Little Truths about Big Things

Sounds I've Never Heard - what ten year olds say.

2011-04-26T17:15:00.000-07:00

This is what 10 - 12 year olds wrote in answer to this - What sounds have you never heard?

What are sounds you have never heard?

A $100 note crinkling in my hand
Total silence
A pin drop
A cow trying to be quiet
A horse trying to quack
An elephant pass wind
A chook singing
A laughing fly
A bird playing piano
Me grow
A book eating bubble gum
My brother giving the teacher a correct answer
A tree singing rock ‘n roll
Snow falling
A horse imitating Michael Jackson
Christine Harris scream
Someone dying
A cat being knocked out by a paper plane
A pig swimming
A fly singing
A tornado
yodelling

Westminster Wisdom

2010-08-29T22:20:00.000-07:00

Hi
Last week was Australian Children's Book Week.
At one of the schools I visited, Westminster, I received a wonderful packet of handwritten cards with fabulous artwork from the year four students.

They had read 'Jamil's Shadow' as part of their preparation and here are some of their comments:

I think you are an enthusiastic author.
Your books have an interesting and descriptive language which is rare in a book, particularly a short novel like ‘Jamil’s Shadow’.
I have read a lot of your books and think all of them are magnificently excellent. I think that you are fabulous and very capable of explaining stuff like emotions and objects.
The funny bit was when the cyclists were wearing undies.
I like when the boy was taking care of the dog. ‘Jamil’s Shadow’ is a wonderful story about friendship between a boy and a dog.
Your book ‘Jamil’s Shadow’ has lots of big words and excellent descriptions and lots of detail.
I love all your books even though I’ve only read one ... you never really know what’s going to happen next.
I was amazed at how many books you’ve written.

If you would like to know more about the background to the writing of the story and see some photographs, click here.

The year fours also had some questions, which I've answered:
Is being an author hard?
Most of it is fun, but sometimes it’s hard. Some days when the sun is shining, I don’t want to sit inside the house and work so I take my laptop computer outside and write there. I love doing that. Also, when I get stuck, I’ve learned ways to overcome that.
Check out these two links with my tips for when you are stuck with your writing.
My Amazon Connect Blog
My Audrey of the Outback Blog

I know you’ve written lots of books, but are you going to write another?
Yes, I have two manuscripts with publishers now. They are thinking about them and whether they suit their list. Next year I will have an Audrey picture book published. Ann James is now doing the illustrations. And I have just begun a girl’s mystery series for 9-12 year olds.

What is your favourite book you have written?
I don't have a favourite. Truly. It's too hard to decide. All the fifty books that I've written are stories that I could feel enthusiastic about. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother writing them. And favourite books depend on a person's mood. Sometimes you might select a funny book but other times you want to read something scary. I have characters that I am especially fond of, and Audrey from the Outback series is one of those.

What are Jamil’s parents’ names and how did they die?
I don’t say much about his parents because the story focuses on Jamil, not his parents. They never appear in the story and are mentioned to explain his lonely circumstances.

How old is Jamil?
I usually don’t give ages of my characters, partly so that people can identify with the person, not the age. Each reader often thinks the character is their age and as one young reader told me, ‘It keeps the magic going’.

If you were making another book what would it be called?
‘The Storyteller Puzzle’ is my last book, but sometimes the titles change before publication.

How come the Turkish didn’t have televisions when cyclists were riding in bike pants?
By focusing on the people’s lives and not including things like televisions, it makes the story timeless. Also, these people were poor and lived high in the mountains in a small village. They wouldn’t all have televisions. And the people who said this were the old men who might be a little more ‘in the past’ with their ideas.

For more Frequently asked author questions, and their answers, click here.

Below is a photo I took looking out of Westminster Library, through one of the fabulous reading pods. This pod has a bookweek display.

How to Talk to Girls: Advice from a boy

2010-07-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

Want to hear some advice on getting and keeping a girlfriend?
Check out this cute but sensible video of a young author discussing his book and 'secret' girl-catching methods.

