There is an incredible depth of literary talent in New Zealand ranging from Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton to Kate di Goldi, Lloyd Jones, Janet Frame and the incomparable Margaret Mahy. NZ is also the base for amazing publisher Gecko Press, which publishes books from around the world for children. We should keep an eye […]
Add a Comment
new posts in all blogs
By: [email protected],
on 10/12/2015
Blog: Perpetually Adolescent (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: margaret mahy, lloyd jones, Gecko Press, Wake, joy cowley, janet frame, eleanor catton, Elizabeth Pulford, international children's books, Elizabeth Knox, Book Reviews - Childrens and Young Adult, Book Reviews - Fiction, NZ literature, Joy Lawn, Kate di Goldi, Add a tag
By: [email protected],
on 4/29/2015
Blog: Perpetually Adolescent (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Puffin, dr seuss, Gecko Press, ann james, Janeen Brian, Book Reviews - Childrens and Young Adult, I'm a dirty Dinosaur, real books, Joy Lawn, Dog in Cat Out, I'm a Hungry Dinosaur, Max's Bath, Max's Bear, Max's Wagon, Where is Pim?, Add a tag
By: [email protected],
on 1/12/2015
Blog: Perpetually Adolescent (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: I don't wan't to go to school, Julia Donalson, Kate Miller-Heike, Kate Mulvany, lally katz, Sieb Postuma, The Scarecrows' Wedding, The Snail and the Whale, The Very Lonely Firefly, Tiddler, Where is Rusty?, Book News, school, theatre, shaun tan, The Gruffalo, Eric Carle, Gecko Press, Jane Godwin, First Day, John Marsden, aaron blabey, margaret wild, Masquerade, Axel Scheffler, Very Hungry Caterpillar, Starting School, Kit Williams, Anna Walker, kim gamble, Ahlberg, Stephanie Blake, Stick Man, the rabbits, The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, Mister Seahorse, Book Reviews - Childrens and Young Adult, Joy Lawn, Add a tag
By: Catherine Nichols,
on 2/20/2012
Blog: The Cath in the Hat (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Gecko Press, Duck, Wolf Erlbruch, Death and the Tulip, picture books about death, Add a tag
My sister was staying with me last weekend and she asked what was that strange picture book in my office. Displayed on my shelves are The Long Journey of Mister Poop, Pat the Beastie, and The Festival of Bones, among others, so I needed a bit more than that to answer her. Turns out she was referring to Duck, Death and the Tulip, a book I intended to review but hadn't gotten around to yet.
The reason is that it's not your usual picture book, and I wanted to do it justice. The story is simple. Death, wearing a fashionably long plaid coat and bearing a black tulip, comes to stay with Duck. Understandably nervous, Duck asks, "Are you going to make something happen?" But no. "Life takes care of that," Death tells her. The two pal around, going to the pond, perching high in a tree. Duck wonders about dying and Death listens to her speculate. Winter comes, and one night Duck lies down. She does not get up. Death gently places her body in the river, the tulip resting on her chest.
The last lines are:
For a long time he watched her.
When she was lost to sight, he was almost a little moved.
"But that's life," thought Death.
Written and illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch, a German author, (and beautifully translated by Catherine Chidgey), the book's simple text and sparse, elegant illustrations combine to create a moving yet unsentimental treatise on death. It also has a sly, deadpan humor throughout, as when Duck first notices Death's presence. "Duck was scared stiff, and who could blame her?"
The book is not for every child, but I so wish it was around when my daughter was six or so. She went through a stage when the thought of death panicked her, just looking at her reflection in the mirror could set her off. This book, with its calm, unblinking look at death, might have eased her fears and helped our discussions. Who knows? She may still get a copy.
