Follow the links and answer the questions to explore some of the themes and ideas that Morris Gleitzman manages to include in this seemingly simple but humorous novel about an adventurous cane toad!

But before you read the story, think about how you feel about cane toads already. Are they something that you squash under the tyres as you drive along the road, or use instead of a baseball? Or are they victims of bad publicity? Conduct a poll to see how the others in your class feel.

Limpy is a cane toad, and he thinks he and his relatives are beautiful.
What do you think?
Have a look at this picture of a cane toad and think about whether you would like to look like that! Cane toads can be recognised by the bony ridges around their eyes and their big poison glands on their shoulders. Here is another picture for you to look at.

Cane Toads can grow up to 24 cm (9.5") and weigh up to 1.8 kg (4lbs) for a large female, although males are smaller. They can live to be 40 years old.
How big could Limpy grow if he doesn't get squashed?
Find something that is 24cm long and has a mass of 1.8kg so you can see for yourself. Make a chart called as big as a cane toad to show some comparisons.

Limpy likes to eat worms, slugs, spiders, termites and all sorts of other insects but he needs to have flying insects for a balanced diet.
Why is it easier for him to find these sorts of insects near the highway at night?
What other sorts of things do cane toads eat?

Limpy's family live in a swamp but cane toads can survive anywhere.
Look at this map to see if Limpy's relatives live near you!
Why are they spreading throughout Australia?

Female cane toads lay many thousands of eggs at a time. See what they look like so you can identify them if you find them.

Listen to Limpy and his friends talking to each other.

Limpy was a toad, not a frog.
What is the difference between the two?
Go to Frogs and Toads to find out!

Now write an acrostic poem using either the word 'frog' or 'toad'. (An acrostic poem is one where you find a word or phrase that starts with each letter of the word.)

Share your creations with the other schools also doing this activity.

'Uncle Bart,' said Limpy, "why do humans hate us?'
Uncle Bart looked down at Limpy and smiled fondly.
'Stack me, Limpy,' he chuckled, you are an idiot."

Cane toads are one example of an animal species that has been introduced to this country and since become a pest. Investigate why they were brought here and the reasons they are such a danger to our environment.
Why were the cane toads introduced into Australia?
Why did the experiment fail?
What damage do they do to the country?
Why is it important that we stop the spread of cane toads?
Why are scientists having such great difficulty doing this?
Is driving over them a reasonable solution?

The Queensland Museum suggests "local removal and humane disposal of Cane Toads in your local environment can help reduce their numbers, especially if conducted regularly in the spring and summer period"
How would you deal with the problem?

A number of creatures which have been introduced into Australia have now become pests.
Investigate one of these creatures, describe its impact on the environment and what is being done to fix the problem.
Use some of these sites to help you.
RSPCA Australia - Animal Welfare and the Environment
About: Introduced Animals in Australia
Feral/Pest Animals - Rodents
Endangered Species Program
River Murray Fact Sheet - Plants and Animals and the River Murray

Suddenly the ground shook.
Limpy looked up fearfully. A huge truck was rumbling towards him. Limpy was about to turn and run when he saw that the truck was stopping.
He saw something else. Painted on the side of the truck was a large platypus and a large echidna and a large kookaburra.
Lucky things, thought Limpy. Some creatures are so popular with humans, they can even get their own special trucks.

Who were the creatures that Limpy saw painted on the side of the truck?
Read The Legend of the Mascots to find out why these creatures were chosen. (You will have to search the site for the word 'mascots' to get to the right page.)
Then meet Millie, Syd and Olly by clicking the links in the sidebar, and read about their real-life characters.
Who is the mascot for the Paralympic Games?

Mascots have been a feature of the Olympic Games since Munich in 1972.
Look at these mascots and choose one that interests you.
What was its name?
What sort of creature was it?
How did it represent the host country?
Can you draw it?
Would Limpy have made a good mascot?
Which creature would you have chosen?

The cane toad is the mascot for a Queensland team.
Which team is it?
What is the mascot of their traditional opponents?

Limpy makes friends with a girl who is a champion pole vaulter.
To see what pole vaulting is, have a look at these pictures. (If you want to make a picture bigger, put your cursor on it, and when it turns to a hand, click on it.)

Now read about Australian Emma George, who is the world record holder.
Why do you think Gleitzman chose pole vaulting for the story?

Pole-vaulting is an uncommon sport, especially for women. Sydney 2000 will be the first time women's pole vaulting has been an Olympic sport!
There will be a number of new and unusual sports at these Olympic Games. Have a look at the Kids Guide to Olympic Sports and choose a sport that interests you. Use the information to write a paragraph that introduces the sport to someone else.

Limpy and Goliath hitched a ride on a truck from Northern New South Wales to Sydney, which is about 550 kilometres.

Perhaps Morris Gleitzman got the idea from one of these newspaper articles.

Cane toad found in Attadale W.A.

Lone cane toad hitches ride to WA

Read what Morris Gleitzman's publishers say about him.
Do you agree? Why?
Now read about his childhood.
How was his childhood the same as yours?
Write about something funny that has happened to you.

Write a message to Morris to tell him what you thought was the funniest part of Toad Rage and why you think so.

If you enjoyed Toad Rage then have a look at the other books Morris has written. Choose one from The Bookshelf , click on it and read the first chapter. If you would like to read the rest of it, get your librarian to help you find it in your school library.

Now you have read the book, how do you feel about cane toads?
Was Gleitzman able to make you feel more sympathetic towards them?
How have the feelings of your classmates changed?