Teaching Resources for Tracks in the Mist

Teaching resources for a children’s book are often part of the package. They are an essential resource to use in the classroom when reading with students for an holistic and educational response to the book. Teachers appreciate resources that cover every part of the curriculum and when they find these readily available are more likely to select your book for use. Often authors take this for granted.

Here on my website you will find resources available for Fossil Frenzy, A Lighthouse in Time and Frazzled Freya. I have had the resources for Dragons Drumming and now Tracks in the Mist, ready for some time, however I am still waiting for my website manager, my son, to get around to setting up their pages. It seems you can’t get good tech support these days when it’s free. Haha.

In the meantime, for those teacher/librarians who may wish to take advantage of the resources for Tracks in the Mist, I am posting them here. These are with great thanks to Romi Sharp from Just Write For Kids On an Educational Hike with Tracks in the Mist who spent much time reading, researching and planning these activities for me.

Tracks in the Mist the Adamson Adventures 4

Middle grade readers will be gripped with their sturdiest hiking boots in this mysterious, intrepid mission to save more than one beloved creature. Tracks in the Mist is the highly-anticipated finale in the Adamson Adventures series by Sandra Bennett for readers from age eight to twelve (and beyond). Today we will explore a few ideas to incorporate into your lessons following your reading, including English, Science/STEAM, Sustainability and Visual Arts. So, let’s get tracking!

Discussion 

Before Reading: Ask students to recall the story of the Adamson siblings and their adventures so far. What do you think Tracks in the Mist might be about? What does the cover make you wonder?

After Reading:

Where did the story take place? Are you familiar with this area? Locate the area on a map.

What did you learn about the characters? Were any of their behaviours surprising, predictable, or unexpected?

How did the findings of the captive animals make you feel?

What is the main lesson or messages the author is intending to portray?

What is your favourite part, and why?

Has this book inspired you to learn more and act on wildlife conservation practices? Why, and how will you go about it?

Activities

For ages 8 to 12.

English

Character Profile

Years 3 & 4 English: AC9E3LA02 AC9E3LA06 AC9E3LA07 AC9E3LA08 AC9E4LA08 AC9E4LA11

Years 5 & 6 English: AC9E5LA08 AC9E5LE03 AC9E5LE04 AC9E5LE05 AC9E6LE05

Create a character profile sheet about one of the main characters, Luke, Clare or Zac, or Zoe the Demon Duck of Doom. Include adjectives, fun facts and a picture. Think about the way they speak/act, their impact on others and what they look like.

Persuasive Writing

Years 3 & 4 English: AC9E3LA03 AC9E3LA04 AC9E4LA03 AC9E4LA04 AC9E4LA09 AC9E4LA12 AC9E4LE02 AC9E3LE03 AC9E4LE03 AC9E3LE05 AC9E4LE05 AC9E3LY06 AC9E3LY07 AC9E4LY06 AC9E4LY07

Years 5 & 6 English: AC9E5LA04 AC9E6LA08 AC9E5LE04 AC9E5LE05 AC9E6LE05 AC9E5LY03 AC9E5LY06 AC9E5LY07 AC9E6LY06 AC9E6LY07

Choose the viewpoint of either the siblings or the researchers and write a persuasive text either arguing for or against the need to study a prehistoric creature, such as the Demon Duck of Doom or the Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger), if you were to come across one in the wild. Include an introductory paragraph with their opinion, supporting arguments and a conclusion to sum up their reasoning.

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics)

Animal Study and 3D Model

Years 3 & 4 Science: Biological sciences: AC9S3U01 AC9S4U01 AC9S4H01 AC9S3H02 AC9S3I01 AC9S4I01 AC9S3I02 AC9S4I03 AC9S3I04 AC9S4I04 AC9S3I05 AC9S3I06 AC9S4I06

Years 5 & 6 Science: Biological sciences: AC9S5U01 AC9S6U01 AC9S5H01 AC9S6H01 AC9S5U04 AC9S5H02 AC9S6H02 AC9S5I01 AC9S5I02 AC9S6I02 AC9S6I03 AC9S5I04 AC9S5I05 AC9S6I05 AC9S5I06 AC9S6I06

Years 3 & 4 Visual Art: AC9AVA4E01 AC9AVA4D01 AC9AVA4C01 AC9AVA4P01

Years 5 & 6 Visual Art: AC9AVA6E01 AC9AVA6D01 AC9AVA6C01 AC9AVA6P01

Cross-curriculum priority – Sustainability: SS2 SW1 SD1 SD2 SD3

Additional information on the animals from Tracks in the Mist the Adamson Adventures 4.

