Sally Murphy's Blog, page 15

Poetry Friday: I’m Excited!

It’s Poetry Friday and I’m excited.

Firstly, I’m excited because it is Friday and, instead of wishing I had time to put together a Poetry Friday post I am actually here doing it. Huzzah! Life has been chaotic this year, mostly good-chaotic, but this has not left as much time as I’d like for fun things like Poetry Friday. So I am glad to be here today.

Secondly, I am excited because my poetry book for teachers, Teaching Poetry for Pleasure and Purpose won an award! Taddah!

 

It was really  lovely to hear that this resource, with lots of teaching ideas, background information and, of course poems – by myself and lots of other wonderful poets, took out this category. Hopefully this means it will end up being seen by more teachers keen to use poetry in their classrooms.

Lastly, I’m excited because today, George is coming!!! Who is George? Thanks for asking!

THIS is George:

And those are my arms holding him when I met him last Sunday.  And today, George is coming to live with ME. And I am like a child in my excitement. There has been a dog-sized hole in my home since early last year, when my much loved Jonah died. George won’t replace him –  you can’t replace a much loved family member. But now that I have had time, I am ready to love again – and boy is George loveable. He is as soft and silky as he looks, and those eyes are just adorable.

To celebrate these three things: Poetry Friday, the book award, and a brand new puppy,  it’s appropriate to share a poem from the book which is about – of course – dogs.  This is my Definition Poem (you can read more about those here) for the word ‘dog’.

 

Happy George Day! And happy Poetry Friday!

I’m off to visit my Poetry Friday friends while I wait for it to be George-time. You can find the Poetry Friday round up here on Sarah’s blog.

What I Read in September

September has flown past, but I did manage some reading – 11 books in total.  I read some beauties, mostly the children’s books, but also some really grim reads for adults which left me wondering  about the terrible things people are capable of.   Not a great way to start my reading update, but rest assured that grimness does not mean bad writing.

Anyway, here’s what I read.

Books for ChildrenLittle Tales of  Hedgehog and Goat, by Paula Green, illustrated by Kimberly Andrews (Puffin, 2022). This was just a delightful way to start my reading for the month. Look at the cover and you will get a feel for just what a whimsical, happy book this is.All Four Quarters of the Moon, by Shirley Marr (Puffin Books, 2022).  I loved this gorgeous tale of change, family and friendship. Peijing and her family move to Australia from Singapore – and it seems everything is different. Possibly the most different thing of all is that her beloved Ah Ma seems to be forgetting who she is. Even though there are some difficult topics explored – including a subplot involving childhood neglect – they are handled deftly.

3. How to Be a Wonder Hunter, by Josh Langley (Big Sky, 2022). Josh is a friend and a wonderful person, so I was delighted to pop in and see him and buy a copy of this little book at a recent local event.  It’s a gorgeous book about being curious and creative, and open to discovering wonders.

4. The Travelling Bookshop: Mim and the Woeful Wedding, by Katrina Nannestad. Oh how enchanting! I already loved Katrina Nannestad’s work, but hadn’t read her junior fiction – but lucky me got to meet Katrina at the recent Scribblers Festival and then celebrated by buying this book.  Mim, her brother and father and assorted animals travel the world in a magical bookshop which decides where it is needed. In this instalment they arrive at a Greek island where a wedding is about to take place – but Mim is sure that the bride and groom are not going to be happy.

5. The Last Bear, by Hannah Gold (Harper Collins, 2021).  The cover is divine and the book is too. The story of a lonely child who finds herself living with only her mother on a remote island in the Arctic, where she befriends a lost polar bear. It’s beautiful.

6. The Good Bye Year, by Emily Gale (Text, 2022).  This is the story of Harper, who finds that her final, year of primary school is not at all what she imagined it might be. There are just too many changes: her friends become school leaders and seem to busy for her, her parents head off overseas for work, leaving her with a grandmother she barely knows, and a pandemic hits. But worst of all – Harper is being haunted by a mysterious ghost.

Books for Young AdultsAll the Best Liars, by Amelia Kahaney (Walker, 2022).  I really enjoyed this psychological thriller – which I must confess I didn’t expect. Cleverly woven so that you get to know the three teens who grew up close but are no longer so, before you start to discover what went wrong, and the terrible consequences.Books for AdultsThe Brink, by Holden Sheppard (Text Publishing, 2022).  Wow! What a ride this book took me on. A group of school leavers head off on their leavers week – but have to change plans and end up on a remote island, where things unravel. A really compelling read, with a thought-provoking insight into masculinity, sexuality, and peer dynamics.

2. Batavia, by Peter Fitzsimons (Random House, 2012). I think a mistake reading this one.  I knew a bit about the history of the Batavia, shipwrecked off the coast of Geraldton in the 1600s, so after I visited Geraldton I decided to read the story. My mistake was forgetting what a grim, blood curdling horrid piece of history it is. The book is well written, but the details of what happened after the ship was wrecked are just horrible. This is not fiction, so every death, at the hands of other survivors, the treatment of the women and children, and more,  based on the truth, is just terrible. Maybe I read it at the wrong time. I do believe we need to know about bad history so that we can work to change it – I guess my upset was that I am not sure humanity has moved on far enough.

3. Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence, by Doris Pilkington Garimara and Nugi Garimara (UQP, 2002). After reading Batavia, I decided my next book would be happier. And this one was, in places. This is the book which inspired the film of the same name – and is the true story of three girls stolen from their family and taken south to be educated at Moore river. They famously escaped and walked all the way home by following the rabbit proof fence. What a wonderful story of courage, family, and determination. Sadly, it is also a reminder of the terrible treatment of the  stolen generation, and a reminder of the impacts white Australians have had on the traditional owners of this country. So, while I am glad I read this I was left again saddened by what happened – and how little has changed really.

4. The Hitchhiker, by Gabriel Bergmoser  (Audible Australia, 2022). In my quest to stop reading things that made me so sad about humanity I opened a free audiobook from Audible. Oops. This was a psychological thriller  which featured a lot of horrible acts committed by a psychopath. Cleverly told, but I finished my month determined to read more happier books in October.

 

That brings my total for the year to 128 books for the year and, as I said, also brings me a determination to do more uplifting reading in October. Not sure how I’ll go – but, spoiler alert, I have started October with a romance novel.

 

Poetry Friday: Welcome Spring!

The days are getting longer and a teensy bit warmer. My daffodils are flowering and  there’s a spring  in my step.

That’s right – spring is here!  And yesterday, the first official day of spring in Australia, I found a poem bubbling up from the midst of my joy.

Come in!

Welcome Spring!

Come on in!

Let warmer sunny days begin.

Let daffies trumpet to the sky

That Spring is here

And Summer nigh.

 

Welcome Spring!

So glad you’re here

Let balmy blue-skied days appear.

Let flowers, bees and birds proclaim

How glad we feel

Because you came.

 

Welcome Spring,

My dear old friend!

You herald dreary Winter’s end

Such delight and joy you bring

As we welcome

Welcome

Welcome

SPRING!

 

(Sally Murphy, 2022)

 

And it’s not only Spring, but it’s also Poetry Friday. Imagine my giggle when I saw that today’s host, Linda at TeacherDance, has titled her own post Welcome September. Of course September is a little different in her part of the world, so it’s wonderful to think we are each able to celebrate such different beginnings.

Happy Spring! Happy September! And (shhhhhhhh) happy birthday to me

 

 

What I Read in August

Another month, another monthly roundup of my reading. 13 books this month, with a lot of variation. I shouldn’t pick a favourite – but have a look at number 7. I’m in a book! I’ll be posting more about this when it’s officially released.

Children’s BooksNo Words, by Maryam Master (Pan Macmillan, 2022). I was interested in this one because Aria, one of the characters, is a refugee who doesn’t speak at school – and this reminded my of Amed in my own book, Worse Things. I love seeing how other authors have tackled similar issues. But in Aria’s case, it gradually emerges that his not speaking is not so much a language issue as one of trauma – he is selectively mute.  I liked the blend of Aria’s story with  those of Jaz and Hero, who both have problems of their own.The Book of Wondrous Possibilities, by Deborah Abela (Penguin, 2022). I have been waiting for this book to come out, and can say that the wait was worth it. What a magical book. Arlo is fearful and, since the loss of his mother, sad, but when he discovers his mother has left him a book that has the magical ability to make his  story come true, he is swept into a battle to protect everything he loves.Alone, by Megan E. Freeman (Aladdin, 2022). I always love coming across a verse novelist (and, thus, a verse novel) that I’ve not encountered before. This is the story of a girl left completely alone after an unexpected evacuation of her whole state.  The poetic form is an excellent way of following her thought processes through some truly confronting experiences.The 156-Storey Treehouse, by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton (Pan, 2022). This came to me as a review copy, and I had fun checking out the latest instalment in this ever-growing treehouse, with its two inventive, and funny, residents.A is for Australian Reefs, by Frane Lessac (Walker Books, 2022). I love anything related to the ocean, and this book, by a talented friend a, is no exception. With both well- and lesser-known marine life featured, this is a delightful blend of facts and stunning art, bringing the reef to life.Respect, by Aunty Fay Muri & Sue Lawson, illustrated by Lisa Kennedy (Magabala, 2020). I knew of this book but had somehow never read a copy. I bought it after hearing the authors speak at the recent CBCA National Conference. What a wonderful, child-friendly way of explaining the concept of respect – for the land, for history, for culture, for each other, and for ourselves.How to be The New Person, by Anna Branford (Walker Books, 2022).  What to say bout this book? I suspect I will be posting more as I process the absolute wondrousness of this story – and of the absolute honour and excitement I felt when I realised the main character’s favourite book is one of my mine. All the feels!

 

Books for Young AdultsThe Farseekers, by Isobelle Carmody (Penguin, 1997).  Am gradually working my way through this series on audio, read by the author. Carmody’s world-building is amazing, and I am loving hearing her voice.

