Rascal Reading Level

I was recently asked by a parent about the word length/difficulty in the Rascal series of books and how that differs from the early books to the latter.  My answer was as follows:

Reading difficulty is quite a complex matter and not solely due to the number of words on a page.  Also involved are word size (number of letters and syllables), phonic complexity of the words(sounding out) and conceptual complexity of the words and sentences (ideas).  Another factor of course is how interesting the story is as children will persist more if they are interested.  Humour is another important ingredient.
 
Also used from time to time is repetition of particular words (the names of the dragons for example) or repeated phrases.  Rhyming may also be used to make sentences and words easier.  
 
I try to balance all these factors and I have let the books increase in complexity as the stories develop.  The first book is by far the easiest - it had to be because I was setting up the three main characters and had to keep it simple (I also used repetition in this book).  As the children go through the series I can introduce more difficult ideas words because I have a lot of known material to build on.
 
The stories are designed to be read to young children first.  Then they can attempt the stories themselves.
 
The reading order is suggested in the books but I guess people who don't follow this might find the later books a bit more difficult if they start with them.
 
You might also refer to my book, The Reading Bug (Penguin) in which I explain my approach to the teaching of reading and also cite the Rascal series as an example of my ideas.

Cheers



Working with Illustrators

 

Over the years I have worked with many wonderful illustrators, including Terry Denton, Craig Smith, Keith McEwan, Jane Tanner, Jeanette Rowe, Dean Gorissen, Bob Lea, Andrew Weldon, Glenn Lumsden and David deVries. 

Each one of these talented artists have their own particular skills and ways of working with an author. Some respond to a detailed illustration brief where I request a particular drawing and spell out everything that I want. Others don’t like this at all. One artist said to me, ‘Paul, I’ve read the story, you’ve done your bit, it’s my baby now. So you go away and let me do my bit and I’ll show you when I’m finished.’ Because I respected this persons talent so much I went along with it, although it was difficult I can tell you. Some artists use reference a lot, meaning that they like to have an object or place to look at and work from. Some can create wonderful imaginary creatures but can’t draw faces. Others prefer to draw cartoons and accompany their work with a wicked sense of humour.  And then of course, there is the odd individual who can do just about anything.

Pictures in children’s book serve different functions. For very young children the picture will often help the child to read the words and may in fact be an almost exact representation of the text. At other times the pictures may take over the story telling and my words are either taken out or not there in the first place.

At times I have worked with illustrators where we have met in a coffee shop or a pub and had lots of laughs and fun working out our latest project. At other times I have worked with illustrators who live in another country where we are connected by emails and telephone.

The publisher always provides a book designer and an editor who manage the development of the whole project. As might be expected, sometimes the author and illustrator do not see eye to eye. In these cases the editor may weigh in with a gentle opinion which will tip the balance. Creative people can be very passionate about someone else having an input, but I have always found the disagreements to be resolved happily.

I am always amazed by the imaginative contributions the artists make to our books. Sometimes I gasp in awe and surprise at the unique view they bring to a story. I am envious. I wish I could draw. But a stick figure is the best I can do.

I am not going to say which of my comments apply to any of the wonderful artists I have been privileged to work with, but I don’t mind if you try to guess.


The Bird Said Nothing - New Story - New eBook

 

Well, I’ve done it. A first for me. I have published a new book, The Bird Said Nothing, in eBook form only, unlike my previous 80 books which have all been released first by a major publisher. I have said previously that I prefer traditional paper books, and this is still true. However I have to accept that many people enjoy eBooks. There are also benefits for the author as one can obtain instant exposure in overseas markets such as the United States and the UK. And of course, I am in total control of the text, design and the publishing date.

Like most of us, I once ran away from home. When I was aged 5 I informed my parents I was leaving and they waved me off at the gate. I stopped about 200m from home where I reached the edge of my known territory, and shame faced returned home.  In hindsight I have no doubt that my parents were keeping a distant eye on me but I remember it as a painful experience. I have heard of parents even packing lunch for the escaper and it is often seems to me, that it is cruel to gleefully remind a child of how powerless they are. I have sometimes wondered what would happen if a runaway landed in some happy place and chose not to return?

This reflection was the germ that led to my new story. Apart from this, I don’t know where the bird who said ‘Nothing’ came from, and it was not until I’d finished the story that I started to get a full appreciation of what I had written. It’s a fairy tale.  And like all fairy tales it contains mysteries within mysteries.

One of the questions that publishers always ask when I give them a new manuscript is, ‘Who is it for?’. Usually I can answer this question easily. The Rascal books are for infants, The Nest is for older teenagers and The Reading Bug is for adults. But this tale has me perplexed and I can only answer with a question of my own.

Who is Red Riding Hood for? I just saw a recently released movie in which the Red Riding Hood story uses gothic horror and is definitely for adults only. I first read one version when I was six. Just as some stories reach to us through the ages, other stories reach all ages.

In the end it’s for anyone who gets something out of it. 

I hope that’s you.
 


School Daze

Lately I have been in contact with quite a few people who've had children who are unhappy at school.  Some are struggling with the work, some are unhappy with the social networks, and some just see the world in a way that is different to most people.  I am often struck by the number of successful people who did poorly at school.  I'll stick my neck out and say that I think some children would be better off not going at all.  Often a child with a rare or particular talent receives no encouragement, or even active discouragement, in following their own star.
 
