More Wild and Wacky Adventurers

More Wild and Wacky Adventurers

This madcap book with two humorous and fast-paced stories is co-authored by husband-and-wife team, Bill Condon, and Dianne Bates. It is illustrated by Cherie Dignam and published by IP Kidz.

Here are the stories:

‘Hardnut Hannigan and the Jewel of the Jungle’ 

Harold Hannigan’s parents knew their baby was different when he fell out of his cot and landed head-first on the floor. He was unhurt, but the floor had a very large dent in it. From that day on, Harold was known as Hardnut Hannigan.

Hardnut amazed the world with his extraordinary deeds; he climbed Mount Everest, without an oxygen mask; won an Olympic marathon; swam the English Channel – underwater – and much, much more! But now, at the age of 12, he had run out of adventures to challenge him. Then he read about a long-lost, incredibly precious jewel in the remote and deeply dangerous jungles of Mongo-Wongo. Many a daredevil had tried to find this fabled treasure, and all had failed. That wasn’t going to stop Hardnut! With his faithful emu Thunderbang and his beloved pooch, Itchybutt, he set off on the greatest adventure of his young life! Would he ever find the Jewel of the Jungle? And even if he did, would he live to tell the tale?

‘Captain Offensnotty and the Giddi-Giddi Zombies.’

Get set for a rollicking adventure with Captain ‘Potty Dotty’ Offensnotty and the crew of the Concrete Slug!  Not far into the voyage the crew discover that their captain is sneaking off at night to her home sweet home, which she has secretly towed behind the mother ship. While the crew has to survive sleeping fifteen to a bunk, their crafty captain lives a life of luxury, nibbling chocolates and watching television! Enraged, the sailors stage a mutiny, but before they can reach their captain, they first must get past her cat – which is very big and mean.  They face a fierce feline battering, but it gets even worse for them, because next, the hapless crew are attacked by a sailor-swallowing sea serpent! Can they possibly survive? Perhaps, but even if they do, there is one more terror awaiting them - the ferocious flesh-eating Giddi-Giddi Zombies!

 

Jest the Funny Bits

Jest the Funny Bits by Bill Condon (IP Kidz), RRP $25.00 Middle Grade ISBN 9-781922-830333

Reviewed by Susan Hancy

Jest the Funny Bits presents as an unassuming book with its clean white cover featuring a juggling jester, signalling that the reader will be in for some fun.  But – wow – this collection of poems, short stories and plays really packs a punch!

 

The book is divided into three sections. The first is a collection of short poems which are an assortment of unconventional ideas, such as a knight stuck in his armour being saved by a can opener. Beware the dad joke humour, such as paying a bargain price for a tree which is dead. (A Christmas tree – ha ha and so true!) My favourite poem was “Uncle Jack” which begins with a hint of C.J. Dennis’s A Bush Christmas with a visitor for Christmas, except that Uncle Jack creates a new calamity with every move he makes. Luckily the police turn up for a chat after his boomerang lodges in Grannie’s ear and before things get much worse.

 

The second section consists of short stories which immediately grip your attention and entertain the reader with their no holds barred plots (who would even think to buy an elephant’s foot?, could there be a librarian who eats children?), expressive similes (“lips curled like two strips of half-cooked bacon”) and the occasional tender moment. Even the most reluctant reader is guaranteed to chuckle and return for the next kooky story. For students and aspiring writers, reading these is like being treated to a master class in great short story writing.

 

The third section is made up of short plays that are fast-paced and packed with puns. Readers won’t be able to resist dressing up as Dracula or transforming into Captain Scurvy to put on their own performances. These plays would also be great material for class activities at school.

 

Witty names (used, for example, with the knights Sir Prised, Sir Rounded, Sir Loin and Sir Cumference, the jackass exploits of Bradley D. Mented where D stands for Dangerous and interviews by Professor Noah Lott) flow prolifically throughout the book. Traditional tales are twisted (find out how Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk fame actually made his fortune and what crime Kimberella committed at the Ball) and no plot unfolds as you would expect. Each poem, short story and play is independent, so reading the chapters out of order works perfectly well, especially if you want to get stuck straight into a short story or play. The variety of tales and techniques used by Bill Condon in creating Jest the Funny Bits had me thinking of him as a modern-day Henry Lawson. I highly recommend this book as a total surprise packet with its plethora of choice for short, wacky reads guaranteed to give a good laugh before bedtime.

