Approaching the School Holidays!

The School Holidays are approaching and thanks to everyone for their support of our regular holiday workshop program. Author Belinda Murrell will be working with a group developing writing skills and characterisation. That workshop is already filled! Illustrator Sarah Davis is focusing on drawing and picturebooks with a keen group. Little ones are playing with the ideas of Pirates and Princesses while a small group of Advanced English HSC students will be preparing for Trials.

And what are the hot reads for the holidays? There are many!

Favourite Picturebooks include: Queen Victoria's Underpants by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley; The Important Things by Peter Carnavas; Magpie by Luke Davies (still my favourite!); Monster by Andrew Daddo and Bruce Whatley (again!); The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinknet.

Favourite Junior Fiction includes: Battle Boy by Charlie Carter; Thai-fiffic by Oliver Phommavahn; The EJ12 series; Now by Morris Gleitzman; and Toppling by Sally Murphy. And of course, huge numbers of kids continue to read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

Favourite YA include: The Necromancer by Michael Scott; The Truth about Leo by David Tyelland; Alone by James Phelan; Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness; The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan.

And favourite Adult Fiction: The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall; The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell; Brooklyn by Colm Toibin; Indelible Ink by Fiona McGregor.

I am looking forward to reading The Trophy Kid by Pat Flynn, Oracle by Jackie French and I'll dip into Little Vampire Women by Alcott and Messina.

Happy Reading! Let me know what you are reading.

Paul Mac

June 2010- Busy Times

The last few weeks have been busy times with a range of visitors to The Children's Bookshop. Earlier in the month Sally Murphy visited schools and dropped in to talk about her books Pearl Verses the World and Toppling. We loved Craig Smith's visit when he sang his way through his best selling picturebook Wonky Donkey.
Last Saturday 19th June, Jackie French and Bruce Whatley visited the store to share their new book Queen Victoria's Underpants. A crowd of approximately sixty gathered and we loved the book and the storytelling!
On Monday 21st June, Oliver Phommavanh joined the V.I.P. group of younger readers for a Thai afternoon tea to discuss his new novel Thai-riffic! I was impressed by his good humour and we sold lots of his book to keen readers.
I am looking forward to some visitors to the store in July- Andrew Daddo, Bruce Whatley (for a return visit) and Isobelle Carmody.
What's the staff reading? I am enjoying Indelible Ink by Fiona McGregor (for adults) and I have no idea how it is going to end. Ann loved The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall. Claire loved Passage by Justin Cronin- sounds intriguing. There are amazing picturebooks in the store at the moment- Armin Greder's The City, Luke Davies' Magpie and Oliver Jeffers' The Heart and the Bottle. And I am looking forward to reading Jackie French's new novel Oracle.
Lots of great books out there- so little time!