Thursday, 31 March 2022
Wednesday, 30 March 2022
Monday, 28 March 2022
12 Curly Questions with author Victoria Mackinlay
I learnt how to solve a Rubik’s Cube in lockdown. It is so satisfying!
2. What is your nickname?
I’ve never had one, but my first driving licence came with a typo so I was ‘VicRoria’ until it was reprinted.
3. What is your greatest fear?
My imagination is wicked and I can conjure some pretty horrible scenarios … being trapped in a tunnel filling up with water is one of them.
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Loves to play with language and tell rich, vivid stories.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Articulate, concise, engaging, heartfelt, playful.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Pippi Longstocking. She has unbridled positivity and a strong moral compass. She is courageous and strong enough to pick up a horse!
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I am fascinated by the Tudors and would love to sit and witness the court of Henry VIII, so I’ll say 1522 when Anne Boleyn first came onto the scene. To study the dynamic between courtiers and schemers around the fiery king and observe who triumphed and who failed and why would be fascinating.
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
I wish I’d known that everything would work out better than expected and I needn’t have worried about everything.
9. Who is your greatest influence?
Roald Dahl. I loved his books and poems as a child and I fell in love all over again reading them to my daughter. He has a magical way with language and a playful, child-centric sense of humour. He is not afraid to call out bad behaviour and serve baddies with their comeuppance, which is very satisfying.
10. What/who made you start writing?
Me! I picked up a pencil when I was three years old and started copying the text on the cereal boxes at the kitchen table. I taught myself to write and was writing stories before I started school. My parents had no idea how I did it.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
I have three: nincompoop, scallywag, whippersnapper. They can all be used to describe a kid with that wonderful cheekiness and mischievousness that is unique to childhood. Bonus — the phonetic structure of each word makes them sound really funny.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
That’s curly indeed! A book of poetry would be great, but I’m going to say Pride and Prejudice. It was one of my first loves, takes me back to my maternal home in the British countryside, and has a happy ending. Pure comfort reading.
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Winner: Little Wombat's Easter Hamper Triple Prize Pack!
Our lucky winner is...Jody Smith, NSW
Congratulations!
You have won a copy of both of this awesome Easter triple prize pack of Little Wombat by Charles Fuge. We can't wait to hear what the Easter Bunny brings you all this year.
Thank you to ALL who entered and sharing their fondest, funniest Easter memories with us. Some of them were so very very sweet ...!
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Sunday, 27 March 2022
Review: Shakespeare for Everyone
Beginning with an introduction to Shakespeare and his life and times, it goes on to introduce theatre in the late 1500s and early 1600s, including physical and historical information about The Globe and Burbage's Theatre which were popular at that time.
Readers will learn about Shakespeare the actor, because it is believed that he may have performed as well as written plays. The book explains how actors lived and worked, that they were known as 'players' and had to work hard to memorise their lines in a short amount of time as well as to sing and dance.
Shakespeare for Everyone summarises Shakespeare's achievements. He wrote both plays (at least 38) and poems (almost 160), and they cover multiple genres, including histories, comedies, tragedies, and romances. But just what places each of these plays in those genres? What are the common features of such plays?
You'll learn about recurring character types and other aspects of Shakespeare's plays. For example almost two-thirds of his plays feature a character designated as a 'fool', the kind who seems to get away with just about anything.
You'll also learn about popular creative devices such as the tragic hero having a flaw that plays an part in driving the plot, shortening the time frame for events, or moving back and forth between different groups of characters to connect sub plots.
Examples from Shakespeare's plays are used to explain all of these strategies and other aspects of his writing. In exploring his sonnets, it also explains what one is, and how they appear in some of his plays.
Shakespeare for Everyone also raises the controversial question of whether or not William Shakespeare was real. Three historical figures have been named as possibly being behind the work of William Shakespeare. Although nothing has ever been proven, it's a theory worth mentioning if we are to have a more rounded understanding of the man and his life and place in history.
At the conclusion of the book the legacy of William Shakespeare is discussed. He has had a significant impact on history and modern times. From countless movies and theatre productions, to words and phrases that he created becoming part of everyday English language.
Informative, accessible and entertaining, Shakespeare for Everyone is highly recommended.
Title: Shakespeare for Everyone
Author: Emma Roberts
Illustrator: Sarah Tanat Jones
Publisher: Magic Cat Publishing , $ 34.99
Publication Date: March 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781913520465
For ages: 7+
Type: Junior Non-fiction
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Friday, 25 March 2022
Review: The Bad Guys: Episode 1: Full Colour Edition
The first in the series, The Bad Guys: Episode 1, was originally released in 2015. Now there's a brand new edition in full colour, published to celebrate the forthcoming release of The Bad Guys animated movie.
In case you haven't heard about these books, here's what you need to know about Episode 1 in a nutshell.
Mr Wolf, who is usually portrayed as the bad guy in stories, wants to turn everything on its head and rehabilitate his reputation.