 

Books for AdultsProject Hail Mary, by Andy Weir (Random House, 2021). I don’t read a lot of sci-fi, but enjoyed this one, which I listened to on audio. From the author of The Martian, this one sees a lone astronaut, with amnesia, gradually come to realise that he is on a mission that could save the human race. I did occasionally find the science explanations a little daunting, but was impressed by the author’s obvious knowledge/research. And the story itself was excellent.The Mother, by Jane Caro (Allen & Unwin, 2022). Not necessarily an easy read, with the subject matter including coercive control, but really well written, making the important topic accessible., and making me want to keep reading.The Deceit, by Sara Foster (Audible, 2022). This was an Audible exclusive audiobook novella. I really enjoyed  it – which is a funny way of describing listening to a thriller which placed a family in a terrible situation.Blood & Ink, by Brett Adams (Fremantle Press, 2022). Another review copy, and one I might not have otherwise read. It took me a while – not because of the quality of the writing (which was good) but because I found it a bit stressful, to follow the trials of an academic who finds himself framed for a series of murders – which he is desperately trying to put a stop to.  Really gripping, and I was glad I stuck with it.

Non Fiction for Adults

Thinking Big, by Zig Ziglar and others (AUdible). This is a compilation of chapters and extracts from various motivational/self help experts and was free from Audible. Some good reminders and nuggets of wisdom, and an excellent thing to listen to in bed (I don’t sleep well when away from home, and listening  helps).

 

 

This brings my total for the year to 117. I’m on track to make my target if I keep up this pace, but there are so many more books I want to get through.

 

What have you been reading?

What I Read in July

It’s a new month which means time to share what I read last month. July was cold, and a bit lazy – I took a week’s annual leave from my day job, and read a lot. And then I had Covid, with a week of enforced rest – and read a lot more. So I was not so surprised to realised I had managed 23 books in the month. And some good ones too!  Here’s what I got through:

Books for Kids

 

Alex and the Alpacas Ride Again, by Kathryn Lefroy (Fremantle Press, 2022).  This is the sequel to Alex and the Alpacas Save the World, which I read when it was released, and has been rereleased so that new readers can enjoy them both.  It was great to get to see what happens next to Alex – who thought she’d saved the world (with some help from her grandpa and his alpacas) , but now discovers that the job was only half done. Set in Melbourne,  with plenty of action and a dash of humour, this is a gripping read.Zadie Ma and the dog who chased the moon, by Gabrielle Wang (Penguin,2022). Zadie’s life isn’t always easy – her father has shell shock from fighting in the war, and her mother seems to love Zadie’s little brother Teddy, but not Zadie. To escape, Zadie writes stories – but when she discovers that her stories have a way of coming true, she decides to write the story of a dog, in hopes she will end up owning that dog. Whimsical, and lovely.The Lost Child of Chernobyl, by Helen Bates (Otter Barry Books, 2021). This was in my to-read pile for a while, and I think must have been sent as a review copy. A graphic novel, inspired by the real events of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986. Although the child’s story is fictitious, the real events and the message of healing and of humankind’s impact on the world, is very real.Cat Problems, by Jory John, illustrated by Lane Smith (Walker Books, 2021). Another one from my review pile (can you tell I’ve been having a clean out?), this is a humorous tale of one cat’s day, which is filled with problems – moving sunbeams, noisy household machines, and even another cat who is ALWAYS in the way.The Way of Dog, by Zana Fraillon ((UQP, 2022). You know I love pretty much every verse novel ever, so it will be no surprise when I say how much I loved this offering. Written in the voice of the dog, Scruffity, there’s some humour but also lots of feelings, as Scruffity and the people he meets have some big life challenges.  I may have cried, but that’s also no surprise..August and Jones, by Pip Harry (Lothian, 2022). Jones isn’t happy about moving to the city, but August is happy when he is chosen as her buddy, to show her around the school. The two quickly become friends, and support each other through some really tough times. Pip Harry is an amazing writer, and this one’s another winner.Across the Risen Sea, by Bren Macdibble (Allen & Unwin, 2020). Not sure why I hadn’t read this book yet, given that Bren’s one of my favourite writers for middle grade, and an all round lovely person, too.  But I realised I didn’t have it, and bought a copy from a lovely bookshop in Dunsborough, and then read it in a day, because I couldn’t pout it down. Set is a post apocalyptic world, with two young friends drawn in drama and adventure involving dangerous trip across the inland sea which global warming has created, evading pirates, giant sharks and crocodiles, in a quest to save their peace-loving village. What’s not love?A Clue for Clara, by Lian Tanner (Allen & Unwin, 2020). I bought this after listening to Lian speak at the recent CBCA National Conference. She is a clever, funny speaker, and I was not at all surprised that this translates into her writing as well. Clara is a chicken who has decided she wants to be a detective, just like the one’s she has seen on the Boss’s television. But she’s a small scruffy chicken and not even the other chickens take her seriously – so how can she convince the humans? Fortunately she meets Olive, the daughter of the local policeman. Lots of fun and adventure ensue.Tilda, by Sue Whiting (Walker Books, 2022). I have been looking forward to this one for quite a while, since Sue told me the piece of her own family history which inspired the beginnings of Tilda’s story. So I was delighted to receive a review copy ahead of its September release, and read it in two sittings.  Set at the turn of the twentieth century in a fictional orphanage, where Tilda is left by her father when he goes to serve in the Boer War.  Tilda is mistreated by the dreadful Sister Agatha, and must use all her courage – and some resourceful friends – to survive. A wonderful read.Rita’s Revenge, by Lian Tanner (Allen & Unwin, 2022). Having adored Clara, I was delighted to see there was a sequel  and, of course, I had to read it. What’s funnier that a chicken detective? A duck out for revenge on that chicken!  Just like the first book, this is clever, funny and exciting in equal measure.Ella and the Useless Day, by Meg McKinlay & Karen Blair (Walker Books, 2002). Another review copy, and another one I have been waiting for excitedly. I wasn’t disappointed. Far from being useless, Ella’s day is very rewarding, as she and her dad clear out all the items clogging their house that they deem useless – and discover that these very items may indeed be useful for other people. Such a fun book, with a subtly lovely message.I am Susannah, by Libby Gleeson (Angus & Roberston, 1987). I’m really enjoying dipping into some of the Australian authors I deeply admire. Frist published in the 80s, this one still holds up . Susie’s best friend has moved away, and this devastates her. Now she is navigating issues of peer pressure, friendship and independence, with no one close who understands, least of all her mum.Miss Penny Dreadful & the Midnight Kittens, by Allison Rushby, with illustrations by Bronte Rose Marando (Walker Books, 2022). A fun new series, set in 1872, with the main character, Penny, finding herself travelling with her famous authoress aunt and caught up in the mystery of apparently bewitched  kittens. The ending hints at the next mystery, and I look forward to reading it.Dreaming by Starlight, by Siobhan Curham (Walker Books, 2022). A middle grade story about friendship and fitting in. The main character, Jazz, has moved to England from Australia and is having trouble settling down until her older cousin tells her about a secret club she used to run called the Midnight Dreamers (who featured in earlier books by the same author, although this one stands alone, too). Jazz follows the same steps and finds three new friends, each with their own set of challenges.