Students research and write / draw about their favourite animal from Tracks in the Mist (refer to the index ‘About the Animals’), including our present-day wildlife. Find out about its characteristics, special abilities, habitat, food, breeding, and so on.

Students can:

• Write and complete a detailed diagram about the animal’s life cycle.

• Research and write a report / chart / slideshow all about their chosen animal, including interesting facts and information, a map of their location, and photos and pictures.

• Make a 3D sculpture of their animal using natural or recycled/upcycled materials.

• Find out conservation methods to ensure the survival of their animal (or what has been done in the past).

• Share their findings and encourage sustainability and wildlife conservation practices amongst the community.

Animal tracks from Tracks in the Mist the Adamson Adventures 4.

Animal Tracks

Students study different animal tracks with the following activities:

• Refer to the index of Tracks in the Mist: ‘Animal Tracks’ for a list of species and their footprints. Discuss what you notice. Compare the shapes, sizes and patterns of the tracks.

• Copy sets of these tracks and play ‘Snap’ or ‘Memory’ and identify the correct animal with the picture.

• Make your own tracks using toys or tools in sand, playdough or dirt. Ask a friend to guess the animal.

• Visit your local garden or park and hunt for animal tracks on the ground. Observe and predict what animal made the tracks. Sketch or photograph your findings.

Do you use teaching resources supplied by authors in your classroom? Do you find them helpful?

As an author, do you supply teaching resources for your books?

Travel and Adventure Go Hand in Hand.

It’s been a few months since I wrote my monthly blog post. Where have I been? I have been travelling, making memories, experiencing new environments and discovering adventures.

I love nature, and exploring the country is my happy place. This time I was not confined to Australia, as we travelled to the UK and parts of of Europe. It was an experience of a lifetime and inspiration for what I am sure will be at least one new adventure story, if not, a new series.

When we were last in Tasmania, we explored many wilderness areas on foot that culminated in my being able to write Tracks in the Mist, The Adamson Adventures 4. I can only imagine at the moment where my latest adventure will lead my writing.

Several places we visited stood out and are sure to be great resources for my creativity.

The Lakes District, England.

Four places here stood out and set my mind and senses tingling with ideas and possibilities.

Twice we walked around Gracemere Lake and the surrounding hills. We found moss covered dry stone walls, intricate and beautifully designed gates that lead into magnificent gardens that begged me to enter and explore. Sadly they were private, so the gates remained closed, but I did stop to take in the ambience and imagine where the beautiful stone winding path might lead as it wound through thick ferns and gardens, across a stone arched bridge with a babbling brook below and further beyond stone stairs that disappeared among the vibrant green hues of the flora. We followed Heritage Trust trails through meandering fields, along a crystal clear blue water’s edge of the lake and up into the splendour of the mountains. Trails climbed the hillsides rough and rocky at times. We jumped trickling streams and stopped to marvel at the view. Could this be the place where fairies flutter as they scatter and laugh wistfully in the gentle breeze? One trail eventually lead us to a cave. At the entrance it had large stepping-stones through freezing water, the depths of which I didn’t particularly want to fall into. Could this be the opening to a dragon’s lair?

My gloved hands touched cold standing stones in not one, but three stones circles. Only one of these was in the Lakes District, the other two were on the Orkney Islands. Each were however, in open wind swept fields and drizzling rain. Could they be time portals that lead to another dimension? I cannot say, but I did ask my hubby to follow me through just in case I suddenly disappeared.

