Win stuff

The national summer reading club website has competitions for young readers of all ages. So all of you who live in Canberra have a chance to win cool stuff! We've posted a list ffo the competitions below along with quick links to them. Make sure you ask your mum or dad before you enter. Good luck!

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? (for primary school students)

Complete a story from author Paul Jennings and you could win a prize pack from Kings Comics. Click on this link to enter: http://www.summerreadingclub.org.au/level-2/what-happens-next-2/

WACKY FAIRY TALES (for primary school students) 

Submit your own fairy tale and you could win a book pack from Good Reading magazine. Click on this link to enter: http://www.summerreadingclub.org.au/level-2/wacky-fairytales/

BOOK RAVES (for all ages)

Submit a book rave – a few sentences about a great book - and you could win a book pack from The Book House, James Bennett, UQP or Penguin. Click on this link to enter: http://www.summerreadingclub.org.au/book-raves/

UPLOAD A PICTURE TO THE eGALLERY (for all ages)

Create a picture and upload to the website’s eGallery and you could win a subscription to Intrepica. Click on this link to upload a picture and enter: http://www.summerreadingclub.org.au/e-gallery/


LIBRARIES ACT COMPETITION

Libraries ACT also has a competition: All Libraries ACT Junior library members who use their library card to borrow from any branch of Libraries ACT in January will be automatically entered in the lucky draw to win a book prize pack.

The prize pack is worth $300 and includes: The Big Big Big Book of Tashi, several books from the Zac Power series, a Go Girl book, Star Wars DK readers, a Dr Seuss board book, two Babette Cole picture books, an audio book of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, and more. Terms and conditions (TP 11/05291) are available on the library website.

Amazing books to make you ... LAUGH

Looking for something to read that will make you laugh? Check out the books and authors below.

• The Big Fat Cow That Goes Kapow (and many other books) by Andy Griffiths
• Thai-riffic by Oliver Phommavanh
• Wacky Families (series) by Jackie French
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
• Don't Pat the Wombat! by Elizabeth Honey
• Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (and others in the series) by Mo Willems
• The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
• Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
• Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr Seuss
• Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
• Little Pea and Duck! Rabbit by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
• I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

Tell us what you think about these books by posting a comment, or review your own favourite funny book. What books and authors make you laugh?

Chat online with author Oliver Phommavanh

Have you ever had to deal with the everyday pressures of life? What about an embarassing family? Join favourite children's author Oliver Phommavanh for an entertaining insight into his journey through the world of writing.

Oliver will be online for an hour to share stories about his well-known books and helpful hints and tips for budding young writers. There will also be an opportunity for participants to ask any burning questions they have. Recommended for ages 10+.

Oliver comes from a Thai/Laotian background ... He loves video games, comic books and collecting toys. Sonic The Hedgehog is his hero, with Mario a close second ...Oliver has never really grown up, so it’s lucky that he’s a children’s author, writing funny stories that everyone can relate to.

Join other Canberra booklovers at the library to listen to Oliver and ask him questions.

Tuesday 17 January
3.00 pm - 4.00 pm
Belconnen Library

Bookings essential.

Visit Oliver's website: http://www.oliverwriter.com/

Advice from Isobelle Carmody

Author Isobelle Carmody has shared some advice with young writers and readers about:

• Getting inspiration for writing
• Reading and writing different types of books
• How being observant can help your writing

Visit the national Summer Reading Club website to read the blogs.

Writing workshop with author Pat Flynn

Join author Pat Flynn to learn about writing and try your hand at writing a short story.

 

For kids 7 - 9 years

• Thursday 12 January from 10.30 am - 11.30 am at Dickson Library
• Friday 13 January from 2.00 pm - 3.00 pm at Civic Library

 

For kids 10 - 12 years

• Thursday 12 January from 2.00 pm - 3.00 pm at Kippax Library
• Friday 13 January from 10.30 am - 11.30 am at Woden Library

 

Who is Pat Flynn?

 

Pat Flynn grew up running around an old dairy farm in Queensland before moving to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra on a tennis scholarship. After playing and coaching on the professional circuit he became a teacher, where his observations of young people – their interests and stories – led to him writing a series about a teenage skateboarder named Alex Jackson.

 

Pat now writes full time and lives on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. To the Light was shortlisted for the 2006 CBCA Book Awards, and The Tuckshop Kid received an Honour Book prize in the 2007 Awards, as well as being shortlisted for the QLD Premier’s Award. Flynn’s YA novel The Line Formation was released in America in 2008 (titled Out of his League), making the PSLA top forty list of 2009.

 

Pat likes to start the day with a surf and end it playing tennis with his wife and son. His latest books include the Adventures of Danny series, How to Get Dumped and The Toilet Kid.

 

Visit Pat Flynn's website: http://www.patflynnwriter.com/

Download things to do

Visit the national Summer Reading Club website to where you can download an activity booklet full of things to do. Booklets are available for three different age groups:

• Preschool
• Primary school
• Secondary school

Take part in our school holiday activities

Our January school holiday activities are now taking bookings and there's lots of fun to be had. If you'd like to take part, you will need to book a place.

Here are some of the great activities available:

• Come along to a performance from award-winning musician Andy Mason
• Watch the Going Ballistics science show
• Listen to author Oliver Phommavanh – through the power of the Internet, Oliver will talk to kids aged 10+ at a number of libraries around Australia, and they will be able to ask questions
• Watch a movie screening of The Secret of Moonacre then ask questions of one of its producers, Monica Penders.
•  Write a story with author Pat Flynn – Pat was shortlisted in the 2011 COOL Awards (Canberra’s children’s choice book awards) for his book The Tuckshop Kid
•  Create a memory of your holidays in a scrapbooking
• Draw cartoons at our beginners workshop with local cartoonist Andrew Hore
• Join puppeteer Marianne Mettes for her very popular PuppetOOdle puppet show, as well as a puppet manipulation workshop, and a paper puppet making workshop
• Meet a marine biologist and learn about sea creatures

Click here for a full list of activities and to book a place.