Do you like reading fantasy, adventure, action or horror stories? Cristy Burne has a writing workshop for kids who want to write their own! The workshops start on Monday 7 May and run for 6 weeks at the Victoria Park Centre for the Arts.
(If you know a grownup who likes writing, there are workshops for grownups, too!)
Check out Cristy Burne’s blog for all the details or email her with your questions. Get writing!
Lightning Jack by Glenda Millard and illustrated Patricia Mullins. Published by Scholastic Australia, ISBN 9781741693911.
(A review copy of this book was sent to us by the publisher.)
Sam Tully dares to ride the midnight horse, Lightning Jack—a stockman’s horse, a flying horse, a daring horse, a dancing horse. On the back of such a horse, magnificent feats are accomplished.
This tale is a modern-day bush ballad. The rhythm of the words keep the story moving along, like the galloping horse and—along with the poetic language—this makes Lightning Jack a fantastic book for reading out loud.
The illustrations feature the colours and scenes of the outback and capture the adventurous spirit of horse and rider. (The imprint page states that the illustrations are ‘created entirely from paper, meticulously blending coloured tissue, Japanese and Indian papers.’ Perhaps you could have a go at creating your own outback scene using torn papers.)
Like many good bush ballads, this tale has an unexpected ending. A great Australian picture book—add this one to your ‘must read’ list!
Today we have National Year of Reading Ambassador Tania McCartney visiting Soup Blog as part of her blog tour to celebrate her new book Australian Story: An Illustrated Timeline.
You might know Tania as the author of the Riley and the Grumpy Wombat: A Journey Around Melbourne (and her other Riley books!). In Australian Story she takes us on a trip into the past—from the explosive beginnings of our planet to modern day Australia.
Earlier today we posted a review of Australian Story. Now Tania is here to give us 10 reasons why history is exciting. Over to you, Tania!
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One of my biggest aims in writing Australian Story was a far-flung idea that I wanted to make history ‘cool’ for school kids. Most kids would look at the subject of history and not in any way, shape or form, associate it with ‘cool’. I know I didn’t when I was a kid, so yes, my cool-seeking goal was certainly a big one.
I do, however, think that maybe—just maybe—I’ve succeeded.
Australian Story isn’t your typical history book. First of all, it’s mostly pictures—and we all know how much fun picture books are; even us big kids know that.
Secondly, it’s light on text—so it doesn’t bog you down with those boring facts and figures that go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on—almost as long as this sentence.
Thirdly. It’s exciting. That’s right. Its entries have been hand-selected, like the choicest cherries on the supermarket pile, and they are just the most delicious bites of action, fun, terror, invention, shock, sweet, sour, romance, achievement, winning, losing and yes yes yes—cool.
And now [DRUM ROLL!] Here is an exclusive sneak peek at two pages inside Australian Story!
Writing Australian Story, for me, made history not only cool but exciting. And here are 10 reasons why I think history is making a major comeback because it’s sooooo exciting.
1. It tells the truth (well, as far as we know, anyway). And the truth is always stranger and more bizarre and more eye-opening than fiction.
2. It’s oftentimes unbelievable. Did you know, for example, that in 1859, a farmer released 24 rabbits into the wild near Geelong, and these 24 rabbits became the fastest multiplying mammals in world history!? Unbelievable. But true.
3. It reveals where we’ve been—but also where we’re going, and it’s always exciting to look towards the future and all the breathless possibility that lies ahead.
4. It sheds light on how things came to be and how we have come to know them today. For example, the humble lamington may just be a chocolatey/coconuty cake to you, but where did it get its name? Why, it was named after Lord Lamington, the Governor of Queensland during the 1890s, of course! Don’t you know anything?
5. It makes us realise how little we know about our country and how it formed. Knowing these things and being able to tell your friends or even better—your parents—all these really cool facts is a very exciting thing indeed, especially when it impresses them (and it will).