Duck, Death and the Tulip
by Wolf Erlbruch
Gecko Press, 38 pages
Published: 2008
.png.jpg?picon=3008)
By: Maria Gill,
on 12/11/2011
Blog: KidsBooksNZ (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Scholastic, Gecko Press, Kyle Mewburn, Elizabeth Pulford, Add a tag
D.E.S.I.G.N.* by Ewa Solarz, illus. Aleksandra andDaniel Mizielinski, Gecko Press
The asteriskstands for Domestic Equipment: Sleek, Ingenious, Groundbreaking, Noteworthy –all qualities which could be applied to this book. It’s a solid hardback volume(originally published in Poland) using top-quality paper, meaning that it has adefinite feel-good aspect. It offers a selection of 69 objects created by “themost influential and famous designers from around the world”. These are allobjects which can be found in a house, and they are presented chronologically.Each double spread display includes cartoon illustrations, explanatory text,the date of invention, the designer’s country of origin, the material it’s madefrom – and various other bits of information. Not to mention a great deal ofhumour! The featured objects are not what you’d expect – browsing through thevolume one can find an elephant chair,
By: Maria Gill,
on 11/27/2011
Blog: KidsBooksNZ (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Yvonne Morrison, Deborah Hinde, Board Books, Gecko Press, Early Childhood, Add a tag
A Kiwi Jingle Bells by Yvonne Morrison and DeborahHinde, Scholastic NZ
This is theboard book edition of the original 2006 version (over 35,000 copies printed). Ihave to admit I checked the last page to see if there was a CD there –but no.So you’re left to sing the numerous verses on your own. “Dashing to the bay, In a Kombi campervan, Christmas at the beach – Thefamily’s master plan. Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,Christmas in New Zealand on a sunny summer’s day, ay!” This board bookversion is sturdy and a suitable size for small hands. Deborah Hinde’sillustrations are colourful and active and contain plenty of objects that apre-schooler should recognise. If you’re looking for a Christmas-themedstocking-filler for your 2-year-old, you should check this one out.
By: Maria Gill,
on 7/16/2011
Blog: KidsBooksNZ (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: ABC, Gecko Press, Add a tag
The kiwi kid’s ABC by Rebekah Holguin, HarperCollins NZ
ABC books are always popular, especially with grandmothers like me! As I read it, I was imagining how I’ll share it with my 3-year-old grandson, who already knows his ABCs. I think he’ll be most intrigued, firstly with the bright, bold, in-your-face style of the illustrations, and secondly with the distinctly New Zealand flavour. The letters of the alphabet (shown in heavy black print, both small and capital) have either a single or double spread, with the doubles being particularly striking. For A we get aroha, for D we get dolphin, for J we get jandals; also rugby for R, and ukulele for U. The double spread for B gives us bucket, bare feet, beach, ball and bay. The illustrations are done with eye-catching colours and strong black outlines (to my mind, the black outlines look rather retro).
I tried to find out a bit about the author/illustrator but couldn’t detect much, not even on the publisher’s website or her own. This is obviously her first book. Her previous work seems to lean towards fantasy illustration, and she has trained with Weta Workshops. I suspect we may see more of her work, so I hope the publishers update their website. If you’re looking for an ABC book for New Zealanders, this is a good one to try.
ISBN 978 1 86950 895 1 RRP $16.99 (pb)
Reviewed by Lorraine Orman
100 Things by Masayuki Sebe, Gecko Press
This counting book (by the author/illustrator of Dinosaurs Galore) for ages 3 to 6 is typical of what we’ve come to expect from Gecko Press – bright and funky, eye-catching and very 21st century. On each double spread you will find 100 whatevers – mice, moles, children, cars. As well as exhaustive counting, you will also find other activities such as “Can you find 1 rabbit?” on the sheep page, and “Where is the other cat?” on the children page. The last double spread offers ten subjects arranged in 10s, followed by a page of extra location challenges – “Who lives in this house?” The illustrations are done in simplistic cartoon style, and are very appealing.
This book would be best shared with children who understand the concept of counting to one hundred. It would be a bit too much for children who can only go up to 10 or twenty, so not many 3-year-olds would appreciate it. But I’ll be keeping it safely on my bookshelf for when grandson Lachlan develops his counting skills a bit more – and I’m sure we’ll both have lots of fun with it. It would be a popular buy for preschool centres and kindergartens.
ISBN 978 1 877467 82 0 RRP $19.99 (pb) $32.99 (hb)
Reviewed by Lorraine Orman
By: Maria Gill,
on 7/12/2011
Blog: KidsBooksNZ (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Kyle Mewburn, Philip Webb, Diana Neild, Gecko Press, Add a tag
The Bear and the Wildcat by Kazumi Yumoto, illus. Komako Sakai, Gecko Press
Gecko Press specialises in “curiously good books from around the world” and this is definitely at the high end of the curiousness scale. It’s a story about death and grieving (for ages 4 to infinity, originally published in Japan). Bear’s best friend, a little bird, dies – and Bear is full of grief. He carries the bird round in a box, much to the dismay of the other animals in the forest. He withdraws into his house and sits in the darkness. But eventually he emerges and meets a wildcat who is also a roving violinist. This strange character enables Bear to grieve properly and find the courage to finally bury his friend.