Advice on Kissing

2010-05-20T19:17:00.000-07:00

Here is more advice from 8-11 year olds on kissing, taken from writing workshops.

‘Clean your teeth.’

Tim, 8

‘When she walks past and you are sitting down at your desk, put your leg out so she trips over and then pretend to fall over yourself. ‘

P.J., 10

‘If you’re too nervous, don’t do it. You can make sure your breath is fresh by eating mints and spit a lot before you try to kiss her.’

Pham, 11

‘Don’t have any gum because she could choke.’

Skye, 9

‘Hold the person in your arms, then kiss them. If you’re desperate, just kiss them.’

Bianca, 9

‘Pretend to drown at a swimming pool and the lady lifeguard will give you mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Then pull her down on to you.’

Jake, 10

‘Don’t act silly when she is around.’

Damask, 11

‘Take a girl to the movies. When you get back hint for a good night kiss. Eventually she might give it to you.’

Roscoe, 11

‘As the movie started, I would pretend to knock the popcorn out of her hand. As I bent down to pick up the popcorn in the dark, I’d quickly give her a kiss on the lips.’

Christopher, 11

‘Stick out your tongue and bring your heads together.’

Jarrad, 8

‘Open doors for her and put on sweet and low music.’

Caitlin, 10

‘He has to be clean. He can’t drool. He should kiss you under one minute. He shouldn’t have a cold. He has to ask you out, not get his friends to ask. He should be on time and not have loose teeth.’

Sasha, 11

cartoon: Jeff Bucchino, Wizard of Draws

When NOT to Kiss a Girl: Advice from 5-8 year olds

2010-04-26T03:17:00.000-07:00

Don't Kiss a Girl if:

· You’re both wearing your glasses

· You’re both got braces

· Only one of you has been eating garlic or peanuts

· Her brother is watching and he is a World Wrestling Federation expert

· She owns a jealous Rottweiler

· Your own brother is watching and he doesn’t have a girlfriend of his own

· Either of you has a runny nose

· You have a bad cold (you could suffocate)

· You’ve just been to the dentist (you might dislodge the gauze)

· She says, ‘No’.

This is advice given to me from 5-8 year olds. And sound it is too.

cheers,

Christine Harris

Cartoon: Wizard of Draws

Never too young for Love

2010-02-01T16:52:00.000-08:00

Imagination plus that warm-fuzzy feeling of infatuation led six year-old Mika and five year-old Anna-Bell in Hanover, Germany, to elope.

They wanted to go to Africa, and remembered to pack lots of swimming gear and to take along Mika's seven year-old sister as a witness to the wedding.

When asked why they didn't let their parents know, they said they didn't think they would be long!

Check out the full story.

cartoon:Jeff Bucchino, Wizard of Draws

2009-10-11T12:36:00.000-07:00

The kids at Huntly Primary School in Victoria are green.
They're not Martians or anything.
They are trying hard to be environmentally 'green' .
Recently, the school was recognised for their hard work by Sustainability Victoria. Congratulations.
Students in year 5 & 6 even keep chook sheds at school!
Check out the photos.
I read a true saying recently, 'There's no planet B'. We need to look after the one we've got.
Well done, Huntly students.

Hallet Cove East Primary School

2009-09-11T17:47:00.000-07:00

During Book Week I visited Hallet Cove East Primary School, in South Australia and had lots of fun with the students.
They were excellent listeners and storytellers and here are some of the things they said about our time together and about writing stories:

I really laughed when she

told us jokes
when the man had a fake arm and his fingers were stuck in the bowling ball
told us about the boy who checked is age by checking his underwear
said a head was rolling down the corridor
told the story about the dwarf and the hippo

