Posted in competitions, poetry

Spring Writing Comp winners (2012)

We read some outstanding poems in our spring writing competition and we’re thrilled to be sharing these winning poems with you. Congratulations to the three winners!

UNDER 7s WINNER—Leith Bradbury

THE FIGHTING CROWS

Hungry hungry black crow,
High up in a hollow tree,
Glides down to the bottom of the hill
And grabs worm from happy crow.
Happy crow is now angry,
Scratching and pecking,
Biting and tugging,
Screeching and chewing,
All day long.
Then angry crow has an idea.
He nips the worm in half and gobbles his half.
He gives the other half to black crow.
They become friends.

[Inspired by the painting Fighting Crows, by Shaun Tan]

UNDER 9s WINNER—Veronica Hester

THE CROW FIGHT

In the Northern Suburbs,
On a light green field,
Two crows get in a fight.
Black bodies twist and twirl,
Feathers fly to the sky.
A crow falls to the ground.
No mercy for the wounded crow,
He dives and flies away,
Leaving the crow to cry his anger to the sky.
Another crow watches the scene inscrutably,
On a quiet afternoon in the Northern Suburbs.
Where the black billowing shapes of trees,
Shadowed from the sun,
Have the colour of the Fighting Crows.

[Inspired by the painting Fighting Crows, by Shaun Tan]

UNDER 12s WINNER: Sophia O’Brien

[UNTITLED]

A Young Child

A street bathed in afternoon shadow.
The grass is yellow green.
Time is unchanging and he sees the whole world at once.
The clouds can be touched by the hand.
Trees are poles with clouds on top.

Ten Years Later

Same old street that never changes.
Grass and trees, houses and clouds.
He wants to go to more exciting places, see more exciting things.
He wants to see something more than that suburban street with its straight path and quiet houses.

[Inspired by the painting Footpath, Fifth Avenue, by Shaun Tan]

Well done Leith, Veronica and Sophia!

If you’d like to enter our summer writing competition, keep an eye on the competitions page on our website. Good luck!

Posted in Duncraig Primary School, National Year of Reading

Book Review: Then by Morris Gleitzman

This week we are pleased to be featuring book reviews from students at Duncraig Primary School* in WA. Welcome to today’s guest reviewer, Zak.

Then by Morris Gleitzman, ISBN 9780670072781, Viking (Penguin Australia)

Reviewed by Zak, 10, WA

then (cover)

This type of historical fiction fascinates me. I love to learn about Nazi times.

A boy and a girl named Felix and Zelda have to get away from Nazis and they find a German woman, her name is Genia. She looks after Felix and Zelda who are Jewish and keeps them safe from the Nazis.

My favourite part of the book is when Felix goes into a Nazi camp with a boy named Dove he met through Genia, and together they blow up the Nazis.

I enjoyed this book because it draws you in from the start and it is about war and action and is awesomely cool. There is nothing I don’t like about it. This book would be suited for both boys and girls if they’re into war books and that sort of stuff. All of my friends read this book and said I should read it, so I did and now it’s my favourite book. There is more to the series—Once, Then, and Now. I have read Once and Then but I haven’t read Now yet. I can’t wait to start to read it. I would recommend this book for 9 years old and up.

This book was also an honour book in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards.

"Undercover Readers Club logo"* Duncraig Primary is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. (Download information about the club on the magazine’s website.) Zak reviewed his own copy of Then.

Posted in illustrator

Visit an illustrator’s studio (WA)

Is it your dream job to be an illustrator one day? James Foley—illustrator of The Last Viking, and author-illustrator of In the Lion—is taking part in an Open Day.

You can check out his Illustrator’s Workspace at The Ward, 590 Newcastle St, Leederville WA, from 2pm until 5pm on 25 November 2012.

In the Lion (cover)

"The Last Viking (cover)"

Here’s what he has to say about the day:

“Come see where I work and what I’m working on next. I’ll have prints from The Last Viking for sale too.

Plus you’ll get to meet all the other amazing artists here: filmmakers, photographers, illustrators, painters, textile workers … it will be awesome.”

You can see a photo of his workspace on The Last Viking website.

IMPORTANT: You must have an adult with you to visit the Open Day. (And keep in mind that the other artists and creators are not all children’s book illustrators. Some of their material may not be G-rated.)

Posted in Duncraig Primary School, National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Book Review: Dork Diaries: Party Time

This week we are featuring book reviews from students at Duncraig Primary School* in WA. Today’s guest reviewer is Shannon.