This is not a book that children will select off the shelf, and I imagine libraries will have problems working out where to shelve it. I heard of one library putting it in a collection called “Complex Picture Books”, which sounds like a good idea. It will be useful as a resource for counsellors, teachers, hospices and grief services.
It’s a gentle, touching story, delicately told. As always with Gecko Press, the presentation is superb – hardback, book jacket, and luxurious heavy-duty paper. The illustrations are totally in tune with the story – done in fuzzy black and white (with pink touches on the “happy” pages) using heavy shading and lots of texture. Whether deliberate or not, the sombre illustrative style will probably deter youngsters from reading the book independently. If libraries and schools wish to add to their collections relating to death and loss, this is definitely one to buy.
ISBN 978 1 877467 70 0 RRP $29.99
Reviewed by Lorraine Orman
Three Cheers for No-Ears by Kyle Mewburn, illus. Deborah Hinde
Once there was an elephant with very small ears. Kind friends tried to create new ears for him with feathers and leaves and bananas and fur and flowers – but nothing worked. No-Ears was very sad. But then the elephant leader was buried under a rock slide, and No-Ears was the only elephant who could stick his head in far enough to touch trunks with the big guy. Of course, he manages to pull the prisoner out – and something strange happens – but by this time No-Ears has obviously learned to live with his differences...
It’s a very light story, but its theme of accepting physical differences in others is an important one for pre-schoolers. Deborah Hinde’s illustrations are big and bright and colourful, with plenty of action involved, and would be good for reading aloud to a group. Also available in a Maori edition.
ISBN 978 1 86943 978 1 RRP $19.50
Reviewed by Lorraine Orman
Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig and the Camping Holiday by Diana Neild,![]()
By: Julie Fortenberry,
on 4/21/2008
Blog: Children's Illustration (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: gecko press, Eva Eriksson, Add a tag
By: stephhale,
on 10/12/2007
Blog: Books, Boys, Buzz (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: dreams, Oprah, Revenge of the Homecoming Queen, Po Bronson, Add a tag
I have loved to read my whole life but never once considered becoming a writer until about five years ago. I got laid off from a job I'd had for about ten years. One day I was watching Oprah and she had an author, Po Bronson, on the show. He had written a book called, What Should I Do With My Life? A few of the people interviewed for the book were on the show and they had given up six figure jobs to pursue their dreams. They looked SO happy. I drove straight to the mall and bought the book. I'm pretty sure I read the whole thing that night. The book was excellent, and the stories were so inspirational, but when I turned to put the book on my nightstand, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed. I guess I had expected to get to page 100 of the book and it would say, STEPHANIE HALE, YOU WOULD BE VERY HAPPY WORKING AS AN ONION FARMER! Which is totally ridiculous, because as anyone who knows me would tell you, I dispise onions. And I don't even know if there are specific farmers just for onions. I was jealous of the people in the stories. I didn't think that I would ever feel happy about WORK. I tried desperately to think of things I loved. My husband, my son, pizza, Coca-Cola, expensive makeup, but none of these things seemed to translate into a clear career path.
I have lots of ideas for new mysteries for Aspen, as well as new characters, that are just waiting to be written. It sounds so cheesy, but now I know, dreams really do come true. Don't ever give up on your dream!