I would like to tell her

she is the funniest person in the world
two weeks ago my grandma killed fifty slugs
about my dog biting my face
I will write lots of sorts of stories
I’m a midget too
tou are even funnier than the time I met a clown. It was scary because I hate clowns
I want to read the other two Audrey books
What’s the next story you are going to write?
I would love to see her again
my grandma has seen a ghost several times
I want to be an author

I was surprised to learn

she was really funny
to listen to other people’s ideas
people can have three belly buttons
how to write long stories
if you listen and watch you could get story ideas
not to put weapons in stories because it will be more interesting

After this, when I write a story I will

listen to people’s conversation
gecCall it ‘Zombie Invasion’, the characters will be Zoe and the zombies
put in lots of detail
I will use less weapons now
use my blurb
I will not kill everyone so soon

The best thing about her website www.christineharris.com is

the jokes (I would never have a day without jokes)
reading about you
facts about you and your books
when you are holding the puppet

I want to write a story about

stupid spies
secret agents
vicious dogs, when you hurt them, more vicious dogs pour out
Christine Harris
Two people who found a starfish and a seahorse
a two year-old boy who sees a ghost
it’s time to go to bed but a funny spy sneaks out of bed
a sea creature saves a unicorn from drowning
a pig and an agent and a super boy
a haunted house
ghostly things that have happened to me and other horror things
twin brothers decide to be ghost hunters
a fat cop saves everyone in the mall
a girl is lost in the woods and she has lots of animal friends, including a tiger. She can understand them all
a character turning everything into ice
‘Pixie Power’, about pixies with magic powers

cartoon: Wizard of Draws

Jonny and the Zombie

2009-08-21T23:26:00.000-07:00

Recently, I visited Blackfriars Priory School in Adelaide and gave the students a challenge.
You are alone in the house and you hear scary, heavy breathing and have to find a way out of danger without using a weapon.
Jonny found one way to do this. Here's what he wrote:

My mum and Dad were out. I was home alone for an hour or two. I just had my tea and the TV wouldn't work. I think a stobiepole (telegraph pole) must have broken.
It was 9.00 pm and Mum said for me to be in bed at 9.00. I said to myself, I might just stay up for 15 minutes.
I went to computer, but it didn’t work either.
I got a drink of water and heard heavy breathing.
Oh!! I got really scared.
The breathing came closer.
I faced my fear and turned the light on and saw a zombie with a knife in it's head.
I ran fast to get a torch and shone it at the zombie because I remembered zombies die in the light.
It burnt to a crisp and exploded.
I won.
The zombie was dead.
Just then mum came and dad came home. What a relief.
I said, 'I love you so much, next time I'm coming with you.'

If I Could Go Back in Time

2009-07-17T21:56:00.000-07:00

I recently visited The Friends School in Hobart, Tasmania. While I was there, I gave the year fives a challenge - to write the answer to this question:
If I could go back it time and relive an experience again, what would it be and why?
Here are their intriguiging answers.

