Dear Paul, Your books have been incredibly popular with my 3 boys and it has been wonderful to watch them all become so excited about reading. My 8 yo has Autism and consequently very few interests. Fortunately, reading is one of them and he was recently so engrossed in Wicked that I couldn't persuade him to put the book down. He read it cover to cover. His first introduction to reading was with Rascal the Dragon. His 6 year old brother is now able to read these stories and is enjoying the confidence gained from reading whole novels by himself. My youngest son, who is 3 years old is obsessed by Rascal and must get 2 Rascal books every night. He knows them off by heart and "reads" them to me. These books have truly ignited his passion for books. This is a truly wonderful gift to give to any child and I thank you very much for playing an important role in sparking my children's interest in reading. Judi B

Hi Paul! Just wanted to say thanks for the fantastic books you write for kids. I'm Australian too, but living in England this year. At the moment I'm working in a school library and I've been getting all the kids hooked on your stories. The short story favourites are 'Smelly Feat' and 'Wunderpants'. I love getting kids interested in reading and your books are the best by far, in my opinion, to do that. It took me a while to convince my librarian to stock up on your books because she didn't know if an Australian author would be popular with English kids, but just letting you know they sure are! In my reading tutoring groups I run, I have to explain what an 'op shop' is, as well as 'pants'. :-) Keep up the great work! Thanks, Mel

Paul, My four year old son J**s had not been particularly interested in books until we stumbled across your Rascal series. He now reads them to the rest of the family and made up his own Rascal story about making friends with a black Cockatoo with a broken wing. Bob would have been very amused at our attempts to illustrate. J**s and I now have a new-found understanding of how skillful an author has to be to develop a storyline - particularly one that has a deeper meaning for children. Your books are one of only a few where our two sons chime in with the name of the author after the book's title is read out. Thanks for your contribution to our household. Heather

Hi Paul, I am a retired teacher and I always loved reading your books to the many children I have taught over the years. For children who were reluctant readers (and I taught many), I used to hesitate whilst reading and sometimes say, "Mmm, I can't read that bit ... it's a bit rude." That comment was guaranteed to send them scuttling to the library at lunch-time to borrow a copy of the book to find out exactly what the 'rude bit' was. By the way, I enjoyed reading the comments written by other adults (and children), but the worrying one was the person who wrote, "I have enjoyed reading your books in the pubic schools". Just hope the 'pubes' enjoyed your books as much as adults and children do!! By the way, I'm an aspiring writer myself and reading your blog about your writing journey gives me hope to keep hammering away. Cheers, Barb

Dear Paul, I retired a few years ago from the public service and last year - just as I was beginning to get a bit bored with all this extra time hanging on my hands - I was asked if I would help out at the local primary school with the reading tutor program. And, before I go on, I have to say it is enormously rewarding! The 50-odd kids I see are mainly in years 3 to 6, with a few year 2 kids thrown in to spice up the dish. All of them are a bit "behind" with their reading skills. Quite a few are ADHD and some have mild intelectual disabilities. In some cases I think the main problem is lack of confidence - and lack of practice. The approach I have been taking is to try convincing them that reading can be fun, so I have spent a lot of time reading the kids books that are on the market these days. This has been really enjoyable - maybe I just haven't left my first childhood behind yet, and I hope I never will. And this is how I discovered some of your books. Rascal the Dragon is delightful, The Cabbage Patch series (esp. the Fib) is a crack-up and I just love Singenpoo. Oh, I should mention that the kids love them too. Some of these kids (mainly the under-confident ones) have now started asking for more demanding reading material and have moved on to things like "Wicked" the "Un" series, Roald Dahl, Morris Gleitzman, Emily Rodda's Rowan and Deltora series. And most of them were diffident about reading Rascal when they started. But they still go back to Rascal occasionally just because they love him. Thank you for providing me with the tool to unlock this door. I have always felt that a book that's not worth reading when you're sixty probably wasn't worth reading when you were six. And your books are DEFINITELY worth reading at sixty-plus! By the way, several of these kids are now reading at home - and have even joined the town library!!

