Dim's Write Stuff

Family. Always there. Usually supportive. Supremely significant. And, forever changing. A shift in family dynamics may be as inconsequential as a new goldfish or as disturbing as moving house. It might be easily accepted and temporary in nature like a visiting relative or as permanently disruptive as a new addition to the family. Double that turmoil when not one new sibling but two appear and you've got twice the potential for trouble. Imagine the confusion and disorder a young child might feel, how these emotions might galvnize into feelings of displacement, resentment and pure fury when faced with a pair of cute but persistent attention hoggers.  Now pretend you are a young pigeon with the whole world before you, keen to keep on exploring its wonders and your capabilities only to have your dreams curtailed by two very small, very noisy, extremely annoying baby brothers. This is what our favourite feathered friend, Pippa encounters following the arrival of Pepi and Penn, her new...

I'm not super great at make vids. I still can't sing in tune. Colouring in between the lines is the extent of my illustrative prowess but ... I do know a thing or two about pigeons. So when the youngsters at many of the schools I visit wanted to know more too and specifically, know what Pippa's next adventure was, well I had to do something. So ... have I got news for you!  If you have been craving to find out what ever happened to that pertinacious pigeon, Pippa well wonder no more. Pippa is back! and ready to soar to new heights but two little weights keep dragging her down – her troublesome twin brothers! Pippa longs to take off on more adventures but the two new noisy additions to her family continually thwart plans and divert attention. Sound familiar? She loves her brothers, Pepi and Penn but their constant mess and cries for attention are driving her batty! How can she be a good big sister and still have fun? Find out by joining our feisty pigeon on her latest feath...

Stop the Sleigh! I want to get off. Not many can say 2021 has been their most spectacular year - memorable, yes - rated on their top ten of best years ever, nah. At least it felt that way for this little black duck. In fact it's been more than a little 'puzzling'. Yet amidst the terrifying onslaught of one tsunami (or blizzard in Santa speak) of frustration and disappointment after the other, seas settled just long enough (for a split second) to make a quick inventory of that which I thought was irrevocably lost over board during the wildest assaults.  Health and family still there - just - check Roof over my head - check Rain sloughing through the gutters, greening the garden - glorious check More books and stories published - yea ha, check More book babies to look forward to in the new year - chuffed as, check. Food on my plate, and stacking on my hips, oh well - still a big fat tick. And it continues.  Despite continued inconvenience on the work front #thanksCovid, liv...

When I was much shorter and younger, I loved engaging TV shows that leapt from one activity to the next. Variety was indeed the spice of my young life. It still is. So when Lauren and Anthony, founders of The Side Show Factory - a place that houses their fantabulous entertainment shows for kids, wanted to involve a certain little pigeon as part of their engaging and stimulating program, how could I refuse. Story Surprise is about all the things that put the happy in glee: music, stories, art and craft; all tied together with nifty interactive song and dance routines that are guaranteed to get kids up and moving. There's a bear in there too; Mick the Teddy is cooler than icy poles and a hoot to watch.  The 15 minute or so high energy episodes more than satisfy the young at heart but are brilliantly tailored for the under sixes. Each themed  Story Surprise  video incorporates educational snippets, easy to make and do activities, craft, audience shoutouts and catchy origi...

This sounds just the sort of race I'd love (being fairly average at most other sports!).  There's no way I could run out of steam with so many exhilarating stories to fuel imagination and interest like the ones included in this year's QLD Premier's Reading Challenge .  The Premier's Reading Challenge is an annual statewide initiative for Queensland state and non-state schools and home-educated students from Prep to Year 9, as well as children (aged up to 5 years) enrolled in an early childhood centre, that aims to improve literacy and encourage children to read for pleasure and learning.  It's on right now, but there is still plenty of time to register. And the best part, for this little grey pigeon anyway...? PIPPA is part of the amazing array of children's titles for 2020. You'll find Pippa's self-titled picture book in the Prep - Year 1 List. So what are you waiting for?  Register , Get your Wall Chart, Get Ready, Set and READ! For those of you ...

Cancelled holidays equates to cancelled fun and the destruction of expectations for kids and in this great period of change, represents just another significant adjustment they have been forced, not asked, to endure. Although remaining physically grounded may still be the case for many, it does not imply you can't go on adventures. Kids' authors, like me, take off on a daily basis thanks our imaginations. Imagination is one of the most powerful and sure-fired ways to enjoy the ride. Making stuff is another and together with Pippa as my inspiration for taking flight and getting out there , I've knocked up this little video that allows you to soar...by  Making a Paper Plane! This is a very simplified version of a basic paper plane but it flies extremely well, long and high! Pippa and I would love for you to experiment and modify your design to see if you can out-fly us. Send us a video or picture of your completed aeronautical master piece and I'll pop it on ...

