Dim's Write Stuff

Hi guys! Remember me? The part-time blogger (what’s a blog?), erstwhile reviewer. This post title sounds like a new novel, doesn’t it? I wish it was. Truth be known, not a lot of new words have been written this year, either as a burgeoning story, or blog post, or even in my diary. It’s just been one of those years. We’ve all had ‘em. But about this (as yet) unwritten novel … Let me explain. An Apology Remember how it was one of those years? Loss, shock, anger, frustration. Realisation, resignation, enlightenment, hope. A veritable rollercoaster of ups and downs and those horrid tummy-turning tight bends. I normally don’t mind an adrenaline filled experience but 2024, seriously! So, the gazillion reviews I’d hoped to clear this year got somewhere left behind in the G force of life. Apologies to the creators, publishers, publicists and me who expected more. But ... ‘Sometimes not getting what you want is the best luck of all’ A Promise It’s not all gloom and doom, though. Far from it. ...

Oliver Jeffers' exciting and thought-provoking picture book stories orbiting around the Boy, have a new out-of-this-world addition, Where To Hide A Star . Among the boy’s many loves is his predilection for playing hide and seek with his two besties, penguin and the star. Neither of them is much good at counting or hiding imaginatively but that hardly matters when the real gain behind the game is spending time with your friends. Until one day, through an unplanned misadventure, the boy loses track of the star. Try as he might, he genuinely is unable to find the star so decides to call in the big guns, aka the Martian, who unquestionably knows more about stars than him. Thanks to a neat bit of Martian tech and a good deal of happenstance, they trek star’s whereabouts all the way to the North Pole, where it turns out, it is very much not lost. Star had found a new friend; a girl who has always dreamed of having a star as a playmate. An inevitable Mexican standoff ensues. How do...

We're doubling down on reptilians today, both of which continue to create rapturous wonder in young hearts and minds. Dinosaur In My Pocket by Ashleigh Barton & Blithe Fielden In a clever incongruous coincidence, James loves two things beyond all else: dinosaurs and miniatures. His collection of both is vast and impressive but lacking a Triceratops. So, when on his school excursion to the museum the perfect Triceratops is spotted, James is besotted. Except, he can’t afford it. After a little light-fingered acquisitioning, the wee dinosaur is escorted back to school in James’ pocket, then home then into his bedroom. Only, dino is not so wee after all. With each passing moment, the dinosaur grows as does James’ shame and guilt. The beautiful thing about this tale is how the crime is uncovered simply because it can no longer be concealed or confined. Lies, guilt, misdemeanours; all have a way of amplifying if left unchecked. When James’ parents discover his dinosaur, they d...

A is for aeroplane, all-gone and ant And the apple you bit and then dropped in a plant B is for bubbles and bee-buzz in blossoms For bruises and bottles and bare bathtime bottoms Toddler days are gone all too quickly, although as noted in S is for ...  sometimes-it-feels-like-this-day-goes-forever  ... the reality of tearing through toddlerhood is often testing beyond measure - for both parties at times! This picture book is a beautiful reminder of what was past, for some of us and what is present for many still in the first few rounds of parenting.  Spectacularly illustrated with warmth, whimsy and wit, this beautifully curated and crafted collection of ABCs is a standout when it comes to alphabet books. Keen observation entwined with first hand experience add to the heart melting authenticity of the lilting narrative. There is an eye and earful of wonderfulness, cheek and delight on every single page.  Rhyme is never forced and often accommodated across back to ba...

If you follow Sam Mac on his socials, you'd understand his motivation for wanting to express the poignant joys of parenthood. Her name is Margot. This picture book chronicles the birth of his daughter in a holistic inclusive way, featuring a number of parenting combinations, their bubs and their babies' milestones. It begins with a statement: time is a treasure .  So true. Precious, unrepeatable firsts are scattered throughout which may seem pedestrian to the non-parent but resonates with the same incredulous quality a child experiences when witnessing, mastering or performing a new life wonder for the very first time. It's pure magic. Human firsts are never so abundant than in the first year of life as revealed in each page turn. Baby's firsts are beautifully showcased with gently hued illustrations surrounded by plenty of white space that allows eyes and hearts to fully focus on each milestone baby makes. Honestly, it has a Baby Book kind of vibe; it's for baby, s...

