books for girls Archives - Allison Tait Author

WIN a $100 voucher to buy books

by Allison Tait | Jun 14, 2023 | Blog, Reading, Your Kid's Next Read

Would you like $100AUD to spend on books?

The team from Your Kid’s Next Read is currently offering you the chance to win a $100AUD gift voucher to your local bookstore of choice or to your favourite online bookseller. (YKNR is an international community so we wanted to give everyone a chance to win!)

All you have to do for your chance to win the book voucher is to fill out this short survey.

There are just 12 questions, so it won’t take long, and it’s about finding out what our community loves about Your Kid’s Next Read, and what our members would like to see more of.

Your Kid’s Next Read is now a:

• Facebook community

• Podcast

• Newsletter

You can read our origin story here.

And take the survey to help us bring you more of what you’d like to know here. Everyone who completes the survey has a chance to win the voucher. Full T&C below.

The survey closes at 5pm on Thursday 15 June, 2023, so get in quick!

Good luck – we look forward to hearing from you!

Are you new here? Welcome to my blog! I’m Allison Tait, aka A.L. Tait, and I’m the author of middle-grade series, The Mapmaker Chronicles, The Ateban Cipher, and the Maven & Reeve Mysteries. You can find out more about me here, and more about my books here.

If you’re looking for book recommendations for young readers, join the Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook community, and tune in to the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast!

*T&C: Entry is open to members of the Your Kid’s Next Read (YKNR) community worldwide who complete the Your Kid’s Next Read survey and is valid for one prize winner. Entries open at 6am (AEST) 1 June 2023 and close on Thursday 15 June 2023 at 5pm (AEST). Winner will be chosen by the YKNR admin team, based on creativity, and no correspondence will be entered into. This is a game of skill with entries judged on originality. Winner will be announced in the YKNR community on 19 June and invited to nominate their bookseller of choice. Voucher will be delivered via email as soon as possible after bookseller nomination received. Prize cannot be exchanged for cash. No contents of the prize pack may be exchanged for cash. If a winner is unable to be contacted or does not claim their prize within 14 days, the prize will be forfeited. In the event of forfeiture a further draw will be conducted within 14 days and a new winner will be selected.

Why history matters – and how stories keep it alive for kids

by Allison Tait | May 4, 2023 | Reading, Your Kid's Next Read

Talk to kids about history and you can often watch their eyes glaze over in real time as they consider facts, figures and dates.

But mention historical fiction? Then you get a very different response.

You only need to scroll through the Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook community to see how interested young readers are in reading stories set in the past. And one of the most popular settings is the Second World War.

From Morris Gleitzman’s Once series to Katrina Nannestad’s most recent work Waiting For The Storks via a wide range of titles in between (see this excellent list for more), there seems to be a thirst for knowledge about this time period.

And, frankly, my guest author today couldn’t be happier about that.

Catherine Baeur is a journalist and writer from South Australia, whose latest novel Tulips For Breakfast, is set in Amsterdam during the Second World War. Her parents were both great story tellers and among her favourites, her father’s wonderful retellings about finding joy in small things, his enthralling adventures and often hardships of a childhood growing up in WWII Germany.

Those stories were part of the inspiration for Tulips For Breakfast, and then Catherine drew on her extensive research skills to gather first-hand accounts to help ensure the emotional and historical authenticity of her novel. The result is the story of Adelena, living in hiding in the Amsterdam home of her music teacher after her fleeing pre-war Germany with her Jewish parents.

The character of Adelena is loosely based on the real-life Hannah (Hanneli) Goslar Pick, who was a friend and playmate of Anne Frank, and who, in her later years, encouraged Catherine to tell the story for this generation of readers.

Here, Catherine shares her inspiration and experience of writing her novel – and why she believes it’s important that stories like hers are told.

The importance of teaching the Holocaust to young Australians

By Catherine Baeur

Two years short of the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, today there is a daily decline in the number of Holocaust survivors in the world. Therefore, the responsibility for keeping their memories and legacy alive increasingly falls to those who remain, including teachers and historians.

