Children’s Fiction

The magic of Harry Potter – still there after twenty years

June 23, 2017 by Karen Comer 8 Comments

Mr 8 – who used to be Mr 7 until last week! – received the illustrated version of the first Harry Potter book for his birthday. It wasn’t as exciting as his Ninjago lego set but he did feel a little puffed, finally deemed old enough to read Harry Potter.

We read it in a week. I read the first third to him, with him reading a few pages to me each night. Then he became engrossed in the story, and a chapter a night just didn’t cut it. There was also the motivation of watching the movie – which he hasn’t seen – once he had read the book.

He had hundreds of questions.

On reading the letter inviting Harry to study at Hogwarts – maybe I’m really a wizard, even though you’re all muggles. Does that mean when I turn 11, I’ll get a letter from Hogwarts, too?
When Harry received the Invisibility Cloak – who gave it to him? Was it Dumbledore?
When he read about Quidditch – can I play?
When he found out about Fluffy, the three-headed dog – will I be scared if he chases Harry?
When the plot thickened around Hagrid’s dragon egg and the stranger – wait, what does that mean?
On finding out that Harry had been saved by his mother’s love from Voldemort – do I have love inside me? Would your love have saved me?

It’s been years since I read Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone, and it was such a pleasure to read it again. I do agree with the critics who say that the beginning and set-up takes far too long, and perhaps that’s why many publishers couldn’t get past that to see the excitement of the story. But publishing has changed in twenty years.

It reminded me of Anton Chekov’s advice to writers – If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don’t put it there.

Everything in Harry Potter is intentional – Ron teaching Harry how to play wizard chess is more than a simple scene of friendship – it sets up the climax where Ron has to play the chess game of his life in order to move Harry though to the final scene with Voldemort. The mirror of Erised is there for Harry to realise how much he wants his family but is a pivotal moment where Harry can realise his deepest desire to find the philosopher’s stone to prevent Voldemort from finding it and using it for his own evil purposes.

The small details are wonderful – Dumbledore choosing an earwax-flavoured Bertie Bott’s every-flavour bean, the floating candles in the great hall, the list of books Harry is expected to study and Diagon Alley …

Because Mr 8 was reading it aloud to himself, Miss 10 and Mr 13 also decided they would revisit it too. Be still my beating heart, all my kids reading Harry Potter at once! Now Mr 8 is reading the second illustrated book, Miss 10 is reading the fourth book and Mr 13 is reading the third one.

There has been a bit of wand waving and Latin cursing going on. As you do. Our dinner conversations have centred around Harry Potter trivial pursuit-style questions.

Name the four houses of Hogwarts.
What is Professor McGonagall’s first name?
What ball do you have to catch in order to end a Quidditch match?
Name the seven Weasley kids.
Where is Harry’s bedroom at the Dursleys?

On Saturday night, the five of us will be curled up on the couch, eating chocolate caramel popcorn from here and watching the first-year students catch sight of Hogwarts from their boats. Hope your Saturday night is just as fun!

Our conversation in Readings kids’ bookshop

April 14, 2017 by Karen Comer 4 Comments

Me: Aren’t we lucky Grandma and Poppa gave us a Readings voucher to spend at Easter? One book each, kids!

Miss 10: I already know which book I want. Ruby Redfort.

Mr 7: I don’t know which book to get!

Me: That’s ok. Plenty of time to choose.

Mr 7: (as we walk into the newish Readings kids bookshop in Carlton) Seriously? All these books are for kids?

Miss 10: But there are two Ruby Redfort books I haven’t read!

Mr 7: What was that ninja book you told me about, Mum?

Me: Excuse me (to shop assistant). I’m one of those annoying people who can’t remember either the title or the author. But this book is a series, and it’s about a boy who’s new to a school and he becomes part of a ninja team and …

Shop assistant: Oh, you mean this book (pulling Diary of a 6th grade ninja off the shelf)

Me: Yes, that book! Thank you!

Mr 7: (Silence for ten minutes while he reads a bit of the book).

Miss 10: Mum, can we buy one of the Ruby Redfort books with the voucher and can I buy one with my pocket money?

Me: Sure.

Miss 10: And can we buy the more expensive one with the voucher?

Mr 7: Don’t forget Mr 13’s book.

Me: (to another shop assistant) Excuse me, do you have the latest A. L. Tait book in the Mapmaker series? Have you read Alison Rushby’s book? And Ursula Dubosarsky’s latest book, The blue cat – what age group is it for, please?

….

As you can see from our condensed conversation, we enjoyed our excursion to this gorgeous bookshop. Different sections are marked with wooden flags – and the sections are extensive. Educational, Lego and Star Wars, Harry Potter, picture books, board books, young adult, middle grade and so on. There’s many spots to sit down and have a read, as well as a fabulous mural by illustrator Marc Martin. And the staff are informative and friendly.

Mr 13 had chosen Alex Rider in advance, Miss 10 was happy with her two Ruby Redford books and Mr 7 opted for a Batman book instead of book 1 of the Ninja series. (Not my first choice!)

Happy Easter, happy reading!

