The Children's Bookshop

The CBCA Shortlist for 2011

2011-04-25T00:42:00.000-07:00

The Children's Book Council has announced the Short-List for the Best Children's Books by Australians published in 2010. Some surprises which is always refreshing!
Last year, I think, has been strong for early childhood and picture books. The older readers offer a quirky mix- I loved Six Impossible Things and Graffiti Moon.

Have a look at the nominations for the Crichton Award for 2011 to encourage new illustrators of Australian children's books. Good luck to all, especially Sarah Kate Mitchell and Lisa Stewart, both friends of The Children's Bookshop!

Looking forward to seeing who are voted as winners of categories in August!

Older Readers Short List 2011

Crowley, Cath Graffiti Moon Pan Macmillan Australia
Hartnett, Sonya The Midnight Zoo Viking Books, Penguin Group (Australia)
Horniman, Joanne About a Girl Allen & Unwin
MacLeod, Doug The Life of a Teenage Body-Snatcher Viking Books, Penguin Group (Australia)
Marchetta, Melina The Piper’s Son Viking Books, Penguin Group (Australia)
Wood, Fiona Six Impossible Things Pan Macmillan Australia
These books are for mature readers

Younger Readers Short List 2011

Bauer, Michael Gerard Just a Dog Omnibus Books, Scholastic Australia
Bongers, Christine Henry Hoey Hobson Woolshed Press, Random House Australia
Branford, Anna
Ill. Sarah Davis Violet Mackerel’s Brilliant Plot Walker Books Australia
Carmody, Isobelle The Red Wind Viking Books, Penguin Group (Australia)
McKinlay, Meg
Ill. Leila Rudge Duck for a Day Walker Books Australia
Murphy, Sally
Ill. Rhian Nest James Toppling Walker Books Australia
Intended for independent younger readers.

Early Childhood Short List 2011

Champion, Tom Niland & Niland, Kilmeny
Ill. Deborah Niland The Tall Man and the Twelve Babies Allen & Unwin
Dubosarsky, Ursula
Ill. Mitch Vane The Deep End Puffin Books, Penguin Group (Australia)
Lester, Alison Noni the Pony Allen & Unwin
Niland, Deborah It's Bedtime, William! Viking Books, Penguin Group (Australia)
Norrington, Leonie
Ill. Dee Huxley Look See, Look at Me! Allen & Unwin
Ormerod, Jan
Ill. Freya Blackwood Maudie and Bear Little Hare Books
Intended for children in the pre-reading to early reading stages.

Picture Book Short List 2011

Baker, Jeannie Mirror Walker Books
Bancroft, Bronwyn Why I Love Australia Little Hare Books
Greenberg, Nicki Hamlet Allen & Unwin
McKimmie, Chris Two Peas in a Pod Allen & Unwin
Masciullo, Lucia
Written by Kim Kane Family Forest Hardie Grant Egmont
Riddle, Tohby My Uncle's Donkey Viking Books, Penguin
Group (Australia)
Intended for an audience ranging from birth to 18 years range (Some books may be for mature readers).

Eve Pownall Award for Information Books Short list 2011

Brasch, Nicolas Theme Parks, Playgrounds and Toys Macmillan Education Australia
Brooks, Ron Drawn from the Heart: A Memoir Allen & Unwin
Davidson, Leon Zero Hour: The Anzacs on the Western Front The Text Publishing Company
Dubosarsky, Ursula
Illustrated by Tohby Riddle The Return of the Word Spy Viking, Penguin Group (Australia)
Lloyd, Alison
Illustrated by Terry Denton Wicked Warriors & Evil Emperors: The True Story of the Fight for Ancient China Puffin Books, Penguin Group (Australia)
One Arm Point Remote Community School Our World: Bardi Jaawi: Life at Ardiyooloon Magabala Books

The Crichton Awards for 2011- best First Time Illustrators

McFadden, Clare The Flying Orchestra University of Queensland Press
Mitchell, Sarah Kate Starry Starry Night Pier 9
Stewart, Lisa
Written by Kerry Brown Can I Cuddle the Moon? Scholastic Press, Scholastic Australia
Thomas, Adele K
Written by Peter Macinnis The Monster Maintenance Manual Pier 9
Thompson, Jo
Written by Paul Collins The Glasshouse Ford Street Publishing
Wiltshire, Jonah and Evie & Hamilton, Sheryl The Lighthouse Kids of Maatsuyker Island Forty Degrees South

25 Ways the E-Book Can't Beat the Book!

2011-03-13T03:55:00.000-07:00

I'm at a Book Conference with Annie Proulx and others and I am feeling inspired about books!

Annie referred to the points below (from M. Allen Cunningham)talking about the advantages of the book over the e-book.... something to think about!

1 . The book unites delivery device and content. E-readers, drained of battery power, revert to hunks of plastic.

2. The book begets libraries and independent bookstores, irreplaceable bastions of culture and community.

3. The book, beyond cover price, comes with no proprietary fee. Your preferred e-reader sets you back $250 to $500.

4. The book is not an inventory portal, therefore not subject to proprietary restrictions in content; i.e.: Due to licensing or discretionary considerations, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley cannot be downloaded to this e-reading device. (Think this is a joke? See note* below.)

