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Friday, May 31, 2013
Friday Recap: Week 5
Each Friday, I’ll be posting a recap of the week’s events in case you missed them and invite you to tell us what you’re reading. If you’d like a recommendation for new books to read, send a comment telling us what sorts of books you like and other readers may be able to give you some suggestions.
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Book Review - The Knife of Never Letting Go
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Walker Books, 2008)
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Why I Love the Baddies by Jacqueline Harvey
Alf turned to face the tiny intruder.
‘What are you doing here you little snoop?’ he roared. ‘I’ll give you a walloping as well.’
Alf charged forward and slashed at the child with the whip. Voomp, voomp, it cut through the stale air.
‘Bonaparte!’ Alice-Miranda yelled. The pony burst out of the stall and charged at Alf, sending the old man flying. Alf didn’t know what hit him as he thudded onto the cobblestone floor.
Alice-Miranda Shows the Way by Jacqueline Harvey
It’s fun to create the villains in stories - those evil characters, whose actions present problems for the heroes and ensure that there are thrills and confrontations. Baddies are often clever and calculated, with great depth and even some admirable qualities – if only they would use their talents for good instead of evil.
‘What are you doing here you little snoop?’ he roared. ‘I’ll give you a walloping as well.’
Alf charged forward and slashed at the child with the whip. Voomp, voomp, it cut through the stale air.
‘Bonaparte!’ Alice-Miranda yelled. The pony burst out of the stall and charged at Alf, sending the old man flying. Alf didn’t know what hit him as he thudded onto the cobblestone floor.
Alice-Miranda Shows the Way by Jacqueline Harvey
It’s fun to create the villains in stories - those evil characters, whose actions present problems for the heroes and ensure that there are thrills and confrontations. Baddies are often clever and calculated, with great depth and even some admirable qualities – if only they would use their talents for good instead of evil.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
My Favourite Illustrated Book by Adrienne Doig
I am a visual artist who has always loved reading and I particularly love books in which the illustrations and the text complement each other perfectly.
My favourite illustrated book is Maus (Part I ‘My Father Bleeds History’ and Part II ‘And Here My Troubles Began’ ) by Art Speigelman (1991, Pantheon Books). In 1992, it was the first graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize.
When Linda asked me to write about illustrated books for the Reading for Australia blog, I was concerned that perhaps Maus was not suitable for 10 to 13 year olds, but then I couldn’t think of another illustrated book that is a better example of the symbiotic connection between story and drawings, that even came close to the beauty and sophistication of Maus. So I thought I would tell you about it and you (and your parents) could decide whether it is appropriate for you.
It comes with a warning - the subject matter is grim!
Maus is about the Holocaust, so it is a difficult subject but it is also a very rewarding book, not just because the story is important and needs to be told but also because it is intelligent and clever and even, at times, funny. On top of all this, the drawings are superb.
My favourite illustrated book is Maus (Part I ‘My Father Bleeds History’ and Part II ‘And Here My Troubles Began’ ) by Art Speigelman (1991, Pantheon Books). In 1992, it was the first graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize.
When Linda asked me to write about illustrated books for the Reading for Australia blog, I was concerned that perhaps Maus was not suitable for 10 to 13 year olds, but then I couldn’t think of another illustrated book that is a better example of the symbiotic connection between story and drawings, that even came close to the beauty and sophistication of Maus. So I thought I would tell you about it and you (and your parents) could decide whether it is appropriate for you.
It comes with a warning - the subject matter is grim!
Maus is about the Holocaust, so it is a difficult subject but it is also a very rewarding book, not just because the story is important and needs to be told but also because it is intelligent and clever and even, at times, funny. On top of all this, the drawings are superb.
Monday, May 27, 2013
On Killing your Characters by Anthony Eaton
(Or, at least, on killing the ones that will make your mother really annoyed at you…)
Okay. I’m going to start off with one of the little-known rules about writing successful fiction. But before I get to that, I want to make sure you’re not feeling squeamish. If you are, you probably better stop here. You’ve been warned.