Jest the Funny Bits

Warning: Open this book at your peril! You are about to enter the untamed wilds of Bill Condon’s imagination. Jokes, gags, twisted rhymes, outrageous puns, riotous characters and all the things you least expect lie in wait around every corner. Be prepared to smile, giggle, laugh, groan and guffaw. You might just need a new funny bone when you’re done.  Michael Gerard Bauer

Jest the Funny Bits (IP Kidz) is a collection of Bill’s comic poems, plays, and short stories. He had a lot of fun writing them and he really hopes you have fun reading them. However, spoiler alert: they’re not for everyone. 

If you’re a humourless sour grumpy-pants, whose face would split in two if you attempted to smile or laugh, then, whatever you do, don’t read this book! Also, since it is sure to induce giggles, it is best not to read it out loud. After all, humour is contagious, so if you start laughing, you could cause a charge of chuckles, even a gush of guffaws. We’re sure you wouldn’t want that on your conscience. By the end of the book, you may think the author must be a very silly person. You’d be right, too, but at least he’s not a humourless sour grumpy-pants. 

WILD & WACKY ADVENTURERS

WILD & WACKY ADVENTURERS, BOOK 1 by Dianne Bates & Bill Condon, illustrated by Cherie Dignam (IP Kidz)

This book written by a husband-and-wife team features two adventurous stories in one…

TAZZIE WALLAROO & THE PERFECT MATCH

The wildest and toughest adventurers in this world – and the next – have failed to find and capture the Abominable Snowman. Famed adventurer, Tasman Wallaroo (known as Tazzie) enters the scene, saying she will ‘crush that cruel creep to crumbs!’ Training hard until she is as trim and taut as Superwoman after a super make-over, she and her team of 28 shaggy-haired Siberian Cha-Wow-Wows depart the Point of No Return.

Will Tazzie and her doggies overcome blizzards and sub-zero weather? Will they survive falling into a crevasse? And thousands of ice mites? And frenzied ice mice? Will they overcome frostbite? And starvation? What happens when Tazzie uncovers an igloo? Is this the home of the Abominable Snowman? And how and why is love somehow on the cards?

KYLIE O’RILEY AND THE WATTA-WOPPING VOLCANO

The world’s most famous volcanologist Kylie O’Riley is asked by Hilda to recover her husband, Rudy, who has fallen into an active volcano, along with her precious ring and picnic basket. Kylie, who is fearless, brave, and extremely gifted, promises to recover Hilda’s treasures. Off she heads to where the mighty Watta-Wopping Volcano is located. There she finds a dragon. Luckily, she can speak Dragonese and is able to persuade it to fly her to Cracka-Cracka Boom-Boom, home of the Gidgee Guy tribe. However, the chief’s son, Tumby, fancies Kylie for dinner.

Will she escape his cooking pot? What about the dangerous exploding Boom-Boom HaHa volcano? Does she find and recover Hilda’s missing husband? What about the precious ring and picnic basket? What antique gift does she receive?

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Bill Condon has written more than one hundred books for children and young adults, as well as numerous plays and poems. His titles have been shortlisted four times in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards, and in 2010 he won the Prime Minister’s Award for young adult literature. He lives on the south coast of NSW with his wife, Di.

Author of 130+ books, mostly for young people, Australian Dianne (Di) Bates is a full-time freelance writer. Di has worked as a newspaper and magazine editor and manuscript assessor. She is a recipient of The Lady Cutler Award for distinguished services to children’s Literature.

Bill and Di have written other stories in the Explorers’ series, including Captain Offensnotty and the Giddi Giddi Zombies, Major Hootensnooten and the Year 2500, Oscar Bubblesquirt and the Pharoah’s Curse, and several others.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR                                                                                                                                         Cherie Dignam has always loved drawing… and nature, and all animals, especially CATs. An aspiring picture book illustrator currently working on her own projects, she hopes to self-publish this soon. “When I am not working to keep my pet cat, Boris supplied with endless tins of tuna, I create from my home a short walk from the beach in sunny Perth, Western Australia.” I use a variety of mediums, including coloured pencils and watercolour, but I am at my happiest with a good old-fashioned dip pen and ink. I love wonky lines and I don’t really like drawing cars or anything too technical. My desk is usually covered in paper, ink splotches, water, empty teacups, pencil shavings and biscuit crumbs.

Wild & Wacky Adventurers

Wild & Wacky Adventurers by Dianne Bates and Bill Condon, illustrated by Cherie Dignam (IP Kidz) PB RRP $16.00 ISBN: 9781922332943

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

This first book of the Wild & Wacky Adventurers series contains two uproarious junior fiction stories broken up into fast-paced chapters. The start of each chapter features a small but side-splitting illustration by Cherie Dignam that perfectly reflects the entertaining essence of the section.

