Books to cherish every day
We’re delighted to see, in Books +Publishing, a great advance review, by Erin Wamala, for Lorena Carrington’s gorgeous Leaf Letters, which we are publishing in July. Here’s a short extract:
Lorena Carrington’s Leaf Letters is a delightful and warm novel for younger readers aged 7-9 who enjoyed Peter Carnavas’ the Elephant. Using text, illustrations and photographs makes it a great confidence builder for newly independent readers, who will also enjoy the interactive element…
It’s publication day today for our latest title, Lucy Newton Messy Magic, by Phoebe McArthur, available now in bookshops across Australia!
Lucy Newton Messy Magic is the third title in the popular Lucy Newton chapterbook series, about a loveable little witch and her unusual friends, and we are absolutely delighted to bring another Lucy Newton adventure to young readers. Big congratulations to amazing author-illustrator Phoebe McArthur on another fabulous read!
About the book:
Lucy has to clean her room—without using magic. Only, every time Lucy returned from a well-earned break from cleaning up, she found her room tidier than ever. Lucy soon begins to think her house might be haunted…by a ghost who loves cleaning.
A sequel to Lucy Newton, Little Witch, and Lucy Newton: Cat Trouble.
About the author:
Phoebe McArthur lives in a run-down, yet cosy cottage in the middle of nowhere.
She’s not at all lonely thanks to her four cats, three chooks, two guinea pigs and her extensive library.
If she’s not tipping cats off her lap as she writes stories, she’s cooking all sorts of yummy food, such as scones with extra cream and homemade blackberry jam, or doing art at the table near the window, which has the best view of her garden.
Her first book, Lucy Newton, Little Witch, was published in 2018 and was short listed for the 2019 Speech Pathology Awards, and the sequel, Lucy Newton: Cat Trouble, was published in 2021. She has also published a middle-grade novel, Charlie Chaplin: The Usual Suspect, published by Eagle Books in July 2021.
We are very pleased to reveal the delightful cover of Lucy Newton Messy Magic, which is in the third instalment in Phoebe McArthur’s popular Lucy Newton series. Isn’t it fabulous!
About the book:
Lucy has to clean her room—without using magic. Only, every time Lucy returned from a well-earned break from cleaning up, she found her room tidier than ever. Lucy soon begins to think her house might be haunted…by a ghost who loves cleaning.
A sequel to Lucy Newton, Little Witch, and Lucy Newton: Cat Trouble.
Out November 2023.
For the enjoyment of our readers and supporters, we’re delighted to present to you a fun little video, Four friends at the vintage vehicle show, which is a standalone mini-episode set in the world of the four fabulous friends who just happen to have wheels: Fergie, Maxie, Lady and Flash.
The ‘Four’ series of chapter books for young readers is written by Sophie Masson, illustrated by Cheryl Orsini, and published by Christmas Press. Together, the books form a fantastic, funny and action-packed little series full of vivid vehicle characters, exciting adventures and lots of fun. And they make perfect little stocking fillers for Christmas!
In order, the books are:
Four on the Run(2020)
Four All At Sea(2021)
Four Up In Lights (2022)
There’s a great interview with our fabulous author Rebecca Fung, writer of A Very Special Moon Mission and Princess Hayley’s Comet, on fellow author Helen Edwards’ blog. Here’s a short extract:
‘My best memories come from children’s books, which have influenced my writing. I remember how excited I was to read a great story as a child, and I want to create that experience for others. I also think in children’s books, you can be daring and imaginative and simply have fun; more than you can in adult books. If you create a three-headed monster made entirely of jelly and ice cream, who flies off to Jupiter, kids are in it for the adventure, not to ask how this is scientifically possible?’
Rebecca cites Roald Dahl as one of her great writing heroes, because, like Dahl, she likes to create both fun stories for children and darker stories for adults. ‘I love both his adult books and his children’s books. They’re edgy and quirky and he writes well for all audiences.’
Rebecca’s stories feature characters with strong emotions. She says that some include dark humour and some are just dark (usually the more adult ones). She enjoys taking a possibility or a character and following it through – asking why, or seeing what happens – no matter how weird, dark or strange. She enjoys finding that lever to make readers laugh, feel unsettled, or feel strongly in other ways, such as wanting to fight for a character, and says, ‘To me, it’s a challenge to get this just right and so satisfying when I think it works.’
You can read the whole interview here.
We’re delighted to present a fabulous activity pack for Four Up In Lights, the third and final book in the fantastic early readers series by Sophie Masson and Cheryl Orsini, published this month.
The activity pack, which includes story prompts, a word search, colouring pages, and more, was created by our talented editing intern Ash Taylor. Ash is also a student at the University of New England, studying Writing and Publishing, and hopes to have a career in the publishing industry later. Ash much enjoyed creating the activities, and says: ‘I look after some children who really like vehicles like trucks and cars and trains. So I thought about what sort of activities they might like to do or would come up with on their own after reading the books and went from there!’
Thanks, Ash!
We are sure everyone is just going to love these activities, which are free to download, print and use, for families, schools and libraries. Please note however that copyright remains with Christmas Press and that the activity pack may not be sold or used commercially.
To access the Four Up In Lights activity pack, just click below.
Today is the publication day for Four Up In Lights! It’s the third and final book in the lovely early readers series created by writer Sophie Masson and illustrator Cheryl Orsini, recounting the incredible adventures of four lovable friends who just happen to be–vintage vehicles!
In this latest installment, Maxie, Fergie, Flash and Lady are finally on the set of the movie that will turn them into great stars: but nothing is what it seems, and soon the four friends are flung into an adventure like nothing they’ve ever seen before.
You can watch a fun little trailer for Four Up In Lights here.
The whole ‘Four’ series has had a wonderful response from readers and reviewers. Here’s something of what reviewers have had to say:
With themes of friendship, resilience, and teamwork, a fast-paced story, and fabulously expressive illustrations, young readers will delight in the adventures of these talking vehicle friends (Lisa Hoad, Reading Time)
Cheryl Orsini’s delicate pen illustrations depict the cars in their prime and through their challenges. The dialogue between the cars is humorous and entertaining. This is a perfect chapter book for younger readers. (Anastasia Gonis, Kids’ Book Review)
Sophie Masson’s funny, charming and original adventure story about four friends who just happen to have wheels is a great early chapter book…with lots of excitement, a little bit of peril and bags of friendship and heart …. the story races through its seven chapters and features black and white illustrations from Cheryl Orsini. (Matt Wilson, A Word About Books)
Congratulations to Sophie and Cheryl, and may Maxie, Fergie, Flash and Lady roll into the hearts of many, many young readers!
We’re very pleased to present this fun little trailer for Sophie Masson and Cheryl Orsini’s Four Up In Lights, which we are publishing in September. Enjoy!
We are delighted to reveal the fabulous cover of Four Up In Lights, the third and final book in the fabulous chapter-book series by Sophie Masson and Cheryl Orsini, about four lovable friends who just happen to have wheels. The book will be released in September, and is a sequel to Four On the Run (2020) and Four All At Sea(2021). Isn’t it a gorgeous cover!
And below, look at the series as a set–doesn’t it look good!
Christmas Press 