Riley and the Dancing Lion on Mum's Lounge

I'm really loving Jasmine Berry's gorgeous site for wee ones - Read to My Child. I was fortunate to have Jasmine read Riley and the Dancing Lion on the site, and the book has also appeared on Mum's Lounge, which is very exciting. You can see the post here.

So exciting - thanks, Jasmine!

riley and the dancing lion reading on Read to My Child

When I first heard about Jasmine Berry and her sensational new website, my heart fluttered. Jasmine has created a truly heartwarming site called Read to My Child - a site dedicated to book readings for young kids. Jasmine's philosophy can be outlined in her own words:

". . . I wanted a site where my children could be read to by an actual person, with no animation, in as natural a way as possible. I wanted to create the feel that my kids were not just watching another show on a screen but rather being read to by a real person, holding a real book, with real pages . . ."

Jasmine says her site in no way replaces parents reading to their children but is another option (as opposed to TV or electronic games) when parents need a few moments to themselves. I simply love this idea - and what a thrill it was to see Jasmine read Riley and the Dancing Lion on her site. It's so wonderful hearing someone other than myself read the story! You can listen to the reading here. 

You'll also find many more fabulous readings on the site, and Jasmine is working hard at adding more recordings in the coming months, so make sure you check back often.

Thanks, Jazz - love your work!

youtube reading - Riley and the Dancing Lion!

My second book reading! Hope you enjoy it with the kids.

Riley and the Dancing Lion Spot-the-Difference in Our Tung Chung magazine, HK

The wonderful Natasha Smith of Our Tung Chung magazine - a fantastic publication that celebrates expat life in Hong Kong, particularly on Lantau Island - recently featured a spot-the-difference page from Riley and the Dancing Lion. So cute! Thanks so much for having me, Natasha - I hope to get over your way soon to read Dancing Lion to the kids!

great celebrity book auction

A signed copy of Riley and the Dancing Lion is up for bids in the Great Celebrity Book Auction to encourage reading and raise funds for literacy programmes at Kyilla Primary School, a small Government school of 200 students in North Perth, Western Australia.

I so love this initiative. In 2010 the children and families of Kyilla wrote to people they admired asking them to donate a book that has influenced them and to write in it why it is important.

I wrote . . . "The Riley series is important to me because it aims to take kids on a tour of the world - opening their minds and hearts to the cultural experiences of this vast and beautiful planet.  Travel is everything to me and I hope the bearer of this book has a life filled with glorious travel and adventure."

Get bidding and help raise funds for literacy!

Book Chook Review of Riley and the Dancing Lion

 Huge thanks to the Book Chook for a fantastic review of Riley and the Dancing Lion! I love Susan's informative and highly creative site and am thrilled to be featured.

Riley and the Dancing Lion Giveaway at City Weekend Beijing

Huge thanks to the lovely Erica Chen, my former editor at City Weekend magazine in Beijing, who has organised a giveaway of Riley and the Dancing Lion to CW readers.

Can't wait to see the entries! Thanks, E! x

Riley Books in Reading Time

So thrilled to have both Riley books featured in Reading Time, the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s children's books magazine.

To read this small review, click the picture to enlarge.

Huge thanks to John Cohen, editor and publisher of Reading Time.

Review: Riley and the Dancing Lion

Many thanks to Vicki Stanton of Buzz Words for kindly allowing publication of this review on my site. Buzz Words, an incredible industry newsletter on children's and young adult literature, is a must-subscribe for anyone interested in children's books. Thanks also to Louise Baker!

Riley and the Dancing Lion is the second book in the Riley travelogue series by Tania McCartney. In this second adventure, Riley travels to Hong Kong, in search of the traditional dancing lion of the Chinese New Year. Having read the first book in the series, in which Riley visited Beijing, I was excited to learn that Tania had released a new book featuring her delightful, adventurous traveller, Riley.

