Dim's Write Stuff

I’ve been indulging in (almost) daily posts, savouring some of my standout reading recommendations for Christmas this year but like any Christmas feast, the time has come to harness gluttony and reduce mouthfuls to meaningful bite-sized tastes. So here is a super quick, but delicious, sample of some more cracking good reads to cram into your kids’ stockings this year. They sure beat lumps of coal! There’s A Zoo InMy Poo The title alone entices further inspection. But as we all know, or should, poo is life and maintaining a healthy gut system is key to happy poos and happy YOU! This book explores the microscopic stew of your inners, examining up-close and personal the zoo of bugs your gut harbours and how and why they are super critical for good health. As head zookeeper, it’s a tricky job keeping every bug happy but this nifty guide for youngsters is brilliant for explaining what to feed your bugs (recipes included!) and how to keep them strong and diverse. Explicit and excellent, ...

It's been a rotten old year for throwing inhibitions to the wind and embarking on wild new adventures. Just surviving 2020 has been adventure enough for many but if you're like me, having your wings figuratively clipped dampens that vital 'looking forward to something' expectation that travel, planned or impulsive invariably brings. The mere thought of going somewhere different, stumbling upon new treasures, stuffing myself on exotic cuisines (made by someone else) and experiencing sunburn in places other than my backyard stimulates and sustains me like nothing else can (with the exception of ice cream). So, what do you do when these things are no longer accessible in real life? You READ of course, because as all self-respecting lovers of Kids' Lit know, ' The more that you read, the more that you'll know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go' ...Dr Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go! To go someplace  that captures the spirit of adven...

Guess what? September 2020 marks Puffin’s milestone 80th anniversary – has it really been that long! Puffin is now home to some of the world’s most iconic children’s book characters. I mean who doesn’t have a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar or Where Is The Green Sheep? tucked away on their book shelf that you simply can’t bear to part with? Staples like Where’s Spot? (who turned 40 this year!) and Roald Dahl’s, Matilda (to name but one) have helped nurture and entertain our children’s imaginations for decades and this September Puffin Australia are extending their party fever to YOU! Whenever you next visit your local bookshop, simply purchase two Puffin children’s book titles of your choice and you’ll score your very own Puffin water bottle for FREE! There are literally thousands of well-loved characters, exciting new tales and firm old favourites to choose from. Here is a smattering of selected titles from Puffin to ‘quench’ your thirst until you get that water bottle for...

Maree Coote's picture books are sublime works of art; dramatic, visually arresting, evocative. Published by Melbourne Style Books, they are expressions of history, culture, art and design. Perfect conduits for conveying accounts and incidents in non-fictional settings in ways young children can enthuse over and understand. When a tiny new born baby disappeared one fateful evening some 40 years ago, an entire nation was instantly polarised. Questions clotted in every lounge room, staff room and playground, quickly congealing into unsubstantiated opinions. Like many, I remember the exact moment I first heard the awful news report on the family television. It's a recollection indelibly inscribed on my memory. And yes, even in our humble household, assumptions were immediately made. You either believed a mother murdered her baby or a dingo committed a crime against nature. Four decades on, several court hearings and a life time of attrition later, this simple picture book ...

This week’s round up of inspiring Christmas ideas covers even more titles, some non-fiction that entrance and enhance both a child’s knowledge and imagination. All will make elegant and welcome additions to any Christmas stocking. Searching for Cicadas Part nonfiction and part narrative, Searching for Cicadas is an inviting story of a boy and his grandfather and their summertime excursion to go cicada-watching and is part of the Nature Storybooks series. It’s a lyrical tale warmly illustrated reflecting Aussie bush landscapes and close up encounters with one of the most intriguing of our bush insect characters. Prose is interspersed with detailed fact about a number of cicada species and their fascinating habits and lifecycles. Title: Searching For Cicadas Author: Lesley Gibbes Illustrator: Judy Watson Publisher: Walker Books, $26.99 Publication Date: August 2019 Format: Hardback ISBN: 9781922244420 For ages: 4 - 9 Type: Non Fiction Picture Book Buy the B...

Science. It really is the essence of life, or at least that’s what my Chemistry teacher always led me to believe. And I do, believe in science that is. I think because it is so darn interesting. If you are looking for meaningful, entertaining and interesting Christmas gift ideas that educate at the same time, look no further than some of these radically wonderful, non-fiction, science-y titles. I See, I See This little gem is simple and playful in presentation, a lot like Herve Tullet’s , Press Here and Let’s Play series of board books. But don’t be fooled by its economic word play and solid blocks of singular colours and patterns for this artful conception not only enthrals individual readers, it is specifically designed to entertain two or more readers…at the same time. Right side up and upside down text teams with ambiguous or reversible images, which invite page turns and plenty of oohs and aahs. One reader might see up , and the other see down for instance. You don’t n...

There’s been more than a smattering of children’s books released in the last few years embracing unsung heroes past and present. Life stories, particularly those of notable women, are especially popular not only with younger female audiences but also inquisitive young boys with a thirst for historical fact and interesting role models. Why are books that celebrate the past lives of extraordinary people so popular with our new generations? The answer is not easy to pinpoint however what is certain is that the right combination of art, fact, history and narrative verve can breathe spectacular new life into past achievements, revitalise history, and ensure tomorrow’s youngsters are more motivated than ever to pursue their own potential and dreams. This collection of nonfiction, biographical titles that endear and embolden young readers adheres to the adage that… MEMORIES TAKE US BACK, DREAMS TAKE US FORWARD Stand Up for the Future: A Celebration of Inspirational Young Australi...