Episode 6 - Literary Legends
After completing a teaching degree, Deb went to Africa where she was caught in a desert sandstorm, harassed by monkeys and thrown in jail…twice! She produced and wrote a national kids’ TV show before leaving to write 25 books for children, including the Max Remy Superspy and Jasper Zammit (Soccer Legend) series. Her crankiness about climate change led to the novels, Grimsdon and New City, while Teresa - A New Australian, was inspired by her dad, who, with a million other refugees, made the journey to Australia after surviving the devastation of WW2. The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee and sequel, The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery, were inspired by her love of words and her first picture book is Wolfie, An Unlikely Hero. Deb’s won awards for her work, including a USA IBBY Outstanding International Book Award and the 2013 Maurice Saxby Award for services to Children's Literature. She was a KOALA legend in 2017 with Grimsdon shortlisted for the 4th time, and her novel Teresa - A New Australian was shortlisted for the Western Australia Young Book Readers Awards plus won the best book in translation award in Malta. The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee was also shortlisted for the Aust. Family Therapists Awards. She is a proud ambassador for Room to Read and Books in Homes but mostly hopes to be as brave as her characters.
Find Deb online at:
Website: www.deborahabela.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/deborah.abela.9
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DeborahAbela
Instagram: www.instagram.com/deborah_abela_/
Just when India Wimple’s life is returning to normal after competing in the Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee, she’s invited to London for an international spelling showdown. But how can she go without her family? The Yungabilla community might have a solution!
In London, India is reunited with her friends Rajish and Summer. They meet new spellers, and are invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen.
But there is skulduggery afoot, with a series of mysterious mishaps. There is even talk of cancelling the competition altogether.
India and her friends are determined to find out who the culprit is and get the spelling bee back on track.
There are words to be spelled, nerves to be overcome, and a champion to be found!
The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery can be found at:
www.penguin.com.au/books/the-most-marvellous-spelling-bee-mystery-9780143786689
The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee can be found at:
www.penguin.com.au/books/the-stupendously-spectacular-spelling-bee-9781925324822
More books by Deb Abela include...
TERESA - A NEW AUSTRALIAN
GRIMSDON
WOLFIE
AN UNLIKELY HERO
Kids Capers Guest Reviewers
Indahly reviews Hating Alison Ashley by Robin Klein
(Liz's book choice)
Find the book at
https://www.penguin.com.au/books/hating-alison-ashley-9780140316728
Find more about Indahly at
https://www.starnow.com.au/profile/?m_id=3934119
Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/indahlystube
Instagram:
Charlee Rose reviews Thunderwith by Libby Hathorn
(Kate's book choice)
Find the book at
https://www.hachette.com.au/libby-hathorn/thunderwith
Find more about Charlee Rose at
https://www.starnow.com.au/profile/?m_id=4145708
Casting Networks:
https://cni.au.castingnetworks.com/profile/01d6d8fa-941d-4e49-9344-34741117155a
TCM Agency:
https://www.tcmagency.com.au/charlee-rose-murtough-coombes
Jade reviews Space Demons by Gillian Rubinstein
(Nat's book choice)
Find the book at
http://www.gillianrubinstein.com/novels.html
Find more about Jade at
https://www.starnow.com.au/profile/?m_id=4418969
Whatcha Readin?
Kate recommends Break Your Chains: The Freedom Fighters by Emily Conolan.
Liz recommends Go Go and the Silver Shoes written by Jane Godwin and illustrated by Anna Walker
https://www.penguin.com.au/books/go-go-and-the-silver-shoes-9780143785521
Nat recommends Friday Barnes: Never Fear by R.A Spratt
https://www.penguin.com.au/books/friday-barnes-8-never-fear-9780143784203
Shout outs
On this episode, we give a shout out to The Readings Children's Book Prize...
https://www.readings.com.au/the-readings-children-s-book-prize
The 2018 Readings Children’s Book Prize Shortlist:
Tarin of the Mammoths: The Exile by Jo Sandhu
Nevermoor: The Trial of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
Lintang and the Pirate Queen by Tamara Moss
The Boy, the Bird and the Coffin Maker by Matilda Woods
The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone by Jaclyn Moriarty
Home Time by Campbell Whyte
On Our Radar
ABOUT THE COMPETITION:
The team at Wombat Books are seeking original illustrations from Australian school-aged students (aged 5 - 18) to publish in a unique picture book. This challenge has been established in order to provide aspiring young illustrators with the opportunity to be published in a professionally produced children's book and gain an introduction into the world of illustrating.
Winning illustrations will be published in the book titled Around Australia in 30 Places which is due for release in 2019. Illustrators will receive two free copies of the book and a $50 voucher to spend at Wombat Books on other titles. They will be acknowledged on the Wombat Books website as a rising illustrator.
Find out more at:
https://www.wombatbooks.com.au/competitions
Nat also gave a shout out to Creative Kids Tales, which features monthly author interviews with both established and emerging creators, writing tips, competitions and insights into the publishing world. Check them out at: https://www.creativekidstales.com.au/
Competition Details
Head to our WIN page and let us know in 25 words or less who your favourite
legendary Australian author is and why. Enter your answer (or ask a parent to) by 5pm Tuesday 1st May 2018, and we’ll choose our
favourite. The prize includes all six of the shortlisted titles for this year’s Readings Children's Book Prize.
Thanks
A special thank you to illustrator Marianne Khoo for designing the One More Page podcast logo and other associated images.
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