Girls Thoughts

Book Review: How To Survive Summer Camp: Author: Jaqcueline Wilson

"How to Survive Summer Camp" was written by Jacqueline Wilson and Illustrated by Nick Sharratt. It was first published in1985 by Oxford University Press. The Special Edition was published in 2010 to 2011 for the 25th anniversary of the book.

Stella, an average school girl, gets sent to a summer camp by her newly- wed mum. Dressed from head to toe in what she sees as awful camp clothes, she arives at Evergreen Camp ready for the worst.             

Mistaken for a boy, bullied into swimming, and forced to share a room with snobby Louise and nasty Karen, Stella thinks summer camp can't get any worse, but with eccentric Ms. Hamer Cotton, and her Siamese cat, Tinkypoo, lurking around each and every  corner, can it?

My favourite character in the book was Marzipan, as she was quiet and shy, but even though she was bullied by Karen, caring Stella still found that Marzipan had her own sense of opinion and did not care what Karen thought.

I would rate this book 10 out of ten as it had a funny and adventurous dialoge, and something unexpected lay in wait around each corner.

I reccomend this book to girls from the ages of 9 to 11, as it is a heart-warming story about overcoming you'r fears and making new friends, and I think that the story shows that a sense of humour always helps, even if it isn't that funny.

Once again, thanks for taking the time to read another of my book reviews, and I hope that you found it useful!

You can read my other book reviews here.

My Video Review of Pottermore.com

I just got my early access email this morning, and I am so excited about learning even more about J.K. Rowling's world of Harry Potter on Pottermore.

I decided to create this video review of Pottermore to give you an inside view of what it's like on the new website.

I hope that you are excited about the website opening to the public in October! You can read about my experience of registering for the early access to Pottermore here.

 

Rathdown Summer Camp: Creative Writing and Digital Stories

This summer holiday, from the eigth to the twelfth of August, I attended Creative Writing Camp at Rathdown Primary School. The camp was organised by Vannessa O'Loughlin, and taught by Claire Hennessy and David Maybury.

In the mornings, we did creative writing, and in the afternoon, digital stories. In creative writing, we covered a wide range of methods, including description, freewriting, and how fond you should be of you'r character. (If you like you'r character too much, you won't want to make them suffer, like all other characters do.)

After lunch, we did Digital Stories, we painted the interiors of cardboard boxes to be our scenes, and made plasticine figures for our characters.

Then we drew out our storyboards and started to take pictures and move the character a little for every picture. In the end we came up with three-minute movies.

During lunch and break, I socialised with my new found friends, catching up with what was happening to my old friends who moved to different schools, and talking to the odd child or two who would be joining my school in the school-year ahead.

Overall, I found going to a summer camp very enjoyable, and hope to go to another camp next year!

Photo credit - PinkSherbet on Flickr

Book Review: Eva's Journey by Judi Curtin, O'Brien Press

Eva's Journey was written by Judi Curtin and the cover illustrations are by Woody Fox. This book was first published by The O'Brien Press Ltd. in 2010.

Eva Gordon, a spoilt, high maintenance girl who likes nothing more than luxurious and sophisticated things, can't wait to go on her holidays.

But when her parents cancel her holiday trip and sell their expensive car, she just doesn't understand why.

So, when Eva's dad loses his job, and Eva and her parents move into a different neighbourhood in a different house, and having to go to a different school, she knows she hates everything.

Finaly, she finds a way that she thinks can get her out of this mess.

A forune teller, who tells her to start being nice and helping people. So, with the help of her best friend, Victoria, will she be helping other people as well as herself?

My favorite character in the book was Victoria because she was friedly and kind, and a giving frien, too. Even when Eva was at her snobbiest, the down to earth, middle -class Victoria would always know the way to cheer her up.

I would rate this book 9 out of ten as it had an exciting and enjoyable storyline, but just needed a bit more character description about Victoria and Eva.

