The Reading Spot

Australian Children's Picture Books

Back to School

Jan 20

Posted by kate in australian picture books, children and reading

Just Jack

Teaching the TeacherRuby Makes a FriendSunday Chutney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The start of a new year, and for many of us, a child’s first year at kindergarten or school.

Possum goes to school by Melanie Carter, Playmates by Jane Tanner, Ruby makes a friend Tina Burke, Sunday Chutney Aaron Blabey, Just Jack by Jane Tanner and Teaching the Teacher Joan van Loon, are among some of the great books that explore new environments, experiences and best of all making new friends. A story is such a gentle way of exploring these issues with children and talking about what to expect when embarking on this new adventure.

Bittersweet.

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Fresh start

Jan 7

Posted by kate in online bookshop, setting up website

I love January… A fresh start, a New Year, a time to reflect on the year that has passed and to consider the possibilities of the year ahead. Summer holidays and birthday wishes for me! It doesn’t get much better that that! I am hopeful that the fact that our family ushered in 2010 cloistered within the “House of Gastro” is not a warning of what is it come for 2010… Surely not!

There will be a few changes to the Reading Spot in the coming weeks. Free Delivery is here to stay and will apply no matter the value of books purchased.  We are also compiling a monthly special which will be communicated to our Newsletter subscribers, so sign up for news on Australian children’s picture books as well as exclusive offers.

Wishing you all the very best for 2010. Happy reading!

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‘Tis the Season… (soon)

Nov 15

Posted by kate in australian picture books, online bookshop

A bush Christmas

There are so many books available for children at this time of year, it is difficult to know sometimes where to start. With Free Shipping at The Reading Spot until 11 December 2009, this is a great time to look at the best of Christmas books by Australian Authors.

Old Favourites

The classic poem by C.J. Dennis A Bush Christmas is available in picture book format with vibrant illustrations by Dee Huxley. The text is suitable for older children 6+ who will grasp the satire and humour more readily than little ones. It celebrates all things Australian at Christmas as the sun burns hotly through the gums.

Popular Picks

An Aussie Day Before Christmas (Kilmeny Niland) and An Aussie Night before Chrismtas (Yvonne Morrison & Kilmeny Niland) are two books that have been around for a number of years now, but continue to be popular with parents and children for their humorous twist on the classic poem.

CD Included…

A number of books have a CD included for Christmas sing-a-longs.

Aussie Jingle Bells is a particularly Australian rendition of Jingle Bells “…dashing through the bush, in a rusty Holden Ute…”. Nick Bland’s illustrations are wonderful.

Six White Boomers … anyone with a penchant for Rolf Harris (or a child in Kindergarten/Pre-School) will know this one. How many lusty renditions of this can a parent stand? However, the kids will love it!

Fair Dinkum Aussie Christmas takes some of my favourite classic Christmas Carols and turns them on their head with distinctly cheeky Australian lyrics. “Deck the shed with bits of wattle…”

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Mao’s Last Dancer

Nov 11

Posted by kate in Book Awards, australian picture books

The Peasant Prince

The Peasant Prince

Recently I went to the movies with some girlfriends to see Mao’s Last Dancer, the inspirational story of Li Cunxin based on his internationally best-selling book by the same name.

The tale of the boy selected from poverty in rural China to become, a world-renowned ballet dancer, after hard work and determination , has also been adapted into a picture book format, The Peasant Prince . The Peasant Prince was named Picture Book of the Year in the Australian Book Industry Awards and received the Honour Book in the Children’s Book Council Awards in 2008.

A gentle and inspirational book. I enjoyed the film, but the books are better. (Isn’t that always the case!)

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October competition winner

Nov 4

Posted by kate in online bookshop, online retail

Congratulations to Jasmin on winning October’s competition with her review of Uno’s Garden by Graeme Base. A gift voucher valued at $50 is on it’s way to you Jasmin.

It is very easy to participate – register your details on The Reading Spot website and write a review on your favourite children’s book. One winner will be selected at random each month. Good Luck!

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New in store

Oct 8

Posted by kate in australian picture books, children and reading, online bookshop

New books in stock include Ella Kazoo Will Not Brush Her Hair and Jasper McFlea Will Not Eat His Tea, both by Lee Fox. Stubborn toddlers? Having a son who is a very fussy eater and a daughter who will not brush her hair (although she is very happy to take a pair of scissors to her locks), Fox’s books address these tricky situations with rhyme and humour.

Another favourite, although not a new release, is Bear and Chook by Lisa Shanahan and Emma Quay. I love this book. An adventure seeking bear and an “old chook” who are the best of friends, and get into all sorts of mischief. This book was shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards: Early Childhood in 2003.

Happy Reading! (Time to go now and finish the third book in the millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson. Is anyone else obsessed?)

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Win children’s books

Sep 8

Posted by kate in australian picture books, online bookshop

To win $50 worth of gorgeous children’s books, write your own review of one of the children’s books stocked in our online bookstore. One review picked at random each month will earn the lucky contributor a $50 gift voucher. See here  for competititon details.

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Are we there yet?

Sep 6

Posted by kate in australian picture books, children and reading, online bookshop

rod clement collectionA number of children’s books with CD’s & DVD’s are now available  just in time for a driving holiday… they include christmas themes, classics by Rolf Harris and AB Paterson, or my two favourites – a collection of stories by Rod Clement, and another by Margaret Wild.

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Book Week 2009

Aug 29

Posted by kate in australian picture books, children and reading

The winner of this year’s CBCA Children’s Book of the Year for 2009 (announced this month) in the Early Childhood category was How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham, a gentle book about a young boy who finds a wounded bird on the sidewalk in a busy city. The Picture Book of the Year is Collecting Colour by Kylie Dunstan, a vibrant and visually striking book about a young girl helping her mother in Arnhem land “collect colour” for her weaving.

Other honor books in the Early Childhood category include Leaf by Stephen Michal King, and Tom Tom by Rosemary Sullivan.

So many books, so little time!

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Books for the curious…

Aug 23

Posted by kate in children and reading

Leaf Litter by Rachel Tonkin has the most amazing and detailed illustrations depicting the life cycle of a small patch of leaf litter under a tree. My son Harry enjoys this book, as will all children who have a fascination with “why”.  His school is in the process of building a small productive garden for the children, so there has been alot of talk of decomposition around our house recently. Mark Wilson also writes lovely books about the environment – take a look at The Last Tree  and Journey of the Sea Turtle.

Harry is also reading the traditional fairy tales this term at school, and the class has been asked to dress as their favourite character in the last week of term. This is a very big decision for a 5 yo, and is currently under serious consideration… watch this space!

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