I'd go back to the time ... I WOULD GO BACK TO THE TIME …

I was in Vancouver, looking at an ASTON MARTIN and the man who owned it asked me to sit in it.
I missed the bus at school. I was only seven or eight, and I forgot to take the bus, thinking that Mum would pick me up. An hour after school had ended, a teacher found me sitting at the gates, waiting. I was terrified. I was also very lucky that she knew my mum’s mobile number. After that had dreams for days, sometimes about mum leaving school without me, and sometimes about large creatures waiting for me at the gates. After that I always remembered to listen to mum… and I NEVER missed the bus.
of the dinosaurs. They are my favourite type of huge animals. They’re awesome. I’m doing a book about three people are going to Africa, but there’s a freak lightning storm and they land on an uncharted island and meet dinosaurs.
my Dad had a serious car crash and I’d stop him! He broke nearly all of his bones, and his lungs. He got his stomach gut open to get metal out. He died several times. I would do it because I love my father and I am lucky he is still alive.
when my parents were together. They spilt up when I was only one or two years old. I can’t remember, but if I went back in age I would appreciate seeing more than just photos.
when you came in to our school you asked us one question; if we could go back in time and change/do it again what would it be.
I'd probably go back in time and write all the Elvis Presley songs before he could write them (not that I liked him I'd just like all the money that he earned from it).
my family went to movie world! We went one a ride called the Wild West Falls. Only my dad and I went on because my little brother was too scared, so mum had to look after him. We got to a really high bit, then it suddenly dropped straight down! It was in the water on a boat so I got REALLY wet. As we went over the edge I would like to freeze frame so I could see what expression I had on my face.
mine is hard to explain so I’ll tell you the story first. My dad was adopted. All of my family except for me has met them. He has two brothers. One had a mental problem and because his girlfriend broke up with him he was so mad that he shot himself.I would go back in time and stop him from shooting himself.
I’d give Michael Jackson a high 5 and say not to take drugs and NO PLASTIC surgery.
I broke my arm. You probably think I am crazy, but I liked it because of all the attention I got. I broke my left wrist, and fractured my elbow. It happened in grade 3, 2007. A year 6 was pushing me on the monkey bars,and my hands were slippery, so I fell off. It was also cool because I had laughing gas, but I don't know what is so funny about it.
I watched ‘Bewitched’ the complete seventh Season. I was impatient to get ‘Bewitched’ because I’d been saving up for weeks. We went to Video City but they didn’t have it. So next we went to Big W and we were lucky they had it. When I got home I watched 14 episodes. It was funny.
my family were related to Russian warlords and get a memento.
when my cat (Whiskers) was born and save her brother and sister. When they were born, the brother and sister fell off the high chair.
I was eight months old and we went to England, France, Italy and Greece, but the problem is that I can’t remember anything at all. I’d make sure that I took a MUCH better memory.
my old cat, Merlin, was alive and I used to do everything with him. My family loved him so much and he was the best cat in the world. Cars used to have to stop for him when he wanted to cross the road, and our house would never have got broken into because he was always on guard. He had to get put down due to a tumour in his leg. We buried him in our front garden where he loved to sleep in the sun.
the school cross country race and overtake my friend at the end of the race. I was right behind him. I could’ve beaten him, but I didn’t. If I had, it could’ve changed my life majorly.
my great granddad was alive. We all called him old fella granddad. I was very small when he died. My sister can remember his face, but I can’t. When I was 0 he was 99 years old and died of cancer in his sleep, so it was very peaceful. I wish I could go back to meet him.

For more writing prompts for young writers click here.

crystal ball cartoon: Wizard of Draws

Ten Things I Hate About Books

2009-06-30T04:10:00.000-07:00

1. ‘The’ in the title.
2. Cracked spines.
3. Loaned books that are returned with coffee rings on the covers.
4. Blurbs that lie.
5. Books that have testimonials on the cover by the same author and say exactly the same thing each time.
6. Finishing a book, loving it, but knowing there are no more in the series.
7. A new book in a series that is only a clone of his predecessors, with nothing new to say.
8. When I guess ‘whodunnit’ in the first few chapters.
9. When a perfectly intelligent character can nut out complicated clues to work out the identity of the villain, but can’t cook water without burning it and is incapable of keeping a relationship going for more than a nanosecond.
10. Not having a book lined up to read next, and next, and next ...

Year 3's Author Drawings of Christine Harris

2009-04-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

Here are some drawings that students at St Martins's School, Mount Gambier, did of me.

I reckon they've got the hair, glasses and clothing just right. And a computer on which to work, even a bright idea globe on my head.

The floating money is probably wishful thinking, but a nice thought.

Obviously, my red lipstick made an impression. So does the red hair.

What I learned from Christine's Author visit (2)

2009-04-16T01:39:00.000-07:00

Here's what students at St Martin's School in Mount Gambier, South Australia, said about my recent author visit.