This story introduces the young reader to some magnificent highlights of the city of Hong Kong, from Victoria Harbour, into Kowloon, down the South to Aberdeen and to St Paul’s in Macau. The book features black and white photographs of the city, along with a series of dancing lions; from a rapper, to a ballerina and a highland flinging Scotsman. Kieron Pratt has produced a vast array of colourful illustrations, to complement the photography. The detail of the drawings, featuring highly accessorized lions, is sure to catch the attention of young readers.

The story is well written and the language used is clear and articulate and appropriate to a young age group. The layout is easy to follow with large lettering and plenty of balance between type and illustration.

I particularly liked the last page which features a hand drawn map and shows the reader the places where Riley has travelled. Tania will be releasing the next book in the series in 2010, which will take the reader to Sydney and it would be great to see a map in future years well filled with the travelling adventures of young Riley.

Riley and the Dancing Lion by Tania McCartney, illustrated by Kieron Pratt (Tania McCartney Press, 2009) RRP $16.99



Reviewed by Louise Baker for Buzz Words

what people are saying about riley and the dancing lion

The book has such wonderful illustrations, the colours are superb. I've loved the story and I'm sure any child who's lucky enough to get this book will treasure it forever. - Mary Connor, Northern Ireland

The story is well written and the language used is clear and articulate and appropriate to a young age group. The layout is easy to follow with large lettering and plenty of balance between type and illustration. - Louise Baker, Buzz Words industry newsletter

[McCartney's books] place emphasis on the stylish black and white photos of scenes from life in modern day Beijing and Hong Kong. The [photos] give a human interest rather than a tourist vision of the countries. The illustrations that hold the photos together have an appealing comic style about them, with each story being a sub text that joins with the photos and illustrations to offer a quite satisfying and surprising ending. The books could well begin discussion about the culture of China. - John Cohen, editor and publisher of Reading Time, the Children's Book Council of Australia

The [books] are brilliant! The words are beautiful, the pictures are stunning... I love them! I love that they inspire excitement about travel, which I've never seen another children's book do. My 17 months old loves the pictures and the sound of the words. I stopped reading aloud at a few points, just reading ahead to myself, and she looked at me with annoyance until I started saying the words again. And if my arm happened to cover part of a picture, she'd push it away - she's finding the pictures intriguing! - Megan Blandford, mum and blogger

See what people are saying about Riley and the Grumpy Wombat.

See what people are saying about Handmade Living. 

See what people are saying about Riley and the Curious Koala.

See what people are saying about Beijing Tai Tai.
See what people are saying about Riley and the Sleeping Dragon.

Jingle Bells, Carols and Book Readings

It was really lovely to be involved in Carols by Candelight at the divine Rodney's Nursery at Pialligo on Thursday night. A hot, balmy evening, families congregated on the lawns with picnic rugs or perched themselves on chairs to enjoy the fabulous Woden Valley Youth Choir and their dulcet tones.

I collected a lovely little batch of freshly hatched book lovers to come and listen to a reading of Riley and the Dancing Lion, then later a reading of Riley and the Sleeping Dragon. I then had a wonderful chat with Katie from MissChief Maker, who has a stunning boutique filled with children's clothing treasures, onsite at the Nursery.

What a beautiful way to celebrate Christmas, with caroling and meandering amongst flowers and trees. I even spotted a beautiful, traditonal, goosefeather style Christmas tree, displaying ornaments for sale. I've been coveting a tree like this for years... got me websearching and I'll post soon about a wonderful find.

Only four more sleeps 'til Christmas. Whatever you're doing, I hope your days are bright.

Riley and the Dancing Lion Launch in the Canberra Weekly

 

Many thanks to the lovely Julie Samaras of the Canberra Weekly for including some great photos of the launch of Riley and the Dancing Lion (even though it said Sleeping Dragon!). So cute to see the kids in the Social Pages.

REDinstead Photo Gallery

I'm a big lover of photos and totally a wannabe photographer. And it's reasons like Jen Leheny of REDinstead's beautiful gallery posting that make me continue to wannabe. You can see it larger by clicking on the pic, and can also read Jen's blog entry on the Launch here.

Doesn't it look amazing? Right, I'm off to do a photographic 2010 calendar...

