Posted in poetry, Soup Blog Poetry Festival

Time for a poem: Old Man Platypus

Old Man Platypus by AB (Banjo) Paterson

Far from the trouble and toil of town,
Where the reed beds sweep and shiver,
Look at a fragment of velvet brown —
Old Man Platypus drifting down,
Drifting along the river.

And he plays and dives in the river bends
In a style that is most elusive;
With few relations and fewer friends,
For Old Man Platypus descends
From a family most exclusive.

He shares his burrow beneath the bank
With his wife and his son and daughter
At the roots of the reeds and the grasses rank;
And the bubbles show where our hero sank
To its entrance under water.
Safe in their burrow below the falls
They live in a world of wonder,
Where no one visits and no one calls,
They sleep like little brown billiard balls
With their beaks tucked neatly under.

And he talks in a deep unfriendly growl
As he goes on his journey lonely;
For he’s no relation to fish nor fowl,
Nor to bird nor beast, nor to horned owl;
In fact, he’s the one and only!

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Today is the first day of the Soup Blog’s Poetry Festival — until the end of August we’ll be posting poems, interviews with children’s poets, tips for reading and writing poetry, and Poetry Prescriptions.

Posted in poetry, Soup Blog Poetry Festival

Soup Blog Poetry Festival

festival streamers and party blowersHave you already been enjoying your winter school holidays? Here in WA we are JUST STARTING our school holidays this afternoon. It’s great holiday weather in Perth. As I look out my window I can see blue, blue skies.

In addition to being in a holidayish mood, I am very excited to announce that we are holding a poetry festival right here on Soup Blog. For the rest of July and all of August we will be celebrating poetry and poets. Bring all your friends! Bring your teachers! Bring your grandparents! Bring your dog!

What will be happening during our poetry festival?

I’m so glad you asked. We’ll have tips for reading poetry, we’ll be sharing some poems we love (oldies but goodies), talking to a number of Australian children’s poets about their writing, and every Tuesday we’ll offer you a tiny poem challenge. We’ll also feature Poetry Prescriptions from our visiting children’s poets — poetry is good for the soul!

When does this festival start?

On Monday 8 July 2013! Be sure to check back then. We’ll be launching the Soup Blog Poetry Festival with the very first poem we published in Alphabet Soup magazine. (I wonder if any of you can remember what it was?) On Tuesday we’ll have our first tiny poem challenge for you. And on Thursday we’ll have a first of our Australian poets visiting — Jackie Hosking.

See you then!

~ Rebecca (Soup Blog’s editor)

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Book reviews by Pippa

Book review: The Amazing Spencer Gray

The Amazing Spencer Gray by Deb Fitzpatrick, ISBN 9781922089328, Fremantle Press

Reviewed by Philippa, 11 (A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.)

The Amazing Spencer Gray (cover)

Spencer Gray, his mum and dad, and his younger sister Pippa live in the country, near Perth. Spencer’s dad loves to fly in a glider over the mountains and Spencer is finally old enough to join him. His mum is not so sure about him going, and then one rainy night Spencer and his dad don’t come back after a flight. It seems that no-one knows where they are or if they are hurt …

I like the pictures this story paints in your mind and the excitement and fear of Spencer’s flights in the glider. You may have read part of this book serialised in the West Australian — and I can recommend reading this longer book version. I think The Amazing Spencer Gray is suitable for 9 to 12 year olds who like a bit of adventure.

Posted in Book reviews by Rebecca

Book review: Drongoes

Drongoes by Christine Bongers, ill. Dan McGuiness, Omnibus Books, ISBN 9781862919822

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

Drongoes (cover)

Jack really wants to beat Rocket Robson in the cross-country race this year. Jack’s best mate Eric has a different goal — he just wants to finish the race for a change. (Eric gets asthma and has trouble breathing if he gets nervous or too tired.) They hatch a plan, to help each other with training so that they are as ready as they can be. The day of the race finally rolls around. Jack feels good. Eric feels optimistic. Rocket Robson is as nasty as ever …

Fun and action-packed, Drongoes is a bit like a famous fable (clever readers might recognise which one). The colour illustrations, in a cartoon/comic book style, really suit the story.

This is a new title in the Mates series of early chapter books.

© June 2013 “Review of Dronges” by Rebecca Newman (https://soupblog.wordpress.com)
Posted in info

July School Holiday activities (NSW)

Here are some fabulous-looking workshops for young writers and illustrators in NSW. (We wish we could go!)

1.       Writing with Deborah Abela

A Transylvanian Tale by Deborah Abela
Ghost Club: A Transylvanian Tale by Deborah Abela

Author Deborah Abela will be leading a writing workshop for students in Years 3-6  at The Children’s Bookshop as their Writer in Residence.

Explore the writing process, focusing on creating charismatic characters and sensational settings!

Activities will be hands-on and fun!

