Book-tionary

(Like Pictionary, using titles of Australian kids’ books.)

Last week, the title was Kristin Darell’s junior fiction series, Football Fever:

Round 5

For our very final round, it’s a title that’s very close to my heart. :) An Australian historical fiction series for middle grade readers:

Hint: Three words.

Think you know the answer?

For once, I have an actual, real life prize. Reply to this email (if you’re reading in your inbox) or comment below (if you’re reading on substack). Answer the “Book-tionary” correctly AND tell me a book I should read over summer to go into the draw to win a signed copy of Robo-Teacher, my latest middle-grade novel, pictured here with our resident Elf on a Shelf.

Competition open to Australian mailing addresses only. Winner will be chosen at random. Entries close 12 noon on Monday 8th December.

And finally…

The Guardian Australia is asking readers to nominate their favourite Australian picture book, for a reader’s poll next year. We have so many fantastic picture books to celebrate in Australia. You (or your young reader) can nominate your favourite book at the link below:

Nominate a picture book

And that’s all, folks!

Have a fantastic Christmas break ahead! Thanks for following along with my newsletter this year. I hope you are able to enjoy time with loved ones over the holiday break and, of course, lots of time reading.

x Charlotte

A game.

Specifically,

Book-tionary

(Like Pictionary, using titles of Australian kids’ books.)

Last week, the title was Fiona Lloyd’s Being Jimmy Baxter. Did you get it right? (It took me awhile to come up with Baxter.)

Teachers/librarians/parents and carers, test it out with your children! See if they can come up with a Book-tionary of their own, for a book they’ve recently read.

I’d love to hear how they go…

Get in touch

Round 4

This week, it’s a junior fiction series, by Kristin Darell:

Hint: Two words.

Think you know the answer?

Reply to this email (if you’re reading in your inbox) or comment below (if you’re reading on substack). First person to answer correctly gets to imagine themselves winning a vacation to this tropical island:

Happy guessing!

Until next time,

Charlotte

P.S Next week is the last one. And I’m sure you’ll get it, Vanessa and Jessie. :)

A game.

Specifically,

Book-tionary

Last week, another wonderful Teacher-Librarian was the quickest to guess the book title correctly. Congrats to Andrea O’Flynn for being first to interpret ‘Small Acts’ by Kate Foster and Kate Gordon (in just ten minutes!):

This week, it’s another middle-grade novel:

Hint #1: Three words.

Hint #2: This title was a CBCA Shortlisted book in 2024.

Is a non-Teacher Librarian ever going to take out the title?

We’ll see.

Reply to this email (if you’re reading in your inbox) or comment below (if you’re reading on substack). First person to answer correctly can gaze at this incredible sunset pic for as long as they like:

Happy guessing!

Until next time,

Charlotte

A game. Specifically,

Book-tionary

Last week, renowned Teacher-Librarian Jenny Stubbs was the first to correctly interpret my sketch as ‘Over or Under’ by Pip Harry:

This week, we have a middle-grade novel:

Hint: Two words.

Think you can be faster than Jenny Stubbs?

Reply to this email (if you’re reading in your inbox) or comment below (if you’re reading on substack). First person to answer correctly wins bragging rights and the opportunity to imagine themselves winning a lifetime supply of chocolate.

Leave a comment

Happy guessing!

Until next week,

Charlotte

P.S Please feel free to forward this to a teacher/teacher-librarian who may be interested in using this as a lesson starter or book-inspired class activity. :)

A game.

We all love games, and this is one you are welcome to share with the young readers in your life.

Teachers / TLs, you might like to use this as a lesson starter, or encourage your students to make their own, as a book-inspired class activity.

Just get to the point, Charlotte

OK, then.

Without further ado,

introducing…

Book-tionary

Can you guess the title of this Australian picture book?

Hint: Three words.

Think you know the answer?

Reply to the email (if you’re reading in your inbox) or comment below (if you’re reading on substack). First person to answer correctly wins my adoration, and gets to look at this photo of a puppy dressed in banana PJs for as long as they want.

Leave a comment

Happy guessing!

Charlotte

P.S If you’ve already seen this game on my instagram earlier this year, I apologise. You are among the elite group of eight to ten people (according to my social media stats) who caught a glimpse of my attempt at an interactive, kids’ book-inspired activity. Given the time it took for me to sketch each one, I thought I’d try it again. (Because recycling is good, right?) :)