Meet The Illustrator: Carla Hoffenberg

Name: Carla Hoffenberg

Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Character-driven, playful and optimistic, crafted digitally, with a traditional feel.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
My iPad and Apple Pencil. I prefer my standing desk, but I can draw anywhere.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I love using procreate – no set-up or clean up time and I can draw anywhere. I love using the traditional pencil “brushes”, rather than fancier digital brushes. If I am not using my ipad, I love using graphite pencils.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Normal Rockwell, Axel Scheffler and Heath McKenzie

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
It would be amazing to travel back to the 1960s and witness the vibrant pop art era first hand. What I admire most about pop art is how it made art fun and accessible to everyone. It allowed for social commentary that encouraged viewers to engage with the artwork, creating a unique interactive experience.

 
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
As a mother of three children, I have always turned to children's books as a platform for entertainment, connection and explaining our world and events in our lives. Even though I have always been creatively inclined, I only started becoming interested in illustrating children’s books during the Covid-19 lockdown. I started sketching and illustrating my kids as they went about their daily activities, and it struck me that it would be a fantastic idea to write and illustrate a book about this unique period in our lives. I enrolled in courses to improve my skills, and eventually, it led me to pursue it as a full-time career.
The kids that read my books are my main inspiration for creating children’s books. I want to bring joy into their lives and also help them understand the world around them a bit better.

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
I spend most of my work hours at my adjustable height desk. I don’t need much space as my iPad as the main tool. I do keep children's books on my desk, which serve as inspiration and I often take breaks to flip through the pages (especially if I get stuck with something). When I feel like I need a change of scenery to gain fresh perspective, I like to draw at nearby cafes.

What is your favourite part of the illustration process?

I find the design and planning phase of a project particularly enjoyable, as it requires a lot of imagination and allows me to draw on inspiration while challenging myself. Brainstorming character designs and compositions is a significant aspect of this, and I'm always pushing myself to come up with innovative ways to connect with my target audience.

 
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Just keep going! Every illustration or work of art that you make informs your next piece and helps you to improve.

 
Carla is a published children’s book illustrator, residing in Sydney. She grew up in Johannesburg and lived in NYC. She is passionate about bringing fun, connection and learning opportunities to kids through optimistic and imaginative illustrations. Carla loves the ocean and is always working on her next children’s book project.



For more information, please visit Carla's website or follow her on instagram.

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Review: Glimpse

If you are looking for a brilliant, fast-paced and riveting read, here it is! Drawn from the catastrophic earthquakes of 2010 – 2012, in the city of Otautahi Christchurch, it reflects on people’s resilience, endurance, and sense of community.

But there are always those who see stricken populations as easy prey and a path to money and power. It is upon this premise that this powerful story is built.

Abandoned by City Hall, the people of the demolition zone – D-zone, have been left to their own resources and struggles.

After seven years of earthquakes, the rubble of the Plaza has become a meeting place for Jonah, the most gifted glimpser, and his best friend Bas. Tattoos of the fault lines on the side of their face, are evidence of their life and loss.

Glimpsing - being able to see a forthcoming earthquake, is a gift owned by many people of the zone. GlimpseCorp has made a name for itself with its Glimpse Show, where people with the gift are encouraged for a fee, to share their lives and abilities for entertainment.

When PANN – People for a New Nation, led by the charismatic Phaedra and her brother Damon arrive in the area, initially, they seem to offer hope to the hopeless who have been crippled by lack of interest from the powerful.

Mesmerising and manipulative, Phaedra is a persuader who has no boundaries. People part with their money willingly under her promise of a new world and the return of a life they lost long ago. 

Holograms of people’s deceased loved ones are used to brainwash, persuade, then subtly threaten to propel her power-play. Punishment for disobedience or revolt is the withdrawal of their family’s images.

Generous in complex themes, the brilliant prose leads the reader through issues of detention camps, illegal migrants, gang warfare and specifically, strength and survival.

This is the best book I’ve read this year and I long to go to go in search of Jane Higgins’ previous publications, The Bridge and Havoc.

Title: Glimpse
Author: Jane Higgins
Publisher: Text Publishing, $19.99
Publication Date: 2 May 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781922330598
For ages: 14+
Type: Young Adult Fiction

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Review: Colour Makes The World Go Round

Colour is so beautiful.

Colour makes us special.

Colour makes the world go round.

What would we do if rainbows didn’t contain colour, or if flamingos were black and white instead of their rich pink and crimson? What would the sunshine be if it wasn’t golden?

This book asks questions and explores the answers in a curious and funny rumination on diversity, colour, difference and friendship. A seemingly simple narrative is actually anything but – even though it is perfect for young children with readily accessible ideas and images for exploring our wonderful world.

Both joyful and pragmatic at the same time, this book has a lot going on beneath the surface.

Neilsen plays with characters, colour, shape, negative space and characters to build a playful and intriguing world where questions are encouraged and differences celebrated. The clever ‘stretching’ of illustrations from one side of a double spread to the other - from colourful on one side to black and white on the other - provides a visual narrative that is clearly defined and designed to make readers think deeply.

Gentle directions and interactive components include young children as participants in a story where repeating the magic words and tapping on the page, is empowering and causes wonderful, magical things to happen.

This book is whimsical, interactive and a definitive springboard for a whole lot of questions, imaginings, discussion and fun both in the classroom and at home.

Title: Colour Makes The World Go Round
Author/Illustrator: Christopher Nielsen
Publisher: Walker Books, $25.99
Publication Date: May 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760655655
For ages: 4 - 7
Type: Picture Book

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12 Curly Questions with author Emily Snape

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I can’t touch dry sponge. It gives me the same icky feeling I imagine people get when they scrape their fingers down chalkboards. It makes washing up quite tricky.

