Books Before Bedtime - Testimonials

BBBUZZ with Mandy Foot

Mandy Foot is an illustrator, designer and above-all an animal lover who works in a studio also occupied by two sheepdogs, Cody and Mav, and a cat affectionately known as Kung Fu Maow Maow. She currently works for the Adelaide Zoo Education service where she has been able to draw just about every animal there is.

1. What books influenced you most as a child?
I don't actually remember having a lot of books as a child but I do remember when I was about 9, my sister won a 'Design a Stamp' Competition with our school run through Australia Post. Her prize was an 'Animation' book by Preston Blair. I loved it, and I still have my sister's book to this very day!

2. How did you become an illustrator?
I was always drawing as a child. I studied hard at school, finished 5 years of University and always pursued my goals even if it meant some detours along the way! For a number of years I had a day job working in the print industry and by night continued upon my freelance illustrator/designer career path. It’s taken a lot of hard work to reach my ultimate goal.

3. Which artists’ work most influences your own?
From the early days definitely the Disney artists. I'm a huge fan of animated movies and the life and personality they bring to their characters. I have also been blessed to meet so many talented artists over the years, and each has inspired or motivated me in some way. There is always something to learn from somebody and often from those you least expect.

4. Ultimate artistic dream?
I'm lucky enough to be living my dream. I've always wanted to illustrate children's books and it's great to see the smiles on kids’ faces when they read my books. I would love to be able to keep creating books that receive such fantastic feedback and I'm always aiming to improve on my artwork with each book I do. I want to see them getting better and better.

5. Describe your art studio or illustrating space.
Messy! I like to call it organised chaos. My drawing table is covered in whatever I am working on at the time along with paints, paintbrushes, colour charts, water pot, as well as reference material, paper towels, masking fluid, ruling pen, paintbox, the ever important daylight desk lamp so I can work at night, and the list goes on. I think if I had a bigger drawing table, I would just fill it up with more stuff!

6. What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Never ever give up and work hard. Be a sponge and absorb as much knowledge as you can. Seek out those you admire most and learn from them. They have obviously made mistakes and learnt along the way so learn from their life's lessons. Ask lots of questions, no matter how small you think they are. But most importantly, enjoy what you do!

For more information about Mandy Foot, head to: www.mandyfoot.com.au

BBBUZZ with Melissa Gassman

Melissa Gassman is one of the mums behind Kleenex Mums. She helped create www.kleenexmums.com.au as source of advice and therapy support for mum’s just like herself, trying to navigate the crazy, fun and immensely challenging rewarding world of motherhood.

Name: Melissa Gassman

Age: 36 (but only just!)

Kids: Two gorgeous boys: Oscar, 3 & Sam, 1

I spend my days... trying to get out of the door on time, trying to leave work on time, trying to get dinner ready on time, trying to get the kids in bed on time... My days off work are far more relaxed and are spent playing with my kids and taking them out to the beach, the park or the playground. I’m always trying to keep our home in some kind of order (which is why I take the kids out so often!) and I’m forever packing up toys and washing clothes. At the end of the day I try to find some time for my husband and myself (and a bottle glass of wine!)

Being a mum is... about always being there for your kids. To answer every question, to kiss away every tear, to scare away monsters and to be the monster on demand. To cheer them up and cheer them on. It’s about being totally selfless and it is fabulous.

The hardest thing about being a mum is... being creative on cue. And hitting the ground running, often at 5am.

The best thing about being a mum is... when your kids come running up for a cuddle or spontaneously announce that they love you. It just melts your heart. It doesn’t matter what your day has been like, a kiss from your child will truly light up your life.

The best advice I got about being a mum is... to make sure that you find some time for yourself. As a mum you always seem to put everything else before ‘you’: your kids, your partner, your job, the housework... You really need to invest some time in ‘you’ to be able to recharge and be up for it all. Although having said that, these days I rarely get a chance to go to the bathroom myself let alone get to the hairdresser!

My kids love it when I cook... cupcakes. They both go crazy for cupcakes (even if they only ever just eat the icing). We make them together: it’s messy, but fun and they love it.

