The Bravest Dugong by Alec Trost, illustrated by
Graeme Compton (Little Steps Publishing)
PB RRP $16.95
ISBN:
9781925117370
Reviewed
by Anne Hamilton
Showing posts with label surfing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surfing. Show all posts
Sunday, 30 August 2015
The Bravest Dugong
A dugong leaves the sea and goes dancing, parachuting, surfing, visiting
a zoo, painting and cooking Cos Lettuce Pie (a dugong favourite). Charlie D is
the dugong and he’s off on an adventure to see the world.
The gorgeous, high-energy illustrations are the highlight of this story,
which is seeded with environmental facts as it moves through Charlie D’s
activities on land.
Two final pages on the ‘Gentle Giants of the Sea’ are particularly useful
for those interested in more information about dugongs. This section of the
book provides handy teacher notes to help early readers negotiate the text.
Friday, 28 November 2014
Being Jack
Being Jack written by Susanne Gervay,
illustrated by Cathy Wilcox (Harper Collins)
PBK RRP $14.99ISBN 9780732296148
Reviewed by Sharon McGuinness
We first met Jack five years ago
in I Am Jack, when, as an eight year
old, Jack experienced bullying. In the years (and books) that have followed,
Jack has endured his father leaving, dealt with the bullying at school,
acquired a stepfather when his mum remarries and works out a relationship with
stepbrother Leo.
Now in Year 6, family and school life appears to have settled, with Jack enjoying his photography and sharing a love of surfing with Rob his stepfather. The bullying issue however, again raises its ugly head, this time directed at Jack’s friend Christopher and Jack is forced to relive his experience and find a solution to help his friend.
When Jack and Christopher witness dirty play in a football scrum at school, they know that something must be done about the bullies once and for all. Bullying and unfair play are not Jack’s only concern though, as he is soon to turn thirteen and questions about why his father left and his lack of contact begin to niggle. How will he find a father who may not wish to be found? If he finds him, what effect will this have on his mum?
Susanne Gervay again has written
a story that is heartfelt and honest. We feel Jack’s fear, his doubt and
worries. The perfect ending to the series, we are left confident that Jack is
resilient and confident to take on the challenges of adolescence. Suitable for
children aged 9+ years.
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Blog Tour and Giveaway: DC’s Amazing Life!
Welcome to DC Green's Grat Siege Blog Blitz Tour. Today, Buzz Words interviews DC Green on his Amazing Life! and whoever likes the ‘DC Green Author’ page in the month of May and sends a message to DC saying ‘Buzz Words’ will be go into the draw for a free copy of his new release Erasmus James and the Grat Siege.
BW: Have you
always wanted to be a writer?
DC: When I was
a boy I dreamed of growing up to become a writer, a professional surfer, an
astronaut or a jelly wrestler. I was only ever an average surfer, Australia had no
space program and I couldn’t afford a swimming pool full of Aeroplane jelly, so
I focused on writing. Many grown-ups told me I was a fool and that I would never
make a living out of writing. But the only fools are those who are too scared to
follow their dreams!
As with any
sport or activity, the more you practise something, the better you become. I
wrote so much, I won an award from the Victorian government for one of my short
stories and had my first article published in Tracks surfing magazine – both
when I was still in high school. When I received a cheque for $60 from Tracks, I
felt like the richest boy in Ulladulla!
BW: You
recently did well in a few writing contests?
DC:
Yes! In the
last month, my unpublished children's novel 'City of Monsters' has won
first place in the Adult Category of the Writing Classes for Kids and Adults
Fantasy Writing Competition and runner-up in the 8th Kathleen Julia Bates
Memorial Writing Competition. Any discerning publishers reading this are welcome
to jump in now, while I’m polishing the final draft until it
glistens!
BW: And your
latest book is being launched this month?
DC:
Right now,
I’m on a nation-wide ten-blog tour, launching Erasmus James and the Grat Siege
(for details, see below). The official galaxy-wide book launch will be at
Ulladulla Library on Saturday, June 2, from 12-1
pm. There will
be great prizes, including signed books and posters, ripping yarns, lots of
laughs and the chance to ask me just about anything and/or have me sign a book
or three.
