Thank you Tom Fletcher and Greg Abbott for sharing your creativity and imagination so that another book inspires children and adults to read. This book is interactive, well illustrated and just the best for Storytime sessions.
I love this book, and was very excited to read this to one of my baby storytime groups just recently where it was well received by all. In fact, the babies were so attentive to the book and I had never seen anything like it before for such an age group.
I was very excited to attend the book launch - or as the wonderful host said to the children - the book birthday of I Just Ate My Friend. I love being able to support Australian authors, whether it by purchasing their books or in this case attending my first book launch. The first thing I did was purchase myself the book and the staff asked if I would like it signed...Yes Please! I was delighted to have a quick chat with the author Heidi McKinnon, who is incredibly humble, lovely to speak to and will delight us with another book in the future...although she is not sure what it will be about yet.
How does anyone describe Ivy Pocket? Most people think she is quirky, despite being 12 she has the spirit of an old women, she's exasperating, constantly doing things that she doesn't realise she is doing, she is unaware of the baddies around her and people are constantly requesting that their home addresses are not revealed to Ivy. I find Ivy Pocket to be a bit of a train wreck, but inadvertently funny, endearing, imaginative and most importantly a heroine who like to share tall tales while unknowingly getting the job done.
"We are all different , as different as can be...But now look closer" and just like that I was engaged from start to finish, the author had captured my attention and imagination from the first page.
When I first started reading this book, I immediately thought Indiana Jones with a modern day twist. This fast paced adventure will engage your readers from ages 9 and above.
It wasn't until I been until I have been going through these books that I truly realised just how much my aunt supported my love of reading and literacy. From such a young age I was blessed by all the adults around me to be gifted so many books.
Each of these books are a little treasure trove of information and facts. As I turned each page I was quit excited what I found. Facts and activities that are engaging for children but also a scientific learning experience.
I see this book as a thing of beauty. You're probably asking why? Or maybe you see the beauty in it too. I see beauty in inclusiveness, in access for all, in all society having access to books. I love that the book is about cars, tractors, planes and helicopters just as books for seeing children would be.
In writing this book, Mem Fox called her book a "Rhythmic, loving, friendly Australian book, about all the people who have come here to make Australia the lovely place it is." I believe Mem has achieved this as she has captured the Australian spirit and more.
Little Big Reads 