Discovering new stories
The places I go (IRL) to discover new releases, creative writing tutorials from Story Box Hub, and a few books I'm currently diving into.
Always browsing bookshelves
I read a lot, but I am also quite fussy about what I read. I really wish I was one of those people who could devour anything and everything. I do try lots of different books, and am open to giving almost anything a chance, but over the years I seem to have become more picky about what sticks.
What that means is that I seek out a lot more reading material than I eventually end up finishing. I often have a very large to-be-read pile, which I whittle down after careful consideration. But where do I find these books?
There are many online places I go to read blurbs, reviews, and suggested reading lists, but I’ll leave those for a future newsletter. For now, I’ll share some of my real world book haunts—the places I spend hours browsing bookshelves, hunting for new reads.
#1 My public library(ies)
I am a member of more library branches that I care to admit, and usually max out my loans at each. Sometimes I worry all the librarian’s must hate me, because I’m in and out the door several times a week, borrowing and returning and reserving. At least I never (or hardly ever…) have any overdues. The librarian in me wouldn’t allow it.
In great news, my current local library is by far the best I’ve ever used. Your Library (previously Eastern Regional) includes thirteen libraries and four reading rooms, and I’ve never requested a book they don’t already have, including those that aren’t due to be published for months. They are really on top of things.
For an over-particular reader like me, libraries are the best way to make sure I’m not spending too much money on a book that I won’t actually end up reading. And when I do find something that I really love, I usually end up buying myself a copy to keep anyway (see #3 on this list).
#2 Op shops
I’ve always been more interested in new releases, so op shops weren’t my first choice for digging for reading material. That was, until I had a baby. What I’ve realised is that people recycle their kids’ books with less hesitation than their adults books, and I’ve found op shops teeming with good quality and reasonably current children’s literature. One of my best ever finds was a brand new copy of Before & After by Jean Jullien. Op shopping for picture books has been a really fun way to discover new things that I may not have come across anywhere else. And it has kicked off my strange addiction to collecting these little 1990s Five Mile Press board books:
#3 Local bookshops
We are lucky to have some great independent kids’ bookshops here in Melbourne, including two of my absolute favourites, Readings Kids (Carlton) and The Kids’ Bookshop (Mitcham). Both of these shops have knowledgeable, friendly staff that can make great recommendations and track down whatever you need. They’ll also leave you alone to browse quietly if that’s what you’re looking for. (Nothing worse than a hovering salesperson when you just want to peruse in peace!)
I am speaking with a bit of bias here, because I worked at The Kids’ Bookshop for over a year, bringing along my baby for most of it, and I still do the odd shift (I’ll be there all day on 20 + 21 September!) which is so much fun. Erin Wamala, who owns the shop, is one of the most well-read and passionate people in the biz.
Readings Kids is a treasure trove, and also the very special spot where I launched my debut novel back in 2022. I head there any chance I get and have to be careful not to spend my life savings on their wonderful selection.
And, while we’re talking about it, I’ll flag that in the latest Readings Monthly, I read that they’re currently running a competition for a primary school to win a visit with our wonderful Australian Children’s Laureate, Sally Rippin. Entries close on 6 October, and more information is available in any of their stores.
This year I also visited Paper Bird in Fremantle, Western Australia for the first time. I know this place won’t need any introduction for you WA readers, but it absolutely blew me away. I purchased two great books when I was there: the board book version of We All Sleep by mother-and-son team Ezekiel Kwaymullina and Sally Morgan, and A Mother Is a House by Aurore Petit, which I’d never seen before, and ended up buying extra copies for basically every mother I know. If you’re an east-coaster who is ever out west, Paper Bird is well-worth visiting. In fact, I almost think it’s worth the trip to Perth!
I always try to shop local and independent where possible, and do my best to avoid Amazon etc., but in terms of bigger shops in Australia, I also love Kinokunyia in Sydney for more unusual and international book selections. And I can’t go past a really big Dymocks where you can get a bit lost. (I recently discovered the bargain floor at Dymocks on Collins Street and spent wayyy too much money on discounted picture books.)
Love Your Bookshop Day is actually coming up soon on 12 October. Not that you should need any excuse to browse and buy new books, but this is a good one! The theme for 2024 is Giving the Gift of Imagination, celebrating the crucial role bookshops play in inspiring our imagination.
What other great children’s bookshops exist in Australia (or beyond?) that are perfect for discovering something new? Please share below!
Story Tools
I really loved being involved in the first iteration of Story Tools, and I just jumped on their website and realised that they’ve now got three series worth of resources!
Created by StoryBox Hub (formerly Story Box Library), Story Tools is a creative writing toolkit aimed at middle and upper primary students. The video tutorials and classroom resources are really fun and snappy, and great for teachers with limited time to create engaging content for this area of the curriculum.
Story Tools is something that could also be used in a writing club, public library, or even just at home. It’s a resource I would use in my school library for encouraging kids to write something for a local competition.
We've banished boring resources! Designed to meet kids where they're at, you'll be amazed at how much their confidence grows.
I’m in lesson #8 and #12 in series one, which are about genre and storytelling. Some of the other topics include story building, writing characters, and hooking your reader.
For the record, although I did some filming for the series, this is not a sponsored post in any way, just a genuine review of something that might come in handy for any budding young writers in your care. If you’re intrigued, StoryBox Hub offers a free trial for all educators and parents.
What I’m currently reading
I’m still yet to put my finger on exactly what kinds of books hook my one-year-old. Sometimes I pick out something that I’m sure she’ll love, and she barely casts her eye over it. Others that I’m fairly sure are too old, too complex, or just not quite right, she forces me to read to her multiple times a day. A new picture book by Briony Stewart that I recently reviewed for Books + Publishing, is one I was sure would fit into the “too old” category. It’s aimed at kids who are losing their first teeth, and my daughter is still growing hers. But for whatever reason, it’s a hit!
Find out everything there is to know about the magical (and sometimes just a little bit gross) world of the tooth fairy!
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (And Some Things You Didn't) is a detailed and playful story that gets to the bottom of the mystery of the tooth fairy. It’s wonderfully inclusive and thoughtful, and lots of fun. And on high rotation in our house this week!
Another one that is for kids aged 3-7, but seems to be dragged into my lap by tiny toddler fingers every day at the moment, is Magic Counting by Nabeel Khan. This is a unique counting book that asks: What if the way that we traditionally teach kids how to count misses the clear connections between numbers, shapes, and the world around them?
I really love this one. The fun facts are beautifully illustrated by Tete Garcia, and I feel like I also learnt a lot along the way. This would make such a nice gift for a maths-loving child in your life.
Finally, I’m very excited to see that Patrick Ness is coming to Melbourne in November this year! His latest book and his first foray into middle grade fiction, Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody (illustrated by Tim Miller), has just come out, and is filled with warmth, humour and spark. Everything you’d expect from a giant in the field.
There is so much to love in the story – what do you hope for your middle-grade readers to take away with them when reading this book?
I never like to write lessons. All I ever hope is that they can see themselves in a story or get a better understanding of why people act the way they do. Ending loneliness is the most powerful thing a book can do.
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is energetic and creative and heartfelt, covering important topics like mental illness and disability, while also being laugh-out-loud funny and at times, wonderfully silly. I guarantee that you and all the middle graders you know will be cackling from the first page. Read an excerpt here.
There are great teacher notes available here, and an interview with Patrick Ness here.
Get in touch!
Is there a topic you’d like me to cover in a future newsletter? Get in touch at karysmcewen@gmail.com and I’ll see what I can do!
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