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 poetry, Soup Blog Poetry Festival

Time for a poem: The Duel

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

THE DUEL

by Eugene Field

 

The gingham dog and the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat;
‘T was half-past twelve, and (what do you think!)
Nor one nor t’ other had slept a wink!
The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat.
(I wasn’t there; I simply state
What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)

The gingham dog went “bow-wow-wow!”
And the calico cat replied “mee-ow!”
The air was littered, an hour or so,
With bits of gingham and calico,
While the old Dutch clock in the chimney place
Up with its hands before its face,
For it always dreaded a family row!
(Now mind: I’m only telling you
What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)

The Chinese plate looked very blue,
And wailed, “Oh, dear! what shall we do!”
But the gingham dog and the calico cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled that,
Employing every tooth and claw
In the awfullest way you ever saw —
And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
(Don’t fancy I exaggerate —
I got my news from the Chinese plate!)

Next morning, where the two had sat
They found no trace of dog or cat;
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole that pair away!
But the truth about the cat and pup
Is this: they ate each other up!
Now what do you really think of that!
(The old Dutch clock it told me so,
And that is how I came to know.)

Posted in competitions, poetry, Soup Blog Poetry Festival

Alphabet Soup’s 2014 poetry comp for kids

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Think of something that scares you … or something that scared you when you were younger. (Sometimes ordinary things can seem very scary to someone small.)  Write a poem about it. Your poem should be no longer than 20 lines (shorter is fine!).

You must include an official cover sheet with your entry:

 

DOWNLOAD COVER SHEET HERE.

 

Your poem can be handwritten or typed.

The winning poem will be published on Alphabet Soup’s blog and the winner will receive one $30 bookstore voucher (posted to the address provided on the entry).

Entries (poem + cover sheet) may be posted to Alphabet Soup, PO Box 3099, Broadway Nedlands WA 6009. (Entries must be posted in time to reach us by the closing date.)

OR

Entries (poem + cover sheet) can be scanned and emailed as PDFs or .docx documents only to editor@alphabetsoup.net.au. Entries must be emailed in time to reach us by the closing date.

KEEP A COPY OF YOUR POEM because all entries and contact information will be destroyed after the winner is announced.

—

Some fine print:

  • The competition opens on Saturday 25 October 2014 and closes at 11.59pm (Perth time) on Tuesday 25 November 2014.
  • This competition is open to children aged 12 or younger on 25 November 2014.
  • This competition is open to residents of Australia only.
  • Immediate family members of Alphabet Soup’s paid employees are not eligible to enter this competition. (Children who contribute book reviews to Alphabet Soup’s website are not considered to be employees.)
  • To enter, you must write a poem about something that scares you, or something that scared you when you were younger. Your poem should be no longer than 20 lines (shorter is fine).
  • The poem must be all your own work. Poems that are copied from someone else (plagiarism) will be disqualified.
  • Entries must include the the official cover sheet with its signed declaration (see above to download).
  • You may enter as many times as you wish, but each entry must include its own completed cover sheet (see above to download).
  • One winner will be chosen and will be notified by email or by telephone as per the info on your cover sheet.
  • The winner’s poem will be published on Alphabet Soup’s website and the winner will receive one $30 bookstore voucher — posted to you in the mail.
  • Entries (poem + cover sheet) may be posted to Alphabet Soup, PO Box 3099, Broadway Nedlands WA 6009. OR Entries (poem + cover sheet) can be scanned and emailed as PDFs or .docx documents to editor@alphabetsoup.net.au.

Privacy statement:

Alphabet Soup will never pass your information on to anyone else, except where required by law. All entries and personal information will be destroyed at the end of the competition.

Happy writing!

Posted in Soup Blog Poetry Festival

Alphabet Soup’s Poetry Festival starts today!

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Poetry Festival

Today is the start of Alphabet Soup’s Poetry Festival for 2014. Over the next month we’ll feature interviews with children’s poets, reviews, giveaways poem-writing tips, and poems.