BW: You
worked for surf magazines for many years?
DC: Many, many
years! Apart from the abysmal pay, it was a dream job in many ways. I was able
to combine the three great loves of my life: writing, surfing and travelling –
the latter on someone else’s coin! I roamed the coastlines of multiple
continents, usually with a photographer and an ever-changing crew of pro
surfers. I was fortunate to have a succession of wonderful editors from
magazines around the world who let me be in turn experimental, investigative,
tangential, satirical, irreverent, demagogic, demented, gonzo, naughty and
frequently the star of my own stories.
BW: Humour
seems to be an important element of your stories.
DC: Indeed!
I’ve always loved making people laugh. As a grommet (also known as a kid), I was
always in trouble for calling out funny comments in class. The teacher would
frown my way and shout, ‘Green… detention!’
I
interrupted the teacher with so many feeble jokes, I think I set a new world
record for being on detention! I suffered chalk dust poisoning and Vitamin D
deficiency from being indoors every lunch-time!! I decided there surely had to
be another way to make people laugh that didn’t involve me writing, ‘I must not
be a goose’ 200 times on a blackboard before I was allowed to eat my sandwich.
So I snuck into my big brother’s room and tore pages out of his school books. I
cut these up and turned them into… mini-comics!
Four amazing
things happened. I discovered that writing and drawing comics was a fantastic
way to spend a rainy afternoon. My friends at school dug my comics so much they
wanted to buy them. And my big brother had a temper tantrum because pages kept
falling out of his school books! So I was having fun, making money, annoying my
family and not being put on detention every day! Woo-hoo! Double
quinella!!
BW: You
often refer to your guard cats.
DC: Yes, I
can’t afford guard dogs, so instead my life is in the paws of three bold if
usually comatose guard cats: Ninja the Ginger, Frankie Hollywood Junior and
Boofhead. I’ve even written a chapter book mystery story featuring the cats,
which I hope a clever publisher will want to publish one decade!
BW: I
understand you do a lot of school shows?
DC: Definitely
the best part of my job is touring schools. In the last six years, I’ve
performed over 700 school shows in every Australian state and territory. Instead
of being put on detention, I now get PAID to make silly comments and jokes in
classrooms! I love hearing windows shake
because the audience (including the teachers) are laughing so hard – even if
just because they’ve never seen a big bald man rap so badly before! I’m always
stoked when teachers tell me their students were so inspired by my show they all
wanted to rush back to class to write their own amazing yarns. Sure beats being
on detention!
BW: Tell us
about your current publisher, Barrel Books.
DC: Barrel
Books has been a fantastic publisher, very supportive and open to new ideas. For
example, they agreed to share the cost of ten per cent of all sales of my
picture book, Three Little Surfer Pigs, going to CanTeen Australia, the
organisation that supports young Australians living with cancer and their
families. Neither Barrel Books or myself made much money out of that endeavour;
but the feeling of doing something for others was wonderful. I wish more famous
and wealthy and authors would follow suit!
Unfortunately,
the company that distributed Barrel Books’ books, Scribo, went out of business
last year, so my five books are now only available through a limited range of
bookstores, at my school shows and other public appearances or through www.barrelbooks.com in dead tree, audio
or ebook formats.
BW: I
understand you’ve already received some good reviews for your new book, Eramsus
James and the Grat Siege?
DC:
I have! Here
are some selected quotes!
‘Hilarious
and action packed… an unforgettable book of beasts, battles and bizarre bodily
functions.’ – Dee White,
Kids’ Book Capers.
‘Grat Siege
is full of page turning terror, amazing creatures and amusing one-liners that
will appeal especially to boys, holding their attention until the very last full
stop.’
– Sally
Hall, Needtoreadthis.com
‘Nothing can
compare to this… It’s impossible to predict just what will happen next. It’s
crazy fun wrapped up in mindgames… Extraordinarily punny, (it) will spin you
around until you lose all sense of who you are and what you’re doing there. In a
good way. You’ll get dizzy in this whirlwind universe.’ –
Claire
Saxby, Aussiereviews.com
‘It’s funny,
sad, scary and the BEST Erasmus novel! I’ll read it 100 times!’
