tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17320046753330797062024-03-13T10:42:01.879+11:00We Believe in Picture BooksWalker Books Australia celebrates picture books with posts, stories, videos, and more.Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-83987697324739373712013-12-11T15:23:00.000+11:002013-12-11T15:23:14.241+11:00Why I Give Books at Christmas<span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Peta Jinnath Andersen is an Online Consultant for Walker Books Australia. Her absolute, forever-and-ever favourite children's books are <i>Guess How Much I Love You</i>, <i>A Bit Lost</i>, <i>Howl's Moving Castle</i>, <i>A Wrinkle in Time, A Monster Calls, </i>and <i>Winnie-the-Pooh</i>.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
often give books as gifts. I know my way around a bookstore; I read widely and
discuss current reads with almost anyone, such that I am also good at selecting
books to suit another’s tastes. And yet, when I mentioned ordering a book for a
friend this year, my mother was less than enthused.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“A book? Just a book? Can’t you get
something nicer?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“A book is nice, Mum.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“A book is boring. Fine, get a book, but
get something to go with it.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I think the book will be fine. It’s
unusual, but it suits. There’s a reason I had to order it.”<o:p></o:p></span> </blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later, in the same conversation, I
mentioned that I give books in Christmas charity drives, as opposed to the more
commonly gifted toys. Again, I was met with a rather lukewarm response.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may seem like books are a boring gift;
they do not light up, or play music, or shoot water. They are often small,
without the grandeur of a large box or lots of wrapping. But a book! A book
gives challenge, takes on gender and racial stereotypes, offers insight and
hope and opportunities for thought. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if you think giving books to a
charity drive is boring, or unfair to children in need of toys, consider: a
book is a gift I can donate for an older child. Most toys donated are for
children up to the age of twelve or so. Gifts for older children are more
expensive; most of us can’t afford to donate an Xbox or a bicycle. But a book?
A book is something an older child can read and relate to, especially if
thoughtfully chosen. It’s a gift that won’t break within hours of opening, and
one that can be passed around. It’s something that ensures those kids older
than twelve also have something to smile about on Christmas day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you’d like to donate books this
Christmas, please consider choosing something in the junior fiction to young
adult category. Picture books and titles for younger readers are also immensely
useful, but there’s no dearth of gifting for younger children. Books like
Ambelin Kwaymullina’s Tribe series, or Sue Lawson’s <i>After</i>, Elsbeth Edgar’s <i>In the
Wings</i> and <i>On Orchard Road</i>, or Sue
Whiting’s <i>Portraits of Celina</i> are all
a marvellous starting point. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which books would you choose to give this
Christmas?</span>Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-42746705047394949712013-11-27T14:30:00.000+11:002013-11-28T10:31:17.221+11:00Win Your Height in Books!Love books as much as we do? <a href="http://win.webelieveinpicturebooks.com.au/" target="_blank">Enter our Win Your Height in Books competition</a>! Simply sign up for our mailing list, and don't forget to check out <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/185303150/The-Essential-Children-s-Gift-Guide-2013" target="_blank">The Essential Children's Gift Guide</a>. <br />
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<div style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto;">
<b><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/185303150/The-Essential-Children-s-Gift-Guide-2013" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View The Essential Children's Gift Guide 2013 on Scribd">The Essential Children's Gift Guide 2013</a></b></div>
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<br />
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_14008" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/185303150/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-1830600188153453722013-11-20T14:30:00.000+11:002013-11-20T14:30:01.835+11:00On Reading With Children 1-2
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reading with a 1-2 year old can be tricky. They have shorter
attention spans, are full of beans, and are too young to understand, on an
intellectual level, the value of reading. (Sadly, “but this is good for you!”
does not work on children younger than 8, and even then it’s a stretch.)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But there are ways to encourage reading. Set a good example
– let the kids see you reading, let them see you discussing books. (This worked
for me, as a child, and works very well on my four-year-old son.) And when it’s
their turn to read, stack the deck a little:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">select
books that are high interest</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">set
up a cozy reading nook – pillows and blankets, perhaps a chair fort</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">make
sure the nook is away from distractions, such as toy shelves or the television</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When it’s time to curl up with a book, let the children
choose. Tired of reading the same thing over and over again? Set out a pile of
Today Books, or Monday Books, and say that titles have to be chosen out of the
pile. It’ll give adult readers a break, and help introduce kids to new fare.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stuck for where to get started? Here are a few of our favourites:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1321431483001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1321431483001.jpeg" width="181" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/BABY-ANIMAL-FARM-9781921720376" target="_blank"><i>Baby Animal Farm</i>, Karen Blair</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let's go to the baby animal farm. Follow the ducklings. Feed the lamb. What a day! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A</span> vibrant picture book feature beautiful illustrations, and a combination of language and animal sounds to create a simple story that will engage younger readers.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/TOM-AND-TILLY-9781742032481" target="_blank"><i>Tom and Tilly</i>, Jedda Robaard </a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1348729690079.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1348729690079.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Join Tom and his teddy bear Tilly for a journey across the high seas.</div>
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Fun and funny for the whole family, with gorgeous watercolour paintings to match the sweet text. And it comes with instructions on how to make a paper boat.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1351603423117.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1351603423117.jpeg" width="188" /></a></div>
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3. <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/DRESSING-9781406340105" target="_blank"><i>Dressing</i>, Helen Oxenbury</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Babies wear all sorts of clothes - nappies, T-shirts, socks, trousers
and hats. Helen Oxenbury's gorgeous illustrations capture the fun of
getting dressed and babies' delight in everything they put on. No one
draws babies like Helen Oxenbury. Her warm, affectionate depictions have
been loved and cherished by children and adults around the world for
over 30 years. In 1981, this groundbreaking little book was one of the
most innovative board books ever published and is now considered a
classic of the genre.</div>
Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-73020746540632997262013-10-30T14:09:00.000+11:002013-10-30T14:09:00.801+11:00Last-Minute Picture Book Costumes for Halloween<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1371692812766.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1371692812766.jpeg" width="178" /></a></div>
Did Halloween creep up on you this year? Stuck for a costume? Try a few of our favourite picture book characters with this quick and easy how-to.<br />
<br />
<u><b>The Nutbrown Hares</b></u><br />
Is <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/GUESS-HOW-MUCH-I-LOVE-YOU-HERE-THERE-AND-EVERYWHERE-9781406345162" target="_blank"><i>Guess How Much I Love You?</i></a> a favourite in your house? Try dressing up as everybody’s favourite father-son duo, the Nutbrown Hares. Pair a brown jumper with brown slacks or track pants, and add a set of ears. Don’t have ears lying around the house? A piece of cardboard (the inside of a cereal box works well), a brown texta, and a couple of slivers of sticky tape and you’re all set.<br />
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<u><b>Where’s Wally?</b></u><br />
