The Places You Will Go

Old but Always New

The late Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time deserves to be introduced to a whole new audience. Forty-four years after it was first published its contents still ruffle feathers.

Sink Your Teeth In

A human girl and a luscious male vampire decide to go steady. A werewolf offers the girl an alternative (hot-blooded) romance. Obviously, some females attract all the right monsters.

Fan art of Bella and Edward, the human-vampire lovers in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series.

Picture Book of the Month: I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean

September 2007

I'M THE BIGGEST THING IN THE OCEAN
Written and illustrated by Kevin Sherry
Publisher:Dial Books, 32 pages
A giant squid is delighted at being the biggest thing in the ocean. Even when he is swallowed by a whale he is only momentarily taken aback before he declares, proudly, that he is "the biggest thing in this whale!"

What an example of positivity. This is one squid who will always see the doughnut and not the hole.

Kevin Sherry's flat, brightly-coloured illustrations are eye-catching and cheerful. And his sea creatures have such a friendly look about them: Babies will be charmed!

This book comes with bathroom clings so your kids can decorate the bathtub or bathroom wall with sea creatures. (Try not to steal them, they're that adorable!)

Junior reading Room

Communicating with someone solely through notes stuck on the fridge door ... isn't that sort of what most of us do, leaving messages on each other's Facebook page?

I have said the weirdest stuff to people on Facebook that I would never dream of saying to their actual face.

Anyway, the usual 25% discount applies for all the featured books (only with the coupon in today's StarTWo).

Whose Story is It Anyway?

It's hard enough finding an illustrator for my picture books. Many of the ones I've approached don't want to collaborate. They want a fee. I'm beginning to think that might be the way to go. AT least you can then tell them to get on with the task at hand.

My latest encounter with an illustrator ended in her wanting me to re-write my story totally. So, yeah, if there are any artists out there who think they might want to illustrate a children's book, email me your rates ...

Reading Room

In this week's roundup of the latest books: time travel, waxing philosophical and a guide to kissing frogs. Kinokuniya Books at Suria KLCC is offering a 25% discount on the tag price of the featured titles - only with the coupon in today's StarTwo.

Selling Yourself

"How many copies of your books have been sold, Daphne?"

"Huh? How should I know?!"

I should care more, but, sadly, I don't. When asked about the marketing aspect of publishing during last week's KL Writers Circle meeting, I could only smile sheepishly and refer the question to MPH Publishing's Eric Forbes (who edited my four picture books and corrected my appalling spelling - "Thank you, Eric!").

Junior Reading Room

Differences count for nothing when it comes to true friendship, but in some circles, nothing costs something too!

Get 25% off the sticker price for this week's selection - only with the coupon on StarTwo.

Writing for children

If only it were that simple ...

Madeleine L'Engle 1918-2007

Madeleine L'Engle died at age 88 on 6th September 2007.

She was best known for her children's science fiction classic A Wrinkle in Time.

Read The New York Times obituary.