Dork Diaries: Party Time by Rachel Renée Russel, ISBN 9781847387424, Simon & Schuster

Reviewed by Shannon, 10, WA

dork diaries (cover)

This book is a comedy mixed with a bit of drama. It is about a girl called Niki who doesn’t really get along with the kids at her school. Her biggest enemy is Mackenzie. Niki is in a bit of trouble when she had to organise the high school Halloween party. Will she cope or will she be a normal dork who has a crush on Brandon the hottest boy in 8th grade?

The book is enjoyable, with a bit of love and dorkiness. I loved the way it was like reading someone else’s personal diary and the great tension. I couldn’t possibly stop reading. It had excellent illustrations and they really suited the book. I loved everything about it. I liked the tension and illustrations best of all.

This book would only suit girls because it is packed with a girl’s life story. This book is nine plus. It has great strong characters and a story that can seem real. Just wait and read and you’ll find out more!

"Undercover Readers Club logo"* Duncraig Primary is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. (Download information about the club on the magazine’s website.) Shannon reviewed her own copy of Dork Diaries: Party Time.

Posted in Duncraig Primary School, National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Book Review: Eleven Days

This week we are featuring book reviews from students at Duncraig Primary School* in WA. Today our guest reviewer is Chloe.

Eleven Days by Michael Manuell, ISBN 9781865046211, Scholastic Australia

Reviewed by Chloe, 11, WA

eleven days (cover)

Are you looking for a book that drags you in by the first expressive sentence? Well, this is the book for you.

Eleven Days will amaze your socks off. This book is a brilliant book for readers from the age of ten years to teenagers and will suit you any mood you’re in.

Eleven Days is about a girl called Izabella. She is really nice and kind until Izabella comes face to face with kidnappers and gives them all her personal details. She is kidnapped and has no idea what to do. Is she brave enough to escape the danger? I really love this book with all the unexpected twists and turns.

It had fantastic complex sentences that brought out the atmosphere in the story. The very few drawings suited the text exactly. I think this book would suit girl readers most because most characters are women.

I really enjoyed this book and I hope you find a book that suits you soon. If you liked my book review please take the chance and have a go.

"Undercover Readers Club logo"* Duncraig Primary is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. (Download information about the club on the magazine’s website.) Chloe reviewed her own copy of Eleven Days.

Posted in Book reviews by kids, Duncraig Primary School, National Year of Reading, teachers' resources

Book Review: Think Smart, Hazel Green!

This week we are pleased to be featuring book reviews from students at Duncraig Primary School* in WA. Our first guest reviewer is Lara—welcome, Lara!

Think Smart, Hazel Green! by Odo Hirsch, ill. Andrew McLean, ISBN 9781741141108, Allen & Unwin

Reviewed by Lara, 10, WA

Think Smart, Hazel Green! (cover)

Chocolate dippers! Cherry Flingers! Cream Canoopers! All the delicious pastries in  Mr Volio’s bakery. But how about the thought of them being gone … forever?

Will Hazel Green ever find a way to help poor Mr Volio stay in his baker’s shop? When Mr Volio has ended his lease in his shop a mysterious new owner buys it. Who is this new owner? And how will Hazel Green help Mr Volio to stay, and still devour his glorious pastries? Will her mathematical friend Yakov Plonsk (AKA the Yak) use his logical mind to assist her? Hazel will have to think smart for this adventure!

Andrew McLean’s magical black and white watercolour illustrations make the book come alive. You only need to glance at them to understand them. Odo Hirsch’s detailed words and phrases help readers to really understand the pictures.

This is a book suitable for ten and over. The expressive characters in this book will capture any reader’s mind. I love this book because in every page you turn you feel the tension rising through your body.

Odo Hirsch has captured readers internationally with his essence and flair of describing wonderful and capturing characters. This book is the last of the Hazel Green series. The others are titled Hazel Green; Something’s Fishy, Hazel Green!; and Have Courage, Hazel Green, all with clever and satisfying plots.

"Undercover Readers Club logo"* Duncraig Primary is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. (Download information about the club on the magazine’s website.) Lara reviewed her own copy of Think Smart, Hazel Green!

Posted in info

Book Review: The Adventures of Charlie and Moon

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

Reviewed by Vincent, 7, NSW*

The Adventures of Charlie & Moon (cover)

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.

"Undercover Readers Club logo"* 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.

Posted in poetry

Poems at the Nedlands Library (WA)

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.)

Posted in National Year of Reading

Fabulous First Line Friday: 26 October

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
Posted in National Year of Reading

Fabulous First Line Friday: 19 October

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.