In ‘Tazzie Wallaroo & The Perfect Match’, Tazzie and her team of Cha-Wow-Wow dogs brave the ‘ravenous, repulsive’ Hairybeary, ‘chittering, chattering ice mice monsters’ and a ‘beastly blowhard blizzard’ on their way to capturing the Abominable Snowman – who’s not as mean and smelly as he’s been made out to be.

In ‘Kylie O’Riley & The Watta-Wopping Volcano’, volcanologist Kylie must find an old dude called Rudy who has fallen into a caldera. She hypnotises a gnarly dragon, avoids being a cannibal’s chow and speeds across no man’s land (‘it was a good thing she was a girl’) to the base of Watta-Wopping Volcano, but is she skilled enough to save the singed but still very much alive Rudy?

Dianne Bates and Bill Condon offer up two tasty servings of silliness in bite-size form. Kids aged six to nine will quickly eat up the eccentricity and exploits and be eager for the next chortle-worthy course. Each story has a rich filling – thanks to themes of courage, acceptance, tenacity, and resilience – but there are puns a-plenty to keep the text light and fluffy.

Ideal for reluctant readers, Wild & Wacky Adventurers makes reading scrumptiously fun. Youngsters will be so caught up in the action that they won’t realise they’ve gobbled up the whole book until they see the two saddest words in English literature: ‘The End’.

WILD & WACKY ADVENTURERS

WILD & WACKY ADVENTURERS, BOOK 1 by Dianne Bates & Bill Condon, illustrated by Cheryl Dignam (IP Kidz)

Now out, this book, written by a husband-and-wife team, features two adventurous stories in one…

TAZZIE WALLAROO & THE PERFECT MATCH                                                      The wildest and toughest adventurers in this world – and the next – have failed to find and capture the Abominable Snowman. Famed adventurer, Tasman Wallaroo (known as Tazzie) enters the scene, saying she will ‘crush that cruel creep to crumbs!’ Training hard until she is as trim and taut as Superwoman after a super make-over, she and her team of 28 shaggy-haired Siberian Cha-Wow-Wows depart the Point of No Return.

Will Tazzie and her doggies overcome blizzards and sub-zero weather? Will they survive falling into a crevasse? And thousands of ice mites? And frenzied ice mice? Will they overcome frostbite? And starvation? What happens when Tazzie uncovers an igloo? Is this the home of the Abominable Snowman? And how and why is love somehow on the cards?

KYLIE O’RILEY AND THE WATTA-WOPPING VOLCANO                                                                                                    The world’s most famous volcanologist Kylie O’Riley is asked by Hilda to recover her husband, Rudy, who has fallen into an active volcano, along with her precious ring and picnic basket. Kylie, who is fearless, brave, and extremely gifted, promises to recover Hilda’s treasures. Off she heads to where the mighty Watta-Wopping Volcano is located. There she finds a dragon. Luckily, she can speak Dragonese and is able to persuade it to fly her to Cracka-Cracka Boom-Boom, home of the Gidgee Guy tribe. However, the chief’s son, Tumby, fancies Kylie for dinner.

Will she escape his cooking pot? What about the dangerous exploding Boom-Boom HaHa volcano? Does she find and recover Hilda’s missing husband? What about the precious ring and picnic basket? What antique gift does she receive?

ABOUT THE AUTHORS                                                                Bill Condon has written more than one hundred books for children and young adults, as well as numerous plays and poems. His titles have been shortlisted four times in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards, and in 2010 he won the Prime Minister’s Award for young adult literature. He lives on the south coast of NSW with his wife, Di.

Author of 130+ books, mostly for young people, Australian Dianne (Di) Bates is a full-time freelance writer. Di has worked as a newspaper and magazine editor and manuscript assessor. She is a recipient of The Lady Cutler Award for distinguished services to children’s Literature.

Bill and Di have written other stories in the Explorers’ series, including Captain Offensnotty and the Giddi Giddi Zombies, Major Hootensnooten and the Year 2500, Oscar Bubblesquirt and the Pharaoh's Curse, and several others.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR                                                                                                                                                      Cherie Dignam has always loved drawing… and nature, and all animals, especially CATs. An aspiring picture book illustrator currently working on her own projects, she hopes to self-publish this soon. “When I am not working to keep my pet cat, Boris supplied with endless tins of tuna, I create from my home a short walk from the beach in sunny Perth, Western Australia.” I use a variety of mediums, including coloured pencils and watercolour, but I am at my happiest with a good old-fashioned dip pen and ink. I love wonky lines and I don’t really like drawing cars or anything too technical. My desk is usually covered in paper, ink splotches, water, empty teacups, pencil shavings and biscuit crumbs.

