Dragons in Children's Stories

I have dragons on my mind a lot lately.

Dragons, Dinosaurs and Thylacines. Animals that are extinct or endangered.

It’s all because of the stories that I have been writing. Research can be a lot of fun.

Dragons are the main characters in my up coming picture book which will be released early next year, while dinosaurs and thylacines play a major part in book 4 of my middle grade Adamson Adventure. Yes, for those of you who are anxiously awaiting the final book in the series, it’s almost here. I have finished the first draft and my major edits. So stay tuned for more on that soon.

Last month I looked at the differences and similarities between dragons and dinosaurs. You can find the link to that post here.

Today I am thinking about dragons in children’s stories. Here are a few that come to my mind. They appear in no particular favourite order.

Norbert from Harry Potter.

Norbert is the first dragon we encounter in the series as he hatches under the care of Hagrid the gamekeeper, in the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Hagrid is very fond of the cute little dragon that he won in a card game. The dragon is a Norwegian Ridgeback and as it grows to full size, Hagrid must agree to let it go even though to do so breaks his heart. Norbert is soon to be revealed as a female, hence the name change to Norberta. After book 1 this dragon is never seen again.

Image of Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback taken from https://www.quotev.com/story/11666155/The-Sisters-Black-and-the-Philosophers-Stone/14

However, other dragons do appear in book 3, the Goblet of Fire. A Hungarian Horntail, the Chinese Fireball, the common Welsh Green and the Swedish Short-Snout. These dragons are part of the first test in the Triwizard Cup, and Harry must try to gather an egg from a dragon’s nest to find a clue to continue in the competition.

While Norbert is seen as a cute and cuddly hatchling, these other dragons are far more fierce and deadly creatures. I think I know which dragon I would prefer to have as a pet.

Falkor from the Never Ending Story.

Falkor is a very different dragon to the usual scaly skin reptilian dragon. He is a 43 foot, (roughly 13 metres) long, soft, furry luckdragon more like a Chinese dragon than those found in British mythology.

He has a kind heart, is optimistic and only wants to help and encourage people, like Atreyu, who is trying to save the world of Fantasia from ‘the Nothing.’ Falkor is a wise dragon full of advice. He would be a great companion on any quest.

Falkor and Atreyu in flight from the Never Ending Story.

Elliott from Pete’s Dragon.

Elliott is a green scaly dragon with little pink wings and a tuft of pink hair on the top of his head. He is an adorable dragon who always means well. Elliot is a guardian dragon that becomes Pete’s best friend when the dragon sees that Pete is in need. The trouble is, that Elliott is a bit of a clumsy dragon, and with his ability to disappear, Pete often finds himself in trouble for the dragon’s misadventures. I think Elliott could be a fun dragon to have around, despite his clumsiness, as it is his job to protect and help children without any family support. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that there is a dragon out there doing his best to keep us all safe from harm.

Elliott from Pete’s Dragon

Draco from Dragonheart.

This story perhaps is more for older kids, teens and adults but still worth a mention. In essence, I find Draco absolutely adorable as his voice is narrated by the wonderful actor, Sir Sean Connery. I just love hearing a dragon speak with a Scottish accent.

Draco is like the dragons of British medieval legends. While he could be portrayed as a fierce fire-breathing dragon that attacks villages and fights knights, he is given a kind heart and soul. Draco agrees to give half of his heart to the injured Prince who is next in line to the throne. This is in the hope that the prince will become a kind and benevolent ruler. Sadly, the prince becomes a harsh tyrannical ruler of his kingdom. If Draco could always speak like Sean Connery, I would have him as a pet any day.

Dragonheart clip. Bowen pretends to slay the dragon.

H.R. Pufnstuff from the TV show of the same name.

This one takes me right back to my childhood. Pufnstuff was a big yellow dragon with orange hair. His head was a bit too big for his body but this made him appear all the more friendly and lovable. It’s a magical story of flutes, witches and dragons. When a young boy named Jimmy finds a magical talking flute, he is promised an adventure of a lifetime. Taking a trip on a boat, unknowingly owned by the evil Witchypoo, Jimmy is lead to a magical island. Lucky for him, H R Pufnstuff comes to his recue. Would this story work for the kids of today? Probably not, but as a child of the Sixties, I found it very entertaining.

H R Pufnstuff from the 1969 children’s TV show of the same name/

Puff the Magic Dragon.

No list of dragons could be complete without the mention of this one, even though strictly speaking it is not a children’s story. Puff the Magic Dragon is a song written by the group, Peter, Paul and Mary in 1963, so again it is from my childhood. To this day I can still remember the words and tune to the chorus of this endearing song. It’s all about a little boy and his wonderful imagination. As he plays with his magical dragon they frolic and have wonderful and whimsical adventures. But sadly all little boys must eventually grow up and their imagination is lost. Puff’s scales all fall away as he fades from memory. It’s a tale of childhood wonderment and the wish that we all could keep that hint of playful childhood alive as we grow into adulthood.

Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Paul and Mary.

Do you know all these dragons? Have you read their stories or seen their movies?

Which is your favourite dragon? Or can you think of one I haven’t mentioned?

Leave a comment below, I am curious to know.

Are Dragons Related to Dinosaurs?

This burning question was asked of me during the writing workshop I ran last month. See last month’s blog for further details on the workshop.

I hesitated before I answered this question as the more I thought about it, the more I considered the complexities of answering.

In a nutshell, the kids came to one conclusion - maybe.

Are Dragons related to Dinosaurs?

Dragon vs Dinosaur

Let’s consider the similarities and differences of dragons and dinosaurs before we come to our conclusion.

Dinosaurs - are real. Palaeontologists have discovered many fossils of dinosaurs proving their existence.

Dragons - are probably not real. No one has ever found any fossils or evidence. They are mythical creatures based in legendary stories passed down over generations. They are the subject of bedtime stories, picture books, novels and movies.

Dinosaurs can be found all around the world on every continent and in all types of environments and climates.

Dragons were said to soar the skies from mountain tops, caves and volcanoes, causing havoc wherever they appeared.

Dinosaurs existed millions of years ago, and were extinct long before humans walked the Earth.

Dragons were said to be hunted by medieval knights and set fear into the hearts and minds of terrified villagers. Some dragons could be trained by humans to be ridden like horses, imagine trying to train a dinosaur!

Both dinosaurs and dragons hatched from eggs.

Both dinosaurs and dragons looked like large reptiles with scaly skin and sharp teeth.

Not all dinosaurs had scaly reptilian skin. Fossils have shown that some dinosaurs were more avian or bird-like with feathers covering their body.

Only a few dinosaurs (known as pterosaurs) could fly, but all dragons had massive wingspans and could fly. Pterosaurs are not actually dinosaurs, although they are related.

The largest pterosaur to be discovered in outback Queensland Australia, is said to be the closest looking dinosaur that resembles a dragon. It had a wingspan of over 9 metres or 30 feet and had a head as long as 1 metre or 3 feet. It also had very sharp teeth. While this is the largest pterosaur found in Australia, it is not the largest in the world.

Thapunngaka Shawi the largest pterosaur discovered in Queensland, is the closest dinosaur to resemble a dragon.

Dinosaurs did not breathe fire.

Dragons were known to be able to breathe fire, causing devastation to timber walled, grass thatched roofed homes. They could reduce a medieval village to ashes within minutes, scolding everything and everyone in their path. Dragons were able to breathe fire either because they were magical, or possibly by breathing out flammable gases that they could ignite with a spark.

Dinosaurs were not magical.

Dragons were often magical. How else could a reptile that huge manage to fly? Dragons would have to have a very big wingspan to carry their body weight or have an extremely unusually light body.

Dragon magic is said to be based on the four elements, earth, wind, fire and water. They could camouflage or change colour to suit their environment and even form clouds. (hint: my upcoming picture book has something to do with this.)

Dinosaurs had a varied appetite. Some were carnivorous, (meat eating) , some were herbivorous, (plant eating) and some were omnivores. (meaning they ate both plants and meat.)

Dragons on the other hand were meat lovers only.

Dinosaurs had very small brains, therefore they are not considered to have been very intelligent. It is generally considered that they were not even as intelligent as birds that exist today.

Dragons according to legends, were extremely intelligent, possibly even more so than humans.

Both dinosaurs and dragons are depicted to have tails. Most were very long and often spikey like the ankylosaurs or stegosaurus.

A stegosaurus had a long spiky tail and scaly skin.

Dragons had long spiky tails and scaly skin.

Have I helped you make up your mind yet? Perhaps you could draw a Venn diagram like the one below with all the possibilities of contrasts and overlaps to help you reach your final decision.

Comparing Dinosaurs and Dragons

As for me, what do I think? I do like to write fiction stories for children, so I’ll leave that answer to your imagination.

Leave a comment below to let me know if you believe dragons are related to dinosaurs..

Writing Adventure Stories With Kids.

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of presenting a writing workshop to a group of kids. It was for the very first kids book club organised by the amazing and supportive Book Cow-Kingston.

Running a writing workshop for kids at the Book Cow Kingston for their Kids Book Club.

There’s always so much fun to be had when talking about adventure stories, dinosaurs and volcanoes.

We decided that instead of asking kids to read a certain book or chapters before attending the event, all they had to do was to think about an adventure story they had read.

The question was then posed - What makes a great adventure story?

We spent the next hour or so, discussing the key elements that go into writing the story structure to develop their own fantastic adventure.

To do this yesterday, as we went through each item, I used examples and read extracts from my Adamson Adventure series. This lead to much discussion about dinosaurs and volcanoes. (more on that later).