If you have a few little explorers in your house this Halloween, celebrate with their adventurousness with a <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/WHERES-WALLY-25TH-ANNIVERSARY-EDITION-9781406340396" target="_blank">Where’s Wally?</a> costume. Pick up a red-and-white striped shirt (or make one with an old tee and a red texta), don a pair of blue jeans, slip on some glasses, and you're ready to go. Want to go the whole hog? Take it a step further by adding a red beanie and one of Wally's accessories, such as a walking stick or binoculars. (Not into red and white? Pick up a black and yellow shirt and black jeans, and you've got an instant Odwal.)<br />
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<u><b>Goldilocks</b></u><br />
Have a yen for a costume that’s just right? Try Goldilocks. A blonde wig and a dress, accompanied by a teddy bear or set of plastic bowls, and you’re all set. Or have a little fun, and try one of the variations listed in Allan and Jessica Ahlberg’s version of <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/GOLDILOCKS-9781406330052" target="_blank"><i>Goldilocks</i></a>.<br />
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<u><b><i>We're Going on a Bear Hunt</i> Bear & Company</b></u><br />
This one is especially easy if you have a few children. For the bear, start with a brown outfit (as with the Nutbrown Hares). Add a pair of beary ears – they can be cut out of cardboard, or fashioned out of any left over fabric that’s fuzzy and brown. Draw a black nose on to your bear with face paint (eyeliner also works in a pinch).<br />
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Next, get the whole family involved – sing the words to <i><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/WERE-GOING-ON-A-BEAR-HUNT-PBK-WITH-CD-9781406310948" target="_blank">We're Going on a Bear Hunt</a> </i>as you walk about on Halloween. Or, if you’re so inclined, try matching the other members of your party to the characters in the book: all the outfits are fairly simple, and you probably already have the makings of the family costumes in your wardrobe.<br />
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Happy Halloween!<br />
Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-50420932051799215842013-10-23T14:28:00.000+11:002013-10-23T14:28:00.036+11:00What Makes A Picture Book A Favourite Book?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1196886881156.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1196886881156.jpeg" width="183" /></a></div>
<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: start;">Peta Jinnath Andersen
is an Online Consultant for Walker Books Australia. Her absolute,
forever-and-ever favourite children's books are <i>Guess How Much I Love You</i>, <i>A Bit Lost</i>, <i>Howl's Moving Castle</i>, <i>A Wrinkle in Time, A Monster Calls, </i>and <i>Winnie-the-Pooh</i>.</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: start;"></span><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/GUESS-HOW-MUCH-I-LOVE-YOU-9781406300390" target="_blank">“I love you to the moon and back.”</a> </i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1196884754438.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1196884754438.jpeg" width="200" /></a>What is it that makes a book stay with us? What is it that we remember, specifically? Is it the prose, a <br />
certain line? An illustration? Is it the memory of reading with someone in a favourite spot?<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/OWL-BABIES-0744531675" target="_blank">“I want my mummy!”</a> </i><br />
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The first picture book I read alone was <i>Green Eggs and Ham</i>. The first one I read to my son – and still read – was <i>Owl Babies</i>. (We even dressed up as Mummy Owl and Bill for Halloween one year.) The first one he read was <span id="goog_1357529241"></span><i>Hug</i><span id="goog_1357529242"></span>, swiftly followed by <i>Tall</i>. (Though it does help that these books have very, very few words.)<br />
<br />
<i>“<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/HUG-0744582733" target="_blank">HUG</a>!” </i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1196885283727.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1196885283727.jpeg" width="200" /></a>But how do we choose those first books? Is it that our parents or grandparents give them to us? Is it that we’re innately drawn to a concept, sound, or rhyme? My son had intense separation anxiety, and found Owl Babies soothing, because he could repeat “I want my mummy!” and feel vindicated. (He still tells me, sometimes, that he feels like the little owl and wants me to come home early.) And yet, I chose that book for him, only a few days after I learnt I was pregnant. My mother says I loved repeating the rhymes in <i>Green Eggs and Ham</i>, and playing with the rhythm of the text. At home, we read poetry and sing songs (like <i>Guinea Pig Town</i> and <i>We’re Going on a Bear Hunt</i>) for the rhythm, which my son has developed an appreciation thereof. Is that because of me, or is that because of him? Is it because I recall reading rhyme with my mother and shouting it to the sky in the park?<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/WERE-GOING-ON-A-BEAR-HUNT-PBK-WITH-CD-9781406310948" target="_blank">“What a beautiful day!”</a> </i><br />
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I’m sure there’s no concrete answer to what makes us love a given book. Book love is existential, <br />
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really – it’s unique and experiential and dependent on so, so many factors and ideas. But isn’t it marvellous to think about? To question why we might love a picture book? To think about creating memories with our children, grandchildren, even great-grandchildren?
Which books have stayed with you? Which books make you smile every time you think of them?
Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-17930916698797149312013-10-16T14:30:00.000+11:002013-10-16T14:30:01.786+11:00Get Ready For Halloween With These Spooky Picture Books<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Halloween is almost here! Enjoy the season with a few fun - and ghostly - picture books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://walkerbooks.com.au/Books/A-GHOST-IN-THE-HOUSE-9781406348071" target="_blank"><i>A Ghost in the House</i>, Ammi-Joan Paquette and Adam Record</a></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When a little ghost goes slip-sliding down the
hallway, he suddenly hears ... a groan! Turns out it’s only a friendly mummy,
who shuffles along with the ghost, until they encounter ... a monster! As the
cautious explorers continue, they find a surprise at every turn - and add
another adorably ghoulish friend to their tally. But you’ll never guess who is
the scariest creature in the house!</i></span><br />
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<a href="http://walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1306200019481.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1306200019481.jpeg" width="200" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://walkerbooks.com.au/Books/AND-THEN-COMES-HALLOWEEN-9780763652999" target="_blank"><i>And Then Comes Halloween</i>, Tom Brenner and Holly Meade </a></span></b>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">As soon as geese fly south, children take autumn's
cue to start their preparations: it’s almost Halloween! With poetic language
and vivid collage illustrations, Tom Brenner and Holly Meade follow all the
familiar rituals, from hanging paper skeletons to carving pumpkins, from
costume-making to trick-or-treating. Halloween lovers will be eager to grab a
bag or bucket and join them on this lively and lyrical journey.</i></span><br />
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<a href="http://walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1340848846818.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1340848846818.jpeg" width="165" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://walkerbooks.com.au/Books/THE-BEST-HALLOWEEN-OF-ALL-9780763660086" target="_blank"><i>The Best Halloween of All</i>, S Wojciechowski and S Meddaugh</a></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ever since Ben was a baby, his parents have concocted
wild costumes for him on Halloween. He has been a magician’s rabbit (complete
with a giant top hat), a bunch of grapes, even a slice of Swiss cheese. Ben has
hated every one of these costumes. But now that he is seven, he decides to take
matters into his own hands and construct a costume that makes this the best
Halloween of all! The award-winning author of The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan
Toomey and the illustrator of the Martha books have conjured a very amusing
Halloween treat.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://walkerbooks.com.au/Books/WHATS-IN-THE-WITCHS-KITCHEN-9781406340075" target="_blank"><i>What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen?</i> Nick Sharratt </a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The witch has hidden a trick and a treat in her
magical kitchen cupboards! Which one you find depends on how you open the
doors. Whether it's frogspawn or popcorn, lollipops or rabbit plops, there are
hilarious rhymes to discover inside in this innovative novelty book!</i></span>
Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-67287831980629575402013-10-02T14:30:00.000+10:002013-10-02T14:30:02.702+10:00Leonard S. Marcus Discusses The Value of Picture Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gI9sDoWOXcw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Leonard S. Marcus is the editor of <i>Show Me A Story: Why Picture Books Matter. </i>In compelling interviews, twenty-one top authors and illustrators reveal their inside
stories on the art of creating picture books. <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/SHOW-ME-A-STORY-WHY-PICTURE-BOOKS-MATTE-9780763635060" target="_blank">Read more here</a>.