I really laughed when Christine:

Said she was scared of the cat
Laughed
Said about when she was in love and her first kiss
Told us the story about the toddler who found a pair of scissors and was running and was looking everywhere except for where he was going and poked the scissors into a girl’s bottom
Told us funny stuff
when Christine told us about the girl who tripped over the body
when her cousin said her toe tasted like cheese
read a story
fell down out of the tree
talked about her books she did write
laughed on the computer, then said she didn’t laugh on the computer
told us the story about the girl and the big blob

I would like to tell her:

I saw a shark
I like writing books and, sometimes when I’m bored, I write things
I have a farm
I would like to write a story too
That I like all of her books
That I have never been really, really, really scared
If she can draw the pictures
She writes good stories
She is funny
How do you make books
I want to be an author

I was surprised to learn:

How to make stories
When you write a story you are an author
That she was an author
About reading and words
That writing is fun
How much books she has made
That you can be any age to be an author
That you can have fun when you read
That she got $5

After this, when I write a story I will:

Read it
Write the blurb
Remember her
Go buy a computer
Have fun
Make sure I write something interesting
Thank her for her ideas
Colour it in
Read

The best thing about her website is:

The cool jokes (times ten)
She’s got really, really, really, really funny jocks (translate to: jokes)
She put some stories online
The travel photos
Word games
Book categories
All her books

I want to write a story about:

Pets
Romance
Scary stories with scary characters like Mummy Head
An elf and she was the best elf on Earth. She always makes things perfect
When extinct animals come back to life
Cool men
A person who can turn into guys
Animals like horses, rabbits and lots more
A man who is a killer after night
Profited: a game where people fight aliens
A princess and a star
When I was a kid

Read more comments from St Martin's students.

Lama reading: The Wizard of Draws

Reading Inspires Children

2009-04-06T03:27:00.000-07:00

This short video is one of my favourites about how reading inspires children.

Earth Hour 2009

2009-03-25T23:52:00.001-07:00

Saturday 28 March 2009 8.30 pm - 9.30pm is Earth Hour. People of all ages can do something positive for the environment.

What I learned from The Author Visit

2009-03-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

Hi
Last week I visited St Martin's Lutheran School in Mount Gambier, South Australia.
After my author talks, I gave the year three students a form to fill in about what they remembered. Here's what Matthew, Ryan, Michael, Jackson, Reece, Georgia, Sophie, Sam, Julice, Toby, Sarah, Karli, Ethan, Joshua, Megan, Jessica, Kayla, Kobie and the rest of 3MC said:

I laughed when Christine ...

told a story about a girl's little brother who picked up a pair of scissors and cut her on the bottom
said about toe in mouth, food in hand
laughed funny
said the story about her cousin tickling her
I laughed when she laughed, ha ha ha
when she was laughing, she made me laugh
told a story about when she was writing and the cat jumped on the ceiling and she screamed
told me the stories
when she laughed loud and said she didn't make a sound
came in and said, 'Oh no, I can't write another story.' And her husband, David, said, 'Write another story and you'll be okay.'

I would like to tell Christine ...

you're funny
could you give me 'Brain Drain'? (a book title)
she's got a really good imagination
I liked your stories, I laughed at them, they are very, very good
I broke my arm on m y way to get the tray, first I was laughing but then I was in tears. PS. I went in an ambulance
she is my favourite author
I made a story in year two
a poem
that I speak duck and I want to be an author
I did something stupid when I was going to a playground. I chased a dog when there was a barbed wire fence and it was ripped down but the top was still up and I ran into it and did a backflip
my favourite book is 'Runaway Pony' and it is fun reading
what is your favourite movie?
could you make a cool and funny book about me and a real funny dragon called Sparks, and say hello to Emily Rodda from her biggest fan
how she told funny things
that I really like to read and write
I went to play at my friend's home and he was F1
I love books
when I was in childcare I broke my arm. We had this rope and I was pretending to be Tarzan and I jumped for the rope and missed it and fell in the sand
everything
I made a book called 'Blob' on the computer and it was 202 pages.