Buzz Words Short Story Prize

For those of us who write for children, it will come as no surprise that there are no awards in Australia for short stories written for children. To remedy this, Buzz Words has decided to take the initiative and launch the inaugural Buzz Words Short Story Prize. As we have been unable to find a funding organisation prepared to make a grant possible, Buzz Words founder and compiler, author Dianne (Di) Bates is sponsoring the competition which will be launched today, 1 September 2018.

There will be two prizes: first is $1,000 and second is $500. The three short-listing judges are Cathie Tasker, who has worked with Australia’s leading trade and children’s book publishers — HarperCollins Publishers, Scholastic Australia and Koala Books and who currently runs a very successful writing course, Short Story Essentials for the Australian Writers Centre, author Bill Condon, winner of the Prime Minister’s Award for Youth Literature and three times winner of the CBCA Honour Book of the Year, and author Dianne Bates, recipient of the Lady Cutler Award for distinguished services for children’s literature. 

Finalist judge is author Jackie French AM, former Australian Children’s Laureate and winner of many state and national awards for children’s literature.

Entrants are invited to send up to three entries, each accompanied by an official entry form with a fee of $10 per entry. 

The story should be for children 8 to 11 years and no longer than 1,500 words.  Closing date for receipt of entries in 31 December 2018. 

The short list of 10 will be announced in the 1 February 2019 issue of Buzz Words and the winners in the 15 February 2019 issue 

Buzz Words will also publish the winning entries on www.buzzwordsmagazine.com on a date yet to be decided.

Full Terms and Conditions and Entry Form here.

All of Us Together showcasing Dale Newman illustrator

Today we are show-casing the front cover of All of Us Together by Bill Condon (About Kids Books) by Dale Newman http://www.dalenewman.com.au

Please note that twice a month Buzz Words show-cases writing and illustrating by its readers. If you would like a free sample of the Buzz Words magazine, contact the compiler dibates@outlook.com

The Adventures of Jellybean by Bill Condon and Dianne Bates (UQP)

PB RRP $14.95

ISBN 978070226000

Reviewed by Liz Ledden

The Adventures of Jellybean is a junior fiction novel about two great friends, Rory and Trang, united in a quest for the ultimate sounding pet – a goat.

All things goat features quite heavily throughout. Jellybean’s story effortlessly weaves in interesting facts about goats, potentially fuelling young readers desires for a pet goat of their own! After much preparation and anticipation from the boys, Jellybean arrives, but she causes a little more trouble than they imagined. However, with the comfort of Bitsa the dog and a whole lot of love, Jellybean’s story is a heartwarming one.

In addition, the friendship between Rory and Trang is truly endearing. Contrasts between their families and backgrounds (sausages on the barbeque at Rory’s versus Trang’s grandma’s pho) offers a wonderful depiction of multicultural Australia and the joy of embracing other’s differences. There are a several ups and downs within the friendship; however it’s strong enough to overcome any perceived slights – a realistic depiction of friendship dynamics for the primary school set. The inclusion of four-year-old Luna, Rory’s little sister, adds a lovable young female character to the cast, and as in real life, the young characters interact not only with their peers, but family members and neighbours of all ages.

This would make a wonderful book for newly emerged readers to tackle; those just moving beyond shorter chapter books, perhaps aged six to eight. The story has a classic, innocent type feel likely to not date the book in a few years’ time.

