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Young Writers in Action: Living in a Tree House

LIVING IN A TREE HOUSE

by Georgia, 9, NSW

 

Unknown to others, a beautiful garden hides behind Georgia’s house. At the bottom of her garden, water trickles like a tinkling wooden chime across the mossy rocks of a creek. A little bridge allows her to walk between two lily pad covered ponds.   Within each pond, little squirmy black tadpoles hide underneath the water lilies. The flowers can be a golden yellow or a pretty pink. Sometimes, Georgia can see tiny little green frogs hopping on the leaves.

Beside the ponds, was a large wooden tree house, covered in vines and sweet smelling jasmine. Walking up the rope ladder was eight year old Georgia. Georgia’s blue eyes were as bright as the sky, and her blonde hair was tied in plaits with beautiful red ribbons.

Georgia loved being outside so much that she had convinced her parents to move her bedroom into her large tree house. Her parents had even put a smoke alarm in it. Her bedroom was in her favourite spot as no one could see her.

On this day, Georgia climbed the ladder into her tree house bedroom to get ready for a sleepover with her best friend Emma. Strangely, Emma did not arrive.  Georgia sat looking out the window, wondering why Emma was late. Emma and Georgia loved sleepovers in her tree house because they  could have delicious midnight feasts, without any parents finding out.

Georgia played in her garden for a while and had a lovely spin on her tyre swing. She then went back into her tree house. As she reached the top of her ladder and pushed the door open, she expected to see and feel the warmth of her tree house bedroom. To her surprise her room wasn’t there! Another completely different room was in its place.

Georgia was about to start reading a book when the fire alarm in her tree house went off. She looked down at her wrist, only to find that her silver charm bracelet was glowing red and getting hotter by the second. Georgia looked frantically around and saw a shiny silver bucket. She looked into the bucket and was relieved to see that was full of cold water. She poured the water on her wrist, and to her surprise she noticed a secret message on it. It didn’t hurt, but she was very surprised. She looked closely and saw that that the message said “close your eyes and turn around”. So she did.

As she stood there with her eyes closed, she heard a strange chorus … “Open your eyes”.

“What are you all doing here?” she cried.

“Surprise!” they yelled, “did you forget it was your birthday?”

Peeping behind Emma, were all of her other friends.

“How exciting” said Georgia. “What a happy surprise!”

Georgia had a wonderful party and loved how her friends had gone to so much trouble to make her happy. She loved a good surprise!

They all slept in her lovely tree house and had a huge and wonderful midnight feast together.


This is Georgia’s first story posted to Alphabet Soup. If YOU would like to send us a book review, story or poem —  check out our submission guidelines.

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TOP READS: October 2015

It’s the last day of October, and we’re on the home stretch to the end of the year! The last day of the month means — of course — it’s time to share our Top Readers’ recommended reads. These are books the team enjoyed most during October.

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reading Team* on the last day of every month. If you missed last month’s, don’t forget to check out the September 2015 Top Reads.

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

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TOP READS (September 2015)

Here we are at the end of the month again, and most of you are now on school holidays (hooray!). That means it’s time for some book recommendations from our Top Reading team:

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reading Team* on the last day of every month. If you missed last month’s, don’t forget to check out the August 2015 Top Reads.

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

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Book launches in WA, VIC, QLD, and NSW

It’s time for some spring book launches — here are a few to get the season started:

WA, VIC, NSW BOOK LAUNCHES

My Dead Bunny

This is a hilarious rhyming tale about a zombie bunny who comes back to visit his owner. Sketches and illustrations will be exhibited at the WA launch and The Dead Bunny will also be in attendance at all three launches.

WA Launch

When: 6pm for 6.30pm start, Wednesday 30 September 2015.

Where: The Place”, Mezzanine Level, State Library of WA.

RSVP essential: email James Foley.

VIC Launch

When: 12–3pm, 10 October 2015.

Where: Federation Square Markets (Books Illustrated Stall), VIC

NSW Launch

When: 3.30pm–3.55pm, 27 September 2015.

Where: Illustration Annex at Writers in the Park Festival (Free entry!) at Centennial Park, Sydney.

Includes ‘illustrators duel’ with three illustrators.


NSW BOOK LAUNCH

Forest Wonder

Forest Wonder is a rhyming picture book for 0 to 6 year olds and celebrates nature, magic and imagination. Come along for a storytime session and meet the author and illustrator.

When: 10.30am, Wednesday 9 September 2015.

Where: Snowprint Bookshop, Shop 6–8, 141 Snowy River Ave, Jindabyne NSW.