I was surprised to learn ...

about dinosaurs
young authors
if you are having trouble writing, backtrack
how to be an author
that I never thought I would have fun writing
that it doesn't always take a year or more to finish a book
that anyone can be an author
to take a notebook everywhere
funny stories from her
how to make a book about horses
remember to learn stories
you are real cool and a real good writer
that I am author now
about all the stories she wrote and how she got the ideas
that you can be an author one time
to have fun
to write
that she was an author in year two

After this, when I write a story I will ...

think about it
sent it to you
use the things I have learned
write about a spider
write stories about horses
call it 'blobby' and he is a slime ball
remember her
put scissors in my story
be cool
make a new story
talk over her stories
get ideas from times in my life
I will think of ideas
remember what happened
it will be more adventuring
have fun

The best thing about Christine's website is ...

the games
her jokes
it's fun
how to make a book about horses
you have pictures
you get to write to her

Cartoons by the Wizard of Draws

What Children Say About Their Pets

2009-03-02T11:20:00.000-08:00

my rabbit stands on his back legs and begs for carrots
my dog enjoys being sick and having his back scratched
my cat smells my toes and bites my fingers
our rabbit bangs its head on our clothesline
my dog tried to kill the chicken but I got there in time
our pet swallows fish hooks
the dog licks the camera when we try to take her photo
they chew grass and wipe their bottoms on the ground
every child who has a pet is insane - why don't they play on the computer?
Mum's going to get me a lamb. It's not to eat though
our parrot nobbles wallpaper and when there is a plastic plate on the table, Ferric kicks it down
if people like animals they will be kind and will love each other
rats are clever
goldfish are silly and they wrench every now and then and never control their eating
my dog is like a pillow on four legs
my brother nearly got bitten by the snake I keep in a bucket, but when the snake came up to have a go at him I slammed the lid on its head
I'm frightened of elephants because I think they'll get me with their trunks
at night, my pigeon snuggles against the chooks when she's scared
Candy, my goat, gets her head stuck in the fence
when we go away it's hard to find people to look after our animals because we can't fit them all in the car

dragon cartoon: Wizard of Draws

Children's Comments on Old Age

2009-01-31T17:16:00.000-08:00

'I like it when my Nanna tells me what my mother did when she was little. I always remember her stories because she tells them over and over.'
Louise, 10, Australia

'I don't ever want to be older than forty or fifty. You'd get exhausted just standing up.'
Mardi, 10, Australia

'Old people teacher us kindness and mercy, especially those who were in the war and saw hunger, ruin and death. And they work so these things will never be repeated.'
Alya, 12, Russia

'Old people are in a world of their own. They're defenceless, unless they turn rude.'
Roberta, 11, Italy

'Looking at my Grandmother, I think how much she could enjoy herself if she wanted. You can decide whether to get up late or go out with friends, stay with relatives or go for a walk. But everything you confront is harder. It's a pity the government won't help much with services.'
Gilizia, 11, Italy

'The oldest person I know is Matthew. He's 11 nearly 12.'
Luke, 6, Australia

'Our grandparents are important because they have our dog.'
Kimberly, 5, Australia

'If you're in hospital when you die, it takes lnoger and it's messy. The doctor does an operation and I don't think they stitch you back up again. It's disgusting.'
Kane, 9, Australia

'We haven't seen my Grandpa's grave yet because we play tennis on weekends.'
Krista, 6, Australia

'I wouldn't mind if someone died in my house as long as I knew them.'
Matthew, 9, Australia

'When you're old you forget what you want to do. You are thinking of a couple of things at once, you're talking at the same time and you just lose it. When I'm old I'll try to keep up with kids and remember what they want without asking them.'
Bronte, 9, Australia

'You're still part of the family.'
Sian, 9, Australia

'When I am old I will think about how I passed my younger days. I won't think about getting old because it will make me feel older before my time. I'd rather think of a good life. Old people can be proud if they reach a certain age. You can only reach eighty or ninety if you were a good child.'
Maria, 12, Italy

Golfer in Trouble cartoon: Jeff Bucchino, Wizard of Draws

Good and Bad Things About School: by 5-10 year olds

2009-01-18T20:00:00.000-08:00

I interviewed children aged between five and ten years of age and asked them, 'What are the good and bad things about school?'

