Danny Best Watch This

Danny Best Watch This by Jen Storer illustrated by Mitch Vane (ABC Books) PB

ISBN 978-0-7333-3336-1 RRP $17.99

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

Number four in the Danny Best series is Watch This, a book which promises a musical bum, rampaging dinosaurs and freaked-out ninjas in outer space. Packed full of Mitch Vane’s entertaining illustrations, the book also includes quotes and quizzes to break up the four stories. Every turn of the page provides something different to read or look at and there’s definitely no danger of the reader becoming bored!

Following on from the first three Danny Best books: Full On, Never Wrong and Me First, Watch This introduces the first story Master Builder, with pictures of the cast and a ‘secret’ code. The story of Danny and his friend Fabrizio includes unique descriptions of milkshake flavours and building of cubby houses and faking of fossils, just to name a few things. The second story Secret Ninja Spaceman is about a sleep over and a whole lot of imagination. The third story Bum-Free Four includes a story within a story about the promised musical bum. And the fourth story Sumo Wrestling Legend involves strapping pillows to the body. There are so many funny and weird things to mention that I’ve just picked out a few.

This book will appeal to primary school readers − boys and girls. It has humour, imagination and lots to go back and notice on the second or third time through. Danny is a likeable character and his friends add to all the fun. Illustrations and text go so well together, it is hard to imagine it wasn’t all done by one person. And my favourite section I have to mention was right at the end: Five Reasons Why Dinosaurs Became Extinct (By Professor D Best), with number 5 being ‘They moved to Adelaide’! I’m sure readers of the first four books will also welcome the next new addition to the Danny Best world, The Face on All the Billboards.

Resources for Children’s Writers and Illustrators

When you are new to writing for children, how do you find information that helps you to get published? Here are some ways in which you can develop and extend your interest and knowledge towards your goal:

KidLitVic Conference                                                                                                    This is a one day conference held annually in Melbourne which is attended by a large contingent of publishers such as Black Dog, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Allen & Unwin, Ford Street Publishing, Scholastic, Five Mile Press, Lake Press, Hachette, Windy Hollow, Text, Hardie Grant Egmont, Scribble/Scribe, Walker Books and Affirm Press. There is a cost of $88 (including GST) for a 15 minute one-on-one assessment with a publisher, plus written feedback on your manuscript or your portfolio. http://www.kidlitvic.com/about

CYA Conference                                                                                                          Held annually in Brisbane usually mid-year, this conference is aimed as professional development for new and established writers and illustrators of Children’s and Young Adult literature. Master classes and workshops are conducted at the conference. CYA also runs writing and illustrating competitions in conjunction with the conference. http://www.cyaconference.com

The Children’s Book Academy                                                                                          If you aspire to become a successfully published children's book author or children's book illustrator, the academy says, ‘we have what you need! Whether you’re interested in self-publishing, learning to write or illustrate and publish traditionally, finally learning Photoshop, discovering your writer's and character's voices, or upgrading your skills in general, or learning the rules to break to make your picture book, we have something for everyone, from beginner to seasoned pro! Come in, look around, sign up for a course from our award-winning faculty, and jump-start or refresh your career!’ http://www.childrensbookacademy.com

Scribble 

Jen Storer is an award winning children’s author who has had numerous books published, mostly by HarperCollins and Penguin. After nearly twenty years she’s still writing and publishing. Jen also worked in-house as a children’s book editor, predominantly in Creative Development. She has a First Class Honours degree in Literature and has taught creative writing to all kinds of people. https://girlandduck.com/scribbles/

Green Leaf Press

Greenleaf Press is owned and operated by award-winning author and marketing guru Aleesah Darlison who saw a need for key services and opportunities for authors and illustrators. Greenleaf not only helps clients to develop and place stories and artistic projects through assessments and mentorships, it also provides ongoing work opportunities. Greenleaf Talent represents a number of authors and illustrators across Australia and secures paid work for them in preschools and schools.

The company’s services include manuscript assessments, mentorships, editing, copywriting and blogging. It also runs events throughout the year that educate and inspire both adults and children, including the Sunshine Writers Retreat (held each November). In 2017, Greenleaf Press launched a picture book manuscript competition.  www.greenleafpress.net Email: admin@greenleafpress.net

Enterprising Words 

Having published 130+ books for young people over a 30 year writing period. Dianne (Di) Bates has also worked as an editor, magazine compiler, publisher (http://aboutkidsbooks.com) bookseller and writing teacher. Di offers modules in her Writing for Children course, including Writing a Picture Book Text. Numerous ex-students have had debut books published following completion of the course. For more information, contact her at dibates@outlook.com

Faber Writing Academy                                                                                                   Faber Writing Academy at Allen & Unwin is a writing programme offering a range of courses from one-day workshops to longer courses devised by the foremost practitioners in their fields. The Academy says, ‘If you have a story to tell, why not study with two of the world's leading publishers? Since launching its first course at Shakespeare & Co bookshop in Paris in 2008, Faber Academy has tutored more than 1500 students in courses ranging from one-day workshops such as Getting Published to longer courses including our popular program Writing a Novel. In 2010, Faber Academy found a natural home with Australia's award-winning publisher Allen & Unwin, and courses are offered in Sydney and Melbourne. http://faberwritingacademy.com.au