– Jack,
12-years-old.
‘It’s funny,
exciting and written by a genius!’
–
DC
Green.
BW: Thanks
for dropping by Buzz Words, DC!
DC:
Thanks for
inviting me, Vicki!
The DC Green
Grat Siege Blog Blitz Tour Itinerary
Topic 1:
Blog Tour Mania!
DC Green,
Saturday May 12
Topic 2:
Inspiration and Ideas
Ian Irvine,
Sunday May 13
Topic
3: Book Giveaway
Kids Book
Review, Tania McCartney - Monday 14 - Sunday 20
Topic 4: DC
Green’s Books
PIO - Monday
May 14
Topic 5:
DC’s Amazing Life
Buzz Words,
Tuesday May 15
Topic 6:
Writing Great Characters
Robyn Opie,
Wednesday May 16
Topic 7:
Plotting and Planning!
Jill Smith,
Thursday May 17
Topic 8:
Surf Journalism
Chad Kolcze,
Friday May 18
Topic 9:
Random Questions
Helen Nolan,
Saturday May 19
Topic 10:
Sneak Peeks
Jackie
Hosking, Sunday May 20
DC would be
stoked if you could like his ‘DC Green Author’ page on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/DC-Green-Author/184192614968404
Like DC's page in the month of May and send the message 'Buzz Words' to DC and you'll go into the draw to win a free copy of his new release, Erasmus James and the Grat Siege.
Like DC's page in the month of May and send the message 'Buzz Words' to DC and you'll go into the draw to win a free copy of his new release, Erasmus James and the Grat Siege.
DC’s books
can be purchased online here: www.barrelbooks.com
Monday, 2 May 2011
Go Girl: Surf’s Up
Go Girl: Surf’s Up by C. Perry (Hardie Grant Egmont)
PB RRP $9.95
ISBN 978-192156466-6
Reviewed by Lillian Rodrigues-Pang
The Go Girl series is receiving a new injection of life. The books are being rereleased with newly designed covers, added colour and a high coverage marketing campaign is under way.
The books have joined with Total Girl magazine to run a large-scale competition and have a revamped website for members including an updated chat site with improved security (www.GoGirlHQ.com). There is also a new website under construction aimed at joining mothers, authors and child parenting experts (www.MyGoGirl.com).
Overall the series aims at producing refreshing and ‘real’ stories – no vampires or fairies anywhere. This book offered exactly that. It was a refreshing story about a young girl trying to learn how to surf, learn to trust in her friendship and overcome jealousy.
The story itself was entertaining and the girl's journey an educational one – when the main character was troubled she talked to her sister and wrote in a diary to sort out bad feelings as well as speaking to older family members. The story was interesting throughout and offered scenes involving healthy activities such as surfing, boys and girls presenting dance shows of an evenings and joint family dinners. Only when I sat down to review did I realise how much had been covered – essentially the book was a good read. I will be encouraging my daughter to read this series.
Monday, 25 October 2010
Surf for your life
Surf for your life by Mick Fanning and Tom Baker (Random House)
HB RRP $19.95
ISBN 978-1-8647-1923-2
Reviewed by Oliver Phommavanh
Surf for your life is a wonderful autobiography of two-time world champion Mick Fanning. It also doubles as a guide for young surfers (aka grommets). Fanning takes you into his world of surfing, reflecting on his extraordinary career from when he was a keen beginner, all the way up to the intense world circuit.
The book is broken into chapters, with surfing hints and tips lodged in between. There are hints and tips for beginners, intermediate and advanced surfers, accompanied with excellent photos. There are some great step by step photos, making the guide easy to follow.
Surfing fans will lap up Fanning’s entertaining stories about his surfing life. Readers will ride the ups and downs with him. He doesn’t shy away from giving readers the real lowdown about being a famous surfer. I think this is a wonderful insight for readers who want to take surfing seriously. There is a nice supplement for surfing girls, written by Stephanie Gilmore. It’s a neat addition for any girls who might be daunted with the surfing scene.
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