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Puppetry workshops for kids in the July School holidays (WA)

Posted on June 30, 2011June 29, 2011 by Alphabet Soup

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre are running School of Puppetry Workshops in the WA school holidays (July 2011).

Come to the Spare Parts Puppet Theatre to craft and perform your own puppetry show. Participants will also enjoy a performance of the current production as part of their workshop fee. Don’t forget your morning tea & lunch!

One Day Puppet Making Workshop for 4 – 6 year olds

Cost: $75.00
When: 9am – 3pm

Wednesday July 13th
Thursday July 14th
Friday July 15th
Wednesday July 20th

Two Day Puppet Making Workshop for 7 – 12 year olds

Cost: $140.00
When: 9am – 4pm both days, with a special 3pm performance featuring the newly created puppets on the second day!

Monday July 11th –Tuesday July 12th
Monday July 18th – Tuesday July 19th
Thursday July 21st – Friday July 22nd

For more info and bookings: phone (08) 9335 5044. (Bookings are essential)

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Book review: The Bush Concert

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Alphabet Soup

The Bush Concert, written and illustrated by Helga Vissre, Omnibus Books for Scholastic Australia. ISBN 9781862918863

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

There’s a terrible drought in the bush and the birds decide to put on a concert to cheer themselves up.

It hadn’t rained for a very long time.
Food and water were hard to find.
Everyone was feeling low.
What could they do? Where could they go?

The birds get dressed up and put on a show. There’s music, singing and dancing, clowning, acrobatics and a lot more. And the concert ends with the perfect finale …

You’ve probably read a few stories about the bush that feature Australian animals. In this rhyming picture book, the story is about Australian birds. The detailed and colourful illustrations are in ink and pastels and show a wide variety of birds—pelicans, penguins, an emu, galahs and many many more. At the end of the book there is an illustrated glossary of the birds in the book. All 171 of them! Test your knowledge of Australian birds—how many can you name?

**© June 2011 “Review of The Bush Concert by Helga Visser”, reviewed by Rebecca Newman (Alphabet Soup magazine)**

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Book launch (WA): The Grumpy Lighthouse Keeper

Posted on June 28, 2011June 28, 2011 by Alphabet Soup

JULY 2011 BOOK LAUNCH for picture book, The Grumpy Lighthouse Keeper

written by Terrizita Corpus, illustrated by Maggie Prewett

When: 6 – 8pm Friday 8^th July

Where: Magabala Books, 1 Bagot St, Broome WA

For more info: Nic Murray, Marketing Manager (08) 9192 1991

Here’s a bit about the book (taken from the Magabala Books press release):

Meet Cassius the hermit crab, Jacob the jellyfish, Bruce the bluebone and more sea creatures as they hurtle themselves over rocks and up the lighthouse staircase in a race to get out of a wet and wild storm — all while the lighthouse keeper is out checking the lamp for passing ships. When he returns and discovers what the sea creatures are up to, he is, indeed, grumpy.

The Grumpy Lighthouse Keeper is inspired by the iconic Gantheaume Point and the remains of the old lighthouse keeper’s house on the edge of world-renowned Cable Beach. Gantheaume Point attracts thousands of tourists each year with its ancient rock formations, dinosaur footprints and historical references.

Book reviews by Rebecca, teachers' resources

Book Review: The Last Viking

Posted on June 24, 2011January 6, 2015 by Alphabet Soup

The Last Viking by Norman Jorgensen and illustrated James Foley. Published by Fremantle Press, ISBN 971921888106.
(A review copy of this book was sent to us by the publisher.)
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Josh’s pop is always talking about ‘exciting stuff like Vikings, and Spitfires and Redcoats, though not usually when Nan’s around.’ Josh is staying with Nan and Pop for the holidays and that’s when he decides to become a Viking, and change his name to Knut. Although he’s not very brave, when trouble arrives, Josh summons up some Viking courage and discovers just how brave he really is.

If you don’t know anything about Vikings yet, you’ll know heaps about them by the time you finish The Last Viking. The illustrations are fun and cartoon-like and if you’re a super sleuth, you’ll notice that on some of the pages there are messages written in code—rune carvings. At the back of the book (on the endpapers) you’ll find the key to crack the code.