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Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-39454926298554967472013-09-25T14:41:00.001+10:002013-09-25T14:42:26.771+10:00Poetry for Children: Guinea Pig Town and Other Animal Poems<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/GUINEA-PIG-TOWN-AND-OTHER-ANIMAL-POEMS-9781922077424"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Guinea Pig Town and Other Animal Poems cover" border="0" height="320" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1356063022360.jpeg" title="Guinea Pig Town and Other Animal Poems" width="208" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Peta Jinnath Andersen is an Online Consultant for Walker Books Australia. Her absolute, forever-and-ever favourite children's books are</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Guess How Much I Love You</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">A Bit Lost</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Howl's Moving Castle</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">A Wrinkle in Time</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">A Monster Calls</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">, and </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Winnie-the-Pooh</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we think of poetry, we rarely think of children. It’s usually Keats and
Wordsworth, or Henry Lawson, or Seamus Heaney and Billy Collins, or dozens of
other wonderful wordsmiths who come to mind. And much as I love them, and share
them with my son (it is never, ever too early to share the rhythms of
language), reading adult poetry aloud is vastly different to reading poetry
intended for children.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poetry,
whether it be for children or adults, has value—especially when read aloud. The
differences are usually about pitch, tone, and subject: poetry written
specifically for children relates in some way to their experience, in a way
that which is written for adults cannot. Moving house, being out bush, animals
(movement, sounds, behaviours), play…there are dozens of things and ideas kids
can relate to, recite, and share.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love
the idea of reading poetry with your kids, but stuck for where to get started?
Look for illustrated works, like one of our favourites, Lorraine Marwood’s <i>Guinea Pig Town and Other Animal Poems</i>.
The illustrations help younger children verbalise and discuss the words. And
don’t be afraid to play! Ask questions, make silly noises, appreciate language!
The marvellous thing about poetry is that there is no wrong way to read it—it can
be happy or sad or hilarious. You can experiment and have fun and talk about it
in a way that’s not possible with straight up prose. And when paired with
illustrations, like the wombat shown here, words become something almost
tangible and exciting.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eoThS7LL0BsR1K_bzAyca3xwcivZVvgcCwOIWkx8zQe51DD6xErI5NcwUoDq3EGTZH6tlLkrWHrJzdRvV7Jg7mCxdecybWoGBkXNTdBmTE46r5FvxuQfyeUBTPdIClSHllmbnQ0haoM/s1600/guinea-pig-town_int-p33.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eoThS7LL0BsR1K_bzAyca3xwcivZVvgcCwOIWkx8zQe51DD6xErI5NcwUoDq3EGTZH6tlLkrWHrJzdRvV7Jg7mCxdecybWoGBkXNTdBmTE46r5FvxuQfyeUBTPdIClSHllmbnQ0haoM/s320/guinea-pig-town_int-p33.png" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lorraine
Marwood was born and raised in rural Victoria and has lived for most of her
married life on a dairy farm with her husband and their six children. Lorraine
is an award-winning poet who has been widely published in literary magazines
across Australia, as well as magazines in the UK, USA, New Zealand and Canada. Read
more of her poetry in <i>A Ute Picnic and
Other Australian Poems</i>, <i>Ratwhiskers
and Me</i> and <i>Star Jumps,</i> which was
short listed for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards 2010,
Lower Primary Category; received a Notable mention in the Children s Book
Council of Australia Awards, 2010; and won the Prime Minister’s Literary
Awards, Children’s Fiction, 2010. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tell
us about the poems you read with your children in the comments!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-3489946610823066512013-09-18T09:30:00.000+10:002013-09-18T09:30:02.263+10:00What do you love about picture books?At Sydney Writers’ Festival this year, we asked children what THEY loved about books. To celebrate our birthday, we’ve put together a video of the best answers. Enjoy!<div>
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<iframe width="550" height="413" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/3BOWs2bi058" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>><br /></div>Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-14806820806405810232013-09-11T14:30:00.000+10:002013-09-11T14:30:01.380+10:00No Bears Released Into Paperback!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1376559996263.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1376559996263.jpeg" width="181" /></a></div>
This month sees the exciting release of <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/NO-BEARS-9781922077059" target="_blank"><i>No Bears</i></a> into paperback. It’s a cracker of a book, short-listed in the Early Childhood and Picture Book Categories in the Children’s Book Council Of Australia Book Of The Year Awards, 2012.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Ruby wants to tell you a story. A story with absolutely no bears. You don’t need bears for a book. You need pretty things like fairies and princesses and castles. And maybe funny things and exciting things - but definitely no bears! </i></blockquote>
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The book is a marvellous marriage of prose and illustration, each playing off the other. It’s also a fun introduction to what makes a story a story, full of possibilities to learn, discuss, and play.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DTgqOjo0CWFY89nC7MURHewpOosY3o7stK0N2JaNZehGSIGa0p6tIVNSxdrkKiB4lujbnJYzya3vFAhtoQ8fY0t-gZ8viuo2lM0paBRe7fjqDWY_uonkUTkzv9CMw0MEsBSZn4LRmcw/s1600/No+Bears+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DTgqOjo0CWFY89nC7MURHewpOosY3o7stK0N2JaNZehGSIGa0p6tIVNSxdrkKiB4lujbnJYzya3vFAhtoQ8fY0t-gZ8viuo2lM0paBRe7fjqDWY_uonkUTkzv9CMw0MEsBSZn4LRmcw/s400/No+Bears+1.png" width="400" /></a><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Authors_and_Illustrators/Meg-McKinlay" target="_blank">Meg McKinlay</a> grew up in Bendigo, Victoria, in a book-loving, TV- and car-free household. On the long and winding path to becoming a children’s writer, she has worked a variety of jobs including swim instructor, tour guide, translator and teacher. These days, she lives with her family near the ocean in Fremantle and is an Honorary Research Associate at the University of Western Australia, where she has taught Australian Literature, Japanese, and Creative Writing. Meg divides her time between teaching and writing, a balance that swings wildly between chaos and calm.<br />
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<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Authors_and_Illustrators/Leila-Rudge" target="_blank">Leila Rudge</a> was born in England and grew up making mud pies with six siblings and Jeni from number 15. After completing an Illustration Degree at Bath Spa University, Leila headed to Australia to seek her fortune (and the sunshine). Creating tiny characters for books is her favourite part of illustrating.<br />
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Love <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/NO-BEARS-9781922077059" target="_blank"><i>No Bears</i></a>? Take a peek at <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/DUCK-FOR-A-DAY-9781921529283" target="_blank"><i>Duck for a Day</i></a> and <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/DEFINITELY-NO-DUCKS-9781921977855" target="_blank"><i>Definitely No Ducks!</i></a>
Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-15240081295970723342013-09-04T14:30:00.000+10:002013-09-04T14:30:03.038+10:00Librarian Zac Harding's Favourite Walker Books<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zac Harding is a Community Learning Librarian at Christchurch City Libraries in Christchurch, New Zealand. He has been blogging for Christchurch City Libraries since 2009, highlighting children and young adult's literature on <a href="http://cclblog.wordpress.com/">cclblog.wordpress.com</a> and running the Christchurch Kids Blog, aimed at 8-12 years. In late 2011 Zac also started his book blog, <a href="http://www.bestfriendsrbooks.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">My Best Friends Are Books</a>, where he features news, reviews and interviews from the world of children's literature.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate 20 years of Walker
Books Australia because Walker books had a huge impact on me growing up. It is those classic Walker books that I had
when I was a kid and the beautiful books that they continue to publish that
have made me in to the librarian and booklover that I am today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have strong memories of my parents sharing Walker books
with me when I was very young. Whenever
my parents bought books for me when I was growing up, they would always look
for the Walker Bear because they knew it was the sign of a great picture
book. Some of my favourite picture books
were those by Jill Murphy. The Large
Family books were ones that struck a chord with my mum, because she felt that
Jill Murphy really understood what it was to be a parent. She perfectly captured both the joys and the
frustrations of being a parent, whether it was trying to get the kids to eat
their dinner or trying to get <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/FIVE-MINUTES-PEACE-25TH-ANNIVERSARY-EDIT-9781406330120" target="_blank"><i>Five Minutes' Peace</i></a>. I loved these books too and still do to this
day. The Jill Murphy book that I loved
the most though was <i>Peace at Last</i>. I
still know the opening lines:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"The hour was late. Mr Bear was tired, Mrs Bear was tired and
Baby Bear was tired."</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poor Mr Bear can’t get to sleep and tries sleeping in
different places, but nothing helps. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Drip, drip went the leaky kitchen tap.