Then there was the cascading waterfall, with torrents of water that gushed over the edge and roared as it fell to the river waiting below. I traversed many steps and crossed more stone bridges with both the descent and return ascent, all the while wondering what could have been lurking in the rushing water or hiding beneath an arched bridge.

Lastly, an old ruined castle and it’s enticing gardens. I followed a trail through tall trees that first opened to a magnificent view of the sweeping valley below with a little village almost hidden in the distance. Continuing along the track as gravel crunched underfoot I imagined a lost castle snuggled among the thicket of lush green.

Lucerne, Switzerland.

This old town was definitely enchanting as it sat encircling a river and beautiful blue bay. One of the oldest covered wooden bridges in Europe crossed the river in a long arc that invited visitors to traverse as they examined the medieval paintings that adorned its triangular support beams. High atop a hill snuggled behind the town was a magnificent white chateau that beckoned me to explore. This fairy tale castle had to be the home of fantasy and royalty. Timber stair cases with age worn steps climbed as they wound their way up though tall turrets that lead to secret chambers. Long corridors with huge thick timber doors opened into more mysterious rooms. Then hidden out the back beckoned a tall pine forest full of aroma that tingled the senses as I filled my lungs with fresh mountain pine filled air. After passing a massive pile of wood cuttings that instantly brought to mind an old woodcutter spending his days harvesting, I discovered smoke that wafted from a tiny timber cottage. Was it the home of the woodcutter or a witch stirring a cauldron with her latest magic brew? As we followed trails that lead further into the forest I imagined mischievous goblins and pixies that could be a problem to the unsuspecting traveller.

Who knows where these memories will lead my imagination just yet. There was so much atmosphere to soak up that I need a little time to take it all in and let it simmer in my mind. These above mentioned places are just the beginning. I’m sure a story will emerge, just like Tracks in the Mist did after visiting Tasmania. if you’re keen to read how that adventure turned out, or any of the others in the series, you can purchase a signed copy of the book Here.

What sort of adventure do you think I should write from my recent travel experience?

What would you like to see me write next?

Have you ever travelled and thought about turning it into an adventure story?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Where Do You Find Inspiration For Your Writing?

I have had this question posed to me a few times lately. Most recently by an author friend who sent me a questionnaire to help her write her next non-fiction book. My response to this question was probably a little too brief as I answered it in one sentence. I thought about it a little more deeply and decided it was worthy of further explanation.

My initial response was simply - Inspiration comes from everywhere, nature and the environment, my grandkids, holiday destinations, conversations and interacting with children generally. Let’s unpack these a little more in depth.

But first, I think the real question must include - why? Why do you feel the need to write is an intrinsic part of the inspiration. Once you know your why, inspiration will find you. My why, is obviously for me, children. My passion to help children want to learn and read started way back when I was still a student. The joy of children’s books has never left me and wanting to share that enthusiasm with kids is overwhelming. As a teacher I always preferred to focus on literacy in all its forms even though I recognised the importance of all subjects and providing a rounded education. My belief is that to fully comprehend anything, the basic tools of learning stem from a love of reading. If I can foster that love of reading in children through my books then I hope to have done my part in building the next generation of creative thinkers and innovators. Just thinking about helping one child want to learn to read is my inspiration for writing.

Now let’s consider those other parts of my inspiration for writing.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, is one of my favourite bush walking areas.

I could sit here for ages taking in the sights, smells, and sounds.

Nature and the Environment.

While I grew up in the southern suburbs of Sydney, somehow, living in the country seemed inevitable. I love being out in nature and able to take long walks through the bush on a daily basis. Feeling a part of nature is grounding. The clean air is refreshing and the sounds of the bush is exhilarating yet calming. A daily walk helps me clear my mind and think about plot holes, structure, character, mischief and new ideas. Observing the birds and wildlife creates ideas for many of my stories. When I want to describe an outdoor scene, I like to use all my senses, nature and the environment is an integral part of the writing process. Walking suburban streets isn’t quite the same, there are too many other noises to filter out. Although, they can be great for character studies. I like to write adventures and take my characters to unusual settings that the average reader does not usually get to experience.