Sitting comfortably? Got a glass of water handy? Good. Let’s go…
Okay. I’m going to start off with one of the little-known rules about writing successful fiction. But before I get to that, I want to make sure you’re not feeling squeamish. If you are, you probably better stop here. You’ve been warned.
Sitting comfortably? Got a glass of water handy? Good. Let’s go…
Friday, May 24, 2013
Friday Recap: Week 4
Each Friday, I’ll be posting a recap of the week’s events in case you missed them and invite you to tell us what you’re reading. If you’d like a recommendation for new books to read, send a comment telling us what sorts of books you like and other readers may be able to give you some suggestions.
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Book Review - The One and Only Ivan
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (Harper Collins, 2012)
From Finnish to Navajo by Alexa Moses
For half my working life, I write books – I’m the author of the Slave Girl series, whirlwind time-slip books about a bratty 13-year-old who wanted to go shopping but got stuck in ancient Egypt instead. In the other half, I write children’s television. Right now, I’m writing scripts for the animated TV series of the Tashi books, by Anna and Barbara Fienberg.
Today, I’m going to give you a peek into how screenwriters adapt your favourite books –like Veronica Roth’s Divergent series, or David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny – for the screen.
Today, I’m going to give you a peek into how screenwriters adapt your favourite books –like Veronica Roth’s Divergent series, or David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny – for the screen.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Dogs, Fish, Cats by Steven Miller
Last
year I published a book on dogs in Australian art.
I never imagined that the topic would generate such enthusiasm. Art lovers and dog lovers wrote to me, breeders and show judges, vets and animal therapists, along with university students working on their dissertations. I was interviewed on the radio and invited to the Sydney Writers’ Festival.
I never imagined that the topic would generate such enthusiasm. Art lovers and dog lovers wrote to me, breeders and show judges, vets and animal therapists, along with university students working on their dissertations. I was interviewed on the radio and invited to the Sydney Writers’ Festival.
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| Arthur Murch (1902–89) Suzanne Crookston 1935 Oil on canvas, 76.0 x 60.0 cm. Collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney (15.2006) |
Monday, May 20, 2013
Why Eating Books is Not a Good Idea by Jackie French
When I was little I chewed books. Then I learned that stories were more exciting than they tasted.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Friday Recap: Week 3
Another big week here at (still) Reading for Australia.
If you can think of a better title for our blog enter our competition here - and win a book prize.
Each Friday, I’ll be posting a recap of the week’s events in case you missed them and invite you to tell us what you’re reading. If you’d like a recommendation for new books to read, send a comment telling us what sorts of books you like and other readers may be able to give you some suggestions.
If you can think of a better title for our blog enter our competition here - and win a book prize.
Each Friday, I’ll be posting a recap of the week’s events in case you missed them and invite you to tell us what you’re reading. If you’d like a recommendation for new books to read, send a comment telling us what sorts of books you like and other readers may be able to give you some suggestions.
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Book Review - A Monster Calls
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness from an original idea by Siobhan Dowd and illustrated by Jim Kay (Walker Books, 2011)
Boy Soldier by David Mussared
Anzac Day is a topic which has been addressed in a number of children's books, including those written by our supporter authors, Jackie French, A Rose for the Anzac Boys and Dianne Wolfer, Light Horse Boy.
This website has a longer list of books with an Anzac theme together with other resources about the significance of Anzac Day for children from Australia and New Zealand.
Today's post, from Adelaide journalist, David Mussared, is a personal reflection. We recommend that younger readers ask an adult to read it first to determine whether it is suitable for that reader.
This website has a longer list of books with an Anzac theme together with other resources about the significance of Anzac Day for children from Australia and New Zealand.
Today's post, from Adelaide journalist, David Mussared, is a personal reflection. We recommend that younger readers ask an adult to read it first to determine whether it is suitable for that reader.
