I rarely write about parenting these days, and I feel that stories of my children’s adventures (or misadventures as the case may be) aren’t for me to share anymore. So I’m making a new home online, at squigglebooks.com

Over at SquiggleBooks you’ll find a mix of book reviews, posts about children’s literacy, thoughts about education, and tips for teachers. You’ll also be able to keep up with the latest news about my own writing career, and definitely be among the first to know if when I land that elusive picture book contract. It’s a pretty basic site for now, but I expect it will grow and change just as this blog has.

Before I go, I’d like to thank a bunch of people who have been part of the SquiggleMum journey. There have been thousands of comments on the blog over the years – thank you to each of you who took time to connect here. Some readers have become friends – thank you for staying in touch and encouraging me along the way. I have been privileged to write for a number of other parenting sites and share parenting advice on air – thank you for having me.  I have also won several awards and been invited to speak about blogging at conferences – thank you for the opportunity. Thank you to the bloggers who have been with me since the beginning – especially Christie from Childhood101, as well as Kate from Picklebums, and Kelly from Be A Fun Mum. (There are too many others to name!)

I hope that many of you will join me in this next chapter…

Blessings,

Cath / SquiggleMum.

“One kiss for baby, under mistletoe. Two kisses for baby, catching falling snow…”

Title: Count My Christmas Kisses

Publisher: Harper Collins / ABC Books

Author: Ruthie May

Illustrator: Tamsin Ainslie

Comment: A sweet, simple counting book perfect for baby’s first Christmas. It’s unfortunately very European for an Australian picture book (no snow here!) but it is delightful nonetheless. Recommended for Under 2s, and for young children who have welcomed a baby sibling this year.

“With the fire crackling in the background, they all helped with the mixture for Mr Darcy’s famous Christmas pudding…”

Title: Mr Darcy and the Christmas Pudding

Publisher: New Frontier

Author: Alex Field

Illustrator: Peter Carnavas

Comment: Alex Field has previously released two other Mr Darcy books, also illustrated by Peter Carnavas. This one incorporates the tradition of Stir Up Sunday, and a brief factual account of the origin of the tradition is included at the end. For fans of Mr Darcy – the duck. Recommended for ages 5-8.

“His bauble bombs smell so bad I can’t wrap presents in my room…”

Title: There is a Monster Under My Christmas Tree Who Farts

Publisher: Harper Collins / ABC Books

Author/Illustrator: Tim Miller and Matt Stanton

Comment: I cannot believe I just typed that title on my blog. Sigh. Ok, ok, so it’s not my style – but it is bound to appeal to some kids this Christmas. And to Uncles. Lots and lots of uncles. Recommended for Uncles aged 20-50.

Other highly recommended new releases to look out for:

• One Night (Penny Matthews / Stephen Michael King). This tells the story of the first Christmas through the eyes of the animals and is my pick for 2014.
• Tea and Sugar Christmas (Jane Jolly / Robert Ingpen). Based on the true story of the train that travelled across the Nullabor Plain weekly for over 80 years. Features critically acclaimed Australian illustrator Robert Ingpen.
• Little Dog and the Christmas Wish (Corinne Fenton / Robin Cowcher). The illustrations are quintessentially Melbourne, and Corinne Fenton’s stories are always poetically told. For dog lovers.

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*I received copies of Count My Christmas Kisses, Mr Darcy and the Christmas Pudding, and There’s a Monster Under My Christmas Tree courtesy of the publishers. No payment was received for review and all opinions are my own. 

This is a snippet from a non-fiction narrative picture book titled, Down By The Billabong. It scored 99% at the CYA Competition in 2013, but sadly has not been picked up by a publisher (YET!) so I’ve been fiddling with it again. Enjoy…

Down by the billabong

Middle of the day

When the sun burns hot

And the gum trees sway,

Wallaby naps,

Dragonfly rests,

Turtle snaps,

Warbler nests.

So now it’s over to some of my amazing writerly friends from the above mentioned crit group. The challenge is to share 7 lines from page 7 or 77 of a current WIP, or lines 7-14 from a picture book WIP. Then tag other writers to continue the game. Are you brave enough Ramona Davey and Shelly Unwin?

[image credit]

Author/Illustrator:  Christine Sharp

Publisher: UQPress

SquiggleMum’s comments:

As soon as I heard about Sylvia, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this delightful picture book. Sylvia the Snail is in love with Simon the Gardener – or at least his produce. She pines for his parsley and peas, and thinks his spinach and strawberries are scrumptious. Sadly, the feeling is not mutual, at least in the beginning.