2. What is your nickname?
Em. I know I’m in trouble when people call me by my full name.

3. What is your greatest fear?
I’m not sure I can put it in words. It makes me feel too scared to write down.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Relatable. Funny. Heartfelt. Exciting. Unpredictable. Pacy. Dramatic. Sincere. Sometimes gross!

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Determined. Fun. Silly. Sincere. Uplifting.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Oh wow, what a question. I think it has got to be a character with magical powers. But all the best characters have hidden depths and darkness so the more I think about it the harder it is to decide. Can I choose to be the little mermaid, but just for a day to see what it's like to live in the ocean?

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I think I’d have to go forward 1000 years. I’d be fascinated to see what has changed and how much is still the same and if any of our predictions have come true. Maybe aliens will have taken over.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Try to love the skin your in. I spent years being self conscious that I was too tall and now I’m older and wiser I am grateful to be on this planet right now and not worry so much about appearances. Being tall is very helpful when you have to reach high things! Oh whoops, I read that the wrong way round. Ok I’ve got it now. My 10-year-old self would say, wow, you’re old! Why haven’t you got a theme park ride designed around one of your books yet?

9. Who is your greatest influence?
It’s got to be my family.

10. What/who made you start writing?
I love stories and characters. I can still remember the first books I read that moved me and I’m always fascinated by being able to dip inside someone else’s head and life when you open a book. My parents wrote children’s books and I tried to find a different career to them but I couldn’t resist getting into children’s books. When someone reads one of my books and enjoys it, that is the best feeling.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
I love palindromes, so I think I’ll choose racecar. Or kayak.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Jennie by Paul Gallico. I loved that book as a child and I really want to find time to read it again. I might get fed up with that decision after a while though. How about Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. That’s probably a better choice! 

Emily Snape is a children's author and illustrator living in London. Her work has appeared online, on television, in shops and even on buses! She loves coffee and notebooks, and has three cheeky children, Leo, Fin and Flo, who keep her on her toes and give her lots of inspiration for stories. For more information, see www.emilysnape.co.uk.

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Winners: Inside the Dyslexic Mind

Our lucky winners are ...Annaleise Byrd, QLD
Liz Dorrington, WA
Joseph Spagnolo, NSW

Congratulations!

You have each won a copy of the amazing, groundbreaking resource for parents, teachers and dyslexics themselves, Inside The Dyslexic Mind. Enjoy and employ with purpose!

Thank you to ALL who entered.

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Review: When Dad's Hair Took Off

When Dad's Hair Took Off. It's a fun, visual title for a book and that's what this book is all about.

German-born author and illustrator Jörg Mühle has combined words and pictures to create a clever kind of wild goose chase. 

Dad wakes one morning and sees his hair jump off his head and run away. Silliness ensues as Dad takes off after it.

He follows it all over the house, then out the door and into town where it enters a restaurant, as well as a pet shop, department store, the zoo, and other places.

Dad's hair camouflages itself, including on a bear, cactii, and in the grass. Another clever visual element used, is the hair looking like the line markings on the road.

Dad tries to catch his hair with a net, and a vacuum cleaner, but has no luck. His hair eventually reaches the sea and he gives up.

Dad remains bald, receiving postcards from his international travelling hair, until one day it begins to rain ... and his hair is back!

You need to read and look at this story carefully, because the humour is not just in what the words are saying, but what the pictures are showing you as well. What's even better is that the story has been translated from the original German.

When Dad's Hair Took Off is a great example of words and pictures telling the story, and it's all encapsulated in a short novel that will get young readers laughing.

Download a colouring sheet as well.

Title: When Dad's Hair Took Off
Author/Illustrator: Jörg Mühle
Publisher: Gecko Press, $17.99
Publication Date: June 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781776575213
For ages: 6+
Type: Junior Fiction

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Review: Pippa And The Troublesome Twins

Pippa is an independent and resourceful pigeon. Filled with adventure and a strong need of freedom, she longs to swoop and swirl in search of new destinations far beyond her home space.

This has not been possible since her twin brothers, Pepi and Penn, joined the family unit. All they seem to do is squeal and demand food.

 

Her parents’ attention is given totally to caring for, and protecting, their unfledged young.

Pippa is left in charge of her troublesome brothers while her parents search for food. Being an older sister is a big responsibility, she realises. As she focuses on the wide, open spaces calling to her, her resentment rises at the fact she is no longer free to fly and discover.

Dangers lurk even high up on tree branches.  As Pippa’s anger unfurls against her brothers, she instinctively reverts to protector when the twins are threatened.

Family dynamics have changed. Can the clever Pippa find a way to be a loving big sister and still retain her freedom?

The demands of the squabs and Pippa’s reaction to her siblings are ideal analogies of human baby behaviour and the ability of older siblings to adapt to change.

Andrew Plant uses acrylic paints and watercolour pencils on stretched watercolour paper to create images so real, they appear to be ready to fly off the page. Close up images show in detail, every emotion the characters are experiencing.  The wide, open spaces in soft green shades are breathtaking. Delicate falling feathers decorate the end pages.

Dimity Powell’s intimate knowledge of her subject is evident in her meticulously chosen text and Plant’s brilliant interpretation of it.

From this beautifully presented picture book story, children learn about squabs, their habits, and need of protection until they can fend for themselves. The glorious presentation will encourage children to research further, the fascinating and important lives of homing pigeons.

