VATE regularly receives review copies of textbooks from publishers. This is a great way to trial new textbooks with your class and gain feedback from your colleagues. You then get to share your review with all VATE members through the VATE e-Newsletter. If you would like to receive and review one of the books listed below, please email Kate Gillespie, Education Officer, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for further information.
Note to publishers: We only offer textbooks for review.
Please note: Review books are only available to VATE members.
Language Toolkit 1-4
Andrea Hayes, Cambridge
Language Toolkit is a workbook to support the development of language and literacy skills through various communication modes. Students will develop the skills they need to read, view, listen and speak, and to write and create their own texts in a variety of contexts and for a variety of audiences and purposes.
Insight English Skills: Language, Literature and Literacy 7, 8, 9 and 10
Insight English Skills integrates the three strands - Language, Literature and Literacy - and addresses the General Capabilities and Cross-curriculum priorities.
English for the Australian Curriculum Book 2
Consulting editors: Brenton Doecke and Graham Parr
English for the Australian Curriculum draws on a wide variety of contemporary textual modes to encourage students to explore what texts tell us about ourselves, our place in the world, and how we communicate and interact with others.
ESL English for Year 12 - student workbook
Napthine and Daniel
This comprehensive, practical textbook covers all aspects of the Year 12 VCE ESL English course.
Writing Better Essays: an integrated approach (Years 7 to 9)
Jennifer Minter
Provides explanations, diagrams and illustrations to help students write better essays; focuses on the planning, structuring and thinking processes; introduces students to persuasive techniques and a range of persuasive text types; matches the criteria in the national curriculum pertaining to the 'use of language to inform, persuade, entertain and argue; and includes 34 exercises on current issues.
Shavings - a collection of short short stories
Richard Baines (ed)
Shavings is a collection of short short stories, carefully selected and designed for use by junior secondary students. This unique anthology contains chilling and challenging tales that can be easily read, discussed and written about within a lesson. It also provides a wide range of extended tasks as follow-up activities.
Insight Contexts 2012 - Exploring issues of identity and belonging
Edited by Robert Beardwood and Rosemary O'Shea
Insight Contexts are especially designed to develop students' thinking and writing skills for Area of Study 2: Creating and Presenting.
The English Handbook: A Guide to Literary Studies
William Whitla
The English Handbook: A Guide to Literary Studies is a comprehensive new textbook providing essential practical and analytical reading and writing skills for literature students at all levels.
Insight English Handbook
Beardwood, Napthine and Pohl
An indispensible reference book for all secondary school students and teachers, the Insight English Handbook contains the essential knowledge and skills for successful English studies.
Successful English 1 and 2
Ford, Haywood, McIntosh, Conlon, Henley
The fully revised second edition of the Successful English series will provide students with a thorough grounding in the essential English skills of grammar, spelling, comprehension and writing.