This book needs more than five stars. It is a universe of stars, magnificent and absolute. For me, it possesses all the qualities outstanding narrative works possess rendering them utterly impossible to articulate just how magnificent they are. See what I mean. Hopeless.How does one describe a thing that fills them, tears them, speaks to them so intimately, so personally, so honestly? Therein lies the true beauty and unfathomable skill Dalton has: he sees things. He notices us. He gets it all and then, quite astoundingly, has the ability to write to YOU the individual with undiluted clarity and unashamed compulsion. Dalton's novels feel as though they are tailored specifically for the individual, every single one of us. His characters slam feet first, boots and all, against your emotional armour with such force, it makes you gasp. This is not a bad thing. It's a magnificent and absolute and real sensation. So, yes, I loved Lola. Everything. The anguish. The agony. The sorrow. T...

Look, it's true, I’m more of a dog person than someone with a fetish for felines, but Itty Bitty Kitty is so utterly adorbs and cute (although whatever you do, DON'T call her that), how could one not want to cuddle her up. Itty Bitty Kitty features in all three tales that appear in each of the four five books (latest in the series out November 2024!) in this junior fiction series. She is teeny tiny. Winsome and mischievous. But don’t let her size fool you. With her tigress attitude and feline smarts, Kitty is the penultimate adventurer, even if those adventures extend no further than her home with her Humans. Told in endearing first person cat-speak, each instalment is sweet and manageable for young newly independent and emerging readers. Engagingly illustrated chapters provide plenty of visual stimulation. Text is punctuated with bolded words that break up the text and signify significance. Typography aside, Kitty’s tales are full of playful fun and cheeky abandon, perf...

  Hands down, one of the most popular parts of any school presentation I perform is inevitably Q & A time. I honestly think a whole session devoted to questions from kids to authors would trump a 'how to write a story' session any day. So, imagine my delight at being involved in this super new comp by speakers' agency, CKT. Get cracking with your questions kids. Get your school to sub them to CKT and get ready for some mind-blowing revelations!  Dive into the minds of young readers with CKT’s Curious Kids Competition, a delightful initiative that invites questions from inquisitive kids about their favourite CKT author or illustrator. It’s a chance for budding book lovers to ask their most pressing questions and get a glimpse into the magic behind the stories and illustrations they adore. Every class that sends CKT a question for their favourite CKT author or illustrator, will go into the draw for their school to win a FREE 30-minute virtual session with that  CKT Auth...

Life's been a hodgepodge of comings and goings of late. Wins and losses. Swings and Roundabouts. Cliches aside, it's just life. One can't, or shouldn't try to, truncate it even if by attempting to do so creates a sense of accomplishment and win for time management. Regardless, because humans are contradictory beings, here I go, anyway! It's mainly a recap of work , my excuses for failing to write one single new word of fiction for myself thus far, this year. I'm sure or at least furtively hopeful, that my writing mojo will return forthwith but, in the meantime, take great solace and a serious serving of enjoyment in presenting writing workshops, seminars and sessions for kids and grownups everywhere.  And so, the dump: Online masterclass presentations in multiple ending stories proved a hit with the G.A.T.E WAYS gifted and talented kids In school programs with yet more G.A.T.E WAYS kids never fail to entertain and enthral. Visit their site for a swag of brilli...