6. It’s a snapshot of our achievements—and for such a small population, we have certainly achieved a lot, including the creation of both the bionic ear and artificial skin, offering the first round-the-world air service, and the claiming of almost half of Antarctica, excuse me.
7. History allows us to learn from our past—and hopefully do even better, and make better choices. Looking back helps us understand what NOT to do. Well, that’s the hope, anyway. Understanding how people did things a long time ago—and comparing it with how we live now is kind of awesome (and certainly makes us appreciate where we are now!).
8. It makes us feel. Whether it be laughter, shock, pride, anger, appreciation or even crying our eyes out (how embarrassment), when we hook up with history, we are guaranteed to feel a range of emotion —and that’s what good books are all about.
9. It’s worth celebrating. No country has a perfect past, but we have much to celebrate and much to look forward to and work towards. We are quite possibly the finest example of successful multiculturalism in the world. And if that’s not cause for celebration, I don’t know what is.
10. It’s entertaining, especially when done in a way that’s memorable and fun. Not many topics can both educate and entertain at the very same time, but history absolutely can. Now, that’s exciting. And, dare I say it—cool.
© Tania McCartney, 6 March 2012
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Check out the other stops on the Australian Story Blog Tour!
Monday 5 March
Blog Tour Schedule and Book Giveaway
Kids Book Review
Book Launch Party Wrap-Up
Tania McCartney’s Blog
Book Giveaway
Alphabet Street
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Tuesday 6 March
Book Review
Buzz Words
buzzwordsmagazine.blogspot.com
Australian Story Research Process
DeeScribe
deescribewriting.wordpress.com
Book Review and 10 Reasons Why History is Exciting
Soup Blog [You’re here!]
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Wednesday 7 March
Australian Story Teaching Notes for Key Stage I
Sheryl Gwyther’s Blog
sherylgwyther.wordpress.com
Book Review and Teaching Notes Ideas for Key Stage II
The Book Chook
Book Review
Kids’ Book Capers
content.boomerangbooks.com.au/kids-book-capers-blog
Image-Sourcing for Australian Story
Blue Dingo
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Thursday 8 March
Book Review
Reading Upside Down
Book Review
Pass It On
jackiehoskingpio.wordpress.com/school-magazine
Book Review
Bug in a Book
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Friday 9 March
Book Giveaway
HerCanberra
The Writing Process for Australian Story
Sally Murphy’s Blog
Book Review
Books for Little Hands
booksforlittlehands.blogspot.com
Book Review
ReadPlus
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Saturday 10 March
Book Review
Kids Book Review
Book Giveaway
Posie Patchwork Blog
posiepatchworkblog.blogspot.com
Book Review
Suite 101
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Sunday 11 March
Book Review
My Little Bookcase
Book Giveaway
Australian Women Online
Blog Tour Wrap-Up
Tania McCartney’s Blog
Australian Story: An Illustrated Timeline by Tania McCartney.
Published by National Library of Australia, ISBN 9780642277459.
(A review copy of this book was sent to us by the publisher.)
Follow Australia’s history on a timeline from Earth’s beginnings until 2010.
Every page of Australian Story is packed full of facts, dates and interesting bits of information—everything you ever wanted to know about Australia from long, long ago until today. Read this book and everyone will be begging you to join the quiz night team as the Expert on Australia. (Only agree if someone on the table brings lamingtons … )
The timeline is illustrated with artwork, photos and maps from the National Library of Australia. There are images of postage stamps, old magazine covers, Australian money (see what the $1 note looked like!), old posters, flags and an image of Captain Cook’s handwritten list of Indigenous words. And there’s lots more, too.
Do you know the answers to these questions?* (See if your mum and dad know.)
What is the name of the last volcano to erupt on the Australian mainland?
Who designed the Aboriginal flag?
What was the name of the first recorded European to land on Australian soil?
When was the first Melbourne Cup horse race held?
Who was Australia’s first Prime Minister?
Which Australian creature featured on the two-cent coin?