Pippa and the Troublesome Twins is the sequel to the stunning Pippa.

Title: Pippa and the Troublesome Twins
Author: Dimity Powell
Illustrator: Andrew Plant
Publisher: FORD ST, $26.95
Publication Date: 1 June 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922696281
For ages: 4 – 6
Type: Picture Book

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Review: The Mud Puddlers

I find the most interesting and educating novels are those created from threads of history. This is one of those. 

Nina is a twelve-year-old who has come from Australia to London to stay with her Aunty Bee for a year, while her parents travel to Antarctica. She is angry and resentful at their sending her away and is determined not to be happy. 

Bee lives on a barge and takes walking tour groups around London where mudlarks used to be. The elderly and impoverished Molly’s dilapidated barge is stationed next to Bee’s. Molly is a mudlark who for years has lived off her findings. 

When Molly first sees Nina, she recognises her as one of us, people who can see things and others who have passed on, that in the past, scavenged for a living. She also has a ghost living with her. 

Bored out of her mind, Nina agrees to go with Bee on a tour. She gets hooked against her will. She feels the river is calling her and can’t wait to go again.

She finds a thimble and has a vision of how life was when women sewed by hand using needle and thread. Confiding in Molly, she is warned about indulging in going back to the past using found objects the river has washed up. 

Of course, Nina ignores all warnings and is bewitched by her ability to time travel at will. She experiences the Frost Fair of 1814, the Suffragette era, and becomes an evacuee of WW2.

When she loses the gas mask that took her back to the war days, she is unable to get back to the present and home to Bee. 

It is only with the help of the spiky Tom, his stolen bike, and the offer of the boatwomen of war time, that Nina can return to London from the countryside and find the lost gas mask which will transport her back to the present.

This is a great read, well-researched, and full of adventures through history that leaves the reader enriched in knowledge and wanting more.

Title: The Mud Puddlers
Author: Pamela Rushby
Publisher: Walker Books, $16.99
Publication Date: 4 April 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760655808
For ages: 10 – 14
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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Review: The Mud Puddlers

I find the most interesting and educating novels are those created from threads of history. This is one of those. 

Nina is a twelve-year-old who has come from Australia to London to stay with her Aunty Bee for a year, while her parents travel to Antarctica. She is angry and resentful at their sending her away and is determined not to be happy. 

Bee lives on a barge and takes walking tour groups around London where mudlarks used to be. The elderly and impoverished Molly’s dilapidated barge is stationed next to Bee’s. Molly is a mudlark who for years has lived off her findings. 

When Molly first sees Nina, she recognises her as one of us, people who can see things and others who have passed on, that in the past, scavenged for a living. She also has a ghost living with her. 

Bored out of her mind, Nina agrees to go with Bee on a tour. She gets hooked against her will. She feels the river is calling her and can’t wait to go again.

She finds a thimble and has a vision of how life was when women sewed by hand using needle and thread. Confiding in Molly, she is warned about indulging in going back to the past using found objects the river has washed up. 

Of course, Nina ignores all warnings and is bewitched by her ability to time travel at will. She experiences the Frost Fair of 1814, the Suffragette era, and becomes an evacuee of WW2.

When she loses the gas mask that took her back to the war days, she is unable to get back to the present and home to Bee. 

It is only with the help of the spiky Tom, his stolen bike, and the offer of the boatwomen of war time, that Nina can return to London from the countryside and find the lost gas mask which will transport her back to the present.

This is a great read, well-researched, and full of adventures through history that leaves the reader enriched in knowledge and wanting more.

Title: The Mud Puddlers
Author: Pamela Rushby
Publisher: Walker Books, $16.99
Publication Date: 4 April 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760655808
For ages: 10 – 14
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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12 Curly Questions with author Ky Garvey

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
Loving words runs in my family and my grandmother and I used to watch Wheel of Fortune every afternoon after school. She always told me I was good enough to go on. 'Wheel' ended before I ever got the chance to compete but I did once appear on a game show called Catch Phrase. I was able to solve all the little puzzles but kept getting stumped on the bigger puzzle and didn’t progress on to the next round. I took home a consolation prize of a designer suitcase. I now live vicariously through our weekly pub trivia and sometimes we win.

2. What is your nickname?
My real name is Kylie and my nickname is Ky. Some of my family affectionately call me Kylie Anne and friends also call me Kyles, however Ky is my favourite. My mum always called me that growing up and I am proud to use it as my author name now.

3. What is your greatest fear?
I am terrified of heights. You won’t see me taking part in any extreme sports any time soon.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
I am a pantser and usually write off the cuff.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Optimistic, inclusive, brave, determined, persistent.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Bastian from Neverending Story. I like how he discovers his inner strength.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d like to go back to the 1500s so I could meet Queen Elizabeth 1.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
You did it!

9. Who is your greatest influence?
My mum! She has such a bright, happy outlook and she doesn’t let anything stop her. I aspire to be more like her every day.

10. What/who made you start writing?
I have always loved words and have always dreamt of becoming a writer. My family are all lovers of the written word and I have talented writers on both sides of the family. It’s in my blood.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Majestic. I used this word in my very first story when I was in Grade 1. We lived in a suburb when I was a little girl where all the streets were regally named: Knight, Chivalry, Duke, Viscount. We lived near a street called Majestic and I fell in love with the word. I wrote a story called the Magic Rose and described it as Majestic. I was so proud of myself.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Neverending Story

Ky Garvey has two sons diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. Her sons inspired her to write fun and engaging stories that turn challenges into triumphs in a way that is supportive, inclusive and empowering. She also writes and hosts the podcast Totally Lit! For more information, see www.ekbooks.org.


