{"id":211641,"date":"2022-09-06T07:15:20","date_gmt":"2022-09-05T21:15:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teachershub.com.au\/?p=211641"},"modified":"2022-09-05T14:18:12","modified_gmt":"2022-09-05T04:18:12","slug":"a-little-bit-exciting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teachershub.com.au\/a-little-bit-exciting\/","title":{"rendered":"A Little Bit Exciting"},"content":{"rendered":"
One of the most exciting parts of working in publishing is seeing a book grow from an idea into a physical object on the shelves of a bookshop. Watching a book idea develop into a manuscript, acquire illustrations and a cover, and finally become a tangible object will never cease to be thrilling to me. And, sometimes, you witness this evolution for books and series that you just know<\/em> teachers, librarians and children will adore. This month I am privileged to introduce to you just a few books that fall into this category \u2013 and don\u2019t forget to subscribe to our newsletter using the form at the bottom of the page to discover more of what’s new this month.<\/p>\n <\/a>Be Careful, Xiao Xin!<\/a><\/em> is a bilingual picture book from award-winning author Alice Pung, and illustrator Sher Rill Ng. This beautiful book examines many of the challenges faced by the children of migrants, particularly those whose families migrated after experiencing violence and trauma. Xiao Xin is so used to being told to be careful (xiao xin) by his Chinese-speaking family, that he now thinks it\u2019s his name. However, he knows that deep down he is not Xiao Xin, but really the Red Fire Warrior, who is capable of great things and doesn\u2019t need other people to watch over him. Told in both Chinese and English and accompanied by stunning illustrations which depict Xiao Xin\u2019s growing confidence and his family\u2019s very real fears, this book deserves a place in every classroom and library. Classroom resources are coming soon.<\/p>\n <\/a>Matt Stanton is famous for his ability to create books that kids find hilariously entertaining, and when reading the opening chapters of Bored: Frog\u2019s Mystery Twin<\/em><\/a>, I laughed so hard I had tears streaming down my face! (I would put money on your students \u2013 and you too \u2013 enjoying the same fate if you read it to them.) While Stanton\u2019s Bored series entertains and delights children, it also does an amazing job of exploring the moral conundrums that children face and must figure out on their own \u2013 with a little help from their friends. In this book, Frog, who we first met in Bored: Milo Finds $105<\/em>, is working out how to both be himself and fit in when he\u2019s the new kid at school. One of the brilliant things about the Bored series is that while we go along for the ride as characters learn important things about themselves and how the world works, it never feels didactic or moralistic; it\u2019s just a great read!<\/p>\n <\/a>On a light-hearted note, the Crayons are back with The Crayons Trick or Treat<\/em><\/a>. In this episode, it\u2019s Halloween, and while the Crayons are suitably attired in costumes, they can\u2019t quite get the hang of trick or treat! One after the other they knock at the door, but things don\u2019t quite go according to plan. Orange\u2019s attempt could best be described as a hold-up, while Green confuses his holidays, and White gets a little carried away with his costume. This is enormous fun and is sure to inspire some original Halloween costumes.<\/p>\n Book of the Month \u2013 Life Admin Hacks<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n What many people don\u2019t know is that my guilty reading pleasure is self-help books. Not just any self-help books, however; I\u2019m quite specific in my needs. What I\u2019m after is a book that magically helps me to get through all the business of \u2018adulting\u2019 with absolutely no effort on my part! Obviously, no such book exists, but Life Admin Hacks<\/em><\/a>, which is inspired by the Life Admin Life Hacks podcast, is the closest thing I\u2019ve ever come across.<\/p>\n