When: Thursday 11 July 2013,  9–12.30pm

Where: The Children’s Bookshop, 6 Hannah St, Beecroft NSW

Cost: check with the bookshop—by email or phone 9481 8811

 

2.       Creating Spooking Houses with Sarah Davis

Sounds Spooky (cover)
Sounds Spooky: illustrated by Sarah Davis

In this hands-on workshop for children in grades 3–6, you will make a paper diorama of a haunted house with Sarah Davis, illustrator of Sounds Spooky. Design character cutouts and set up and photograph little dioramas with spooky lighting. Go home with a photo print, and your house and characters.

When: Tuesday 9 July 2013, 9–12.30pm

Cost: $50 per student. All materials provided. Book early!

Where: The Children’s Bookshop, 6 Hannah St, Beecroft NSW

How to Book: check with the bookshop—by email or phone 9481 8811

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3.       Let’s Go to the Circus

Share the stories and adventures of the world of the Circus, enjoying craft and art activities based around this theme. And there is a prize for the best dressed Circus participant!

Workshop Leader : Jocelyn Shute is a talented Infants Teacher and a great friend of The Children’s Bookshop.

 When: Wednesday, 10 July 10 2013 , 9–11am For Children Ages 5-7

Where: The Children’s Bookshop, 6 Hannah St, Beecroft NSW

Cost: $30 per student. All materials provided. Book early!

How to Book: check with the bookshop—by email or phone 9481 8811

Posted in info

Out of the box (What we’re reading)

It’s a sunny winter’s day in Perth today and I’m raiding the reading stash from the box under my desk.

I have to say it’s one of my favourite ways to spend a Thursday (or any day, really!) … what’s in the reading stash at your place?

– Rebecca

Book covers - Drongoes, Bumper Book of Pets and other Animals, Guinea Pig Town and other Animal Poems

 

Posted in illustrator

July Cartooning workshop (WA)

 Cartooning Around with James Foley

In the Lion (cover)Join cartoonist James Foley for an introduction to creating your own kooky comic strips. James drew the cartoons in the Quokka for many years. He also illustrated The Last Viking, and wrote and illustrated In The Lion.  While you are at the Arts Centre, you can check out James’s illustrations from In the Lion in the heARTlines exhibition.

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WORKSHOP DETAILS
When: 1pm – 4pm, Tue 9 July 2013

Where: Mundaring Arts Centre, 7190 Great Eastern Highway, Mundaring WA 6073

Ages: 9 – 13

Cost: $20 (or $15 members of Mundaring Arts Centre)

Bookings essential, places are limited. To book, ring Mundaring Arts Centre on 9295 3991.

To download the full HeARTlines program for 2013, go to the Mundaring Arts Centre website.

Posted in Uncategorized

Found! A story by 7-year-old Saahil

We love reading your stories, poems and book reviews. Last week Saahil from Yidarra Catholic Primary School sent us this exciting adventure story. Read on …

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Found! by Saahil, 7

One day, when I was playing in the school playground with my friend Zack, we suddenly fell into a deep hole. It wasn’t any ordinary hole; it was a hole full of gold.

We fell in with a CRASH and a BANG! We looked around this unusual place for a while, and then Zack said “Where are we?” I said that we were in one of the pyramids in Egypt.

Zack asked again, “How did we get in the pyramid?”

I replied “I think we fell into the hole that we were digging.”

When it was getting dark, Zack and I called out for help, but no one answered. We were left here in the dark by ourselves.  The next day, we heard a crack on the wall. Somebody was mining in the pyramid. The archeologist was an Australian man. His name was Max. We found out that the archeologist was a friendly man. He worked for an Australian Mining Company in Egypt. Max helped us out of the pyramid. He wanted to know where we were from. I said that we were from Perth, Australia. So, Max called the taxi to the airport. Max found the flight back to Perth and we flew back there. Our parents were searching everywhere for us. The government told our parents that we were on a flight back to Perth. Our parents found us at the airport and took us home. Zack and I were happy to be home.

Posted in competitions

Autumn 2013 writing comp winners

We had so much fun reading through all your entries about superpowered mums. Congratulations to these three winners (and their super amazing mums!).

Under 7s winner — Genevieve C, QLD

Mum’s Magic Red Rocket Shoes

My mum can fly. Yes that’s right she can fly because she has red high heeled rocket shoes!

Mum flies to help people.

When there were bushfires, mum helped the firemen and flew in the air with buckets of water to put out the fires.

But Mum had an accident last month and her heel broke walking down the stairs at school. All the rocket fuel leaked out. Her rocket shoes stopped working.

Mum needed to get her rocket fuel shoes fixed. The rocket shoes were made in China.

Mum could drive to China but it is a long way and there are no bridges.

Mum could go on a plane but that would take a long time.

