Easter is just around the corner for yet another year, why not
consider the gift of a great children’s book the kids will adore along
with those usual chocolate easter eggs.
Last week David Chuka did me the favour of inteviewing me on his
blog, this week I have the opportunity to return the favour by posting
the link to his giveaway on Goodreads.
So why not stop on by, read a review or two and enter the contest,
who knows, you just might win a fantastic new book and become a fan of
this wonderful author who has written quite a few delightful books in
this Monster series.
Click on the link below to read all about David Chuka and his Goodreads Giveaway Contest.
Win a Signed Copy of Billy and the Monster who Ate All the Easter Eggs
Tuesday, 25 March 2014
Thursday, 20 March 2014
Interview with Children's Book Author Sandra Bennett
This week I had the great priviledge of being interviewed by fellow Children's book author Davd Chuka. Read the attached link to learn a little more about my life in Australia, my writing and my love of teaching and literacy.
Interview with Children's Book Author Sandra Bennett
Interview with Children's Book Author Sandra Bennett
Monday, 17 March 2014
Emmy Gatrell, a Mother and Author With a Heart for Writing
In our “Second Pay it forward” interview Emmy Gatrell talks about the importance of doing things in life that make you happy. It is important to find and do something you are passionate about and if you can make it your life’s work, than even better. My writing for children brings me great joy and if it puts a smile on the face of even one child, then I have been successful. I hope you enjoy reading this interview from this new author, I certianly did.
Originally posted on Jessica Schaub Books:
Welcome to the second installment of the Pay-It-Forward Author Interview
series! If you are an author or have a book being released in the next
year and would like to join this interview series,
click here
for details.
This week I am featuring a fellow homeschooling mom and writer. Emmy
Gatrell took the plunge and published her first book on her own – a feat
that has brought in 4 & 5 star ratings on Amazon.
If you are a fan of fantasy, love secrets and new discoveries, the Meanmna is the book for you. Read on to learn more about Emmy Gatrell and then give her book a try.
Meanmna is a fantasy novel for teens. What are some other authors who inspired you to write in this genre?
I could easily name a hundred authors that inspired me to write in the fantasy genre. I tend to read…
If you are a fan of fantasy, love secrets and new discoveries, the Meanmna is the book for you. Read on to learn more about Emmy Gatrell and then give her book a try.
Meanmna is a fantasy novel for teens. What are some other authors who inspired you to write in this genre?
I could easily name a hundred authors that inspired me to write in the fantasy genre. I tend to read…
View original 1,679 more words
Thursday, 13 March 2014
The Awesome Value of Picture Books
When you think of picture books, what are some of the great memories that come to your mind?
Snuggling with grandma? Daddy’d tender voice as he read a bedtime story to you? Perhaps laughing with Mum as she read your favourite story but skipped a page hoping you wouldn’t notice, (but of course you did, you knew every word by heart).
Every child has a favourite. One that they want read to them night after night. Kept under their pillow or hidden in reach under their bed.
My all time favourite is “Diary of a Wombat” by Jackie French
(I’ve
mentioned it in my blogs before). I’ve read it over and over to so many
children during my teaching career, unfortunately I think I’ve lost my
copy in a classroom somewhere and it was personally autographed by
Jackie too! I do however still have “Christmas Wombat” 
and “Baby Wombat’s Week” 
so
I am lucky to be able to re-read these whenever I like. As I guess you
can see, I rather have a fondness for wombats. They are Australia’s
unsung heroes, cute and cuddley yet almost forgotten due to the
popularity of koalas and kangaroos. Thanks to Jackie French and her
wonderful tales wombats are finally getting the recognition they so
rightfully deserve, but I digress.
Picture books are our introduction into the wonderful world of imagination and reading. We learn so much more than you might initially think from them.
From the first time we hold a picture book in our hands we begin the early stages of reading. We immediately learn the correct way to hold a book to be able to read it up the right way and from the front to the back. As we listen to an adult read the few words on each page we see to read from left to right. We see the shape of sentences and listen to the sounds of the written language. We also unknowingly begin to learn the fundamental structure of sentence building as well as the more complicated structure of the spoken language itself as we listen to someone read to us over and over again.
We learn that marvelous stories can be told on the pages of books and that we can explore all sorts of magical and mystical worlds through words and pictures.
We also come to realise that the story can be told through the amazing illustrations making it possible to understand the story without reading the words. This then helps in the following stages of learning to read as we search the pictures for cues to help with words by looking at expressions, body language or other clues that might be in the images. For example in “Christmas Wombat” the text talks about the strange creatures that are eating the wombats carrots, but by looking at the illustrations it is clear the creatures are in fact Santa’s reindeer.