Keep an eye out for the ravens in the book, too. In Norse mythology they are Odin’s messengers, and in The Last Viking, they keep the Viking gods updated on Josh/Knut’s progress.

The Last Viking is an exciting adventure about courage, imagination and dealing with bullies.

Time to go a-viking!

PS Check out The Last Viking blog where the author and illustrator talk about creating The Last Viking. The blog also has Viking activities and teacher’s notes.

**© June 2011 “Review of The Last Viking by Norman Jorgensen & James Foley” by Rebecca Newman (Alphabet Soup magazine)**

competitions

2011 CJ Dennis Poetry Competition

Posted on June 19, 2011June 19, 2011 by Alphabet Soup

Closing Date: 7 September 2011

Write a piece of original verse, based around an Australian theme or C J Dennis. Verse must have good rhyme and metre. Cost of children’s entries is $2 per poem. Entries open to children from anywhere in Australia.
Children’s Categories:

First Prize $20 plus a book prize
Second Prize $10 plus a book prize
Third Prize $5 plus a book prize

Download your entry form & conditions for entry via the Toolangi & Castella website. (Make sure you download both PDFs, not just the entry form.)

Some interesting information:

CJ Dennis was born in South Australia in 1876, but he moved to Toolangi in the wooded hills east of Melbourne in 1908. It became his home for the remaining 30 years of his life, and he wrote all the books for which he became famous in or near Toolangi. (You might remember his poem, ‘The Triantiwontigongolope’ which we published in issue 3 of Alphabet Soup magazine.)

In 2008 a festival was held at ‘The Singing Gardens’ to celebrate the centenary of CJ Dennis’ arrival in Toolangi. It was a great success, and has now become an annual event. This year, it will be held on the weekend of November 12 – 13. The closing date for entries to the poetry competition is 7 September (CJ Dennis’s birthday).

competitions

Kids’ writing comps

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Alphabet Soup

Here’s an up-to-date list of current Australian writing competitions for kids. Apart from the magazine’s writing competition, Alphabet Soup doesn’t have an affiliation with these competitions. Make sure you read each competition’s Terms and Conditions (i.e. rules).

Good luck!

Australia-wide:

Dorothy Mackellar Poetry Awards (Closes 30 June 2011)

Sally Odgers Aussie Schools Writing Contest (Closes 30 June 2011)

Alphabet Soup‘s winter 2011 poem comp (Closes 29 July 2011.)

Pilot Pen Creative Writing Scholarship writing comp (closes 31 July 2011)

WA:

The West Australian Young Writers Contest (closes 30 June 2011)

Randolph Stow Young Writers Awards 2011 (Only open to Geraldton area. Closes 8 July)

Write a Book In a Day (Teams must complete the challenge by 31 August 2011)

NSW

Sydney Youth Writing Competition (closes 21 June 2011)

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Do you know of any other writing competitions for kids?

Book reviews by Rebecca

George and Ghost–book review and giveaway!

Posted on June 10, 2011January 6, 2015 by Alphabet Soup

We recently interviewed Catriona Hoy about her new picture book, George and Ghost. Today we’re reviewing George and Ghost—and you can win a copy, too!

George and Ghost by Catriona Hoy and illustrated by Cassia Thomas. Published by Hodder Children’s Books, ISBN 9780340988862.

(A review copy of this book was sent to us by the publisher.)
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George and Ghost are friends but George isn’t sure he believes in Ghost anymore. When George suggests that Ghost isn’t real, Ghost asks him to prove it. Can something be real if it doesn’t weigh anything, you can’t take its photo, and it doesn’t take up space?

Just when you think George has proved that Ghost isn’t real, Ghost comes up with some interesting questions of his own. This is a picture book that will have you asking your own questions, scratching your head and thinking hard.

Cassia Thomas’s colourful illustrations match the story well and you’ll love George and his ghost friend … whether Ghost is real or make-believe.

This is a story about friendship—with a good helping of philosophy and science thrown in!

© “Review of George and Ghost by Catriona Hoy”, June 2011, Rebecca Newman (Alphabet Soup magazine)

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WIN YOUR OWN COPY OF GEORGE AND GHOST!