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Thursday, May 16, 2013
My Shelf of Memories - by Bernadette Kelly
On Thursdays, we peek at other people’s books. If you would like to
share your bookshelf with us, send your post, photo or a short a/v clip
to: readingforaustralia@gmail.com
My bookshelves tell a story. Well obviously they contain lots of stories, they do hold books after all. But, without a single word on a page, there are a whole lot of other stories in there as well. Every time I look at them, I am taken back to whatever was happening in my life when I read, or wrote, whatever book it is that attracts my eye.
My bookshelves tell a story. Well obviously they contain lots of stories, they do hold books after all. But, without a single word on a page, there are a whole lot of other stories in there as well. Every time I look at them, I am taken back to whatever was happening in my life when I read, or wrote, whatever book it is that attracts my eye.
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Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Writing stories - are you a real life thief? by Charlotte Calder
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| This is Miss Poppy Calder - more of her later |
Question: Your teacher announces ‘Homework tonight is a 600 word story entitled/The First Day of School/A Sinister Stranger/ Looking For Reindeers In Pink Tutus on Mars.’
Does your heart go ☺ or 
?
?
If you steal stuff from real life for your stories, chances are it’ll probably go ☺.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
So you want to be a writer… by Georgia Blain
If you’re here on this website, the odds are that you love reading books. And like many readers, you may have a secret (or perhaps not so secret) desire to be a writer.
I know that when I was young, I spent a lot of time reading, and I always wanted to be an author. I didn’t tell people this, probably because I didn’t think it would ever eventuate and I felt a bit ashamed about having such a seemingly foolish dream.
If I could talk to my younger self now, and give me some tips about how to become a writer, this is what I’d say:
Read, read, read, read, read…
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| Darkwater is Georgia's murder mystery for teenagers |
Monday, May 13, 2013
Making Book Trailers by Tristan Bancks
Hi!
I'm Tristan Bancks. I write books for kids and teens but I love bringing stories alive using moving images and interactivity, too. That's why I make book trailers.
Book trailers are like a movie trailer, but for a book. If you're into filmmaking, they're a great way to make a super-short short film based on a story that you love. You can share your trailer on the interwebs, enter it into competitions and get other peeps excited about the book.
I'm Tristan Bancks. I write books for kids and teens but I love bringing stories alive using moving images and interactivity, too. That's why I make book trailers.
Book trailers are like a movie trailer, but for a book. If you're into filmmaking, they're a great way to make a super-short short film based on a story that you love. You can share your trailer on the interwebs, enter it into competitions and get other peeps excited about the book.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Friday Recap: Week 2
Each Friday, I’ll be posting a recap of the week’s events in case you missed them and invite you to tell us what you’re reading. If you’d like a recommendation for new books to read, send a comment telling us what sorts of books you like and other readers may be able to give you some suggestions.
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Book Review - Leviathan
Leviathan by Scott Westerfield (Simon Pulse, 2009)
Leviathan took me by surprise. Having read some of Scott Westerfield’s books, I was not expecting it to be terrific; however, it was really very good. The idea was a refreshing break from so many cookie-cutter fantasies and sci-fi. It is amazingly believable as well as ingenious, and the characters are fun. It is a marvellous book.
Leviathan chronicles the lives of two young people, Deryn and Aleksander. Through the course of their adventures, they wind up on the Leviathan, an airship made out of a thousand living organisms. Caught together, Alek and Deryn must find a way to survive in this world of machines and monsters.
Leviathan chronicles the lives of two young people, Deryn and Aleksander. Through the course of their adventures, they wind up on the Leviathan, an airship made out of a thousand living organisms. Caught together, Alek and Deryn must find a way to survive in this world of machines and monsters.
Book Review - Obernewtyn
Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody (Penguin, 1987)
Obernewtyn (ober-new-ton) was an interesting and different book.
It was not clichéd as most dystopian futures are, although it does have an apocalyptic setting.
I quote from the book:
Surrounded on one side by the sea and inland, bordered by jagged mountain ranges and great tracts of poisonous Blacklands, the people of the Land believed they alone had survived the Holocaust.
It is unclear what the Holocaust was but it was certainly the result of humankind’s pursuit of technology.
Obernewtyn (ober-new-ton) was an interesting and different book.