This point was made consistently with all those I spoke with while researching for my debut YA historical fiction novel, Tulips for Breakfast (Ford Street Publishing). Former hidden children and Holocaust survivors, now elderly men and women, still have vivid memories and a desire that new generations learn about this period, the heartache, inhumanity and also the many uplifting and life-affirming lessons.

One of those I reached out was Hannah Goslar Pick, a childhood friend of young diarist, Anne Frank. Hannah passed away last year, aged 93, and spent a large part of her life keeping the memories alive. She told me it was what her parents would have wanted and that the stories must be passed on.

Holocaust studies are not a compulsory part of the Australian curriculum in all states, but the topic does come up in subjects such as History, English and Religious studies.

A secondary teacher friend of mine mentioned that many schools don’t allocate enough time for an in-depth study of topics such as the Holocaust. This means many young Australians will only ever get a broad-brush overview rather than any valuable understanding of this cataclysmic part of world history and the almost total extermination of a generation.

The Holocaust – the organised and systematic genocide of the Jewish people by Nazi Germany – saw the death of approximately six million Jewish men, women and children. In addition, other groups were persecuted by the regime including homosexuals, those with disability, the black community and Roma gypsies.

But why should Australian students dive into this period? Because, though WWII ended almost 80 years ago, the ripples are still being felt today.

Learning about the dangers of hatred and discrimination at play in the Holocaust is important for fighting intolerance and prejudice in today’s world.

Studying the Holocaust provides opportunities to explore and inspire students with stories of courage and adversity, activism and resilience. These lessons can encourage students to build empathy for other groups being persecuted in the world today and to develop an understanding of, and value, a diverse and cohesive Australian society.

Find out more about Catherine Baeur here, and more about Tulips For Breakfast here.

If you’re looking for book recommendations for young readers, join the Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook community, and tune in to the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast!

Why class read-aloud novels are important – and how to choose one

by Allison Tait | Mar 20, 2023 | Reading, Your Kid's Next Read

Choosing a classroom read-aloud novel is one of the most common dilemmas in the Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook community.

Finding the right book to hold the attention of 30 or more kids with different interests and abilities can be a challenge.

And then there’s the problem of fitting the ‘reading aloud’ bit into a very busy school day.

It’s no wonder that teachers can feel like throwing their hands up and forgetting the whole thing.

But award-winning children’s author Sue Whiting has written a letter from the heart to outline some great reasons to persevere with reading aloud in the classroom – and, to make it easier, has put together some terrific tips for choosing a novel that will work well as a class read-aloud.

She’s even curated a list of ten fabulous Australian novels she thinks will work well for years 3-6.

Take it away Sue Whiting!

Read Aloud, Read Strong: why classroom read-alouds are important

Dear wonderful primary school teachers,

Thank you for all that you do to nurture and educate our young people. Teaching is a challenging job, and an essential one, and I sincerely appreciate your professionalism and dedication.

I have one favour to ask of you though.

If you don’t already do so, could you please try to make time in your busy classroom timetables to read aloud to your students? I promise that you won’t regret it.

The kids will love it. And the time invested will be time well spent as the benefits are far-reaching and numerous. Plus, I think you will really enjoy it too. And that’s important also.

Reading aloud to your class provides a shared experience for the whole class, regardless of students’ abilities and can lead to great discussions, critical thinking, background knowledge development and improved comprehension.

It exposes kids to books that they may not read or are unable to read themselves (this is particularly important for struggling and reluctant readers).

It is integral in creating a reading and writing community/culture in the classroom, is a wonderful way to model fluent, expressive reading, and has been shown to develop listening skills and vocabulary. The list goes on …

But don’t take my word for it, here are two articles by literacy experts that explain the benefits more thoroughly:

• 7 reasons every teacher should read aloud every day (Aus)

• 10 significant benefits of reading aloud to your students (US)

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours in story,

Sue Whiting

Children’s Author

PS: If you are keen to discover some tips for book selection keep reading …

How to select the right read-aloud novel for your class

Selecting the right novel is, of course, key to success of class read-alouds. The novel must tick many boxes for maximum benefit.

