Posted in National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (15 June)

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, we are sharing some fabulous first lines from the books on our bookshelves. (Every Friday you’ll find another fabulous first line here on Soup Blog. Try to guess the book it’s from. Would you read on? Perhaps you can use it as a writing prompt … if it were your own first line, where would your story go from here?)

Now for today’s Fabulous First Line*:

 

Until he was four years old, James Henry Trotter had a happy life.

 

 

*For the purposes of Fabulous First Line Friday, we’re counting the first line as the first line of chapter 1 in any book. So if there is an introduction or an author’s note or something before chapter 1, we don’t count that bit …

 

The book is James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl..
Posted in competitions, info

Winter 2012 writing competition

Entries close 12 JULY 2012

Boy writing. Artwork copyright Greg MitchellWrite a story no longer than 500 words (shorter is fine). Your story should include the word ‘orange’.

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.

Posted in National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (8 June)

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, we are sharing some fabulous first lines from the books on our bookshelves. (Every Friday you’ll find another fabulous first line here on Soup Blog. Try to guess the book it’s from. Would you read on? Perhaps you can use it as a writing prompt … if it were your own first line, where would your story go from here?)

Now for today’s Fabulous First Line*:

 

The first thing Shy remembered was living in a round, dark, leafy nest with her mother and brother, Spur.

 

 

*For the purposes of Fabulous First Line Friday, we’re counting the first line as the first line of chapter 1 in any book. So if there is an introduction or an author’s note or something before chapter 1, we don’t count that bit …

 

The book is Shy the Platypus by Leslie Rees.
Posted in Book reviews by kids, teachers' resources, Yidarra Catholic Primary School

Book Review: Jade McKade

Jade McKade, by Jane Carroll, illustrated by Virginia Barrett, ISBN 9781903207161, Omnibus Books

Reviewed by Sophie, 9,  Yidarra Catholic Primary School*, WA

Jade McKade (cover)

I read a book called Jade McKade. It was a good book.

The story is about a little girl that didn’t want to go to school. She said all the way on the bus “I don’t want to go to school”. It is set in their house but it is also set at school. In the middle of the book, Jade gets the chickenpox.

I would recommend this book for people who don’t want to go to school! My favourite part was when her sister was teasing her. People from grade 1 to 5 would enjoy this book.

I give this book around about 4 to 5 stars.

"Undercover Readers Club logo"* Yidarra Catholic Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. The book reviewed here was Sophie’s own copy.

Posted in Book reviews by kids, National Year of Reading, teachers' resources, Yidarra Catholic Primary School

Book Review: The Big Split

Here is the second of the book reviews sent in by some fantastic readers at Yidarra Catholic Primary School.*

Go Girl! : The Big Split, by Rowan McAuley, illustrated by Sonia Dixon, ISBN 9781921098093, Egmont Books

Reviewed by Indiana, 9,  Yidarra Catholic Primary School*, WA

The Big Split (cover)

I read a book called The Big Split. It was very interesting.

The book was about a family who splits up. So the kids, Holly and Faith, wagged a day of school. The setting is in the forest near a big waterfall.

I would recommend it for people who like to read about other people. I would give it a 9 out of 10 starts. My favourite part was when they tricked their mum into thinking that they were at school.

I would recommend it to year 2 and over.

"Undercover Readers Club logo"* Yidarra Catholic Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. The book reviewed here was Indiana’s own copy.

Posted in National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (1 June)

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, we are sharing some first lines from books on our bookshelves. So, every Friday for the rest of the year we’re posting a fabulous first line here on Soup Blog.

Here’s today’s Fabulous First Line*:

 

The day that Leo Zifkak became the owner of the music box, his life changed forever.

 

Do you want to read on? What do you think comes next?

The title of the book is right at the end of this post so you can try to guess it first.

*For the purposes of Fabulous First Line Friday, we’re counting the first line as the first line of chapter 1 in any book. So if there is an introduction or an author’s note or something before chapter 1, we don’t count that bit …

 

The book is They Key to Rondo by Emily Rodda.
Posted in Book reviews by kids, National Year of Reading, teachers' resources, Yidarra Catholic Primary School

Book Review: Hide That Horse

Over the next few days we are pleased to feature book reviews by some keen readers at Yidarra Catholic Primary School. Our first visitor is Sophie. Over to you, Sophie!

Hide That Horse, by David Metzenthen, illustrated by Leigh Hobbs, ISBN 9780143304494, Puffin Books

Reviewed by Sophie, 9,  WA

I read a book called Hide That Horse. It was written by David Metzenthen and illustrated by Leigh Hobbs. I thought it was so funny!

The main characters are Tim, Mr Conroy, and Percy the horse. The story is set in a park, with a great big bridge. Percy is a very small horse so he can hide behind bushes and camouflage with the play equipment. There is also a character called Ranger Dooley. Now, this ranger isn’t a very nice person because she doesn’t allow any farm animals or horses into her park!

I would highly recommend this book to kids between the age of 6 and 10. I personally rate this book 9/10. My favourite part was when Tim had to hide the horse under a branch.

"Undercover Readers Club logo"* Yidarra Catholic Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. The book reviewed here was Sophie’s own copy.

Posted in Book reviews by Rebecca

Book Review: Jake’s Concert Horror

Jake’s Concert Horror by Ken Spillman and illustrated Chris Nixon. Published by Fremantle Press ISBN 9781921888755.

A review copy of this book was sent to us by the publisher.

Jake's Concert Horror (cover)

When Mrs Paul announces that the class will be putting on a musical play, Jake imagines himself in all sorts of cool roles—a pirate, a monkey, a robot with a silver-painted box over his head.

But when he hears what the play will be, he’s not impressed.

 

Yuk, Jake thought. Why couldn’t she choose something about pirates?

 

But it’s even worse when he finds out what his part is in the play. As the date of the performance gets closer he gets more and more worried.

This is another book in the Jake series—and, as usual, you’ll find Chris Nixon’s fun illustrations on every page. These books are great for kids who are just starting to read chapter books. If you’re already a fan, you’ll love this next book in the series (but you don’t have to read the other books in the series before reading this one. It’s great on its own.)

Everyone worries about something. Jake’s Concert Horror is a book about overcoming your fears.

© May 2012 “Review of Jake’s Concert Horror by Ken Spillman & Chris Nixon” by Rebecca Newman (Alphabet Soup magazine)

Look here for a review of an earlier Jake book, Jake’s Great Game.

Posted in National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (25 May)

To celebrate the National Year of Reading, we are sharing some first lines from books on our bookshelves. So, every Friday for the rest of the year we’re posting a fabulous first line here on Soup Blog.

Here’s today’s Fabulous First Line*:

When I was a kid I HATED gardening.

Do you want to read on? What do you think comes next?

(We’ll put the title of the book right at the end of this post so you can try to guess it first.)

*For the purposes of Fabulous First Line Friday, we’re counting the first line as the first line of chapter 1 in any book. So if there is an introduction or an author’s note or something before chapter 1, we don’t count that bit …
The book is How to Guzzle Your Garden by Jackie French.