15. The Boy Who Met a Whale, by Nizrana Farook (Nosy Crow, 2021). I bought this on the basis of its amazing cover. and really enjoyed it – a blend of adventure, resilience, facing up to fears and more. And yes, there are whales!

16. Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief,  by Katrina Nannestad (ABC Books, 2021).  Another beautiful cover, and another beautiful book. Set  in Russia in 142 as a six year old Sasha is orphaned and finds himself travelling with the army, sheltering but also providing comfort and support to his new friends.

Fiction for Young AdultsThe Hidden Girl, by Louise Bassett (Walker Books, 2022). Another review copy. I enjoyed this debut novel , set in Melbourne and Indonesia. Mel has a chequered past at school but has tried to keep her head down at her new school. When she discovers a diary with a coded cry for help, she finds it increasingly difficult to stay out of trouble and do the right thing.

 

 

Fiction for AdultsCotillion, by Georgette Heyer (Heinemann, 1953). When my mother downsized late last year, I was gifted her collection of Heyer’s books, which I had loved in my late teens but not delved into since. I finally made time to read one – Cotillion. Regency romance, with an heiress who will only inherit if she marries one of her benefactor’s great nephews.  Amusing, and an easy read, just right for a cold winter evenings. I’ll be reading more, when I have time.The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, by Arthur Conan Doyle. It’s taken a while, but having finished this one I’ve now listened tot he entire collection of Sherlock Holmes books. Nice tor each the end because it’s an achievement, but will miss the writing and the voice of Stephen Fry, who has beenr eading them to me for months and months, in between other audiobooks.Benang, by Kim Scott (Fremantle Arts Centre Press, 1999). I hadn’t read this before, though had long meant to. Now I have I wonder why I took so long, but also how many rereadings the book will need before I have unravelled its complexity. There is a lot going on – and that confusion for the reader is deliberate, because the subject matter is complex, and deep and also the narrator’s unravelling of his family’s history is just as confusing for him. Harley is a Noongyar man who is trying to work through the truth of this fact, with the knowledge that his grandfather, a white man, believes he has ‘bred’ Harely to be the frist white Noongyar – ie that he has bred the Noongyar out of him. A disturbing premise, but not as disturbing as knowing that this work is rooted deeply in the history of Western Australia and colonial policies.PoetryAdultolescence, by Gabbie Hanna (Simon & Schuster, 2017). I picked this one up because of its title, and enjoyed the sometimes irreverent, often funny and very real poetry it contained, dealing with love, life and adulthood in all its guises.Nonfiction for AdultsThe Art of Storytelling: From Parents to Professionals, by Hannah B. Harvey (Audible, 2012).  I got a lot out of this. Aimed at those who want to tell stories – either professionally or more informally, I found that it had a lot to offer a writer as well and, because I use oral storytelling in my sessions, I picked up lots of tips there, too.Bedtime Story, by Chloe Hooper, illustrated by Anna Walker (Scribner, 2022). Oh gosh!  This is the most beautiful, heartbreakingly honest book. I cried in the first chapter, and several times afterwards. A letter from the author to her son as the family navigates a journey through i9llness. Hooper searches for a children’s book to help, and the book delves into children’s literature, and at he lives of children’s authors, along with issues of life, death, honesty and so much more. With stunning illustrations by the amazing Anna Walker, this is truly a beautiful book

That brings my total for the year (so far) to 104 books, creeping closer to my target of matching last year’s 153.  We’ll see – 49 more seems doable, but it’s been a year of busyness so we shall see.