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Review: The Swaddledok

Stella has wanted a Swaddledok for a very long time.

I mean, who wouldn’t? They’re cute and furry and teeny and blue.

Stella is so, so happy when she finally gets one. But when her swaddledok grows bigger than she expected (and starts throwing loud and stinky tantrums), Stella begins to wonder if she’s made the biggest mistake of her life. She’s not so sure she wants a swaddledok anymore.

The Swaddledok is a clever look at yearning, regret, and the spectrum between one and the other. It’s an exploration of seeing the good in something bad or challenging, and sticking with it when things don’t turn out exactly as you expect them to.

Josh Szeps writes with humour as well as heart in this fun and humorous picture book. It’s got all the funnies with a fair bit of wee, poo and farts. But there’s also heaps of love in this story, and I would definitely call it a heart-warmer.

Heidi McKinnon brings both Stella and swaddledok to life with her gorgeous, funky style. There’s fun on every page, and heaps of bold onomatopoeia to shout out loud as you read.

For a bit of silliness and a great read, check out The Swaddledok.

Title: The Swaddledok
Author: Josh Szeps
Illustrator: Heidi McKinnon
Publisher: Scholastic, $19.99
Publication Date: May 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761127823
For ages: 3 - 8
Type: Picture Book

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Giveaway: Inside The Dyslexic Mind

Laughton King shares his understanding of the dyslexic mind from his own lived experience as a dyslexic child, an angry adolescent, a therapist and eventually an author. 

When describing what it is like to be dyslexic, he is includes himself. ‘We think in pictures, we chase words around the pages of books, and we have trouble finding any sensible connection between squiggles on paper and real things they are meant to refer to. And this all happens in perpetual reverse gear. You guessed it, for us, school is not cool, and for most of us this makes life tough.’

At the heart of this book is a ground-breaking concept — the diesel/petrol analogy. As Laughton describes it, a dyslexic person is like a diesel vehicle. They run perfectly if you give them the right fuel, but if you put petrol in the tank (i.e. expect them to learn like every ’normal’ child in our current education system) they break down. This book helps dyslexic (diesel) thinkers make sense of their lives, and provides valuable guidance for parents and teachers.

Thanks to the good folk at Exisle Publishing, we have not one but THREE copies of this excellent resource for parents, teachers and dyslexics themselves to giveaway.

For the chance to win simply tell us in 25 words why you would be interested in understanding how to help people with a dyslexic style of thinking thrive.

Email your answer along with your name and postal address to dimity. The three responses we like the best will each win a copy of the book. Competition is open to anyone, worldwide, so long as they have an Australian postal address for delivery of the books. Please note, we cannot deliver to PO Boxes. Entries without a name and street address will be ineligible. Winners will be announced right here on our website on 19 June 2023.

Competition runs from 5.00 am 10 June 2023 to 5 pm 17 June 2023. Adults can enter for those aged 17 and under. This is a game of skill, not chance. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

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Guest Post: Laughton King on The Dyslexic Mind

Laughton King explains that it was his own life difficulties that led to the eventual publication of his insightful revelation of dyslexia as a daily life issue, Inside The Dyslexic Mind (Exisle Publishing, 2023)

Was it good luck or bad that I was born as a very perceptive but heavily dyslexic child? Either way, the two dynamics contrived to combine in such a manner as to make my childhood – and my eventual adulthood – an ongoing nightmare.

Although I hated schoolwork – reading, writing, and all the elements that comprised these pursuits – I somehow felt strangely compelled to prolong my educational nightmare by attending university long enough to graduate with three psychology degrees.

Later, through extended years of working closely with thousands of children similarly struggling with reading and writing, and ‘learning and behavioural difficulties,’ I eventually realised that the patterns I saw in their lives closely mirrored the elements of my own. Like them, I was not ‘dumb and stupid,’ as I had been led to believe, but rather suffered the impact of a strange anomaly commonly known as ‘dyslexia.’

Striving to make sense of these dynamics – ADD, ADHD, ODD, MBD, and others – I began to see that these were descriptive labels applied by people who themselves had never personally experienced the very dynamics they were labelling – and labelling inaccurately. As labels, they simply reflect the outsider’s limited viewpoint.

So began my mission. With one foot in dyslexia and the other in academia, I sought to rectify and clarify what I saw as an abuse – an unwitting misinterpretation of symptoms by people with good intentions but lacking a useful understanding.

Eventually, Inside The Dyslexic Mind emerged as my clarification of the issues experienced by dyslexic people – young and old. The purpose of this work is to dispel the notion that we have learning difficulties and that there is something wrong with our brain that needs fixing. My objective is to help other dyslexic people value what I have come to call the ‘diesel’ difference in our thinking style, to value this difference and the contribution it allows us to make to society.

As a backyard mechanic, I understand the error of putting petrol into a diesel engine. This notion equates to our education system in which we require our dyslexic (non-language) students to comprehend, learn from, and use a language-based teaching system. A dyslexic person myself, I think in images but I struggle with language.

As a child I had no ‘inner dialogue’ to use as a thinking tool. Words, spoken or written, were foreign to me if they did not contain a pictorial function. The words 'tennis racket' conjure up a picture in my brain of a well-known sporting object, but the word 'perhaps' fails to strike up any visual image at all. But dyslexic people need the images in order to grasp the meaning. In short, dyslexic people are like the diesel engine, and the education system serves up petrol – only petrol. Even the ‘special programmes’ provided are like fuel-injected petrol to the diesel engine.