Early childhood educators will love Sylvia. The story ties in nicely with Sustainability (a cross-curricula priority in the Australian Curriculum) and any unit about growth and living things. The text is full of rich vocabulary (luscious, scrumptious, defeated, smitten, persistence, salute…) and I am a big fan of texts which embrace interesting descriptive language instead of shying away from it. Strong alliteration features throughout, and will be easy for young readers to identify.

The illustrations are delicious, and I especially like the way readers can see above and below the ground. The changing point of view between Sylvia’s perspective and Simon’s is very well done, and the juxtaposition of the two perspectives on the opening spread makes for a wonderful beginning. Also worth discussing with students here is the way Sharp has given equal size, and therefore importance, to both characters. 

UQPress always do a great job with their teacher’s notes, and these ones are well worth downloading (although I would love to see direct links with Outcomes).

My only criticism of this picture book is the inclusion of the tiny plane as I would have preferred something more organic in the narrative resolution. It’s only a small comment though, and doesn’t stop Sylvia from being an early childhood text I highly recommend. 

Recommended for:

• Early Childhood / Lower Primary
• Classroom reading
• Discussing new vocabulary
• Introducing alliteration
• Discussing text positioning
• Links with Science Curriculum
• Links with Sustainability

Rating:

* I received a review copy of Sylvia courtesy of UQPress. No payment was received for this review and all opinions are my own. 

Author/Illustrator: David Mackintosh 

Publisher: Harper Collins

SquiggleMum’s comments:

When Mum announces there will be a surprise at dinner, two little boys let their imaginations run wild as they consider what it could be. Crinkly chips? A swimming pool? A trip to Hawaii…? Throughout the story, the underlying question is “What does it mean to be lucky?”

Lucky is a visual feast. David Mackintosh has a signature mixed media style, and readers of all ages will enjoy exploring the wild illustrations. It could also be useful for discussing visual literacy techniques in the classroom, including framing, text positioning, colour, reading path and salience.

My personal opinion is that the strength of Mackintosh’s work is in the illustrations rather than the text, and while I don’t warm to the narrative – I can certainly appreciate the art. 

Recommended for:

• Mixed ages (can be useful during school holidays!)
• Discussing visual literacy techniques
• Discussing mixed media

Rating:

* I received a review copy of Lucky courtesy of Harper Collins. No payment was received for this review and all opinions are my own.  

I did my B.Ed in the mid nineties – and must admit that I learnt very little about phonics in my degree. (Although out on prac, I encountered a range of phonics programs adopted by schools.) I did however learn a great deal about whole language in my undergrad subjects, and about the constructivist approach to reading instruction which has greatly impacted my teaching. 

In my opinion, there shouldn’t be a phonics vs whole language war, because it isn’t necessarily either / or. And the truth is, when it comes down to classroom teachers – there ISN’T a war. We are all saying the same thing: our students need both.

Phonics are important. The ability to make sounds from symbols enables the reader to attempt unfamiliar words. But an understanding of whole language is important too because reading is about more than just sounds – it’s about making meaning. If you read but don’t understand, what’s the point? 

I threw this topic out to my colleagues and readers (without giving my opinion), and unsurprisingly their comments confirmed my suspicions. Good teachers know that phonics are important. They also know that not all words can be sounded out, and that meaning can lie beyond graphemes. Here are some of their thoughts:

So here is my summary:

Dear Universities. Please incorporate phonics into undergrad teacher education, but don’t ditch the great stuff you are already doing.

Dear Teachers. Please keep being amazing, and continue adapting your methods to suit the needs of your learners. 

Dear Goverment. Please be careful what you mandate. Rarely, if ever, is a single methodology better than a multifaceted approach, and we could lose more than we gain.

Dear Parents. Please don’t get drawn into the media-fuelled, government fed  debate. Just keep reading aloud daily to your kids. It has more impact than you can possibly imagine. 

Any further thoughts you would like to add…?

In acknowledgement of NATSICD I thought I would introduce to the latest release from Indigenous publishing house Magabala.

Author: Shane Morgan

Publisher: Magabala Books

SquiggleMum’s comments:

Look and See is great for beginning readers. My five year old has just started on home readers, and was able to independently read it after hearing it a couple of times. The text contains a great percentage of easily recognised high frequency words (“sight words”) which will help beginners to experience early success. The rhyme structure also assists with text prediction.

Author/Illustrator Shane Morgan is a descendent of the Yorta Yorta peoples of Victoria. His cheeky illustrations will get a giggle out of young readers.