Curly Tales: short stories with a twist

Bill Condon (text), Dave Atze (illus.),  Curly Tales: short stories with a twist,  Big Sky Publishing, 1 Sept 2017,  100pp.,  $12.99 (pbk),  ISBN: 9781925520590 Curly Tales includes fourteen very short stories for children eight years plus, ranging in length from a few pages to around twelve pages. Each story features an animal as its central protagonist, and concludes with a twist on a well-known proverb. For example, a story about a famous tv personality who happens to be a pig, and who fatefully changes his life based on the advice of the artist Van Geek, concludes with ‘Beware of Geeks bearing gifts’. The proper proverbs are included at the end of the book, along with an explanation of their meaning. The characters in the stories are creatures great and small – worms, elephants, gorillas, fleas and more. They find themselves in some crazy situations, often because of their wish to escape the confines of their usual life: Gertrude the worm gets to fly, Wally the wolf plays dress ups and Fifi discovers what is so great about being a flea. Some of the stories don’t end well for the protagonists – they meet their ends eaten by a lion, flushed down a bath plug or set in concrete. For others the outcome is far better, and often they learn valuable life lessons. Simple line drawings feature regularly, bringing the stories to life with a lot of humour and action. The print is large and broken up by occasional changes of font as well as a front page for each story, so reluctant readers will find it easy to move forward through the text.  The stories themselves often veer into unexpected territory, featuring funny characters and situations that will raise a giggle. It’s a shame that the gender balance is so uneven – nine stories feature male characters, whilst only three have a female at their centre, although these are clever, adventurous females. The remaining two stories feature a wife/husband couple, and the females at least are a masterful chef and a trapeze artist. Overall these are fun stories and would be a great way to introduce the idea of proverbs. Reviewed by Rachel Le Rossignol The post Curly Tales: short stories with a twist appeared first on Reading Time.

Curly Tales: Short Stories with a Twist

Curly Tales: Short Stories with a Twist by Bill Condon, illustrated by Dave Atze (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $12.99 ISBN 9781925520590

Reviewed by Sandy Fussell

A wonderful array of crazy, oddball characters fill the pages of this book. Meet Professor Julius Brigg, a brilliant pig with ‘a mind like a steel trap wrapped in bacon’.  Meet Big Charley, a mangy cat, so mean he doesn’t use kitty litter. And Doddie Q Moo, a cow who likes two read signs. “Go back, you are going the wrong way” makes her heart flutter.

Each of the thirteen stories is based on a proverb with a twist such as ‘curiosity chilled/killed the cat’ (poor Big Charley) and ‘every Doddie/everybody makes mistakes’ (you can’t force your family to join a sign reading club). Short explanations of the proverbs are included at the back of the book. The illustrations are as humorous as the text. Imagine an anaconda trying to squeeze an armour-plated armadillo (you can’t squeeze/please everyone) or a father and daughter flea fun day out (the best things in life are flea/free). 

The generous illustrations, large print and use of different fonts will appeal to young, independent readers. This book is humorous and clever, for those who like short stories, a good laugh and lashings of quirky wordplay. It will suit readers aged 6 to 11 years. 

Curly Tales: Short Stories with a Twist

Curly Tales: Short Stories with a Twist by Bill Condon, illustrated by Dave Atze (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP 12.99 ISBN 9781925520590

Reviewed by Kate Simpson

Curly Tales: Short Stories with a Twist is a collection of 14 short stories for the early reader crowd by prolific children’s author Bill Condon. Tender-hearted animal lovers beware: things do not always end well for our furry, scaly and squirmy friends in this zany collection. However, kids who like a giggle and dads who aren’t afraid of an outrageous pun are likely to find this right up their alley.

Each story is Condon’s humorous take on a different proverb: ‘curiosity killed the cat’, ‘you can’t please everyone’ and ‘old habits die hard’, among others. In the stories themselves, Condon takes substantial liberties with the proverbs (enter the outrageous puns), but he takes the opportunity to explain the traditional meaning of each at the back of the book – perfect for teachers and parents who love a bit of education mixed in with the kids’ entertainment.

The book is liberally peppered with comic illustrations by Dave Atze, which nicely break up the text to make it less daunting for emerging readers. With the longest story covering 11 large-type pages, and the shortest just four, these curly tales are a great choice for readers aged 6-8 years to cut their teeth on. 

Flying through Clouds

Flying through Clouds by Michelle Morgan (self-published)

PB   RRP $18.99   ISBN 9780995386501

Reviewed by Bill Condon

Flying through the Clouds takes readers on an entertaining ride with 14-year-old, Joe Riley, a boy who author Michelle Morgan first introduced in her successful 2014 novel Racing the Moon (Allen & Unwin).  Joe is a rebellious lad with an impetuous streak that often lands him in trouble, but Morgan skillfully counterbalances this with glimpses into his inner thoughts that show him to be good-natured.

The book is set in Australia during the early 1930s when the country was in the throes of the Great Depression. However, Joe’s mother and sister have plenty of sewing work to do, and his father is an illegal bookie and debt collector. Unlike much of the population, the Riley family doesn’t appear to be too unfavorably affected by the Depression. This isn’t a criticism of the author. No doubt there were those who coped with adversity better than others, and it could be said that it’s to Morgan’s credit that she took a less obvious approach than other Depression stories have taken.

