Book guide: Hocus pocus: Witch in homework
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Noomi knows but it takes a little help and magical knowledge. Noomi has been taught a lesson. She will tell you what she wants to work on. Noomi knows exactly. She wants to be a witch!
Questions about the book
1. When Noomi says she wants to be a witch, the others in the class laugh. They think she's joking. Then Noomi gets angry. Why do you think she will be?
2. The teacher gives the class an assignment to interview someone about a job. Who would you like to interview about their work? What would you ask?
3. The classmates must tell each other about the profession they learned about. Noomi thinks it feels a little edgy when it's her turn. How can one think if one gets nervous?
4. Noomi searches the internet for information about witches. Have you searched for something on the internet? What happened then? What should one think about when finding information online?
5. In the book, Noomi follows Linda Karlsson home to her. What might be good to think about before accompanying a person home that you don't know?
6. Noomi collects a feather, a strand of hair and a chili pepper to take to Linda Karlsson. What else could she have brought with her? Something flying - in the blue. Something wise - for thought then. Something strong – that burns so.
7. Linda Karlsson has purple hair, Noomi and her father have brown. What color is your hair? If you were to dye it - what color would you use?
8. Ada wants to be a pilot. Why do you think she wants to be? What seems fun about being a pilot? What do you think one needs to be good at to be a good pilot?
About targeting
Being goal oriented is about several things. Partly it is about having the ability to formulate a goal, to be able to express either to oneself or to others what it is that you want. So to have a clear and strong will. It is also about fighting on, despite opposition and not being discouraged by adversity. There are plenty of children, young people and adults who, regardless of their gender identity, are goal-oriented - but the ingredients that make it easier are abilities that are more evident in what boys and men are more often allowed to practice, due to prevailing gender norms. These are also qualities that those who are raised as boys and men are more often mirrored, therefore it is important to have books where girls are portrayed as goal-oriented, just like Noomi is.
About being determined
Being sure of what one thinks and wants and finding it easy to express it clearly is a quality that most people benefit from. But because of our gender norms, there tend to be more guys who practice these skills, and in books, guys are more often portrayed that way. Being able to identify what you want and being able to say it doesn't have to preclude the ability to listen to what others want, nor does it have to be about always having to get your way. All children, regardless of gender, need support in developing both to express their will and to listen, the ability to give space to others and to be able to compromise is an important part of the democratic work at school. In this book, Noomi is a person who gets to express abilities in her personality that are otherwise more often reflected in boy characters.