Let’s examine seven key features we need to be able to write a thrilling adventure story for kids.

A Hero

All great stories need an equally great hero or protagonist. The hero needs to be likeable and relatable so that the reader will be invested in the story and want to see the hero succeed. A hero, also however, needs flaws or weaknesses. Things that they fear or worry about that they must attempt to overcome throughout the story.

My main character in the Adamson Adventures is Zac. Each story is told from his point of view. Zac is a bit of a know it all. He loves reading, science and learning about everything, but this can be a little annoying to his siblings. Zac’s knowledge about dinosaurs does come in handy to help keep them out of danger in Fossil Frenzy.

Supporting Characters

A hero often doesn’t go on his journey alone, (although he can) he usually needs supporting characters or sidekicks. These provide comic relief when the tension gets too much, or push the hero to keep moving forward when the obstacles get too difficult.

Zac’s sidekicks are his sister, Clare and his brother, Luke. They too, need to have good and bad traits. Clare started out quite shy and frightened in Secrets Hidden Below, book 1, she didn’t like to take risks or do anything that might get herself and her brothers in trouble. By Fossil Frenzy, book 3, her character has grown, become much more confident and self assured, in fact you might even say that she becomes the unwilling hero. Luke on the other hand, is the spontaneous sibling, who likes to rush into things without thinking. This could be seen as either good or bad. On one hand, he is never afraid to try new things, or not paralysed by self doubt, but it can lead him into inevitable danger where Zac and Clare must follow to protect him.

A Quest

All adventure stories have a quest or journey in one form or another. Whether that is in solving a mystery, searching for a treasure or resolving some sort of major problem. Within the quest, their must be an inciting incident that drives our characters forward to a point of no return. They have no other choice but to head deep into the chasm of difficulty and danger. It is always good to drive them into an unfamiliar or perilous environment.

In Fossil Frenzy, the kids are on a quest to find fossils to help save their Uncle’s drought-stricken farm. The inciting incident occurs when the massive storms converge and they are forced to take shelter in a cave, only to discover when they emerge that they are no longer in their own time.

Villains

This brings us to the baddies in our story or the antagonist. This can come in many forms. It could be another person, it could be a crippling fear that prevents the hero from achieving his goals, or it could be a threatening animals. In this case it is a dinosaur, a theropod to be exact that is not only chasing them, but preventing them from finding a way safely back home.

Risks

As the quest continues, we must up the tension with more and bigger risks. Their must be perils to face that become harder to avert or resolve.

We talked about different types of dinosaurs, which ones may be herbivores or carnivores and what dangers these may lead our characters into. I read an extract from Fossil Frenzy and we decided whether the Demon Duck of Doom was most likely a friend or foe.

Time Limit

A great adventure also needs a time limit. It also increases the suspense, pace, drama and pressure as our heroes race against the clock to succeed. In Fossil frenzy, not only are they in imminent danger from carnivorous dinosaurs, they are running out of food and Luke becomes critically ill making the trio desperate to return home to get him to hospital.

Transformation

By the end of the journey the hero must have changed in some way by the time he has achieved his goal. Zac is more grateful to have his siblings by his side and has come to realise the importance of family. Clare is more courageous, although at times still somewhat reluctantly, while Luke, is now starting to consider his actions before diving in headfirst.

Other than dinosaurs, I also used as an example a volcano. It could be seen as a setting or a villain, depending on how and where in the story it is used. I read an extract from Secrets Hidden Below where the volcano appears in the climax of the story. It is antagonistic and prevents our heroes from seemingly achieving their final goal. It is not until the resolution that we find out whether or not they have found the sought after pirate treasure. To demonstrate the use of the volcano as part of a setting, and the initial action, I read from my early reader ‘Alien Shenanigans’ where the volcano is a classroom experiment that goes inevitably and drastically wrong. To the delight of the book club, I did the experiment and erupted the volcano. It was a fantastic way to finish the session and one I am sure the kids will remember.

The volcano began to fizz and slowly ooze over the sides.

An erupting volcano is always a big hit with kids.

Do you like reading adventure stories?

What is one of your favourites that you read as a child?

All my books mentioned above are available here from my website.

How Do You Find Your Winter Bliss?

While my friends in the Northern Hemisphere are currently enjoying the warmth of fresh air, balmy sea breezes and delightful summer evenings, we down south in Canberra, Australia are in the midst of hunkering down for a long cold winter around cosy fires, snuggled in plush blankets and sipping hot chocolate to keep the chills at bay.

What do you like to do this time of year, whether it’s Winter or Summer in you part of the world. Below are 5 ways I am enjoying the delights of this wintery season. I invite you to join me in experiencing Winter in my world, then visit the other #gr8tlogs at the end of this post for more inspiration and smiles.

Seeing Through my Camera Lens.