Riley and the Dancing Lion Book Launch Party

WOW! What a fantabulous time we had at Daltons Books in Canberra City on Sunday to launch Riley and the Dancing Lion.

With a shop festooned with glorious orange balloons and red Chinese lanterns, the kids tumbled in about 11.30am.

Announcing the Launch of Riley and the Dancing Lion!

All kids and big kids warmly invited to the exciting launch of...

Riley and the Dancing Lion

Sunday 6 December 2009

11.30am - 1pm

Dalton's Bookstore

Cnr Marcus Clarke & Rudd Streets

Canberra City

Kids can enjoy:

• a book reading and signing!


• balloons and goodie bags!


• Christmas & Chinese New Year delectables!


• circus tricks performed by Kelly Sports


• a mass of prize giveaways!


• loads of fun!

RSVP absolutely essential...

contact Meredith on 6249 1844 or email here.

HUGE thanks to our fabulous sponsors:

Every Child Magazine Subscription Renewal - Riley and the Dancing Lion

Thanks again to the wonderful Mary McCartney from Early Childhood Australia for organizing this exciting book giveaway of Riley and the Dancing Lion in Every Child magazine. Subscribers have a chance to win a copy of the book when they renew.

Launch Sponsor: Poppy Bean and Bloss

Proud to mention another sponsor for my Riley and The Dancing Lion book launch. Poppy Bean & Bloss is that kind of label that sends you back to yesteryear when things were made with such beauty and care.

Local gal Michelle Williams began her business in 2007 when she was stumped for the perfect gift for her niece - and tried her hand at a sock monkey. The rest is history. Michelle's sock monkeys are not only absolutely adorable, they are made with such care and love - recipients are guaranteed to fall in life-long love.

Michelle's best-selling (who am I kidding, they are all best-selling!) Waldorf style doll features the classic rounded face and button nose and wide-set eyes. The dolls can be custom-designed to almost any specification - an older doll, a baby, a variety of hairstyles and skin colour. She also creates adorable little knot dolls which make the perfect snuggly for little ones.

Clever Michelle not only sews, she crochets and hand-makes these beautiful hair ties with fabric covered buttons. She also sells these without the crochet flower, making for delightful, retro bobbles any girl would love.

Visit Poppy Bean & Bloss for more!

Launch Sponsor: Brindabella Baby

Emma Davidson from Brindabella Baby is one amazing woman. Not only because she's a sponsor for my book launch, but also because she is one of these people who know they can make a difference.

Emma's baby - Brindabella Baby - began as an online store and as a presence at local markets around Canberra. Then in April of this year, this mum and eco-entrepreneur launched her dream - a retail shop in Braddon, just north of the city centre.

Emma's philosophy centres on sustainable, eco-friendly and reusable products. A true earth mother of three gorgeous kids, she is passionate about fair-trade, health, community and social justice. All of Emma's products are either handmade locally or are imported under strict fair-trade conditions.

Brindabella Baby has a preference for WAHMs (work-at-home-mums - or aunts or dads) and sweatshop-free commercial manufacturers, so you can be sure that you are supporting ethical means of production when you shop online or instore. Learn more about this policy here.

Although Emma says her products focus on quality not quantity, she nonetheless has an extraordinary range of eco-friendly products on offer.

From a stunning range of all-natural skincare for both mum and baby...

...to organic tea, toys, bags, books (including mine! which were absolutely produced under fair-trade conditions, even the books printed in China), gourmet treats and handmade cot sheet sets and quilts like this stunning set produced by Anokhi in India...

And Brindabella Baby has the most incredible range of nappies, liners, nappy covers, training pants...

...and amazing slings and baby carriers...

...even cards and wrap... like these Christmas cards made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper and non-polluting vegetable ink...

This stunning range of products will have you mesmerised and also thankful that you, too, can purchase items that make a difference to people's lives... and our planet.

Beyond a focus on product, Emma is also very active in the Canberra community with her commitment to natural birthing processes and support. She runs frequent events and support groups for women, babies and toddlers. Don't hesitate to contact her for more information.

My, there are some wonderful people doing some great things in the world. And Emma, you're one of them.