QLD BOOK LAUNCH

Meet Sidney Nolan

Come along to the launch of picture book Meet Sidney Nolan. There will be kids’ craft and art activities, too.

When: 10am, Sunday 4 October 2015.

Where: The Mad Hatters Bookshop, Shop 3, 7 Day Markets, 50 Cambridge Pde, Manly Harbour Village, QLD.

RSVP: (07) 33935130


Why go to a book launch? Here are ten reasons why you should!

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TOP READS (August 2015)

It’s spring here in Perth and it even feels spring-ish — warm days, blue skies (mostly!) and birds singing or twittering outside the windows at Alphabet Soup. A change of season (and a change of month) means it’s time to change those books stacked up by your bed. Here are some brilliant books recommended by our Top Reading team.*

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reading Team on the last day of every month. If you missed last month’s, don’t forget to check out the July 2015 Top Reads.

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

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More book launches! (August 2015)

‘Tis the season for book launches (and we do love a book launch!). Check these out if you live in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, or Queensland …

VICTORIA

My name is Lizzie Flynn — A Story of the Rajah Quilt by Claire Saxby and Lizzy Newcomb

My Name is Lizzie Flynn (cover)

Come along to the launch of My Name is Lizzie Flynn — A Story of the Rajah Quilt.

When: 6.30pm until 8pm, Wednesday 19 August 2015.

Where: The Gallery, Williamstown Library, 104 Ferguson Street, Williamstown, Victoria.

RSVP: Bookings by phoning 1300 HOB LIB


 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Bob the Railway Dog by Corrine Fenton and Andrew McLean.

Bob the railway dog (cover)

Come along to the SA launch of Bob the Railway Dog by Corinne Fenton and Andrew McLean.

When: 2pm, Sunday 23 August 2015.

Where: National Railway Museum, 76 Lipson St, Port Adelaide, SA.

RSVP for catering: corinneking @bigpond.com


 

TASMANIA

Underneath a Cow by Carol Ann Martin and Ben Wood.

Underneath a Cow (cover)

Come along to the launch of Underneath a Cow by Carol Ann Martin and Ben Wood — afternoon tea, storytelling, craft, music. Children especially welcome!

When: 2pm Sunday 23 August 2015.

Where: The Southern Swan, 12 Mary St, Cygnet, Tasmania.

RSVP: no need to RSVP, just go along!


 

QUEENSLAND

Fearless with Dad by Cori Brooke and Giuseppe Poli

Fearless with Dad (cover)

Come along to the launch of Fearless with Dad by Cori Brooke and Giuseppe Poli.

When: 2pm, Saturday 29 August 2015.

Where: Where the Wild Things Are, 191 Boundary St, West End, QLD.

RSVP: events @avidreader.com.au


Why go to a book launch? Here are ten reasons why you should!

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TOP READS (July 2015)

With the school holidays behind us, it’s a great time to find out what our Top Readers were reading during July. If you’re looking for a great read — here’s a pile of books for your bedside, recommended by Australian kids!

You’ll find a recommended list from our Top Reading Team on the last day of every month. If you missed last month’s, don’t forget to check out the June 2015 Top Reads.

*All our Top Readers are kids aged 13 and under. No grownups allowed!

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Book launches: August 2015 VIC and WA

Two more book launches — if you live in Victoria or WA, mark these dates on your calendar!


 

VICTORIA

Come along to the launch of Bob the Railway Dog by Corinne Fenton and illustrated by Andrew McLean. This picture book tells a heart-warming true Australian story. This is a well-known legend in SA and a statue of Bob can be seen in the Adelaide Station.

Bob the railway dog (cover)

When: 11am, Saturday 1 August 2015

Where: The Railfan Shop, 4 Churchill St, Mont Albert, VIC (opp. Mont Albert Railway Station)

RSVP: by 29 July 2015 to corinneking[at]bigpond.com


 

WA

Sister heart (cover)

Come along to the launch of Sally Morgan’s new book Sister Heart, to be launched by Ambelin Kwaymullina. Sister Heart is a verse novel aimed at 10 to 15 year olds.

‘ [a] personal and approachable conversation-starter about the Stolen Generations for mature young readers.’
— Bookseller + Publisher.

When: 6pm, Wednesday 6 August 2015

Where: New Edition Bookshop, 41 High St, Fremantle WA (cnr Henry St)

RSVP: Entry is free but places are limited and must be reserved in advance by contacting admin[at]fremantlepress.com.au or 9430 6331. Only those who RSVP will be allowed entry on the night.

New Edition has pledged to donate a percentage of all books sold at the launch of Sister Heart to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.


 

Why go to a book launch? Here are ten reasons why you should!