It was not clichéd as most dystopian futures are, although it does have an apocalyptic setting.
I quote from the book:
Surrounded on one side by the sea and inland, bordered by jagged mountain ranges and great tracts of poisonous Blacklands, the people of the Land believed they alone had survived the Holocaust.
It is unclear what the Holocaust was but it was certainly the result of humankind’s pursuit of technology.
5 Reasons Why I Love Canberra by Imogen Saunders
‘Or, how I stopped being a sandgroper and learned to love the cold’
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| Kangaroos on Red Hill over looking Canberra |
Thursday, May 09, 2013
Your Chance to Win a Book!
I think we need a name change.
More than most, book lovers know the value of a good title – the catchy words that pull you in and entice you to read more.
Imagine if Harper Lee called To Kill a Mockingbird, “The Adventures of Scout and Jem”, or if Suzanne Collins called The Hunger Games, “A Competition about Food”.
You see what I mean? The title makes all the difference.
More than most, book lovers know the value of a good title – the catchy words that pull you in and entice you to read more.
Imagine if Harper Lee called To Kill a Mockingbird, “The Adventures of Scout and Jem”, or if Suzanne Collins called The Hunger Games, “A Competition about Food”.
You see what I mean? The title makes all the difference.
What's On Your Bookshelf?
On Thursdays, we peek at other people’s books. If you would like to share your bookshelf with us, send your post, photo or a short a/v clip to: readingforaustralia@gmail.com
Today, we look at Linda’s bookshelf.
This bookshelf lives in our kitchen in Canberra. It’s where we keep our cookbooks.
"Hang on," I hear you say, "Isn't this blog supposed to be about children's books? What's this cookbook post doing here?"
Today, we look at Linda’s bookshelf.
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This bookshelf lives in our kitchen in Canberra. It’s where we keep our cookbooks.
"Hang on," I hear you say, "Isn't this blog supposed to be about children's books? What's this cookbook post doing here?"
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
Books About Guinea Pigs by Ursula Dubosarsky
What animals do you love? Do you find yourself writing stories about them, even when you don’t mean to?
I love guinea pigs. And I love books about guinea pigs. I’ve got lots and lots of them at home. (Books, I mean, not guinea pigs.)
My love of guinea pigs started with two pets I had in Year 7. There was a white one called Popcorn, and a little brown and black roundish fluffy one called Bubbles. Mainly they liked eating. And squeaking. And running away. But I really loved them. They died a LONG TIME AGO and yet I seem to think about them almost every day. (I must be MAD.)
I love guinea pigs. And I love books about guinea pigs. I’ve got lots and lots of them at home. (Books, I mean, not guinea pigs.)
My love of guinea pigs started with two pets I had in Year 7. There was a white one called Popcorn, and a little brown and black roundish fluffy one called Bubbles. Mainly they liked eating. And squeaking. And running away. But I really loved them. They died a LONG TIME AGO and yet I seem to think about them almost every day. (I must be MAD.)
Tuesday, May 07, 2013
Telling Stories by Fraser Corfield
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| "Max Remy Super Spy", 2012, by the Australian Theatre for Young People, all photographs by Olivia Martin-McGuire |
My job is all about telling stories, but I don’t write books.
I work every day with teenagers but I’m not a teacher.
Monday, May 06, 2013
Beware of the Cliff(hanger)! by Deborah Abela
- During the year six sleepover, a few students decide to sneak to the bathroom at night and summon a ghost. It doesn’t work. Or so they think? Just as they decide to go to bed, they see, ‘wrapped in a dark cloak, its face concealed, a figure lift its arms and slowly move towards them'
- (Ghost Club: The Haunted School by Deborah Abela)
When I was young, I loved the cliffhanger… that moment when you reach the end of the chapter and it literally leaves you hanging on a moment, a thought or an action where you just have to know what happens next! Is it a real ghost the kids have seen, or a trick, or a very vivid dream? And what should they do next?
Friday, May 03, 2013
Friday Recap: Week 1
Hello everyone
I’m Linda, the website moderator (though I’m not entirely sure what that entails).