It’s my love of nature that has inspired me to write book 4 in my Adamson Adventures. When hubby and I were newly weds, we embarked on a six month work position in Hobart, Tasmania. I fell in love with the beauty of its natural environment and always hoped to return someday when we had the time to explore many of the bushwalks it had to offer. Fast forward some thirty plus years later and we finally revisited the beauty of Tasmania last year. I planned many amazing walks and loved every one of them. The next book could finally be written.

My two picture books, ‘Emma the Eager emu,’ and ‘Frazzled Freya’ both came from watching wildlife. Initially observing the native birds and lizards that frequent my garden, then considering other creatures that I have seen during various trips around Australia.

Holiday Destinations.

By now, if you have read any of my previous books, you will know, that the setting is an integral part of the journey. Unique or different places often inspire my thoughts for story as I like to grab my readers attention by giving them an opportunity to travel in the comfort of their own personal favourite reading place. A good story can take the reader to wherever their imagination wants to go without leaving the comfort and security of their own home.

The inspiration for ‘Secrets Hidden Below,’ came from a family holiday in Bali. I couldn’t find a book that would take kids on an adventure around this beautiful and exotic location, so I decided to write it myself.

The inspiration for ‘A Lighthouse In Time,’ came from our annual camping holidays at the beach. We found an old ruined lighthouse and I always knew there had to be a ghost story written around it. I love lighthouses, their mystery and history is fascinating, and I knew kids would feel the same.

Tanah Lot Temple Bali, is one of the places I take my readers to on their adventure in ‘Secrets Hidden Below.’

The old ruined lighthouse at Cape St George was the inspiration for ‘A Lighthouse In Time.’

Grandkids and Children in General.

The inspiration for ‘Fossil Frenzy,’ is a combination of nature, holidays and children. From my eldest son who has had a passion for rocks and fossils since he was five years old, to my grandson’s fascination with dinosaurs, the inspiration for this story was inevitable. Once I incorporated a trip to outback Queensland to see the dinosaur museum with all the incredible fossils in their natural environment, my inspiration was so enthusiastic, I couldn’t wait to start writing.

The Age of Dinosaurs Museum at Winton, in Queensland was a must see and experience before I could write ‘Fossil Frenzy.’

I found a replica of the Demon Duck of Doom, at the Discovery Centre in the Daintree National Park, in Far North Queensland.

I have a couple of other manuscripts I am in the process of finishing that have been inspired by my grandson and the conversations we have had. I won’t say too much about these for now, except that I hope to share more sometime soon.

The inspiration for my first early reader books, ‘Gingerbread Aliens’ and ‘Alien Shenanigans’ both came from my children. One day we were baking in the kitchen and we had a bit of a mishap, after cleaning up the mess and laughing together, I knew there was a story in the experience. A little bit of creative thinking and Gingerbread Aliens was born. “Alien Shenanigans,’ was inspired by a the experience the kids had at school with one of their favourite teachers. He was inspirational with his science experiments. Expand on the classic volcano experiment and away went my imagination again.

The volcano experiment in ‘Alien Shenanigans,’ was not only wonderful inspiration but a joy to do with kids during school visits.

While all the birds around my property were the initial inspiration behind ‘Emma the Eager Emu,’ there’s nothing like seeing an emu in the wild. This one was in Monkey Mia, Western Australia.

Living through the the bush fires of the 2019/2020 Summer season, inspired me to write a short story for one of the anthologies.

Inspiration to write can come from so many wonderful places. Writing prompts can be helpful too. The last few years I have written short stories for anthologies that are inspired by a prompt or initial idea/theme. I tend to start with that, then consider all of the above mentioned ways to find inspiration, it’s amazing where it will lead you.

Now that you have learned a little more about where I find my inspiration for writing, it’s your turn to tell me. Where do you find your inspiration for your writing? Let me know in the comments below, I’d love to learn more.

