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Book Review: The Adventures of Charlie and Moon

Posted on November 2, 2012November 12, 2012 by Alphabet Soup

The Adventures of Charlie & Moon – Book 1: Facing the Quincequonces by Martin Meader, ISBN 9780981491011, Crow Flies Press

Reviewed by Vincent, 7, NSW*

The night before his birthday, Charlie receives a magic present from a man named Bizz-Buzz and a dancing ticket collector named Doreen Tremblingknees. He promises not to open it until his birthday.

He breaks his promise and the present turns into a book that makes him and Moon, the eagle, part of a funny adventure story involving Quincequonces, Thunder Eggs, the evil Skunk Weavel and Snarlies.

I really liked this book (it’s the first of a trilogy) and recommend it to kids 7–15.

–

* Vincent is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. (Download information about the club on the magazine’s website.) A review copy of The Adventures of Charlie & Moon was provided by the publisher.

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Poems at the Nedlands Library (WA)

Posted on October 30, 2012October 31, 2012 by Alphabet Soup

winning poems in the Roland Leach Poetry Prize — Winning poems in the Roland Leach poetry prize – on display at the Nedlands Library.

This afternoon we stopped in at the Nedlands Library to check out the winning poems from the 2012 Roland Leach Poetry Prize. (You can find the display in the Children’s Library section.)

Congratulations to Celine Ng—the 9-year-old poet who won the overall prize, as well as the Year 3, 4 & 5 category. Way to go!

(If that’s inspired you to get writing, you can check out a list of kids’ writing comps here on the blog.)

National Year of Reading

Fabulous First Line Friday: 26 October

Posted on October 26, 2012October 26, 2012 by Alphabet Soup

It’s Fabulous First Line Friday! And here is this week’s Fabulous First Line*:

Peggy lived in a small house in a quiet street.

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 Peggy by Anna Walker

National Year of Reading

Fabulous First Line Friday: 19 October

Posted on October 19, 2012October 19, 2012 by Alphabet Soup

It’s Fabulous First Line Friday! And here is this week’s Fabulous First Line*:

In the sunlit gully, green and wide
Where secret nooks are fine to hide
In a soft and grassy snuggly nest
Little bandicoot comes to rest.

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 Bushland Lullaby by Sally Odgers.

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Our new mailing address!

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Alphabet Soup

If you receive our e-newsletter*, you will know that we recently moved to a new office. We now have a NEW ADDRESS!

We do love opening mail! So please send all your poems, stories, book reviews and artwork to:

Alphabet Soup Magazine
PO Box 3099
BROADWAY NEDLANDS WA 6009

(And, YES, Broadway Nedlands is the correct suburb. Don’t shorten it to Nedlands or your mail will be delayed.)

Don’t panic if you’ve just posted something to our old post office address in Willetton—mail to our old address will be forwarded on to the new address for a month or so.

We’re still selecting kids’ writing for our last issue of the year, so send us your best work! And we’ll keep an eye on the new post office box …

~ Rebecca
Editor, Alphabet Soup Magazine

—

* If you don’t receive our e-newsletter but you’d like to, ask a parent (or teacher) to send us an email with ‘subscribe e-news’ in the subject line. Our e-newsletters are sent about 5 times a year and include news, interesting links to writing or illustrating sites, writing prompts for your journal, and other writing-related bits and pieces.

National Year of Reading

Fabulous First Line Friday (5 October)

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Alphabet Soup

It’s Fabulous First Line Friday! And here is this week’s Fabulous First Line*:

Twelve pairs of eyes widened in unison, awaiting Miss Ophelia Grimm’s next move.

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 Alice Miranda Takes the Lead by Jacqueline Harvey.

National Year of Reading

Fabulous First Line Friday (28 September)

Posted on September 28, 2012September 18, 2012 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.

Now for today’s Fabulous First Line*:

Most guinea pigs would be scared diving down into the mouth of a volcano, in a homemade jet with two kids and a three-legged wolf pup.

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 Animal Rescue: Shark Attack by Jackie French.

National Year of Reading

Fabulous First Line Friday (21 September)

Posted on September 21, 2012September 18, 2012 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.

Now for today’s Fabulous First Line*:

Billy Broccoli wasn’t getting out of the car.

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 Ghost Buddy: Zero to Hero by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver.

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Book Review: The Recess Queen

Posted on September 17, 2012September 12, 2012 by Alphabet Soup

Today we welcome 7-year-old Genevieve, who is stopping by as our guest book-reviewer!

The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill, ill. Laura Huliska-Beith ISBN 9780439206372, Scholastic Press

Reviewed by Genevieve, 7, QLD

The recess Queen (cover)

Mary Jean is the Recess Queen. She is very mean and does not like to play with others.

A new kid called Katie Sue starts at school and likes to run, kick the ball and skip. Katie Sue asks Mary Jean to play with her.

Katie Sue makes friends with Mary Jean. Everyone is very happy after this and they all play together at recess.

I think this book should be read by 7 and 8 year olds.

The book reviewed here is the reviewer’s own copy.

National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Fabulous First Line Friday (14 September)

Posted on September 14, 2012September 18, 2012 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.

Now for today’s Fabulous First Line*:

Pollo di Nozi crouched behind a tombstone, watching the stranger swish through the grass.

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 …

*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 Peggy by Anna Walker

*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 Bushland Lullaby by Sally Odgers.

*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 Alice Miranda Takes the Lead by Jacqueline Harvey.

*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 Animal Rescue: Shark Attack by Jackie French.

*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 Ghost Buddy: Zero to Hero by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver.

The book reviewed here is the reviewer’s own copy.

*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 Mystery at Riddle Gully by Jen Banyard.