Now at age 74 my sleep is still regularly disturbed by graphic nightmares stemming from my school-room experiences - standing, reading, book in hand in front of the class, tears running down my face, pee running down my leg (my own version of 'running records'), the teacher beating me over the head with his text book chanting ‘King you are stupid!’

My overall aim in writing this book was to shed light on the real issues that prevail, so that parents, teachers, researchers and academics can start to work with dyslexic children in an enlightened and productive way, to the benefit of all concerned.

For your chance to win a copy of this amazing, groundbreaking resource for parents, teachers and dyslexics themselves, enter our exclusive GIVEAWAY. Competition opens tomorrow, Saturday 10 June 2023. 

Laughton King is a retired psychologist whose contribution to the progressive dismantling of what is commonly called 'dyslexia' comes from his 70+ years as a 'dyslexic' person, and from 35 years as a psychologist working with children experiencing learning difficulties. Laughton's difficulties with reading meant that he did not rely on the insights and conclusions of academics and scholars. Instead, through observation of his own and other's learning processes, he established his own understanding of this unfortunately common difficulty.

School was a nightmare for Laughton. He could not decipher the language of the teacher and was confused that other kids could. His classroom failings led to social and behavioural failings, and for these he was labelled and blamed. In turn, his acceptance of the blame led directly to deep, prolonged depression.

Laughton describes his eventual self-diagnosis of dyslexia at age 45 years as like emerging from a dark cloud but lacking any sense or understanding of its causes or functional dynamics. Subsequent observations of thousands of children, their families and their teachers eventually led to practical insights regarding dyslexia as a daily life issue in a person's interfaces with society through the various stage of life.

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12 Curly Questions with author Ky Garvey

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
Loving words runs in my family and my grandmother and I used to watch Wheel of Fortune every afternoon after school. She always told me I was good enough to go on. 'Wheel' ended before I ever got the chance to compete but I did once appear on a game show called Catch Phrase. I was able to solve all the little puzzles but kept getting stumped on the bigger puzzle and didn’t progress on to the next round. I took home a consolation prize of a designer suitcase. I now live vicariously through our weekly pub trivia and sometimes we win.

2. What is your nickname?
My real name is Kylie and my nickname is Ky. Some of my family affectionately call me Kylie Anne and friends also call me Kyles, however Ky is my favourite. My mum always called me that growing up and I am proud to use it as my author name now.

3. What is your greatest fear?
I am terrified of heights. You won’t see me taking part in any extreme sports any time soon.

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
I am a pantser and usually write off the cuff.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Optimistic, inclusive, brave, determined, persistent.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Bastian from Neverending Story. I like how he discovers his inner strength.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d like to go back to the 1500s so I could meet Queen Elizabeth 1.

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
You did it!

9. Who is your greatest influence?
My mum! She has such a bright, happy outlook and she doesn’t let anything stop her. I aspire to be more like her every day.

10. What/who made you start writing?
I have always loved words and have always dreamt of becoming a writer. My family are all lovers of the written word and I have talented writers on both sides of the family. It’s in my blood.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Majestic. I used this word in my very first story when I was in Grade 1. We lived in a suburb when I was a little girl where all the streets were regally named: Knight, Chivalry, Duke, Viscount. We lived near a street called Majestic and I fell in love with the word. I wrote a story called the Magic Rose and described it as Majestic. I was so proud of myself.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Neverending Story

Ky Garvey has two sons diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. Her sons inspired her to write fun and engaging stories that turn challenges into triumphs in a way that is supportive, inclusive and empowering. She also writes and hosts the podcast Totally Lit! For more information, see www.ekbooks.org.


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Review: The Swaddledok

Stella has wanted a Swaddledok for a very long time.

I mean, who wouldn’t? They’re cute and furry and teeny and blue.

Stella is so, so happy when she finally gets one. But when her swaddledok grows bigger than she expected (and starts throwing loud and stinky tantrums), Stella begins to wonder if she’s made the biggest mistake of her life. She’s not so sure she wants a swaddledok anymore.

The Swaddledok is a clever look at yearning, regret, and the spectrum between one and the other. It’s an exploration of seeing the good in something bad or challenging, and sticking with it when things don’t turn out exactly as you expect them to.

Josh Szeps writes with humour as well as heart in this fun and humorous picture book. It’s got all the funnies with a fair bit of wee, poo and farts. But there’s also heaps of love in this story, and I would definitely call it a heart-warmer.

Heidi McKinnon brings both Stella and swaddledok to life with her gorgeous, funky style. There’s fun on every page, and heaps of bold onomatopoeia to shout out loud as you read.

For a bit of silliness and a great read, check out The Swaddledok.

Title: The Swaddledok
Author: Josh Szeps
Illustrator: Heidi McKinnon
Publisher: Scholastic, $19.99
Publication Date: May 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761127823
For ages: 3 - 8
Type: Picture Book

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Guest Post: Laughton King on The Dyslexic Mind

Laughton King explains that it was his own life difficulties that led to the eventual publication of his insightful revelation of dyslexia as a daily life issue, Inside The Dyslexic Mind (Exisle Publishing, 2023)

Was it good luck or bad that I was born as a very perceptive but heavily dyslexic child? Either way, the two dynamics contrived to combine in such a manner as to make my childhood – and my eventual adulthood – an ongoing nightmare.

Although I hated schoolwork – reading, writing, and all the elements that comprised these pursuits – I somehow felt strangely compelled to prolong my educational nightmare by attending university long enough to graduate with three psychology degrees.