We’ll be launching this year’s Festival shortly with a poetry competition for kids. The winner will have their poem published here on Alphabet Soup’s blog and will also win a $30 bookstore voucher — so flex those typing fingers and sharpen those pencils! We’re really looking forward to your masterpieces arriving in the Alphabet Soup letterbox. (We love getting mail almost as much as we love poetry.)

And now … let the poem fun begin!

 

 

Posted in Book reviews by Celine, Book reviews by kids

Book review: The Broken Sun

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

The Broken Sun by Darrell Pitt (A Jack Mason adventure: Book 3), ………ISBN 9781922182166, Text Publishing.

the broken sun

REVIEWED BY CELINE, 12, WA

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

Jack and his friends witness a ghastly robbery of a priceless item from the museum. This crime is soon followed by yet another, of The Broken Sun, an ancient relic that apparently leads to New Atlantis. Mr Doyle, a detective who is training Jack and his friend Scarlet, is shocked by the news that Phillip his son, who had been thought to be deceased for so long, could still be alive.

When Gloria, Mr Doyle’s receptionist, is pricked by a mysterious thorn that results in an almost fatal coma, Jack and his friends feel that they must find New Atlantis with the help of the Broken Sun to find a cure for her. Will they survive this risky journey, and who is so desperate to find the Broken Sun that they are willing to murder?

The Broken Sun is a thrilling book, with historic and futuristic elements in it. I particularly enjoyed chasing the enemy in Jack’s shoes.

This book is recommended to boys aged 11 and up, who like a twist of mystery and eccentric girls who like to read boyish books. I would give it a rating of 8/10.

Posted in poetry, Soup Blog Poetry Festival

The return of Alphabet Soup’s Poetry Festival!

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Last year we held our first ever Poetry Festival, right here on the website. Hold onto your hats — it’s back! From 25 October when you visit our website you’ll find interviews, book reviews, tips and hints, interesting links, giveaways and of course … poems! (October is also our birthday month — what a fabulous month to celebrate poetry.)

And here’s a cheery poster to make it look official:

Poetry Festival

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Book reviews by Matilda

Book review: The Lost Girl

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

The Lost Girl by Ambelin Kwaymullina, ill. Leanne Tobin, ISBN 9781921529634, Walker Books Aust

the lost girl

REVIEWED BY MATILDA, 8, WA

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

This is a story about an Aboriginal girl who wandered away from her big family one day. She called and called and then she found she’d lost her way and she needed to find her own way home.

I love the illustrations because they make me feel sad for the girl. I also liked that on every page the pictures show lots of Australian plants and animals in the Australian bush. Even though she is lost, she’s a very clever and sensible girl not to panic. She looks for Mother Nature’s help to find her way back to her family.

I think kids aged 5+ will enjoy this picture book.

–

Matilda is one of our regular book reviewers. Her most recent review (if you don’t count this one) was of  Meet Daisy. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Book reviews by Pippa

Book review: Plenty

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Plenty by Ananda Braxton-Smith, ISBN 9781742032429, Black Dog Books

Plenty

REVIEWED BY PIPPA, 12, WA

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

10-year-old Maddy has always lived on Jermyn Street, but now her mum and dad are making her move to a town called Plenty. She has to leave behind her best friend Sophie-Rose, her school, and the fairy wall in her house.

At the new school everything is different and she has no friends. The teachers are called by their first names. No-one understands how Maddy feels. Grace Wek (a refugee) seems to be different from everyone else though — could she and Maddy have something in common?

I enjoyed this book because it explored Maddy’s sense of identity and what it means to call a place ‘home’. When I read it, it reminded me of my own experience moving house and schools a few years ago.

