PETER USBORNE - LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Some years ago we began buying children's books by Usborne Publishing mainly because they were always well printed, covered interesting subjects and used great children's authors.  We learned today that Peter Usborne the founder of this publishing house has received the London Book Fair Lifetime Achievement Award for 2015.  Attached is the story about Peter and the publishing house.

 

JENNIFER FLEMING AND SHANNON LUSH THE 'SPOTLESS' TEAM

For collectors of the Spotless series there's a new book.......perfect for anyone who looks after babies and toddlers!

Stains, spills, poo, wee, vomit. Once you have kids, there's no avoiding mess. It's everywhere - on every surface of your home, your baby and yourself!  Here at last is the essential tool in every parent's baby-raising arsenal - the book that tells you everything you need to know for safe, environmentally friendly and cost-effective ways to keep your babies and toddlers spotless. With chapters covering bathing, playtime, laundry, feeding and bedtime, Shannon Lush and Jennifer Fleming give you practical solutions on how to avoid the worst of the mess, and how to deal with it when the inevitable happens - from poo to spew and everything in between.

BOOK REVIEWS - AUTHORS FLEUR FERRIS AND MICHAEL HYDE

We have two new book reviews on our website one 'Footy Dreaming' from 11 year old Ashley Currey (thank you Ashley) and the other 'Risk', from a local reader Helen Nkansah.  'Footy Dreaming' is out now and will be a great read for upper primary school level readers. 'Risk' will arrive in July and I agree with our reviewer that it's a book that needs to be read by parents of teenagers, particularly girls.

HONEY BROWN

I've been waiting for this latest book from Honey Brown for quite a while now and it's due to be released in August.

Honey Brown takes an unexpected turn from crime fiction with Six Degrees, an anthology that perfectly captures the essence of rural romance. Connected tenuously by a life-changing event, these stories don’t always fit squarely within the romance genre, but they retain key elements—its sense of joy and the celebration of (mostly female) sexuality.  It will be on our shelves as soon as it's released.

 

 

WINNER OF THE 2015 FINCH MEMOIR PRIZE

Schools of Fish by Alan Sampson has taken out the award for memoirs.  Alan is a Queensland Public School Executive Principal he is very much a man bent on success. As a very strict high school principal he was renowned for transforming weak schools into centres of academic and sporting excellence. But the long hours took their toll on his home life.

As his marriage ended and his family was torn apart, he was given charge of a troubled city high school on a downward spiral; to make matters worse, in this school was one of the most troublesome students he had ever come across … his own son, Greg. As Alan strives to find a way to tame his son’s behavioural problems at school and at home, he and Greg battle each other as well as the ingrained obstacles in the education system. Only when they both find the courage to step outside the rules do they find their way through to each other … and realise that the best education in life can often be found outside the school system.

This is worth a read whether or not you have children.

 

Alan Sampson, a Queensland Public School Executive Principal - See more at: http://finch.com.au/books/schools-of-fish-2#sthash.YUjsYd72.dpuf

Alan Sampson, a Queensland Public School Executive Principal - See more at: http://finch.com.au/books/schools-of-fish-2#sthash.YUjsYd72.dpuf

Alan Sampson, a Queensland Public School Executive Principal - See more at: http://finch.com.au/books/schools-of-fish-2#sthash.YUjsYd72.dpuf

SPOTLESS BABY

Shannon Lush has written many books on how to remove stains, clean homes, etc and now she's turned her sight on babies, this is her latest in the Spotless series and it's called Spotless Baby, the blurb says:

Stains, spills, poo, wee, vomit. Once you have kids, there's no avoiding mess. It's everywhere - on every surface of your home, your baby and yourself!

 

ROBIN BARKER

There is a generation of women who lived by the words of Robin Barker in her books on babies and how to look after them.  She wrote Baby Love, The Mighty Toddler, Baby & Toddler Meals and many others, all aimed at helping the new mother cope.  These books are still in print somewhere in the world.  Her latest title is Close to Home and it showcases Robin's fascination with families over the last six decades, their hopes and disappointments, loves and deceits, which are captured in ten acutely observed stories of anguish and triumph.  Long may she continue to write with a focus on families and family life.