5 Great Reasons to Read Aloud With Your Tweens.

We all know the benefits of reading aloud to our babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers, but what about our tweens? Once our kids begin to read independently we often forget to continue reading with them.

As World Read Aloud Day was this week, I thought I would delve a little deeper into the joys of reading aloud, especially with our older children.

But first, what exactly do we mean by tween?

The definition of a tween.

Tweens are the age group that is our 8 - 12 year old readers. They have not only become independent readers, but are wanting to become more independent of their parents. They are in middle-school where hormones start to kick in just before puberty, which also means they want to explore the world and socialising away from family constraints before facing the challenges that come with adolescence. .They are in that awkward stage where they no longer perceive themselves as children, but are not yet teenagers either.

If our tweens are trying to establish their independence from their parents, then why should we still read aloud to them? Do they even want us to?
In summary, here’s 6 great reasons we should still be reading aloud with them. However I am only going to discuss 5 of these reasons, as hopefully you have already ‘created a life-long love of reading’ while they were younger.

Reading Aloud to Kids.

Builds Empathy

Tweens are ready to read more substantial books with more character development, plot twists and adventure. It is through reading theses stories that our tweens are able to explore the world around them, their feelings and emotions. By developing empathy for a character they are able to ‘try-on’ ideas and concepts and it all happens within the safe confines of home or the classroom. Sharing these stories aloud encourages discussion and promotion of developing an understanding for empathy.

Reading builds empathy.

Reading strengthens empathy muscles.

Improves Language and Listening Skills.

When reading aloud with your tween, you can introduce books with vocabulary that is a level higher than your tween can read on their own. It’s an opportunity to improve understanding of new words and concepts and increases comprehension skills. Gradually they will feel more confident to read more complex stories independently.

Even a tween can still have problems sitting still to read, especially when their are so many distractions coming at them from every direction. Reading aloud with them over a meal or snack can be a great way to encourage listening and before you know it, they are so engrossed in the story they have sat still and quietly longer than expected. This also helps improve concentration for other studies and work habits.

Reading aloud build vocabulary.

Facilitates Important and/or Difficult Conversations.

As a teacher or parent we often come across subjects that we wish to discuss that may feel difficult or awkward. Our tween, is also reaching that point where they too, are asking those difficult questions. Reading a book together can help bridge the gap and ease into a difficult conversation without feeling uncomfortable as you discuss the characters and situations in the story. Some of these topics may be around, death, divorce, alcohol, drugs, sex, social media/internet use etc. Both non-fiction and fiction books can be great tools for broaching these subjects. If you are looking for a specific topic a librarian will be able to help you. On Facebook, I belong to a group called Your Kids Next Read where parents often ask for suggestions.

In this link How to use books to spark important conversations you will find helpful questions to use when reading aloud with your tween.

Thank you to Young Book Love for providing this useful blog post.

Activates and Empowers Imagination.

Stories can take us to other places around the world, in the past, present and future. They can also take us to new or other worlds of science fiction, dystopian and inter-planetary. In reading these books, we explore, develop and stretch our imagination. It encourages us to flex our brain muscles to foster our own creativity. Through imagination and creativity grows innovation. As our tweens expand their imagination they become more curious and think outside of the box. From the imagination of a tween comes the discoveries and inventions of our future.

Is Fun.

It goes without saying that reading together aloud is fun for all the family. It is a time to come together and share, bond, comfort and enjoy each others company. Through reading aloud we can laugh and experience the world around us together. Use silly voices, vary the tone to increase suspense and include plenty of expression to make the experience fun and entertaining. We can introduce new genres that your tween may not have otherwise tried and we become wonderful role-models to continue to demonstrate and foster the love of reading that we began when our tweens were little.

My own middle-grade series The Adamson Adventures are a great place to start reading aloud to your young tween. They are packed full with fun, adventure, entertainment, historical information and opportunities for learning and developing a love of reading through exciting imagination. A few months ago, I had the pleasure of meeting a tween that was excited to meet the author of this series. He said he had bought Fossil Frenzy and loved it so much that he then went back and read the other two. They gave him the confidence boost he needed to begin reading longer books that he previously found too daunting and challenging. His parent started by reading the books aloud with him until his confidence grew. If he could do it, so can you.