I think this book is aimed at a younger audience than me, and 9 to 12 year olds would enjoy reading Plenty. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

–

Pippa is one of our regular book reviewers. Her most recent review (if you don’t count this one!) was Crooked Leg Road.  If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in info

TOP READS recommended by our young reading team (September)

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

What time is it? It’s time for our team of keen readers to share their TOP READS for the month — the best book each of them read during September 2014. If you need just the right book to read in the school holidays, these books come highly recommended:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Two of our Young Readers are away on holidays and out of contact — we look forward to sharing their October reads with you in a month!

Posted in info

Young Writers in Action: Gary the Gritty Camel Loses his Glasses

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

GARY THE GRITTY CAMEL LOSES HIS GLASSES

by Bailey, 8, QLD

One day Gary the camel was going to the River Nile for a bath.

“I hate grit. It’s in my ears, my fur, my mouth and in my hair. It’s everywhere!” complained Gary as he trudged down to the river. Just as he was stepping in to take a bath, his glasses slipped off! “Oh dear! Now I’ll have to get a new pair of glasses”, said Gary. So off he went to the shops at Cairo to get some new glasses.

Without his glasses, Gary had a lot of trouble seeing clearly. Not before long Gary came to a Hairdresser.

“Can I buy some glasses please?” asked Gary.
“Sorry”, said Kerri the Hairdresser.  “We don’t sell glasses but I can give you a haircut”.
“Okay” said Gary, feeling disappointed.

BUUZZZZ! In no time at all he had a new haircut. Then he thanked Kerri the hairdresser and off he went to find some glasses.

After a while Gary found a Beauty Parlour.

“Can I buy some glasses please?” asked Gary.
“Sorry”, said Tina the Beautician. “We don’t sell glasses but I can shampoo and perfume your fur for you”.
“Okay” said Gary disappointed.

SCRUB, SCRUB, SQUIRT!!! In no time at all he had his fur washed and perfumed. Gary thanked Tina the Beautician, and then off he went to buy some new glasses.

Ten minutes later, he came to a hat shop.

“Can I buy some glasses please?” he asked Terry the Hatter.
“Sorry” said Terry. “We don’t sell glasses but I can make you a hat?” offered Terry.
“Okay” said Gary disappointed. TAP! TAP! TAP! In no time at all, Gary had a new hat. He thanked Terry the Hatter, and then off he went to find some new glasses.

As he entered the next shop, he was sure he’d found the glasses shop.

“Can I buy some glasses please?” asked Gary.
“Sorry”, said Bronwyn the Tailor. “We don’t sell glasses but I can give you some clothes”.
“Okay”, said Gary still feeling disappointed. Suddenly the sweet smell of lollies wafted up his nose. So he thanked Bronwyn the Tailor and off he went following that sweet smell.

In the lolly shop Gary bought a Gobstopper.

“Be very careful with it”, said Chris the Candy Man. “You don’t want to break a … ” But it was too late; Gary had already broken his tooth.

“Ouch! That hurts!” Gary howled to Chris the Candy Man as he left the shop.

When he finally got over the pain of his broken tooth, Gary came to another shop.

“Can I buy some glasses please?” Gary whimpered to the receptionist behind the counter.
“Sorry”, said Dali the receptionist. “We don’t sell glasses but I can get Cameron the Dentist to fix and clean your teeth”.
“Yes, please,” said Gary, feeling relieved. Not before long Gary had sparkling clean teeth.

He thanked Cameron the Dentist who said, “I know an Optometrist called Peter, he’s a friend of mine. I’ll take you to see him”. And with that, they headed off to meet Peter the Optometrist.

Finally Gary had found the right place to buy a new pair of glasses. Without delay, he chose a smart and shiny new pair, and looked in the mirror. He was surprised to see the camel staring back at him. His hair was trimmed, his ears were clipped, his fur was washed and perfumed. He had a new hat, a brown and blue shawl and his teeth were clean and sparkling. He was no longer a spitty, nitty, gritty camel. Now he was Gary the spunky, funky, hunky camel! He wasn’t disappointed anymore, he was delightedly distinguished!

The End