My perfect weekend would involve... a sleep-in (past 7am would be pure luxury), finishing a coffee while it was still hot, taking the kids to the beach and not having anything much to do except play and have fun. No housework, no demands. Getting the kids to bed early and having some downtime with my husband would top it all off.

My tip on juggling motherhood & life would be... lower your standards! Don’t try to do be perfect – it’s impossible and not worth the stress. If you do what you can and you do it with love then you are doing pretty well.

This is an excerpt from the free Mum’s the Word e-book. Kleenex Mums is Australia’s biggest community of mums, and dedicated to sharing information regarding about family life, home, school, recipes and kids health. Jump online and share the collective wisdom of being a mum at www.kleenexmums.com.au

BBBUZZ with Jessica Shirvington

Jessica Shirvington is a busy mum, wife of television presenter and former Olympic sprinter Matt Shirvington, and author of the phenomenal new dark and sexy paranormal romance, Embrace. For more info about Jessica and Embrace, head to: www.embracethebook.com.au

Your schedule must be very busy as a mum and author. How do you juggle these two roles?
By being content with chaos. You can never plan a family completely, things always happen and when one of the girls has a bad day or is struck down with the flu, and everything gets turned on its head. We juggle it all together and roll with the punches. Luckily for me my husband, Matt, is a fantastic dad and between the two of us, we always manage to get everything done.

Do you have a writing schedule, or fit in writing time around your children?
Both. The girls have nanny two days a week and though I'm still at home, I can lock myself away and write. I look at this time as strict working hours, no different than if I were going into an office, so from 8 am till 5pm on those days, I'm working.

For the rest, it is back to juggling. I have the girls most days and I write at night. At 7pm, the girls are in bed and I am sitting down to work. I often write till about midnight.

What made you decide to write Embrace?
Honestly, I'd been reading a lot of incredible books but then hit a few that just weren't doing it for me. One day, instead of picking up another book, I opened my laptop and started to write. I had no idea it would lead to this.

Did you enjoy books and writing from a young age?
Yes and no. It wasn't a priority for me. I was one of those kids who was always trying to keep up with everything and thereby not doing much of anything for very long. Any time I picked up a book and gave myself a chance to get into the story - I would become obsessed and need to finish it, immediately! But then, I could go for months before picking up another book. It wasn't until later in life that I really developed staying power.

Do you think childhood literacy is important?
Of course; it is the doorway to so much and the way for kids to really get into it is by loving stories. I mean, really, it is so amazing that we have the imagination as a vehicle to encourage kids and literacy. Imagine how hard it would be if there weren't so many delights in reading and writing.

What are you reading to your kids right now?
My 4 year old, Sienna's favorite books are Tiddler (a story about a little fish with a big imagination) and Ella Kazoo Will Not Brush Her Hair.

My 2 year old, Winter loves everything that has pictures of princesses and lots of pink. She currently enjoys the Felicity Wishes books.

Any tips/tricks to help get your kids into bed without any fuss?
Keep it simple and don't linger. I also promise the girls that I will be back to check on them in 5 minutes, it makes it all seem not so final. I always go back - maybe a little closer to 10 minutes. Nine times out of ten - they are already fast asleep.

BBBUZZ with Tania McCartney

Tania McCartney is an author, publisher, editor, blogger and book-obsessed writing addict who has been penning books since her early years. Her popular children’s book blog, Kids’ Book Review, can be found at: www.kids-book-review.blogspot.com

What do you love about children's books?
I love the enchantment, the superlative storytelling, the magic, the characters – the ability children’s books have to transport the reader to another world, whether they are children or adults. I particularly love the way children’s books expand the imagination and encourage children to think big, to think laterally, and to develop compassion and empathy, to learn, to absorb, to grow – and to delight.

What made you start the Kids’ Book Review blog?
I wanted to start a blog first and foremost out of my desire to read and share books with other adults and children, but my other aim is to open up the book writing world to everyone – to inspire both adults and children to read and write more. I hope Kids’ Book Review, even in the smallest way, adds to the plethora of fabulous websites and blogs that focus on children’s literature. I also hope it serves as a platform for authors and illustrators to share their work and their processes with everyone and anyone – from kids to professional writers.