A fan letter to Rebecca Stead

March 3, 2017 by Karen Comer Leave a Comment

You know when you’ve read one book from an author that you absolutely loved, and then you want to read all of their books? That’s what happened after I read one of Rebecca Stead’s middle grade fiction books. Her books are suitable for girls and boys, 9-13. They are set in New York, with First Light also set in Greenland.

As a kid, I always wanted to read about a girl who was exactly like me. I wanted to know that there was someone out there who thought the same way I did and saw life through the same lenses. But all those characters I read about, although fascinating and wonderful, came from fantasy worlds or lived in the olden days or had different family situations. Rebecca Stead’s characters learn French verbs, their parents are divorced, their parents are single, their parents are together, their family is Indian, they have grandparents and siblings, they’re worried about money or getting into trouble, they have first kisses, they’re learning about the dangers of social media – they are relatable.

I started with Goodbye stranger, a book about three friends in seventh grade. Bridget had a serious car accident when she was eight, and has always wondered why a nurse told her she must have been put on this earth to do something special, that’s why she survived. Emily’s parents have just divorced, she’s developed curves and she’s very interested in Patrick, an eighth grader. Tab wants to save the world and wants to keep Emily and Bridget in their tight circle of friendship where no one ever fights. Then there’s Sherm, who becomes the bright spot in Bridget’s school day, as well as an unknown teenager who has done something so terrible that she can’t face her friends.

Then I read When you reach me. The book references Madeleine L’Engle’s A wrinkle in time – which I loved as a kid. Miranda’s mum is going to be on a quiz show where the winning prize would change their financial concerns. Miranda is trying to help her, plus win back her best friend, Sal – he no longer speaks to her. There’s the laughing man who is a little crazy but seems clued in to the big things in life – she tries to avoid him. Then there’s Colin and Annemaree, who work with her in a sandwich place, as well as Marcus and Julia who share a conversation about time travel that Miranda can’t quite understand. And Miranda can’t quite understand the mysterious notes that someone keeps leaving for her, and why the writer of the notes can predict her future. This one has a slight sci-fi theme.

xfirst-light.jpg.pagespeed.ic.9s9H8sb6YF

First light – there are two parallel stories. Peter and his parents are living in Greenland for six weeks while his Dad collects data on glaciers and his Mum works on her book about mitochondrial DNA. Thea lives in an underground world below the ice, thanks to the six generations before her who fled from hunters and formed a new community. Eventually, Thea and Peter meet, and their connection opens up past secrets and new beginnings for both Peter and his family and Thea’s community.

Heart-warming is such a cliché but these books are so full of heart. They’re not sentimental and they’re not patronising towards kids on the brink of adolescence. The kids and their parents are inherently good people, trying to go about their daily challenges with a mix of courage and vulnerability, and trying (but not always succeeding) in making the right choices.

Stead’s books focus on relationships – she tries to create “those moments when characters feel an emotional connection, and really recognize and accept each other. Almost always, there is love between people in those moments. That is so hard to capture, and is so personal, that I know that there’s no way every reader is going to see it that way. But I’m always hoping the greatest number possible will feel it.” Publishers Weekly, Sally Lodge, May 21, 2015.

Luckily, I still have Liar and spy to read. Please, Rebecca Stead, write another book! Do you wish one of your favourite authors would publish another book tomorrow?

My week in books

February 10, 2017 by Karen Comer 14 Comments

How many books have you read, skimmed, touched, discussed, borrowed or bought this week? I decided I would tally up mine!

Read

The secret scriptures by Sebastian Barry – this was my bookclub book and and it was my turn to host. Half of our bookclub had read it, half had started it. We all agreed it was a very slow start. It’s a dual narrative with both sections written in first person. Roseanne is a one-hundred-year-old woman who has been a patient at a mental hospital in Ireland for many, many years. Dr Grene is her psychiatrist. I enjoyed Roseanne’s story more because she was the more interesting character with a strong voice. When I read Dr Grene’s sections, I had to remind myself that his story was current – his tone was quite formal for a contemporary voice.
Becoming a writer by Dorothea Brande – this book was published in the 1930s, but is still relevant today, despite the 1930s tone. I reread this book because the writer discusses the two personalities of the author – the rational or conscious side and the dreamy or unconscious part. I’m interested in this at the moment because I’m trying to balance writing a logical outline for my book so I can see where the problems lie, as well as use my subconscious to solve the problems. Wish me luck!
When the teddy bears came by Martin Waddell – this is a gorgeous picture book which is a perfect present for a toddler about to become a big sister or brother. I put all my kids’ much-loved soft toys in the washing machine yesterday – 34 degrees! – and hung them on the line to dry by their ears or tails. They looked both bedraggled and comical, and the lines of teddies and penguins and dogs reminded me of Waddell’s book, with its collection of teddy bears.
The last painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith – I have only started this book but am really enjoying it so far.

