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lauralynnwalsh's review
4.0
In my review of Billy, a Lolly Leopold Story by Kate De Goldi and Jacqui Colley, I mentioned the author's other book, The 10 PM Question, as one of my favorite books, but, again, these books are completely different from that book. My comments about Billy and Clubs are similar, except, for some odd reason, I found the story line for Clubs to be more appealing. Perhaps it is because clubs are familiar to American readers, whereas Pets and Produce days are a bit of a stretch - more like a county fair than a school event.
Again, the pictures make the story for me. Very interesting and appealing.
Again, the pictures make the story for me. Very interesting and appealing.
larrys's review
4.0
I’ve been suffering from homesickness lately. It doesn’t take much to set me off. It was seeing the illustration of a letter from Tai Tapu library that did it this time, which sent me over to google earth so I could roam the streets. (FYI Tai Tapu isn’t well travelled by the google street car.)
I was also reminded of the time I talked to Kate de Goldi without realising it was Kate de Goldi. This book came out around that time. I’d had a hard day of high school teaching at the low decile school at the bottom of the hill and was vaguely annoyed that I was due at a regional English teachers’ meeting at the flash school at the top of the hill. No symbolism there. None at all. I had marking to do. I had no idea what the meeting was about because I hadn’t read the thing. I plonked myself in the only seat left, which was in the front row and a very nice woman struck up conversation beside me. I have no idea what the hell I said but i bet I sounded tired. The last English meetings had been a bore and a chore. Then the lady beside me gets up to speak and I realise it’s the guest speaker. I knew Kate de Goldi by name of course. And the talk was absolutely marvellous. I’ve never met a more inspiring speaker. Our public school couldn’t afford to hire writers for small group sessions but I feel fortunate to have been along to that, at least. Hopefully I took some of the inspiration with me to my classes. That may have been the spark that made me want to write for children myself.
If you want to hear Kate de Goldi talk passionately about kidlit tune in to Saturday Morning With Kim Hill on RNZ. I listen to the podcast though it’s been twelve years since I lived in NZ.
My daughter is currently the age of these characters and they have the clubs craze going on. My daughter set up Mud Club, which is a group of two, she and her BFF, the last of the girls who like to play with mud. They have attracted the attention of certain boys who seem to have started the smash mud pie club. Ah. The non fond memories of my own primary school years come flooding back.
The illustrations are described well on the back. Lauren Child but more sophisticated. I’d say more creepy. I prefer a less abstract composition but that’s personal preference.
I was also reminded of the time I talked to Kate de Goldi without realising it was Kate de Goldi. This book came out around that time. I’d had a hard day of high school teaching at the low decile school at the bottom of the hill and was vaguely annoyed that I was due at a regional English teachers’ meeting at the flash school at the top of the hill. No symbolism there. None at all. I had marking to do. I had no idea what the meeting was about because I hadn’t read the thing. I plonked myself in the only seat left, which was in the front row and a very nice woman struck up conversation beside me. I have no idea what the hell I said but i bet I sounded tired. The last English meetings had been a bore and a chore. Then the lady beside me gets up to speak and I realise it’s the guest speaker. I knew Kate de Goldi by name of course. And the talk was absolutely marvellous. I’ve never met a more inspiring speaker. Our public school couldn’t afford to hire writers for small group sessions but I feel fortunate to have been along to that, at least. Hopefully I took some of the inspiration with me to my classes. That may have been the spark that made me want to write for children myself.
If you want to hear Kate de Goldi talk passionately about kidlit tune in to Saturday Morning With Kim Hill on RNZ. I listen to the podcast though it’s been twelve years since I lived in NZ.
My daughter is currently the age of these characters and they have the clubs craze going on. My daughter set up Mud Club, which is a group of two, she and her BFF, the last of the girls who like to play with mud. They have attracted the attention of certain boys who seem to have started the smash mud pie club. Ah. The non fond memories of my own primary school years come flooding back.
The illustrations are described well on the back. Lauren Child but more sophisticated. I’d say more creepy. I prefer a less abstract composition but that’s personal preference.
treereader's review
5.0
Aaaaaaah I just noticed that Barney Kettle is Lolly Leopold's cousin... I need to re-read [b:From the Cutting Room of Barney Kettle|29001033|From the Cutting Room of Barney Kettle|Kate De Goldi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1462414327s/29001033.jpg|46802347] now!
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