We came across this video of Stephen Michael King working in his studio. Watch him at work!
Tag: children’s books
New Children’s library in Western Australia!
FREE EVENT! The State Library of Western Australia is launching its new children’s library, known as ‘The Place.’
Come along to the Kids Day Out at The Place, State Library of WA on Sunday 24 May 2009, 10am to 3pm. Celebrity readers, original picture book art, family reading centre, famous people’s favourite books and a sneak peak tour of the library.
You’ll find the State Library of WA at 25 Francis St, Cultural Centre, Perth City. (3 minutes walk from the train station.)
For further details, refer to the State Library of WA website.
The Book Chook blog: review of Alphabet Soup
A review of Alphabet Soup (based on Issue 2) was posted on The Book Chook blog today. The Book Chook reviews a wide range of children’s books and is certainly worth a visit!
Write-a-book-in-a-day
Write-a-Book-in-a-Day is a fundraiser by the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre and Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation.
Sponsored teams write a children’s book in a day, raising funds 40% for KSPWC and 60% for Children’s Hospitals in each Australian State. Additionally a copy of each finished book will be donated to the hospital library. Teams may compete from school, home, office, library, telecentre or elsewhere.
Write-a-Book-in-a-Day runs from April to the end of August and the teams of writers nominate their day to write a children’s book. (Teams will be given some details about the subject of the book they are to write.)
Teams of 5-10 people will obtain sponsorship (a minimum of $300 per team to enter) and will compete for awards in the following sections-
* Primary School – Minimum 2000 words
* Under 18 – minimum 4000 words
* 18 and over – minimum 8000 words
In addition there will be an award for the highest sponsorship.
A booklet containing rules, hints and judging criteria can be found at http://kspf.iinet.net.au/bookinaday/
Wanted: book reviews by children
Have you read a really cool book that you think other kids would love too?
We are currently considering book reviews by children under 12, for publication in the winter issue of Alphabet Soup, which will be out in May 2009.
If you’d like to send us a book review, you can find guidelines for submitting work on the ‘Writers Wanted‘ page of the the Alphabet Soup website.
We love hearing about your favourite books, so get writing!
Issue 2 out next week!
Issue 2 of Alphabet Soup magazine is at the printer’s – you’ll be reading it by Wednesday 18 February!
To subscribe (only $29.80, including p&h), or to order single copies, go to www.alphabetsoup.net.au.
If you’re in Western Australia and prefer to buy through a store, Westbooks children’s bookstore should have this issue in stock by 20 February. You can find Westbooks at 396 Mill Point Rd, Victoria Park, WA.
What we’re reading: Can You Keep a Secret?
In our opinion, children just aren’t exposed to enough traditional rhymes anymore. Sharing them with your children aids memory, and encourages a love of rhythm, rhyme and poetry. It’s also FUN!
Can You Keep a Secret? is a selection of rhymes from a variety of cultures presented in a gorgeous hardback book. The illustrations, by Jobi Murphy, are appealing, colourful and simple.
The rhymes have been selected by Mark Carthew and are divided into sections: nursery rhymes, playtime rhymes, action rhymes, counting rhymes, finger plays, and lullabies and gentle rhymes.
Highly recommended!
Review copy provided by Random House
Help create a book sculpture at the State Library of WA!
Have you heard that the State Library of WA has been building a children’s library on their mezzanine level? It’s true! And over the school holidays, children can help create a book sculpture for this new area with artist-in-residence, Graham Hay. For more information, go to www.slwa.wa.gov.au/schoolhols.html where they also advertise other family activities over the summer break.
Merry Christmas from Alphabet Soup
Merry Christmas to our Alphabet Soup readers!
Thanks to everyone who subscribed or bought single copies this year – this ensures we can continue to publish the magazine! (Just a reminder – if you’re thinking of placing further orders, the introductory offer of free postage and handling for delivery to Australian addresses expires on 31 December 2008. We will honour orders postmarked 31 December 2008.)
Alphabet Soup News:
- On 29 November Gabrielle Bastow officially launched the magazine in Kings Park. (Gabrielle is a Literacy Consultant to the Benchmarking and Educational Measurement Unit who will manage the central components of the 2010 NAPLAN Testing Project.) Gabrielle gave a great speech! She also suggested we consider including a cryptic crossword (or some cryptic clues, if not a whole crossword) in future issues of the magazine. What do you think?
- We’ve started a new blog for the magazine (www.soupblog.wordpress.com) which has information such as book reviews, news about upcoming writer’s festivals with children’s events and behind-the-scenes info about what’s happening at Alphabet Soup.
- We held our first writing competition and we were impressed with the excellent stories and poems you sent in! Winners will be announced in January and a new competition will appear in the next issue of Alphabet Soup – which is due out in February 2009.
- If you live in WA we are pleased to advise that children’s bookstore, Westbooks, now stocks the magazine! You can find Westbooks at 396 Mill Point Rd, Victoria Park – they have friendly staff, and shelves and shelves of fabulous books. It’s worth a visit!
We hope you enjoy the holidays and find time to curl up with a good book. If Santa doesn’t leave a few books in your Christmas stocking, you can visit your local library! (And if you live in WA, don’t forget to record your books for the WA Premier’s Summer Reading Challenge.
If you’d like to be added to our email list for updates and news about the magazine and children’s book events, please send an email to editor@alphabetsoup.net.au with ‘subscribe enewsletter’ in the title.
Keep reading – and writing!
Rebecca
Editor
Rebecca Newman
Editor
editor@alphabetsoup.net.au
Ph: 0412 820 478
Alphabet Soup Publishing
PO Box 742, Willetton WA 6955
www.alphabetsoup.net.au
Kerry Millard’s website
Today, while looking for information about Duncan Ball’s upcoming book My Sister Has a Big Black Beard, I stumbled upon Kerry Millard’s website.
It’s a fun, colourful site and has lots of her drawings and includes a blog.
It’s worth a visit!
alphabetsoup.net.au 