Because I am only small I told Mum I could wear one of the rocket shoes and fly to China to get it fixed.

But I have never been to China and don’t know how to speak Chinese. How would I know where to go or what to do?

I called my best friend Holly because she lived in China before she moved to Brisbane. I asked her to come with me.

Holly and I flew to China that afternoon.

We saw the Great Wall of China.

We saw the factory where they make Apple iPads.

We saw a jewellery shop and then we saw the shop that sells rocket shoes. They told us where to find the shop where they fix rocket shoes.

Holly and I flew back home with Mum’s rocket shoe fixed.

Now that Mum has her red rocket shoes fixed she helps people in trouble again.

She flew a little girl who broke her arm at gym straight to hospital.

Mum moved the boats in the Brisbane river when the big floods came.

And Mum was flying over Stradbroke Island and saw a dolphin washed up on the beach. Mum flew down and flew it back to its mother. Everyone on the beach clapped and cheered when they saw Mum do this. I am so proud of my mum and her amazing red rocket shoes.

If you are ever in trouble, don’t worry because my mum will fly and help you!

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Under 9s winner — Isabella L, NSW

Maid Mum

I’ve got a mum with super powers and they are … to clean the house really quickly! And this is how I know:

One day I was on my way out of the house. The house was a pig-sty. You see my dad’s job is a shop keeper at an antique shop and nearly nobody goes there so dad brings back stuff that has been there ‘forever’. So, our house is basically full of old bits and pieces.

Anyway, so I’m going out to Jessica’s house (my best friend) for about an hour or two when I see Mum writing down today’s list, my gosh it was long! There were jobs like hanging up 11 rounds of washing, putting on the dishwasher 6 times and other crazy things. I thought she was writing a list for the whole year.

So very amazed I walked out of the house. I told Jessica about the list, she was as surprised as I was. After all the gossip we played Wii sports for an hour and soon enough Jess’s mum got a call for me to go home. I said goodbye and started my journey home.

On the way I remembered the list and power walked the rest of the way home. When I got home I realised the house was all tidy. After a while I told Mum I needed a shower because I was all sweaty from playing Wii. On my way down to the bathroom I quickly ran into Mum and Dad’s room. On Mum’s bedside table I saw her list all ticked off.

After dinner I went to bed. When Mum came in to say goodnight I asked her about the list.

‘I’ve had super powers since you were born,’ she said. ‘You gave them to me!’

‘That’s good,’ I said. ‘Now I don’t have to tidy up!’

So that’s how I know my mum has superpowers and why our house is usually neat and tidy.

Thank you for reading my true story about my mum!

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Under 12s winner — Daisy M, NSW

My Mum’s Super Power!

It can be frightening at the top of The Great Dividing Range. The weather can change quickly; one minute a glorious day and within an hour the weather can close-in with black clouds engulfing our farm. When this change occurs we head home to be safe.

We have warning if we listen and watch the animals. The cows huddle together voting on what the lead cow is saying. The horses also gather for safety, neighing to discuss the weather change.

While riding with Jack, the sky was getting darker. The horses were scared, wild eyed and galloping home. No time to take the horses to the shed, it was important to be indoors before lightning strikes.

Our parents, on the verandah, helped us inside then freed the horses. I shuddered; the lightning was striking the earth. Our farm in drought; dry grass, thirsty lifeless trees, hungry thin animals, all praying for rain not fire from lightning.

We prayed too hard, the rain wouldn’t stop! The river rising rapidly, the island now inaccessible.

Our foal was shivering and alone on the island. How could this have happened? I suddenly remembered I had been riding the mare, of course she was not with her foal! I ran to every window searching for the mare. She was neighing and searching frantically for her foal.

My mother wondered what was wrong. She assured me that animals have a way of finding each other. I knew she was right but how could the mare save her foal from drowning in the flooded river. The water, swirling around dead debris creating strong currents impossible for a new foal to swim in.

I feared the worst. Then saw a Pegasus in the stormy sky travelling towards the shrinking island where the foal stood still, too scared to move. The foal suddenly lay down! I thought she must be dying. Her eyes flickering, she seemed to understand what was happening. The Pegasus flew down onto the foal and amazingly picked up the foal and cradled her in her four strong legs soaring towards the shed and our herd of horses.

The Pegasus gently laid the foal on the ground. The foal quickly rose on its four legs and cantered towards its mother. The mother ran her nose over her foal, it was now safe.

I wondered for years about this strange event, wondering if I dreamt the happening and many other events where our farm animals were in trouble. After my mother died, she left me a beautiful wooden box in her will. Inside the box was a large white feather … I knew now the meaning of the Pegasus and how it always appeared in times of trouble. I thought, I wished I had known of my mum’s super power. Then, I sighed and whispered to myself, WOW! AWESOME! It was my mum who fixed what seemed impossible! I closed my eyes and wondered if I too might have a super power!