Hummm went the refrigerator." </i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
last page, when Mr Bear finally falls asleep and gets woken up by Baby Bear,
always made me laugh. The look on his
face said it all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was at primary school, we would go to our local
public library as a class each month.
The wonderful librarians (some of whom I now work alongside in the
library) introduced us to the marvels of both Anthony Browne and Jeannie Baker. They taught me to not only pay attention to
the story, but also to the beautiful illustrations that helped tell the
story. I loved Anthony Browne’s books
because they were so funny and there was always something interesting to find
in the illustrations. Jeannie Baker’s
books were absolutely fascinating to me!
I couldn’t believe the detail that went into each of her illustrations
and I pored over each page, trying to figure out how she created them. Every time I see a new book of Jeannie’s I
fall in love with her books all over again.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every time I read a new Walker picture book it’s like
holding a work of art in my hands. They
are beautiful to look at, as well as read, and you want to share them with as
many children and adults as possible.
Some of my recent favourites have been Jon Klassen’s <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/THIS-IS-NOT-MY-HAT-9780763655990" target="_blank"><i>This is Not My Hat</i></a>
and <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/I-WANT-MY-HAT-BACK-9781406338539" target="_blank"><i>I Want My Hat Back</i></a>, Chris Haughton’s <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/OH-NO-GEORGE-9781406344769" target="_blank"><i>Oh No, George!</i></a> and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><i><span id="goog_1605329128"></span>Demolition</i></a><span id="goog_1605329129"></span> by Sally
Sutton and Brian Lovelock. I look
forward to many more years of Walker books and to sharing my favourites with my
own children some day.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-66686532425888438852013-08-30T14:30:00.000+10:002013-08-30T14:30:02.772+10:00Martin Waddell Discusses "Owl Babies"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Learn more <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/OWL-BABIES-0744531675" target="_blank">about <i>Owl Babies</i> here</a>, and more <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Authors_and_Illustrators/Martin-Waddell" target="_blank">about Martin Waddell here</a>. </div>
Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-86222490541113987942013-08-28T14:00:00.000+10:002013-08-28T14:00:01.201+10:00Favourite Father’s Day Books<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hqvAw7woH8tcMtrWHdtfNNVzq0eI1SCsq_CcvvKqBrcSmWO58eyV6ORVJeKvXCzrOgHkFrpQjl5ww50idEYPWQ22xJ0BkhK76fZI8_HHu-TM5puirbT4ZvEp5XiObh6OTLNpWdglxfs/s1600/Fathers-Day-400px.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hqvAw7woH8tcMtrWHdtfNNVzq0eI1SCsq_CcvvKqBrcSmWO58eyV6ORVJeKvXCzrOgHkFrpQjl5ww50idEYPWQ22xJ0BkhK76fZI8_HHu-TM5puirbT4ZvEp5XiObh6OTLNpWdglxfs/s200/Fathers-Day-400px.png" width="118" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: start;"> </span></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Peta Jinnath Andersen is an Online Consultant for Walker Books Australia. Her absolute, forever-and-ever favourite children's books are <i>Guess How Much I Love You</i>, <i>A Bit Lost</i>, <i>Howl's Moving Castle</i>, <i>A Wrinkle in Time</i>, <i>A Monster Calls</i>, and <i>Winnie-the-Pooh</i>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Father’s Day is almost here, with its lunches and brunches and requisite gifts of socks. But at the end of the day, what’s better than curling up with Dad for a bit of a read? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We've rounded up a few of our favourite picks to celebrate Dad. They're perfect for giving, reading aloud, and, of course, acting out! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/MITCHELL-GOES-BOWLING-9780763660499" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><b><i>Mitchell Goes Bowling,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i>Hallie Durand and Tony Fucile</b></a><b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Score one for Dad-kid bonding time with this fun foray into winning, losing, and laughter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One Saturday, when Mitchell almost knocks down his dad, his dad catches him and puts him in the car. And when they step into the bowling alley, Mitchell feels right at home. Pizza! Giant crashing noises! Special shoes! But as Mitchell picks up the biggest ball and quickly learns the word gutter, and when Dad does a little kick with his leg and earns a big X on the scoreboard, Mitchell starts to get peevish. How can Mitchell get a chance to do a steamin -hot- potato-dance too?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Love Mitchell? Read more about him in <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/MITCHELL-GOES-DRIVING-9780763667375" target="_blank">his first book, <i>Mitchell Goes Driving</i></a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/FASTER-FASTER-BOARD-BOOK-9780763662226" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><b><i>Faster! Faster!</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>by Leslie Patricelli</b></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An utterly charming board book full of recognisable Dad moments. A day at the park. A ride on Daddy's back. Run, Daddy! Faster! Faster! How fast can Daddy go? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A humorous riff on a favourite pastime - a laugh-out-loud-funny tale of few words about doting dads and high-energy kids whose imaginations know no bounds. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/MY-DAD-STILL-THINKS-HES-FUNNY-9781742032320" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>My Dad Still Thinks He's Funny</b></i>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>by Katrina Germein and Tom Jellett</b></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My dad says, 'I've told you fifty million times, don't exaggerate.' </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dad is back by popular demand with more hilarious material. And yes, he STILL thinks he's funny. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://walkabook.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/fathers-day-pick-my-dad-still-thinks.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Read more about Dad jokes and this laugh-out-loud title in our earlier post</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And don't forget to check out<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/MY-DAD-THINKS-HES-FUNNY-9781742031217" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">the original<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>My Dad Thinks He's Funny</i></a>!<b> </b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/MY-DAD-IS-BEAUTIFUL-9781406338317" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>My Dad is Beautiful</b></i><b>, by Jessica Spanyol</b></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>Let me tell you all the ways my dad is beautiful. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>My dad is beautiful because he cooks me sausages. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Playful, tender and so very true, this beautifully illustrated picture book celebrates the relationship between a little bear and its dad, showing all the different ways that fathers can be wonderful.