 

What have you been reading?

Poetry Friday: Winter is STILL Here

It’s been over a month since my last Poetry Friday offering and, in that post I was complaining about the cold, and looking for reasons to LIKE winter.

Fast forward to today, and its cold and wet and wintry – and, you guessed it, I am still struggling to find good things about winter.

But, I do have a pair of haiku that I wrote about being cold – and trying to flip between the downsides of being cold and the upsides. Here it is:

Cold

Caught in the rain

Burning of frostbitten toes

Blades of wintry wind

 

A plunge in cold pool

Bubbling fizzing lemonade

Shivering lemonade.

(Copyright Sally Murphy)

Not sure this really counts as flipping the bad to the good – because I seem to be arguing that being cold is winter in bad, but being cold in summer is good. Can you tell I’m a summer person?

But, because I’m a contrary kind of person, I also have a pair of haiku about the pros and cons of being hot.

Hot

Sweat-drenched smelly socks

Suffocating in-school days

Unrelenting sun

 

Thawing spring sunshine

Steam rising from chocolate drink

Toasty slipper toes.

(Copyright Sally Murphy)

 

And you can see that I found the good things about being hot right in the midst of winter.

 

Incidentally, these ‘opposite haikus’ (as I call them) appeared in my book for teachers last year, and were written quite some time before that. It was only when I typed them up for this blog post that I noticed something in the syllable counts. If I’m sticking to a 5/7/5 syllable count for each haiku (and yes, I do know that true haiku do not have to adhere strictly to this count) – then  the line about the chocolate drink is questionable. It depends on pronunciation – the dictionary tells me that it definitely has 3 syllables – choc-o-late – but I confess, when Is ay it it definitely comes out with only two – chock – let – which is how it is that I have never noticed this in my own poem before.

Does it matter? Probably not – although now that I’ve noticed it, it annoys me, because I’m a stickler for rules.

But being distracted by syllable counts has taken my mind of being cold. So that’s gotta be good thing, right?

I’m off to make a hot chocolate and browse the rest of the Poetry Friday posts. They always warm my heart. The Roundup is hosted by Elisabeth – you should check it out

Some News and Some Thankyous

The last month has been an absolute whirlwind of emotion and busyness, and several times I have sat down to blog about it and just not even known where to start. But here I am, finally trying to say stuff.

You see, the big news is that my name was included in the Queen’s Birthday Honour List, announcing that I had been awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for my services to children’s literature and education.  To say that this was an amazing honour is an understatement. You see, as I said to more than one person, it feels like I’ve been rewarded just for getting out of bed in the morning. Truly, the things I do, as both author and as educator, are an absolute pleasure to do. And I did not ever imagine that someone would nominate me for such an award for doing them.

However, it seems someone did indeed nominate me – and I still don’t know who was behind the nomination. SO I want to say thank you to that person (or persons), because it means a lot that you saw what I do and thought it worthy of an award. And I want to  say thank you too, to the selection panel who have to read and check the nominations before recommending that the Governor General endorse them.

And, because it is time for me to these thank you, I want to most especially thank my family – my darling husband (my beloved) my children (the Murphlets) and my grandchildren (the Murphlings) who inspire me to write and who enable my career in so many ways – and who tolerate my absences, and my creative impulses and my mess. And my other family – my Mum (who inspired my love of reading and writing) and my Dad (who isn’t here any more, but I know would have been pretty chuffed) and my siblings and extended family.

And my writing and illustrating colleagues, who walk alongside me, and my teaching and university colleagues and gosh, just everyone who I work with and have worked with.

But, very particularly, if you are reading this, then I want to thank YOU.   Because being a writer is actually very much made special by readers. And I want to thank everyone who has ever read and enjoyed one of my books, poems, blogposts, book reviews, whatevers.

I have received hundreds and hundreds of messages on social media, emails, letters (who even knew they were still a thing!), phonecalls and, of course, in person congratulations.  And this has been such a surprise – that so many people were happy for me and happy with me.  The most life-changing thing about this award is the fact that it has beensuch a lovely reminder of how many people care – and just how very nice people are.  So thank you!

Now I’m back at my desk, writing more, teaching more (the new semester is about to start at my university job) and trying to spread the joy of words with as many people as I can. And promising myself that I will update this blog more regularly

In the meantime, I have had a few people ask where the photo of the medal is. The answer is, I don’t have it yet – the ceremony will be in October. But, in the meantime, here is a very serious photo of me, dressed in pink to support my wonderful friend Sue Whiting’s book Pearly and Pig.