As we stack the piles of timber and gather kindling to prepare for another freezing season, the last thing I expected to see so early in May, (7th May actually!) was a snow fall that was so thick our entire valley became a white-out of a winter wonderland. I had spent the day at the National Dinosaur Museum reading from my chapter book ‘Fossil Frenzy,’ to an enthusiastic audience, when on return to our little valley the snow was gently floating in a silent stillness that enticed smiles from all the family. Snow ball fights and lots of laughter ensued as we played in sheer delight.

I was invited to do book readings at the National Dinosaur Museum, two months in a row. This was May 7th.

A month earlier, 8th April at the National Dinosaur Museum.

Reading

As the outside temperature plummets and gusty wind billows through the trees, there’s nothing like lounging back in a comfy chair in the middle of the afternoon reading a good book, while brilliant sunlight streams through our double-glazed windows keeping me warm.

My genre of choice, is as always middle grade fiction, as it’s what I like to write, I like to read and keep up with the latest that has been published. During May, I had the opportunity to attend the book launches of two middle grade fiction books, both by two of my favourite local authors.

‘Pearly and Pig and the Lost City of Mu Savan,’ by the incredibly talented Sue Whiting, was the first book launch. As I had missed the launch of the first book in the series, ‘Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast,’ I bought a copy of both books and enjoyed many an afternoon devouring these two fun adventures.

Pearly is an adventurologist in training and with her best friend Pig by her side she manages to become entangled in quite the adventure in both books. Perfect for readers 8 -12 who love adventure and the chance to travel around the world, these books will take them deep into the depths of the ice cold snow in Antarctica and in contrast to the sticky heat in the jungle travelling down the mighty Mekong River in Laos and Thailand. Having lived in Thailand for two years twenty something years ago, I enjoyed the familiarity of the jungle scenery and the mischievousness of the monkeys. Both books in the series are light easy reads, fun for all the family.

The second book launch was for one of my dear friends, an equally talented author, Cate Whittle. I am in the midst of reading her novel now, and I admit I find it hard to put down. ‘Starberries and Kee,’ is set in a ‘Solar Punk’ world as Cate herself describes it. A future of hope for the upcoming generations where the world has changed for the better. With Fossil Fuels no longer in use, the people rely on solar and wind energy, living in self sustainable communities. They grow their own crops, reuse, recycle and come together to share a life of contentment. This is a wonderful story for readers 8 -14, as it illustrates that if we all slowly begin to make changes in our lives now, we can still have a prosperous tomorrow despite climate change and the devastation man has done to the world today. We all need to learn to live in harmony with nature and the world will be such a better place to live.

Sue Whiting and I at the book launch of Pearly and Pig and the Lost City of Mu Savan.

Cate Whittle and I at the book launch for Starberries and Kee.

Watching

In the evenings I enjoy taking a hot cup of tea, (my tea of choice in the evenings is a chamomile and spearmint) upstairs to our big TV, snuggling under a fluffy blanket while relaxing with my feet up and watching the latest movie or series releases usually on Netflix or Amazon. ‘Ticket to Paradise,’ with George Clooney and Julia Roberts was a lot of fun. Knowing this was filmed in the middle of the pandemic, it tickled my heart to watch the way they transformed parts of Queensland to make it look like they were actually in Bali where the film was set. It’s a light-hearted fun movie that everyone can enjoy..

Somehow I managed to stumble across a great movie on Amazon titled ‘A Walk in the Woods,’ with Robert Redford and Nick Nolte. Have you ever seen it? Based on the novel by Bill Bryson, the two old men plan to try to walk the entire distance of the Appalachian Trail. Filled with lots of hysterical one-liners it’s a joyous journey of discovery and friendship. This is a must watch if you love hiking yourself and love being out in nature like I do.

The series I just finished was season 16 of Heartland. I had been wondering if Netflix would ever show another season here in Australia. When it dropped onto our screens a couple of weeks ago, I must admit I couldn’t help myself but binge watch it. I love everything about this series, the scenery is spectacular, the horses are fabulous and after so many seasons the characters are all so familiar and endearing.

From a writer’s perspective, I just finished watching (or doing) a two week course on Rewriting Fiction. It was incredibly insightful, inspirational and motivational. If you ever struggle with copy or structural editing this course will clarify and enlighten you, making the process that much more doable. Thanks so much to the amazing Jen Storer for putting this course together.

Loving

As winter knocks at our door, we do still experience the occasional warmth of sunny Autumn days that invite you to head outside to walk and explore. I’m loving the opportunity this is giving me to walk further as it’s not too hot. I definitely cope better in cooler climates when it comes to walking in nature, climbing hills and exploring the mountains around us. Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s nearly 18 months ago, has seen me embark on a fitness routine that now has me walking on average 5km (3 miles) most mornings. Living on top of a hill, there is nowhere flat to walk around here, so I have embraced the challenge and enjoy setting my pace to continually improve my personal best. I am now down to walking the loop through our nature reserve and back up the hill in just under an hour. I did it in 50 mins the other day, but I don’t think I will be repeating that any time soon, I was wrecked when I made it home. Luckily my family is encouraging too, and I take the opportunity to head out for walks with my family in the National Parks that are close by. I love walking the trails, listening to the wildlife, spotting the odd kangaroo and reaching peaks where I can see forever.

