Review: Rip the Page!

The subtitle of this book — Adventures in Creative Writing — is perfect. For that's what this book is: an adventure from the first page to the last.

For any child who wants to write but doesn't know where to start, for any parent or teacher wanting to ignite that creative spark, for anyone of any age wanting to create with words … this book is guaranteed to have you picking up your pen or pencil and enjoying every second of the creative process.

Review: 10 Funny Sheep

Taken from the rhythm and rhyming style of Ten Green Bottles, here counting sheep is better than counting bottles. But what do sheep get up to all day?

We count backwards and find the hidden numbers somewhere on the page as the sheep sing silly songs, hang out clothes, walk through a maze, try to fly a kite, and other imaginative, crazy and fun things.

Review: Naveed (Through My Eyes)

Through My Eyes is an outstanding series edited by Lyn White about children in the conflict zones of various countries. Naveed is the third book and is set in Afghanistan.

Naveed’s father was killed by a suicide bomber. He is now the man of the family. His sister Anoosheh is without legs due to a hidden mine, but is a happy, confident child. Survival is the goal of each day for the two children and their mother. The story follows their daily life and fight for survival against all odds.

John Heffernan is in the perfect position to give us a realistic view of Afghanistan, as it is a place close to his heart, having travelled there several times before the war.  This gifted writer has opened up a window into the suffering of this nation. He concentrates on the effects of war on children; their resilience, resourcefulness, courage, determination and optimism to survive regardless of all the difficulties they face. This battle for survival takes place against a background of thriving warlords and drug dealers, the Taliban, and others that seek to become wealthy off the back of the poor.

Shout Out: Do You Dare series

Do You Dare to take a giant leap into the past and experience what the world was like before your time? Riding on the success of its historical fiction series for girls (Our Australian Girl already has 32 books) Penguin has just launched the parallel series for boys: Do You Dare?  Those who have eagerly awaited a quality historical fiction series for boys will not be disappointed.

Each book immerses us in a specific year in Australia’s history and every tale is brought to high-action life through the experiences of a boy and his friends. Together, they meet surprising villains and face serious, even life-threatening situations. What I think I like most about the Do You Dare? series is that sometimes it is the most respectable, and those in authority, who are the most dangerous.

Review: Stella's Starliner

From Rosemary Wells, author and illustrator of the gorgeous Max and Ruby series, comes the story of Stella’s Starliner. Stella, a gorgeous little fox, is clearly a Wells creation. 

One thing you should know about Stella is that her daddy has to live somewhere else during the week, so he can work. He comes home at the weekend and they have all kinds of fun together.

Review: I Wanna Be a Pretty Princess

It's fair to say I've done a heck of a lot of teeth-grinding over princess books in my time. Butterflies and fairies have come close, but have nothing on the torment I've been through over the whole princess debacle.

Yes, I love Disney princess films, but only for their divine, retro illustration and tender quasi-alignment with true fairytales. I will admit, however, that I've also grown fond of their sweetly delusional plots over the years, as they've proved fabulous educational fodder for my children, who are fully versed in the stereotypical princess illusion  delusion.

12 Curly Questions with author John Heffernan

1. Can you tell us something hardly anyone knows about you?
I don’t know if this is possible, but I sometimes get a strange feeling that I was once a dog, like in another time or another life. When that happens, I get an urge to dig holes and scratch myself, and if I see a bone I get really excited and start panting! (Please don’t tell anyone, though.)

2. Do you have a nickname?
Yes. DICE . . . as in the little cubes with numbers 1-6 that you use for gambling. I’m not a gambler, so I don’t know why my friends nicknamed me that.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Spiders.

4. Can you describe your writing style for us in ten words?
Concise description; gripping suspense; believable characters; effective dialogue.

5. What are five positive words that describe you as a writer?
Concerned. Thoughtful. Passionate. Open. Minimal.

Event: Wilderness Fairies Book Launch

Review: Compost: A Family Guide to Making Soil from Scraps

Last year, my family and I invested in our very first compost bin. It was so very exciting--the thought of making garden gold from kitchen muck was just a thrill, and it's truly amazing how rewarding it can be to scrape that black, sticky mass of superlative nutrition from the bin every few months--to then slather over the garden.

Needless to say, we had a mega veggie crop last year, but the biggest joy of all was in watching the kids and their enthusiasm to be involved.

Review: Pom and Pim

Pom and his pal Pim are on their way out. It's such a lovely, warm day--such luck!

But oh, goodness. Pom didn't see that stone. Ouch. What bad luck.

But then, if he hadn't tripped on the stone, he wouldn't have found that $20 note! Good luck!

And on goes this utterly charming book, vacillating between fortune and misfortune, bad luck and good luck - a bit like life, really. Sometimes we're up, sometimes we're down--sometimes we need to make lemonade from lemons, and that's the joy of being alive.

Review: Nugget and Fang

Nugget and Fang are unlikely friends. They do everything together--swimming over, under and around.

One day, Nugget the minnow heads off Mini Minnows School, and is surprised to learn that sharks are meant to be big and bad. They're also meant to eat minnows--they find them quite delicious.

Minnow is disillusioned. Shocked. (And also delicious.) It can't be true. 'My best friend is a shark!' he cries.

Review: Shh! We Have a Plan

Chris Haughton is fast proving himself a mover and a shaker on the picture book scene. Like Emily Gravett and Oliver Jeffers, one can readily spot a Haughton book with ease. The iconic colours, the quirky characters, the clever titles, are always intriguing.

And no less intriguing is his latest - Shh! We Have a Plan.

What's the plan!? What's the plan!? I shouted to myself in my own head when I saw this cover. Well, let me tell you - without giving too much away, of course.

Review: The Adventures of Scooterboy and Skatergirl

Skatergirl is cool in every sense, and a champion skateboarder. She’s sharp and smart; a leader. Confident and daring, she needs to be the best at everything. She’s also a fantastic rapper.

Jim Belicious’ profile is not so cool but is definitely interesting. He loves bird-watching and collecting buttons. He owns no personal mode of transport, but when he bumps into Skatergirl, they strike up a friendship. Skatergirl temporarily lends him her fold-away scooter, and gives him a new name. Jim transforms into Scooterboy.

Review: Ben and Gracie's Art Adventure

Ben and Gracie's mum works in an art gallery. After school, the kids race up the gallery steps to meet with her and they're greeted by a man they've never seen before. He hands Ben a golden ticket and they go inside.

As the duo pass a painting, it begins to glow and the ticket starts to shimmer. Cautiously, they approach--and suddenly, they're flying through the air and right into the painting!

Review: A Walk in Paris

Walking in Paris, admiring the scenery with Grandad, taking in the sights, smells, sounds--the tastes--tempted?

Not that we need any excuse to visit this exquisite city, but any excuse will certainly do. Our young jet-setter and her grandad arrive in Paris, as so many do, via the Métro (Place Maubert).

As they surface near the Cafe Métro, wonder quickly takes hold. It's market day in the square and there's so much happening! Fountains spurting, dogs meandering, baguettes tucked under arms and greengrocers stacking crates of fresh produce.

12 Curly Questions with author Shannon Hale

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I will listen to almost any kind of music and read almost any kind of book and eat almost any kind of food, but I’ve never drunk alcohol.

2. What is your nickname? 
My sister calls me Face (which is short for Banana Face).

3. What is your greatest fear?
Something bad happening to my kids.

4. Describe your writing style in ten words. 
I do a little of everything. My style is me.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
persistent dedicated excited curious eager