Have I covered all the aspects of reading aloud with your tween?

Can you think of anything I may have missed?

Please leave a comment below.

The thrilling middle-grade series The Adamson Adventures by Sandra Bennett.

In Celebration of Dinosaurs

June 1st was International Dinosaur Day! Woohoo!

So in honour of dinosaurs and lovers of dinosaurs, let’s talk about those roarsome curious creatures.

Kids of all ages love dinosaurs. We all have our favourites from our childhood. Which one was yours? Here are a few to jog your memory. Have I missed anyone?

1. Dorothy the Dinosaur from the Wiggles

2. Barney from Barney and Friends

3. Little-foot from The Land Before Time

4. Rex frim We’re Back a Dinosaur Story

5. Rex from Toy Story

6. Earl Sinclair from Dinosaurs series

From an early age kids are naturally drawn to dinosaurs . By the time they are learning to talk they can name all the different types. By three years old they can even pronounce some of the trickiest ones that as an adult we stumble over. My three year old grandson can name most dinosaurs. Although I admit I have taught him to say ‘longneckasaurus,’ instead of Brontosaurus, Brachiosaurus or Apatosaurus. I figured there are so many different sauropods, it was easier to lump them all together in one group at this stage. He can learn each of the different names as he grows.

Brontosaurus

Brachiosaurus

Apatosaurus

Both my grandsons even have dinosaur pyjamas, and that gorgeous three year old mentioned above, even has a ‘dinosaur bed.’ His sheets and doona are covered in dinosaurs.

Many children continue to be intrigued by dinosaurs well into their childhood. Just this last month I did a book reading at the Clarke Earth Sciences Museum located in the University Western Australia, for kids from the Children’s University WA aged 7-10 years. One keen young reader said his favourite dinosaur was a Mosasaurus, an aquatic dinosaur. He was so excited when the curator of the museum, palaeontologist Dr Kailah Thorn subsequently produced a fossil fragment of a Mosasaurus for him to see and touch.

Reading and chatting about dinosaurs with Dr Kailah Thorn at the Clarke Earth Sciences Museum UWA

Having fun reading to the kids from the Children’s University at the Clarke Earth Sciences Museum UWA.

By now you probably know that I still have a fascination with dinosaurs, which is why I wrote Fossil Frenzy the Adamson Adventures 3. I not only wanted to write another fun adventure, I wanted to take kids on a journey back in time and help them learn about the dino-mite creatures that have been discovered here in Australia.

Fossils can tell us a lot about dinosaurs, but they don’t tell us everything. That is a writer’s dream, as it leaves many options open for interpretation and the development of our imagination.

One of my favourite dinosaurs is the Demon Duck of Doom, also known as the Thunderbird or Bullockornis Planei. It is a flightless bird like the emu or cassowary and belongs to the Dromornithids family, sharing its ancestry with ducks and geese. To find out more about this dino-rrific dinosaur see my previous post

https://sandrabennettauthor.com/blog/2020/9/30/a-couple-of-curious-creatures

Knowing the fabulous vibrant colours on the head and neck of a cassowary, I decided I wanted to make my Demon Duck of Doom in Fossil Frenzy covered in bright feathers too.

The Cassowary is a flightless bird found in northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. Imagine a Demon Duck of Doom with these coloured feathers all over his body.

Fossils usually can’t tell us the colouring of the feathers on a dinosaur, even if a few feather fossils are found, they usually lack any pigmentation. Here is how I imagined and describe the Demon Duck of Doom when Zac, Clare and Luke first encounter it. -

“There were mottled hues of green that camouflaged into the rainforest all over the back., yet the head and front feathers were red and orange. The underbelly and legs were a deep purple combined with shades of blue. The beak and feet were yellow. It was quite a rainbow of colours.“ - Extract from Fossil Frenzy the Adamson Adventures 3.