Greetings Paul, Just found your website as a result of a dinnertime conversation, felt the need to mention that your work was remembered fondly by my parents, myself and my little brother. That's really something. Thanks for providing an excellent inspiration to young Australian writers. I'm 24 now and the page is harder than diamonds but I often remember your stories and of course the televised equivalents both fondly and with sincerest regards. Particularly that karmic gumleaf. All the best from the random collision that is the internet. - Jake

Hello Paul.  How are you? I was just writing to let you know how much of an inspiration his books have been to me! I am currently writing a novel for the Summerset Novella competition, I think it is called. I have also written a squillion short stories and all of this happened because my Grandmother gave me your books, such as Undone, Uncanny, Unbelievable, Unreal and all the other Un books when I was about 11 (now I am 15) I was just letting you know that, and I hope to one day become as famous as you are! Thanks Paul!  You don't realise how much of an inspiration it would be to get a reply from Paul himself, I think I'd have a heart attack if I did!)

Dear Paul, my name is Carla and i am a 29 year old mother of 2. I grew up reading your books and watching Round the Twist, watching Round the Twist so much that my mother ended up hiding the video from me! Its wonderful that my ten year old has found this same love for your stories that i have and im sure that my son wont be too far away from becoming a fan either. Thank you so much for writing what you do and the way you, for giving children (and adults) a reason to still use their imaginations and enjoy some time reading a book, away from all the comoputers and technology. I never thought that twenty years later id be sharing the stories that i read as a child with my children, but im so glad that i am and that i can. Thank you.

Hey Paul, I'm no longer a "kid" per se (well, I'm still pretty immature at 26), but I just wanted to tell you that your stories were my absolute favourites as a kid, teen, and well... I still truly appreciate them today! They are AWESOME. You are truly a great writer in my humble opinion. You have no idea how you have positively benefited my life with your writing, actually. I don't think you could possibly estimate how many lives you have touched through your weird and wacky words. Truly, an inspiration. I recall reading, and re-reading your stories time and time again... I think I've said enough! Anyway, I just finished watching a mini bio on you on the ABC and just felt I should really send you props for touching my life and helping me... What I mean by the latter is that I, like you, was a rather lonely and depressed child "on the inside". Your stories served to alleviate some of my pain. :) With love - in the not too wacky but weird enough universal sense - Nina PS - Glad to know you're doing so well today! :)

Hi Paul, my name is Donna and I am a primary school teacher. This term, I have been reading your books to my children and they absolutely love them. I have many children in my class borrowing your books from the library and their parents have told me they are showing more of an interest in reading. I love reading your stories and watching the children laugh! Thank you for your wonderful stories and the joy they give the children, and also me! Thank you.


Dear Mr. Jennings, For the last 20 years my hobby has been reading aloud in the public schools. Since discovering your short stories some years ago they have become a staple each year. Since I just received my end of the year thank you letters, I thought that might like to know that your stories (There's No Such Thing; The Gumleaf War and especially Snookle)were the runaway favorites this year. You might enjoy seeing which of your stories I read aloud by visiting my website http://readmeastoryink.com/ . Go to browse authors and type in your last name. Thank you for your wonderful contribution to children's literature. Kind regards, Bob, Read Me A Story, Ink


Hi, i just wouldlike to post some positive feedback. I grew up reading Paul Jennings & watching Round the twist. Now, i'm in my twenties, i still read the books over , I still watch Round the twist , ( it was shown again on Foxtell not long ago )totally brings back the good days. Now there is the book for grown readers...i want to read it too.Thanks for all the great stories that are always so uniquely entertaining.  from Bernadette

 

I just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for your wonderful, imaginative, funny, sad, amazing short stories. My two boys (6 & 9) adore them and my eldest, who is a reluctant reader but wants to be a writer when he grows up, is now writing stories of his own. You have really fired their imagination. For the first time in a long while I look forward to reading the bedtime story, I am constantly surprised and intrigued by the twists and turns in your plot lines, and find myself reading to the end of a story long after my youngest has dropped off to sleep. I recommend your books to all my friends with sons as I really feel girls have enough good literature, and yours are books the boys should keep for themselves! Please keep doing what you do. Regards, Tracyann, Cambridge, England. Mum to H**w and B**n.