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
Posted in Book reviews by kids, Yidarra Catholic Primary School

Book review: Dulcie and Dud and the Really Secret Secret

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Dulcie and Dud and the Really Secret Secret by Carol Ann Martin, ill. Janine Dawson. ISBN 9781862915114, Omnibus Books

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

Dulcie and Dud (cover)

I read a book called Dulcie and Dud and the Really Secret Secret. It was just plain weird!
The story is about two young children called Dulcie and Dud. The setting is mainly at school. They live in a town called Waddigong—it is a beautiful town but something fishy goes on every time I read this book!
I recommend this book to kids who want to know what happens next?! My favourite part is when people kept on asking “Who’s muriEl?” and Dulcie said “You’ll see!”
People who are in grade 1 to 4 would love this book. I’d give it five stars!

–

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

Posted in competitions, National Year of Reading

Win 4 books by Peter Carnavas!

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
Little Treasures pack (covers)
WIN THIS BOOK PACK!

* This giveaway has now closed. Winner announced soon.*

 

In the winter issue of Alphabet Soup, we feature author-illustrator Peter Carnavas. (Read his Q&A—including his advice for young writers and artists—in our earlier blog post.)

GOOD NEWS! We’re very excited to have 4 of his books to give away to one lucky reader, thanks to New Frontier Publishing

The ‘Little Treasures‘  pack includes a mini-sized version of Jessica’s Box, Last Tree in the City, The Important Things, and Sarah’s Heavy Heart.

Our winter issue also celebrates the National Year of Reading. So, for your chance to win, leave a comment under this post and recommend a favourite picture book you think everyone should read. (Favourite books published long ago or just last week are equally welcome). We will draw the winner at random at 7pm EST on Friday 6 July 2012.

Fine print: We can only post the prize to an Australian address. (You are welcome to enter from overseas if you can nominate an Australian postal address.) We will announce the winner here on the blog, on Twitter and on Facebook. The winner will have until 14 July 2012 to contact us and provide an address. If we have not heard from the winner by 14 July 2012, we will draw a new winner. Good luck!

Posted in Book reviews by Rebecca

Book review: Once There Was a Boy

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Once There Was a Boy written & illustrated by Dub Leffler. Published by Magabala Books, ISBN 978 1 921248 37 5.

A review copy of this book was sent to us by the publisher.

Once there was a boy (cover)

A boy lives all alone in a boat, on an island. One day, suddenly, there is someone else on the island. She eats all his sapotes. She sleeps in the hammock. He asks her not to look under the bed while he is away collecting more sapotes—but she is too curious and she does look under the bed …

This is a picture book about friendship and sharing, and how strange it is that friendship can mean happiness and also disappointments sometimes.

The illustrations really show the beauty of the island, and the stillness and sadness of the boy. I especially love the colours of the ocean and the way shadows appear in many of the illustrations. There is sense of peace at the end—and a feeling of hope.

Dub Leffler says:

“I wrote Once There Was a Boy to show kids that boys have feelings too … ”

© July 2012 “Review of Once There Was a Boy by Dub Leffler” by Rebecca Newman (Alphabet Soup magazine)
Posted in National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (29 June)

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*:

“Who cares about Australia?” Henri muttered.

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 Do Not Forget Australia by Sally Murphy, ill. Sonia Kretschmar.