Posted in National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (3 August)

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

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*:

 

Wake up this morning and suddenly remember something absolutely BRILLIANT!

 

Do you want to read on? The title of the book is at the end of this post …

 

*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 Tom Gates: Excellent Excuses (and other good stuff) by L Pichon.
Posted in authors

NSW author/illustrator event (11 August 2012)

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

If you’re in NSW, head over to The Children’s Bookshop in Beecroft on 11 August—there will be lots happening to celebrate National Bookshop Day.

The bookshop will have authors working in the shop window, an artist in residence will be creating some illustrations, there will be book busking, face-painting, a sausage sizzle and balloons.

Schedule for the Morning:

10–10.45am Special Story-Time!

Meet Ursula Dubosarsky who will be reading such books as Too Many Elephants in This House and The Terrible Plop.

Too Many Elephants in This House

11.30am Meet Duncan Ball, author of Selby and Emily Eyefinger. (Selby will also be there to meet the kids.)

selby

10am–12 noon Meet a range of authors in the Living Window—authors will be writing in the window! The Artist in Residence for the morning, Lisa Stewart, will also be working on illustrations in the shop.

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

When: 11 August 2012

RSVP: for the 10am or 11.30am sessions. Ph. 9481 8811 staff@thechildrensbookshop.com.au

Posted in National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (27 July)

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

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*:

 

Ellabeth stood in the centre of the pavilion whirling her fire stick high above her head.

 

Do you want to read on? The title of the book is at the end of this post …

 

*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 Unicorn Riders: Ellabeth’s Test by Aleesah Darlison, ill. Jill Brailsford.
Posted in National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (20 July)

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

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*:

 

There is something about this morning—a quiet in the hills, a shiver in the air—something that prickles the nose of the stockman’s horse.

 

Do you want to read on? The title of the book is at the end of this post …

 

*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 Sam, Grace and the Shipwreck by Michelle Gillespie, ill. Sonia Martinez.
Posted in competitions

Writing comp (WA)

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Warm up those typing fingers—here’s a competition for 8 to 12 year olds in WA.

720 ABC Perth are calling for entries of short stories of no more than 500 words with the trigger of RADIO. Radio must be incorporated somewhere in all stories—whether it is a major part of the story, or it is literally mentioned in the story, it must be featured in some way.

And there are some amazing prizes!

MAJOR PRIZE: Return flights and accommodation to Melbourne (ex-Perth) for the winner and a parent or guardian (includes transfers and meals), $50 spending money, a day of tours at Scienceworks, the National Sports Museum and Melbourne Zoo, special guest representing WA as the Young Reading Champion at the National Reading Hour in Federation Square.

2nd PRIZE: Your height in books!

3rd PRIZE: ABC Shop Gift Voucher

The competition closes on 5 August 2012.

Check out the 720 website for more details and info on how to enter.

Posted in National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (13 July)

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

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*:

 

Keiran O’Grady loved the trams that rattled, day and night, past their tiny flat at Bondi.

 

Do you want to know what happens next? The title of the book is at the end of this post …

 

*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 The Tram to Bondi Beach by Elizabeth Hathorn, ill. Julie Vivas.
Posted in info

Giveaway winner

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Little Treasures pack (covers)Everyone who entered our Peter Carnavas book-pack giveaway nominated wonderful picture books as their ‘must read’ recommendations.

We put all the entrants’ names into a hat and the winner is … KEN WILLIAMS. Congratulations—we know you’ll love these four fabulous picture books by Peter Carnavas! (Please email editor@alphabetsoup.net.au with your postal address, Ken.)

Here’s what Ken said about his nominated picture book treasure:

A favourite book is Waiting for Mummy by Tae-Jun Lee—a Korean classic retold and published by Australian publishers Wilkins Farago. Story is told largely through some amazing illustrations that take me back to my own childhood as an only child waiting for my mother to finish work to tell her about my day. It transforms me into a sobbing mess with each read.

Waiting for Mummy (cover)

 

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Yidarra Catholic Primary School

Book Review: Who Am I?

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

My Australian Story: Who Am I? by Anita Heiss, ISBN 9781865043616, Scholastic Australia

Reviewed by Giorgia, 9,  Yidarra Catholic Primary School*, WA

Who Am I?

I read a fascinating book called Who Am I? It is a diary of Mary Talence. It was so interesting.

Amy Charles was an Aborigine who was taken away and her name was changed to Mary Talence. She grew up in Bomaderry Aboriginal Children’s Home. She was there from 5–10 and was the oldest of her brothers and sisters. Then Matron Rose tells Mary she is going to a family in Sydney called the Binkes. But when she gets there she is surprised she is the only one with brown skin. She is teased and doesn’t understand why she doesn’t fit in.

I definitely recommend this book to people who love history. I give it a rating of 10/10. The best bit is the end for me but I am not going to ruin it.

–

"Undercover Readers Club logo"* Yidarra Catholic Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. The book reviewed here was Giorgia’s own copy.

Posted in National Year of Reading

Fabulous First Line Friday (6 July)

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

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 … imagine it’s your first line, where would your story go from here?)

Now for today’s Fabulous First Line*:

Young Josh is very brave.

Do you want to find out what happens next? The title of the book is at the end of this post …

*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 The Last Viking by Norman Jorgensen, ill. James Foley