Here are their answers:

Good Things About School

friends
stickers for good work
tests
art
the playground, because we look for lizards
the lunchbell
making things; yesterday I made a cool rocket out of a toilet roll
people giving me lollipops
learning new games
beating drums
reading
my teacher is six feet tall and she's pretty

Bad Things About School

littering
being alone when no-one wants to play with you
fighting and hurting people's feelings
getting told off for climbing on the roof
being bitten by ants
work
the teacher yelling and giving you a headache
kids scribbling on books and making dirty marks
I run into knotty arithmatic problems
The days are too long
girls
homework
my teacher always puts the wrong name on my work because it looks like so many girls' handwriting

And one last bit of advice from Mardi:
'I would put a swimming pool in every school, and a canteen that sells health food, even though kids like junk. You get fat and lumpy if you eat junk. You should be able to do whatever you like, except bashing, drawing grafitti or leaving the school grounds.
You could run under the sprinklers or play mini-golf, and there should be a long slippery-dip going down into the pool. If it's hot you could go for a dip, trade bathers and sunglasses. Oh, and every classroom should be airconditioned.'

School Bus cartoon: Jeff Bucchino 'Wizard of Draws'

Why Good Guys Win in Stories: answers from 5-8 year olds

2008-12-29T00:03:00.000-08:00

The good guys win in stories because:

they have more people on their side
good guys don't die
the magicians always help them
most people are good
kindness is stronger than evil
good people can manage everything; bad people can't
good guys are taught more and think faster
good guys try harder
the goodies wreck the baddies' weapons
they teach us that crime never pays because bad people always get caught
they're rich
it would break kids' hearts if baddies won

cartoon: Jeff Bucchino

I Don't Want to Go to School

2008-09-28T05:08:00.000-07:00

I visit many schools doing author talks and workshops. When I talk to people, both young and old, about what scared them when they started school I hear some surprising answers.
Here are some of the best reasons for being scared at school:

I thought the teacher was a dragon (a real one that breathes fire)
black toilet seats (this one from a teacher, who still will not use a toilet with a black seat)
the long corridor
too many people
I won't remember where the toilets are
my mum might forget to pick me up
the sharks
grass
the skeleton that drinks the milk
dandruff (again, from a grownup who said her teacher would stand behind her and dandruff would drop on her)
clowns (when a teacher was little and first began school she was terrified of clowns, but on her first day the teacher decided to cheer everyone up by dressing as a clown)
the big kids
crocodiles (from a person who went to school in New Guinea in the middle of a croc. farm)

Some of these ended up in my picture book 'I Don't Want to Go to School'.

A Collection of Lies

2007-12-08T20:57:00.001-08:00

Lies children tell parents
* I didn't do it
* she started it
* the teacher kept me in
* I don't have any homework
* I cleaned my teeth
* I wasn't picking ... it was itchy
* I lost it
* I forgot
* Dad said it was okay.

Lies men tell women
* you don't look fat
* I don't even think of her as a woman
* it was a wrong number
* I like your mother
* this is delicious
* I can't cook
* of course I noticed your hair
* that's the first time I've ever had that problem
* my wife doesn't understand me
* sorry
* I'll do it tomorrow
* she's not as pretty as you
* I love you
* we can still be friends.

Lies women tell men
* I don't care if you're bald
* you're not overweight, you're cuddly
* I like football
* I'm starting my diet tomorrow
* I've got nothing to wear
* I'd love to meet your ex-wife
* your children are adorable
* I don't want to argue about this
* I didn't encourage him
* I don't want to influence you
* I don't want to tell you what to do.