Joe’s dad is a hard man, who is quick to discipline his sons with a strap, or a backhander. He is also a heavy drinker. Not, it would seem, an ideal father, but once again Morgan manages to show his good side, and it’s great to see that, as in life, the characters in Flying through Clouds have positive aspects, as well as negative ones.

Morgan has done a brilliant job in researching this era. Fact after fact comes tumbling out, but none are boringly presented; instead they are seamlessly woven into the narrative. Through the course of the book Joe joins the Boy Scouts and takes a flying lesson, his first step to becoming an aviator, just like his hero Charles Kingsford Smith (Smithy). As Joe learns, so does the reader; in-depth knowledge about the Scouts and flying add an extra layer of reality to Joe’s often daring escapades.

I enjoyed this story. It was well-written and believable, and Joe is a very likeable character. Read it for its accurate depiction of Depression-era Sydney. Read it for a rattling good story; it’s highly recommended.

 Flying through Clouds can be ordered from bookshops and educational and library suppliers from 2 April or from www.michellejmorgan.com.au

Bill Condon’s latest novel is All Of Us Together (About Kids Books, 2016).

One Minute Till Bedtime

One Minute Till Bedtime: 60-second poems to send you off to sleep, Selected by Kenn Nesbit, illustrations by Christoph Niemann (Little, Brown and Company) HB RRP $41.95  ISBN: 978-0-34121-9

Reviewed by Bill Condon

This is a dipping-in kind of book, in which there is a treasure to be discovered on every page. A quality production, it’s made sturdy to last through dozens if not hundreds of happy readings and even comes with a slip-on jacket. 

The first thing that must be noted is that the poems in this collection are child-friendly. They are about mums and dads and grandparents, about lovable pets and the funny things they get up to. They traverse topics such as the school bus, the first day at kindergarten, rainbows, armadillos, bath time, and dandelions. In fact, with 164 poems, each cleverly illustrated, One Minute Till Bedtime

touches on a great many subjects that are sure to leave a smile on children’s faces as they drift off to sleep.

Several well-known writers are featured in the book while some are poets who have been around for a long time, but I’m pleased to say, are still very much at the top of their game. These include such luminaries as Jack Prelutsky, Colin West, and Michael Rosen, to name just a few of many. It is also heartening to see such a strong representation of Australian poets. I counted fifteen whose names I recognised, too many to list, but again, to name only a few, take a bow, Dianne Bates, Edel Wignell, Janeen Brian, Mark Carthew and Teena Raffa-Mulligan.

The book is divided into six sections, each one beginning with a poem by Kenn Nesbitt, America’s Children’s Poet Laureate from 2013 to 2015. While the sections are not named, Nesbitt’s opening poem ably sets the scene for what is to come. As befitting a book with this title, there are number of poems concerning sleep. It’s difficult to choose a favourite from such an impressive line-up, but to give a small example, here are the final lines from Good-Night Poem, by Ralph Fletcher:

Tuck your covers

snug and tight.

Tuck the good

into the night.

One Minute Till Bedtime is highly recommended.

Australian author Bill Condon has written several books for children and young adults including his latest novel for 8 to 12 year olds, All of Us Together (About Kids Books). Bill has always had a special affection for poetry.

All of Us Together

All of Us Together by Bill Condon (About Kids Books) PB RRP $14.99

IBSN 978-0-9945428-0-6

Reviewed by Kate Simpson

Set in Australia in the Great Depression, All of Us Together is a touching coming of age story by multi CBCA short-listed author Bill Condon. Times are tough in small town Australia during the 1930s. Like many fathers, Daniel’s dad is forced to leave his family and seek work wherever he can find it. Before he leaves, he seeks a promise from his son:

‘I’m dependin on you to keep our family in one piece. You and Addie. I’ve no doubt she’s up to it, but are you?’

         ‘I think I am.’

         ‘You only think?’

         ‘No. I know Dad. I promise I won’t let you down.’

It’s one thing to make a promise, but quite another to keep it, and Daniel is only 12 years old. How can he keep his word when the family’s situation is going from bad to worse and his best friend seems to only want to drag him deeper into trouble?

Although it is set in the Great Depression, All of Us Together has a sense of timelessness that separates it from more traditional historical fiction books. It is an emotive, character-driven tale that is more interested in Daniel’s responses to his troubles than to the troubles themselves. Above all, it is a story that will feel completely relevant to Condon’s 8 – 12 year old readership, whether or not they have ever experienced poverty or the absence of a parent.

