocean, Hudson Bay, Arctic Circle, Barents Sea, Manitoba, Nunavut, Churchill. You could put these locations on a blank map of Canada.
Do research on the Northwest Passage. What is it? Who discovered it?
Choose 6-8 interesting footnotes from the book. Try to discover which facts are true and which facts are false. Make sure to document your findings. If a fact is false, try to find the true fact.
Find the book The Kids' Invention Book by Arlene Erlbach and report on two inventions that kids came up with to your class. You can also go to this website and read about some kids inventions.
In the story Aglucark says, "Every creature has its gifts. Use your gift to promote this book to other students in your school. (Example - you could use your excellent speaking voice to promote the book on the intercom)

Teacher Resources

Booktalk (pdf)

Comments

Comment #1 posted on April 19, 2011, 3:35 PM

i like the book because it reminds me of one of my friend she is always helping someone

kishara, oscar peterson public school

Comment #2 posted on July 23, 2011, 10:12 AM

I love the Hamish X series! I read them more than 4 times a week, even though I've finished them so many times I just can't get enough of them. :D

Alyssa, St.Mary's Academy

Comment #3 posted on July 23, 2011, 8:15 PM

If you like Cullen's books read The Prince of Neither Here nor There a 2010 Snow Willow book. Visit his website as well for the latest news.

kraln

The 2007 Willow Awards