 

SCHOLASTIC UK TO STOP GENDER-LABELLING

The Guardian reports that in response to a petition from an eight-year-old reader arguing that ‘no books should be “for girls” or “for boys”’, Scholastic UK said it will no longer publish anything new that is pitched at girls or boys in the title, with any backlist titles to be reissued with new covers on reprint. The publisher has also removed gendered questions from its online recommendation tool ‘book wizard’. The petition, which had more than 80 signatures, was sent with the support of campaign group Let Books Be Books.

"At Scholastic, we appreciate that every child is different and has the right to choose the books that are right for them; we aim to have something on our list for every child," said the publisher in a statement. 

Ladybird publishers as of November 2014 also dropped gender specific titles, they will no longer publish books like Favourite Stories for Boys and Favourite Stories for Girls. 

It is the seventh publisher to commit to the Let Books Be Books campaign which is urging "boys" and "girls" labels to be removed to enable children to choose freely what kind of story and activity books interest them.

And the other side of the argument:

A leading children’s publisher has said he will not bow to pressure to stop labelling books for either girls or boys – because it is a “fact of life” that people search for gifts according to gender.  Michael O’Mara, whose company owns children’s publisher Buster Books, defended selling gender-specific titles such as The Beautiful Girls’ Colouring Book and The Brilliant Boys’ Colouring Book, saying they were easier to sell than unisex editions.

What do you think? 

 

COLOURING BOOKS FOR ADULTS

It seems to be the trend at the moment............colouring books for adults.  Here's some news on the subject, makes interesting reading.  We have a number of these titles on the shelf at the moment and more coming........apparently it's a good past time to deal with the stress of a day.

 

SUMMERS GONE BY CHARLES HALL

I've just finished reading Summers Gone by Charles Hall and found myself back in the 1960s in Australia.  This devastatingly honest novel follows the story’s protagonist, Nick, as he revisits one particular steamy and complicated 'summer of love'...... years after its tragic end.  The story begins when Nick’s Uncle Clem gives him the banjo that leads to him forming a folk band with his best friend, Mitch, and two Melbourne sisters, Helen and Alison.  This story takes you from Perth to Melbourne and all points north and south.

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO SERIES

Those who enjoyed the Stieg Larsson series will be pleased to hear the 'family trust' have approved a sequel to the series The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz and this will be out in August.  The publishers are also reprinting the original three books, so if you haven't as yet read them let me know and I'll put copies on order for you.  We will be stocking all four titles.

 

BEHIND THE SCENES IN A BOOKSHOP

The Australian Booksellers Association frequently send good information and I like to pass it on.  There's no need for me to explain this link, you'll get the picture.  I agree with all of these points and in particular #1 and #17. 

'RISK' BY FLEUR FERRIS

This is a young adult title that will be out in July.  If you have a young adult in your life who spends time on the internet then this is a book you and they should read.  It's fiction and it's frightening.  The scenario is:

Best friends Taylor and Sierra meet a hot guy in a chat room online. Both fall for Jacob's charms, but as usual, the more outgoing and vivacious Sierra overshadows Taylor and wins his attention. Taylor's devastated. Life's not fair, especially when Sierra's around. Moving quickly, Sierra sets up a date with Jacob on Friday after school. She asks Taylor and their friends to cover for her. Even though she's upset, Taylor is still Sierra's best friend and agrees to help. But Sierra abuses the favour and calls to say she's going to spend the night with her date. She doesn't come home all weekend, doesn't answer her phone and nobody's heard from her . . . Taylor is torn.....what should she do?????

 

IF YOU LOVE DOGS YOU'LL LOVE 'RALF'

This is a wonderful heartwarming story (it has a dog as the main character, how could it lose?) and to read more about the book click here.

WHAT USED TO BE CALLED BOOKBAGS?

Some of you may know these as Book Bags.  Word on the street is that these days they are used for iPads, magazines, small laptops, jewellery, makeup, hosiery, hair accessories, crafty gear AND as a cutch, manbag, pouchette, vitamin baggie and more….

Whatever it's called (or used for) we thought it would make a great Mother's Day gift and she can decide what to use it for.

The Dharma Door are now calling these..............The Everything Pouch.