The climb up Mt Taylor is a massive effort, but the views are worth every last out of breath step.

The path up the hill takes you passed many beautiful gum trees.

Anticipating

From a writing perspective I am anticipating the end of my latest Adamson Adventure. I had originally planned to finish the first draft by the end of April, but I had forgotten about the family commitments that would make that an impossible task. Now May has come and gone and I’m not much further to reaching my goal. I’m now setting a more realistic goal of having the draft finished by the end of July. I hope giving myself two months to complete the story will make it a more realistic possibility. Then it will be time for editing during the rewrite phase. I had anticipated that this book would be complete and ready for release by Christmas, but I fear it may be more likely sometime early in the New Year. The working title has changed frequently, but I think I have finally settled on the right one. You’ll just have to be kept in suspense a little longer.

Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope you have stayed warm with a nice hot beverage of choice while reading this. How do you prefer to survive the long cold winter months? Many friends here tend to plan holiday escapes further north. What might be on your reading or to watch list to help keep those winter chills at bay? If, like my friends on the other side of the world you are experiencing hotter days than me, how do you plan to spend your Summer?

Below are my friends suggestions to help you with a few ideas.

Julie Gorges

Rosie Russel

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.

A Celebration of Dino-mite Proportions.

On Saturday 8th April 2023, the National Dinosaur Museum here in Canberra held a mammoth 30th Birthday Party!

I was honoured to be included as their children’s book author, reading hourly to enthusiastic groups of dino-tastic families.

National Dinosaur Museum 30th Birthday - Book readings and signings.

The gates opened at 10:00 am to a long queue of excited people that stretched out of the car park and beyond. Despite the amazing efforts of staff, the entrance line-up never seemed to shrink. When I finished my readings and departed mid-afternoon, people were still queueing to get in. Visitors came from all over Canberra, Sydney and the surrounding country areas. In fact the museum recorded an incredible 7,500 visitors who came to share in the celebrations on the day.

Massive crowds waiting to enter the National Dinosaur Museum 30th Birthday celebrations.

The queue to get in to the National Dinosaur Museum lasted all day.

There were so many things to do on offer including, museum tours of the gallery, face painting, an Easter egg hunt that was so popular they had to add more. Animal encounters, arts and crafts. One of the most popular events of them all was the dinosaur painting competition of the most recent dinosaur member of the museum family, ‘Cooper’ as he is commonly known, or Australotitan Cooperensis. Cooper can be found to the left of the entrance gates in his very own garden, an area still in construction and design.

Sandra Bennett (me) sitting under ‘Cooper’, Australotitan Cooperensis. He is so big he couldn’t fit in the photo.

Sandra Bennett (me) in the garden among the Australovenators.

Families could find me inside in the interactive area where I signed books, read from Fossil Frenzy and even sang a few songs to help entertain the little ones. A favourite photo opportunity also awaited families in this area with the giant dinosaur eggs where kids enjoyed hatching as their parents happily snapped away. This was a wonderful area for a little quiet time with the kids after the craziness of all the hectic activities outside. Families were able to relax and chat with me, then sit and cuddle with the kids on the lounges while they rested and listened to a story time session.

Reading from Fossil frenzy, the Adamson Adventures 3 at the National Dinosaur Museum. The dinosaur eggs behind me where kids loved playing and having their photo taken.

It is always wonderful to chat with enthusiastic readers and lovers of dinosaurs. I am always curious to here which dinosaur is a child’s favourite. Sometimes they even come up with a dinosaur name I am unfamiliar with. Then I turn it around when I mention my favourite, the Demon Duck of Doom. I love the surprised expression of kids faces when I describe the avian dinosaurs features.

Always grateful to meet families when reading from Fossil Frenzy the Adamson Adventures 3, at the National Dinosaur Museum.

The best feedback came when the Museum staff said my readings were so popular, that they asked me to add on an extra session before I finished. Naturally I love signing books too, and hearing that after my reading sessions kids were so intrigued they wanted to buy the book to read and find out what could possibly happen to Zac, Clare and Luke, my three sibling characters in Fossil Frenzy.

I am so grateful to have the support of such a dynamic team of staff at this wonderful museum. Thank you so much to everyone who made this a memorable day including all the wonderful families who chose to spend their Easter Saturday among the dinosaurs.

What Will You Choose to Read Aloud?

As an Australia Reads Ambassador I am proud to announce that Australian Reading Hour is coming very soon, in fact it’s on the 9th March!