Jessica Spanyol's vibrant and charming illustrations, accompanied by an impeccable colour palatte, perfectly convey how love is measured in a child's eyes: in simple and unadorned terms. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heartwarming and perfect for fathers everywhere. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How will you be celebrating this Father's Day? </span></b>Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-65884967542427165502013-08-21T14:46:00.003+10:002013-08-21T14:47:35.764+10:00Guess How Much I Love You Author Sam McBratney on Picture Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-64171138125147737112013-08-14T14:00:00.000+10:002013-08-14T14:00:06.782+10:00Sneak Peek: Big Red Kangaroo, by Claire Saxby and Graham Byrne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Peta Jinnath Andersen is an Online Consultant for Walker Books Australia. Her absolute, forever-and-ever favourite children's books are </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Guess How Much I Love You</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">A Bit Lost</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Howl's Moving Castle</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">A Wrinkle in Time, A Monster Calls, </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">and </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Winnie-the-Pooh</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">.</span><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: white; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Kangaroos
are a quintessential part of Australian life – they are emblematic, featured
throughout official materials, shown on television shows, a fixture in many
children’s songs. Depictions vary; often times, children see kangaroos as cute
and cuddly or large and lazy. (As anyone who’s ever been to a kangaroo park at
the zoo can attest.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">In <i>Big Red Kangaroo</i>, Claire Saxby and
Graham Byrne have cast the kangaroo in a more natural light. Clear and
beautiful prose details Big Red’s life; well-researched facts accompany the
story, creating opportunities for discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Far inland, where ocean is a dim
memory, the sun floats on the waves of another bake-earth day. In the long
shadows, a big red kangaroo licks his forearms and lets the early evening
breeze wash over him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Stunning illustrations
of inland Australia bring depth to the story, and particularly to Big Red. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD31BpUeVnq-orDaj08LFPTlAT3EphZHUflehDsiKNq1e6ZDGtHgUPW1GZU3JRK69sorE2KRLzuYnyTzhyphenhyphenv7O93CTtaLPh-QAPMzLkTJc_kanBVOGRdr03g3DhlODV-0P7vO3G6uh-Koc/s1600/Big+Red+Kangaroo+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD31BpUeVnq-orDaj08LFPTlAT3EphZHUflehDsiKNq1e6ZDGtHgUPW1GZU3JRK69sorE2KRLzuYnyTzhyphenhyphenv7O93CTtaLPh-QAPMzLkTJc_kanBVOGRdr03g3DhlODV-0P7vO3G6uh-Koc/s640/Big+Red+Kangaroo+1.png" width="540" /></a><b></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Both text
and illustration highlight key non-fiction details and encourage readers to
think about kangaroos and their place in the natural world. But, as with <i>Flight of the Honeybee</i>, this book is so much more than a story about kangaroos, or an exploration of facts. It's a pleasure to read aloud; it's exciting; it's full of opportunities for acting out what it is to be a kangaroo, or to go out into the world and consider how it would look to Big Red. It is a book that brings bush to city, and roos to heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SmqPDOB1gsDgiKy2YQai6MAaJbLYC0nKS6ihT2UtRlOZcuQGIKkLSHDqefz5Qy1SY7dMsjoxzqvAW4ofBIWXA2KiqHwHQ2aSMfhdWMGpfqLT3OjpIsEQwXF7YeN5mNACwhTlLAD0emY/s1600/Big+Red+Kangaroo+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SmqPDOB1gsDgiKy2YQai6MAaJbLYC0nKS6ihT2UtRlOZcuQGIKkLSHDqefz5Qy1SY7dMsjoxzqvAW4ofBIWXA2KiqHwHQ2aSMfhdWMGpfqLT3OjpIsEQwXF7YeN5mNACwhTlLAD0emY/s640/Big+Red+Kangaroo+2.png" width="540" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Authors_and_Illustrators/Claire-Saxby" target="_blank">Claire Saxby</a> was born in Melbourne and grew up in Newcastle, NSW where she thought
she'd stay until the end of her days. Then, while she was holidaying in
Melbourne, Claire's parents decided to move to Bougainville Island in Papua New
Guinea. Fortunately, they waited and took her with them. Since then, she's
lived in more houses than she can remember. Claire is the author of <i>Ebi's Boat</i>, illustrated by Anne
Spudvilas, which was a Children's Book Council of Australia Notable book in
2007. Her title published with Walker Books Australia in 2010, <i><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/THERE-WAS-AN-OLD-SAILOR-9781921720765" target="_blank">There Was an Old Sailor</a></i>, illustrated by
Cassandra Allen, was short-listed for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the
Year Awards 2010, Young Children Category. (See the <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1264998502582/There-was-an-old-sailor-colouring-sheet.pdf" target="_blank">colouring sheet here</a>, or find the <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1300077261739/There-Was-An-Old-Sailor-Classroom-Ideas.pdf" target="_blank">Classroom Notes</a>.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Born in
Sydney sometime last century, Graham Byrne did the usual school and university
time, worked as an electrical engineer for years, then went into building
houses and structures. The old back injury put paid to hard physical work. An
interest in art as a creative adjunct to the practical nature of building led
to formal education, work installing artworks at the Museum of Contemporary Art
in Sydney, and wonderings about other roads to explore. Wanting his art to have
some 'practical' useful purpose, to be illuminating, pointed Graham to
illustration and design pathways. Explorations of drawing, painting, filling
sketchbooks, making books for his grandchildren and illustrating short stories
have combined to prompt his journey as a book illustrator. <i>Big Red Kangaroo</i> is Graham’s first picture book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/BIG-RED-KANGAROO-NATURE-STORYBOOKS-9781921720420" target="_blank">Learn more about Nature Storybooks: Big Red Kangaroo, and find our classroom notes</a>.</span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-17826852823939817732013-08-09T14:00:00.000+10:002013-08-14T12:09:06.173+10:00Sneak Peek: Flight of the Honey Bee, by Raymond Huber and Brian Lovelock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1370307113970.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1370307113970.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Peta Jinnath Andersen is an Online Consultant for Walker Books Australia. Her
absolute, forever-and-ever favourite children's books are <i>Guess How
Much I Love You</i>, <i>A Bit Lost</i>, <i>Howl's Moving Castle</i>, <i>A
Wrinkle in Time, A Monster Calls, </i>and <i>Winnie-the-Pooh</i>.<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"> </span></span></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The cold is coming and Scout is on a daring flight in search of the last flowers of autumn. Scout's mission is very dangerous, but it is also vital, because the flowers provide the precious nectar the hive needs to make honey. Can the hive make enough honey to survive
the long winter months?</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="color: black;">A new
addition to our Nature Storybooks series, Flight
of the Honey Bee details Scout’s journey to a meadow. Yet Scout’s story is
far from prosaic; in fact, it’s rather poetic, and the dangers she faces are
very real to a honey bee.