5. The book is not a brand, therefore free from functional limitations imposed by a manufacturer; i.e.: The e-book you’re requesting is not supported by your e-reader’s operating system. Upgrade to our newest e-reader or follow this link to our checkout to download OS-2011.5.

6. The book withstands excessive dust, direct sunlight, splashed soup, or dropped potatoes.

7. The book is hard to eradicate except by fire. Is any e-reading device likely to reach — with zero loss of content — an age comparable to civilization’s oldest incunabula?

8. The book, presented as gift, shows regard for the recipient’s tastes, being a single selection and/or bearing the giver’s handwritten inscription.

9. The book can be autographed by its author.

10. The book, by conspicuous display of title and/or author, occasions conversation between mutually inclined strangers.

11. The book may be safely read in the bath.

12. The book relieves you of the screen in an age of relentless screen-media assaults upon the eye.

13. The book is not an immediate access point for innumerable diversions (e-mail, video games, etc.).

14. The book’s printed editions are traceably distinct, a defense against manipulations of fact or history.

15. The book does not “transmit and receive,” except in mysterious ways. No need to fear an Orwellian eye embedded in the page.

16. The book cannot be “swiped remotely” by the powers that be.

17. The book’s publisher may go broke without imperiling access to additional content.

18. The book, bought second-hand or borrowed, yields up fascinating ephemera: grocery lists, love notes, locks of hair, receipts, etc., bringing the reader into poignant contact with an unknown fellow human being.

19. The book complements your mantelpiece.

20. The book boasts many practical uses beyond communication (as furniture, makeshift stairs, etc.). E-readers — oddly shaped and breakable — are as obsolescent as other computer junk once they quit working.

21. The book is not invariably manufactured in China.

22. The book accommodates ingenuity of format: children’s books, art books, illuminated texts, pop-up books, fold-out maps, etc.

23. The book makes a meaningful heirloom.

24. The book may be safely left unattended on the beach. As gizmo it is not a hot steal.

25. The book is not a shopping cart.

http://www.soulshelter.com/technology-vs-the-soul/25-ways-e-readers-cant-beat-the-old-fashioned-book/

2011 is here!

2011-01-14T18:53:00.000-08:00

At The Children's Bookshop, we are excited about 2011 because we are forty years old! The store started in 1971 and will hopefully continue to thrive as we move through our fortieth year.We have many celebrations and events planned with lots of author visits and a big party with a special guest.
And some great books await us in 2011.
What is great for adults? Five Bells by Gail Jones (Random House) is out in February and is a beautiful novel linking with Slessor's famous poem. I loved it. Intelligent, beautifuly written, beautifully crafted... and memorable.
Two other great reads include When God was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman (Hachette) out in April.This is perhaps one of the great reads of 2011. It is a quirky, sensitive and dynamic tale of love between a brother and sister over a span of years. This is a debut author we need to keep an eye on because her first novel offers great promise.
The other novel to look out for is Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett out in May (Hachette). This is a brief and deceptively simple tale that resonates long after the final pages have been read. I loved it even more after the second reading. This is also a debut novelist- I can't wait to see what Favel writes next.

Looking forward to a great year of great reading.

2010-11-10T02:03:00.000-08:00

Conversations in a Bookshop

2010-11-06T02:58:00.000-07:00

A Conversation in a U.S. Bookshop:

Me: “How can I help you?”

Caller: “This a bookstore?”

Me: “Yes, this is a bookstore.”

Caller: “Oh. I need the 8th Harry Potter book.”

Me: “I’m sorry sir, but there are only 7 Harry Potter books.”

Caller: “But I need the 8th one.”

Me: “There are only 7 books, sir.”

Caller: “Why?”

Me: “Because there are only 7 years at Hogwarts.”

Caller: “What does that mean?”

Me: “Sir, have you read the Harry Potter books?”

Caller: “No, my son reads them and he finished the 7th one and asked me to get the 8th one.”

Me: “Sir, if he read the 7th one, he would know that that was the final book in the series.”

Caller: “But he wants to read it. What can I do?”

Me: “Contact the author?”

Caller: “Do you have his number?”

Me: “Do I have J.K. Rowling’s number?”

Caller: “Yes.”

Me: “No. I… uh… don’t happen to have that on me.”

Caller: “Oh. Can you tell my son that there are only 7?”

Me: “No, I’m sure you’re quite capable of doing that all on your own.”

Caller: “He will be very upset!” *hangs up*

It Takes all Types of Customers!

2010-10-04T00:59:00.000-07:00

Working in a Bookshop is always interesting and bookstore owners across the UK are compiling a list of the most stupid and amusing they have heard from shoppers.

Examples so far include the customer who asked if Anne Frank wrote any more books after her diary - and the man who when asked to specify what sort of map he wanted said "mappy maps."

Another of the gems compiled to celebrate Independent Booksellers Week is the lady who asked "Did Charles Dickens write any shorter versions of his books?"

