Norah Colvin

Live Love Laugh Learn … Create the possibilities

Tag: children’s picture books

  • Two new books by Norah Colvin for Library For All

    Two new books by Norah Colvin for Library For All

    Earlier this month I was excited to receive copies of two new Library For All publications in the mail, especially when they were books written by me! The books are two versions of the same text, one in English, A Fast Car, and the other in Swahili Gari Linaloenda Haraka.

    I have now contributed over twenty books to the Library For All collection, with five published in languages other than English, including Gari Linaloenda Haraka (A Fast Car in Swahili), I maamaeka iaa? (Where Do I live? in the language of Kiribati) and Ami-nia Jardin Arkuiris (Our Rainbow Garden in Tetum, the language of Timor-Leste). Where Do I Live? and What Do They Give Us? are also published in Burmese and Vietnamese. Of course, I am delighted to be able to contribute to the wonderful work of Library For All in this way and support the development of literacy worldwide.

    About Library For All

    From their website:

    “We believe everyone should have access to stories that reflect their world—and see the potential in new ones. Alongside our local and global partners, we develop, publish and deliver culturally relevant books for children and young readers, breaking barriers where access to learning resources is limited.”

    “We’re passionate about building partnerships to ensure knowledge accessible to all, equally.

    From offline locations in Papua New Guinea, to remote communities in Ethiopia and crisis areas in Ukraine, Library For All is already supporting more than 560,000 children on their learning journey.

    One study revealed that children reading with us could recognise 71% more words than their peers.”

    Tetum, an Austronesian language spoken on the island of Timor that is an official language of

    Accessing the Library For All collection

    While the entire collection of digital books is available to download free from Library For All through a free app, the purchase of printed books from the collection helps to support the work of Library For All. You can find all the books and access the apps for both Android and Apple in their website shop here.

    My books can be found on my Amazon Author page.

    Enjoy exploring the Library For All collection.

    Best wishes,

    Norah

  • 2021 — a Year of Books and Reading – #readilearn

    2021 — a Year of Books and Reading – #readilearn

    Books and reading are two of my favourite things. Or should they be combined into just one favourite thing? If so, it’s a mammoth favourite thing.

    I have loved books and reading for as long as I can remember and turning others on to a love of books and reading gives me great joy. Finding that joy is one of the reasons I interview authors and illustrators and review their books. I hope my interviews and reviews have encouraged you to read some of the beautiful books I’ve brought to you this year.

    Just in case you may have forgotten some of them and are thinking of last minute gifts for those young children in your lives, look no further. Books make great presents for persons of any age, and any of these books will give long-lasting pleasure.

    I this post, I remind you of the books I’ve reviewed and authors and illustrators I’ve interviewed throughout the year. It’s been a bumper year. Just follow the link to find out more about a book you are interested in.

    January

    We’re All in This Together by Skye Hughes and Alice Coates

    School friends – Kiana, Amin, Roshan, Casey, Ming, and Tyler all have one thing in common — they can’t go to school. The world changed very quickly and now they have to stay home to keep themselves and their families and friends safe. They discover that even apart, they can find new and fun ways to be together.

    Go Away, Worry Monster by Brooke Graham and Robin Tatlow-Lord

    Worry Monster loves ‘helping’ Archie worry, especially on the night before he starts at a new school. Archie feels so anxious that his head hurts, his tummy flutters and his heart pounds. He soon realizes that the only way to feel better is to make Worry Monster go away. He does his belly breaths and challenges his inner fears by facing facts, and Worry Monster is forced to leave Archie alone! Go Away, Worry Monster! gives children useful strategies to cope with their anxieties and stress, showing them how to make their own Worry Monsters leave, even in highly stressful times.

    Continue reading: 2021 — a Year of Books and Reading – readilearn

  • Interview with Jacqui Halpin author of Where’s Lucky? – readilearn

    Interview with Jacqui Halpin author of Where’s Lucky? – readilearn

    This week it is my great pleasure to welcome author Jacqui Halpin back to the blog. In this interview, Jacqui talks with us about her recently published picture book Where’s Lucky, the story of an orphaned joey and his road to recovery and release.

    We previously met Jacqui in 2018 when she discussed her first picture book Parmesan, the Reluctant Racehorse. As we talked with Jacqui in that interview about her writing process, today we focus our discussion on her new book Where’s Lucky?