Skimmed

Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi – I’m doing a cooking class next weekend with a friend, based on Ottolenghi’s recipes. I didn’t know much about him at all so I borrowed my friend’s cookbooks. We are having caramelised fennel and roasted eggplant with lamb mince for dinner this week – yum!
Information is beautiful by David McCandless – my kind brother gave me this book – I did cook him a decent dinner and agreed to be interviewed for his business! Its pages show different ways to present information, trends and statistics from different types of fish, carbon usage and the connection between facial hair and the number of people one has killed! It’s a visually stunning book – would be an asset to any marketing department. I have only flicked through it but can already see how I’ll use it as a resource for inspiration, marketing and storytelling.

Touched

One by Sarah Crossan – my friend Tess, a remarkable young woman, is going to start a bookclub with some university friends and wanted some recommendations for books on feminism, female empowerment and gender roles. So this section is for Tess, as I went through my bookshelves for options for her. One is a young adult fiction book about conjoined twins – definitely empowering.
The poisonwood bible by Barbara Kingsolver – four sisters who leave the US with their parents to live in the Congo. Different directions, different choices by the sisters in this novel.
All that I am by Anna Funder – set in Germany during the Second World War, this is a fictional account of two female cousins who work against Hitler. Chilling.
Speaking out and The fictional woman by Tara Moss – two non-fiction books by an Australian model, author and activist. Powerful reading.
The wife drought by Annabel Crabbe – this book covers the same old ground about the division of duties at work and home between men and women. A fiery read.
Motherhood and creativity, the divided heart by Rachel Power – a series of interviews with creative women who are also mothers. While the emphasis is on creative careers, many of the stories can also be applied to the business world.

Discussed

The beast’s garden by Kate Forsyth – I lent my copy to one of the lovely baristas at my local cafe because she is an avid reader. She’s just started it, so I’m looking forward to hearing what she thinks of it when she’s read a little bit more.
Zen habits by Leo Babuto – I also lent my copy of this book to another lovely barista at the same cafe because he wanted to stop procrastinating and this book has fabulous tips for creating habits to do the things that you want to do but just can’t. However, he has been procrastinating reading it so we haven’t had any conversations about it yet!

Browsed

Big magic by Elizabeth Gilbert – I love this book, and pulled it out to flip through because I wanted some tips and tricks on how to be more creative. Will probably end up reading this one cover to cover again.
Zakka compiled by Rashida Coleman-Hale – Miss 10 and I are on a sewing project roll at the moment – we made lavender sachets in the holidays. I have found a little project in this book we could sew. Now to choose the fabric from my stash – blue flowers or blue butterflies?

Borrowed

Goodbye stranger by Rebecca Stead – my friend Renee suggested I read this as apparently Stead’s style and subject matter is similar to what I’m working on with my book. Just borrowed it yesterday from the library so I’m looking forward to a good middle-grade fiction read.
Anansi boys by Neil Gaiman – because he’s Neil Gaiman and this book happened to be lying by itself on the library shelf. Need I say more?
Fabric pictures by Janet Bolton – love a beautifully photographed craft book and the cover had me at hello!

Bought

Zero! I have a Christmas book voucher which is begging to be spent but I am trying to hold off for a little while longer.

I hope you have had an equally bookish week with fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, children’s fiction – let me know about your week in books, please.

Christmas shopping – books for 12-14 year-olds

December 2, 2016 by Karen Comer 2 Comments

The wonderful thing about books for twelve-fourteen year-olds is they explore many topics that are fitting for adult literature, too. These books cut straight to the chase – none of these books are moralistic or preachy or patronising – they are interesting, well-written stories about fascinating ideas.

A single stone, written by Meg McKinlay – this book has rightly won many awards. It’s a unique story about a dystopian society, where women rule. The setting is a small village where everyone has a role to play for the good of the whole society. Jena is one of the seven, a group of small girls who have denied themselves food in order to tunnel through the mountains to find mica to warm them through the winter. This book deserves a second reading – there are many unspoken views on girls’ place in society and the expectations placed on them. This book is definitely one for girls, and probably for more sophisticated readers.

Miss Peregrine’s home for peculiar children, written by Ransom Riggs – I haven’t seen the recent movie based on this book but I want to see it. I’m glad I’ve read the book first. Jacob is sixteen, and bereft after his grandfather’s death. He wants to find out whether the stories his grandfather told about a group of children he lived with when he was young are true. Because these children are peculiar – one can make flames appear from her hand, one has an extra mouth at the back of her head, one boy is invisible, and there’s an incredibly strong girl. The premise is a familiar one of good versus evil but the characters are unusual and there’s a lot of depth in the inner battles Jacob faces. I’m keen to read the next two books in the series.

The Wednesday wars, written by Gary D. Schmidt – this American book is more for twelve and thirteen year-olds, possibly even younger. It’s the story of Holling Hoodhood, a thirteen-year-old boy in seventh grade, set in 1967. There are family dramas, school dramas, Shakespeare dramas – a fun read with lots of action. Great for boys and girls, even though the protagonist is a boy.