Today's delightful double-whammy comes loaded with well-meaning flavour, colour and fun. These two picture book gems would make great Easter basket additions but are standalone, any time reads, as well.  Hatch and Match  I'm normally wary of seek and find books that use rhyme as a vehicle for treasure hunting, but this inadvertent Easter-suitable title is pure delight. Bunnies are quickly dispensed with as we focus on a tree chockas with chooks, that's chickens to the uninitiated. And what colourful chooks they are, each sporting a unique colour scheme and pattern.  Our sleeping hens are awakened by the dutiful rooster and immediately set out to locate their eggs. Where could they be? Well it's simple if you follow the match and hatch pattern prompts! Spry lyrical narrative and pages and pages filled with eye-popping rainbow colours transforms the reading experience into the best egg hunt, ever ! All tied together with a satisfying reflection on differences and sames. A...

Influence and impact. Two words lightly applied to a number of situations and experiences yet can carry a great deal of weight. Where does one gain inspo? Why are the touted influences of a few often revered by the many? How does this impact on societal well-being or more importantly on the individual? When podcaster and noted educator, Karen Caswell invited me to join her for a session of shared inspiration, I was super excited. And anxious. What possible gems of wisdom could I possess that others might find useful? Fortunately for us both, my innate ability to wax lyrical about myself, my wants, likes and pet peeves reminded me that most of us revel in self-talk, have a tendency to overshare and thus will inadvertently pass on some nugget of truth or bearing that will eventually tumble into smoothed meaning for others. Well, I hope so.  You be the judge. Tap on the links below or explore your fave podcast platform to listen to my takes on what I do, why and whom for, seasoned wit...

The meaning of life. The beginning of time. Existential significance for human kind. Pretty hefty topics for pre-schoolers and those over 14 years of age. And yet, here are an eclectic collection of picture books that I feel do these notions proud. Funny, informative and touching; the scope is broad as are the concepts but their combined purpose further serves to broaden our children’s minds in the aspects of time and space and humanity. Enjoy! Ada And The Galaxies by Alan Lightman and Olga Pastuchiv and Susanna Chapman Ada loves the night sky and not just for its twinkling stars. Yet living in the city can make it difficult to appreciate distant galaxies of stars, let alone see them! So, when Ada spends time with her grandparents at their seaside home, new universes of nature, meteorology and space become accessible in the most spectacular way. Visually arresting and factually fascinating. A gem in the night sky. Walker Books Australia (Mit Kids Press imprint), September 2021 ISB...

Charlie lives in a regional Australian town with a colourful past. Charlie also has synaesthesia. To describe her as supersensative is not quite right. She just senses things differently, intensely. Days of the weeks have colours. People have auras and sounds have scents.  She's accustomed to her unique ways of perceiving the world, it is after all all she has ever known. But when Japanese exchange student, Kenichi is relegated to her dead brother's bedroom for part of her new school term, Charlie's senses intensify to the point she begins to suffer flashbacks accompanied by violent and unpredictable visceral reactions.  Despite Charlie's determined stance to keep Kenichi, aka Ken, at arm's length (loving the Japanese culture is her mum's jam not hers), they soon come to realise they are inextricably linked not only to each other but to unravelling a puzzling mystery surrounding the infamous Cowra Breakout.  Sandy Fussell has a natural flow and rhythm to her st...

Thompson's work never fails to enthrall and entertain. This is a majestic foray into the minds of two very different people; one in old age with the onset of dementia, struggling with the enormity of making sense of a lifetime of memories. The other his granddaughter determined to find what he has 'lost'. The search takes both them and the the reader through a detailed adventure of perception, memory, reflection and finally resignation. Some lost things are never found, like time and youth but with kindness and understanding, their previous existence can be cherished. Full page spreads burst with colour, clever jokes, ties to previous works and well-known entities. None of us really know what we are looking, but Thompson prompts us to search anyway. The whole effect has a rather Graeme Base feel to it which is brilliant in my book.  The use of colour, deliberate placement of 'clues' and exploration of 'normal' locations within a home keep minds and eyes acti...