Later, through extended years of working closely with thousands of children similarly struggling with reading and writing, and ‘learning and behavioural difficulties,’ I eventually realised that the patterns I saw in their lives closely mirrored the elements of my own. Like them, I was not ‘dumb and stupid,’ as I had been led to believe, but rather suffered the impact of a strange anomaly commonly known as ‘dyslexia.’

Striving to make sense of these dynamics – ADD, ADHD, ODD, MBD, and others – I began to see that these were descriptive labels applied by people who themselves had never personally experienced the very dynamics they were labelling – and labelling inaccurately. As labels, they simply reflect the outsider’s limited viewpoint.

So began my mission. With one foot in dyslexia and the other in academia, I sought to rectify and clarify what I saw as an abuse – an unwitting misinterpretation of symptoms by people with good intentions but lacking a useful understanding.

Eventually, Inside The Dyslexic Mind emerged as my clarification of the issues experienced by dyslexic people – young and old. The purpose of this work is to dispel the notion that we have learning difficulties and that there is something wrong with our brain that needs fixing. My objective is to help other dyslexic people value what I have come to call the ‘diesel’ difference in our thinking style, to value this difference and the contribution it allows us to make to society.

As a backyard mechanic, I understand the error of putting petrol into a diesel engine. This notion equates to our education system in which we require our dyslexic (non-language) students to comprehend, learn from, and use a language-based teaching system. A dyslexic person myself, I think in images but I struggle with language.

As a child I had no ‘inner dialogue’ to use as a thinking tool. Words, spoken or written, were foreign to me if they did not contain a pictorial function. The words 'tennis racket' conjure up a picture in my brain of a well-known sporting object, but the word 'perhaps' fails to strike up any visual image at all. But dyslexic people need the images in order to grasp the meaning. In short, dyslexic people are like the diesel engine, and the education system serves up petrol – only petrol. Even the ‘special programmes’ provided are like fuel-injected petrol to the diesel engine.

Now at age 74 my sleep is still regularly disturbed by graphic nightmares stemming from my school-room experiences - standing, reading, book in hand in front of the class, tears running down my face, pee running down my leg (my own version of 'running records'), the teacher beating me over the head with his text book chanting ‘King you are stupid!’

My overall aim in writing this book was to shed light on the real issues that prevail, so that parents, teachers, researchers and academics can start to work with dyslexic children in an enlightened and productive way, to the benefit of all concerned.

For your chance to win a copy of this amazing, groundbreaking resource for parents, teachers and dyslexics themselves, enter our exclusive GIVEAWAY. Competition opens tomorrow, Saturday 10 June 2023. 

Laughton King is a retired psychologist whose contribution to the progressive dismantling of what is commonly called 'dyslexia' comes from his 70+ years as a 'dyslexic' person, and from 35 years as a psychologist working with children experiencing learning difficulties. Laughton's difficulties with reading meant that he did not rely on the insights and conclusions of academics and scholars. Instead, through observation of his own and other's learning processes, he established his own understanding of this unfortunately common difficulty.

School was a nightmare for Laughton. He could not decipher the language of the teacher and was confused that other kids could. His classroom failings led to social and behavioural failings, and for these he was labelled and blamed. In turn, his acceptance of the blame led directly to deep, prolonged depression.

Laughton describes his eventual self-diagnosis of dyslexia at age 45 years as like emerging from a dark cloud but lacking any sense or understanding of its causes or functional dynamics. Subsequent observations of thousands of children, their families and their teachers eventually led to practical insights regarding dyslexia as a daily life issue in a person's interfaces with society through the various stage of life.

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Review: Blueberry Farm

It’s going to be another beautiful day on Blueberry Farm.

Meet Henna, Ziggs and Moe as they wake up to farm life. Greet the sun, say good morning to Misty the donkey, check for eggs and hang out with Clover the horse.

In this simple and heart-warming story from much loved author-illustrator Stephen Michael King, feel love and warmth as you turn each page.

I dare you not to smile as you read this book, as you explore the GORGEOUS illustrations. It’s just a really happy story about family and animals and being outside. It’s sparkles and sunshine and a wonderful loving read perfect for pre-schoolers.

I adore the intro page at the beginning that introduces readers to everyone who lives on the farm. It creates a great interactive element to the story because you can search for each character as you move through the book. A search-and-find in picture book form.

But there’s even more details to find. I had great joy discovering the farm is in fact in Australia, without ever being told. You’ll see what I mean as you explore the book.

Blueberry-sweet and full of heart, you’ll love visiting Blueberry Farm.

Title: Blueberry Farm
Author/Illustrator: Stephen Michael King
Publisher: Scholastic, $18.99
Publication Date: May 2023
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781761205644
For ages: 3 - 6 
Type: Picture Book

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Review: What Will You Make Today?

Can you make a difference in the world? Of course you can. So how will you choose to do that?

This book is about choices, change and making an impact. 

What Will You Make Today? is a non-fiction picture book written by Maura Pierlot and illustrated by Triandhika Anjani. 

The text is a series of questions which act as prompts for the reader to consider what they can do to make a contribution to the world, even with what might seem like the smallest of actions.

From something relatively simple like making your breakfast or making friends, to making decisions and discoveries. Making mistakes and making things right are important, too. As you turn the pages and progress through the book, the questions and actions increase in their potential impact.

There are so many ways to apply the concept of making a difference, and the cheerful illustrations express this by showing children in various situations, like planting a tree today that can make a difference as it grows to maturity in the world of the future.