*You’ll find all the answers to these questions in Australian Story.
This is a book that we highly recommend for Aussies of all ages.
(You can WIN a copy of Australian Story. In fact, you have two chances. Chance 1: Head over to the Kids Book Review blog. Chance 2: Head over to the Alphabet Street site. Good luck!)
Entries close 12 APRIL 2012
Imagine your favourite folktale or fairytale has been rewritten as a newspaper article. Create the perfect headline for that article! (We only need a headline. You do not need to write the article.)
You can enter as many times as you like, but each entry must include a separate competition entry form. This may be printed from the website (see competition rules), photocopied, or contact us to have one emailed or posted to you.
Your entry can be handwritten or typed. Make a copy of your entry as we cannot return entries.
A $20 book voucher is awarded to the winner in three age categories: Under 7s, Under 9s, and Under 12s.
Yesterday was Family Day at the Perth Writers Festival and we had a brilliant time wandering about the grounds of UWA listening to free talks and bumping into authors and illustrators of our favourite books.
Here’s a photo of other people who were also wandering about enjoying the literary goodness of the day. ———————————————————————->
We started the day in the tropical grove listening to Cristy Burne talking about school camping trips and Japanese horror stories (it turns out there’s not much difference). James Roy was giving out some good writing tips to keen young writers in his audience. Mark Greenwood and Frané Lessac had their audience roaring with laughter, stamping feet … and throwing plastic fruit … as they performed the story of The Greatest Liar on Earth—their new picture book. There were also baby animals to help launch Karen Blair‘s book Baby Animal Farm (and cupcakes, too). And heaps of other author and illustrators talks which we didn’t get to because we were so interested in each session we kept forgetting to duck out halfway through to check out the others that were running at the same time. (OOPS—did you go to any others? Let us know what you thought in the comments!)
Here’s a photo of Briony Stewart, author of the Kumiko and the Dragon series.
(She looks like she’s singing opera in this shot, but actually she’s talking about the bravery of the characters in her story.)
And a shot of author and comedian Oliver Phommavanh signing a copy of Thai-riffic! for us.
And we just had to take a photo of this art installation by Korean artist Choi Jeong Hwa. It is called Breathing Flower and it was floating on the reflection pond at Whitfield Court. It’s HUGE and amazing to look at. And it’s there for the Festival of Perth (not just the Writers Festival) but we reckon it makes a good writing prompt for a story or poem …
If you’re in Perth, did you go to Family Day this year? Who were your favourite speakers? (Was there anyone else you wish was a speaker?)
If you are a teacher, librarian, teacher-librarian, or any grownup who loves children’s books (and who doesn’t?!) on 8 March you should head along to A Night With Our Stars at Westbooks in Victoria Park.
Twenty children’s (and YA) authors and illustrators will each have 3 mins to speed-talk about their books published last year. It’s an annual event run by the Children’s Book Council of Australia WA branch and it’s open to the public. Here’s a list of the fabulous speakers:
Tickets are $25 and you can pay at the door on the night, but you do need to book. For more info (and booking details) see the CBCA WA website.
NB This is not an event for children. (Sorry—we’ll let you know about more kid-friendly events soon!)
(Westbooks also stock Alphabet Soup magazine. What a top bookshop!)
For each issue of the magazine (going back to issue 7), we will add activities and a themed listening list to the ACTIVITIES tab—you’ll find the tab at the top of the blog.
The theme for this issue is PAPER. Enjoy!
ISSUE 14—AUTUMN 2012
for Issue 14—PAPER
1. DECORATE a greeting card using mosaics in paper.
You will need:
Coloured paper and/or unwanted magazine and newspaper pages
Scissors
White runny glue
A blank card (or fold a piece of paper or card in half to create your own)
What to do:
Cut the coloured paper, magazine pages and newspaper pages into little pieces. Sort them into piles of similar colours.
