Item: There's Bug Guts on my Shoe!
Author: Debbish

Book review: Fred Do-it’s Wacky Plan Really Fails by Graham Bebington

August 26, 20194 min read

Regular readers will know I don’t often review children’s books. As I don’t have kids myself and am subjected to very few ( 😉 ), I don’t really know what they do or don’t like.

I had intended to co-opt my 8yr old godson Pickle to assist with this review as the author of Fred Do-it’s Wacky Plan Really Fails, Graham Bebington is the librarian at his school, but I haven’t been able to pin him (my godson, not Mr Bebington) down. It’s Pickle’s birthday month you see – so he’s distracted (and sick) – though he was able to give me some feedback in between party-planning excitement.

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Book event: There’s Bug Guts on my Shoe by Deb Pak

January 22, 20192 min read

There's Bug Guts on my Shoe!
by Deb Pak
Published by Ocean Reeve Publishing
on November 26th 2018
Genres: Children's
ISBN: B07KWKQ8ZT
Goodreads

Where's that sneaky bug now?
After finding bug guts on his shoe a boys obsession with insects sees his imagination run wild...

Life passes by way too fast. We've got to slow down and enjoy it. I know myself that spending quality time with my kids is hard because of daily pressures and responsibilities. All this running around can sometimes suck the FUN out of life! When you read 'There's Bug Guts on my Shoe' it forces you to slow down, connect and spend quality time with your kids where learning is actually disguised as fun! Sneaky huh?

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Book review & giveaway: Treasury of Bedtime Stories by Enid Blyton

October 15, 20182 min read

I suspect if you asked many people of my generation (and perhaps those born a decade or so before / after) we’d say that Enid Blyton was one of the biggest influences on our reading lives.

I have VERY vivid memories of going to our former library to borrow Noddy books and I LOVED the Faraway Tree, Wishing Chair, Secret Seven and Amelia Jane (though her less so, cos she WAS naughty) but most particularly The Famous Five.

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Book review: The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak

October 8, 20172 min read

I went to my friend’s house last weekend to ‘interview’ (using the term loosely) my godson about a book I’d been given for review. (In related news, check out our Finn and Puss book review, if you missed it.)

While I was there 6yr old Pickle dragged out another story he wanted me to read. As it happened his mother had already told me she’d bought this book, and I suspect I’d come across it via the same person / site as I’d recently heard of it for the first time as well.

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Book review: Finn and Puss by Robert Vescio and Melissa Mackie

October 2, 20173 min read

I’ve mentioned before I don’t often request / read or review many kids’ books – the whole ‘not having kids’ thing making them a bit redundant in my household. However, if I see something that I think my godson would like I’ll either check with his mum, or just go ahead and request it.

Finn and Puss by Robert Vescio and Melissa Mackie was promoted as an ‘ethical tale’ – with a focus on doing what we know is right, even when it’s hard. It sounded particularly cute so I went ahead and requested it for 6yr old (cat-owner) Pickle’s reading pleasure. (And a life lesson or two!)

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Book series review: D-Bot Squad by Mac Park and James Hart

August 1, 20173 min read

I don’t have kids, so am not overly familiar with a lot of children’s contemporary reading and literary options. My godson however is almost six and I’ve read him enough stories to know he needs to be engaged in a plot that’s exciting and relatable and – now he’s starting to learn to read – needs to be challenged by language, phrasing and prose and recognise words in print.

This new series by Mac Park (Louise Park and Susannah McFarlane) and illustrated by James Hart is perfect for the youngest millennials, accustomed to uplifting yet fast-paced action in a high-tech world.

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Book review: Through the Gate by Sally Fawcett

May 1, 20173 min read

I don’t usually request children’s books for review. Not having children ‘n’ all. Or being one myself. However… occasionally something jumps out at me and this book by Sally Fawcett did as it popped up in my emails just as my local bestie and my godson were about to move house.

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Author visit with Jacqueline Harvey

March 15, 20173 min read

The media release from Penguin Random House Australia describes former-teacher now full time author Jacqueline Harvey as a ‘superstar children’s author’. I don’t have kids and am obviously not in her target audience but my local bookshop owner and another bookseller on Facebook told me her books are hugely popular.

When I met the very affable author she was in the midst of a book tour along the coastal areas of southern Queensland, appearing at schools and in bookstores. She’d already had school visits in Maryborough and Hervey Bay by the time I lumbered into her appearance at Mary Ryan’s in Hervey Bay to promote the 15th book in her Alice-Miranda series.

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