What I Read in June

Oh my! June has flown by – with only one post since my last ‘What I Read’ post. I will write more soon about just why I have been so busy in June, but, in the meantime, here is what I managed to get read in amongst the busyness.

Books for KidsAll in the Blue Unclouded Weather, by Robin Klein (Text, 2017).  Continuing my exploration of Robin Klein’s works. This one was  first published in 1991, but was re-released as part of Text’s Text Classics.  I hadn’t read this before, but adored getting to know the Melling sisters, and will be following up with the sequels.Whisper on the Wind, by Claire Saxby & Jess Rackleft (Allen & Unwin, 2022). I love everything Claire writes, and this lyrical offering is no exception. It is gentle, and whimsical, and the illustrations are simply divine.Seree’s Story, by Irma Gold & Wayne Harris (Walker Books, 2022). I seem to keep using the word divine when talking about picture books – but I’m afraid that I’ll keep using it, because it is the perfect word. This is the story of a young elephant taken from her mother for a life in a circus – and of their joyful reunion. Irma Gold is a fabulous wordsmith, and Wayne Harris one of my favourite illustrators, making this – you guessed it – a divine offering.Girl from the Sea, by Margaret Wild &  Jane Tanner. I was lucky enough to buy this at the recent CBCA National Conference – which meant that I could then get it  signed by the author. Margaret Wild is an absolute treasure (and was the author of the very first verse novel I ever read).  This is a stunning book – with Wild’s lyrical tale of a girl watching a family living in a cottage by the sea, and  Tanner’s illustrations, mostly in grey scale with tinges of blue, haunting and beautiful.Ninni Yabini, by Cheryl Kickett-Tucker & Tyrown Waigana (Fremantle Press, 2022). This came to me as a review copy, and I am very glad to have received it. A beautiful story of a  black swan family, told in dual languages – Noongar and English.  It is so wonderful to see that the Noongar language – the language of the Noongar people of the South West corner of Australia, where I live and work is made accessible to children, families and educators through the story. I look forward to sharing this with my grandchildren and with my education students.How to Tackle Your Dreams, by Fiona Hardy (Affirm Press, 2022).  A story about football – and sewing. A surprising combination, which works well. Homer is a footy star, but not as big a star as his mother, who is in her debut in the women’s league. Homer still loves footy but he’s dealing with the absence of his father and his passion for sewing, which is pushing his friends away.Old Fellow, by Christopher Cheng & Liz Anelli (Walker Books, 2022). A day in the life of two old fellows – a man and his dog, and their adventures, mostly in the local park.  A joyful celebration of aging, community and the bond between people and their dogs.

 

 

Fiction for Young AdultsImpossible Music, by Sean Williams (Allen & Unwin, 2019). Pulled from my to-read pile as I headed out the door for a flight, and I was so glad this one chose me. I read the whole way from Perth to Melbourne and then, in the hotel, had to finish it before bed.  A moving story about facing up to the huge challenges life can throw up – for SImon, it is losing his hearing literally overnight.Another Holiday for the Prince, by Elizabeth Jolley, illustrated by Steven Bray (Angus & Robertson, 1996).  Another op shop treasure. This is a small boo, reproducing a Jolley short story with the addition of illustrations and layout making it a kind of graphic novel. I really enjoyed the format as well as the story, told from the perspective of a teen whose mother seems to do everything in life to please the older brother – known as The Prince. An excellent short story.

 

Fiction for AdultsMatthew Flinders’ Cat, by Bryce Courtenay (Penguin, 2002). This had been in my to-read pile for a while, after  I bought it from a  discard pile. Not sure why I had not read this before – I always find Courtenay’s work quite readable. I struggled a little with the nature of some of the subject matter here, set against some of the unsavoury parts of Sydney life.A Kiss From Mr Fitzgerald, by Natasha Lester (Hachette, 2017). I listened to this on audio, and really enjoyed the depiction of 1920s Manhattan, as well as the story of Evie, who is destined to be a wife and homemaker for a rich banker’s son, until she realises that she wants more: to be a doctor. Cut off by her family, and pushed out by all but her closest friends, she has to fight for what she is sure is her destiny.Non Fiction for AdultsLove Stories, by Trent Dalton (Harper Collins, 2021).  I listened to the audio version of this. What a joy to listen to Dalton read this heart filled book. I thought it would be a series of short stories, but what it is is a celebration of love in all its forms, as strangers share their stories of love with Dalton, and he, in turn, reflects on what love is. Word of Dog, by Megan Anderson (Fremantle Press, 2019). I bought this one at a Fremantle Press event in 2019 and then found it last week still in the paper bag when I was moving things out of my rental unit. Oops.  Anyway, it is a quick, quirky read – though you can also dip in and out, because each page stands alone, Anderson’s dog art accompanied by little vignette-quotes from anonymous people on all kinds of things.

That brings my total for 2022 to 81 so far. Half way through the year, I’m on track for my goal. Hopefully in July I will boost that total – I am taking a whole week off my day job next week.