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: gecko press, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 10 of 10
By: [email protected],
on 10/12/2015
Blog: Perpetually Adolescent (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: margaret mahy, lloyd jones, Gecko Press, Wake, joy cowley, janet frame, eleanor catton, Elizabeth Pulford, international children's books, Elizabeth Knox, Book Reviews - Childrens and Young Adult, Book Reviews - Fiction, NZ literature, Joy Lawn, Kate di Goldi, Add a tag
By: [email protected],
on 4/29/2015
Blog: Perpetually Adolescent (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Puffin, dr seuss, Gecko Press, ann james, Janeen Brian, Book Reviews - Childrens and Young Adult, I'm a dirty Dinosaur, real books, Joy Lawn, Dog in Cat Out, I'm a Hungry Dinosaur, Max's Bath, Max's Bear, Max's Wagon, Where is Pim?, Add a tag
‘Real’ books to read are sought after by those introducing young children to the exciting and vital world of reading. Many picture books are invaluable in opening children’s minds and imaginations to story but only a small number of these can actually also be read by readers at the earliest stages of reading for themselves […]
Add a Comment
By: [email protected],
on 1/12/2015
Blog: Perpetually Adolescent (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: I don't wan't to go to school, Julia Donalson, Kate Miller-Heike, Kate Mulvany, lally katz, Sieb Postuma, The Scarecrows' Wedding, The Snail and the Whale, The Very Lonely Firefly, Tiddler, Where is Rusty?, Book News, school, theatre, shaun tan, The Gruffalo, Eric Carle, Gecko Press, Jane Godwin, First Day, John Marsden, aaron blabey, margaret wild, Masquerade, Axel Scheffler, Very Hungry Caterpillar, Starting School, Kit Williams, Anna Walker, kim gamble, Ahlberg, Stephanie Blake, Stick Man, the rabbits, The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, Mister Seahorse, Book Reviews - Childrens and Young Adult, Joy Lawn, Add a tag
It’s holiday time so some shows based on outstanding children’s books are currently being performed in Sydney and surrounds, as well as in other cities around Australia. A highlight is The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Penguin), a production created around four books by Eric Carle: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, of course, The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse – […]
Add a Comment
By: Catherine Nichols,
on 2/20/2012
Blog: The Cath in the Hat (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Gecko Press, Duck, Wolf Erlbruch, Death and the Tulip, picture books about death, Add a tag
The reason is that it's not your usual picture book, and I wanted to do it justice. The story is simple. Death, wearing a fashionably long plaid coat and bearing a black tulip, comes to stay with Duck. Understandably nervous, Duck asks, "Are you going to make something happen?" But no. "Life takes care of that," Death tells her. The two pal around, going to the pond, perching high in a tree. Duck wonders about dying and Death listens to her speculate. Winter comes, and one night Duck lies down. She does not get up. Death gently places her body in the river, the tulip resting on her chest.
The last lines are:
For a long time he watched her.
When she was lost to sight, he was almost a little moved.
"But that's life," thought Death.
Written and illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch, a German author, (and beautifully translated by Catherine Chidgey), the book's simple text and sparse, elegant illustrations combine to create a moving yet unsentimental treatise on death. It also has a sly, deadpan humor throughout, as when Duck first notices Death's presence. "Duck was scared stiff, and who could blame her?"
The book is not for every child, but I so wish it was around when my daughter was six or so. She went through a stage when the thought of death panicked her, just looking at her reflection in the mirror could set her off. This book, with its calm, unblinking look at death, might have eased her fears and helped our discussions. Who knows? She may still get a copy.
Duck, Death and the Tulip
by Wolf Erlbruch
Gecko Press, 38 pages
Published: 2008
0 Comments on Duck, Death and the Tulip as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
By: Maria Gill,
on 12/11/2011
Blog: KidsBooksNZ (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Scholastic, Gecko Press, Kyle Mewburn, Elizabeth Pulford, Add a tag
People by Blexbolex, Gecko Press
Anotherchallenging book by Gecko Press. It’s hardbound with a jacket and is presentedin an unusual size (25cm x 19cm). It’s as thick as a proper book (that is, nota picture book) but this is in part due to the very solid paper used.Librarians will be scratching their heads wondering where to shelve it. Eachpage presents a minimalistic image of a person in some kind of role, along withwords that describe the role. So we find School Children, a Conductor, aPainter, a Stevedore, an Astronaut. So far so good. But the artist’s sly senseof humour comes through when we find images for A Seasonal Worker (SantaClaus), a Myth (Prometheus pushing his stone), a Nudist, an Invisible Man, aRisk-Taker. Humour is also evident in the juxtaposition of the images – anExplorer is next to Tourists, a Monk is next to a Rabbi, a Vagabond is next toa Bedouin.
