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For day six, I thought I’d have a change of pace and read a lovely gentle book to the other toys. We’d had a busy day and story time was delayed until the evening – which is, incidentally, why I didn’t get to post this yesterday. So, I thought a nice gentle tale would be just the go.

Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell, is a gorgeous story of three baby owls who wake to find that their mummy has gone. They wonder where she is and whether she’ll come back – which, of course, she does. There was a hush in the toy room as I read, and when, at the end of the book, the owl mummy returns, there was a gentle sigh of relief from all of the toys.

What a beautiful story – and a lovely way to finish the day.

Next week is Children's Book Week here in Australia. My friend Sally is going to celebrate by rapping my story at Corrigin District High School (among other things). I've asked her to take me along so I can watch. Maybe I'll even join in, if the boys and girls aren't looking at me.

Book Week is a big deal for the children's book community. As well as watching Sally do her rap, I'm going to celebrate by reading as many lovely children's books as I can. Perhaps I'll do some readings here in the toy room. Some of the smaller toys can't read so well because it is too hard for them to held the books and turn the pages - and then the font is too big for their tiny eyes. So, yes, I think it would be lovely if I set up a reading corner and read to them every day. I'll let you know how I go.

What are you doing for book week?

By Michelle Lana
www.mitchlana.com

Anette Heiberg
www.wynlen.no

by Bron Smith
from the Trowbridge Chronicles story blog
www.bronsmith.com/trowbridge

I was invited to join the Picture Bookies Showcase a few weeks ago (thanks Bookies!) and this week's theme is "A Very Good Day". Well, I had one today. Boy howdy, did I. My first author/illustrated book ABC Safari was released last week after an unfortunate delay involving Chinese New Year ('nuf said). But books were shipped and this morning I did my first reading of ABC Safari at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, NC. It went very well, thanks in part to about forty packages of Zoo animal crackers and the help of my two assistants who had the day off of school (they are my 9 and 11 year-old kids but when they are on duty they insist on having titles and a salary, benefits, and are in negotiaiton for a 401K). I did have to bribe them with books - what else - and it worked beautifully. When he got bored my son curled up with a big thick fantasy novel and my daughter looked at puppy bookmarks and picked out a good looking mermaid novel. I got a Richard Peck book for myself and I'm absolutely giddy to start it. I read to the group, loudly, because it was a preschool story hour, gave out the treats, sold and signed a good few and returned home.

By Kathleen Rietz
www.kathleenrietz.com

...for an ethnically-diverse group of kids to make a lot of noise.



Paula Becker
Client: Morehouse Publishing (one drawing from a poster)