Check out our issue 15 ACTIVITIES tab—you’ll find the tab at the top of the blog.
The theme for this issue is the NATIONAL YEAR OF READING. Enjoy!
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.
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.
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
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.
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* Yidarra Catholic Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. The book reviewed here was Sophie’s own copy.
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
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.
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* Yidarra Catholic Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. The book reviewed here was Indiana’s own copy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Writing comp for kids (years 5 and 6)
Random House Australia is running a writing competition for kids in year 5 and 6. It’s called James Patterson’s Random Shorts story competition.
Write an awesome story about school and you can win a $250 book pack. Download an entry form and read the competition rules on the Random House Australia website.
Entries close 30 July 2012.
Fabulous First Line Friday (18 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*:
Abby leaned forward and stared.
Do you want to read on? Try using this as a writing prompt for a story or poem. What happens?
Do you know the name of the book? (We’ll put it right at the end of this post so you can try to guess first.)
alphabetsoup.net.au 