</span><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><i>Scout zigs and zags from flower to
flower, spreading pollen around. The pollen clings to her fuzzy body – a
sprinkle of sun-powder.</i></span></span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="color: black;">As with all
the Nature Storybooks, factual details provide a counterpoint and encourage
deeper reading and discussion. At the end, there’s an author’s note, about
honey bees, and their status as an endangered species. (There are also
classroom notes available for Flight of
the Honey Bee.)</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MyUt3GLvqiOz8kKsSda4W1V5wVQr4dARt983ffQGT4XFNhgiOiwXeB9jkIS1KtlPb49zgGe_rqlvLOV_CqZb16sfpGsU4b1MK9DKXtFoNRsBrnoNnRNIdyj7oMGbvJOBGiwagyIWQ7o/s1600/Flight+of+the+Honeybee+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MyUt3GLvqiOz8kKsSda4W1V5wVQr4dARt983ffQGT4XFNhgiOiwXeB9jkIS1KtlPb49zgGe_rqlvLOV_CqZb16sfpGsU4b1MK9DKXtFoNRsBrnoNnRNIdyj7oMGbvJOBGiwagyIWQ7o/s640/Flight+of+the+Honeybee+1.png" width="540" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But for me,
the thing about this book isn’t just how very real Scout’s journey is, or even
how it could encourage children and adults alike to learn more about colony collapse disorder and how we can save the bees. It’s that the story is very
much a reflection of a child’s day, filled with almost timed phrases for how
kindy and primary school kids journey through their own days. There’s leaving
home for adventure (and knowing one will return home again); dealing with
something difficult (and overcoming it); pausing for breath; telling everyone
at home about one’s day; and reflecting (often with a parent) on the day, and
how even the difficult parts were worth it. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPN_gSAAcVbKOEwI5wuDNuBiKkPOcndbThglaeNZS7XfYzd3sGEb_pD_bLjlarjxFzeukwsO5mrjh_U2csvgFABBNmlaJxzthUL4z4hfsKIHlPrvgJLO3EghlKovD_blqYLEKdGPkDigA/s1600/Flight+of+the+Honeybee+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPN_gSAAcVbKOEwI5wuDNuBiKkPOcndbThglaeNZS7XfYzd3sGEb_pD_bLjlarjxFzeukwsO5mrjh_U2csvgFABBNmlaJxzthUL4z4hfsKIHlPrvgJLO3EghlKovD_blqYLEKdGPkDigA/s640/Flight+of+the+Honeybee+2.png" width="540" /></a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="color: black;">It’s rare
to find a book which is so inextricably tied to events children can relate to
while at the same time presenting a story so unlike theirs. It’s something to
glory in, that togetherness – and the facts alongside provide a rather lovely
set of grace notes. (The illustrations, too, are truly gorgeous. The first one,
where “a bee the size of a cherry pip”, sets out, is my favourite.)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><b>Learn more
about <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/FLIGHT-OF-THE-HONEY-BEE-9781921529665" target="_blank">Nature Storybooks: Flight of the Honey Bee here</a> or learn more about honey bees with our<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1370585065447/Flight-of-the-Honey-Bee.pdf" target="_blank"> classroom notes.</a></span> </b></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Raymond
Huber lives in Dunedin. He has been a social worker, gardener, primary school
teacher, lecturer, and is currently a writer and editor. He's written Science
and English textbooks and short stories for children. <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/STING-9781921150890" target="_blank"><i>Sting</i></a>, his first novel for Walker Books Australia, was short-listed
for the NZ Post Book Awards for Children & Young Adults, Junior Fiction
Category, 2010; and the Sir Julius Vogel Awards, Young Adult Category, 2010; as
well as being a Storylines Notable Book, Junior Fiction Category, 2010. (Read more of Ziggy's adventures in the sequel, <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/WINGS-9781921720208" target="_blank"><i>Wings</i></a>.)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Brian
Lovelock is a scientist working in the power industry in New Zealand. He has
painted all his life but has only recently ventured into the world of book
illustration. His previous titles with Walker Books Australia include <i><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/DID-MY-MOTHER-DO-THAT-9781921720604" target="_blank">Did My Mother Do That!</a></i> and <i><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/ROADWORKS-9781921529535" target="_blank">Roadworks</a></i>, which won the Picture Book
category in the 2009 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children & Young
Adults. Brian was recently long-listed for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Award for
his work on <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/DEMOLITION-9781921529269" target="_blank"><i>Demolition</i></a>.</span><br />
</span></span></div>
</span></span></span>Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-11574109599271672772013-08-07T14:00:00.000+10:002013-08-07T14:00:02.895+10:00Father's Day Pick: My Dad Still Thinks He's Funny<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1370307100765.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1370307100765.jpeg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: start;">Peta Jinnath Andersen
is an Online Consultant for Walker Books Australia. Her absolute,
forever-and-ever favourite children's books are <i>Guess How Much I Love You</i>, <i>A Bit Lost</i>, <i>Howl's Moving Castle</i>, <i>A Wrinkle in Time, A Monster Calls, </i>and <i>Winnie-the-Pooh</i>.</span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Father’s Day is
almost upon us again – it is just three weeks away. In our family, there are
gifts (socks, homemade cards, books, something incredibly-tasty-but-very-unhealthy-and-cholesterol-raising),
a meal, sometimes a walk, and, always, dad jokes.</span></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’ve been
fascinated by dad jokes for a long time. After all, they’ve been around as long
as…well, as long as Dads. But what makes a dad joke a dad joke?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Is it the groan-worthy
punchlines?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Is it the
unadulterated joy of dads everywhere as they deliver groan-worthy punchlines?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Or is it simply
that a dad’s jokes never change, because even after years, Dad still thinks
he’s funny?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Truly, I’m not
sure.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">More
importantly, though, as an adult I’ve come to appreciate dad jokes. They are a
quintessential dad thing. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I've told you
fifty million times, don’t exaggerate</i>.) When life does its lemony thing and
you’re left with a pile of citrus one side and are completely out of sugar on the
other, a true dad will be right there with you, cracking a joke about it being
all right, because you’re sweet enough. And therein lies the brilliance of the
dad joke: sure, they’re groan-inducing, but, for a split second at least, they’re a
laugh-worthy reminder that we are loved. </span></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWU6B8fkKWb_YFChmycK-N4PQE0JgSGz-MdqP7iGN7LVsmbF_GLT5XfVemgTOe_agBbHymVdPUHIfLBhxR2cwUTrDy6et9jkO3wyAbrhbUtHI26bimWkyuDqdxhtKEPtxd9aO71GHUVU/s1600/My+Dad+Still+Thinks+He%27s+Funny+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWU6B8fkKWb_YFChmycK-N4PQE0JgSGz-MdqP7iGN7LVsmbF_GLT5XfVemgTOe_agBbHymVdPUHIfLBhxR2cwUTrDy6et9jkO3wyAbrhbUtHI26bimWkyuDqdxhtKEPtxd9aO71GHUVU/s640/My+Dad+Still+Thinks+He%27s+Funny+1.png" width="540" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Text © 2013 Katrina Germein/Illustration © 2013 Tom Jellett.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This Father’s
Day, we’ll eat, drink, and hand over the requisite pair of argyles. We’ll also
retell some old chestnuts – there is something wonderful to be said for
well-worn jokes, because they are warm and cosy, like a favourite pair of
slippers – and perhaps read a few new ones. After all, it might be possible –
<i>might</i> – to teach an old dad new tricks.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/MY-DAD-STILL-THINKS-HES-FUNNY-9781742032320" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/MY-DAD-STILL-THINKS-HES-FUNNY-9781742032320" target="_blank">Learn more about <i>My Dad Still Thinks He’s Funny</i> here</a>, or hop over to read more about its bestselling companion, <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/MY-DAD-THINKS-HES-FUNNY-9781742031217" target="_blank"><i>My Dad Thinks He's Funny</i></a>.</b></span></span><br />
<br />
Bestselling picture book author Katrina Germein writes stories
that delight children and adults alike. In 2011 Katrina's book <i>My Dad Thinks He's Funny</i> was
short-listed for children's choice awards across Australia as well as