I received three strokes of the cane when I was at school for hiding in the school library when football was on.  Perhaps there was some other unfortunate boy who had nicked off to kick a football during English Literature lessons. 
 
People belong to tribes and some of the tribes might be very small indeed.  Does a person whose had a "diagnosis" of Asperger's Syndrome have something wrong with them or do they simply belong to a small tribe which sees the world in its own particular way?  I think the latter is true and that it is the school that has the problem in adapting to the child's distinctive orientation.
 
In my view the biggest problem facing schools today is how to cope with the individual needs and aspirations of each child.  I have absolutely no time for a nationwide regime of testing and assessment which treats all students as if they are the same.
 
 
 


September 2011

 

In the field of writing an established author is often torn between what he or she wants to say and what other people are wanting.   Readers often want more of the same, publishers understandably want what sells and of course, most authors are also interested in earning money and making a living.   I recently canvassed this issue in an interview with  Josephine Rowe, author and journalist with Dumbo Feather magazine, to be published shortly. 

Four publishers rejected my first book, Unreal saying either that children didn’t like short stories, or teachers would not approve of the content. Penguin Books did approve and took the risk - they have now sold more than eight million of my books and I will be forever grateful to them for doing so. 

My readers tend to favour my funny short stories and I continue to write these. But sometimes I have an idea which I know will disappoint some readers and be unpopular with publishers. What should I do? The following quotation has given me much food for thought.

“Most people who advance their field must disagree with their predecessors to some extent and in some measure destroy the past; they must also disagree with their contemporaries and so increase chaos. Usually a field is least usefully active when it is apparently least chaotic.”
Norman Geschwind

 
There is not really much choice.
 
It is go for it or perish.
 


May 2011

I have been thinking a lot lately about where ideas come from.  It is easily the question I get asked most often.  Jung said that writers don't come up with ideas, the ideas are already out there and they are discovered.  He believed in the collective unconscious which links us all through our stories. 
 
I have noticed over the last 25 years that a number of writers seem to "discover" an idea at the same time.  I remember when The Fisherman and the Theefyspray (illustrated by Jane Tanner) was published, Graeme Base published The Sign of the Sea Horse and The Rainbow Fish was also published for children and very popular.  I have had other ideas which have shown up in other books at the same time with no contact or knowledge between the authors.  And, on one occasion, had to dump a story because I had been beaten to the punch.
 
And then of course, there are the archetypal stories which show up in every culture.  It is said that even tribes in the most remote areas have a Cinderella story even though they have had absolutely no contact with other cultures.  I think all of this goes to show how connected we all are and how useful stories are in helpiing us grow and understand each other.



March 2011

 

BOOK SHOPPING

People like to give and receive books as presents. This is something that is rarely mentioned in the e-books versus real books debate. Books make wonderful presents and many people, like myself treasure books given long ago during childhood. Inscriptions by the giver may be a reminder of a friendship or relationship which existed long ago. Also treasured are volumes which have been signed by the author.

In recognition of this I am happy to announce that we are now selling books online from my website. Readers are welcome to request my signature and the inscribed name of the recipient of the book. I am more than happy to write ‘HAVE A GREAT TENTH BIRTHDAY JOHN’ and sign my name to it. I will probably draw the line at something that I was once asked to write by an enterprising lad whom I had just met. He asked me to write ‘TO MY OLDEST AND DEAREST FRIEND JOHN SMITH – I NEVER WOULD HAVE MADE IT WITHOUT YOU’.

All reasonable requests however will be met.
Happy Reading
 
The Paul Jennings Book Shop is now OPEN.

Click here to go to my Book Shop:  /books.asp
 


February 2011

 

In addition to writing, I am also passionate about preserving our natural environment. I am halfway through revegetating the fifty two acres where I work and live with indigenous plants.   Some of it could now be accurately described as a forest. We have had our first koala and several wallabies in attendance, as well as scores of bird species.

As part of my agreement with Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Australian Government Funding and Hopkins Point Landcare Group, I am holding an Open Day along with my neighbour. It is on Sunday 20th March between 12noon and 3.00pm at 474 and 520 Hopkins Point Road, Allansford.

I will be in attendance and if you are interested in landcare preservation you are most welcome to visit.

Below is a photo of the first block of revegetation behind me, and now a forest. It is also where the koala visits.



April 2011

Hi Paul, I am a Prep teacher and I have been reading the Rascal books to my class over the last few weeks. Wow!! They just love these books. They get mum and dad by the hand and they have to look at the book we have read today. I just love the excitement they have about reading the Rascal books. They are hooked so much so that a little boy in my class 'Jack' wrote a Rascal book. It is called "Rascal and the Numbers". It is fantastic, the story line is similar to yours, it has great illustrations, it was typed up on the computer and then mum used her sewing machine to make it into a book. I would love for you to see it. He presented it at sharing today. We just love your books thank you so much. From the children of Prep R. Thanks Denise
 


December 2010

 
 In England this year they have snow for Christmas, perhaps a little more than they want. We have gum trees, inviting beaches, sunshine (hopefully) and flies. 
 
I’m looking out over the little forest I’ve planted here in Warrnambool. We are having an Open Day on Sunday 20 March next year so that people can come and see how you can turn bare paddocks back into bushland. So far we have had a koala,  three wallabies and a million birds move in.  I've got what I want for Christmas. I hope you do too. 
 
Christmas Cheers and Happy Reading
 
 


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