The 2016 short list of children’s books and other thoughts

The 2016 short list of children’s books and other thoughts

by | May 27, 2016 | Books and Children

The Children’s Book Council of Australia has announced their short list for the book of the year in various categories for 2016.

There are some wonderful choices in each category. You could encourage your children, grandchildren or class to read books from the shortlist and make their own predictions as to which book deserve to win. I’d love to report any comments children might have about any books on the short list.cbc

The winners are announced in August.

Categories include:

Early childhood,

Younger readers

Older readers

Information books

Picture book of the year

(You will notice that Aaron Blabey made it into the Early childhood category with Piranhas don’t eat bananas.)

piranhas-don-t-eat-bananas

 

 

 

 

I had a very nice surprise this week when Zoe’s mum posted a video of her reading my I Like Poems book on facebook. The best thing was that Zoe said the poem ‘Counting’ was ‘perfect’ for her as she is eight and is in the soccer team. Thanks Zoe!

Has anyone tried to read The Book with no Pictures by B.J. Novak to their children? It came out at the end of 2014 but I hadn’t come across it. I was intrigued by the title and got it from the library this week. I decided it might work on a parent child basis but I don’t think it would work with my Kindy class.

Then I found this Youtube of a teacher in America reading it to her class. The children seem to be enjoying it but I’m still not convinced I want to try it. What do you think?

Have you come across Aaron Blabey picture books?

Have you come across Aaron Blabey picture books?

by | May 11, 2016 | Books and Children

My Kindy group is enjoying Aaron Blabey’s books at the moment. Have you tried any of them? You can read about him here.

He both writes and illustrates his books and, while they may be something of an acquired taste, they are wonderfully unusual.

You could try The Brothers Quibble: It begins:                 Clip_6

Spalding Quibble ruled the roost.

He shared it with no other.

But then his parents introduced

a brand new baby brother.

 

 

Clip_5Or you could try Stanley Paste. This is about a boy, Stanley Paste,

Stanley in the letter box

Stanley in the letter box

who hates being small and a girl, Eleanor Cabbage, who hates being tall.

There is a small boy in my class whose laughter, when we come to the

illustration of Stanley in the letterbox, is so infectious that I can’t resist

reading the book just to hear him laugh.

 

I’d love to hear if you’ve tried any of the Blabey books with young children

and how they respond to them. Are there any authors you’d like to recommend?