being Highly Commended in the Prime Minister's Literary Awards.<br />
<br />
Tom Jellett's books have included: <i>Hot Stuff </i>by Margaret Clark, <i>Fuzz the
Famous Fly</i> by Emily Rodda, and <i>Australia at the Beach</i>, a picture book
by Max Fatchen. Tom now lives in Sydney and works as an illustrator for <i>
The Australian</i>. <i>My Dad Thinks He's Funny</i> was shortlisted in the 2011 APA Design Awards.<br />
</div>
Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-71532753773090820472013-08-05T14:30:00.000+10:002013-08-05T14:30:00.061+10:00Corinne Fenton Shares Her Love For Picture Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98rH1AdQ7VkFHMcn0xC5vMpCpCaj74Clgew0VMxXWRO8qz5Ekw-cYjt3WjaD_39xuFY4RZ0naT6CDFNQqNqhH6omC8X4ztGNQvYyQq-lLdZ8J-2wRgeVZuYWSJX6IH8OeEmcwS9wGI2U/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98rH1AdQ7VkFHMcn0xC5vMpCpCaj74Clgew0VMxXWRO8qz5Ekw-cYjt3WjaD_39xuFY4RZ0naT6CDFNQqNqhH6omC8X4ztGNQvYyQq-lLdZ8J-2wRgeVZuYWSJX6IH8OeEmcwS9wGI2U/s200/048.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: justify;">Corinne Fenton is the author of 25 books for children but her passion is picture books about social history. Her classic picture book </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: justify;"><i>Queenie: One Elephant’s Story</i></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: justify;">, illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe, was an Honour Book in the 2007 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards. </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: justify;"><i>The Dog on the Tuckerbox</i></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: justify;">, also illustrated by Gouldthorpe, was named a Notable Book in two categories of the 2009 CBCA Awards. </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: justify;"><i>Flame Stands Waiting</i></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: justify;">, illustrated by Sebastian Ciaffaglione, was on the 2011 Queensland Premier’s Reading Challenge. Corinne has also published many educational books, some translated into other languages.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">For me the best way I can describe my passion for picture books is by reminding everyone that picture books can be read and shared by 0–95 year olds. I regularly speak to babies and pre-school groups about my picture book <i>Hey Baby!</i> and, at the other end of the spectrum, to seniors groups about <i>Queenie: One Elephant's Story</i>, <i>The Dog on the Tuckerbox</i> and <i>Flame Stands Waiting</i>. <br /></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETgOsKFtEzz9AcoCIgvbxyP_opPYoI0ODbjn7krlYRAEELK5IGE5Pf9mfq9j6l7O96HJKHe4UegYNtnmQUwXYw8vrlj3uYNAeCyB8CM3z7C72Odw-kD2tKgGJbxnfAr-bqRlvnlcPISk/s1600/Sandown-Probus-Club-008-380x285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETgOsKFtEzz9AcoCIgvbxyP_opPYoI0ODbjn7krlYRAEELK5IGE5Pf9mfq9j6l7O96HJKHe4UegYNtnmQUwXYw8vrlj3uYNAeCyB8CM3z7C72Odw-kD2tKgGJbxnfAr-bqRlvnlcPISk/s200/Sandown-Probus-Club-008-380x285.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Whether
it's the joy of watching a baby smile at the images of baby animals (in
<i>Hey Baby!</i>) or watching an elderly lady sigh as she remembers her ride
on Queenie, 80 years ago, the feeling for me is the same. Only picture
books can do that.</span></span>Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-85427041555723431442013-07-31T14:00:00.000+10:002013-07-31T14:00:01.091+10:00Sneak Peek: Helping Little Star, by Sally Morgan and Blaze Kwaymullina<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaVuUHk_HqIz4SY4GG37s6Fs7CWVdg7_YGJA68-RqEGDyq3es2YWzlmTeRbumUaKpddfic8zasCCDukL6nU6dqt4Plfdg0uWQFpLcTSi112Z82yklu1fzgkKXDVuHzT-bu36eUysrIu8/s1600/Helping+Little+Star+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1365112138749.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1365112138749.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
When Little Star falls off the edge of Night Sky, he meets Python,
Dingo and Kangaroo. Will his new friends be able to help him get home?<br />
<br />
From an award-winning mother and son team.
<br />
<h2>
</h2>
Blaze Jake Kwaymullina loves writing children's books and
hearing kid's opinions of books. He also enjoys working in the area of
oral history and helping people get their stories told. He currently
works as a lecturer.<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaVuUHk_HqIz4SY4GG37s6Fs7CWVdg7_YGJA68-RqEGDyq3es2YWzlmTeRbumUaKpddfic8zasCCDukL6nU6dqt4Plfdg0uWQFpLcTSi112Z82yklu1fzgkKXDVuHzT-bu36eUysrIu8/s1600/Helping+Little+Star+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaVuUHk_HqIz4SY4GG37s6Fs7CWVdg7_YGJA68-RqEGDyq3es2YWzlmTeRbumUaKpddfic8zasCCDukL6nU6dqt4Plfdg0uWQFpLcTSi112Z82yklu1fzgkKXDVuHzT-bu36eUysrIu8/s320/Helping+Little+Star+1.png" width="320" /></a>Sally Morgan is both a writer and a visual artist. Sally loves
animals and is passionate about the Australian bush. Sally has written
books for both children and adults. Her autobiography, <i>My Place</i>, is an
Australian classic. It has been published in a special children's
edition called <i>Sally's Story</i>. Together with her adult children, Sally
wrote the Stopwatch series. Sally is a respected visual artist whose
work has won international acclaim. She is represented in galleries in
Australia, US and elsewhere. Sally is a descendant of the Palyku people
of the Pilbara region of northwest Western Australia.<br />
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<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/HELPING-LITTLE-STAR-9781921977770" target="_blank">Learn more about <i>Helping Little Star</i> here</a>. </div>
<br />Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-19722057433873176772013-07-17T13:45:00.000+10:002013-07-17T13:45:12.576+10:00Reading Traditions: What Are Yours?<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1196884754438.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1196884754438.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; text-align: start;">Peta Jinnath Andersen
is an Online Consultant for Walker Books Australia. Her absolute,
forever-and-ever favourite children's books are <i>Guess How Much I Love You</i>, <i>A Bit Lost</i>, <i>Howl's Moving Castle</i>, <i>A Wrinkle in Time, A Monster Calls, </i>and <i>Winnie-the-Pooh</i>.</span> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">It
was my son’s birthday recently; as always, I gave him books. (Books are
included in pretty much every gift I ever give.) Friends of mine also gave him
books – they have a lovely tradition of choosing a book each from their
childhood, then passing it on.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">While
telling me about her book purchase, my friend told me how she had come to buy
the book in a marvellous store, and spent quite some time perusing picture
books on top of a stuffed mushroom, which took her straight back to reading
time with her parents, and sharing that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Reading
time is always valuable; I have strong memories of reading with my parents, and
later my grandparents and brother. I also have wonderful, candescent memories
of reading with my son, from the first day of his life ‘til now. (I have read
to him every day of his </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">life.) But my friends’ tradition made me wonder: how many
other reading and bookish traditions do we carry around as a culture? How many
are centred around children, and children’s books?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">My
own personal habit – I have not been doing these long enough to name them tradition, I suspect – is to give a copy of <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/OWL-BABIES-0744531675" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Owl Babies</i></a> to newborns, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Witch of
Blackbird Pond</i> to teenage girls. My parents’ was to always read fairy
tales, something I have continued with my son. Another friend <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/ALL-PIGS-ARE-BEAUTIFUL-PBK-AND-CD-9781406343632" target="_blank">listened to books on tape</a> in the car on long journeys; her children now do this with their
children. In our house, there are certain books we read regularly, or on a
specific date, because they are meaningful (we read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Owl Babies</i> on Mir’s half-birthday; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Julius Caesar </i>on the Ides; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Green
Eggs and Ham</i> for my birthday; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Arabian
Nights</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Winnie-the-</i>Pooh every
August; and so many more).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Are