All of Us Together is a story about growing up, washing off the naïveté of childhood and seeing the world as it really is. It is a story about learning to make the right choices, instead of the easy ones.

A great choice for primary aged children, who may, like me, be hoping for a sequel.

All of Us Together

All of Us Together by Bill Condon (About Kids Books) PB RRP $14.99

ISBN: 978-0-9946428-0-6

Reviewed by Jenny Mounfield

About Kids Books couldn’t have chosen a better story—or author—for its debut. All of Us Together is an emotional and informative time-travelling treat to 1930s Australia, as seen through the eyes of young Daniel O’Casey.

It is the time of the Great Depression and Daniel’s dad is out of work. While this may mean little more than the absence of a few extra treats to today’s kids, for those living in distant times it could literally mean the difference between life and death. When Daniel’s father leaves home on his bicycle to look for work, Daniel can’t even imagine that he will never see his beloved father again.

Life for the O’Casey’s becomes increasingly harder (despite Daniel’s misguided efforts to make a few shillings to help out). With family worries distracting him at school, it isn’t long before he feels the sting of Brother James’ cane; but nothing can dim his optimism and zeal for life for very long.

Life for Daniel and his sisters couldn’t be more different to the technological time of plenty that kids enjoy today. However, some things never change, and it is these core elements that readers will connect with: fear of losing a loved one, the importance of family and friendship, bullying, and backyard cricket to name a few.

Bill Condon has a rare ability to infuse characters with authenticity and vitality, which makes everything he writes impossible to put down. While initially I wasn’t particularly interested in reading a story about the Great Depression, I quickly became invested in Daniel’s family—so much so that I keep catching myself wondering how they’re getting on, as though they’re all out there somewhere. I defy anyone to tell me that isn’t magic.

Jenny Mounfield is the author of four novels, and several short stories for children. She lives in Brisbane with her husband, daughter, and a psychotic Jack Russell-cross named, Leo.

The Simple Things

The Simple Things by Bill Condon, illustrated by Beth Norling (Allen and Unwin)
Price: AUD $12.99
ISBN: 9781743317242
Reviewed by Jenny Mounfield

Reading age: 8-108

The Simple Things is possibly the simplest, yet most deceptively deep book I have read in a long time, which makes it incredibly difficult to review. Norling’s beautiful cover art and internal illustrations add an extra layer of contrast to the emotional impact of this book. As a whole, I is a magical mix of simplicity and complexity.

It is with the greatest pleasure I introduce Stephen: (Excerpt page 3.)

“Ever since I can remember, at Christmas and on my birthday, Aunty Lola has sent  me her love and ten dollars.  She’s really my great-aunt, but her Christmas and birthday cards always say ‘Love from Aunty Lola’. I’ve never met her before because she lives a long way from my home in the city. To me, the most real thing about her is that ten dollars.” 

Ten-year old Stephen is spending three weeks with his cantankerous Aunt Lola. He is certain it will be the longest and most boring three weeks of his life. But as he is about to discover there is more to life than TV and electronic games. During his stay he learns about life—and death—and everything in between, finds friends where he least expects to, and reminds an old woman how it feels to be alive.

Stephen’s refreshingly frank view of the world is a balm for hearts young and old—as is the banter between him and his aunt: (Excerpt page 45—After Stephen plays a trick on Aunt Lola.)

“Now my bottom lip trembles. I bite down on it but I can’t make it stop.
‘I’m really, really sorry.’
‘Only one really per sentence. I told you about that. Have you forgotten?’
‘Sorry.’
‘And I’ve had quite enough of this sorry business, too.’
‘Sorr—’ I stop myself, just in time.
‘It’s over now.’ Aunty Lola’s voice is still sharp and pointy like a cactus., but not quite as much as before. ‘We all make mistakes.’
‘Even you, Aunty Lola?’
‘Not as many as you.’”

Condon’s gift is that he doesn’t write stories so much as he writes characters who then share their lives with the world.  If he were to announce tomorrow that he is some sort of New Age medium who channels the souls of real people, I would have no trouble believing him.  Stephen, his parents, Aunt Lola, Allie and her pop are all so alive that I feel I’ve met them in person.

The Simple Things is a lesson in life for readers of all ages. I strongly urge parents and teachers buying this title for their kids to take a moment to read it first. I guarantee you’ll be richer for the experience.