I would recommend this book to girls of the ages 9-12, as it is an intresting and enticing read with a moral to it that everyone should keep in mind: Friendliness gives friends, and doesn't cost a penny!

Thanks for reading another of my book reviews, and I hope you enjoy all of my other future posts!

ISBN No.: 978-1-84717-224-2

Fun In The Garden

Many children today play with their friends in the street and sit in the living room watching the television. of course, this is what most people expect children to do these days, but is a chocolate bar and a rented DVD really the best thing to do, or should we re-think that?

Well, did your parent's parent's have televisions at all?

No. Instead, they were much fitter. After watching a documentary, I now know that many children today are much less fit than their grandparents were.

A good 1 hour of excersise is what everyone needs each day. Your one hour could include doing chores, playing an instrument, or even a mixture of things, such as: Roller Skating, skateboarding, cycling, walking, running or jogging, hoovering or hula hooping.

I was told recently that some past generations would do 100 hundred push-ups, sit-ups, squats and lunges a day, and could also put their hands on the ground whilst keeping their legs strait as a form of keeping fit!

But remember there are also other ways for older and younger people to keep healthy, such as having fun in the garden.

Parents can either relax or join in the fun with their kids as they mess around and have fun.

If you don't even have a small back garden or front lawn, an open to public local park or grassy area  will do.

My Two Tips To Fun In The Garden:

1. Do you have a kiddies sized tent? A kiddies tent is a small 'play tent' that you can put up without pegs or anything, as all you have to do is pull it open, but you may have to peg it if it is windy.

Kids love to have their own little 'house' to play with their toys in. If you don't have one, you may be able to buy one in Argos, Smyths, or a kids toy store near you.

If you cannot find one, try looking for one online (if you're an adult, that is). Remember that kiddies tents are small and brightly coloured.

2. Spending time skipping is fun and great exercise - I also remember at different stages in the past getting about 3 D.I.Y. birdhouses and I still have an inflatable bowling strip, including inflatable bowling balls and pins!

And for boys then a football can be put to good use.

If you cannot find a suitable toy for your child to use in the garden, or do not want to have to buy one, you can always ask if you can borrow one from your neighboor, or have a trade of toys once a month.

Thanks for reading this post and I hope that you found my tips useful. What other suggestions do you have for keeping fit and having fun in the garden?

Pottermore: The New J.K. Rowling Website

On Tuesday the second of August, I was accepted as one of the first million fans of Harry Potter to enter J.K. Rowling's new website, Pottermore, early, as Pottermore opens in October.

I was asked to answer a riddle about Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, and to type in the answer on the end of a link that would lead me to the Magic Quill.

I also had to register my acount once I had found the quill and then I had to wait for an email that would grant my acceptance to the website early if my mum confirmed the email within 24 hours.

I answered the riddle: "In which chapter did Professor McGonagall cancel the quidditch match between gryfinndor and Hufflepuff. Multiply your answer by 42". I answered correctly and found the Magic Quill before the link closed for the day.

On her new website, J.K. Rowling will be revealing extra details about the series of Harry Potter books that she has been hoarding up for years. Pottermore will be a website where people of all ages can share, participate and rediscover stories.

J.K Rowling quotes that Pottermore will be  a 'safe, unique, online reading experience built aroyund the Harry Potter books. Potter more will also be a place where you can purchase digital audio books, and, for the first time, ebooks of the Harry Potter series'.

Remember, Pottermore will open to everyone in October, but there's stil a chance to be one of the lucky few who can enter early and help 'shape the experience'.

So go to Pottermore now, as you still have a chance to gain an early registration until the eigth of August!

Five Principles To Effective Prioritisation For Adults And Teens

To start this blogpost of, I will just point out that many people, both children and adults, sometimes get piles of schoolwork, officework and chores headed their way, which is why I have composed this post.

I was inspired by " a certain adult" who never knows where to begin with their mountainous piles of work.