Recommended for:

• Early childhood classrooms
• Playgroups
• Indigenous families
• Adding to school home reader sets
• Beginning readers

Rating:

* I received a review copy of Look and See courtesy of Magabala. No payment was received for this review and all opinions are my own. 

Author: Pamela Rushby

Publisher: Harper Collins

SquiggleMum’s comments:

I’ve met Pam several times at SCBWI meetings in Brisbane, and caught up with her recently at the CYA Conference. Although I don’t usually review novels, I made an exception for this one as I was interested in using it for an English Unit I’ve been writing.

The Ratcatcher’s Daughter is a great read. The story is narrated by Issy, a thirteen year old girl living in Brisbane in 1900. When the Black Death touches not only her town, but her family, Issy steps up to take her father’s job eradicating plague-carrying rats. 

This novel deals with life and death, and also tackles underlying issues of class and gender stereotypes – tying in perfectly with the Australian History Curriculum. I particularly enjoyed the references to newspapers throughout the text, and in the the inclusion of newspaper clippings in the appendix. These provide an opportunity for teachers to discuss the moral, ethical and social dilemmas encountered in propaganda, and also allow for comparison with current media.

The Ratcatcher’s Daughter is one to order for your school library, and you’ll probably want multiple copies if your school is in Brisbane.

Recommended for:

• Upper Primary classrooms
• Novel study
• Exploring character
• Historical fiction
• Brisbane local history

Rating:

* I received a review copy of The Ratcatcher’s Daughter courtesy of Harper Collins. No payment was received for this review and all opinions are my own. 

I’m not sure how many unpublished awards one must win before finally landing a contract, but I must be close. Surely?!

Here’s my post about winning last year (1st, 2nd and 3rd). And the year before (2nd). Maybe next year will be the year I get to sit on the success panel – like so many of my writer friends.

Despite the challenge of having non-fiction picture books even considered by publishers, I remain determined. I adore those rich books that blur the lines between information and story. As a mother, I love reading them to my kids. As a teacher, I know that there is a need for them, and the new Australian Curriculum demands them. And as a writer, they are my first love.

So I will continue to write them. I will write them and I will win awards for them. I will challenge the notion that non-fiction is boring. I will be a voice for birds and bugs and trees and rocks and everything that amazes kids about the world around them. It still amazes me.

As always though, the best part of CYA is the networking. This year my dear friend Kathryn Apel and I were roomies (which meant we stayed up late like schoolgirls talking about, well – everything). Her verse novel Bully on the Bus has been a sellout in its first week! I also managed to draw a few birds with Peter Carnavas, chat with Pamela Rushby about her latest novel, and catch up with Michelle Worthington. So many friends, so little time.

My thanks to the organisers of CYA, and especially to the editors who give up their time to judge the competition and offer advice. Congrats to all of the winners in other categories too. ‘Til next year…

Author: Kathryn Apel

Publisher: UQ Press

SquiggleKid’s comments:

“This book is about a boy getting bullied every day on the school bus. When I read it I could feel what it’s like to be bullied. I felt like the main character was me. I hope this book teaches kids not to bully each other. The words in Bully on the Bus are so interesting, and the way it’s all in poems draws you in. The shape of the poems makes you think about the meaning. Once I started I had to finish the whole story.” (Miss 8)

SquiggleMum’s comments:

Kat is a dear writing friend and colleague of mine. Maybe I cried when reading Bully on the Bus because I know the author – but I suspect it has more to do with her incredible storytelling and poignant touch. (The last sentence on p91 really got me…)

Teachers will love the verse novel format. Yes, verse novel. (See this link for an example of the layout). Rather than being broken into chapters, each section is a poem which stands alone, yet contributes to the narrative. Poems are in free verse, and cleverly shaped to reflect the content. The poetry is easy to read because it’s not too abstract, but at the same time provides an early introduction to poetic devices and figurative language. 

The comprehensive teacher’s notes are aligned with the Australian English Curriculum, and well worth downloading if you are an educator. The examples of poetic devices on specific pages will be useful for teachers (although I think metaphor features more heavily than is mentioned here), and I was pleased to see reference even to peritexts such as the dedication page. An excellent resource.

I can’t recommend Bully on the Bus highly enough. As a teacher, a mother and a writer this one gets my tick of approval.

Recommended for:

• Lower Primary / Middle Primary classrooms
• Exploring poetic forms (including shape poems)
• Exploring poetic devices (including metaphor, simile and alliteration)
• Family reading
• Bullying theme

Rating:

* I received a review copy of Bully on the Bus courtesy of UQ Press. No payment was received for this review and all opinions are my own.