    About Jacqui

    Jacqui Halpin’s passion for children’s literature started when reading bedtime stories to her children. They outgrew their childhood books, but Jacqui never did. Jacqui writes picture books, junior fiction and middle-grade fiction. Her short stories appear in anthologies by Stringybark Publishing, Creative Kids Tales, and The School Magazine.

    Her first picture book, Parmesan, the Reluctant Racehorse, illustrated by John Phillips, was published by Little Pink Dog Books in October 2017.

    Where’s Lucky?, illustrated by Sandra Severgnini and published in April 2019, is her second picture book with Little Pink Dog Books.

    While writing and editing, Jacqui loves to sip tea from fine china and eat copious amounts of chocolate. She also has a love of bookshops and should never be allowed to enter the children’s book section with a credit card in her possession.

    About Lucky

    Lucky, the orphaned swamp wallaby, has a knack for getting into mischief at the wildlife rescue shelter where he lives.

    Continue reading: Interview with Jacqui Halpin author of Where’s Lucky? – readilearn

  • Five of the best

    Children's books tag

    Warning! I’ve been tagged. It can be contagious.

    Kids’ Storyworld tagged me and asked me to join in. I don’t normally do this but I’m making an exception. How could I not – it’s about children’s books.

    I’m required to nominate my top five children’s books, then nominate another five people to join in!

    Rules:

    1. Thank whoever’s nominated you and share their blog link.
    2. Let us know your top 5 children’s books
    3. Nominate 5 people to do the same
    4. Let your nominees know you nominated them

    Right, let’s get to it.

    1. Thank you, Kids’ Storyworld.
    2. Top 5 children’s books. Now this is going to be hard. Only five! But you know, when I interview authors and illustrators for the readilearn interview series, I ask them for just one favourite. Five has to be easier, right; so, I can’t complain.

    These are five of my favourite children’s books

    The BFG by Roald Dahl

    The BFG by Roald Dahl – I love the humour, and love to read it aloud to children. It is such fun.

    The Iron Man Ted Hughes

    The Iron Man by Ted Hughes – I love the poetry of language and the way the story builds. It is also a perfect read aloud.

    Whoever You Are Mem Fox

    Whoever You Are by Mem Fox – I love the message: although we are diverse we share a common humanity.

    One Less Fish Kim Michelle Toft

    One Less Fish by Kim Michelle Toft – This was the first of Kim’s books I read. I love the message about protecting the natural environment and adore her silk paintings that illustrate the book.

    Heidi Johanna SpyriInside Heidi by Johanna Spyri

    Heidi by Johanna Spyri – I received a beautiful illustrated edition of this book from Santa (inscribed by my Mum) when I was nine years old. I remember waking up to find it at the foot of my bed and watching the title and cover picture appear as day dawned. I read and re-read it. I still own it. It has to be on my list, doesn’t it?

    Do I really have to stop at five?

    1. Nominating five people to share their favourite five children’s books is fairly easy. I know many who write about children’s books, though some of them have already been nominated, so I can’t nominate them again.

    You are invited

    Maybe you don’t write about children’s books but would like to share your favourites anyway. Please consider this invitation inclusion. If you would like to join in, please do.

    Alternatively, if you are one of the people I nominate, and you’d rather not join in, or have already been nominated, it’s okay to decline.

    Here are my five:

    Robbie Cheadle blogs at Robbie’s Inspiration and writes the Sir Chocolate Books. I wonder if she’ll nominate her own books. Why not?

    Patricia Tilton blogs at Children’s Books Heal where she reviews picture books that she believes will help children through tough times. Patricia reads so widely, I think she’ll have more trouble than I with this one. (Sorry, Patricia.)

    Vanessa Ryan blogs at Educate.Empower and especially promotes books about the environment and sustainability. I wonder if Vanessa’s choices will reflect those interests.

    Jennie Fitskee blogs at A Teacher’s Reflections with inspirational posts about educating young children. She often shares books she reads aloud with her little ones. What will she share with us?

    Mary Wade blogs at HonorsGradU sharing a lot of good sense and great ideas for teachers and parents. I’m interested to see what will influence her book choices.

    1. I’ll definitely let the nominees know they’ve been tagged.

    Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.