One, written by Sarah Crossan – every fourteen-year-old girl should read this book, published this year. It has an amazing premise – conjoined twins, Grace and Tippi, are sent to school for the first time at sixteen. It’s written in verse, in a series of fragments, narrated by Grace. Sarah Crossan won the Carnegie medal for this book, and rightly so. She manages to convey in the briefest of language, exactly how all the characters are feeling and thinking without over-defining it. There is nothing moralistic or patronising about this book – it’s simply a story about a pair of characters whose story is rarely told. The book is quite thick, but not text-heavy. The verse flows, almost like a stream of consciousness. Renee Milhulka, who writes a fabulous book review blog, recommended this book to me – she has a wonderful review on One with some questions to discuss with your children or in the classroom.

The Giver, written by Lois Lowry – this book caused a lot of controversy when it was first published in 2004. Many US schools banned it – hope that makes you want to read it to find out why! It’s set in a dystopian society, where colours don’t exist, babies are given to family units to be brought up, elderly people are ‘released’ after a smiling celebration and twelve-year-olds are assigned an occupation for life. Jonas is a twelve-year-old boy, marked out to be the next Receiver of Memories, a rare position of honour and importance. But Jonas and his teacher, the Giver, begin to question the system of Sameness together. This could also be read by younger kids, too – Miss ten might be ready to read it now. This is the first book in a series of four.

The Spook’s apprentice, written by Joseph Delaney – this is more of an easy read than the other books mentioned here. Tom is a farm boy, the seventh son of a seventh son. His father is trying to find him an apprenticeship, and the Spook – who takes care of all things ghoulish and spooky – agrees to give him a month’s trial. Tom isn’t so sure – the Spook leads an isolated life and there’s witches and bogarts and the dead to deal with. There are thirteen books in this series, with a few extra ones about different characters’ earlier lives.

Dragonfly song, written by Wendy Orr – this is another book written in both verse and prose. Such a fabulous achievement for young readers to broaden their literary boundaries and try something different! Aissa is the daughter of The Lady, who rules her small village, but she was dismissed from the village at birth because of her extra thumbs. Her father cut them off – and was killed the next day at sea. The gods were not happy. Aissa was not killed as ordered but secreted away to another family who had recently lost their baby daughter. Aissa’s journey into her true self unfolds through the book – it’s a heroic, epic story. I could see this one as a movie, just like Wendy’s early book, Nim’s Island, was made into a film!

I nearly wrote a few more book reviews geared towards boys but as Mr twelve (who reads my blog) will receive a few of these for his birthday in a couple of weeks, I decided to keep quiet! If anyone is interested in more books for young teenage boys, please email me and I’m happy to send you some ideas.

I’ll have some ideas for adult fiction next week. Happy Christmas shopping!

Christmas shopping – books for 9-12 year-olds

November 25, 2016 by Karen Comer 4 Comments

I must admit, I have had difficulty writing this post – because I have packed most of our books in boxes, ready for our move back home in a few weeks. I feel a little bereft without all our books around and readily available to read!

However, I do have a collection of fabulous books for nine-twelve year-old readers here. I really enjoy reading books for this age group because the plots are a little more sophisticated and the characters a little more developed than in books for younger readers. The variety in stories is wonderful – mysteries, school life, orphans, bullies, refugees, a search for a lost sister – if your child can add all these books to their reading record, they will be very well-read, empathetic and articulate kids!

Smile, written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier – this is a comic book about an American girl who falls over, loses her two front teeth, and goes through a series of dentists and braces to fix her teeth. It provides a detailed look at the challenges that kids face at school such as changing friendship groups, fitting in and first crushes. Raina has drawn on her experiences so the book is authentic and funny. This is a great book for kids who aren’t confident readers as the illustrations tell the story as much as the speech bubbles. And if you think that a comic book doesn’t have much substance, think again – this is a fabulous story which will appeal to both girls and boys. I could see this book being used as a text in classrooms.

Operation Bunny, written by Sally Gardner and illustrated by David Roberts – this is the first in the Wings and Co series. Probably more for nine and ten-year-olds, this story is a mystery. Set in the human world, but with fairies, witches and a talking cat, this book has all the classic fairytale elements. Emily Vole, who has magical powers but doesn’t know it, is an orphan who is neglected by her adopted parents. Luckily, there is a friendly fairy and a talking cat living next door and Emily’s friendship with them starts off a chain of events. Miss 10 has also read the second and third books in this series and loved them. This is a fun, easy read.

Run, Pip, run, written by J.C. Jones – this is another book which would be great in a grade four or five classroom. Pip has just turned ten – except her birthday wasn’t anything special because her adopted grandfather ended up in hospital. Pip is on her own now, and has to stay off the streets and away from the kind but determined police officer who wants to keep Pip safe. Pip has her own version of safe and decides to stick to it. Pip is a wonderful protagonist – endearing and engaging. I think boys would enjoy this story too as it’s not an overly ‘girly’ book.

Artie and the Grime wave, written and illustrated by Richard Roxburgh – yes, you are right – this Richard Roxburgh is the same actor and director you are thinking of. He can now add author and illustrator to his name. I’m still not sure who I bought this book for – it might be a little old for Mr 7 but I think he would enjoy it. Even if he can’t read it all by himself, we can share the reading. There are some illustrations but also full pages of text. It’s a funny, funny page-turner of a book, about Artie, a twelve-year-old boy, who stumbles across a cave full of stolen goods with his best friend Gumshoe. The pace is quick, there’s lots of action – a great book for boys, although I am sure Miss 10 will read it, too. This book would work for reluctant readers because it is hilarious, with no long descriptions or slow build-ups but would also appeal to confident readers because of the humour.