Poetry Friday: Winter is Here

It’s Poetry Friday and it’s also, here in Australia, the first Friday of Winter. And boy have I been complaining about winter. I really do not like being cold. Or wet. (Unless it’s the kind of wet that comes from swimming and visiting my fishy friends, or standing under a hot shower).

I have been trying to practice gratitude and remember the good things about winter:

It does not last for the whole year.It brings rain, and we need rain for life.It is part of the great cycle of life.Coats and boots. I do like wearing warm coats and nice boots.

In the midst of shivering and whinging, I had an email from the convenor of a  poetry workshop I gave last week which was a wonderful, warm opportunity to share my love of poetry with passionate literacy educators on the other side of Australia. In her email, she shared  of her favourite childhood poems. And suddenly I was warm right though – because it was an old favourite I had completely forgotten.

And, since it’s a winter poem, it’s an apt one to share today.

The Elf and The Dormouse by Oliver Herford

Under a toadstool crept a wee Elf,
Out of the rain to shelter himself.

Under the toadstool, sound asleep,
Sat a big Dormouse all in a heap.

Trembled the wee Elf, frightened and yet
Fearing to fly away lest he get wet.

To the next shelter—maybe a mile!
Sudden the wee Elf smiled a wee smile.

Tugged till the toadstool toppled in two.
Holding it over him, gaily he flew.

Soon he was safe home, dry as could be.
Soon woke the Dormouse—”Good gracious me!

“Where is my toadstool?” loud he lamented.
—And that’s how umbrellas first were invented.

Written in  1894, this is still such a lovely poem.  I’m glad my new friend reminded me of its existence.

Now I’m off to warm my heart a little more, by dropping in my Poetry Friday friends. Today’s round up will be hosted by Karen .

May Reads

May is over and June has begun, so it’s time to look back at what I read in the past month. It’s been a chaotic month, and I feel like I’ve hardly sat down, let alone read – but I actually managed to get through 24 books. Just shows what you can do when you snatch little pockets of each day to do what you love. Here’s what filled those pockets

Books for Kids

 