Mr Wolf wants to be a good guy, and to do that he really needs some help, so he gathers three friends who also tend to have a bad reputation. There's Mr Snake, Mr Piranha, and Mr Shark. They're animals who want to prove a point.
Wolf convinces Snake, Piranha, and Shark that becoming good guys is simple. They just need to do some good deeds, like rescuing a cat from a tree, and setting 200 dogs free from the dog pound. How they decide to do this, and how well they do at achieving these good deeds, is what the book is about. And of course it won't be all smooth sailing for the bad guys who are trying to be better.Presented in comic book style, with expressive character illustration and plenty of humour, The Bad Guys: Episode 1: Full Colour Edition will entertain readers young and old who are already enamoured with the series, and engage readers yet to discover it.
The Bad Guys is a great series for reluctant readers, and for those who are just developing their independent reading skills. This colour edition is brightly appealing, and if they like this one, kids can quickly get their teeth into the following thirteen books in the series as well.
Title: The Bad Guys: Episode 1: Full Colour Edition
Author/Illustrator: Aaron Blabey
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, $ 19.99
Publication Date: March 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760662967
For ages: 5+
Type: Junior Fiction Younger
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Thursday, 24 March 2022
Meet The Illustrator: Ofra Peeri
Name: Ofra PeeriDescribe your illustration style in ten words or less.Figurative with a twist and a smile, lots of layers.
What items are an essential part of your creative space?
I would say, acrylic colours, colour pencils, scissors and glue but also many other media like ink, gouache, liquid pencils. Other than that- always coffee and surrounded by art and objects I collected over the years.
I really love working with several layers. Usually I have an acrylic base and then work on it with colour pencils, graphite and sometimes a collage. The base layer could also be watercolour with colour pencils on top. I prefer working the traditional way- getting my hands dirty and mixing up the coffee mug with the brushes water jug. I do use the digital illustration option, not for book illustration but for more graphic works like illustration based surface pattern design.
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
I think meeting some of the impressionists would be an honour. I am amazed by their ability to capture the light and textures with the colour schemes and brush strokes. I can look over and over again at Monet’s water lilies.
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
I have been an exhibition designer for many years, but being an illustrator is something I always wanted to be. I always had stories drawn in my head. About 15 years ago I pursued this dream and found an amazing book illustrator and mentor Yana Buckler who introduced me to this amazing world. I learned so much from her and her guidance. Truly the best teacher I could wish for. Since then I accomplished several projects, illustrated books and participated in group exhibitions.
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 my own corner with my studio table and all art materials. I collect around me all the things I like. It could be prints from illustrators I love, photography, anything I picked outside during a stroll, and illustrated books I collected over the years.
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
If the project is a book then my favourite parts are researching the periodic elements, the environment in which the story takes place, researching the characters of the book and how they relate to each other. Of course I love to do the final illustration with all the fine tuning.
With stand alone illustration, I really love the process of capturing the essence of the theme- be it an animal, an object or a human character- it’s a process of getting from the realistic stage to almost an abstract point that represents the theme.
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Ofra Peeri was born and raised in Israel. She studied Industrial design and worked for many years as an exhibition designer. She also studied illustration for many years and in recent years it became her true passion. Ofra usually works traditionally using different techniques and media like ink, charcoal, colour pencils, watercolour, acrylic and collage.
Ofra lives and works in the UK with her husband and 2 grown up daughters. All of that combined makes life just perfect for her.
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Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Monday, 21 March 2022
12 Curly Questions with author Jeanette Stampone
When I was 18, I undertook a solo parachute jump to raise money for cancer research. I was given a walkie-talkie so the instructors could communicate with me during the jump and help guide me down. Soon after leaping from the plane, I realised the walkie-talkie had malfunctioned. I began to drift dangerously close to the next field where several massive satellite dishes were located. The instructors were shouting from the ground, but of course, I heard nothing and was on my own. Thankfully, I managed to get the parachute under control and headed back in the right direction. But without the instructor’s guidance, I landed cross-wind, resulting in a rather hard thud and a sore bottom! A very memorable experience which, surprisingly, I loved!
2. What is your nickname?
I am known as Netty by my close friends and family. Sometimes Netty Spaghetti!
3. What is your greatest fear?
I am scared of old buildings and ghosts. I think it’s because I grew up in a spooky 300-year-old house. I often heard strange noises such as tapping on our old typewriter, footsteps and creaking floorboards. Maybe my older siblings were just trying to frighten me. Well, if they were, it worked!
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Mishmash of funny, serious or quirky (depending on my mood).
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Imaginative, determined, thoughtful, honest, adaptable.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
I would be Lucy from The Chronicles of Narnia. I would love to walk through a wardrobe and enter an entirely different world full of magic and mystery.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d go back to 1990 (when I started high school) to tell myself all the crazy, wonderful, exciting, scary things happening in 2022 — just to see the look on my face! Then I would use some kind of memory zapper to make sure past-me doesn’t remember meeting present-me because meeting yourself during time travel is bad. Well, according to all the movies and books it is. So, it must be true.