The bone sparrow, written by Zana Fraillon – this is a poignant, powerful story about a boy living in a refugee camp and a girl who finds a way in. I have to admit, I haven’t finished this book yet but I wanted to include it here. I’d recommend this book for well-read bookworms of eleven to thirteen years – indeed, it would still be a wonderful read for fourteen year-olds. Suitable for boys and girls. I’m enjoying the feeling of being immersed in this fictional refugee camp but it’s a sober reminder of actual camps. Subhi and Jimmie are likeable, engaging characters, and I’m keen to finish reading it.

Olive of Groves, written by Katrina Nannestad and illustrated by Lucia Masciullo – this book has an original and funny premise – a sensible girl ends up at a boarding school for talking animals, naughty boys and circus performers. Olive desperately wants to stay at the boarding school – her grandparents have home-schooled her and managed to save up enough money for a school so Olive doesn’t want to disappoint them. The writing is humorous in an understated way and there is a cast of unique characters like Glenda the goose who continually faints and a trio of rats, one of whom has a robust bottom! There are also another two books in this series.

The magician’s elephant, written by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Yoko Tanaka – this is a beautiful story about Peter, who finds out through a fortune teller that his little sister lives (he believed she had died as a baby). He follows the fortune teller’s advice to find the elephant which will lead him to his sister. This story has the feel of a nostalgic classic – beautifully written with a strong narrative voice. Perfect for both boys and girls.

Iris and the tiger, written by Leanne Hall – this book is a fabulous blend of the realistic and the fantasy. I was truly intrigued by the mysteriousness of the events in this story. Iris is twelve, and has been sent from Australia by her money-hungry parents to Spain to curry favour with her great-aunt Ursula. There are lots of art references, new friendships, unusual adults who may or may not be trusted and a series of secrets and mysteries to slowly uncover. An interesting, unique book.

Stay well soon, written by Penny Tangey – this is the story of Stevie, whose brother is in hospital for a while. There she meets Lara, who is also a patient. Stevie and Lara share a love of horses and become friends. The story is told in first person, which puts us firmly inside Stevie’s head where she worries about her family’s money problems, grade five friendships, her brother’s health, and then Lara’s health, and wishes passionately for a horse. I cried while reading this story – hospitals and kids aren’t always a happy combination.

Two wolves, written by Tristan Bancks – this book is for eleven-thirteen year-olds. Mr 12 read it earlier this year and Miss 10 hasn’t read it yet. It’s about thirteen-year-old Ben, whose parents have done something illegal enough to be wanted by the police. Ben, his younger sister and his parents hide out in his grandfather’s old cabin in the hills. Ben is an unlikely hero – he’s a little overweight, he’s apologetic, and he’s scared of his dad. But in reference to the title, Ben has to choose between the bad wolf inside him which represents greed, pride and jealousy and the good wolf – kindness, hope, truth. If there’s a fight between the two wolves, the one you feed is the one who wins.

I hope this list gives you some ideas for nine-twelve year-old readers. The age categories are fluid, as there are sophisticated eight-year-old readers who can handle a thick book with a complex storyline as well as thirteen-year-old readers who need something simple to comprehend.

Let me know which books sound appealing for your children or grandchildren. Please pass on this post to others who might be interested.

Next week – suggestions for twelve-fourteen year-old readers. Happy Christmas shopping!

Christmas shopping – books for 5-8 year-olds

November 18, 2016 by Karen Comer 10 Comments

I don’t think I have ever, ever used my credit card as much as I have in the last two weeks! Christmas shopping, five December birthdays, furniture for our newly renovated house (we’re back in a few weeks) – the numbers have nearly worn off the card.

But I hope you are still in the mood for Christmas shopping because I have a list of fabulous books for the 5-8 year-old set. I usually buy my books from Readings, Booktopia, Dymocks and Tim’s Bookshop. I subscribe to their newsletters and updates and watch out for when they have sales or discounts.

Often kids in prep, grade 1 or grade 2 who are happy to read picture books suddenly become reluctant to read them. Maybe they think picture books are for babies. Maybe their older siblings are reading thick chapter books. Maybe they want to collect a series – because kids are collectors, aren’t they? So these kids need books that are divided into chapters or sections but have a large font, some illustrations and possibly have speech bubbles or captions to break up long chunks of text. All of these books can be read by a parent first – one or two chapters a night – and then read on their own later.

Our Australian girl series – multiple authors – there are many, many books in this series, as each set follows the adventures of one girl over four books. These books are a coveted, collectable series. The books focus on a certain aspect of Australia’s history but the story comes first. The authors, such as Sofie Laguna, Gabrielle Wang and Sally Rippin, are experienced, natural storytellers so the story is riveting and engaging, regardless of whether it is set in the 1800s or 1900s. A lovely series – more for girls.