My Five Principles - The Five Points Of Prioritisation

1. Always start with the most important or soonest due work.

2. If you have exams coming up, try to start with the hardest and end with the easiest.

It always helps to spend a little more time on the hardest schoolwork, since you need to get a good score on everything!

3.Find certain times in the the day to do your office work, but remember that you need to have a resonable amount of time to finish everything e.g. 9am-11am finish 108 slide presentation for business meeting number 1 and write 2 blogposts; 12pm, lunch; 3pm-6pm, meet George for coffee and go to a buisiness meeting number 2.

4. Got too much work? Have no time to spend with friends and family?

Then tell them your problem and ask them if you can go out to a restaraunt or the movies some other time.

5. And finally, remember, when you have finished your work and have had a family day out, you'r next priority is you.

Don't overload yourself with work, have a break from time to time, and when you're done, remember to have a little time to relax, maybe even just for a few minutes to set your mind straight.

Did you find my tips on prioratisation useful, or would you you like to share some of your own? Then please leave a comment or tweet me on Twitter!

Book Review: Judy Moody Was In A Mood by Megan McDonald

Judy Moody Was In A Mood was written by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. This book was published by Walker Books, and was first published in 2001.

In this book, Judy Moody and class 3 have a project to work on. It's called a 'me collage'. But will Judy Moody finish it in time for the deadline at the end of September, or will she get into trouble because her little 'bother', Stink, messed it all up?

My favourite character in this book was Frank Pearl as he wasn't really as bad as Judy thought. He also had an amazing collection of all types of things and he had a funny personality.

I would rate this book 10 out of 10 as  it is funny, interesting and exciting, all at the same time.

I would reccomend this book to nine year olds as it is a quick, amusing read that they can enjoy fully, especially if they have good reading skills.

I hope that you enjoyed this book review and are looking forward to the next one!

ISBN No.: 978-1-4063-3582-8

Podcasted Book Review: Photography For Kids by Sandra Abent and Michael Ebert

Today I am reviewing Photography For Kids by Sandra Abend and Michael Ebert, two German authors.

I really liked this book as it gave me very detailed but simple steps that I could understand easily, so that I could learn how to use a camera in no time at all.

If you would like to buy this book, remember that the publisher is rockynook and that the ISBN number is: 978-1-933952-76-5.

I hope you liked my joint podcast with Krishna De, who adults can learn more about at BizGrowth News.

If you would like to say to me any intresting comments about the book please leave them below.

If you have suggestions for books for me to review please email at thekidsbookshow(at)gmail.com

Thank you for reading and listening to my lastest book review. I hope you enjoyed it!

Book Review - Blue Lavender Girl: Author - Judy May

Blue Lavender Girl was published by The O'Brien Press Ltd. in 2006.

In BLG, Tia, a grumpy and misunderstood teenager, is sent away to her Auntie Maisie in the 'middle of nowhere' countryside for the summer.

Can she get over gothic black clothes and overapplied make-up so that she can settle for a six week vacation with the only adult who seems to understand her and hardly any friends to keep her company?

The character I liked most in the story was Jackson because when Tia first met him he seemed spiteful, but when she got to know him a bit better, he was really an adventurous and kind person at heart.

I would rate Blue Lavender Girl 10 out of 10 as it is a wonderful story about how you can turn you'r life upside down in a good way when you think you are useless or dull, and it is funny at times as well as a bit emotional.

I would recommend this book for 12-15 year olds as it is a book for older and more avid readers.

I found BLG in Tallaght library, and you can find it in local libraries or good bookstores near you.

Are you a fan of Judy May? Then you should read Copper Girl, another good book for older readers!

Thanks for reading my latest book review, and I will be back soon with further info about great books and interesting events!

ISBN No. for Blue Lavender Girl: 0-86278-991-5

ISBN No. for Copper Girl: 978-0862789909