The Authors (and books) that made me a reader & writer
There are countless books I read as a child, pre-teen, and teenager that shaped my imagination and creative muscles, turning me into a reader and writer. Below are some highlights, though not an exhaustive list by any means. You will notice a mix of Australian and international writers and books. Perhaps you will spot some of your old favourites among mine!
AUSTRALIAN AUTHORS (novels & picture books)
Morris Gleitzman - 'Two Weeks with the Queen', 'Grace'
Jackie French - 'Rain Stones', 'The Secret Beach', 'Missing You, Love Sara', 'Tajore Arkle'
Libby Gleeson - 'Dodger', 'Dear Writer', 'Skating on Sand', 'Amy and Louis'
Wendy Orr - 'Leaving it to You', 'Ark in the Park', 'The Wedding Surprise', 'Jessica Joan'
Hazel Edwards - 'There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake', 'Fake I.D.', 'E-Mail Murder Mystery'
Sally Odgers - 'Five Easy Lessons', 'Aurora', 'The Magician's Box', 'Her Kingdom for a Pony'
Libby Hathorn - 'Thunderwith', 'Valley Under the Rock', 'So Who Needs Lotto?'
Meredith Costain - 'The Sandpit War'
Robin Klein - 'Games', 'Hating Alison Ashley', 'Boss of the Pool'
Dianne Bates - 'Grandma's Cadbury Trucking Tales', 'The Last Refuge', 'Money Smart Kids', 'The Shape'
Alexandra Adornetto - 'The Shadow Thief', 'The Lampo Circus', 'Von Gobstopper's Arcade'
Duncan Ball - 'Selby the Talking Dog'
Sherryl Clark - 'Boots and All'
Ursula Dubosarsky - 'Fairy Bread', 'The Magic Wand', 'Honey and Bear'
Emily Rodda - 'Teen Power Inc. series', 'The Key to Rondo', 'Finders Keepers', Something Special'
Nadia Wheatley - 'The House that Was Eureka', 'Luke's Way of Looking'
John Marsden - 'Letters from the Inside'
Simon French - 'Hey, Phantom Singlet!'
Sonya Hartnett - 'Sparkle & Nightflower', 'The Midnight Zoo',
INTERNATIONAL AUTHORS
Ann M. Martin - 'The Baby-sitters Club', 'The Doll People',
Enid Blyton - 'The Magic Faraway Tree', 'Famous Five', 'The Find-Outers', 'Merry Mr. Meddle'
J.K. Rowling - 'Harry Potter series'
Beatrix Potter - 'The Tale of the Two Bad Mice', 'The Tale of Ginger and Pickles'
Debbie Dadey & Marcia Thornton Jones - 'The Bailey School Kid series'
Joyce Lankester Brinkley - 'Milly Molly Mandy'
Barbara Park - 'Junie B. Jones'
Dick King-Smith - 'Sophie's Adventures'
Eth Clifford - 'Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library!'
Jill Murphy - 'The Worst Witch'
Margaret Mahy - 'The Down Hill Crocodile and other stories'
Louis Sachar - 'Sideways Stories from Wayward High'
R.L. Stine - 'Goosebumps'
Stan & Jan Berenstain - 'The Berenstain Bears'
Mary Pope Osborne - 'Magic Tree House'
Philippa Pearce - 'Tom's Midnight Garden'
Helen Cresswell - 'Moondial'
Beverly Cleary - 'Dear Mr. Henshaw'
AUSTRALIAN PICTURE BOOKS
Mem Fox - 'Wombat Divine', 'Night Noises', 'Koala Lou'
Bob Graham - 'Rose Meets Mr. Wintergarten'
Alison Lester - 'Clive Eats Alligators'
Margaret Wild - 'Tanglewood', 'Old Pig', 'Fox', 'Miss Lilly's Fabulous Pink Boa'
Jeannie Baker - 'Window'
Gillian Rubinstein - 'Sharon, Keep Your Hair On'
Gwenda Smyth - 'The Famous Wispy Bell'
AUSTRALIAN AUTHORS (novels & picture books)
Morris Gleitzman - 'Two Weeks with the Queen', 'Grace'
Jackie French - 'Rain Stones', 'The Secret Beach', 'Missing You, Love Sara', 'Tajore Arkle'
Libby Gleeson - 'Dodger', 'Dear Writer', 'Skating on Sand', 'Amy and Louis'
Wendy Orr - 'Leaving it to You', 'Ark in the Park', 'The Wedding Surprise', 'Jessica Joan'
Hazel Edwards - 'There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake', 'Fake I.D.', 'E-Mail Murder Mystery'
Sally Odgers - 'Five Easy Lessons', 'Aurora', 'The Magician's Box', 'Her Kingdom for a Pony'
Libby Hathorn - 'Thunderwith', 'Valley Under the Rock', 'So Who Needs Lotto?'
Meredith Costain - 'The Sandpit War'
Robin Klein - 'Games', 'Hating Alison Ashley', 'Boss of the Pool'
Dianne Bates - 'Grandma's Cadbury Trucking Tales', 'The Last Refuge', 'Money Smart Kids', 'The Shape'
Alexandra Adornetto - 'The Shadow Thief', 'The Lampo Circus', 'Von Gobstopper's Arcade'
Duncan Ball - 'Selby the Talking Dog'
Sherryl Clark - 'Boots and All'
Ursula Dubosarsky - 'Fairy Bread', 'The Magic Wand', 'Honey and Bear'
Emily Rodda - 'Teen Power Inc. series', 'The Key to Rondo', 'Finders Keepers', Something Special'
Nadia Wheatley - 'The House that Was Eureka', 'Luke's Way of Looking'
John Marsden - 'Letters from the Inside'
Simon French - 'Hey, Phantom Singlet!'
Sonya Hartnett - 'Sparkle & Nightflower', 'The Midnight Zoo',
INTERNATIONAL AUTHORS
Ann M. Martin - 'The Baby-sitters Club', 'The Doll People',
Enid Blyton - 'The Magic Faraway Tree', 'Famous Five', 'The Find-Outers', 'Merry Mr. Meddle'
J.K. Rowling - 'Harry Potter series'
Beatrix Potter - 'The Tale of the Two Bad Mice', 'The Tale of Ginger and Pickles'
Debbie Dadey & Marcia Thornton Jones - 'The Bailey School Kid series'
Joyce Lankester Brinkley - 'Milly Molly Mandy'
Barbara Park - 'Junie B. Jones'
Dick King-Smith - 'Sophie's Adventures'
Eth Clifford - 'Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library!'
Jill Murphy - 'The Worst Witch'
Margaret Mahy - 'The Down Hill Crocodile and other stories'
Louis Sachar - 'Sideways Stories from Wayward High'
R.L. Stine - 'Goosebumps'
Stan & Jan Berenstain - 'The Berenstain Bears'
Mary Pope Osborne - 'Magic Tree House'
Philippa Pearce - 'Tom's Midnight Garden'
Helen Cresswell - 'Moondial'
Beverly Cleary - 'Dear Mr. Henshaw'
AUSTRALIAN PICTURE BOOKS
Mem Fox - 'Wombat Divine', 'Night Noises', 'Koala Lou'
Bob Graham - 'Rose Meets Mr. Wintergarten'
Alison Lester - 'Clive Eats Alligators'
Margaret Wild - 'Tanglewood', 'Old Pig', 'Fox', 'Miss Lilly's Fabulous Pink Boa'
Jeannie Baker - 'Window'
Gillian Rubinstein - 'Sharon, Keep Your Hair On'
Gwenda Smyth - 'The Famous Wispy Bell'