While you can choose to read quietly to yourself, why not share the experience with a loved family member, friend, class or colleague. The time of day doesn’t really matter, it’s just a chance to stop and contemplate and hopefully help make reading a part of your daily routine.

What will you choose to read aloud?

Naturally your choice of book or other reading material will depend on your audience, that is, the person you choose to spend the hour reading with.

Below are a few options to help you on your way.

Babies

Board books are always great for little ones. They can’t do too much damage to the pages as they try to turn them every which way. Board books are also quick and easy for that short attention span.

They are often concept books to help bub explore and make sense of the world around them. Books on colours, shapes, farm animals, vehicles and transport, fruit and vegetables, the list goes on and on.

These often have only one word and picture to each page, but some may have several words and pictures for your little one to point to. This also helps make it more interactive as you discuss each picture on the page.

Toddlers

They still love their concept board books, but are sometimes ready for books that Jen Storer terms contories. Books with basic concepts but also include a bit of a story. For those of you who don’t know this marvellous women, Jen is an amazing author, coach and chief inspirationalist that runs the incredible writers group The Duck Pond.

One of my favourite board books that could be called a contory is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. With days of the week, food and the life cycle of a butterfly, you can’t go wrong.

Another favourite that I love reading and sharing, is Wibble Wobble, written by Jen Storer and Illustrated by Lisa Stewart. ‘Filled with the joyful moments of a toddler’s day as they discover and explore their world, this is a book guaranteed to become a firm family favourite.’

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle in board book format

Wibble Wobble by Jen Storer and Lisa Stewart

Pre-Schoolers

By the time your child is 3 - 5 years, they are ready for rhyming picture books. These are essential for the growth of language and comprehension. Rhyming picture books are ideal for learning about word play, patterns and prediction. As you read aloud with your pre-schooler, they can guess the rhyming word and ‘begin to read.’ The pictures often help these predictions as well.

‘Oi Frog!,’ written by Kes Gray and illustrated by Jim Field, is a great example of a simple rhyming picture book that pre-schoolers adore. Frog doesn’t want to sit on a log, and asks what other animals may sit on, such as cat sits on a mat, hares sit on chairs, mules sit on stools and gophers sit on sofas. My grandson loves to shout out the rhyming word as soon as I say the animal.

Oi Frog! by Kes Gray and Jim Field

The Early School Years

Kids 4 - 6 years are ready for prose picture books. Books with a story line, an over-aching problem to be resolved. They are still learning about the world around them but that world is beginning to expand outside of the home. There are so many delightful picture books written for this age, it would be difficult for me to name just one favourite.

Picture books can still be read to kids of all ages, especially 6 -8 and even up to 12 years. I have read picture books to classes from Kindergarten to year 6. With a little thought it is amazing what type of lesson and enjoyment you can find from a fun read aloud session.

Sometimes your reader may be looking for something non-fiction and there are picture books to cover these too. CSIRO Publishing have recently released some great picture books. ‘Swoop’ by Nicole Godwinand illustrated by Susannah Crispe is the story of why magpies swoop people during Spring. ‘Wonderful Wasps’ written by Katrina Germein and illustrated by Suzanne Houghton, explores the beauty of our Australian wasps and the significance they play in our environment.

Swoop by Nicole Godwin and Susannah Crispe

Wonderful Wasps By Katrina Germain and Suzanne Houghton

Middle School Readers

Kids by the age of 8 - 12years are becoming confident independent readers but that doesn’t mean you still can’t enjoy reading aloud with them. See my post last month 5 Great Reasons to Read Aloud with Your Tweens

They may still enjoy a good picture book, graphic novel or non-fiction picture book.

‘Camp Canberra’ by Krys Saclier, illustrated by Cathy Wilcox is a fabulous example of a picture book suitable for this age group. It tells the story of things and places to see in and around Canberra through the eyes of a fictional group of school children visiting Canberra on a class trip just like so many kids around Australia do every day.

Camp Canberra by Krys Saclier and Cathy Cox

There are also an abundance of junior fiction books out there with lots of black and white illustrations to help your reader along the way. The ‘Aussie Kids Collection,’ published by Penguin Random House Australia, are great early readers and ESL resources. Each book in the series tells the story of a child in one of the States of Australia and is written and illustrated by people who live in that area. For example, ‘Meet Matilda At the Festival,’ is set here in Canberra and written by Canberra author Jacqueline de rose-Ahernand illustrated by fellow Canberran Tania McCartney. But if you really want to expand their reading level, chapter books like my own Adamson Adventures without illustrations, will help extend their confidence to try lengthier, thicker middle-grade novels.

Aussie Kids, great early readers.

Novels such as ‘The Riddle of Tanglewood Manor,’ by Tracey Hawkins, is a wonderful time-slip adventure (just like Fossil Frenzy the Adamson Adventures 3), but in this story the children are taken only as far back as country NSW in 1920.