Buzz Words 

Established in 2004, this premier Australian online magazine for those in the children’s book industry is essential reading for the new writer as it offers not only advice, but much information including Australian and overseas markets, opportunities (such as grants & residencies), competitions, interviews, articles and much more. For a free sample, write to mailit@nichedev.com.au Subscription is $48 pa for 24 issues. www.buzzwordsmagazine.com

Writers’Centres:                                                                                                                 Most writers’ centres around Australia offer courses on writing for children at one time or another. Following is a list of the major Writers Centres across Australia:
Queensland Writers Centre http://www.qwc.asn.au/
Victorian Writers Centre http://vwc.org.au/
NSW Writers Centre http://www.nswwc.org.au/ (Every second year they hold the Writing For Children Festival which is always well attended)
SA Writers Centre http://www.sawriters.on.net/
ACT Writers Centre http://www.actwriters.org.au/
WA Writers Centre http://www.fawwa.iinet.net.au/wawc.htm
Hunter Writers Centre http://hwcentre.com/
NT Writer’s Centre http://www.ntwriters.com.au/
Tasmanian Writers Centre http://www.tasmanianwriters.org/                                                                      Australian Writers Centre   https://www.writerscentre.com.au

Danny Best:Full On

Danny Best:Full On written by Jen Storer, illustrated by Mitch Vane (Harper Collins) PBK RRP $16.99 ISBN 9780733333330

Reviewed by Sharon McGuinness

If you are a fan of WeirDo, Wimpy Kid, Big Nate or even Captain Underpants, you will enjoy Jen Storer’s latest series featuring nine year old Danny Best.

Brilliantly illustrated by Mitch Vane, this compilation of five stories is packed with appeal to young boys. Danny and his pals Fab (Fabrizio), Sticks, Clancy, Mae, Dylan and Pugsley the dog don’t solve mysteries or rescue small children. Storer’s characters play games of cops and robbers, and make obstacles courses and racetracks for bike riding. These stories delight in the daily play and activities of kids – or perhaps the play that kids should enjoy.

At the end of each story is a fun quiz – possibly a kid’s version of a comprehension? The book is also filled with other interesting bits about Danny and the other characters – for example, a record of all the (mostly) disgusting things that Pugsley has done, a list of what Danny collects and even a story by Danny himself.

Younger children aged 7 and over will delight in the antics of Danny and his friends, but it is also a book which could easily be shared in the classroom, prompting some similar story writing and illustrating.

Bound to be a hit.

Truly Tan

Truly Tan by Jen Storer, illustrated by Claire Robertson (Harper Collins)
PB RRP $16.99
ISBN 9780733331213
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

This book should be marked – Be warned! Contains extremely funny matter and is highly suitable for both genders in the 8-12 age group. It is light- hearted with terrific characters, mystery, and entertainment on every page.

Tan, the narrator, is curious, questioning, and reflective. She is an amateur detective with three sisters - Emerald, Amber, and Rose, whom she calls the lollipops. There is a collection of pets: Q V the tortoise, Babbles the parrot, E the cat, Doodad, Amber’s cat, and Tan’s dog, Awesome. Dad is a vet and mum writes about food for a magazine.

The family moves from the city to the country, but the girls aren’t happy about this decision. On arrival, they find the dodgy removalists have dumped their furniture and belongings on the veranda and grass and left. They see it as a bad start to a bad idea.

In no time at all, Tan has more on her mind than their change of environment. She meets Ted who invites the girls to enter his ‘circle of truth’ on a promise not to reveal his secrets. Thus they join the Chosen Few. Ted’s sister, Jem, lives in a creative world of her own design.  All the girls are invited into Purple Haunt, Jem and Ted’s spooky cubbyhouse, which is painted purple and decorated with a dead fox, skulls of dead animals, has stairs and a veranda. Suddenly, life becomes interesting again.

Tan’s diary entries slowly reveal her changing feelings about country life. She finds an old tree house which she cleans out with her dad’s help. Here she sets up her new World Headquarters, which houses her telescope, binoculars, a real Spy ‘n Pry magnifying glass, and her Secret Spy Files which contain all her observations about people and unusual happenings. This will later include the curse of the dead fox, and Wandering Wanda, a ghost that won’t rest.

But Tan has a lot of sorting out to do. She is the new girl at school and she misses her best friend. Lily steps into the role too easily but proves a fickle friend when the popular Verity Crisp returns from holidays. Tan’s cat skeleton at show and tell causes uproar in the classroom, and finally, Tan finds a real new friend in Gloria.

What with the drop dunny out back of the cubbyhouse, spooks, and trying to solve the mysteries of Wandering Wanda and the haunting of Purple Haunt, much is added to the Secret Spy Files.

The book is more than a great read. Unfamiliar words and their definitions are displayed within an illustration of graph paper stuck with tape. The reader can visualize the people they’re reading about through the character illustrations. Thankfully, this is not the end of Tan for so much more can be explored through the characters and their escapades. Truly Tan: Jinxed will be available in May 2013. I feel that this also, will not be the end.