Poetry and Music

Korean Publisher, Happy House, has set some of my poems to music in this beautiful song book called Let's Sing.

Let's Sing

The illustrations are brilliant and I had to share just a few with you.  These cute dogs are from my poem All Kinds of Dogs, and I couldn't resist the painter having a wash from Dib Dab Dob.

Arnie Avery is a Winner!

I am thrilled to announce that Arnie Avery is the WINNER of the 2011 Children’s Peace Literature Award.

The Biennial award is presented by the Psychologists for Peace, a special interest group of the Australian Psychological Society, and is awarded to a children’s book which encourages the non-violent resolution of conflict or promotes peace at a global, local or interpersonal level.

Last week I flew to Adelaide to receive the Award at a ceremony held at Parafield Gardens Primary School - a Save the Children, United Nations Global Peace School. The Year 6 children performed their soon to be recorded original songs about peace and what it means to them. It was a wonderful event - surrounded by wonderful ambassadors for peace. I was humbled and honoured to win such an important award.

Here I am with Kate Prescott, Convenor Judging Panel, Psychologists for Peace (South Australia).

Writing Tip # 5: You have a voice!

When I open a new book, often what draws me in is the author’s style or voice. Voice is the author’s unique way of writing – it shows their personality and attitudes. If you use your own voice when you’re writing, it can make the story more interesting for the reader. Some writers experiment by using different voices for their characters. Here are a couple of my favourite examples:

“Peoples are strange! The things they are doing and saying—sometimes they make no sense. Did their brains fall out of their heads?”
(The Unfinished Angel, by Sharon Creech)

“Wrestling with the straps of her survival kit backpack, which she had with her at all times, then jogging down the dry streambed toward home, Lucky thought of a question that Short Sammy's story had lodged into one of her brain crevices. She figured she had so many crevices and wrinkles, almost all of them filled with questions and anxious thoughts, that if you were to take her brain and flatten it out, it would cover a huge space, like maybe a king-size bed.
(The Higher Power of Lucky, by Susan Patron )

Activity:
Pretend you are writing in your own diary. Start off with the words…
Dear Diary. This is how I make my breakfast…
Don’t be afraid to write exactly the way you speak – that’s your voice, and it can give your writing a special spark.

Tilly Goes to China

Just received in the post today - the Chinese edition of Tilly's Treasure. It's nice knowing so many more kids will meet little Tilly.

Afternoon tea, anyone?

This week I had afternoon tea at Punchbowl Public School, along with three other wonderful authors - Libby Hathorn, Oliver Phommavanh and Susanne Gervay. The event was organised by Carol Keeble from the Children's Book Council, and Trevor Neville, Librarian at Punchbowl Public.

Each author shared their experience of writing with an enthusiastic audience of children and parents. We talked, listened, imagined, empathised...and we laughed a lot. Thank you to Trevor and Punchbowl Public for organising such a great afternoon.

Long Live Librarians!

This week I visited Wiley Park Public School as a Role Model for the Books In Homes Project. The Project's aim is to improve literacy by providing disadvantaged children with books they can take home to share with their families - and I'm honoured to play a small part.

I sat in the comfy rocking chair usually reserved for lovely Librarian, Gillian Maugle, and spoke to 70 very eager Year 2 children. What struck me most about these kids was that they already had a love of books...and I have no doubt that their Librarian had at least a little to do with that. The experience verified something I already knew. Schools need Librarians - as much as they need Libraries. Because a Library without one is like a deep, dark cave. It takes a Librarian to shed light on the gems hidden within its walls.

More good news for Arnie!

Arnie Avery has been shortlisted for Speech Pathology Australia's - Book of the Year Awards. http://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/news-and-events/book-of-the-year-awards#Young_Children

Each year, Speech Pathology Australia awards three Australian authors the “Best Book for Language and Literacy Development” in the categories – Young Children, Lower Primary and Upper Primary. Each award is based on the book’s appeal to children, interactive quality and ability to assist speech pathologists and parents in communication and literacy development.