Have a look around and, if you're minded, tell us what you are reading, comment on what others are reading and on the author posts. Kick off your shoes and make yourselves at home. See the tab “Kids’ Contributions” if you'd like to participate.
Each Friday, I’ll be posting a recap of the week’s events in case you missed them and invite you to tell us what you’re reading. If you’d like a recommendation for new books to read, send a comment telling us what sorts of books you like and other readers may be able to give you some suggestions.
And, to kick us off – this is about books, after all – today we have a couple of book reviews from James and Sam, both 12 years old, from Canberra. Check them out here and here .
It is with more than a touch of disbelief that I sit down today, on a beautiful autumn morning in Canberra, to welcome you to our site.
It was a mere three weeks ago that a few of us sat around our kitchen table, discussing how to best support the Kids’ Lit Quiz in Australia, arrived at the idea of giving it an online presence and decided to give it a whirl.
Some extraordinarily ambitious plans can be hatched in quite ordinary surroundings.
If you’re ever in Shanghai, go and see where the Chinese Communist Party was formed in 1921. Check out the size of the house, look at the fairly flimsy table Mao Zedong and his comrades sat around, and ignore the glitzy mall that now houses the birthplace of the Party.
If Mao and his mates could decide to reform China (China!) in a swampy, malaria-ridden part of Shanghai, our plan to set up a meeting place for book lovers within three weeks seemed positively modest. And here we are, three weeks later, welcoming you all and hoping that you will join us on this reading adventure.
Essential to this project are the many authors, illustrators and other creators who know and care about children’s literature who have supported this initiative so generously. Busy people, all, many have also written, or promised to write, guest posts aimed at the reading interests of children aged 10 to 13. I cannot thank you all enough.
Our hope was to find enough contributors to provide a discussion platform during May. We now have offers that continue into June and I would be delighted to hear from other authors if they also wish to support us. Information about the types of contributions we are seeking is contained at the tab, “Authors’ Contributions”.
Although we aim to address the reading interests of children aged 10 to 13, we warmly invite book lovers of all ages, including adults, to participate in the discussions.
You can either comment through the comments section at the end of each post (comments to be moderated) or, if what you want to say doesn’t work as a comment (say, it’s an a/v clip or a longer response with photos and text), send it to us at readingforaustralia@gmail.com.au and we’ll add it to the post on which you wish to comment.
OK, that’s enough from me for now. Check out our first guest author post on Monday, when we should also have a new look.
Happy reading!
PS If you’re interested in the Australian final of the Kids’ Lit Quiz, look here: Canberra Times article
About the Author
Linda De Silva is a novice website administrator, parent and Essendon fan who still gets lost driving around Canberra where she and her family have lived for two years.
Linda updated the copyright chapter of the 12th edition of The Law Handbook (Redfern Legal Centre Publishing, 2012) which technically makes her a published author though that is a bit of a stretch. She has no plans to start a political party.
At 12, Linda loved the Trixie Belden series.
The best book she's read recently was A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. While she recommends the book to everyone - it is brilliant! - she cautions against finishing it in a doctor's waiting room. The ending is sad and people will worry that you've received terrible medical news if you sit there with tears running down your face.
I’m Linda, the website moderator (though I’m not entirely sure what that entails).
Have a look around and, if you're minded, tell us what you are reading, comment on what others are reading and on the author posts. Kick off your shoes and make yourselves at home. See the tab “Kids’ Contributions” if you'd like to participate.
Each Friday, I’ll be posting a recap of the week’s events in case you missed them and invite you to tell us what you’re reading. If you’d like a recommendation for new books to read, send a comment telling us what sorts of books you like and other readers may be able to give you some suggestions.
And, to kick us off – this is about books, after all – today we have a couple of book reviews from James and Sam, both 12 years old, from Canberra. Check them out here and here .
It is with more than a touch of disbelief that I sit down today, on a beautiful autumn morning in Canberra, to welcome you to our site.