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Ah, so you’re still making up stories about unicorns and fairies? That’s cool. You’re living in Australia? Wow! What happens in Neighbours?
9. Who is your greatest influence?
My two boys constantly influence my writing. Their silliness, games and imagination are a great source of inspiration. Even their fears make me stop and think. My new book, Shadow and the Girl, was actually influenced by my eldest when he was about four years old. He was scared of shadows and reflections, which made me wonder — what would happen if a shadow was scared of their child? So yes, my boys are definitely my greatest influence.
10. What/who made you start writing?
In an indirect way, my mother and children made me start writing. Mum had a passion for books and reading. She also loved to write her own stories and poems. Her passion for literature definitely rubbed off on me and I enjoyed creating stories from a young age. When I had my own children, I rediscovered the joy of children’s books. That’s when I really began to take my writing seriously.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Home. It’s a little word with huge meaning. I am originally from the UK and now living in Western Australia. Both places are home to me. For me, home is not just about where you live, but that feeling of being loved and truly belonging.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A few years ago, I sent my mum a book containing questions about her life and experiences. The idea was for her to answer the questions and return it to me, which she did. I now have that beautiful book in my mother’s handwriting, detailing her life in her own words. I can hear her voice in my head as I read it. My mum has since passed away, but I have this little piece of her. I will treasure it forever.
Jeanette Stampone was born in an old English house and grew up with stories of local legends, pixies, ghosts and fairies. She now lives in a small country town in WA with her husband and children.
Jeanette’s debut picture book, Shadow and the Girl, is published by Red Paper Kite. For more information, see www.jeanettestampone.com
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Sunday, 20 March 2022
Review: Talking History
It covers a range of social, political and human rights issues, and milestone moments in history, championed by people who have lived experience or were able to make the most of an opportunity to have their voices heard.
The speeches, which are both historical and modern, include Nelson Mandela's 'Statement from the Dock' in 1964, Emmeline Pankhurst's 'Freedom or Death' speech in 1913, and Malala Yousafzai's 2013 'Address to the United Nations Youth Assembly'.
There are also speeches about Aboriginal rights, world health, war, equal opportunity for people living with disabilities, and more.
The 16 speeches in Talking History were chosen by authors Joan Haig and Joan Lennon because they help us to see the world in ways we might not have done before, and to see how words can be used persuasively. These speeches can be doorways to learning about important subjects and historical events.
Talking History is presented in a magazine or comic-style format, with both prose text, and speech illustrations (some with speech bubbles), to help illuminate events. The artwork is stylised which has an effect of transporting you to the time and events depicted.
Context, both historical and topical, is provided through facts and figures, and significant dates and events from before and after the speech, to help understand its significance. There is also key biographical information about the person who made the speech.
The complete speeches are not included in this book. However, a key extract from each is highlighted. This is a good tool as it might encourage readers to explore further afield to find and read the entire speech of someone or something they are particularly interested in.
Talking History is a fantastic, accessible book which can be an inspiration, a prompt for exploration, or simply a reminder of where we've come from and where we want to be as a society.
Title: Talking History
Author: Joan Haig and Joan Lennon
Illustrator: Andre Ducci
Publisher: Templar Books , $ 29.99
Publication Date: February 2022
Format: Hardcvoer
ISBN: 9781787417328
For ages: 8+
Type: Junior Non-fiction
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Saturday, 19 March 2022
Friday, 18 March 2022
Review: That Cat
But what about all the other cats?
Across the world, there are so many different and interesting cats.
Like chat cat…
and bat cat….
and fat cat…
and drat cat.
All the cats come together in this glorious celebration of all things kittycat.
With simple rhyming text and explosively entertaining illustrations, this is a book for laughs, giggles and smiles. Its just good picture book fun.
I love the story behind this book, too. The text comes from every Aussie kid’s favourite author, Jacqueline Harvey — author of our beloved Alice-Miranda series.
You may have heard the story that the inspiration for Alice-Miranda came from three girls Harvey taught when she was a teacher. But what you maybe don’t know is that the illustrator of this book, Kate Isobel Scott, was one of those girls nearly 30 years ago.
Kate’s illustrations are simply superb. On each page, for each featured cat, she creates a mini world and story of its own that bring to life all the cats in some super hilarious and engaging ways. The details are glorious and add bucketloads of entertainment to the quirky story.
Cats are the best, and this is a book for every kid (and adult) who loves them.
And after meeting all the different cats across the world, you can snuggle up with THAT cat — YOUR cat — and truly appreciate who is the best cat of all.
Title: That Cat
Author: Jacqueline Harvey
Illustrator: Kate Isobel Scott
Publisher: Puffin, $19.99
Publication Date: 1 March 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761040702
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book
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