The final page of the book summarises opportunities to be someone who makes a difference. They fall into the six categories of 21st century learning (6 Cs) : citizenship, collaboration, character, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. Ways of being an active participant in the world, contributing ideas meaningfully, being innovative, taking responsibility, and embracing sustainability are just a few of the suggestions given.

Support the children in your life to be thoughtful and caring, and to think about their actions and read What Will You Make Today? It's a great book for sharing and starting discussion at home or in the classroom.

Download teachers notes from the publisher's website.

Title: What Will You Make Today?
Author: Maura Pierlot
Illustrator: Triandhika Anjani
Publisher: Storytorch, $ 27.95
Publication Date: June 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780 645191578
For ages: 4+
Type: Junior Non-Fiction

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Meet The Illustrator: Luisa Gioffre-Suzuki

Name: Luisa Gioffre-Suzuki

 
Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Atmospheric, emotive with gestural looseness.

What items are an essential part of your creative space?
All my mediums and materials at my fingertips, pc for music/references and procrastination/inspiration.

Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
I tend to play a lot with resistance, oil pastel against watercolour, wax pencil with charcoal or pastel- anything that will enhance the image and mood I am trying to portray.

Name three artists whose work inspires you.
Del Kathryn Barton, Oliver Jeffers, Freya Blackwood, John Shelley (oops that was 4).

Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
Ohh I would love to hop in and out of all of them- to get a taste of all the things I have seen in works and read about- what a wonder!

Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
It developed out of a broader engagement with art- I studied Fine Art and alongside creating paintings and having exhibitions, I discovered the work of illustrator John Shelley and it was a catalyst in another stream of creativity.

Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
I have a large re-purposed shelf that houses all my materials and mediums, an easel with a few works on the go, a large desk that is always cluttered (but I do know where everything is). PC and tablet for scans and touch-ups.

  
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
My favourite part is adding the colour- getting to the colour stage is so freeing. The linework and placement has all been worked out and fine-tuned- the colour is where is comes alive and interesting things happen.

What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Do the work, and then some more. Experiment artistically and try new things, build your own style, and most importantly – be authentic.


Luisa is a professional artist, illustrator and teacher based in Victoria. After spending over a decade in Japan, her personal style has developed with influences from vibrant Japanese culture and is underpinned by her Fine Art training and love of colour.


For more information, please follow Luisa on instagram.


·

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Review: The Key To Rome

Sophie Masson’s latest book, The Key to Rome, is an exciting, fast-paced adventure set in AD 84, and based on historical facts.

Twelve-year-old Livia’s father is dying. He entrusts to her something that was entrusted to him – a key which she promises to carry in secret to her uncle Marcus, who lives a day away on horseback. She is to stay and live with him and continue her father’s profession as an oculist, to which Livia has been well-trained. 

She sets out on this quest. But her uncle is an elusive entity. Everyone remains tight-lipped on his whereabouts and suspicion of a girl alone, brings scorn and disapproval.

She agrees to take Mato, a servant boy wanting to reach his dying mother, along as her assistant. Both headed in the same direction, it is safer, and Mato can take her where her uncle is said to be found.

Every area they pass is ravaged by war. Wary and poor, people keep their distance from the oculist, unless they need healing. This is paid with what food can be spared. 

The pair encounter threats of insurrection within people that seem trustworthy. How much do they divulge? Whom can they trust? 

What begins as simply two people heading in the same direction ends as a strong friendship. When Mato and Livia discover her uncle has been murdered, they must uncover why, and if her father’s key has anything to do with his death? 

Danger follows them wherever they go. Treachery and betrayal are taking place in the background as they search for truth. Nobody is what or who they seem.

This is a fantastic read, full of mystery and adventure about two children, each on an individual quest, intending to succeed in creating a life of value and meaning for their future.

There is an excellent map at the front depicting the areas the children travelled and an equally informative Glossary with a background of the history and  people, paces and terms.

Title: The Key to Rome
Author: Sophie Masson
Illustrator: Lorena Carrington
Publisher: Eagle Books, $19.99
Publication Date: 1 May 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780645378856
For ages: 10 – 14
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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Review: Inside the Dyslexic Mind

Reading Inside the Dyslexic Mind is eye-opening.

You might think you know something about dyslexia, or maybe you know nothing. Either way you'll learn a lot from  Inside the Dyslexic Mind and be challenged in how you think about it. 

This is a book for parents and teachers, dyslexics and non-dyslexics, and anyone open to understanding a condition which is often hidden in plain sight.

Author Laughton King offers insight gained from personal experience (he is dyslexic himself) and from many years as a psychologist, working with children who experience learning difficulties.

Inside the Dyslexic Mind will expand your own mind as Laughton shares some of what it's like to be dyslexic, including through a series of case studies that create a vivid picture of the varied impacts of dyslexia, especially when it's misunderstood.

Dyslexia can present in many and varied ways and there are lots of strategies and tips for use within families and the home environment, and for the classroom. Importantly, myths are dispelled, and the advantages of dyslexia are also championed. 

Delve into concepts like picture thinking and the analogy of brains that work with diesel versus petrol. Discover how the way we use spoken language and specific words can have an impact, and how an emphasis on a linguistic learning style (especially in our educational systems) presents challenges for those who are dyslexic.  

Laughton practices what he advocates for, and this is supported by the design of the book with its 'ring of containment' to help dyslexic readers 'to help keep the letters, the words, and the reader's eyes from straying off the page'. You'll learn more about this and other simple actions that can change a dyslexic person's life for the better.

Sometimes the simplest actions can make a big difference, and you could make a difference for yourself or someone else by reading Inside the Dyslexic Mind. 

Highly recommended reading or listening (there's an audio book available, too).