Danny Best, written by Jen Storer and illustrated by Mitch Vane – Mr 7 loves this book and has read it half a dozen times. Here are some of the plot points – swamp of despair, farts, booby traps and the tortured warrior’s racetrack. The back cover blurb states that Danny makes the rules. Danny breaks the rules. Danny Best is full on. Perfect for 6-8 year old boys.

Weirdo, written by Anh Do, illustrated by Jules Faber – another fabulous series, with seven books at the moment. Short chapters, funny, lots of illustrations, some words printed in a different colour. Both Miss 10 and Mr 7 love these books.

Henrietta, there’s no one better, written and illustrated by Martine Murray – I love Martine’s work because she has a quirky way of looking at the world. I went to a weekend workshop with her a couple of years ago and she was both an inspiring and practical teacher. This book is almost like a stream of consciousness from Henrietta about her daily life. There are lots of illustrations, and there are quite a few pages which have almost been set out like picture books with the text wrapped around the illustrations. With the pink cover, this one is probably more for girls.

Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, illustrated by Scott Nash – this is an oldie but a goodie. Published in the 1990s, this series is about a boy who has different adventures. In one book, he becomes flat – flat enough that he can be sent through the post box. In another book, he becomes invisible. His parents, the Lambchops, are surprised but take it all in their stride. It’s a funny series, with simple vocabulary, black and white illustrations and large print. A perfect series for kids who want to read chapter books, but need a little help.

Goblin at the zoo, written by Victor Kelleher and illustrated by Stephen Michael King – there are at least half a dozen of these books about Gibblewort, an Irish goblin who doesn’t like children and is quite cranky. The stories are funny and will appeal to kids’ sense of the disgusting and ridiculous. These books are divided into chapters with black and white illustrations and plenty of white space around the text, to make it reasonably easy for kids to read on their own. Mr 7 has a lovely box set of these books – a box set always makes the books feel more special!

I believe in unicorns, written by Michael Morpurgo and illustrated by Gary Blythe – this book is beautiful. It’s great for boys – the main character is Tomas – and great for girls – it’s about a unicorn, after all. This book may need to be read by parents first as there’s more text and less illustrations. It may also suit a nine or ten-year-old. It’s a quieter book about a boy who lives in a small mountain village and doesn’t like school or books. But he’s drawn in by the unicorn lady who spins stories every day at the library. The war has ramifications for his village, and Tomas is part of his village’s efforts to save their books.

The bad guys, written and illustrated by Aaron Blabey – there are four books in this series about some characters who are traditionally the ‘bad guys’ – Mr Wolf, Mr Shark, Mr Snake and Mr Piranha. But Mr Wolf is determined to turn them into good guys! Again, short chapters, minimal text, funny illustrations.

The worry tree, written by Marianne Musgrave – this chapter book is a more sophisticated one so will suit eight-ten year-olds but I’ve included it here because it is a lovely book to read aloud to younger ones. Juliet is a worrier – she worries about her family, her friends and the bully at school. In her new bedroom, she discovers a painted tree with animals hidden under a layer of wallpaper. Her Nana explains that it’s a worry tree so you can tell your specific worries to a specific animal who will look after them for you while you sleep. While this premise might sound a bit preachy, the story is well told and funny. There’s a set of blank pages at the book of the book to fill in your own set of worries and you can also download a poster of the worry tree from the Random House website. A big thank-you to Maddie who showed me her copy of this book and told me all about it!

The Cleo stories, written by Libby Gleeson and illustrated by Freya Blackwood – a wonderful author/illustrator combination. Simple stories about Cleo, who goes to parties, plays with her friends, thinks about her Mum’s birthday present and superglues her fingers to a broken bowl. The illustrations are gorgeous and the text is nicely spaced out so it’s not too overwhelming for early readers.

A miscellany of magical beasts, written by Simon Holland with four illustrators – this is a great book for non-fiction readers. It’s also perfect for kids who may have seen a Harry Potter movie or two, as it covers many of the magical creatures in the Harry Potter series. There’s a gorgeously illustrated double page spread, often with a fold-out page, for each creature – basilisks, trolls, merpeople, centaurs, unicorns, griffins, dragons and so on. Each page gives a little bit of history and some interesting facts. The text is reasonably dense, so you would treat each double page as a chapter – one before bedtime. Or otherwise, it’s a wonderful book to simply look at the pictures and perhaps read a tiny bit.

Here’s my post on series for kids from last year and here’s my post on stand-alone books – you might find something useful there, too.

And of course, don’t forget the usual Hey Jack series and Billy B Brown series by Sally Rippin, the Sporty Kids series by Felice Arena (I have bought many of these books for prep and grade 1 kids), the beautiful Kingdom of Silk series by Glenda Millard, and of course, Tashi by Anna Fienberg and Barbara Fienberg.

I’d be really grateful if you would pass on this post to friends and family who might also be looking for Christmas books to buy for their children and grandchildren. I’m always ecstatic when I see I have a new subscriber! You can subscribe by entering your name and email address on the home page.