It was a mere three weeks ago that a few of us sat around our kitchen table, discussing how to best support the Kids’ Lit Quiz in Australia, arrived at the idea of giving it an online presence and decided to give it a whirl.
Some extraordinarily ambitious plans can be hatched in quite ordinary surroundings.
If you’re ever in Shanghai, go and see where the Chinese Communist Party was formed in 1921. Check out the size of the house, look at the fairly flimsy table Mao Zedong and his comrades sat around, and ignore the glitzy mall that now houses the birthplace of the Party.
If Mao and his mates could decide to reform China (China!) in a swampy, malaria-ridden part of Shanghai, our plan to set up a meeting place for book lovers within three weeks seemed positively modest. And here we are, three weeks later, welcoming you all and hoping that you will join us on this reading adventure.
Essential to this project are the many authors, illustrators and other creators who know and care about children’s literature who have supported this initiative so generously. Busy people, all, many have also written, or promised to write, guest posts aimed at the reading interests of children aged 10 to 13. I cannot thank you all enough.
Our hope was to find enough contributors to provide a discussion platform during May. We now have offers that continue into June and I would be delighted to hear from other authors if they also wish to support us. Information about the types of contributions we are seeking is contained at the tab, “Authors’ Contributions”.
Although we aim to address the reading interests of children aged 10 to 13, we warmly invite book lovers of all ages, including adults, to participate in the discussions.
You can either comment through the comments section at the end of each post (comments to be moderated) or, if what you want to say doesn’t work as a comment (say, it’s an a/v clip or a longer response with photos and text), send it to us at readingforaustralia@gmail.com.au and we’ll add it to the post on which you wish to comment.
OK, that’s enough from me for now. Check out our first guest author post on Monday, when we should also have a new look.
Happy reading!
PS If you’re interested in the Australian final of the Kids’ Lit Quiz, look here: Canberra Times article
About the Author
Linda De Silva is a novice website administrator, parent and Essendon fan who still gets lost driving around Canberra where she and her family have lived for two years.
Linda updated the copyright chapter of the 12th edition of The Law Handbook (Redfern Legal Centre Publishing, 2012) which technically makes her a published author though that is a bit of a stretch. She has no plans to start a political party.
At 12, Linda loved the Trixie Belden series.
The best book she's read recently was A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. While she recommends the book to everyone - it is brilliant! - she cautions against finishing it in a doctor's waiting room. The ending is sad and people will worry that you've received terrible medical news if you sit there with tears running down your face.
Book Review - I am Number Four
Author: Pittacus Lore
Published By: The Penguin Group
I am Number Four is the first book in a hexology (series of six) and is a book with a strong sci-fi theme. The story is about 9 alien children who come to Earth, fleeing another race of aliens (the Mogadorians) who are trying to conquer the universe. The Mogadorians are hunting the children, but they are protected by a charm; they can only be killed in a certain order. The first three are dead, and John Smith is next.
Book Review - Space Demons
Space Demons by Gillian Rubenstein (Scholastic, 1985)
Space Demons is a thrilling novel in which 4 ordinary children are zapped into a computer game, where they must confront their own dark sides if they are to survive. This is the first book in a trilogy.
This book is a fantasy-mystery bordering on science fiction, which targets 10-15 year olds.
I liked the way that the characters came to life. All the children had their own personality. Each personality was believable and reasonable and the characters held to their personality, but still changed naturally.
Space Demons is a thrilling novel in which 4 ordinary children are zapped into a computer game, where they must confront their own dark sides if they are to survive. This is the first book in a trilogy.
This book is a fantasy-mystery bordering on science fiction, which targets 10-15 year olds.
I liked the way that the characters came to life. All the children had their own personality. Each personality was believable and reasonable and the characters held to their personality, but still changed naturally.
Thursday, May 02, 2013
Leo and Nick's Bookshelf
On Thursdays, we peek at other people’s books. If you would like to share your bookshelf with us, send your post or a short a/v clip to:
readingforaustralia@gmail.com
Today, we look at Leo and Nick’s bookshelves.
readingforaustralia@gmail.com
Today, we look at Leo and Nick’s bookshelves.
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