What Snail Knows, by Kathryn Apel, illustrated by Mandy Foot (UQP, 2022).  A really lovely verse novel about moving, friendship and family. Lucy and her Dad are always on the move, making it hard to make friends. But Lucy has Snail and, at her latest school, a human friend too. You can see my full review at Aussiereviews.Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, by Julie Sternberg, illustrated by Matthew Cordell (Amulet Books, 2011).Another verse novel – I’ve been on a bit of a binge lately, reading as many as I can get my hands on. This one is a gentle story about facing change. When the narrator, Eleanor, hears that her beloved babysitter is moving away, she is devastated. But as she prepares for other changes, including the start of a new school year, Eleanor builds a relationship with her new sitter. 10.10 Poetry Anthology, edited and compiled by Bridget Magee. I won this book in a giveaway, which was particularly cool because I didn’t know I had entered it. It was a subscriber giveaway, drawn  from subscriber’s the lovely Bridget’s   Wee Words for Wee Ones Blog. All the poems are connected to the theme of ten – bot not all about the number ten. Instead there are poems about TEnderness, TENacity, TENsion and so on. Very clever. If you want a taste, you can hear one of Bridget’s own poems from the book here.Elmer Makes a Break, by Patrick Cook (Puffin, 1982). I rescued this from a library throw out trolley a few years ago, and it has been in my to read pile ever since. It was just the thing for a quick read on a cold May day. The humorous tale of a rat who wants an adventure, but gets more than he bargained for when he becomes a lab rat.Winnie-the-Pooh, by A. A. Milne. I listened to the audio of this on a long drive in the country, and it certainly made the drive even lovelier. I love Pooh and his friends, and this was just a lovely trip down memory lane, to hear the voices done for me as I followed the adventures.Birdie, by Eileen Spinelli (Eerdmans, 2019)  Another verse novel fromt he U. S. Birdie is still dealing with the loss of her much loved Dad, so when her mother stars dating again, she is not impressed.  She is more open to her grandmother having a new boyfriend. At the same time she needs to deal with changes in her friendships. A lovely gentle story about grief and relationships and growing up.When We Were Very Young, by A. A Milne. Having read Winnie-the-Pooh, I couldn’t resist also dipping in to the rest of my collection of  Milne’s work. This was a favourite collection of poetry in my childhood, and I still adore it – it even inspired a Poetry Friday post this month – and has done before, too.The Ghost Locket, by Alison Rushby (Walker Books, 2022).  I do love a ghost story, and really enjoyed this one, set in London, where eleven year old Lolli deals with a sinister ghost lurking in the historic house run by her beloved Aunt Elsie.Tasmanian Devil, by Claire Saxby & Max Hamilton (Walker Books, 2022). My friend Claire writes the most beautiful, lyrical nonfiction ever. Yes, I’m biased because she’s my friend, but it’s true – she brings nature to life in exquisite ways. This time it’s the tassie devil, and the illustrative work of Max Hamilton is simply gorgeous too.Eleanor, Elizabeth, by Libby Gleeson (Second Look Press, 2016). Reading  Letters from Robin last month  left me wanting to rediscover not just teh works of Robin Klein, but also some of my other favourites from the 80s and 90s. This lead me to reread this one, from Libby Gleeson, one of my favourite authors for young people.  The story of Eleanor, who is unhappy about moving to the country, but finds comfort through connecting with her grandmother, whose diary she discovers and reads.Red, by Libby Gleeson (Allen & Unwin, 2012).  And another Libby Gleeson book, this time set in Sydney following a massive natural disaster. Red wakes up with no memory of who she is or why she is there. Her new friend Peri, himself homeless even before the storm, helps her unravel her past and what it is she must do next.Spi-ku:  A Clutter of Short verse on Eight Legs, by Leslie Bulion & Rebert Meganck (ill.) (Peachtree Publishing, 2021). I do not love spiders, but I did love learning more about them through this collection. Using a variety of poetic forms and accompanying nonfiction text, this is a fun way of exploring spider facts.Blubber, by Judy Blume (Athaneum, 1974). Another classic read. First published in 1974 but this was my first time reading. Still topical and accessible as a look at the impacts of bullying, and the pressures of peer groups.At the Pond, by David Elliott, illustrated by Amy Schimler-Safford (Candlewick, 2022). So much poetry this month! This one is a picture book length collection, with each poem introducing a different  pond-resident and, at the same time, moving through the day. The illustrations, with collage and paint, are just divine.Books for Young AdultsThe Black Flamingo, by Dean Atta (Hodder, 2019). Oh how I loved this book! Not only is it a verse novel, which (if you haven’t picked up on this) is my favourite genre, but it is is also just an amazing exploration of belonging, as Michael navigates his queer identity, his family dynamics, friendship and more.Roxy, by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman (Walker Books, 2021). What a ride! This book made me uncomfortable from the moment I realised it was being narrated by two prescription drugs – and yet this discomfort was the very point of the book, and kept me reading. The premise is that what humans know as drugs or opioids are really malevolent gods, and two of those drugs – Roxy and Addison – are competing to see which one can can produce a lethal result the fastest – playing with two siblings as their targets.  Confronting but very clever.Finding Jupiter, by Kelis Rowe (Walker Books, 2022).  I love receiving review copies and the way this takes me in such varied reading directions.  Ray does not want a relationship, so when she meets Orion she is not ready for the attraction she feels. Orion is also resistant, but he feels pulled towards Ray in a way he can’t explain. Their romance is rocky, but it’s the tragic past that links their families that makes things tricky.Came Back to Show You I Could Fly, by Robin Klein (Text Classics, 2017). First published in 1987, this book was just beyond my own teen reading years, so I have only ever read it as an adult, but I remember thinking it amazing in the 90s when I first read it. This reread did not disappoint. The characters of ten year old Seymour, q naïve and lonely boy, and Angie, a drug addict, and the way they form an unlikely friendship is really compelling and beautifully rendered. I wish I could write like that!Books for AdultsHis Last Bow, by Arthur Conan Doyle.  I started working my way through the complete collection of Sherlock Holmes stories last year, and this is the second last title. One to go. I am still enjoying the language and style, and (as I’ve said before) listening to them being read by Stephen Fry.The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Simon & Schuster, 2021).  This was recommended to me by one of my university students, who told me is one of the best books she’d ever read. High praise, and enough o make me curious. I really enjoyed this story – a glimpse at life behind the scenes in Hollywood’s glamour years, as well as an exploration of the challenges of being LGBTQI in this community, and of love in all its forms.Nonfiction for AdultsTen Steps to Nanette, by Hannah Gadsby (Wavesound, 2022). I love listening to audiobooks, because it helps me on long drives, and also when doing dull stuff like housework. But there are some books that I believe should be read on audio because of the value of the author’s voice – and this is one of them. Listening to Hannah Gadsby tell her story is an absolute privilege. Not always easy,  because of the subject matter, but always riveting and heartfelt and very moving. Superb.

2. Let Go, by Hugh van Cuylenburg (Penguin, 2021). From the author of The Resilience Project, which I read twice last year, this one is a good complement, exploring the additional challenges to resilience which the pandemic, social media and more can throw up, and new insights into van Cylenburg’s own journey.

3. The Ballroom Murder, by Leigh Straw (Fremantle Press, 2022).  The true story of a murder that happened in Perth in 1925, when a young woman, Audrey Jacob, shot dead her former fiancé – in  he middle of a charity ball at Government House. Drawing from newspaper accounts, court records and other historical documents, this is an intriguing story.  Mine was a review copy – the book is not released until August.

4. Fathoms: The World in the Whale, by Rebecca Giggs (Scribe, 2020). Youc an tell from the cover that this is a book about whales – but it is about so much more, too. Framed against an exploration of the whale and humans’ relationship to whales, this books is philosophical, sad, and hopeful in turn. beautiful reading.  

This brings my total for the year to 68 books read so far – nearly half way to my goal which, I guess, means I’m on track.

 

 

That’s it from me, but I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading.