For our summer writing competition, we asked you to write a poem and include the word ‘dragon.’ Here is the winner in the Under 7s section.
A reminder: always check the rules of the competition. If you don’t stick to the rules, we have to disqualify your entry and that makes us sad!
Under 7s winner: D Morgan (WA)
I WISH I WERE A DRAGON
I wish I were a dragon who could fly high in the sky
I wish I were a dragon who could talk to a fly.
I wish I were a dragon who was very nice and kind,
And even help people who are completely blind.
I wish I were a dragon who would go to sleep,
And just have one more little peep.
And open my eyes to a brand new morn’
And breathe my fire into the dawn.
In every issue of Alphabet Soup magazine we print an interview with an author or illustrator. We can’t fit all their answers into an issue of the magazine, so we publish the full interviews on the blog—we wouldn’t want you to miss out!
For issue 14 we talked to Lorraine Marwood. Lorraine is a poet, and the author of many books including Star Jumps, and Note on the Door, and A Ute Picnic.
What made you become a writer/poet?
I don’t think that anything ‘made’ me become a writer. It was a heartfelt feeling when I was about 8 years old—that was all I secretly ever wanted to do. And I never ever lost that longing. Or that passion for writing and reading.
Was it easy to get your first poem published? (Your first book/book of poems?)
No not at all. It wasn’t till I was about 16 years old that my first poem was published and that was after much writing and submitting—but what a thrill it was.
My first book of poems came after I’d had my children and was still farming. And it only came after I’d notched up publishing credits in literary magazines—a bit like an apprenticeship in poetry.
Where do you get your inspiration and ideas?
From everything happening around me—little incidents, nature, my family, newspapers, what I read and of course big doses of thinking and jotting down.
Did you read poetry when you were growing up?
My teacher read us classic poetry like Banjo Paterson, Wordsworth and we had a class reader for the year and we always read the poems in that (but as a teenager I discovered T.S. Eliot and a Russian poet called Yevtushenko). But we mainly read rhyming poetry which was also mainly English poets.
Did you have a favourite poet/poem/book of poetry when you were growing up?
T. S Eliot ‘The journey of the Magi,’ and also Australian Bruce Dawe.
Is your poetry influenced by particular poets/writers?
Yes, I think I’m influenced by those poets I really admire—like ee cummings, I love the freedom and rhythm of his work; Bruce Dawe’s Vietnam poem—‘They’re bringing them home’; T.S Eliot; Sue Cowling; ‘FiveBells’ by Australian poet Kenneth Slessor; Judith Wright; and now I read lots of children’s poets. I think I’m influenced by those poets who tell a story, a narrative, that surprise and use their poetic craft really well. What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love to make things—sew, bead, garden, pot up cuttings, read, make cards, op shop—they are creative things to do (well, for me!) think, wonder, pray.
Do you mostly write on paper or on a computer?
Now that’s an interesting question because for poetry I like to write in one of my notebooks, but for stories I write on my laptop.
Is there a difference in the way you approach writing a poem and writing a verse novel?
Yes, a poem is a little unit on its own with beginning, middle and end. But a verse novel is many components that lead on and borrow from story telling—it’s a more ‘prosy’ way of writing, where a poem is tiny and delicious like a ripe strawberry.
Are you working on a collection of poems or a book at the moment?
I am working on another collection of poems—so for that, I need to aim for about 100 new poems. At the moment I’m thinking of section headings or groupings for the poems, a bit like chapters in a book. This collection will be entirely new. And as I write, I’ve already finished another verse novel—again entirely different from my other verse novels in content and for a slightly older age group—but awaiting the green light from my publisher. Do you have any advice for young poets?
Yes, write whenever you can. Start with lists of what is around you—lines of three or four words, get all the details down and use those wonderful senses too. Keep these jottings in a note book, put the date on them and keep them. Look back over them and see if any ideas for a fuller poem can be found.
No lines of writing are ever wasted, they lead you on a journey to becoming a writer/poet. It’s such a surprise to see what comes from your pen or keyboard. And a such a pleasure to read again after a few weeks or months have gone by …
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Find out more about Lorraine Marwood and her books and poetry—visit her website, or check out a bookstore or library near you!
You can crumple it, fold it, cut it, write on it, post it, paint on it, roll it into a scroll, make collage with it … and so much more. What are we talking about? Paper! Our autumn issue was posted to our loyal subscribers yesterday—and it’s all about paper.
Subscribe via our website (you can order single copies from the subscribe page, too). If you’re in WA, rush in to one of our WA stockists—Westbooks (Victoria Park) and Zero to Ten (South Fremantle) who will have copies of the autumn issue to sell you from Tuesday 21 February 2012.
As part of the National Year of Reading , the State Library of WA has set up the Love2Read Café, an outdoor reading room based on the Bryant Park model in New York. The café is out the front of the State Library under a canopy and is open until Sunday 26 February 2012.
In the Love2Read Café, you’ll find brightly-coloured chairs and tables, five book trolleys featuring a range of reading materials for all ages and interests, plus programs and events suitable for all audiences. The events are free and no booking is required! You can also share a quote from your favourite book on the Reading Wall inside the library.
On Saturdays you can borrow a variety of word games.
Here’s an event for NSW families who love to see folktales and fairytales performed—two tales in one show!
Sleeping Beauty tells the story of Princess Rose who pricks her finger on her 16th birthday and falls asleep for a hundred years. You can help tell the story!
Then walk the seashore in the second story The Golden Fish with Peter, a poor fisherman, who takes pity on a glittering golden fish in his net.
When: Saturdays until 3 March 2012 (10.30am and 1pm) Where: Marian Street Theatre, 2 Marian Street, Killara NSW Prices: Children $18, Adults $22, Families of four $68; Groups 15 or more $15 per head; Bookings: 1300 306 776 or www.mca-tix.com.au
This book is actually Persephone Pinchgut’s diary! She is a nearly eleven year old girl with a twin sister, Portia. They’re exactly the same, but the only differences are Persephone likes her hair in a ponytail and she also has a tear drop birthmark near her eye. On the other hand, Portia likes her hair down and she doesn’t have the birthmark. Their mum is divorced, very busy and a health freak.
The school musical is coming up but the only problem is Persephone can’t sing and Mrs Tamarind wants everyone in the musical. Portia is certain she will get the main part. Portia, Jolie and Caitlin (the gang) start acting mean about the fact that Persephone can’t sing! Will Portia get the main part? Will Caitlin and Jolie stop teasing? Will Persephone get through with this?
I really enjoyed this book, it was really funny. I rate it 9/10!
Prudence Wants a Pet, by Cathleen Daly, ill. Stephen Michael King, ISBN 9781741699654, Scholastic
Reviewed by Whitfield State School, QLD
Students at Whitfield State School recently read Prudence Wants a Pet—a picture book about a little girl who desperately wants a pet but her parents say ‘no’. Could a branch make a good pet? Perhaps a twig … ?
We love this fabulous artwork and writing sent in by some of the students, who are only 6 and 7 years old.
Favourite pages from the book (by Monorom)
The characters in the story (by Summer)
Prudence (by Samantha)
Prudence (by Tabitha)
A favourite page (by Taylah)
Thank you Monorom, Summer, Samantha, Tabitha and Taylah for sharing your artwork and writing with us. Keep up the good work!
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* Whitfield State School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. A review copy of Prudence Wants a Pet was provided by the publisher.
Look at the fantastic artwork these star students created after reading Mirror by Jeannie Baker! The students also sent in some excellent book reviews, which we’re pleased to share here.
First, some selected remarks from the students:
“Mirror is a book that reflects two different parts of the world.” — Jade
“Even though the two boys in the story look different and speak a different language, they are still the same on the inside.” — Ben
“The book has no words and it opens in two directions, with each boy’s life on each side. Jeannie Baker has collaged the pictures … with manmade and natural materials.” — Jared
“I think this book is suitable for 8 years plus. I really enjoyed this book.” — Sharves
And here is the complete set of the students’ reviews:
This book is one of a kind, it is set out with two stories in a mirror image. Once you see inside you just can’t take your eyes off the book. Jeannie Baker compares two different families in her story, one is from Australia and one is from Africa. The two boys in the story may not look alike, but they are deep inside. They both like to belong to a family.
This book is better than your average book, everyone should read this great collaged picture book. The story links the two families with a special carpet that is made by the mother in Morocco, it turns out that the Australian family buys the exact carpet for their home.
Review by: Jenny (9)
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Mirror is about two boys from very different countries; Sydney Australia and Morocco in Africa. They live a totally different life, they eat different foods and their homes are very different.
One day the father of the Australian family buys a carpet from the “Magic Carpet” shop, the mother of the Morroccan boy had handmade this colourful carpet.
The book has no words and it opens in two directions, with each boy’s life on each side. Jeannie Baker has collaged the pictures in her book with manmade and natural materials.
The book is suitable for 7 years plus. I liked it because of its bright colours. The message in this story is even though people may look different and live different lives, you may still have the same needs and wants on the inside.
Review by: Jared (9)
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This book is about two boy’s lives. It shows the two boys and how they are similar and different at the same time. One boy lives in Australia and one lives in Morocco in North Africa. The book is called Mirror because the boys do the same things, but in different ways.
There are two stories in this book. Jeannie Baker collaged fabric and other materials to make the pictures and then took a photograph of each collaged scene to make it look realistic. She used only pictures to tell her story.
A mat that is made by the boy’s mother in Morocco ends up being bought by the Australian boy’s family.
Jeannie was inspired to make this book after she travelled to Morooco on a holiday. The moral of her story is that people may look different on the outside but can still be very alike on the inside. I think this book is suitable for 8 years plus. I really enjoyed this book, it was great.
Reviewed by: Sharves (8)
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Mirror is a book about two families in two different countries. There are two sides to the book telling what the families do at the same time. They both did different things. One family lives in Australia and one lives in Morocco. They dress differently and eat different things. I liked the book, because it has pictures and no words. Jeannie Baker was inspired by going to Morocco and meeting a very friendly stranger. One day the Moroccan family’s mother made a carpet and the Australian family bought it. Jeannie Baker collaged the pictures and then took photos of them to tell her story.
Review by: Rachel (8)
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Mirror is a book about two boys and two families who live in Sydney and Morocco. These two families look very different and they do things very differently.
One day the family from Sydney buys a rug from a carpet shop that the other family’s mother had made. Jeannie Baker has collaged all the pictures in the book, she has made them look real by using real materials.
The moral of this story is that even though you may look different, you can still have the same values on the inside. I loved this book, because it was in pictures and you could feel that the book was very special. It is suitable for ages 8 plus.
Review by: Jerrica (9)
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Mirror is about two boys in two different families and in two different countries. The first family lives in Sydney, Australia and the other family lives in Morocco in North Africa.
One day the dad of the Australian family went to a carpet place and bought a rug that the Moroccan family had made. Even though the two boys in the story look different and speak a different language, they are still the same on the inside.
This book is suitable for ages 5 to 13.
Review by: Ben (9)
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Mirror is about two families from different countries and how they live very differently, but they have some things that connect them to each other. The two countries are Australia and Morocco. It was amazing how Jeannie Baker made the book. She used different materials to collage the pictures.
The story is about two boys in Morocco and Australia. There is a carpet in the story, the family in Morocco made this carpet and the carpet was then sent to Australia, the Australian family bought it. Jeannie Baker was inspired to make this book by visiting Morocco and meeting nice people there.
Review by: Ethan (8)
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Mirror is a book that reflects two different parts of the world. An Australian and North African family both have a boy, they look very different to each other. The Moroccan mother makes a rug and sends it to Australia to sell, the Australian boy’s family buy it.
Even though the two boys look different, they are the same on the inside. The book has two sides, you can read both sides at the same time.
The moral of the story is that even though someone may look different they can still be the same on the inside and like to belong to a family. Jeannie Baker went to Morocco on a holiday, the trip gave her the ideas to write the book. I really enjoyed the book, it was excellent.
Review by: Jade (8)
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* Winthrop Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. A review copy of Mirror was provided by the publisher.
Write a poem no longer than 12 lines. Your poem should contain the word ‘dragon.’
Include a competition entry form. This may be printed from the website (see competition rules), photocopied, or contact us to have one emailed or posted to you.
Your entry can be handwritten or typed. Make a copy of your entry as we cannot return entries.
A $20 book voucher is awarded to the winner in three age categories: Under 7s, Under 9s, and Under 12s.
The book Button Boy was written and illustrated by Rebecca Young and Sue deGennaro. Button Boy is a fabulous book because it is about being helpful.
Button Boy is about a little boy called Banjo who loves to collect buttons. His grandma sews the buttons onto his jumper. Every day when he’s on his way to school he finds someone who has a missing button and he gives them one. Finally, he has only one button left. Banjo is a kind and giving boy.
We like the book because the pictures are very funny. The best thing about Button Boy is that the main character is a kind little boy. People who like collecting things would like this book. It would be good for boys or girls aged 5 to 8.
You should go and get this book now! It is great.
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* Year 2 at Yidarra Catholic Primary School is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. A review copy of Button Boy was provided by the publisher.
at Yidarra Catholic Primary School is a member of our 
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