As a children’s author and former primary school teacher who is passionate about reading and writing for pleasure and creating reading/writing cultures in the primary classroom, nothing warms my heart more than a teacher dropping me a note to tell me they are reading one of my novels as their class read-aloud and how the kids are loving it.

I especially love it when I hear that the novel is causing robust discussions. Oh, how my heart swells.

It is no surprise then that I hope my latest novel Pearly and Pig and the Lost City of Mu Savan will also make a good class read-aloud, particularly for Grades 3-5.

So I decided to put the book to a “criteria” test to see if it measures up.

Here goes.

The below criteria are from this article on The Teacher Studio website.

•Is it LIKELY to be a new book for most of the students?

This one was easy. Pearly and Pig and the Lost City of Mu Savan is a new book for everyone! And while it is the second book in a series, it is a standalone adventure.

•Does it read aloud well?

This of course is subjective. I believe it does. I know teachers who read Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast (book #1) and said that it read aloud well. The chapters are short. There are cliff hanger endings, and I am confident that the many twists and turns and rising tension will engage young listeners.

•Is there something about the book that will connect students to our curriculum?

There are several connections:
– the importance of caring for the environment;
– the jungle/rainforest landscape, flora, fauna and habitats;
– ancient cultures and civilisations;
– world cultures;
– families, friends and relationships;
– and dealing with anxiety.

•Is it a text that will “stretch” the class–both in terms of the literary elements AND the themes involved?

This is a big yes to my mind. I imagine much lively discussion, not just about the characters and plot, but about some thought-provoking issues it raises in relation to family dynamics, trusting one’s abilities, true courage, dealing with anxiety, rising to the challenge, decision making, consumerism, the impacts of tourism, preservation of culture, conservation and so forth.

I also think that the novel could be used as a mentor text for writing, focusing on using sensory information to create vivid descriptions, show don’t tell and how to create rising tension. [Classroom ideas can be found here]

For more great tips, lists and criteria to help you select and benefit from your class novel, read this article by Australian Literacy Consultant Annette Gray at Primary Learning.

Finally, here is a list of ten great Australian children’s novels that I think fit the above criteria and would also make great class read alouds. Click the title to find out more about the book*.

10 great Australian children’s novels to read aloud to your class

The Book of Wondrous Possibilities by Deborah Abela

Paws by Kate Foster

Catch a Falling Star by Meg McKinlay

What About Thao? by Oliver Phommavanh

Evie and Rhino by Neridah McMullin

My Brother Ben by Peter Carnavas

The Fire Star by A. L. Tait

Pearl Verses the World by Sally Murphy

Haywire by Claire Saxby

Cop & Robber by Tristan Bancks

Happy reading! Read aloud. Read strong.

Sue Whiting is an award-winning children’s and YA author and editor and former teacher, who has worked in publishing for twenty+ years. Sue’s latest books are Tilda, a historical novel for readers 10+ and Pearly and Pig and the Lost City of Mu Savan, the second book in her new junior fiction series. Sue is passionate about the power of story and is an advocate for reading and writing for pleasure. Find out more.

If you’re looking for more book recommendations for young readers, join the Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook community, and tune in to the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast!

*This post contains affiliate links. More details here.

25 books about Muslim life for kids of all ages

by Allison Tait | Feb 28, 2023 | Blog, Reading, Your Kid's Next Read

One thing I love about Your Kid’s Next Read is the generous author contingent within the community. Today, I’m excited to welcome a member of that community, Razeena Omar Gutta, to share a wonderful booklist.

Razeena and I ‘met’ when she sent me a copy of Hana’s Hundreds Of Hijabs, her debut traditionally published picture book (illustrated by Manal Mirza and published by Barefoot Books), along with a lovely letter.

The book is a delight and I was so happy to be able to share it via the Facebook group and the podcast.

Razeena is also an avid reader and shares her favourite books on Instagram at @razeenareads

Now, in the lead up to Ramadan, which this year begins on 22 March, Razeena is here to spread the word about other children’s and YA books that showcase Muslim life.