Fly high with your favourite little book birdie! Yes, it's Pippa and together we were lucky enough to share the storytime couch with fellow picture book character, Glitch and Michelle Worthington on Channel 9Go's new children's educational show, reading@homeTV. Reading@homeTV is one of three learning based programs devised by the Queensland Education Department's drive to deliver (shows to) support language and literacy development for children in kindergarten to Year 3.  In collaboration with the Autism Hub and Reading Centre , the department partnered with Channel 9 and several well-loved local SE Queensland and interstate children's authors to read and share their favourite picture books. The program features reading coaches as well who read books aloud and facilitate interactive learning experiences to enhance every child's schooling-at-home experience. The show also encourages children to become involved with the Premier's Reading Challen...

For practically every single one of us, this Easter will be some sort of departure from the norm. We are normally on the road somewhere, camping in the Kombi with the pooches - together. Or else we'd be spending long lazy days on the bank of a river fishing with mates - together. Often this special weekend is spent hosting a colossal barbie with family - together. It's a time for rebirth and celebration. This year, of course, will be slightly different. Crazy as it sounds, my little family pod are not entirely sure what to do with themselves or each other away from the usual external stimuli. I suspect many others are experiencing this odd 'What now?' sensation on some level, too. One thing is for certain, it's a fantastic time to reconnect, reinvigorate old family fun rituals, invent new ones and...drag out the camping games for lounge room use. Before you get suckered into a five hour Monopoly marathon though, why not continue to explore the plethora of ...

Pippa, the plucky little pigeon from her self-titled picture book, PIPPA , is getting her holly jolly Christmas groove into gear. She's about to take off on a festive adventure. Want to join her? Discover more about Pippa's story from this excellent write up by Kids' Lit advocate, Norah Colvin and stay tuned for the flight of a lifetime. #comeflywithme Norah's teachers' resource site, ReadiLearn is a plethora of writing tips, inspirational learning ideas, reading suggestions and educational advice suitable for lower primary aged children either in the classroom or at home, encouraging youngsters (and their guardians) to Live Love Laugh Learn . . . Create the possibilities. What beautiful sentiments at this time of year! Want to take off with more of my stories? Swoop on by my website any time.

Pippa pigeon has certainly been clocking up her flying hours the last month or so. In case you haven't been able to keep up with her feathered fiascoes, here's a pictorial collage from the first couple of Book Launches for Pippa's self-titled story, PIPPA ! Enjoy.  If you want to meet the real Pippa and her amazing chaperon, aka me, Dimity Powell, please do not ignore your urge to get in touch . We'd both love the chance to visit your school, library, care centre, bookshop or event. Assurance Pledge: Pippa is 100% house-trained and exemplary in confined spaces with small humans. If you can't be bothered scrolling through these book launch happy snaps, check out the mini-movie below for a few of our best moments. (Photo credits to all and sundry who attended, Maria Parenti-Baldey, and George Ivanoff ) Pippa Book Launches August 2019 Riverbend Books hosts Pippa's Brisbane launch August 2019 The peerless Samantha Wheeler donning he...

Do you know what makes Pippa such a clever cooookie? She can predict the future. She's an omen pigeon. Pippa's predicting fair skies and good times next Saturday afternoon at Riverbend Books and Cafe . Flutter on by and join us as we launch her self-titled book, Pippa ! #comeflywithme

There's a fair bit of chest-puffing and feather ruffling going on around here. Why? Because a certain little birdie is about to spread her wings and take flight for the first time. HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY - PIPPA! Pippa and I can't wait to share her story. She'll be winging her way through all great bookshops from the 1 July 2019 or you can visit Ford Street Publications to order your copy. I also have a few copies tucked away here in the home loft, so feel free to get in touch any time, (messenger pigeon or email works best) If you'd like to meet Pippa in real life, come along to her Brisbane Book Launch at Riverbend Books in August. Your invite is below! Just click on the image to register your attendance. We can't wait to see you out there!  #comeflywithme 

Pippa is a little pigeon with big blue-sky ambitions: to fly solo and explore the world beyond her nest. Her parents are less than thrilled  with their risk-taking, feathered fledgling and smother her with well-meant yet suffocating warnings until one day she ignores them all and takes the leap into the unknown…alone. This plucky little pigeon is also the star of my latest picture book,  Pippa ,  which she considers something of a self-titled achievement! She is young, feisty, determined and wilful, just like many youngsters, and she refuses to remain grounded by her parents' overprotective ways. But what happens when she throws caution to the wind and encounters more adventure than she bargained for? You can find out for yourself this July when  Pippa   lands in bookshops around Australia. Masterfully illustrated by Andrew Plant and published by Ford Street Publishing ,  Pippa  is a light-hearted adventure tale about striking out alone, fo...