SYDNEY WRITERS FESTIVAL

I can't make any of the sessions at the Sydney Writers' Festival this year but if I could, it would be this one. May22 Children's Literature for Adults. Visiting international publishers Sara Odedina and John McLay are joined by acclaimed fiction writer Margo Lanagan to discuss the increasing adult market for children's books.

To find this market is growing and gaining recognition doesn't surprise me. Although it's only natural as a children's author I am surrounded by adults who read children's literature, I have also been sneaking my favourite children's books into my friend reading stacks without them realising. Often they get offended if I am am caught (I'm not reading a children's book! they say)but so often, they can't tell the difference. Not a hope if it's YA and often not for certain junior books as well! And who could ever argue The Chronicle of Narnia were children's books only for kids!

So I thought I would make a list of my personal favourite children's books I think adults will enjoy. In no order. Just my favourite five.

1 The Chronicles of Narnia series - C S Lewis

2 The Tale of Despereaux - Kate DiCamillo

3 The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series - Michelle Paver

4 A Certain Music - Celeste Walters

5 The Dragonkeeper series - Carole Wilkinson

TOP 5 BOOKS ABOUT... MICE

I really like animal stories and it seems there are more around lately after years of being the 'no go' subject. As an aspiring writer I lost count of how many times I was advised 'No animal stories. Editors don't want them.' But I love a good animal fantasy - fashionable or not. And I am pleased to see them making their way back into vogue. Especially as I am working on one now.

Suprisingly, a lot of my favourites star mice. Mice are an ethical dilemma in our house. Two family members have reptile keeping licences and we all know what snakes eat... All qualms aside, here are my favourite mouse books.

1. The Tale of Despereaux - Kate DiCamillo
2. The Gruffalo - Julia Donaldson
3. The Redwall series - Brian Jacques
4. Stuart Little - E B White
5. Library Mouse - Daniel Kirk

and no, I'm not writing about a mouse *grin*

Does anyone have a favourite mouse book to add?

MAGICIAN'S ELEPHANT MAGIC

I love my new The Magician's Elephant widget!

Sometimes I wonder who reads my blog. Sometimes I wonder if magic is true. Well, last night magic happened. Right here. To me.

Friday night I blogged about how I wished I had The Magician's Elephant widget. A real live magician, moonlighting at Candlewick Press, waved a wand and there it was in my Inbox on Saturday morning. Thank you Andrea.

And now it's my turn to work a little magic. Abracadabra! There it is in my sidebar for all to enjoy.

NEWSFLASH: KATE DICAMILLLO

This just in from Publishers Weekly:

Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo’s eagerly awaited new novel, The Magician’s Elephant (Candlewick, Sept.), illustrated by Yoko Tanaka, continues to move forward. This week Candlewick revealed the cover art and announced a hefty first printing of 500,000 copies for the 208-page fable, in which a boy who learns from a fortuneteller that not only is his sister alive but an elephant will take him to her.

As part of the promotion, says Laura Rivas, manager of marketing, publicity and events at Candlewick, the company created a widget of the first chapter of The Magician’s Elephant, which booksellers can place on their Web sites.....

To date, five co-editions have been lined up for an international laydown date of September 8.

And my reaction

1. I can't wait. Never could.


2. I love the cover.


3. I've got to get one of those widgets!


4. 'Laydown date of September 8'? Not sure what that means - but if that's the day I can get my hands on a copy I'll lay down in front of any bookstore!