The Riddle of Tanglewood Manor by Tracey Hawkins

Fossil Frenzy the Adamson Adventures 3

Young Adult

By the time your children reach their teen years they are looking to explore many different genres. From Contemporary to Science Fiction, and Dystopian. Reading aloud with your teen allows you the opportunity to introduce a genre they may not have considered or a topic you might like to open for discussion.

One book I very much enjoyed was ‘Emergency Rescue Angel,; by Cate Whittle. It deals with the complications of life for a teenager after facing the tragedy of the sudden loss of his father who died trying to save the life of a local kid who was drowning in the surf. This book handles the topic gently and insightfully with a little help from a not so typical angel.

Emergency Rescue Angel by Cate Whittle

Above and Beyond YA.

Books can be shared and read aloud no matter the age. Whether in paper back or e-book format, fiction or non-fiction. You may even want to read aloud current affairs, history, science or even geography. The list is endless. You may even like to read to an elderly member of the family who has lost their sight or to someone in a nursing home.

Whatever you decide, I hope this list has been helpful and encourages you to take an hour sometime on the 9th March to read aloud with someone special in your life. There are also events happening around Australia that you may like to join. Check out the events in your local area at book shops, schools and libraries.

Here in the ACT there is Toddler Reading Time in Green Square Kingston, hosted by The Book Cow. Toddler Reading Time

If you prefer something online, ‘The Magic of Storytelling’ is being streamed live from the Sydney Opera House from 11:00 am. The Magic of Storytelling

What and who will you be reading with for an hour?

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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.

A New Year : A Time For Reflection.

With the beginning of a new year, many people I know, (particularly my author friends), start to reflect on the year that has been and the year that is emerging before them. It’s a time to consider past successes and mistakes and see what may be learned from those experiences. It’s also a time to set new goals for the year. I’m not one to dwell too much on the past or the future. I’ve learnt to live in the present, enjoy each day as it comes and to stop and smell the roses so to speak. That being said, my blogging buddies have decided to share their reflections this year, and so have I. At the bottom of this post you will find links to each of their thoughtful reflections. I hope you read theirs when you have finished reading mine and then perhaps spend a few moments on your own reflections.

My wish for you in 2023 is that it is a great chapter, full of love, laughter, adventure and good health.

How would you describe 2022 in one word?

That takes some thought. I’m not sure I chose a word at the beginning of 2022, and I’m still contemplating my word for 2023. On reflection last years word should probably have been Strength. I certainly needed a lot of that to see me through the year. Determination might have been another good word for 2022, or perhaps Focus which I have used in the past, but they all lead me to one specific word - Health.

For further explanation, I answer the following questions.

What was your biggest challenge last year? How did you overcome it? What life lessons did you learn from the experience that you will take with you in the new year?

This is where things get really personal. I’m a very private person. I don’t share my private life much on social media, but my biggest challenge last year was facing mine and my husbands health issues.

I started the year with my Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis, in shock, but determined to not let it defeat me. My health became my number one priority. I embarked on an exercise regime thanks to my amazing physiotherapist and the reading I did to learn more about this disease. I now structure my day around my daily walk, a Parkinson’s Boxing class and daily Tai chi or Quigong. When I feel I need a litle extra boost I add the exercises my physio gave me to the routine. These exercises were once a necessary daily activity, but with the improvement in my strength, balance and coordination, they are no longer needed, as long as I maintain the walking, boxing and tai chi and of course, my medication. I am fortunate in that I have worked so hard at this that my physio now says I am in better shape in my 50’s than many people in their 30’s, and I intend to keep it that way.

I can’t remember where I first read this, but it has become my mantra.

The other health issue that came as a major shock was the stroke my hubby then suffered in August. He was far more fortunate than most, in that he has recovered quickly, it was not as severe as it could have been. However his sight has been effected, and much to our frustration, we are still waiting for it to recover enough for him to have permission to drive again. As I have not driven for many years, this diagnosis has proven a difficult one for us to come to terms with. Living out of town, we require my son and his wife to drive us wherever we need to go. This is a limitation that we both sincerely hope will soon pass.

The biggest lesson to take from all this, is that your health is the most important thing to look after. Everything else is second to your health, and your family.

Describe your happiest day in 2022. What can you do to have more days like that?

Despite all we went through, there were many happy days, most of which centres around family. My eldest son, his wife and my grandson visited from Perth twice, and I visited them in December too. Being able to spend time with my grandchildren always makes me happy. It’s all the little moments that add up. The smiles, the cuddles, the love that surrounds us is more than I can ask for.

Hubby and I also had a wonderful holiday in Tasmania, (before he wasn’t allowed to drive). I had been planning a road trip to Tasmania as research for the setting of my 4th book in my Adamson Adventures. While I loved every minute we explored the Apple Isle, my happiest day there was waking to the blanket of snow that encompassed us at the lodge at Cradle Mountain. Snow is so peaceful, soft, gentle and quiet as it falls. It produces a magnificent winter wonderland upon the landscape. I adore being out in nature, and walking in the snow was a major highlight, although all the rainforest walks we did in Tassie were magnificent.