Now, whowould appreciate a book like this? I could see it being used in primary schoolsfor social studies lessons, but children will probably need guidance fromteachers to help them think about the not-so-obvious aspects of the images. Artteachers may also be interested in it because the illustrations certainly bearout the “Less is more” guideline. By the way, Blexbolex is a French illustratorand graphic artist, and this book won the Best Book Design in the World Awardat the Leipzig Book Fair.
ISBN 978 11877467 87 3 RRP $37.99
Reviewed byLorraine OrmanD.E.S.I.G.N.* by Ewa Solarz, illus. Aleksandra andDaniel Mizielinski, Gecko Press
The asteriskstands for Domestic Equipment: Sleek, Ingenious, Groundbreaking, Noteworthy –all qualities which could be applied to this book. It’s a solid hardback volume(originally published in Poland) using top-quality paper, meaning that it has adefinite feel-good aspect. It offers a selection of 69 objects created by “themost influential and famous designers from around the world”. These are allobjects which can be found in a house, and they are presented chronologically.Each double spread display includes cartoon illustrations, explanatory text,the date of invention, the designer’s country of origin, the material it’s madefrom – and various other bits of information. Not to mention a great deal ofhumour! The featured objects are not what you’d expect – browsing through thevolume one can find an elephant chair,
0 Comments on Books for Middle School as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
By: Maria Gill,
on 11/27/2011
Blog: KidsBooksNZ (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Yvonne Morrison, Deborah Hinde, Board Books, Gecko Press, Early Childhood, Add a tag
The Big Book of Words and Pictures by Ole Könnecke,Gecko Press
This is definitelya big board book (about 35cm tall) so it’s probably best viewed on the floor –both you and your preschooler, that is. In fact, you may even like to justleave it lying on the floor in view of the preschooler, and watch what happens.Hopefully the child will open the sturdy pages and become intrigued by thesimple, attractive displays. There is no story, just a host of objects on eachpage with names underneath. The first page contains child-related objects(book, bed, pillow, teddy bear), the third and fourth pages contain householdobjects such as spoon, frying pan, bib, chair – and so on through topics suchas the seasons, food, animals, the sea, flight, transport, music, sports, etc.Most objects are within the ken of a 3-year-old (for instance) but you may becalled upon to explain some unfamiliar items, such as moisturiser,overtrousers, secateurs, sleigh bells, unicycle, water pump, petanque... Thebook was originally published in German, so does not have a New Zealand tone.However the illustrations are fresh and appealing, and the interested adultwill pick up subtle flashes of humour tucked away here and there.
ISBN 978 1877467 87 5 RRP $29.99
Reviewed byLorraine Orman
This is theboard book edition of the original 2006 version (over 35,000 copies printed). Ihave to admit I checked the last page to see if there was a CD there –but no.So you’re left to sing the numerous verses on your own. “Dashing to the bay, In a Kombi campervan, Christmas at the beach – Thefamily’s master plan. Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,Christmas in New Zealand on a sunny summer’s day, ay!” This board bookversion is sturdy and a suitable size for small hands. Deborah Hinde’sillustrations are colourful and active and contain plenty of objects that apre-schooler should recognise. If you’re looking for a Christmas-themedstocking-filler for your 2-year-old, you should check this one out.
0 Comments on Early Childhood Books as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
By: Maria Gill,
on 7/16/2011
Blog: KidsBooksNZ (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: ABC, Gecko Press, Add a tag
The kiwi kid’s ABC by Rebekah Holguin, HarperCollins NZABC books are always popular, especially with grandmothers like me! As I read it, I was imagining how I’ll share it with my 3-year-old grandson, who already knows his ABCs. I think he’ll be most intrigued, firstly with the bright, bold, in-your-face style of the illustrations, and secondly with the distinctly New Zealand flavour. The letters of the alphabet (shown in heavy black print, both small and capital) have either a single or double spread, with the doubles being particularly striking. For A we get aroha, for D we get dolphin, for J we get jandals; also rugby for R, and ukulele for U. The double spread for B gives us bucket, bare feet, beach, ball and bay. The illustrations are done with eye-catching colours and strong black outlines (to my mind, the black outlines look rather retro).
I tried to find out a bit about the author/illustrator but couldn’t detect much, not even on the publisher’s website or her own. This is obviously her first book. Her previous work seems to lean towards fantasy illustration, and she has trained with Weta Workshops. I suspect we may see more of her work, so I hope the publishers update their website. If you’re looking for an ABC book for New Zealanders, this is a good one to try.