Title: Inside the Dyslexic Mind
Author: Laughton King  
Publisher: Exisle Publishing, $ 34.99
Publication Date: May 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781922539427
For ages: 15+
Type: Non-fiction

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Review: Any Body

Do you have questions about your body? Do you sometimes compare yours to other people’s? Are you not sure where to turn for answers and support?

All super common experiences (for all of us), but here is a book to help. Any Body is an honest  book exploring bodies, body parts and identity. It takes a detailed look at how our bodies change over time and the things we can expect to experience as we hit our teen years and beyond.

But it isn’t your usual fact-based book about the human body. Any Body is… dare I say it… fun! The comic illustrations by Anke Kuhl are funky and entertaining (while also being accurate), and author Katharina von der Gathen delivers truth without taking things too seriously.

This book is like a hug. It’s comforting. It does not judge. It provides the answers so many of us have but are too scared or embarrassed to ask. It’s filled was some rather interesting facts to grab attention and help bring entertainment to the experience. And it also goes that one step further and provides tips and tricks to help you navigate change.

From tips to boost self-confidence to tips on how to be a little bit daring, this book has your back.

Exploring bodies from the outside, body difficulties, bodies from the inside, changing bodies and more, this is an important book for youngsters. How young is probably a question for individual families, but my plan is to read this one with my pre-teens so we can talk through the issues and have a little giggle together.

Originally published in Germany, this version has been translated by Shelley Tanaka.

Title: Any Body
Author: Katharina von der Gathen
Translator: Shelley Tanaka

Illustrator: Anke Kuhl
Publisher: Gecko Press, $27.99
Publication Date: 2 May 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781776575466
For ages: 8 - 12
Type: Junior Non-Fiction

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Guest Post: Steve Majsak on The Boomerang Effect

While reading to grandchildren develops their minds, new research indicates that the mental benefits are shared by the grandparents, too.

Reading is Connecting Time
For years, there has been universal agreement that reading to children impacts cognitive development. Research already notes the importance of reading together to create a bonding experience across generations that assists children’s cognitive development. By reading to children, you help them understand real-world objects and develop an appreciation of the importance of language, which helps them make sense of what they see, hear, and read1.

Everyone Benefits
Researchers at Melbourne University2. suggests that a grandparent in a socially active lifestyle benefits too. Enhancing the grandchild-grandparent connection leads to gains on both sides. An active lifestyle by grandparents who are socially active may be beneficial to cognitive aging. Even brief periods of increased cognitive stimulation can improve older adults' problem solving and flexible thinking.

Bring your own passions and interest into reading time.
Consider reading materials that bring your personal interests and experiences into the conversation. If you love wildlife, share photos of animals, and talk about what makes them different. If you like gardening, talk about different plants. If you like to cook, share the ingredients that go into favorite family recipes. Children of all ages will love reading about food and then joining you in the kitchen to watch – or participate – in the creation. Read aloud to your child and point to the pictures on the page, saying the name of the objects that appear. This provides your child with two sources2 of information: an understanding of real-world objects and an understanding of the importance of language.

Create Shared Experience That Lasts a Lifetime
These shared experiences can build a foundation for future experiences like visiting a national park or zoo, gardening together, or cooking together. It will be the basis for lifelong memories, and you may instill a love of your favorite activities for future generations.

Steve Majsak is the author of ABC Animals! published by Dolphin Books/Printers Row Publishing Group and is also available on Amazon. In 2023, ABC Animals! was named one of “18 Stunning New Animal and Nature Fiction Books” by Imagination Soup. In 2023, ABC Animals! was selected by the Illinois Reading Council (IRC) as one of 36 titles and one of six books in the Birth to Four age category for the 2023 Illinois Reads program.

Sources:
1 High Speed Training: https://ift.tt/noB1TEZ

2 National Library of Medicine; National Center of Biotechnology Information. Age and flexible thinking: an experimental demonstration of the beneficial effects of increased cognitively stimulating activity on fluid intelligence in healthy older adults by Lesley J Tranter 1, Wilma Koutstaal

Photo: Angela Nunes

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Review: What Will You Make Today?

Can you make a difference in the world? Of course you can. So how will you choose to do that?

This book is about choices, change and making an impact. 

What Will You Make Today? is a non-fiction picture book written by Maura Pierlot and illustrated by Triandhika Anjani. 

The text is a series of questions which act as prompts for the reader to consider what they can do to make a contribution to the world, even with what might seem like the smallest of actions.

From something relatively simple like making your breakfast or making friends, to making decisions and discoveries. Making mistakes and making things right are important, too. As you turn the pages and progress through the book, the questions and actions increase in their potential impact.

There are so many ways to apply the concept of making a difference, and the cheerful illustrations express this by showing children in various situations, like planting a tree today that can make a difference as it grows to maturity in the world of the future.

The final page of the book summarises opportunities to be someone who makes a difference. They fall into the six categories of 21st century learning (6 Cs) : citizenship, collaboration, character, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. Ways of being an active participant in the world, contributing ideas meaningfully, being innovative, taking responsibility, and embracing sustainability are just a few of the suggestions given.

Support the children in your life to be thoughtful and caring, and to think about their actions and read What Will You Make Today? It's a great book for sharing and starting discussion at home or in the classroom.

Download teachers notes from the publisher's website.

Title: What Will You Make Today?
Author: Maura Pierlot
Illustrator: Triandhika Anjani
Publisher: Storytorch, $ 27.95
Publication Date: June 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780 645191578
For ages: 4+
Type: Junior Non-Fiction

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