Written by Craig Silvey and illustrated by Sara Acton, the novel Runt was published in 2022 and later adapted as a feature film. The film will premiere in Australian cinemas in September 2024.

Before viewing the film, share both the Runt book cover and film poster with the class. Assign students into small groups to examine the two texts, using the following questions to guide the discussion: 

• How would you describe the mood portrayed by the book cover and poster? Is there a difference in the mood portrayed by the two text types? How might these moods influence the audience, and which techniques were used to achieve this? 
• The tagline on the Runt book cover reads 'You don't have to carry the weight of the world in your toolbelt', while the film tagline states, 'Every underdog has its day'. Discuss the meaning of these two phrases and their possible impacts on the audience.  
• Stories are often tweaked when they are adapted for another text type. What do you predict will be the main differences between the Runt novel and film, and why? 

Invite groups to share their thinking with the wider class, highlighting for students any different responses and possible explanations for this.