ISBN 978 1 86950 895 1 RRP $16.99 (pb)
Reviewed by Lorraine Orman
100 Things by Masayuki Sebe, Gecko Press
This counting book (by the author/illustrator of Dinosaurs Galore) for ages 3 to 6 is typical of what we’ve come to expect from Gecko Press – bright and funky, eye-catching and very 21st century. On each double spread you will find 100 whatevers – mice, moles, children, cars. As well as exhaustive counting, you will also find other activities such as “Can you find 1 rabbit?” on the sheep page, and “Where is the other cat?” on the children page. The last double spread offers ten subjects arranged in 10s, followed by a page of extra location challenges – “Who lives in this house?” The illustrations are done in simplistic cartoon style, and are very appealing.
This book would be best shared with children who understand the concept of counting to one hundred. It would be a bit too much for children who can only go up to 10 or twenty, so not many 3-year-olds would appreciate it. But I’ll be keeping it safely on my bookshelf for when grandson Lachlan develops his counting skills a bit more – and I’m sure we’ll both have lots of fun with it. It would be a popular buy for preschool centres and kindergartens.
ISBN 978 1 877467 82 0 RRP $19.99 (pb) $32.99 (hb)
Reviewed by Lorraine Orman
0 Comments on as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
By: Maria Gill,
on 7/12/2011
Blog: KidsBooksNZ (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Kyle Mewburn, Philip Webb, Diana Neild, Gecko Press, Add a tag
The Bear and the Wildcat by Kazumi Yumoto, illus. Komako Sakai, Gecko PressGecko Press specialises in “curiously good books from around the world” and this is definitely at the high end of the curiousness scale. It’s a story about death and grieving (for ages 4 to infinity, originally published in Japan). Bear’s best friend, a little bird, dies – and Bear is full of grief. He carries the bird round in a box, much to the dismay of the other animals in the forest. He withdraws into his house and sits in the darkness. But eventually he emerges and meets a wildcat who is also a roving violinist. This strange character enables Bear to grieve properly and find the courage to finally bury his friend.
This is not a book that children will select off the shelf, and I imagine libraries will have problems working out where to shelve it. I heard of one library putting it in a collection called “Complex Picture Books”, which sounds like a good idea. It will be useful as a resource for counsellors, teachers, hospices and grief services.
It’s a gentle, touching story, delicately told. As always with Gecko Press, the presentation is superb – hardback, book jacket, and luxurious heavy-duty paper. The illustrations are totally in tune with the story – done in fuzzy black and white (with pink touches on the “happy” pages) using heavy shading and lots of texture. Whether deliberate or not, the sombre illustrative style will probably deter youngsters from reading the book independently. If libraries and schools wish to add to their collections relating to death and loss, this is definitely one to buy.
ISBN 978 1 877467 70 0 RRP $29.99
Reviewed by Lorraine Orman
Three Cheers for No-Ears by Kyle Mewburn, illus. Deborah Hinde
Once there was an elephant with very small ears. Kind friends tried to create new ears for him with feathers and leaves and bananas and fur and flowers – but nothing worked. No-Ears was very sad. But then the elephant leader was buried under a rock slide, and No-Ears was the only elephant who could stick his head in far enough to touch trunks with the big guy. Of course, he manages to pull the prisoner out – and something strange happens – but by this time No-Ears has obviously learned to live with his differences...
It’s a very light story, but its theme of accepting physical differences in others is an important one for pre-schoolers. Deborah Hinde’s illustrations are big and bright and colourful, with plenty of action involved, and would be good for reading aloud to a group. Also available in a Maori edition.
ISBN 978 1 86943 978 1 RRP $19.50
Reviewed by Lorraine Orman
Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig and the Camping Holiday by Diana Neild,
0 Comments on as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
By: Julie Fortenberry,
on 4/21/2008
Blog: Children's Illustration (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: gecko press, Eva Eriksson, Add a tag
Eva Eriksson
See more illustrations here (How do you rotate them?)
0 Comments on as of 4/21/2008 3:29:00 PM
Add a Comment
By: stephhale,
on 10/12/2007
Blog: Books, Boys, Buzz (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: dreams, Oprah, Revenge of the Homecoming Queen, Po Bronson, Add a tag
Hmm...well, I'm a woman of many faces. A daughter, sister, friend, author, and most importantly, a wife and mommy.