What do you look for when selecting books to read to your own children?
I like books that are ‘different’. I know that’s a totally subjective statement – but I love something that’s just not been done before – in any way, shape or form. I buy my kids endless information and non-fiction books but when it comes to inspirational stories and fiction, I always go for something that looks as beautiful on the outside as it reads on the inside. I buy books across the board and in all genres, but the writing must be engaging, well-edited, clever, informative and most of all – creative and imaginative. I refuse to buy churn-‘em out series held together by little more than clever marketing and fluff.

Best bedtime reading tips?

Allow your child to choose the book. Of course, having wind-down time is vital before bed, but once a dreamy ready-to-read state has been achieved, allow your child to choose the book. Always have several options – and introduce new books all the time. When your child is really young, of course they’ll want books repeated ad infinitum, and this is perfectly okay – you must comply!
Try older books like readers and chapter books early in your child’s life. This will help your child learn to love the concept of imagining rather than relying on pictures. Use intonation and character voices, sound effects and physical movement to keep your child engaged in the story. Ask them to read an occasional word, if they’re old enough – perhaps the last word on every page. Another tip, to keep kids engaged, is to ask them questions through the story, asking their opinion or interpretation. Don’t hesitate to add your own sentiment to the story, too – like “poor Mr Twiddle!” or “I wonder what will happen next!?”
Consider vintage books for bedtime reading. Kids are exposed to many modern books at school but there is a whole other world contained in books of the past.
Try making up your own mini stories without a book in hand. Having your child star in these stories will have them listening in rapture. Make sure you fill the story with people they know, and add in some surprise characters. It doesn’t have to be sophisticated or full of plot twists; even the simplest bookless story will entrance a child when told with love.

BBBUZZ with Sarah Pietrzak

For many parents, our children’s bedtime is where we fall at the gate. Spectacularly. It’s usually been a long day, and I know having wrangled with my seven-year-old over homework, having coped with Miss Medium’s meltdowns and tussled with an over-tired toddler, bedtime is my Armageddon.

It’s also the loveliest time of day in my household. It’s a time where I get to reconnect with my kids in a meaningful way. It’s where I ignore my fatigue for “just a little bit longer” knowing that having invested this time reading with my children it’s unlikely I’ll get disturbed again during the evening.

For my seven-year-old who is over anxious at the best of times, reading time with him allows him valuable wind-down time. We don’t tell him this but it’s also helping to develop his fledgling reading skills. We use books that are beautifully illustrated and filled with adventure, and he listens captivated.

For Miss Medium, it’s a chance to escape the woes of her day and escape to enchanted lands, and for Mr Small it’s a rare and wonderful time to have mum or dad just to himself as we sing nursery rhyme after nursery rhyme to him as he nods off to sleep.

Reading tips from an “L” plate mother.

Choose books that appeal to your children. Lots of rhyme and repetition are wonderful, particularly for small children.
Let your children choose the book they want to read.
If you have a new book you’d like to introduce to them, make sure you project excitement and enthusiasm. It’s important to “sell” the book to them!
Situational books are often great for helping children prepare for upcoming events. We read books about preparing for birthdays in the lead up to a birthday. We also read a book about hospital visits recently when one of them had a minor operation.
Don’t be afraid to snuggle up in the bed with them.
Use lots of expression when reading. Kids LOVE this and it helps with their comprehension about what characters are thinking and feeling.
For older children, run your finger under the words you are reading. It helps their eyes to follow words and symbols from left to right.
Encourage them to turn the pages themselves and always signpost when reading time is finishing. This will make “lights out!” a great deal easier to cope with.

Sarah Pietrzak is an educational consultant, freelance writer and blogger. Her musings about parenting “one sentence at a time” can be found at www.livinglavidawhatthe.blogspot.com

Tell us your tips and ideas for getting bedtimes back on track do you have a Books Before Bedtime experience to share?

We will update this page each time we receive a new idea or tip or experience that hasn’t already been featured.