Category: info

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Winter 2009 issue OUT NOW!

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Winter issue 2009

Doesn’t a serve of delicious alphabet soup sound like just the thing for this cooler winter weather? The winter 2009 issue of Alphabet Soup is out now!

Inside Alphabet Soup magazine this issue:

  • Q&A with Jo Oliver (author-illustrator of Pilgrim)
  • interview with an Air Traffic Controller
  • Stories, poems and good books
  • Kids writing (poems, stories and book reviews)
  • winners of our autumn writing competition
  • details of our winter writing competition
  • details of our design-a-cover competition
  • and more!

Where can you buy a copy? If you live in Western Australia, you can buy copies at Westbooks children’s bookstore (396 Mill Point Rd, Victoria Park) and   Zero to Ten (330 South Tce, South Fremantle).

You can also order single copies (or subscribe!) from our website www.alphabetsoup.net.au, where you can order online with a credit card, or print off an order form to post in to us with a cheque or money order.

Get reading (and writing)!

Posted in competitions, info

Winter issue out soon!

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Winter is the season to snuggle up under a blanket with something good to read – and maybe something good to nibble on at the same time. Don’t miss the winter 2009 issue of Alphabet Soup magazine – out in mid-May!

Inside you’ll find:

  • a Q&A with Jo Oliver (author-illustrator of Pilgrim)
  • info about what an Air Traffic Controller does
  • book reviews, stories, poems and writing tips
  • the winning entries in our autumn 2009 writing comp
  • the details of our winter 2009 writing comp
  • kids’ writing: book reviews, stories and poems!

You can subscribe (or order your copy of the winter issue) online via the ‘subscribe’ tab on the magazine’s website.

If you haven’t got your hands on a copy of the magazine yet, you can also download a sample copy of an earlier issue from the website’s homepage.

Happy reading!

Posted in info

New Children’s library in Western Australia!

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

FREE EVENT! The State Library of Western Australia is launching its new children’s library, known as ‘The Place.’

Come along to the Kids Day Out at The Place, State Library of WA on Sunday 24 May 2009, 10am to 3pm. Celebrity readers, original picture book art, family reading centre, famous people’s favourite books and a sneak peak tour of the library.

You’ll find the State Library of WA at 25 Francis St, Cultural Centre, Perth City. (3 minutes walk from the train station.)

For further details, refer to the State Library of WA website.

Posted in competitions, info

Writing comp closing on 3 April

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Just a reminder: our poem-writing comp is closing on 3  April 2009. The competition is open to children aged 12 and under, entries are judged in three age categories and there are $20 book vouchers to be won! Plus, the winning entries will be published in Alphabet Soup magazine!

Your poem needs to include the word ‘float’ in it.

For further details, and an entry form, go to the ‘competitions‘ page of Alphabet Soup’s website.

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Wanted: book reviews by children

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Have you read a really cool book that you think other kids would love too?

We are currently considering book reviews by children under 12, for publication in the winter issue of Alphabet Soup, which will be out in May 2009.

If you’d like to send us a book review, you can find guidelines for submitting work on the ‘Writers Wanted‘ page of the the Alphabet Soup website.

We love hearing about your favourite books, so get writing!

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Donate books to schools affected by bushfires

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

This is taken from the Community page on the Borders website: http://www.borders.com.au/community.asp

Help Borders raise $200,000 for the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal. Bring in your second hand good quality books or purchase a new book to donate.

Borders will match the retail price of all donated books up to $200,000, which will go directly to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

Borders will donate all books to schools and libraries in fire affected communities.

A dedicated area for book donations will be provided in store from Monday 23rd February 2009.

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Pancakes! Pancakes!

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

"Pancakes! Pancakes!"As 24 February 2009 is Shrove Tuesday (also known as Pancake Tuesday, and Mardi Gras), we thought we’d talk about a favourite book from our shelves: Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle.

This picture book has Carle’s characteristic illustrations and tells the story of how a boy, Jack, goes about making a pancake from scratch. This includes using a sickle to cut the wheat, grinding the wheat to flour, gathering eggs, milking the cow, churning the butter and pulling a jar of jam from the shelves in the cellar.

We read our copy every year in the lead up to Shrove Tuesday and the kids find it fascinating. (Would you go to so much work just for a pancake?)

Happy pancake making – and eating!

This book selected for review from the Editor’s own collection.