I have also added a short video clip of me reading an extract from Fossil Frenzy when Zac, Clare and Luke encounter the Demon Duck of Doom for the second time. Have a listen and tell me whether you think I made my Demon Duck of Doom a friend or foe?

Thanks for coming along on this journey back in time.

Now it’s your turn.

Don’t forget to let me know your favourite dinosaur in the comments below. It’s always fun to see.

A Couple of Curious Creatures Part 2

We stared at the Megaraptor standing on the other side of our fire. It smelled the smoke-filled air then took several slow steps towards the fire.

‘So much for the fire keeping us safe,’ Clare whispered. ‘He looks curious.’ It started sniffing at the ground where we had been sitting and eating. Clare had dropped a ham and cheese sandwich, the Megaraptor was quick to snaffle it up. It sniffed at the remains of my apple. To my surprise , it gobbled it up too. Then it moved onto the chocolate Luke had dropped. - an extract from Fossil Frenzy the Adamson Adventures 3.

Did the Megaraptor eat Luke’s chocolate? What happened next? You’ll have to read Fossil Frenzy if you want to find out.

Every good story needs a good antagonist, or villain. In Fossil Frenzy it is the Megaraptors that roamed Australia during the late Cretaceous period. The most famous one is a raptor named ‘Banjo.’ He is an Australovenator Wintonensis. I first encountered this fellow during a visit to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum in Winton, Queensland. A replica of him stands out the front of the museum. I became fascinated with this dinosaur, he was a raptor bigger than the usual ones you see in the movies. I knew kids would find him interesting too. When I did my research for the story, only the remains of one of these fossils had been found,. However, I have it on good authority, (a dinosaur expert aged 10 at a recent school visit) that they have now found the remains of a second one.

Banjo- Australoventator Wintonensis found outside the Age of Dinosaurs Museum, Winton.

Banjo stood about two metres tall, had sharp claws and was a very fast carnivore. He was found in a dried up river bed or billabong alongside a massive sauropod. This specimen the palaeontologists named Matilda. Diamantinasaurus Matildae was a large herbivorous dinosaur that was also around during the late Cretaceous period. So far only two of these sauropods have been found in the Winton area. However the museum is also a working science laboratory with many fossils still to be cleaned and pieced together, much like a giant jig-saw puzzle. They may find more of both of these dinosaurs yet.

Matilda - Diamantinasarus Matildae, found in the Winton, Queensland region.

When I have told the kids at school visits the reason for the naming of these two dinosaurs, they are amazed. A herbivore named Matilda and a carnivore named Banjo found beside an old billabong as if they came from the famous poem, Waltzing Matilda, by well known Australian poet, Banjo Patterson, who by the way, happened to have lived in the Winton area for some time. Pretty awesome don’t you think?

During school visits we have also looked at the full size footprint of an Australovenator Wintonenis and compared it with the size of a human footprint. The kids take amazing guesses at how many human feet can fit inside the fossil. How many do you think?

Footprint of an Australovenator Wintonensis drawn to scale.

How many of your feet would fit inside Banjo’s footprint?

Inside the pages of Fossil Frenzy you will also find an armoured plated Ankylosaur and a Qantassaurus named after our national airline that had its beginnings in the Winton/Longreach area. but I am not going into any details of these two curious creatures here, you will need to research those yourself. Not too many spoilers here.

Qantassaurus information at the Daintree Discovery Centre

A replica of Qantassaurus from the Daintree Discovery Centre.

Fossil Frenzy is a thrilling and fun time-traveling adventure from the drought-stricken outback of present day, to the rainforests of millions of years ago when dinosaurs roamed Gwandana. It is a fiction story filled with plenty of facts for the avid reader to digest. It bridges the gap between those readers who only read non-fiction and leads them into reading fiction with adventure and knowledge. It also encourages fiction readers to learn a little along the way. It is suitable for readers aged 7 -12 years and anyone who loves a dino adventure.

Me standing with a copy of Fossil Frenzy in front of a dinosaur fossil at the National Dinosaur Museum.

Are you fascinated by dinosaurs?

Which dinosaur is your favourite?

Please leave a comment below.