I am sure there will be many happy family days this year, especially with two of my grandchildren living right next door. I consider myself lucky to be able to see them every day. As for holidays and nature walks. I hope hubby’s eyesight will continue to improve so that one day soon, we may plan our next trip.

What do you regret doing - or not doing- last year that you plan to stop/start doing in the new year?

This quote has always resonated with me. It’s ok to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them.

As I said, I don’t dwell in the past, there is no point having regrets. We all learn from our mistakes, and move forward accordingly.. Our health and family will remain our priority.

I did plan on writing that fourth book once we were home from Tasmania, however that didn’t happen. My plan is to focus on it this year. So stay tuned, let’s see if I can get it done.

What are you most grateful for last year? What are you most excited about for this year?

I am most grateful that my hubby recovered quickly. It was a major scare, but he is ok, I still have him.

Finding time to write my MG novel and maybe even publish a picture book this year is exciting. I did manage to focus some time on a couple of PBs last year, one of which I believe is ready for publication. I submitted it to publishers last year, with not much success even though a manuscript assessment was very encouraging. Since then I have re-worked it even more to the point where I am excited to self publish it now and get it into the hands of little readers and their parents.

Even before my diagnosis, Michael J Fox has always been my hero. I couldn’t agree with him more, there is always so much to be grateful for.

I hope reading my reflections has encouraged you to do the same.

What has the past year taught you?

What do you have planned for 2023?

I would love to hear from you. Comments can be left below.

Don’t forget for more inspiration to read the posts from my friends. Links are below.

Julie Gorges

Rosie Russell

Rebecca Lyndsey

Carmela Dutra

Book Fairs and Market Stalls, Are they worthwhile?

The short answer : Absolutely.

The long answer : That depends on your goals and what you hope to achieve.

Let’s look at the Pros and Cons.

Pros.

1. You sell books.

2. More people are able to read your books.

3. You gain exposure as an author.

4. More photos to post on your socials.

5. You get to catch up in person with other author friends.

6. You make new author friends.

7. You make connections within the industry.

8. You can learn from how other authors promote themselves.

9. It’s great to meet and chat with book lovers about your books.

10. Lots of books for you to purchase too.

Sharing a stall with a friend helps reduce costs and gives you fabulous company to share the experience with. I shared my stall with the amazing Jacqueline De Rose-Ahern .

The Book Fair meant a great opportunity to have dinner and catch-up with wonderful author friends.

Cons.

1. The cost of your stall can vary for the type of event, from next to nothing to quite expensive.

2. You have to weigh up in your mind whether the cost is worth it.

3. You may not sell enough books to cover your costs.

4. If the event is not in your home town, you have added costs of travel and accommodation.

5. It’s hard to know how many books to take. Not enough and you may sell out before the end of the event. Too many and you may bring most of them back home.

6. Books are heavy to transport.

This weekend I attended the inaugural Book Fair Australia in Sydney at Sydney Olympic Park. I don’t live in Sydney, so this meant travel and two nights accommodation. Did I find it worthwhile? Yes. While I sold enough books to cover the price of my stall, I certainly didn’t cover the cost of accommodation. Did that matter? No. It was a great weekend away and a wonderful experience. I enjoyed a great girls weekend away catching up with friends I hadn’t seen in years because of Covid. Spending time with your tribe is so important to your mental health. I enjoyed talking to people as they wandered passed our stall and selling books was an added bonus. Meeting other authors and publishers was a fantastic networking opportunity and seeing the quality of printed books first hand is always helpful for future reference.

I had the opportunity to read a segment of Fossil Frenzy to kids in the children’s corner. It was a small group, but that meant I was able to engage with them personally. Connecting with kids is what being a children’s author is all about.

On Sunday afternoon I even joined the panel discussion on Engaging Curious Minds in Kidlit. I was both surprised and delighted when I read I had been selected to join the panel. I admit I was also somewhat nervous about the idea. But that didn’t last long once the discussion began, I relaxed into it and actually can say I enjoyed it. It was another marvellous opportunity to engage with my reading audience and their gatekeepers, their parents and carers.

Will I return next year? I haven’t decided yet. I would like to, but I need to consider my options. Perhaps market stalls closer to home where I don’t have travel and accommodation costs are better. However, as James Bond once said, ‘never say never.’

Our Panel Presenter was most excited to learn that I had written a middle grade adventure set in Indonesia that incorporated some Bahasa Indonesia for kids to learn.

Our Panel Presenter asked some thought-provoking questions on Engaging Curious Minds in Kidlit.

Have you ever appeared at a Book Fair or done market stalls?

Did you find it worthwhile?

Would you do it again?

Please let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear your opinion.