Often a joke or a visual hint may be in the illustration that may not be obvious in the written word demonstrating the visual impact the pictures can have on the story. In “Baby Wombat’s week” the wombat is searching for a new bigger home, the illustrations show us some of the places he considers, such as the toddlers sandpit, the garbage bin and a washing basket.
Of course the key to successful learning to read is as much in the conversation that develops about what happens in the story in as much as reading the text or looking at the pictures. A picture is after all worth a thousand words, and a good illustration can tell an incredible story in its own right. Picture books can help to stimulate discussions between parents and children where as more complicated text may reduce the need for that dialogue unless the parent is proactive.
Picture books come in all shapes and sizes but some of the best are the biggest, brightest and most colourful. They stimulate the imagination and are family inclusive. Everyone can snuggle behind a big picture book and easily read together. Why not pop on down to your local library today and see what amazing adventures await you and your family amongst the pages of a big picture book.
As always, have fun reading.
Snuggling with grandma? Daddy’d tender voice as he read a bedtime story to you? Perhaps laughing with Mum as she read your favourite story but skipped a page hoping you wouldn’t notice, (but of course you did, you knew every word by heart).
Every child has a favourite. One that they want read to them night after night. Kept under their pillow or hidden in reach under their bed.
My all time favourite is “Diary of a Wombat” by Jackie French
(I’ve
mentioned it in my blogs before). I’ve read it over and over to so many
children during my teaching career, unfortunately I think I’ve lost my
copy in a classroom somewhere and it was personally autographed by
Jackie too! I do however still have “Christmas Wombat” 
and “Baby Wombat’s Week” 
so
I am lucky to be able to re-read these whenever I like. As I guess you
can see, I rather have a fondness for wombats. They are Australia’s
unsung heroes, cute and cuddley yet almost forgotten due to the
popularity of koalas and kangaroos. Thanks to Jackie French and her
wonderful tales wombats are finally getting the recognition they so
rightfully deserve, but I digress.Picture books are our introduction into the wonderful world of imagination and reading. We learn so much more than you might initially think from them.
From the first time we hold a picture book in our hands we begin the early stages of reading. We immediately learn the correct way to hold a book to be able to read it up the right way and from the front to the back. As we listen to an adult read the few words on each page we see to read from left to right. We see the shape of sentences and listen to the sounds of the written language. We also unknowingly begin to learn the fundamental structure of sentence building as well as the more complicated structure of the spoken language itself as we listen to someone read to us over and over again.
We learn that marvelous stories can be told on the pages of books and that we can explore all sorts of magical and mystical worlds through words and pictures.
We also come to realise that the story can be told through the amazing illustrations making it possible to understand the story without reading the words. This then helps in the following stages of learning to read as we search the pictures for cues to help with words by looking at expressions, body language or other clues that might be in the images. For example in “Christmas Wombat” the text talks about the strange creatures that are eating the wombats carrots, but by looking at the illustrations it is clear the creatures are in fact Santa’s reindeer.
Often a joke or a visual hint may be in the illustration that may not be obvious in the written word demonstrating the visual impact the pictures can have on the story. In “Baby Wombat’s week” the wombat is searching for a new bigger home, the illustrations show us some of the places he considers, such as the toddlers sandpit, the garbage bin and a washing basket.
Of course the key to successful learning to read is as much in the conversation that develops about what happens in the story in as much as reading the text or looking at the pictures. A picture is after all worth a thousand words, and a good illustration can tell an incredible story in its own right. Picture books can help to stimulate discussions between parents and children where as more complicated text may reduce the need for that dialogue unless the parent is proactive.
Picture books come in all shapes and sizes but some of the best are the biggest, brightest and most colourful. They stimulate the imagination and are family inclusive. Everyone can snuggle behind a big picture book and easily read together. Why not pop on down to your local library today and see what amazing adventures await you and your family amongst the pages of a big picture book.
As always, have fun reading.
Monday, 3 March 2014
Meet the Author: Theresa Jenner Garrido
A great first interview to begin our series of “Pay it Forward Author Interviews.” Jessica has asked some insightful questions into the life and mind of an accomplished author who has successfully published several stories. Enter into the world of Theresa Jenner Garrido and discover her passion for writing mystery and intrigue.
Originally posted on Jessica Schaub Books:
Many people enter into retirement with the dream of writing a novel.
Theresa Jenner Garrido made that a reality. Whether you love romance
novels or light mysteries, Theresa is your gal! With more than a dozen
published books, she knows how to tell a good story. Theresa and I were
both published by Martin Sister’s Publishing in 2013, so we share that sisterhood as well. I read Who Done It?
and enjoyed the story line, but I fell in love with the characters;
especially Ducky, a plucky 80-year-old. Allow me to introduce you to:
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