Draw a simple picture on your blank card. Then glue on the little pieces of paper to ‘colour in’ the picture. Overlapping pieces is OK. Or you might like to leave a tiny white border around each piece you glue on, like tiles on a mosaic.
When all the coloured paper is glued on, paint a thin layer of glue over the pieces, to seal it. Set it aside to dry.
Now you have a home-made card for the next friend or family member with a birthday!
2. MAKE PAPER DOLL CHAINS (or gingerbread men chains).
Make paper doll chains (or gingerbread men chains): You could use your paper doll chains to decorate a card or wrapped present, or you could swap chains with a friend. If you’ve never made paper doll chains before, check out this website for some instructions.
3. PLAY Rock Paper Scissors
This is a very old game and a fun way of deciding something like who will have the first turn on the trampoline today. You need two people to play. The players sit opposite each other and hold their hands closed (make a fist). Together they count ‘one, two, three’ and then each extends a hand in front of the other player, showing a rock, paper, or scissors shape.
Rock—hand remains as a fist
Paper—hand is held flat with the fingers all together
Scissors— thumb, ring finger and pinky fold under and the pointer and middle finger stretch out like scissors cutting
If the players both have the same shape, it’s a tie, and you’ll have to go again! But if they have different shapes, here are the rules:
Rock can beat scissors. (Rock makes scissors blunt)
Paper can beat rock. (It can wrap it up)
Scissors can beat paper. (It can cut it)
4. PENCIL & PAPER GAMES.
You probably already know about Noughts and Crosses. But there are HEAPS of other games you can play with only a pencil and paper. Check out this website for instructions—the next time you’re waiting for your sister to finish hockey training or your brother to finish band practise, grab a pencil (and another player) and the time will fly!
5. WRITE a letter to someone far away.
Then post it. Everyone loves to get a letter in the mail, and they might even write back to you.
6. ENTER our Autumn writing competition.
All you have to do is come up with a fabulous newspaper headline! Find all the details on how to enter here.
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Our listening list is compiled by Danielle Joynt, from Cantaris. Danielle has also included comments for some of these pieces. (Tip: Ask about CDs at your public library—libraries often have a good collection of CDs for loan if you prefer not to buy.)
1. THE LOST ART OF LETTER WRITING
The Lost Art Of Letter Writing is a four-movement concerto for violin and orchestra written by the Australian composer Brett Dean.
2. ORIGAMI
3. DUO DIORAMA
Activities and listening list for issue 13 (summer 2011) unavailable
See the activities and themed listening list for issue 12 (spring 2011)
See the activities and the themed listening list for issue 11 (winter 2011)
See the activities and the themed listening list for issue 10 (autumn 2011)
See the activities and the themed listening list for issue 9 (summer 2010).
See the activities and the themed listening list for issue 8 (spring 2010).
For our summer writing competition, we asked you to write a poem and include the word ‘dragon.’ Here is the winner in the last age category—the Under 12s.
A reminder: always check the rules of the competition. If you don’t stick to the rules, we have to disqualify your entry and that makes us sad!
Under 12s winner: F Apel (QLD)
MY DRAGONS
My little dragon is not a fright
Because she never plays in sight;
Talks all night and sleeps by day;
In my mind she likes to play.
My other dragon is big and mean,
Slimy, smelly, scaly green.
Breathes out smoke that makes me choke;
He’s a scary dream.
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For our summer writing competition, we asked you to write a poem and include the word ‘dragon.’ Here is the winner in the Under 9s section.
A reminder: always check the rules of the competition. If you don’t stick to the rules, we have to disqualify your entry and that makes us sad!
Under 9s winner: L Massey (VIC)
DRAGON
My brother wants a dragon, a green one for he
Why do you want a green dragon?
To hide among the leaves
My friend wants an orange dragon, an orange one will do
Why do you want an orange dragon?
To see the fire it can spew
I want a rainbow dragon, a rainbow one for me
Why do I want a rainbow dragon?
Cos it’s the best you see!
alphabetsoup.net.au 