I have loved to read my whole life but never once considered becoming a writer until about five years ago. I got laid off from a job I'd had for about ten years. One day I was watching Oprah and she had an author, Po Bronson, on the show. He had written a book called, What Should I Do With My Life? A few of the people interviewed for the book were on the show and they had given up six figure jobs to pursue their dreams. They looked SO happy. I drove straight to the mall and bought the book. I'm pretty sure I read the whole thing that night. The book was excellent, and the stories were so inspirational, but when I turned to put the book on my nightstand, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed. I guess I had expected to get to page 100 of the book and it would say, STEPHANIE HALE, YOU WOULD BE VERY HAPPY WORKING AS AN ONION FARMER! Which is totally ridiculous, because as anyone who knows me would tell you, I dispise onions. And I don't even know if there are specific farmers just for onions. I was jealous of the people in the stories. I didn't think that I would ever feel happy about WORK. I tried desperately to think of things I loved. My husband, my son, pizza, Coca-Cola, expensive makeup, but none of these things seemed to translate into a clear career path.Tired and depressed, I reached over to switch off my bedside lamp only to knock over the ever-present tower of books on my table. Then it hit me.
BOOKS. I LOVE BOOKS. I LOVE TOUCHING THEM, SMELLING THEM, HOLDING THEM, and READING THEM. Why couldn't I write a book?
And that was it. The next day I started writing an adult chick-lit called The Perfect Man, I know, original title, right? It got some requests and some nice rejections. After that, and having a second baby, I started what I thought was a young adult but was probably a middle-grade called Living Doll. It has a cute premise and someday I might be able to revise it. While I was shopping LIVING DOLL around, I started Revenge of the Homecoming Queen.
I knew immediately that this book was different from my first two books. It poured out of me pretty quickly. I was getting some very positive requests on LD and felt I was very close to getting an agent, but not my dream agent.
So I did what any impulsive writer does and started querying my dream agents with the Revenge premise. All of them wanted to see it, including Queen Bee Agent, who I had my heart set on getting to represent me.
Okay, long story short. Queen Bee loved my story but wanted to see it fleshed out more and wanted to see it again if I chose to do this. I took one month and completely revised the book and added 20k. I resent to Queen Bee and waited. Queen Bee loved my additions, signed me, and sold my book very shortly thereafter. YEAH!
Getting a book published has been just as amazing as I always dreamed it would be. It is amazing to love what you do and get paid for it. I just hope that I can keep doing this forever.
My second book, Twisted Sisters, comes out on April 1st. Aspen and her Comfort High peeps go to college in this one. Aspen has another mystery to solve while trying to fit in with her new sorority sisters.
I have lots of ideas for new mysteries for Aspen, as well as new characters, that are just waiting to be written. It sounds so cheesy, but now I know, dreams really do come true. Don't ever give up on your dream!xo,
Steph
Revenge of the Homecoming Queen, OUT NOW!
6 Comments on Who is Stephanie Hale?, last added: 10/13/2007
Display Comments
Add a Comment
Steph,
I'm so glad you chose Publishing over Onion Farming. Not many people know this, but Onion Farming is a very subjective and difficult business... wait, no--that's Publishing! Well, whatever--you made the right choice. Can't wait to read Twisted Sisters.
~BT
Steph, back in high school, I took a career placement test and the result was that I'd make a great Funeral Parlor Director. I see that about on the same wavelength of you and onion farmer! :)
I'm so glad you found the one career that delights you, because bonus for the rest of us: it delights us, too. I can't wait until April for the next Aspen adventure!
Hey, how come I didn't get to be in your life story?
And then I met the best critique partner in the world, that's how I would write it....
What I meant to say was, Cool story, you're like an inspiration and stuff :)
I think the important question is: "What would you have done if that book had told you to be an onion farmer?" Besides learn to not hate onions, of course. Thank goodness for that toppling tower of books on your nightstand! Otherwise you might be making pizza-flavored Coke or expensive makeup for men. [Okay, clearly I've lost it, but I think you get my meaning.] =)
Onion farmer? LOL! I'm so glad you chose to be an author. :)
Although you would have grown (delicious?) great onions, you are a rockin' writer, Steph. Good career choice.
xxo