We have one copy of George and Ghost to give away. To enter, simply email your name and postal address to editor@alphabetsoup.net.au and put ‘George and Ghost’ in the subject line. We will draw the winner at 5.30pm (WST) on Friday 17 June 2011. We will email the winner and the book will be posted to the winner’s postal address as per the email entry. Good luck!

[This giveaway has now closed. The winning entry drawn was S Burton in Victoria. We have emailed the winner and copy will be posted to them on Monday. Thank you for your interest—you can find out more about George and Ghost on the author’s website.]

authors, illustrator, teachers' resources

WA book event: BOOKWIZ 2011

Posted on June 7, 2011June 28, 2011 by Alphabet Soup

28/6/2011 notice: We have been advised that this event has been cancelled.

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (WA branch) runs an annual book-based quiz in the style of ABC TV show, Spicks ‘n’ Specks. It’s called BOOKWIZ! Bring your family and friends along for a fun afternoon and meet local authors and illustrators.

Sunday 3 July, 2-4 pm

MC: MEG MCKINLAY (author of Duck for a Day and The Truth About Penguins
Where: Boulevard Centre, Floreat [beneath Cambridge Library], Western Australia
Cost: $12 adults $6 school students [includes refreshments]
Bookings: Chloe Mauger –cmauger@iinet.net.au– phone: 9295 1328

competitions, info, teachers' resources

Design a cover comp (tips!)

Posted on June 1, 2011May 14, 2012 by Alphabet Soup

As you know, Alphabet soup runs an annual cover-design competition. The 2011 competition is now open and entries close 16 September 2011. Here are the covers done by our 2009 and 2010 winners, K Larson and A Hatton:

Aren’t they brilliant? Yes! And now we need a cover for our summer 2011 issue.

We know you are busting to get to it, so here are some tips for all you budding artists.

COMPETITION DETAILS

Using any materials you like, design a cover for Alphabet Soup magazine.

Important – your artwork must be on one side of a sheet of white A4 paper. Make sure the paper is portrait orientation. Do NOT include the Alphabet Soup logo.

You may eneter as many times as you like, but each entry must have a competition entry form with the declaration signed by you and a parent. (Entry forms can be printed from the website, or contact us to have one sent to you.)

The winner’s artwork will be used on the cover of the summer 2011 issue of Alphabet Soup magazine (out in November 2011), and the winner will receive one copy of the summer 2011 issue and art supplies worth $20.

The theme for the cover is: MEDIEVAL.

Artwork can be realistic, or abstract, or collage, or cartoon-like, or any style you choose. It must be your own work and it must be original (no tracing pictures!). Remember that the magazine’s readers are aged 6 to 12.

If you’d like some more info on Medieval life, ask your parents if you can check out these sites:

Medieval Times: The Middle Ages for Kids
Magnificent Medieval Times: a website created by 4th & 5th grade students from USA
Stained glass windows at www.therosewindow.com: all beautiful. Check out meals and travel and work

Remember that our covers don’t usually have a lot of unused white space. If you draw one item in the middle of the page and nothing else, it would be tricky for us to turn it into a cover for the magazine!

There will be one winner chosen. By entering the competition, you agree to us using your artwork on the cover of the summer 2011 issue of Alphabet Soup magazine. We cannot return entries.

Download an entry form from the Alphabet Soup website.

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competitions, info, teachers' resources

Autumn 2011 writing comp: THE WINNERS (Part III)

Posted on May 30, 2011May 29, 2011 by Alphabet Soup

Here is the winning Under 7s story from our autumn 2011 writing competition. You were asked to write a story about something to do with cooking.

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: O Small (WA)

THE BALLISTIC CHEF

Once there was a chef, a crazy chef. He was so crazy that if someone ordered pizza he would give them pasta instead. But one day he said “I’m going to make myself a coffee. I love coffee it’s my favourite thing.”

So he went to the cupboard and got out what he thought was coffee beans. The milk was real, but the coffee beans were really poisonous sultanas.

“ARGOOWY!!!!! I used the poisonous sultanas” and he flew up to heaven never to be crazy again, still wearing his chef’s hat.

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Enter our winter writing competition. Entries close 29 July 2011.