Jenny Mounfield is the author of four books and several short stories for young people. She lives in Brisbane with her husband and two of her three grown children.

Stories for Boys

Stories for Boys a selection of stories by Australian authors, illustrated by Tony Flowers (Random House Australia Children’s)
PB RRP $14.95
ISBN 9780857980885
Ebook ISBN: 9780857980892
Reviewed by Marian McGuinness

Keeping up the pace and excitement, but this time for six to eight year old boys, is this fine and funny anthology from another twelve fabulous Aussie authors. And they know the stuff that will engage our boys with fabulous adventures featuring: ghosts, robots, jellyfish, lice and terror-dactyls.

As well as some of the authors from the ‘girls’ series, there are offerings from: Bill Condon, Tristan Bancks, Nick Falk, Aleesah Darlison, Celeste Walters and Sophie Masson.

Some stories are written in past tense, some present tense. There are short, accessible sentences with simple words, others with doozies thrown in for good measure, like ‘follicle’ and ‘realm’. There are great similes, ‘rain hammers on the roof like bullets’ and ear-wrenching onomatopoeia where ‘lightning crackles … doors creeeeak and thunder rumbles’. Each story uses a wealth of literary techniques to subliminally encourage readers to create and colour their own stories.

Plot and character are the main focus and there are plenty to choose from. There’s Tom who visits his pop in a nursing home. The thing is, his pop hates kids. Tom has a problem.

What happens when Jack wishes that his mum were an octopus – a riotous romp of tentacle fun ensues. Or perhaps you’d prefer the story set on a space station where giant jellyfish roam, or something closer to home, Sophie Masson’s romp in the Possum in the Roof.

And then there’s the hilarious story of Ferdie the frog who goes to market in a box of lettuces. Celeste Walters delights with her rhythmic and imagery-filled writing when ‘fat hands and thin hands and bodies with trolleys were pushing and shoving and pawing and pouncing’ as Ferdie goes on his adventure around the supermarket. The end result is that all readers will want a frog like Ferdie.

With the animated, boyish illustrations by internationally acclaimed artist, Tony Flowers (illustrator of the Saurus Street series), along with the perfect-sized font and plenty of white space in format, Stories for Boys, is a great addition to the bedside table.

Stories for 5 Year Olds

Stories for 5 Year Olds edited by Linsay Knight, illustrated by Tom Jellett (Random House Australia)
PB RRP $14.95
ISBN 9781742756660
Reviewed by Marian McGuinness

It’s a perennial question asked by parents, relatives and friends. What book can I buy for a 5 year old to read?

Editor, Linsay Knight, has responded to the question with the first in a series of anthologies for young readers.

At 5, some children are reading independently, some are reading with help and others are being read to. This selection of 10 stories has something for everyone.

Most are short stories, but three are written in chapters. The font is friendly to new readers, the sentences are short and simple and there are small twists in the plots to keep the readers guessing. That doesn’t mean that the stories are simple. On the contrary, there are many quirky stories.

There’s Dianne Bates’ inventive adventure story set in the middle of the post-Christmas sales and Sophie Masson’s layered plot that builds and builds the suspense and then cleverly unwinds it.

Humour paves the way with Bill Condon’s descriptions of Jasper, the bottom-biting dog and in Victor Kelleher’s story, The Gorilla Suit.

There are challenging words, lots of alliteration, onomatopoeia and vibrant verbs. These stories come from a variety of sources including Aussie Nibbles and The School Magazine.

Tom Jellett’s cute sketches break up the prose on every second or third page so that the reader doesn’t get too word-weary.

You can even find out about the award-winning authors by reading their biographies at the back of the book.

With writers like Mark Macleod, Janeen Brian, Phil Cummings and more, the 5 year old in your life will be well catered for.

Rock and Roll Elephants

Rock and Roll Elephants by Bill Condon, illustrated by Ian Lamont (Hands Up Books)
PB RRP $10
ISBN 9780955558931
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

This little pocket book of poetry gems by award-winning author Bill Condon will have kids turning pages and giggling away. Off beat humour and clever twists are the order of the day with poems featuring many childhood favourite topics such animals, body parts and food. However, my favourite poem, Auntie Dot, features none of those and is also one of the shortest in the collection:

The world's tidiest person

Is my Auntie Dot.

When she got the measles

She numbered each spot. 

Ian Lamont's black-and-white illustrations appear on every page adding to the humour of the poems. This is a book that will be enjoyed by children of all ages, whether it is read to them or read independently.

Rock and Roll Elephants can be purchased here.