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As Australia is hellbent on importing children's books by British male celebrities, we should also import this very good thread and Guardian piece: "Famous first words: how celebrities made their way on to children's bookshelves". https://twitter.com/SarahCrossan/status/1337854494449803264
This wasn’t always my opinion. When you work for big publishers they are good at convincing you that we need these books. No we don’t. We need Andy Griffiths who started out selling homemade books for a dollar in a market and went on to become a bestseller. Let that be the model.
Here's how it affects Australian kidlit. My beloved Readings has not one non-celeb Australian novel in its top 10 in the lead up to Xmas. Good for Anh Do, but why are we funding No.3's future novel-writing? What funny Australian books could we buy instead? Feel free to chime in.
School Rules Are Optional by Alison Hart looks fun. "Jesse will have you roaring with laughter as he navigates the rites and rituals of Grade 6 including a disrespectful Prep buddy, a plumbing problem...not to mention the dreaded compulsory school camp." https://www.readings.com.au/products/32959454/school-rules-are-optional-the-grade-six-survival-guide-book-1
You will not find as much energy in a single human being as you'll find in Nat Amoore, a fantastic ambassador for Australian kidlit and the author of these two funny books: https://www.readings.com.au/products/26878412/secrets-of-a-schoolyard-millionaire
Remy Lai has a winning combination of novel and graphic novel in last year's Pie in the Sky and this year's Fly on the Wall. https://www.readings.com.au/products/32805788/fly-on-the-wall
Hilarious chicken detective who teams up with the daughter of a local policeman to solve crimes? Sounds like a novel that D Walliams would love to write if only he'd thought of it first. It's by much celebrated Tassie author Lian Tanner. https://www.readings.com.au/products/32840038/a-clue-for-clara
Funny 
Uplifting Mystery Excellent writing Australian setting Two novels by Australian bookseller and author Fiona Hardy.
https://www.readings.com.au/products/32825561/how-to-write-the-soundtrack-to-your-life
Uplifting Mystery Excellent writing Australian setting Two novels by Australian bookseller and author Fiona Hardy.https://www.readings.com.au/products/32825561/how-to-write-the-soundtrack-to-your-life
Penny Tangey is one of Australia's funniest writers for children; her work is clever and sensitive too. Let's make her a lot more famous because this was one of my top reads of 2020 in all categories. Recently won the QLD Literary Award. https://www.readings.com.au/products/31315628/as-fast-as-i-can
Just to add that I'm picking out some Australian books that tick all the same boxes - and more - that D Walliams et al are said to tick, but which don't have the same marketing juggernaut behind them.
This was my pick for my 10 year old niece, who loves stories but isn't a very confident reader yet. Readings says: "It’s a funny book but it’s not without heart, and there are empowering messages among all the deadpan lines and antics." https://www.readings.com.au/products/30508509/the-odds-the-odds-book-1
The first two in the Sherlock Bones funny graphic novel mysteries by Renee Treml would be a great Xmas present: they're substantial to hold, so you'll look generous when you hand over the parcel. Recommended by my graphic novel expert son. https://www.readings.com.au/products/27006191/sherlock-bones-and-the-natural-history-mystery
If you haven't watched Adrian Beck and Sally Rippin's show - The Kidlit Club - which is all about children's literature in Australia, you're missing out. And here's Adrian in another great collaboration, with Nicole Hayes and James Hart. https://www.readings.com.au/products/31315133/ozzy-rules-afl-little-legends-book-1
I'm highlighting books published in 2020. These creators stepped up to make videos and maintain connections with Australian children during lockdown. These creators were not eligible for a single bean from the government. Most of them are only published in Australia.
Changing gear for a moment, for children who seek a serious, thoughtful book: a fantasy like the exquisite Republic of Birds, a timeslip like the absolutely charming Secret Library of Hummingbird House, or a superb coming-of-age like The Year the Maps Changed.
In the time it has taken me to compile this thread, D Walliams moved up one place on the Readings bestseller list BUT... this Australian children's book hopped up to No.4! An adventure set in Melbourne's Coles Book Arcade in 1893. https://www.readings.com.au/products/32920532/the-grandest-bookshop-in-the-world
You have reached the end of the internet.
Please turn back and buy a few of the books on this thread.
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Please turn back and buy a few of the books on this thread.
[The End]
