Author: Alphabet Soup

This post was added by Rebecca Newman. Rebecca is a children's writer and poet, and the editor of the Australian children's literary blog, Alphabet Soup. For more about Rebecca visit: rebeccanewman.net.au.
Posted in Book reviews by kids, Yidarra Catholic Primary School

Book review: Dulcie and Dud and the Really Secret Secret

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Dulcie and Dud and the Really Secret Secret by Carol Ann Martin, ill. Janine Dawson. ISBN 9781862915114, Omnibus Books

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

Dulcie and Dud (cover)

I read a book called Dulcie and Dud and the Really Secret Secret. It was just plain weird!
The story is about two young children called Dulcie and Dud. The setting is mainly at school. They live in a town called Waddigong—it is a beautiful town but something fishy goes on every time I read this book!
I recommend this book to kids who want to know what happens next?! My favourite part is when people kept on asking “Who’s muriEl?” and Dulcie said “You’ll see!”
People who are in grade 1 to 4 would love this book. I’d give it five stars!

–

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

Posted in competitions, National Year of Reading

Win 4 books by Peter Carnavas!

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
Little Treasures pack (covers)
WIN THIS BOOK PACK!

* This giveaway has now closed. Winner announced soon.*

 

In the winter issue of Alphabet Soup, we feature author-illustrator Peter Carnavas. (Read his Q&A—including his advice for young writers and artists—in our earlier blog post.)

GOOD NEWS! We’re very excited to have 4 of his books to give away to one lucky reader, thanks to New Frontier Publishing

The ‘Little Treasures‘  pack includes a mini-sized version of Jessica’s Box, Last Tree in the City, The Important Things, and Sarah’s Heavy Heart.

Our winter issue also celebrates the National Year of Reading. So, for your chance to win, leave a comment under this post and recommend a favourite picture book you think everyone should read. (Favourite books published long ago or just last week are equally welcome). We will draw the winner at random at 7pm EST on Friday 6 July 2012.

Fine print: We can only post the prize to an Australian address. (You are welcome to enter from overseas if you can nominate an Australian postal address.) We will announce the winner here on the blog, on Twitter and on Facebook. The winner will have until 14 July 2012 to contact us and provide an address. If we have not heard from the winner by 14 July 2012, we will draw a new winner. Good luck!

Posted in Book reviews by Rebecca

Book review: Once There Was a Boy

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Once There Was a Boy written & illustrated by Dub Leffler. Published by Magabala Books, ISBN 978 1 921248 37 5.

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

Once there was a boy (cover)

A boy lives all alone in a boat, on an island. One day, suddenly, there is someone else on the island. She eats all his sapotes. She sleeps in the hammock. He asks her not to look under the bed while he is away collecting more sapotes—but she is too curious and she does look under the bed …

This is a picture book about friendship and sharing, and how strange it is that friendship can mean happiness and also disappointments sometimes.

The illustrations really show the beauty of the island, and the stillness and sadness of the boy. I especially love the colours of the ocean and the way shadows appear in many of the illustrations. There is sense of peace at the end—and a feeling of hope.

Dub Leffler says:

“I wrote Once There Was a Boy to show kids that boys have feelings too … ”

© July 2012 “Review of Once There Was a Boy by Dub Leffler” by Rebecca Newman (Alphabet Soup magazine)
Posted in National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (29 June)

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

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*:

“Who cares about Australia?” Henri muttered.

Do you want to read on? The title of the book is at the end of this post …

*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 Do Not Forget Australia by Sally Murphy, ill. Sonia Kretschmar.
Posted in Book reviews by Celine

Book Review: Rotters and Squatters

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Fair Dinkum Histories: Rotters and Squatters (1820 – 1850), by Jackie French, ill. Peter Sheehan, ISBN 978741693157, Scholastic Australia

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

Rotters and Squatters (cover)

Rotters and Squatters is the third book of the series ‘Fair Dinkum Histories’ written by Jackie French. No one wants to read a boring history book but this is not just about Australian history. Rotters and Squatters includes funny jokes and illustrations. I’ll quote a few:

‘Are you idle?’

‘No, I’m Sebastian.’

‘How do you make an apple crumble?’

‘Torture it for 10 minutes.’

‘It’s the votes that should count not the Counts that should vote!’

Who ever knew Australia was full of deserts and almost impossible not to perish on the journey through the Great Australian Bight? Guess who completed the journey? Have you heard of Edward Eyre?

Learn about Yagan the Noongar man from Western Australia and how he was decapitated and taken back to England for display. It was offensive and it is history.

My opinion about this book is that it is intriguing yet fun to read. The book is suitable for Year 4s and up. I will give it a rating of 7/10.

–

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

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Yidarra Catholic Primary School

Book review: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan, ISBN 9780141329994, Penguin UK (Puffin)

Reviewed by Mosaia, 9,  Yidarra Catholic Primary School, WA

Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief (cover)

The story is about a boy called Percy. He finds out that he is a half blood—half god, half human—son of Poseidon, one of the big three.

After he gets expelled and survives an attack from the Mighty Minotaur, he gets taken to Camp Halfblood where he learns to sword battle with a mysterious boy called Luke, and shoot arrows with his used-to-be Latin teacher that’s now a centaur, Chioran. When Choiran tells him about Zeus’s stolen lightning, he is sent on a quest with his best friend, Grover, and half blood daughter of Athena, Annabeth, to retrieve it.

I absolutely love this book and recommend it to kids from 9 to 15. I think anyone who likes Harry  Potter will love this book!

–

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

Posted in National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (22 June)

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

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*:

 

On the outskirts of a tiny little town was a neglected garden.

 

Do you want to read on? The title of the book is at the end of this post …

 

*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 Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (our version is illustrated by Lauren Child)
Posted in National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (15 June)

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

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

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

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.