Event: National Simultaneous Story Time

Up for some fun in the morning? I'll be visiting Dickson Library in Canberra to do one of my favourite things of all time - read books! Plus, I get to read with kidlets - even better better better.

Proceedings will kick off at 10.30am - then at 11am, I'll be reading {along with everyone else in the country, at the exact same time} Nick Bland's The Wrong Book! Come and join in the fun.

I'll also have some books for sale and signing. You MAY even get a sneak peek at a very special new book!

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bookaday Day 21: borrowed from the library

Day 21: borrowed from the library. #bookaday #mylittlebookcase 

My children and I have collectively spent a decade frequenting libraries - with a particular focus when they were very young. Library visits are a priceless way to have young ones fall in love with books.

As my kids are now older and do all their library visits at school, I have to admit I don't have a library title to share, however I do feel strongly about books borrowed from libraries. So, in lieu of a borrowed book, today I am showcasing a title my kids would have adored when they were little - Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg. I truly hope you can find this book in your library. It's a treasure.

I also wanted to share with you a hashtag promoted by Libraries ACT. It's #morethanbooks and it's a way you can share your library experiences, as even though libraries are very much about books, their resources and events and community projects and educational facilities make them so much more. Can I get an amen in here!

Share the tag now! #morethanbooks #books #picturebooks #toddlerbooks #childrensbooks #bliss 

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bookaday Day 20: tonight's bedtime story

Day 20: tonight's bedtime story. #bookaday #mylittlebookcase This amazing book by Sempré is one of my favourite books of all time. My kids are too old to specify a bedtime story to - and indeed, they usually read a nightly blend of fiction and picture books. I, too, regularly read PBs at night and so this is tonight's choice. For me. #books #childrensbooks #picturebooks #sempre #totalreadingbliss @jackie_mylittlebookcase

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bookaday Day 19: cool typography

Day 19: cool typography. #bookaday #mylittlebookcase Lauren Child's work has always featured cool typesetting and this gorgeous book takes it up a notch with striking sizing and placement. Story and illos are also divine. #childrensbooks #picturebooks #books #laurenchild #kids #poodles #booksaboutdogs

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bookaday Day 18: unusual or unique

Day 18: unusual or unique. #bookaday #mylittlebookcase Sky High by Germano Zullo and illustrated by Albetine. A divine, long format book with white pages and stunning line drawings showing some pretty manic neighbours and their penchant for architecture. #books #childrensbooks #picturebooks #architecture #heaven @jackie_mylittlebookcase

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bookaday Day 17: set in another country

Day 17: set in another country. #bookaday #mylittlebookcase With illustrations and graphic design to die for, this gorgeous book follows Henri as he navigates his way to the city of light. Or does he? #books #childrensbooks #picturebooks #illustrations #graphicdesign #paris #france #reboul #bliss @jackie_mylittlebookcase

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bookaday Day 16: a favourite character

Day 16: a favourite character. #bookaday #mylittlebookcase I still remember laughing out loud when I first read No, David! to my son Riley. We subsequently fell in love with the whole series of these gorgeous and clever books. We even bought multiple copies and had some pages framed. Love. #childrensbooks #picturebooks #books #humour #funnybooks @jackie_mylittlebookcase

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bookaday Day 15: a book that makes me cry

Day 15: a book that makes me cry. #bookaday #mylittlebookcase This amazing book by Charlotte Moundlic is incredibly touching, without a shred of schmaltz. When a little boy loses his mother, he keeps her memory alive by picking at a scab on his knee until it scars. The illos are striking, the text is heartbreaking. Having lost my own mother too soon, I can't even tell you how it resonated with me. Read with tissues. #books #childrensbooks #picturebooks #grief #beauty @jackie_mylittlebookcase

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bookaday Day 14: set in a city

Day 14: set in a city. #bookaday #mylittlebookcase One of my favourite books of all time, this Lamorisse classic follows the travels of a wee lad and his lost ballon. The side benefit is a tour through Paris. #books #childrensbooks #picturebooks #paris #joy @jackie_mylittlebookcase

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bookaday Day 13: a sweet illustration

Day 13: a sweet illustration. #bookaday #mylittlebookcase Owl Know How is packed full of sweet illustrations - of a unique and utterly charming kind. @thamesandhudson @jackie_mylittlebookcase #books #childrensbooks #picturebooks #illustrations

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bookaday Day 12: a book from my childhood

Day 12: a book from my childhood. #bookaday #mylittlebookcase I was simply obsessed with this high text picture book of a beloved Australian classic. Yes, yes, it's that old it mentions 'colour' TV series! #books #childrensbooks #australianbooks #ethelturner #classicbooks @jackie_mylittlebookcase

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bookaday Day 11: a wordless book

Day 11: a wordless book. #bookaday #mylittlebookcase All I can say about this wordless book by Suzy Lee? Breathtaking. #picturebooks #books #childrensbooks #suzylee #beach #kids #genius @jackie_mylittlebookcase

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bookaday Day 10: fairy tale

Day 10: fairy tale. #bookaday #mylittlebookcase A classic tale with a glorious modern twist and truly sensational illos and typefacing. #books #childrensbooks #fairytales #happiness @jackie_mylittlebookcase

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bookaday Day 9: a character's name of significance

Day 9: a character's name of significance. #bookaday #mylittlebookcase I named the Riley my Little Aviator series after my son who is a great adventurer. This is the fifth book in the series, due out this August and you are getting a sneak peek! My daughter Ella is patiently awaiting her own series. #books #childrensbooks #kids #picturebooks @jackie_mylittlebookcase

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Announcing Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo

My warmest thanks to Barbara Braxton for this wonderful pre-release review of Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo - out this August! I am also delighted to reveal the cover of the book for the first time. It's the best Riley adventure yet! and just in time for Canberra's glorious Centenary.

Riley and the Jumpy Kangaroo
by Tania McCartney and Kieron Pratt
Ford Street Publishing, 2013
Hbk. 9781925000023

Riley is an aviator who likes to travel with his friends in his red tin plane and see the world and explore other cities and countries - usually in search of some pesky critter who likes to hide! Following his adventures in Beijing, Hong Kong, Sydney and Melbourne, this adventure takes him to Canberra in time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our nation’s capital. Starting with being startled by strange noises in the chamber of Parliament House, Riley dashes outside to discover a kangaroo popping and pinging all over those famous lawns. Jumping into his little red plane with his friends Panda, Dragon, Lion, Koala and Wombat, they follow the kangaroo on a journey around the famous landmarks of Canberra, coming to rest when she finally finds what she’s lost.

It is the illustrations which give this book its charm – cartoon-like graphics superimposed on actual photos of the Canberra landscape which tickled Miss 6’s fancy. As a native of Canberra the places were very familiar to her and she loved pointing them out and telling me stories about them. Her favourite is Questacon followed by the National Museum of Australia.

But this is not just a book for Canberra children. As the national capital, the city has a number of significant buildings such as Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial and the National Library of Australia, all of which are free to visitors, so as well as being a great souvenir of a visit, it would also be a great introduction particularly for groups planning to visit here. A great addition to all that is happening in Canberra in 2013 canberra100.com.au and worth a place on the shelves. Where would Riley and his friends visit if they came to your town?

Barbara Braxton
Teacher Librarian
M.Ed.(TL), M.App.Sci.(TL), M.I.S. (Children's Services)

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