List the visual elements found on the cover of this novel (colours, illustrations, text, layout)____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are your predictions about the novel based on the cover?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Does the style of the book remind you of any other texts? Why/How?_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What can you tell about the two characters present on the cover?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Graveyard BookPre Assessment Activity Book

Alternative covers of ‘The Graveyard Book’

Questions for before you read the novel…

What cover best matches your predictions about the novel, characters and plot? Explain…________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do any of the covers stand out more than others? Why/Why not____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Questions for after you have read the novel…

Which cover best represents the novel?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Has your opinion changed about the cover now that you have read the novel?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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COVER A COVER B COVER C COVER D

Extension activity: Now that you have read the novel, use the space below to redesign the cover. How did you imagine the characters in the Graveyard Book? Did you imagine them differently to what is portrayed on the cover? Did you imagine the Graveyard differently? Use your imagination to create your own cover of the novel to best match how you envisioned it whilst reading.

FRONT BACK

About the author

DIGITAL FOOTPRINTTwitter @neilhimselfTumblr neil-gaiman.tumblr.comWebsite neilgaiman.comFacebook /neilgaiman

NEIL Gaiman

FAST FACTSBorn November 10, 1960Birth Place Portchester, UK Notable Awards John Newbury Medal, Hugo Award for best Novel, Carnegie Medal

NOTABLE WORKSBooks The Graveyard Book, Coraline, American Gods, Neverwhere, Stardust, SandmanTV Neverwhere, Hypa Space, American GodsFILM Coraline, Stardust, Beowulf, MirrorMask

About the Genre Gothic

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In your table group, take a few moments to discuss the term ‘Gothic’

Consider the following questions:1. What comes to mind when you hear the word gothic?2. What themes or elements do you think a gothic novel would

incorporate?3. Have you read a Gothic novel or seen a Gothic film (or what you

believe to be ‘gothic’?