Next week, I’ll have a post on books for 9-12 year-olds. Let me know if any of these books appeal to you. Happy Christmas book shopping!

Christmas shopping – picture books

November 11, 2016 by Karen Comer 4 Comments

Yes, it’s only November but we need to think about buying books for Christmas! I have a series of posts planned for you which I hope will make your Christmas shopping easier. Each Friday for the next four weeks I’ll provide a list of books which I love, and I hope you do, too. You can also look at my posts from last year – book series for kids, stand-alone titles for kids, picture books and Christmas books.

Even if your children, nieces, nephews or grandchildren aren’t strong readers, a book is a beautiful gift – and one that will last beyond the plastic stuff. Besides, they’ll need a break from the water pistols and technology gadgets over six or eight weeks of holidays!

Here’s some of my favourite picture books to put in a Christmas stocking for this year.

I haven’t included the usual favourites for really little ones – Mem Fox, Pamela Allen, Rod Campbell, Julia Donaldson, Martin Waddell – all these writers have beautiful board books for babies and small ones who like to chew on books or rip the pages.

This girl, that girl written and illustrated by Charlotte Lance – gorgeous watercolour illustrations show the difference between ‘this girl’ and ‘that girl’. Here’s a case of less is more when it comes to words – the pictures say everything, sometimes even the opposite of what the words mean. It’s a lovely book about fathers and daughters and their differences. It’s simple and funny enough for four-year-olds but would work wonders in a grade 1 classroom, too.

The paper dolls, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Rebecca Cobb – I dare you to read this and NOT make a chain of paper dolls! This is a sweet story about a girl whose mother helps her make a chain of paper dolls who have all sorts of adventures. This girl grows up into a mother herself and helps her daughter make a set of paper dolls. Perfect for 4-6 year-olds.

The hero of Little Street, illustrated by Gregory Rogers – this is a picture book with no words. The story is told in comic book style but without the speech bubbles. A lovely, funny book about a boy who accidentally seems to get into trouble and accidentally ends up in one of Vemeer’s paintings. It would be a fabulous way to encourage reluctant readers to enjoy books – without technically reading! But of course, the story is told through the illustrations.

A bus called Heaven, written and illustrated by Bob Graham – this story is all about community spirit. It’s a lovely story about a quiet girl who stands up for something she believes in. Bob Graham creates stories which show characters at their best – you would want your kids to be surrounded by these characters.

The fantastic flying books of Mr Morris Lessmore, written by William Joyce, illustrated by William Joyce and Joe Bluhm – this is a really special book – I think I’d like to live in it, especially the library with flying books. It tells the story of Morris Lessmore, who writes his hopes and dreams in a book and loves reading. This book shows books as living things which engage with readers. It’s also a lovely short film – you can watch it here – Miss 10 and I thought it was wonderful.

Tiger can’t sleep, written by S. J. Fore and illustrated by R. W. Alley – this is one of my favourite read-aloud books ever. The little boy in the story wants to go to sleep but he can’t – because there’s a tiger in the closet making all sorts of strange noises. It’s hilarious because the tiger takes the part of a child, and the child in the story reacts like an adult. I have read this to my three kids over and over again, and to many other kids as well because it’s just so funny. I would rescue this book from a fire! Wonderful for 3-7 year-olds.

Cloth lullaby, the woven life of Louise Bourgeois, written by Amy Novesky and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault – this is a lush, gorgeously written and illustrated book for a discerning reader, 6-9 years. It’s long for a picture book, and it’s a quiet, slow read, so it may not suit all kids. The illustrations are fit to be framed – watercolours in a palette of red, pink, blue and black. The story is based on Louise Bourgeois’ life in Paris, where her mother taught her to mend exquisite tapestries and sew. When she was a student, her mother died and Louise turned to painting and weaving to preserve her memories of her mother. The writing is as beautiful as the illustrations, so it has the feel of a keepsake book to be treasured.

Llama, llama red pyjama, written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney – this is a funny book for kinder kids. Little llama is tucked up in bed but feels lonely without his Mama. His mama says she’ll be in his room soon, but soon takes ‘forever’ for this llama. A funny but truthful bedtime story for little ones.

Alphabeasties and other amazing types, created by Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss – this would be a fabulous present for a kid about to start school. It’s an alphabet book. Every page covers a different letter with an animal created with different letter fonts. There are also flaps which are always a winner, plus little tips about how different letters are created. Barely any writing – lots of letters and pictures.

A child of books, written by Oliver Jeffers and illustrated by Sam Winston – just so you know – this book was written for me. I mean, I’ve never met Oliver Jeffers or even connected with him through social media but he wrote this book for me. Truly. Here are the first lines – ‘I am a child of books. I come from a world of stories and upon my imagination I float.’ See, that was written for me! The illustrations are a mix of black pen outlines, photographs of books and lines of text from stories. This is a book which should be in every school’s library.

I hope you find some new reads in this list. I’d be really grateful if you could forward on my blog details through your email to friends and family who may appreciate some book ideas for Christmas. Thank you – happy reading!