I like the teenager who wanted to return a copy of Douglas Adams'Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy' - because it didn't even contain anything about Italy where she was going Euro-railing.

(Source: http://newslite.tv/2010/06/18/overheard-in-a-bookshop-are-re.html)

A Big Day!

2010-09-14T06:24:00.000-07:00

Today was a big day with visits from some writers.
This morning, Craig Smith, author of The Wonky Donkey, visited The Children's Bookshop. What a star! He sang his way through story-time and the kids loved him. The day ended with a visit by Georgia Blain, author of Darkwater and many other texts. About 30 people bravely came out into the rainy night to enjoy a great discussion of Georgia's work... And I am looking forward to meeting Jeannie Baker next week!
Who would I like to visit the shop over the next twelve months? Tim Winton, Shaun Tan, Pamela Allen... and we always love a visit from Markus Zusak. We will see!

Book Clubs for Adults.

2010-08-17T06:27:00.000-07:00

August is our busiest month of the year because of Book week Events and Book Fairs that we host. But after a long day I happily stayed back for our Third Tuesday Book Club Group meeting- and the discussion was great! We now have three book clubs for adults with almost 50 Book club members and we recently celebrated three years of Book Club meetings. Tonight we discussed Truth by Peter Temple and I was fascinated by the varied responses to the book. We agreed that the book utilises some great language- a clipped, raw poetic style with sharp, masculine dialogue. We all had different memories of what happened in the novel and while we agreed that Truth is a challenging read, the book offered something for all. I don't like to re-read books but I am keen to re-read this one.

I am particularly looking forward to discussing Room by Emma Donoghue- the most intriguing book I've read for a long time!

Stellar Visitors!

2010-07-29T06:01:00.000-07:00

The week becomes worthwhile when you get a chance to meet talented writers such as Isobelle Carmody. Forty or more fans met this afternoon at The Children's Bookshop to listen to Isobelle discuss her new junior fantasy novel The Red Wind, part one in her new series, Kingdom of the Lost. We were charmed by Isobelle as she shared insights, read from her novel and answered a range of questions. Isobelle never patronises the reader and I love to see junior novels such as this using great descriptive language that draws you further into the world of the novel.

The week was also memorable because I read a brilliant new novel, Room, by Emma Donoghue.This is a remarkable novel that has just been long-listed for the Man Booker. I won't say much about this novel except to say that it is narrated by a five year old boywho has lived within a single room for his entire life. This is an absolutely compelling read!

Book Clubs for Adult Readers

2010-07-14T05:04:00.000-07:00

Our original Book Club Members (that's our Book Club for Adults) have now been meeting for three years! We now have two groups, the Second Tuesday Book Club and the Last Tuesday Book Club, both groups meeting in the evenings at 7-30pm.

Last night, the group discussed The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell. We have never had such universal praise for a book- members loved it! Our meeting distinctly lacked conflict and argument (which I normallyl love) since all agreed that Maggie O'Farrell is indeed a fine writer. Is she one the greatest contemporary writers as some critics have advocated? Our last meeting focused on Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Many greeted the book with trepidation though all agreed that McCarthy's book is indeed one of the great novels of the past decade.

What books lies ahead? In coming months we are reading Brooklyn by Colm Toibin and Truth by Peter Temple. Great books ahead!

Paul Macdonald

More Visitors to The Children's Bookshop

2010-07-07T03:25:00.000-07:00

At The Children's Bookshop, our philosophy has long been that we are more than a bookshop! Our goal is to bring readers together to enjoy the experience of books and that includes opportunities to meet authors and illustrators.

Yesterday, twenty five primary school kids were lucky enough to experience a writing workshop with author Belinda Murrell. Belinda is the author of The Ruby Talisman and many other novels for young readers. She is not only a writer to watch but she is a great teacher of writing skills. The group focused on character, setting and other aspects of narrative and they had fun- and were challenged! Today, a younger group of five to seven year olds enjoyed a Pirates and Princesses workshop with our regular workshop leader Jocelyn Shute. We started in a darkened pirates' cave (we had to improvise because of the blackout many Sydney-siders experienced) and Jocelyn again was a fantastic presenter.

I am looking forward to next week when illustrator Sarah Davis is visiting for a drawing workshop.

Paul Macdonald

Some Great Reads!

2010-07-02T04:52:00.000-07:00

Anthony Browne is back with his new picture book Me and You, a re-working of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. This book is vintage Browne and schools will love playing with this book as part of a visual literacy focus. A post modern reading of a known tale, Me and You shifts the reader's empathy and we are left to think about class, family and parallel lives. I love this book!

One of the best YA novels this year must be Dark Water by Georgia Blain. Amanda Clark is found dead, floating facedown by the riverbank. This begins a beautifully written book about family, politics and murder in an idyllic Sydney suburb. This book starts and ends brilliantly and is a great page-turner. I loved the way the protagonist's name is introduced to the reader. Highly recommended for teens! Thanks to Linsay Knight from Random House for pointing me in the direction of this book- I wasn't disappointed!

Paul Macdonald

Approaching the School Holidays!

2010-06-29T01:45:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-24T04:03:00.000-07:00

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!