From board books to engaging own voices YA novels, there’s something here for every young reader. Click the book title to find out more or to purchase via Booktopia*

25 books about Muslim life for kids of all ages

Booklist by Razeena Omar Gutta

Muslims across the world are getting ready for Ramadan – a month of fasting, prayer and community-building. Ramadan lasts for one month, at the end of which is the most important Muslim holiday of the year – Eid al Fitr. This celebration is filled with fun, food and family.

Aside from Ramadan, Muslims have other important aspects to their lives that may be different to others. For example, many Muslim women choose to wear the hijab and Muslims are unable to eat certain foods.

There are many fabulous books that showcase Muslim lives in various ways. The Muslim tradition is rich in art, history and a variety of cultures, and there are authors across the world, working hard to ensure Muslim kids get the representation they deserve in children’s books.

For instance, my picture book HANA’S HUNDREDS OF HIJABS (illustrated by Manal Mirza) showcases creativity, problem-solving, community and hijab-joy, in a way that’s true to my reality.

It was important to me to share this with others who don’t often get to see the positive aspects of this sometimes misunderstood item of clothing.

Whether you have Muslim children in your school or classroom or not, I encourage to check out the books on this list to a get a sense of what Muslim life might look like.

Board Books

Hats of Faith by Medeia Cohan & Sarah Walsh

It’s Ramadan Curious George by Hena Khan

R is for Ramadan by Greg Paprocki

Baby’s First Ramadan – DK Books

First Festivals – Ramadan – Ladybird Books

Ramadan and Eid Picture Books

The Month That Makes the Year by Inda Ahmad Zari

Moon’s Ramadan by Natasha Khan Kari

Lailah’s Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi & Lea Lyon

The Night Before Eid by Aya Khalil & Rashin Kheiriyeh

Zahra’s Blessing by Shirin Shamsi & Manal Mirza

General Muslim Picture Books

In My Mosque by M.O. Yuksel & Hatem Aly

Hana’s Hundreds of Hijabs by Razeena Omar Gutta & Manal Mirza

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns by Hena Khan & Mehrdokht Amini

Halal Hot Dogs by Susannah Aziz & Parwinder Singh

The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali, & Hatem Aly

Middle Grade

Once upon an Eid edited by Aisha Saeed & S.K. Ali

A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi & Laura Shovan

Planet Omar (series) by Zanib Mian

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Bhai For Now by Maleah Siddiqui

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

Living on Hope Street by Demet Divaroren

Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali

Yes I’m Hot in This by Huda Fahmy

For more recommendations or any questions regarding Muslim children’s books, get in touch with Razeena Omar Gutta on Instagram at @razeenareads.

If you’re looking for book recommendations for young readers, join the Your Kid’s Next Read Facebook community, and tune in to the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast!

*This website contains affiliate links. See contact page for details

Your Kid’s Next Read Best Books of 2022

by Allison Tait | Jan 17, 2023 | Reading, Your Kid's Next Read

At the beginning of each year, we ask the Your Kid’s Next Read community to nominate the books their young readers raved about over the preceding twelve months.

And here we are with the 2022 version. One last round of applause for the books our young readers loved last year before we welcome in 2023’s new titles.

It’s always an interesting list, with a mix of new titles and old favourites, because the books don’t have to have been published in 2022, they just need to have been read in 2022.

These are the books that the young readers of the Your Kid’s Next Read community are actually reading. The ones they recommended when asked to share the best books they read in 2022.

We’ve also added in a few favourites from #TeamYKNR (Megan Daley, Allison Rushby and me), focusing on books published in 2022.

It’s a terrific list for discovering those gems you may have overlooked!

But before you dive in, if you’d like to know the origin story of Your Kid’s Next Read, you’ll find it here, and you can also subscribe to our brand-new free newsletter for your chance to win our big bookmail giveaway each month.

Best books of 2022 (according to Your Kid’s Next Read)

Books are divided into approximate reading age suggestions, but, of course, all readers are different. Click the title link to find out more about the book or to purchase*