Australian spring literary quotes

October 21, 2016 by Karen Comer 4 Comments

While you would think a Melbourne spring should be filled with daffodils, longer evenings and fascinators in the Myer windows, we have had all that but with rain and cold as well. I found it really interesting that these quotes from Australian writers about spring focused on the whole spectrum from the sun and flowers to the rain and cold. My favourite quotes are number 1 and 4 because they contrast the protagonist’s feelings against the weather.

I have left a gap between the quotes and the book titles, authors and date of publication in case you want to guess!

1. I found it very cruel that the sun shone and the weather was perfect during the darkest of my days.

2. It was September, and the roughstone terraces with their thickets of tiny white daisies were aswarm with insects. The whole garden sizzled and hummed.

3. It was spring by now and the days were lengthening; the evening sky, not yet fully dark, was pulsing with the flashing lights of emergency vehicles somewhere up ahead.

4. My heart fell out on a spring morning – the kind that rose coolly in the east and set brightly in the west.

5. “We’re not meant to get hot days like this in October,” I say, standing in front of the open freezer.

6. Her birthday was in mid September, on a spring day that seemed to bring a whiff of summer with it. The wattle was out, and daffodils and tulips were still waving in Burnsie’s garden.

7. After the June shearing of 1944, we knew that if it did not rain in the spring our gamble was lost. The sheep would not live through another rainy season.

8. Monday, 25 November
Drat that it’s cold. Last night I could wear silk to bed and now I have lit the fire. Cold Mondays are gloomy. There are plenty of jobs to do indoors, but who wants to be inside in November?

9. September comes with daffodils
And blossom buds and rain
The sun is pale, the shadows long
As we all sing a football song
And ride home on the train.

10. The night is hot and salted with stars and on the easterly breeze you can feel the wetlands of the interior and even the deserts behind them.

Looking for Alibrandi, Melina Marchetta, 1992

Johnno, David Malouf, 1975

‘Cottage’ in Mothers Grimm, Danielle Wood, 2014

The paper house, Anna Spargo-Ryan, 2016

Graffiti moon, Cath Crowley, 2010

The war bride, Pamela Hart, 2016

The road from Coorain, Jill Ker Conway, 1989

The waterlily, Kate Llewellyn, 1987

All through the year, Jane Godwin, Anna Walker, 2010

Dirt music, Tim Winton, 2001

Which one is your favourite?

My favourite childhood book

October 14, 2016 by Karen Comer 8 Comments

Isn’t it interesting that many qualities and characteristics we had as children are the same traits we have now as adults? When I was a kid I made crafty things like latch-hook and cross-stitch, read a lot, wrote stories and I liked cooking. As an adult, I’m still reading and writing stories, still enjoy cooking (even though I love a break from everyday family cooking!) and I sew quilts and clothes for my kids and dabble in paints. Some things never change!

Miss Ten reread my favourite childhood book during the holidays, and it made me wonder why I loved it so much. The book is The ordinary princess by M. M. Kaye, for 7-10 year-olds, most likely girls.

It’s about a seventh-born princess who receives some beautiful gifts from her fairy godmothers on her christening day, such as charm, wit, grace and courage. But when the last godmother turns up, cranky and crusty, she grants the princess the gift of ordinariness. So Princess Amethyst becomes Amy, and as she grows up, no one wants to marry her. When Amy finds out her family are planning to lay waste a dragon in order for a prince to come and kill it to win her hand in marriage, she runs away to the forest and lives quite happily until she needs a new dress. She walks to a castle, finds work as a scullery maid, and plans to work there until she has enough money to buy a dress. But she meets a rather nice page, who turns out to be the prince of the castle. I will leave it to your imagination as to how the story ends!

I loved that this story was divided into four sections, based on the lullaby, Lavender’s blue. The structure was so satisfying then, and I still appreciate a beautifully structured novel now. I loved the ‘realness’ of Amy and the contrast of the real characters against a little bit of magic. Amy was so grounded, the palace and forest worlds were well built, and I still like reading children’s fantasy novels. I thought that Amy was a heroine to be admired – she took matters into her own hands, was quite resilient and independent and could work hard. She was obviously a bit of a rebel – but in a very nice way! And even at 8, I loved the romance.

My copy was published in 1980, and it has my maiden name written in roundish writing on the first page. The cover is lavender, with Amy staring dreamily into the distance. She wears a crown with amethysts and a long flowing dress with white cross stitches down the back.

When I reread it this week, the words were so very familiar. Sometimes we try to encourage our kids to read widely and to read as many books as they can. We forget the joys of knowing a favourite book inside and out, of enjoying being with a wonderful character again, and even though we know how the story will end, appreciating different nuances of the story when reading for the second or third time.

I wish I could go back in time and tell my eight-year-old self that reading would take me places and that one day I would write stories for eight-year-olds and adult stories that were based on fairytales. Kate Northrup wrote a blog piece this week called ‘We are who we always are.’ I’m still a little girl, reading and writing, making stuff. It makes me look at my kids with new eyes – what strengths and passions do they have now, and where will that take them?

I’m feeling nostalgic! Let me know what your favourite childhood book was – and have you reread it as an adult or shared it with your kids?