there books you always give as gifts? Are there particular books you read, over
and over? Or a special place that you read, or have read, with your children?</span></div>
Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-43358757950316404512013-07-10T14:30:00.000+10:002013-07-10T14:30:02.467+10:00David Lloyd Recites From A Favourite Picture Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/-E_DFKYXjcM/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-E_DFKYXjcM?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-E_DFKYXjcM?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-49144339026418019082013-07-03T14:30:00.000+10:002013-07-03T14:30:04.241+10:00Sneak Peek: A Little Election<div class="separator" style="border: none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1372311674888.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A Little Election, Danny Katz and Mitch Vane" border="0" height="182" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1372311674888.jpeg" title="" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
The federal election is almost here - and along with it, a reissue of Danny Katz and Mitch Vane's <i>A Little Election</i>. It's a lovely introduction to politics for children five and up.<br />
<br />
One day at lunchtime, Rory decides to become the Prime Minister because
then he can do anything he wants. Which then leads to class election...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9igRLIhuZ1aP5VsFLXo-kVG-En2UHUrNzQX4Xh1_r1zoXkKQq5sNd27bSide2S06IpwEDjdnku6HwhMSA1uyenCrFm0Lgk5rSEXBoKIRLCXnNXpMenhoqQetvj6R8FPJKXx8YxB9r7s/s1058/ALittleElection2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="A Little Election, Danny Katz and Mitch Vane, spread 1" border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9igRLIhuZ1aP5VsFLXo-kVG-En2UHUrNzQX4Xh1_r1zoXkKQq5sNd27bSide2S06IpwEDjdnku6HwhMSA1uyenCrFm0Lgk5rSEXBoKIRLCXnNXpMenhoqQetvj6R8FPJKXx8YxB9r7s/s400/ALittleElection2.png" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
But can you become the Prime Minister if you show
everyone your undies?<br />
<br />
Danny Katz is a newspaper columnist for <i>The Age</i> and the <i>Sydney Morning
Herald</i>, and is famous for his larger-than-life characters. <br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuJ0GC7bU31XOu-hhmz-r6ZKoBgUMY254xPnU9ddcb_ok2pWGxwzxJyLLPL6_Lz8dvFdsk4QDycO7liD_0EdqXVyFZYjbuW_zIxGI9o03K93LS_-MxQLMPV97I4dJl4GiufBufvs4XGU/s1052/Screen+Shot+2013-07-03+at+11.43.53+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A Little Election, Danny Katz and Mitch Vane, spread 2" border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuJ0GC7bU31XOu-hhmz-r6ZKoBgUMY254xPnU9ddcb_ok2pWGxwzxJyLLPL6_Lz8dvFdsk4QDycO7liD_0EdqXVyFZYjbuW_zIxGI9o03K93LS_-MxQLMPV97I4dJl4GiufBufvs4XGU/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-03+at+11.43.53+AM.png" title="" width="400" /></a> Mitch Vane has illustrated many children's books, including the Little
Lunch series, A Little Election and The Patch. She hates to draw
straight lines!</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/A-LITTLE-ELECTION-9781922179654" target="_blank">Read more about <i>A Little Election</i> here</a>.<br />
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<br />Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-83163775425446984722013-06-26T14:00:00.000+10:002013-06-26T14:00:03.132+10:00Bob Graham Talks About "A Bus Called Heaven"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1363038957805.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1363038957805.jpeg" width="221" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Body_00201__Char" style="font-size: 12pt;">This month, Bob Graham</span>’<span class="Body_00201__Char" style="font-size: 12pt;">s latest award-winning picture book, <span class="Body_00201__Char" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">A Bus Called Heaven</span>, is out in paperback. Here, Bob tells us a bit about where the book came from; next week, we</span>’<span class="Body_00201__Char" style="font-size: 12pt;">ll have a post on how he got started with picture books.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Body_00201__Char" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where did <span class="Body_00201__Char" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;">A Bus Called Heaven</span> come from?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">There's a bus with </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">“</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Heaven</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">”</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"> on it, which I had noticed on the way to pick</span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">up my grandchildren, as I do every Thursday afternoon. It's parked alongside the road. I passed that for about three weeks, became increasingly interested in it, and I asked my granddaughter Rosie about it, because it was parked right opposite her best friend Olive's house. And she said "Oh yes, we've had a look inside."</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1196894567918.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/statics/dyn/1196894567918.jpeg" width="215" /></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times,serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">I said "Oh, really?"</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">"Yeah."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">"Well, what was inside?"</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">She said</span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"> "Oh, a lot of candles burning in there."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">And right then, the thing that interested me most of all, was not so much the bus itself or what was inside, but the image of the small child, on tiptoe, trying to peer into the windows of a bus with </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">“</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Heaven</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">”</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"> written across it.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">And that was the thing that I came home and put into my notebook and that was really the starting point of the book.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">And it kind of</span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"> … </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">it went on from there</span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Body_00201__Char" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How does it continue on?</span></span></div>
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<span class="Body_00201__Char" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mean it's - the process is one that I guess, as with most people writing stories, I mean you sit down there and you have a beginning, and I ask myself what happens next, what happened before, what happened afterwards, how does it, how does the whole thing sort of travel and in that, as I often say, there's a lot of looking out the window over the houses opposite and filling in the story with words, sometimes with pictures, and patching them together pretty much...I work it out as a I go along. I have a lovely old time, I do.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Body_00201__Char" style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You make it sound like a perfect daydream.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Body_00201__Char" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, it's kind of my hobby, I love doing it, I enjoy it. And can't think whatever else I could do now.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Body_00201__Char" style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/A-BUS-CALLED-HEAVEN-9781406343717" target="_blank">Read more about <i>A Bus Called Heaven</i> here</a>.</span></span></div>
Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-83842609115124686192013-06-21T12:57:00.002+10:002013-06-21T12:57:46.414+10:00Anna Branford Reads from VIOLET MACKEREL'S PERSONAL SPACE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Author Anna Branford reads one of her favourite pieces from <i>Violet Mackerel's Personal Space</i>. <a href="http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/VIOLET-MACKERELS-PERSONAL-SPACE-BK-4-9781921529207" target="_blank">Learn more about the book, and Anna, here</a>.Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732004675333079706.post-23024826573860366282013-06-19T15:38:00.001+10:002013-06-19T15:38:19.693+10:00Anna Branford Discusses Violet Mackerel, Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Walker Books Australiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07748058865833538168noreply@blogger.com2