My Books

In the late 1990s I had a rest from writing for a few years while I retired from work, shifted house, travelled and enjoyed my grandchildren. I was overjoyed when my next book, Emily's Rapunzel Hair, was shortlisted for the Early Childhood category in the 2006 Children's Book Council Awards.

 

I have several other books I am working on and I have my fingers crossed that they will be published before too long.

Little Hare Books, 2008

Illustrations by Lorette Broekstra
ISBN 978 1 921272 06 6

 

Every morning Basil strutted and shoved His noisy crowing woke the farmer.  But one day... 'Ccrkkk. Ccrkkk.' Basil loses his voice

There is only one hope for the farm. Leonard must learn to crow. But Leonard is too small. Leonard is too shy. And Leonard is too scared even to try.  What will become of the farm? This story shows how fear can turn into success even when you least expect it.

ABC Books, 2007 (ABC Kids Series)

Illustrations by Mitch Vane
ISBN 978 07333 2068 2

 

Rosie is over the moon when she is chosen to play the tuba in the school band, but the tuba comes with a big problem.  How will Rosie get one huge tuba to and from school for practice?

 

When a new boy, Ryan Morgan, comes to the school Rosie fears he may be given the tuba instead.  She needs to find a solution to her problem and she needs to find it fast. 

 

Paperback

 

ABC Books, 2005

Illustrations by Freya Blackwood
ISBN 0 7333 1523 2 (HB)

IBBN 0 7333 1970 X (PB)

Also available as an audio CD read by Georgie Parker. 

 

Emily wants to have long flowing Rapunzel hair so she can have pig tails with blue ribbons just like Lucy Brown. While she waits for her hair to grow Emily makes do with red tights on her head.
We follow Emilys adventures as a new baby arrives in the family, she visits her grandparents, feeds the ducks in the park, loses her special pet chicken and gets ready for a wedding.
These seven little stories about what matters most to a four-year-old are just right for sharing with children aged from three to six.

 

 

Monster Magic
University of Queensland Press, 1996.
Illustrations by Caroline Magerl

ISBN 1 86291 102 9

 

Tim has one huge worry. He is the smallest in his class. Molly, who is the tallest, torments him and invents the nickname Tiny Timmy. Tim finds a recipe for a magic growing potion in a musty old book at the library.
But what do you use instead of dragon scales, vampire blood and vulture gizzard? With the help of his best friends, Jack and Rachel, Tim makes the potion using substitutes.
The results are totally unexpected and quite surprising. After all, you can never tell with magic.
This is a funny story which will appeal to seven to ten-year-olds.

 

Paperback 

The Seventh Good Reason
Jam Roll Press, 1992

Emma has the task of finding seven good reasons to plant trees.
She enlists the help of her recently bereaved grandfather who seems to have lost interest in life. Emma still can find only six good reasons but as she and her grandfather plant trees on the farm and care for them Emma discovers the seventh good reason.

 

Hardback full colour picture book.
Currently out of print.